*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R4 Owner's Lounge

I'm not so hung up on such comments or reviews from tech sites. I'm too old to let me be fooled. You get older and wiser with age. I'm over 50 you know
Not intended as an insult.

 

Your GPU temp runs hot for a 1080. Could explains why the Alienware fan could be a little more audible so it runs much cooler. Trade-offs.

However after running Firestrike, my max GPU Temp is 65c and max power is 171W. A little overclocked kicks it up to 177W. Could there be a power restriction for less headroom to overclock? So far it looks like it is...Someone must message FRANK@ALIENWARE to clearify.

 

Is the the power delivery something that can change in the future ?


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Very possible!! With new system Bios and video Bios can change it to a whole new ball game.

 

Do you think this is something they will do might be second-guessing my return LOL


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@iunlock, do you have any suggestions for fan controls for the AW17?

I overclocked my 6820hk according to your 40x setting, which worked great , but I noticed that the default fans are automatically kicking in even at idle now.

I tried using HWINFO to set a fan curve, but its kinda buggy I find, and the default fan profile is way more consistent in terms of responding to temps. But I was looking for a more aggressive ramp as temperatures rise, while keeping the fans whisper quiet at idle. Instead it seems like the OC just staggered the default fan profile.

Also I tried doing an -75mV undervolt, which seemed to work... is it advisable to OC and undervolt, or should they be kept separate?

 

If its a big enough problem, absolutely. This is why this forum is great to voice our opinions loud and clear to be heard. And who knows, we could get a modded videos bios from a genius like Prema.

 

I've notice overclocking the CPU on BIOS 1.02 causes the fan to go wonky. You can fix the fan table like here... http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/fans-are-loud-at-idle-temp.799315/
Otherwise upgrading to BIOS 1.06 works for me. DO NOT USE BIOS 1.08!

There's no harm in undervolting besides gettting crashes when it pushes too far. Then just dial it back a little bit. The ultimate goal is having it run stable with the best level OC and undervolting.

 

What's the issue with 1.08?


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Hey iunlock sorry to keep hitting you with questions. I do slot of research but I am still quite new at all of this. Did you have to do anything other than its changing PL1 and PL2 in BIOS to get over 10000? I just remembered hearing that there was power limit issues that Dell is supposed to be addressing? Anyone else you are welcome to answer as well. Just trying to learn.


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Dell's way to answering a bad thermal pasting job and heatsink heat issues to lower temps. Because of this manipulation, there's a chance the system is not utilizing its raw power. Something had to give.

 

Should I downgrade and test before I send back ?

Edit
Testing 1.06 now I'll post score once it's don't

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Be sure

Be sure to turn gsync off.

 

It's off here is my test with 4.0 and over clock gpu


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That isn't a bad score since stock graphic 1080 is around 21-22k. Your GPU power hit 169w. This beast has so much potential if it can be unleashed.

 

1080 my friend... See sig.

 

Like a desktop gtx 1080?


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So I recieved my Laptop back from iunlock, all I can say is wow.

Took my temps from uneven high 90's to mid 50's and they are even. Installed some software that I was unaware of but asked about.

My experience was amazing. He's very starlight forward keeps ing contact and is great at explaining info to a noob. I feel his pricing was more than fair and he delivered above my expectations in both service and communication. I recommend anyone get their work done by him

 

How is the fan noise now if I keep mine I'll be sending it to him .. as of now I'll be keeping msi .


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The 11.0's work fine and I would actually recommend those over the 17.0's if this is your first time.

Sad day. But to each his own. The AW17R4 after a little work under the hood is a fantastic system. However, you can't go wrong with the MSI GT73VR either....fantastic machine as well.

Sure thing.

It's posted in the original 2016 AW thread (First Impressions) ...I have it listed along with the video and the exact times to certain portions of the video. "tagged."

Yes, it's safe to purchase especially if you're open to a repaste.

HWiNFO64

BIOS 1.0.8 is actually fine. 1.0.6 is the borked one. I've tested this extensively and am actually running 1.0.8 at the moment on my personal system.

1.0.6 had incorrect values in the DTSF framework that caused the system to throttle.

Use 1.0.2 and/or 1.0.8. Do not use 1.0.6.

 

I really wanna keep the 17r4 this build quality is just so nice !!


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There's no reason not to. Build quality wise, it's hands down the best in its class. However, the AW's are only worth it if one is willing and open to a repaste+fix, which as you've seen makes it one heckava system...the complete package...

If one isn't going to repaste, get the MSI GT73VR...much better laptop out of the box in terms of thermals.

 

If you really think you can tame the fans and get this thing right I'll keep it and send it to you

Any reason why you think my BF1 frame are so low

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Oh wow I didn't do any extensive testing but I thought 1.08 was the borked one. I guess I'll try 1.08

 

If I really think? There's one thing that I'll make clear in that I will never try to convince you. That's on you buddy. I'm not in the business of convincing and never will be. I will say though, with the amount of evidence floating around here, anyone seeking this info. would be in a buffet flooded with all you can eat.

Try out 1.0.2 and 1.0.8. With 1.0.8, what you set in bios seems to stick pretty well...bios in general is so goofy... good luck!

 

AW17R4 - GTX 1080

Just broke 18K's....more to come...

 

Wow


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Did someone say LHz?

 

LHz Team member location
Me: NYC
@DeeX : FL
@iunlock : Seattle
@zergslayer69 : CA


PM anyone of us that's closest to you so you save shipping cost.



Try FN+F7 DGPU mode, exit Teamviewer, and don't use DX12 mode.






11 hour run on a 4.2GHz AW17 1080 (personal unit)

 

In all fairness, Dells QC suck all over, not just for AWs. Main reason I've stopped buying them and I know of several larger compaines that have done the same

 

Chyna. :/ Sad truth. How else can these greedy corporate donkeys buy their yachts, without sweat shop workers slaving away to put these machines together? What's worse is that the same corporate donkey that is suppose to be monitoring the quality control is dropping the ball as evidenced and believe me, we have a collection of this evidence that has yet to be released. A few people from reddit messaged me about exposing our data / info / evidence, but I've asked them to stand down to give the benefit of the doubt to the actual "good" peeps in the OEM companies. - Lets give them a chance. Well at least with AW/Dell...the quality is bar none the best in it's class (chassis wise) and they are trying and taking action so Kudos.

 

ALIENWARE 17R4 GTX 1080 REVIEW - BENCHMARKS, THERMALS & TOBII EYE TRACKING

 

I don't know if the Dell Outlet actually "fixed" the heat issue on refurbs or I won the heatsink lotto, but received my 17r4 yesterday from the outlet and it has performed beautifully so far. Highest I can get it is 71 degrees. Had a constant BF1 session for 5-6 hours with my sons and still never near 70 degrees. Build quality is miles ahead of the Asus gl502. The 120hz TN panel is.... love and hate great for gaming (which is why I got this laptop...) pretty gross for anything else. Banding is noticeable when surfing working etc, not really when gaming.

Honestly never intended to keep this laptop, it was a spur of the moment purchase.... The asus is on craigslist now lol.

 

I failed to note that when I got the 17r4 from the outlet yesterday it was still on 1.06, so it probably was a build before they fixed the heatsink issue in production? Makes me wonder if they aren't retroactively fixing the heatsinks on returned units before they hit the outlet. It also had older wifi drivers and couldn't hold a wifi connection for more than 3 minutes lol updated all the drivers and bios its worked beautiful since.

 

open up the bottom and you can take a look at the choke thermal pad size

 

Thanks for the reply, going to make the purchase today!

Probably will send it to you also once I am able to actually PM

 

Sooo with all of the opening, regreasing and other shenanigans, no one actually pointed out that it migt actually void the warranty?

 

That's because it has never been an issue.... you have to keep in mind that we shouldn't have to be fixing it ourselves in the first place.

 

I agree, so do you think Dell would honor the warranty still?

 

All I can say is that I don't know of one person that has had issues or was denied warranty for repasting. I'll just leave it at that.

 

Nowadays DELL won't even consider overheating an issue if you're out of the return and exchange period.

Backed by Intel who says 100°C is fine, 14°C discrepancy is OK, but Overclocking is bad : https://communities.intel.com/thread/109394

 

@hmscott Did you hear what I heard in this review?

"A $ 3,000 machine beating by a much cheaper $ 1,400 machine is incredible".
And this heavily!!

This in processor intensive work - normal workflow. Any comments on this? I expect a lot of people use their gaming laptops to much more than only gaming.

 

If I want to send my laptop to one of you guys how do I pm? Seems like I am not allowed to pm at this time. Thanks.

 

Hmmm I guess I'll stay with my gt73vr


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It was kind of a waste watching the whole thing. The real meat of the video is the summary at the end [ right here]

 

Could also be worth pointing out that I believe that the warranty in the US is more generous in this regard. Not sure what goes for other markets though.

 

This is not a review, its an extermination. Serioulsy considering if I should even unpack my soon to be delivered AW17 R4 or just send it back right away and order a GT73VR instead. Even by Dells low standard, the number of problems with the new AWs are just staggering.

 

So do us owners before the fix need to buy the .1mm pads as well to take place of the yellow one that used to be .5mm? If so, where do we find the .1mm pads.

 

woww the most I can get in firestrike is 21000. how did you get to 23000? did you OC the GPU?

Also I juts ran the benchmark and the current max power pull from my GPU is 160.538 W is this normal? or too low?

 

Issue is no one actually makes 0.1mm pads. Some people are trying two sided thermal tape, others thermal paste. I'm going to try k5 Pro, which is a viscous thermal paste designed to take the place of thermal pads.