*OFFICIAL* Alienware Area-51M R1 Owner's Lounge

I've played well over 60 hours of continuous play of resident evil 2 and apex legends since I've gotten mine on the 20th of february. I've also left it it plugged in and on for most of that time to see if it would randomly crash or have an issue and it has been rock solid. The main issue that i have now is that without oc controls installed i cannot control the fans and with them installed i cannot properly use xtu. Is there some other program i can use to control fans?

 

Not true, I get 30-40 FPS min with very good, but not maxed settings, 4K screen, when the screen is busy (during raid, a lot of FX on screen). GTX 1080 @ 2GHz.

 

I still can't find it! No idea where it went.

Any chance to be able to use oc controls and then use Throttlestop to control CPU overclock? I feel like we've been through this but I forgot.

Also have you tried BIOS 1.3.0 to see if it changes anything?

 

So imo its 99% MOFSET related causing them blow ups..

I also had 2 of them in my AW18 and i sincerely believe AREA51M has the same fault. I truly hope they will come fix this at your house, so you can see the problem yourself and tell us more about it.

100% if you send it to depot they will just classify it as "Motherboard failure" with no further more details explained.

Dear god im getting worried should have gone for a high end desktop LOL. Ohwell

 

I have the 1.3.0 bios installed and i didnt really see a performance difference for the 8700k. If oc controls is installed neither xtu or throttlestop will work. They both work when it is uninstalled. I set the fans to balanced and they spin up at 80c but that is a bit high for me. Overall it works well though.

 

Still no options in bios for cpu?

 

I mean @QUICKSORT have the 9700K/2080 config. The first user who reported Toasted Area-51m had i9 /2080 combo.

People are very fast to judge what's up (know what really happened). They should be glad people are honest and will report such thing on the web. Many will never do it.

 

Performance options are greyed out in bios with the 8700k still with the new bios.

 

It's actual " common sense ". From the way that person " want " to handle the issue is absurd. He want to have it " repaired "... GTFO. You don't spend $$$$$ on a high end laptop and get it repaired the first week you received it. So you would in your right mind too, would have a $5,000 laptop repaired instead of it being return for a new one the same week it gets blown up?

Keep in mind that people started killing their laptop the first few days they received it to shows they got balls by benching it. Be it they are noobs or experienced bencher.

and with @EepoSaurus playing games continuous 60 hours, and his didn't blow up.

 

Try downloading TS disable OC in OC controls. Reboot and then install TS it worked for me but if you enable OC with OC controls it will stop working again. I leave OC controls shut off and don't even dare to turn it on, fan profiles all switch without causing problems.

 

Go so far say people screwed up/damaged their new notebook only seeing a reply like this isn't fair.


The model come with locked down firmware (you remember the model was released with power cap?) and I can't see how a noob can damage the model with benching. This is even hard to do for an experienced bencher.

 

He had to edit his message to add his final thoughts, which should have been his first. Situation like this , there is no second thoughts. He is jumping ship without concluding what had really happened. He is a noob alright.

 

Kids acting like their best friend just got bullied. Alienware is known for trash thermals the only upside is the AGA. If or when thunderbolt surpasses that bottleneck the Alienware lineup will be dead weight.

 

I personally don't think it's the cpu or gpu. I think it's a vrm and mosfet problem again. As you always hear me say! Must sound like a broken record to some! Just like the last several years.

 

Seems to spread identically to that Galinstan tubes that were being sold in 10/20/30g from Riga, Ukraine. Still have some left.

 

Hey guys, just wanna see if we can start tweeting/messaging Frank and Alienware/staff in general to get a TDP BIOS update for the 2070 and even the 2060 51m.

It's a bit unsettling how the 2080 comes so close to desktop performance, yet the 2060/2070 are so far behind. I'd like to see atleast 150W for the 2070. The more the better, but I feel 150W would be a nice leap in performance considering the desktop version is 175W.

I've tweeted Frank about it a couple of times but he hasn't said anything back.. Not sure if that's good or bad.. hopefully they're working on an update, but I'm doubtful.

I've seen 1-2 other people ask about a power increase on the 2060/2070, but if we get more people asking these questions, we're bound to get an answer. Or hopefully they'll get working on one.

If the 51m can handle the 2080 performing near desktop performance, why can't the 2060/2070??

Also, you 2080 owners, we need your support too!

 

@Papusan SSD heatsink reduced temps by 11C

Spoiler

Before:



After:

 

Hey guys I’m a longtime lurker here but I never post. My brand new Area-51m just went up in smoke during a 4 hour Far Cry New Dawn gaming session. The screen went black and I could see glowing and smoke coming from the vents just below the tobii eye tracker. I immediately yanked both power supplies from the back of the machine. You can see the discoloration and smoke damage on the glossy finish of the eye tracker in the photo. I did pull the bottom cover but I could not see any visible damage. I didn't disassemble down to the motherboard because at this point I'm already sick over the failure. There were no warning signs everything appeared to be running cool and performance was stellar. I was running HWiNFO in the background but obviously that information is gone. I'm waiting for Monday morning when I can contact dell support. I wanted you guys to have the information in case my failure isn't a fluke.

Below are my 51m's specs for anyone that cares:
2080/9700k
BIOS v1.3.0
RTX 2080 200W VBIOS v1.0.0.1
Overclock: set to stock
Fan setting: Performance
stock thermal paste application
PC Received on 3/15/2019

MODS:
32GB of Corsair Vengeance 2666
1TB 970 EVO Plus
Changed BIOS to AHCI
Fresh windows install using Ultra Male's fantastic drivers guide

Edit: Photo is not attaching
https://imgur.com/03ORNtB

Edit: Added photo of the SMD that failed. Looking through the top vents
https://imgur.com/yOd6VHj

 

Thanks for sharing. Sorry that it happened.

 

That’s good. But middle, low 70 is still high. What slots?

Can you run those ssd benchmarks I posted with Hwinfo64 up?

You’re the 4th. Hope more people start posting their findings on the web. Sorry this happened.

 

Main slot (SSD 1), right now it's at 57C. I was thinking of testing slot 2 but feel like it won't be much difference. There isn't really any airflow through them like in P870DM

What other benchmarks? Hwinfo is in the screenshot with both CrystalDiskMark & AS SSD

Sorry to hear this =[ Please keep us informed.

Sounds like it's going to be a common theme soon.

 

Here... Run as suggested http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...m-owners-lounge.826831/page-176#post-10865295

 

I'm not seeing the image.
Can you reattach it?
Was the discoloration/smoke damage more on the left side when looking at the laptop from the front? That would be my guess, right where the power inputs go.
I have my thoughts as to what this could be, but obviously we need to see more details/pictures of the actual damage.

 

Wow second benchmark added 162GB of writes...no more benchmarking my SSD

So as I suspected , first test got warm. Second test got really hot. I'm surprised it wasn't thermal throttling. Really wonder what that second temp is measuring then. Maybe without heatsink it'll reach 110C LOL

Drive temp 2 might be something else...temp 1 may be accurate one:

https://www.hwinfo.com/forum/Thread-Drive-Temperature-2-on-Samsung-960-Evo

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/93stk5/drive_temperature_2_88c_samsung_970_pro_ssd/

Spoiler

 

This is very alarming man, and that's with a 9700K not even a 9900K!

 

Wow, this sucks. If 4 people have reported it, it's only a matter of time before several other laptops have the same problem.

Not feeling great about my order now. Seems like a potential time-bomb if we have sub-par components in a critical area of the mobo :/

Let us know if you guys get replies from Alienware/ Frank in private (they may not want to cause panic and keep it on the low-down)

 

I think this will even happen with the 8700k because it looks like it is not a cpu problem. I’m getting extended warranty for sure if more of these pop up altough im protected by eu law

 

Hi Guys and thank you all for the advice on my request.
I read of other dead units of area 51m, a little worrying, I personally think of having to abort my order and wait a few months, maybe these are problems of youth that gradually will be solved, I hope.
I read about configurations with i7 processor with undersized thermal system, this is not a good thing because these users will never be able to opt for a hardware upgrade of their laptop, unlike the one DELL says for this device. I think this is a wrong move by DELL.

 

From the results you have posted.... The scores is too low for 1TB 970 Evo Plus.

Se also previous Aw model with same NVMe ssd... http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...w-in-w10-but-proper-speed-in-safemode.827930/


Edit. https://www.legitreviews.com/samsung-970-evo-plus-1tb-ssd-review_210267

Temp 1 should be for the nand. 2 for the controller.

 

I read the Reddit post as well, and it seems like these failures are coming from the same general area (including mine). And for our cases, it seems to all be during a gaming session when it gives out. It could be just a particularly bad batch of systems but who knows... Maybe they started cutting corners to clear out that backlog of delayed orders? I'd imagine that right now reviewers are testing the laptop; it sounds cruel, but I hope that one of those review laptops blow too so that we can really get some spotlight onto this issue. Nothing will make Dell investigate faster and more seriously than having bad press. 4 laptops dying in seemly the exact same way does not bode well...

This is my third laptop purchased from Dell, and each successive laptop has been getting issues earlier and earlier into the its lifetime. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up getting a 4th laptop from Dell and it just explodes as soon as I touch it.

 

Pretty certain it's not a CPU, GPU issue.
Although e.g. it might perhaps be an issue with the 2070 i7 models, due to lower amount of power draw, that perhaps doesn't apply as much stress on the burnt component. But this is just a speculation, I don't know exactly what the issue is.

I have had this pc for 4 weeks.

 

Damn, hearing that would have made me furious. I'm here in a situation where no one wants to be. And then hearing such trash talk ontop. That's sad.

But on the other hand, It's rather rare fur such an issue to happen. Especially on a new laptop, that you expect to be a piece of marvelous engineering.

 

Now about having it repaired. If I know the issue is on the motherboard only. And if it's replaced on-site right here. I have in less than an hour my new repaired laptop. A replacement, might mean a complete new order from chine, which in my case could mean waiting 2 weeks. So In that regard I could also considder a repair, if I don't have a replacement machine I can use in the meanwhile, so yeah.

 

Remember Asus made their first laptop with LGA processor I mean it was last year and with AMD. It was a huge failure. Most brand have only created laptops with soldered hardware the last +6 years. Perhaps the transition to LGA machines is difficult for them.

 

This is my 4th Alienware machine. Have been very satisfied with them, including this one, apart from the Burn that is of course. Never had any issue like this. And I don't mind that an issue happens. It can always happen, that's why I choose dell for their good on-site support. (though it's unfortunate that Belgium support closes at 20h saturday. An my pc died 20:30, so now have to wait till monday). But On the other hand, I see that this issue is widespread. I just don't want one thing, and that is that I keep have to worry that this issue might happen again. I really want like a "Yeah clearly this was the issue, we now did this for your laptop, so that should be out of the equation for you".

 

Damn, another one, just a couple hours after mine burned. Pretty much sure the same thing as mine. Hope this will be properly handled for both of us.

 

Yeah, yesterday all day long with BFV and Metro @5Ghz/2100

No Problems so far, but will run it 4.7uv until this is sorted out... a fried deliddet golden 9900k is the last thing i want...

 

Sorry what’s happening to you guys, will also have to double check mine if burns or not.
At first thought was only one but now start to blow up more laptops, I’m sure there are more to come...

 

Could also be that I don't have Samsung NVMe diver installed. Still can't install it

 

Could be. But expect higher temps when or if the ssd can operate at its maxed speed.

Check also if you have latest firmware. Compare your ssd FW version with last known version.

 

They removed raytracing and dlss patch note on latest update note, according this german site. Before apparently it was scheduled on this mid month, maybe we won’t see that.
Damn square enix or maybe nvidia promoting this. I was waiting 7 months bought this game already since launch week
Sidenote: which AA are you using on that benchmark?

 

Highest, SMAA 4X I think it was

 

Nothing, it is bogus. I have spoken to Martin about this, and this reading is still present and confuses the hell out of unsuspecting users. Unless we see a manufacturer's own software confirming the 2nd "sensor", I would remove it from my screen.

IMHO.

 

Well....this is as far as we'll get with this...need legacy mode OR need to find a way to inject the nvidia driver into the installation with modified inf already done.



@Mr. Fox

 

Assuming some component has blown on the motherboard, I cannot imagine this being "repairable" without a motherboard swap. Everything is soldered and is SMD, almost impossible to repair (reflow ovens and such) and not worth the time and effort. The Dell techie will simply swap the motherboard out. He will most likely use the old CPU and GPU board since they are removable.

 

Indeed. Just like how they replaced my Heatsink for my m14x r1 back in the time. They asked a few questions, let me do some diagnostics, to make sure what the problem is. Guy comes next day at my house with a new heatsink, replaces is. Let me do some stress tests. Issue is gone. and done. Laptop is fixed.
So again, they can come with a new motherboard like you said. I most definitely don't see the guy soldering on my laptop to replace a mosfet. But that is, if he has the part in stock. I wouldn't mind them reusing my existing GPU and CPU, as long as they do a proper repasting, as my thermals were great so far. But of course a new device is better. As long as I don't have to wait for it too long.

 

Hopefully its not a design flaw, but with 4 to 5 devices with the same fault, its starting to look like that.
I do have to say the thermals are really good. But do you guys, when you feel on the part we're the power button is located and doing a heavy gaming session, its burning hot in that area! Can't touch it for to long. Ofc the graphics chip is located there but wow thats some heat! Really close to the AC jacks to.

Still really happy with my AW 51M, lets hope for magic performance, not magic smoke.

For all the people affected with it, hope it gets sorted and really hope you guys just get a new unit.

 

I actually scorched my vinger on that part because i was holding it to long to feel how warm it was. It is normal tough i believe

 

Well if it's the vrm's it's not going to matter what cpu. Still can pump as much voltage as the user wants. Both K processors.

 

Im having some random freezes/crashes when playing games and in idle and after a stresstest, could it be my undervolt? Thermals seems fine.