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

Sounds like your undervolt is too much (especially on the CPU cache). Try reducing it in small intervals until it's stable.

 

I’ll have two 970 Evo+s in RAID0. I assume the correct setup is BIOS In raid0 mode, obviously; but then will I be able to install the Samsung drivers?

 

Okey I thought that both core and cache should be the same value?

 

Wait is win7 working on the Area 51?? I thought there was no coffee lake support

 

Do you guys know if when its shipped from China if this process still works during the weekend? It shipped on the 14th but theres a fat weekend going on atm, wondering if those 2 days will hinder the process. Is it shipped via a boat or air?

 

They don't have to, but I typically make them the same. Lockups after stress tests are usually due to too high of and undervolt on the cache though.

 

You are correct the damage is on the left side above the F4&F5 keys. I can see through the vent that one of the SMD's has turned to ash. I really don't believe that this is an issue with thermals. I'm just guessing but I don't think that there is any reason to panic yet.

I have edited my original post with a link to the image. I'll also put it here: https://imgur.com/03ORNtB

Edit:
Here is a photo of the SMD that failed it appears to have 5008 stamped into the top
https://imgur.com/yOd6VHj

 

no, the Samsung drivers will not detect their SSDs if your BIOS is set to RAID. You will only be able to use the IRST Driver for your RAID Array

 

It looks like R005 ? 5 mOhms? A sense resistor or a choke perhaps. And is that the part that's cooked for sure?

 

I’m not 100% sure it is the failed part since I can’t see the back of the MOBO without removing it. It has lots of discoloring around the edges. It’s hard to see from the photos but the surface of that component looks blistered from heat.

 

Honestly, that part looks fine. I'm guessing it's something else. We won't know until someone actually tears it down entirely.

 

Remember having those two NVMe ssd’s in Raid0 will reduce temp on the controller. A great idea run the ssd’s like this if the laptop is plagued with ssd overheating/throttling due its design. Too cold ssd nand ain’t an advantage but keeping the controller cold is.

 

correct, sinc each SSD is now doing half the work and the other half is done by the other SSD

 

Awesome! That wasn't my reason for doing it, but it was a hoped-for side effect; wasn't sure if it made sense, though. Glad it does.

 

When setting up RAID, choose a stripe size of 64K if you have the option in the BIOS. That would give you the best overall performance when accessing small OR large files.

 

I just did some testing on my notebook, and to me the hottest part from that area seems to come directly from above the F4 key. Trying to look through the vents with a flashlight, it appears maybe a coil or something right about in that area.

 

What checks are you guys going to do, to make sure that your Laptop does not burn like theirs, I am a little bit frightened :0

 

Out of the 4 that had their 51m burn and smoke, who completed the 200w vbios update?

 

https://valid.x86.fr/074ccu

XD still having fun with my a51m

 

Yeah, it's fun playing with clock speed But this is BGA clocks

 

havent seen Drops with hwinfo... will recheck this.

5.2 is clean and benchstable...
https://valid.x86.fr/nzjy9n

Weird...

 

Good. Let it all out. Some tech devices just don't deserve to live. I've done the same in the past.

 

That's better but with reduced clock speed
Can you as well check out VR VCC Temperature (SVID) temp reading when you test your laptop in bench and gaming.

 

Sure will report tomorrow.

Iam 1 week in work travel now and have plenty of time in the evening ^^ will do some window benching.

 

Strange problem, the HDMI port isn't working on my unit. I tested the cables and output (projector and 4k tv) and everything is working no problem. Yet I can't get anything to output from the A51m.

I guess I'll try reinstalling the graphics drivers (intel+nvidia).

Also, while using other laptops for the first time in a couple weeks I realized how much I appreciate the A51m keyboard and build quality. Top notch.

edit: While every other device works with this cable, the Area-51m isn't playing nice with it. My other cable that goes into the attic works fine with the A51m.

Extension cable that isn't working (but works with other devices): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQYPJ2F/
Cable that is working: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XM73P2

Anyone know why this could be?

 

Your second link is a power cord.

I suspect a different HDMI X.XX compatibility. They are supposed to be backward compatible, but that isn't always true

 

Realized that and fixed it before your post

 

In my model it seems different, it may be a different version of motherboard, I received my area51m on 03/13

https://imgur.com/a/24NeVwo

The numbering is R005

 

Can anyone here tell me what the stock 2400MHz RAM timings are on the Area 51m (9900k+2080)?

Can the memory be overclocked in the BIOS or replaced with faster SODIMMs?

 

I think im the unlucky 6? My area 51m just died. I was browsing the web and suddenly it shut down. Pulled everything out, put it back in - nothing. I then started sniffing and I noticed some burning smell on the right backside outtakes/vents. Not next to the PSU connector, otherside. This sucks My speccs 9700k 2080 32g

 

Holy crap 6 in 1 week. Wtf is going on Alienware!?

 

I'm in the same boat. Should have done a but more research. I bought the 2070 thinking that if the are 51m could handle a 2080, a 2070 would be close to its desktop equivalent. I know the 2070 only comes with the 180w and 240w power adapters. Does anyone know whether there is enough left from that currently to increase the TDP to the 2070 even if they wanted? Just tryna get a sense of how likely they are to increase the TDP for the 2070. Still have time to cancel my order.

 

Woah, holy...

I never subscribe to the "crazy problem-gate" topics, typically. But with iPhones and MacBooks and Galaxy Notes, the scale of which things are released is so big, it's easy to shrug off.

But no doubt, the Area 51m is super niche, and the community posting about them either here or on Reddit is even more narrow... and yet, we're looking at six failures of similar situations in less than a month. SUPER concerning. Especially considering how unique this machine is vs. most everything else AW has put out the last several years.

Can you give us any more details on your machine?

How long have you had it?
What's the longest you've played a game, or benchmarked, in one sitting?
Were both power adapters plugged in at time of failure?
Was/Is it overclocked?
Any modifications/custom thermal paste?

Sorry man - really sucks! Please let us know what Dell tells you. I'd definitely recommend tweeting Frank.

 

Right now there are some GREAT deals on the AW 17R5 with the 1070 and 1080 cards (which can beat the new RTX 2060 and 2070 max q cards). I'm considering canceling my 51m and go with this instead. Worth the switch at $2200-2500?

 

6 in 1 week is extremely disturbing.

I too have a 9700k/2080 configured area 51m coming soon. Was super excited last week but hearing this concerns me a lot. I hope I dont get this issue. But if I did, atleast hoping it happens before 30 day return window so that I can return it and look elsewhere till this issue is resolved

 

I got it last Thursday so I had it for 4 days. I was over a friends house yesterday playing for like 2 hrs straight Apex/The Division 2. Both adapters were in, no oc no custom paste.. I've had some crashes but I thought it was because of undervolt, now im not so sure.

 

We should hammer them on twitter ! These guys should get their units replaced and get compensated. Also they need to end this... Seriously thinking about canceling my order !

 

We should try to figure out what the similarities are and see if we can narrow it down to a revision of the board, then we can compare if we are at risk.

 

Now I wonder should i return it right after I receive it
It shipped out on 14th March and I keep tracking it and never go any progress , only showing PENDING
So Can i just cancel it and tell Dell I dont want it anymore.

 

I'm pretty sure I've seen the 2080 in everyone. That would also mean the 330W in everyone and also the vbios update.

 

Yes, on status page there is a list to the right of things you can do and Cancel order is one of them. That simple.

 

I expect Dell already have produced and sold several thousand of this model already (same MB revision). As long as Dell does not revoke/recall/send out tech to replace MB on these models, then expect Dell's software engineering team to make firmware changes. This is natural if the fail percentage is too large. This is normal procedure after a while for most notebook manufacturers. Be careful when new firmware come out.

 

I only got return option? It is because already shipped out?

 

If its shipped then you have to wait till you receive it and then contact Dell for return process.

For me its saying my order is partially shipped since this evening. Not sure what that means or what is being shipped partially.

 

The least they could do as well is proactively contact those at risk if there is a genuine fault on a specific batch. Time will tell.

 

Yes it is in transit. Decline signature and they will give refund takes about 2 weeks for refund?

 

I can make it run...need help though. All I need is to get a way to install the nVidia driver...then it'll work fine.

Here's proper 5.3Ghz

https://valid.x86.fr/9brbj6

Frank said on twitter he is looking into it. They need to have a machine sent back to see what caused it probably.

 

@ssj92

1) How did you install it on Windows 7? UEFI mode + Legacy ROM or pure Legacy?

2) You are not on RAID I assume

3) How did you get the drivers to work? Did they all install fine with the exception of the nVIDIA Drivers?

4) I know it' silly but you did download the Windows 7 driver for your nVIDIA Graphics right not the regular Windows 10 one? If so, what's the error message? Did you also try an older driver like one version behind?

 

1) No option to change UEFI or Legacy, it's stuck in pure uefi mode.

2) I am booting from a USB drive, so doesn't matter.

3) I didn't. I can't get into windows. Only way to get windows 7 to work in pure uefi mode is to install the graphics drivers. On my M18xR2 it's running pure uefi mode windows 7.

Until I can find a way to install the nVidia drivers (requires modified INF btw for RTX 2080) I cannot boot into windows 7. Unless AW enables us to disable UEFI.

 

oh snap! On my Wife's Dell Vostro I just installed Windows 7 last night. I just disabled Secure boot, then it unveiled the option to choose Legacy ROM which I enabled. Before enabling Legacy ROM, the Windows 7 installer would just freeze on the splash screen trying to boot into the installation environment