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

First - sorry you had to deal with that. Sucks.

Second - this is honestly the biggest issue with this machine coming from Dell. Their support is always going to be worthless, and I fear a LOT aid stupid back and forth in the coming years, especially as the hardware starts to age and people actually leverage the device’s design of upgrade ability.

 

That is exactly the reason why I buy what I want from the get go so that I don't run into these kind of jokes, be it the CPU or RAM even if they were upgrade able and may be cheaper for me to get them on my own. I don't have the patient to deal with OEM's customer service nonsense

 

Yes. Disable Secure Boot. Also, depending on what software/settings you used to burn the image on your USB stick, you might wanna enable CSM under UEFI

 

I used the Media creation tool by Microsoft

 

Just compared the highest and 2nd highest priced area 51m which cost £3148.99 and £3799 respectively. The only difference i can see is storage 1tb raid + 1tb sshd which merely cost me another £90 if i were to go for the £3148.99 model.

Any idea what makes the “top range” model worth another extra £600+?

Both same cpu gpu ram n etc. Or i left out anything?

 

I figured this would happen. I have now DM'd @Alienware and if this continues I will bother @AzorFrank.... I'm sure he is sick of me by now!

BTW, I wonder how they will take that last thing I told the rep. After all it's not like it wasn't true!

 

Same for me, I used the 2nd highest. What also got me was if you spec the lower models to the same as the 2nd highest, it costs more! I used the 2nd highest model and blagged Dell for a week and they knocked around 13-14% off. If you're getting it though get it before the 12% runs out of it hasn't already, they are absolute stone walls!

 

Mehh.. i think i gonna miss the 12% discount but i have the 15% student discount code with me. But no idea why it is not applicable. So waiting for their reply. Most probably will only be able to place an order on next Monday or Tuesday.

I did preferred the 2nd highest and added win10 pro n £90 for the 1tb raid + 1tb sshd.

However I can’t understand why 8700 package only need to pay £7 for win10pro while 9900k need an extra £60+ for the same thing.

 

Classical Dell $w!$$ Ch33$e br0!

 

LOL. I thought it has 64gb of ram at least. But then realised it’s exactly the same thing. If i were to include the 64gb option in my current configuration, its still gonna b £300 cheaper that the “top” (priced) model.

 

They have diffrent codes for diffrent lines. You need find the one that is applied for XPS + dell gaming systems.

 

Thanks for the info, but i only received 1 code which claimed to be applicable to ALL systems. Anyway i gonna wait for Dell reply n see if they gonna sort it out. Finger crossed. Thats around £300-£400 lesser n its gonna b great if i were to get it.

 

I opted for no extra drive just raid 2x512gb ssd I figured it's a poor drive and will be noisy, save 50 quid and add in your own

 

Ah.. that make sense. So no chance for them to install the OS in the wrong drive as well

 

I have a question, so I set up my 51m yesterday and changed the 1TB SSHD to a new boot drive (sx8200 pro Nvme) and also installed a 1TB Sata ssd.

In the BIOS, under boot options it says UEFI, which is correct. But under advanced settings under Sata Operation it says "RAID On," should I change this to AHCI?

Will it cause any issues? The system came in RAID even though I only had the 1TB SSHD. If I should change it, can you explain why, in short.

 

DELL always sets the boot to RAID even if you have a single drive setup. Kinda stupid because certain utilities like Samsung Magician will not work with RAID on since they can't see the drive in RAID mode even if they were setup as individual drives.

You need to reinstall Windows and set it to AHCI for the fastest single drive performance.

There is a trick to simply change the mode in BIOS to AHCI without formatting but I've never tried it nor do I trust it: http://triplescomputers.com/blog/un...ch-windows-10-from-raidide-to-ahci-operation/

 

Ugh really? Reinstall just to apply ACHI? Not worth my time. What happens if I just select ACHI in the BIOS?

 

So i just installed a fresh copie of windows.

I can't find the Alienware app to Overclock & Change keyboard RGB.
How is it called and where can i find it?

 

Did you even care to read my post?

I am not going to spoon feed you. Read it again!

hint: see the freakin' link at the end!

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...t/product/alienware-17-area51m-laptop/drivers

 

Yes I read it, but you said you did not trust it. I assume this is for a reason. I'll just leave it on RAID. Not worth my time for a little bit of speed. Nor do I want something to go wrong, resulting in a fresh install in the long run.

 

No need to reinstall, Google it, it takes 5 minutes.

 

ah ok, I said I don't trust such methods because even if you are able to change to AHCI, I don't trust that it would work optimally with the same performance as a freshly installed Windows in AHCI mode due to the built in Windows RAID Storage controller driver and not the AHCI Driver.

Don't worry about it for now, when the next major Windows update comes (in the next 3 months), that'll be a good time to format and set it to AHCI

 

So I ordered the Elgato HD60 S using my rewards since this thing doesn't have HDMI IN like my M18x.

 

@SacraficeMyGoat This is for your SSD, I hope it works in RAID mode as the Samsung Magician doesn't work in RAID mode:

ADATA SSD ToolBox 3.0.5

 

Regarding RAM compatibility, I swapped in some Ballistix Sport LT 32GB, 2666mhz (BLS2K16G4S26BFSD) without any problem.

 

YoU aRe vOiDinG wArrAnTy

Jokes aside, from the people who just got theirs and did a fresh clean install, everything went fine installing drivers from dell? I remember reading there was some problems with nvidia drivers.

 

what's up with your sig bro? there's no Alien in there

 

It's been fixed with the latest drivers, now you have the nVIDIA Control Panel: nVIDIA GeForce Driver 419.35

 

Bash them, alienware deserves this.

 

And you run 2666MHz now? Or was it only to tell that this RAM was compatible?

 

Good question, I think there is a BIOS limitation of 2400MHz. even though DELL sells 2666 MHz. RAM

 

What is the best cloth to clean a laptop with? Greatly interested! Link would be great.

 

Thanks, I do enjoy doing a clean install always in new computers, good to know it got fix

 

Make sure you unblock any file you download before you do this. see this guide, it also shows you how to disable the automatic blocking of files:

"Are you sure you want to run this file?" [Yes or No]

 

Of course they sell it. Dell's $999 usd XPS model have it as only options.

I use what come with different cleaning kits. Not brand loyal. But not the cheapes and not the most expencive.

 

The Great One has spoken.

 

Given that HID/Xotic prices are said to be lower than Dellware.com/51m, & therefore there must be overcharges on SSD/RAM, below are Area-51 Desktop overcharges = $1480 up to $1780 over retail ...

Memory up to $ 980 over >< CPU $ 500 $ 650 up to $800 over

1st pay for included 8Gb ~$50, add $1400 = $1450 total

Amazon Kingston 32Gb kit $235 x 2 kits 64Gb = $ 470
Overcharge = $980 (yes, they're charging triple > '$500 kit for $1500')

CPU Overages
7740 / 60 / 80 are ~$650 $770 $800 over retail
9940/60/80 are ~$500 - $550 over retail

Skylake: 1st pay for included 7800x ~$400, next add $2100 7980XE = $2500

• 7940 $1130 > 1900 - 1130 = 770 over retail
• 7960 $1400 > 2200 - 1400 = 800 over retail
• 7980 $1850 > 2500 - 1850 = 650 over retail

Skylake Refresh: ~$400 7800x, add $2100 9980XE = ~$2500 (MSRP $ 2000)(yes, they charge you for both chips + $100, just because)

• 9940 $1400 > 1900 - 1400 = 500 over
• 9960 $1650 > 2200 - 1650 = 550 over
• 9980 $2000 > 2500 - 2000 = 500 over

~$ 1480 overcharge on 64Gb + SkyLake Refresh 14/16/18 core (980 + 500) ... about the cost of a 2080Ti & a few hundred $$$ back
~$ 1630 $1750 $1780 overcharge on 64Gb + Skylake 14/16/18

edit for comparison: their Aurora R8 9900k CPU est. is $880 = $350 over retail & subject to same add $1400 64Gb = ~$ 1330 overcharge
I won't go into 64Gb 51m est. overcharge but it's there for someone to check

Below, 51m DDR4

If you value 8Gb of included mem as $50 / $70, add 700 = $750 / $770 is your cost, then shop for equivalent 2666 kit online & that is the overcharge

I estimate that the base 8700 CPU comprises $350 minimum (& perhaps $375) of the base $1950 8700 2060 config, where the add +$450 9900k means the true cost of 9900k is $800 (350 + 450); in a world where we can buy Newegg 9900k for $530, two outcomes arise:

1) Those adding $450 for Aliens.com/51m 9900k will pay ~$800 & receive one CPU

2) Those buying base 8700 & upgrading to 9900k receive two CPUs for $880 (an $80 8700 whose multi-purpose is to be kept as a troubleshooting spare, 'a warranty spare', is transferred back into laptop for eventual sale, or is sold off to recoup funds towards 9900k)

Of course tonight we wonder why one or perhaps two user (Newegg/retail) 9900k is 'blacklisted from Bios' ...

Spoiler: Then, I will break you

 

You guys know you can bypass the 150W / 119W CPU limit easily right?
Just dump the bios on win-raid.com (ask lost_bios, whatever his name is) for help, provided FPTW64 allows access to even dumping the bios region.
Then use RU to find where "Core I/A Domain" or "Internal VR Control" is, and look for something called "IMON SLOPE".
Set IMON SLOPE To 10 using RU, in an EFI prompt, then reboot.

CPU will report it's using about 20-25% of the current "Actual" power wattage.

 

Most everything is working. The only device I can't get to work on a reinstall is Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt driver installs fine, but the UWP app will not install. It is a known issue without a solution at the moment. I advise folks don't wipe and reinstall if thunderbolt is critical. Displayport alternate mode works just fine.

My signature can't contain 10% of the laptops I've tested over the years. I think it's also missing the Tornado F7w, AW15r4, AW17r5, G703VL...and at least a few others I currently have in my office.

Sorry for the confusion, definitely still running at 2400. The stock RAM is also rated for 2666 but runs at 2400. I only mention the speed for compatibility. I assume the Ballistix 2400 also works, but I have not tested it personally...only the 2666 that runs at 2400.

 

Ahh okay. Thanks. Yeah I'll probably leave it for now, not having any issues.

As for the Adata SSD Toolbox, I have it downloaded but it doesnt show my SX8200 pro, it only shows my 1TB sata ssd. Any idea why?

Edit: Could it be because it's in RAID and not AHCI?

 

Quite easy to interpret

 

Yes I have that though, downloaded from the Adata website. Is this different?

 

You Sacrificeed the tools features due you don't wont swap to Achi. Same as the Samsung Magician tool don't work in Raid mode. Clean OS install or swap to Achi as the guide.

 

So that means that my dock station and external monitor which I connect through thunderbolt would not work or just for some other things? I wasn’t aware of that, I was reading the reviews in the windows store and indeed no one can reinstall it.

That just remind me how bad I gonna have it without the SD card reader, I use it constantly for the camera and now will have to buy a card reader, is not an ultra book for real, was really a necessity to take it out?

 

AW uses BootGuard I believe. Would this still be possible with that?

What's RU? Are we flashing a modified BIOS with this method or what?

 

Read.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-clear-cmos-and-prevent-common-issues.812372/

http://ruexe.blogspot.com/

 

Btw has anyone with i9-9900K been able to get Black Ops 4? I remember it saying it comes with Black Ops 4 when I ordered but don't know how to get it

 

@ Paloseco Can you use your modding skills to make this work on the New AW 51m?

I'm not sure you would be able to fallow the MSI guide towards our 51m.

I also found this.
https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/cyber/intel-boot-guard-bypass/

 

@ssj92 When i contacted dell they told me the codes for any promotion that was available at the time of your original order will be sent via email 10 days after the laptop is delivered