*OFFICIAL* Alienware Area-51M R2 Owner's Lounge

I've been messing with AWCC a little, and I created a new overclock profile named "Underclock" for all non-gaming (or less intense gaming) activities. For those interested, this is what I did:

CPU:
- Frequency: 4Ghz
- Voltage: 1.13V
- Voltage offset: -45mV

GPU:
- Thermal limit: 75 degrees C
- Core clock: -300Mhz
- Memory clock: -300Mhz

RAM: just disabled overclocking.

Should I not have bothered, and just merely keep any overclocking profiles disabled?

Secondly, is it possible to automatically trigger an overclock profile when you start up a certain game? AWCC lets you trigger different lighting effects, but I don't see an option for linking overclock profiles with games.

 

I just noticed that the R2 is offered @ 360Hz. My gawd that alot of Hz. Anyone actually ordered it yet? I just got super excited about this bad boy!

 

360 hz is with GSYNC which has input lag and it's 9ms vs the 3ms on the 300hz non GSYNC screen. 300 hz/3ms any time of the day over the GSYNC one

 

Rly? I got my hopes up. :-(

 

I'm using the 360hz model, and it's dope AF. Cant exactly compare it to the 300hz beyond whatever specs are available, but the screen itself is great...this is also me upgrading from a 60hz screen on my previous laptop lol. I'm not an elite level gamer or anything, but whatever input lag there is hasn't been an issue for me.

Also, the difference in lag is 5ms to 3ms according to the specs

 

So pros and cons.

300Hz/3ms sounds nice, but I really want Gsync on my laptops.

Afaik my current laptop have 8ms input lag and I have no issues. 9ms should not be a noticable difference I think?

 

I ordered my first 51m R2 with the 360hz screen. It was awesome! I am getting old enough that my eyes arent fast enough to see the difference between 3ms and 10ms haha.

For what it's worth, I ordered the same 360hz screen with my replacement machine.

 

Hey everyone. Is there a way to overclock the factory 2933 ram to the native 3200 the sticks support? I don’t see xmp anywhere and XTU doesn’t show where I can OC the ram. Thanks

 

No. If you want 3200 you have to buy the sticks from dell.

 

do they have to be from dell? Or are there other sticks out there that will run 3200 automatically? Thanks

 

@HaloGod2012

umm no...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...review-by-spartan.833709/page-7#post-11051482

 

Interesting i stand corrected. I'm tempted to order some hyper-x now.

 

What's up? Cleaned out the whole AW inventory? Alienware is removed from all listing on HID.

Be sure you run different benchmarks so you have numbers to compare with.

 

It's only manual quotes for now for people who want a Dellienware, they need to contact us with the specs they want

 

OK, so HID have changed and will only fill up the inventory for those who want one. What other brands is removed from the listing and only can be ordered via manual quotes?

"Clevo, Dell/Alienware, MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS, Aorus, Lenovo, Razer"

 

Can you offer native keyboards on 51M or only US?

 

Would these be the ones to get?

HyperX Impact 3200MHz DDR4 CL20 SODIMM (Kit of 2) HX432S20IB2K2/32, 32GB kit (2 x 16GB) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K9BMWDD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_PXyPFbF4WW4NS?psc=1

 

we have a professional keyboard laser engraving service for any language you want for an additional fee of $179

Examples:

https://hidevolution.zendesk.com/hc...tion-film-vinyl-and-keyboard-laser-engraving-

 

Nice! This has been a hurdle in the past when I have spoken to Donald (not Trump). If I ask for a quote, would it be possible to see what a engraving could look like IRL with my language?

What info do you need for me to ask for a quote?

 

1) no, the examples are what I showed you above. Whatever keyboard layout you send us will be an exact replica on your keyboard.

2) Please PM me the following info:

- Model
- Color
- CPU
- GPU
- Screen (resolution/refresh rate)
- Thermal upgrades (GELID GC Extreme or Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut which is a must if you want a delidded CPU which IMO is a MUST too)
- RAM (capacity/speed, you can go all the way up to 64GB/3200 MHz)
- SSD Slot 1/2 . If you want SSD Slot 3/4 also filled, it will delay the order by one month until we can source the interposer board from Dell
- Power Cord (US, UK, Europe)
- Windows 10 Home or Pro
- ESET NOD32 Antivirus License (highly recommended)

Also PM me your full name, email address, cell phone number, shipping/billing address as they are required for sending an official quote

you will automatically be entitled to the NBR Forum discount

 

Yes. Or you can actually go for 2x32GB.

 

cool, and I’m assuming it will plug and play at 3200mhz CL20?

 

It should do. According to @Spartan@HIDevolution it depends on the type of memory originally ordered from Dell, though, since they have two types of motherboard. Good news is that it doesn't matter because the module will then just run at 2933 but lower CL, resulting in practically the same performance.

 

Will a pcie 4.0 nvme ssd have any performance difference over pcie 3.0 on the R2 motherboard? Not sure if the new controllers themselves will make a difference even though our boards are 3.0.

 

No they will run at PCIE3 speeds.

 

Hi,
Just to know, does changing the RAM has a big impact on performance in games or is it just to have bigger figures in benchmark?
I mainly play games and wonder if it's worth spending 200euros in these.

 

You may see anywhere from 1-5fps increase in most games. It doesn't particularly effect gaming too much.

 

This, I get the fastest RAM for bragging rights only
never felt a difference between 2400 MHz or 3200 MHz

 

HyperX RAM is about 20% faster than Dell value RAM (3200 or 2933). The extent to which this would translate to real-world improvements depends on the game. As a rule of thumb, I would say games which heavily rely on memory accesses would benefit most: large scale simulators, open world games, games with above average memory utilisation, especially if they make use of a large number of cores.

In terms of the 200 euro dillema, the trick is not to buy say 32 GB or 64GB of RAM from Dell and then wonder if it is worth replacing it with HyperX, but rather to buy the minimum possible, and then get the target amount of HyperX elsewhere. Usually some money is left in the pocket, plus some 5-10% of real-life performance improvement, which is around what some CPU or GPU (hello Super) generational upgrades can claim.

 

So I tried the new RAM and it will not run at 3200mhz. No matter what xmp I set it to in the bios is runs at 2933 17-21-21-21-49. No clue what logic this motherboard uses to set this timing and speed as it’s not even a profile for the sticks. Performance at 2933 and the lower CL makes 0 difference in benchmarks and sometimes even lower physics scores. Am I missing another setting to make these run at 3200?

 

If your machine came with 2933 ram then the motherboard you have will only run ram at that speed. Apparently 2 different motherboards exist, if you bought with 3200 ram originally then it would read your new ram correctly, I presume anyway.

 

Might as well buy 4.0 drives as this point, so you can take advantage of them with your next laptop and won't have to rebuy new 4.0 drives at that time.

At least that's what I'm doing.

 

What are the exact RAM configurations you are comparing? Start offf by running memory benchmarks using AIDA or Sandra. The fact that you got worse physics scores, suggests something is wrong with your methodology. Make sure your CPU utilization is close to zero and nothing else is running on the machine during benchmarking.

 

So here is the best I can do with the 10700k and 2070 super. Seems like these are pretty good graphics and physics scores?

https://www.3dmark.com/fs/23962629

 

Top FS score for 10700k with 2070s... Still have doubts about HyperX?

https://www.3dmark.com/search#advan...ck=&maxGpuMemClock=&minCpuClock=&maxCpuClock=

 

Wow didn’t know I was number 1 for this config! I still have more OC headroom. Time to play.

 

That's some good numbers you got there! I'm only at number 11!

But I like that my CPU temps stay under 80C, so I won't push it further

 

Local Dell have 15% off now. Very tempted. Should I go for lowest amount of 3200Mhz ram and the buy 32gb HyperX, or just go with 32gb 2933Mhz?

 

Depends on the overall price difference you can get between the two options and what your willing to spend. Overall as @etern4l highlighted you'll likely get roughly a 5 FPS increase (varying between games) and slight increase in benchmark scores.

I've previously tried and reported the 3200 Crucial Ballistix (CL16) crashes and jumps between XMP profiles (Crashed down to 2933 then 2666 before i returned it). As an update I tried today the OLOy 3200 (CL18) and again returned it after it failed to boot. Cheap manufacturer without XMP profiles it appears that was even less useful than the Crucial.

Personally I'd get the HyperX, but again only really for bragging rights similar to Spartan@HIDevolution lol, I do regret getting 32GB of the Dell 3200 (CL22) as the difference to HyperX's (CL20) is marginal and the cost prohibitive. Regardless im likely going to wait out for the HyperX this upcoming black Friday for a deal and get it "sigh".

Only other point is going for the Dell 2933 will mean you get the motherboard that will not allow a future upgrade to 3200 if you decide later.

 

The whole 51m 3200 RAM thing looks like a scam. The RAM supplied by Dell has atrocious timings. They say 64GB doesn't work, but apparently 64GB HyperX does. Even HyperX doesn't look that great at 3200 - only 10% better CL than Dell vs +20% at 2933. Faster modules don't work. I would just get the cheaper of HyperX 2933 or 3200, since I doubt there is any performance difference between the two.

As for the different motherboards: who the hell does this? Why would there be a need for a specific motherboard to run 3200 RAM. Anyone knows? @Papusan @Mr. Fox

 

Ok, the I've ordered the R2 now.

Ended up with this config;

Base:
-Lunar Light (Dark Side not available with my countrys keyboard)
-i7 10700K (i9 runs hotter for games afaik)
-RTX 2080 Super
-17,3-inch 1920x1080 @ 360Hz, Tobii, G-sync
-DDR4 XMP 16gb @ 3200MHz (to get the "right" version of the MB)
-RAID0 2x256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD (to get dual heatsinks)

Extra:
-Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500gb (system drive)
-Intel 665p 2tb (storage drive)
-HyperX DDR4 2x16gb @ 3200MHz (bcuz bragging rights, that's why ;-)

Very long delivery time, but if something amazing comes along before new years, I can just cancel or send send back.

EDIT: While waiting, what are the essential Dell drivers/software and what's pure bloat? I'll do a clean install from the start.

And cancelled. The delivery was prolonged, so I might as well wait and see what happens next year.

 

This is controlled in the BIOS. The firmware will only support what they decide to allow. Limiting support to 1.200V dramatically reduces the ability to run higher speeds and tighter timings.

Nothing even remotely "special" can happen with 1.200V. Entry level starts at 1.350V. Even my TongFang turdbook runs 3200 CL 15 with 1.400V without issue, so this is all about executive decisions being made by people that are ignorant, biased, uncaring and misinformed. The only way to deal with that kind of stupidity is to stop giving them your money for crippled trash.

 

OK, so you say that decided to limit RAM voltage in their product "Area 51M R2" to 1.2V. Still doesn't explain the two mobo versions. They couldn't argue that the 3200 mobo is newer/better because both were released at the same time.
I guess I wouldn't be a good idiot's advocate In this case, I suspect the simplest answer is probably closest to the truth: they did this just to prevent people from upgrading.

 

This has unfortunately become a common approach that is based on greed and evidence of wicked intentions. The RAM speed limitation is tied to firmware and based on a decision to limit performance capacity. It was metered in a different measure on the R2 motherboard, slightly less restrictive than the R1 firmware, but still seriously gimped. This is the mindset of Dell/Alienware leadership.

 

I'm still not convinced of the two motherboard theory. It doesn't make any sense especially for something as asinine as limiting RAM speeds.

We all know Dell cuts costs wherever possible so the manufacture of two motherboard makes no sense at all.

 

What would it take to convince you though? A reseller rep statement? Not good enough. Multiple user reports? Insufficient. Nobody has come forward and provided evidence to the contrary? Nope, but still have doubts.

If you are waiting for an admission from Dell, you are going to be waiting for a while. For one thing, they are obviously cutting down on involvement with the community, given the axing of the Community Manager role.

 

Two part numbers would be enough to convince me, but we've not seen that.

 

That would be tantamount to a confession. As @Mr. Fox suggested, this could be just locked out in firmware. Same part number, just a single setting in BIOS "build mode" (I know such an evil thing exists because I've seen it with my own eyes during mobo replacement).

 

I think the only real way to test out the theory if it has not been tested yet is to get a notebook with 2933 MHz and install dell approved 3200 MHz to check if it hits those speeds. Writing two different firmwares to limit speeds seems messed up. At that point if it's upto Dell/Alienware, they will control everything that goes in the laptop. What if you got an i7 and wanted to throw in your own i9 down the road as an example.

 

Dell approved vs HyperX 3200 is moot because the latter is compatible and works at 3200.
That experiment has been done more than once IIRC.

The interesting question is: would it be possible to get into that BIOS build mode. @Papusan @Mr. Fox? I doubt something as simple as removing CMOS battery would work.