*OFFICIAL* Alienware X Series Owners Lounge and Discussion

Only the 360Hz screen has advanced optimus on x17. Rest is all normal optimus. Optimus causes a 10% drop in performance when running on the internal screen. I can notice a dip in my score by 500 points to 1000 points when I switch to hybrid mode from dGPU mode on the Legion 7. Get the 360Hz screen if you buy the x17.

 

Sorry for the random reply but can you confirm that the 4k version has Nvidia Optimus. I have been getting conflicting information from some other owners regarding this. I am asking because I was curious about the battery life on this device.

 

Here's what I get in the Nvidia control panel. From what I was told on Reddit, this option showing up means Optimus is enabled.

 

My m17 r4 scores almost 1200 points more then this with a 10870h. That's horrible..

 

Welp. You saw the numbers folks. Unless you’re using an external display most of the time, 360hz is the way to go.

 

Each new day and you'll see more of the same on 3DM search. 3 new from july 6th (Today).

https://www.3dmark.com/spy/21357686
https://www.3dmark.com/spy/21357876
https://www.3dmark.com/spy/21350530

 

Perhaps you are referring to some early Optimus implementations. Neither performance nor stability issues are evident in my m15. I guess this could be implementation-specific.

 

Do we already know what kind of DDR4 memories is Dell shipping with x17? I’m talking about the issues with ram density in another laptops (Lenovo and Asus I believe).

 

X17. 3466mhz ram. 1x8.

 

The 16 gig variant comes with 1x16, so avoid that if you can. I think the 32gig/64gig option ram is 1x8

 

I’ll go for the 32Gb 3466 then, thank you!

 

Does anyone else find it curious that there are only two video reviews of this laptop and nothing from any publication?

 

I don't think they sent out any 3080s early to reviewers (no idea why). I got mine 5 days earlier than expected due to FedEx just being fast. I'd say in a week there should be more info from known reviewers.

 

The conspiracy theorist inside some of us would say that they knew the performance would be lackluster so they wanted the rush of early sales before people could see that the new flagships would be outclassed by earlier models. I'm sure that's just crazy talk though.

 

It's possible that the 3200mhz option is also 1x16? This would account for the discrepancy in the CPU score in Time Spy.

(1) Alienware X17 High Density Ram Strikes Again! Upgrade Your Ram For Better Performance - YouTube

 

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/pfydresults/273259?categoryId=4325

 

Thanks for the quick response. Do you happen to know if the X17 can be undervolted as well? I just want to get an idea of what can be done before it arrives. I plan on running a few benchmarks with dual rank memory once it gets to me around July 22nd. Debating on whether to keep this or the Zephyrus S17 when both arrive.

 

Ran Shadow of the Tomb Raider demo

Highest settings, anti-aliasing on TAA, 1080p System set to high performance, full fans

External monitor: 130 FPS https://imgur.com/a/WHRCAW2

UHD Laptop Display: 116 FPS https://imgur.com/a/fkLc3ev

Definitely a 10% Optimus penalty here

 

Appreciate the data!
For reference, 132fps with same settings on my 51M R2 (i9-10900K, 2070S): https://imgur.com/IXYwyPU

 

Did you undervolt the CPU and tweak the GPU using Afterburner or was that still on stock settings?

As for the 10% Optimus penalty, it shouldnt be the case at all. The laptop is basically faulty.

 

That is with my 'new' Certified Refurbished 51m R2 from Dell Outlet. The only setting I changed was enabling XMP in the bios for the DDR4 3200 memory. For some reason that was disabled when I received the unit, so I loaded details and then manually set it to enabled.

I wanted to get a baseline as I just ordered a 2080S GPU off EBay. Once I install it and I will rerun the benchmark to compare with the 2070S score.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider really seems to like that i9-10900K CPU. For reference I am getting ~10.6K combined on Time Spy with the 2070S.

 

Loool AW at it again. Gotta love how you're able to download slower "RAM" and "CPU". when this gets out to the public, and D(H)ELL releases a new bios update which "fixes" their mistake, people can download the faster "RAM" and "CPU" again, and people will rejoice cause D(H)ell gave them "free" performance lol

They did the same on the 17R5 cause of the bad heatsink contact, and the i7 which was hard to cool for the 7820HK models (and the 6820HK models)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/ofdu9e/if_you_ordered_the_xmp_memory_for_the_x17_do_not/

 

Not sure if it's necessarily faulty: Jarrod saw the exact same thing with the Zephyrus S17. But it certainly seems to be an issue with Gen 11 Intel processors and Optimus

 

Yeah, the performance hit is ridiculous. Hopefully something that can be fixed through Nvidia or Intel driver updates, and now a big reason why the lack of a MUX switch in AW laptops sucks.

 

With a proper config (x8 RAM) the X17 should perform decently in RTX games, at least not worse than the GE76. I don´t know which screen was used here, I guess 360Hz panel with advanced optimus.

https://www.3dmark.com/pr/1116717

 

Its an expected hit from using Optimus, that’s why reviewers are pivoting towards laptops with mix switches and advanced Optimus that don’t have the performance penalty incurred by Optimus.

 

Not sure why the guy was surprised, they tend to supply pretty much the slowest RAM on the market.

 

look. there may be letters under the x17 r1 screen)

 

No letters on my unit

 

No letters on my unit either, Cause I already shipped the POS back.

 

Oh, so you have the 4K panel too? Are you seeing the 10% Optimus performance hit?

 

Fair enough. Care to elaborate?

 

Build quality was great, keyboard and screen amazing. Performance worth over 4k? Nah not for me.
I bought the system to use without an external monitor. If the system performed as it does with external, I would have kept it but the performance hit from optimus is ridiculous.

 

Fair enough. The keyboard wouldn't be for me, looks like the layout was specifically designed to put off anyone who would want to do actual typing, but the Optimus thing is indeed bizarre. If it is an Intel 11th gen issue, then they should have added a MUX switch.

 

100% agree. That will be added for the Gen 2, gotta keep the profits rolling in.

 

Actually I forgot the secondary key functions don't light up, which annoyed me but the mechanical keys had a good feel for me.

 

Quick heads up on 11800h cpu, apparently there is a partial unlock (400mhz) on the frequencies allowing it to reach 5ghz.

Can anyone confirm this

 

It does appear to allow +4 bin. - http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/the-throttlestop-guide.531329/page-1305#post-11095783

https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/nfmytu/got_my_intel_i7_11800h_tiger_lake_laptop/

 

This appears to involve some overclocking-related settings in MSI BIOS, no?

 

I believe so, there is a key combination that reveals additional BIOS options for some MSI laptops. I haven't read of anyone having to flash a different version yet.

 

Ive someone could please link part numbers for the light up trackpad and the module that the track pad is attached to and any cables attached to said trackpad and module as well id really appreciate it.

 

Yes, but only in CPU limit, which admittedly are very rare in 4K.

 

Err, so TimeSpy is CPU-limited? I suspect this has more to do with system RAM, which is used extensively by Optimus. What RAM did Dell supply you with?

 

Hot of the press

https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-gaming-laptops

 

So with these purchases comes rewards. What are people using yours for? They expire quicker then I would have thought.

 

Maybe Dell should send with an external 1080/1440p screen in every laptop shipping package for free?

Such terrible long lifestream videos of a unboxing is for me pretty useless so you have to spool through the video to find what you have interest of. In short/to sum it up... 100C is still Dell's main target (the reason they want you to use TCC Offset), castrated undervolt feature for Cpu and disgusting benchmarks with the internal screen. Listening from 3:08:25 (Time stamps in the pict).



I mean I have seen also previous model, the m17 with unlocked HK chips also managed 100C with around 105-115W Cpu Package power in benchmarks. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I doubt it.

 

Not the best source I dare say. Would recommend notebookcheck: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebookcheck-s-Top-10-Gaming-Laptops.98628.0.html

 

I thought the consensus was the chips stayed cool in these laptops but 100'c on a laptop cpu with vapour chamber, liquid metal and 4 fans is disappointing. I guess it's that small form factor.

 

Yep, and I wonder what tricks they will try when next level of the shrinking madness become reality. They have already used most tricks in the book. Not much can be improved for the cooling if they will continue the race to beat this models thinnes. Maybe go back to old sins as removing the ram slots to try increase the heatsink footprint? And there is no more I/O ports to remove from the sides to improve the heat out-put. I'm sure we still haven't seen the limits on how they want it to be. Razer still offer thinner models