*OFFICIAL* Alienware X Series Owners Lounge and Discussion

The inverted motherboard already present in m-series R2+ is a nasty design, making repaste jobs much more difficult than necessary. Sure enough, the slimming down of the x-series could only have an adverse effect on repaste complexity and risk.

 

360HZ model unboxing and benchmarks by red gloves(previously known as laptop j11).

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 display 360hz unboxing and benchmark - YouTube

More benchmarks with thermals. This unit is running fans at max with stock thermal paste.

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 battlefield 5 frame,temps test (have a big throttling) - YouTube

CPU max temps ~92C, ~74W power draw
GPU max temps ~74C, ~ 135W power draw
CPU + GPU combined power draw: ~207W

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 metro exodus enhanced edition 1080p test - YouTube

CPU max temps ~71C, ~24W power draw
GPU max temps ~78C, ~ 160W power draw
CPU + GPU combined power draw: ~184W

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 horizon 4 benchmark 1080p - YouTube

CPU max temps ~86C, 58W power draw
GPU max temps ~70C, 114W power draw
CPU + GPU combined power draw: ~172W

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 cyberpunk 2077 1080p frame,temps test - YouTube

CPU max temps ~73C, 35W power draw
GPU max temps ~73C, 140W power draw
CPU + GPU combined power draw: ~175W

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 shadow of the tomb raider benchmark 1080p frame,temps - YouTube

CPU max temps ~86C, 64W power draw
GPU max temp ~76C, 140W power draw
CPU + GPU combined power draw: ~204W

 

Good temps IMO.

 

I agree the temps on his stock unit are pretty solid.

In Cyberpunk his temps were roughly ~73C on the GPU while pulling ~140W and the CPU was ~72C while drawing 30W.

In the Tomb Raider benchmark the temps were roughly ~75C on the GPU while pulling 150W and ~80C on the CPU while pulling ~50W.

 

Unfortunately for US consumers, any results from benchmarks on the X17 360hz are irrelevant. The knowledge has been available for what the system is capable of in performance when not crippled by optimus.

 

The main purpose was to highlight the thermals.

 

I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this, but have they observed any weird power throttling once the combined CPU+GPU power draw exceeds 200W?

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 shadow of the tomb raider benchmark 1080p frame,temps - YouTube

At 2:28 it goes from

CPU: ~64W, temperature ~86C
GPU: ~140W, tempearture ~76C
CPU+GPU power draw ~204W

to

CPU: ~27W
GPU: ~117W
CPU+GPU power draw ~144W

I am wondering if this is caused by buggy drivers for how power is being allocated. Maybe an issue with dynamic boost 2.0?

The power throttling also occurs in this other benchmark here at 2:27.

alienware x17 11980hk rtx3080 battlefield 5 frame,temps test (is this throttling?) - YouTube

CPU: ~73W, temperatuer ~92C
GPU: ~131W, temperatuer ~74C
CPU+GPU power draw ~204W

throttles all the way down to

CPU: ~27W
GPU: ~107W
CPU+GPU power draw ~134W

Edit: Just for added context, PL1 is 135W and PL2 is at 165W, both stock values, so I don't think it's the CPU power throttling.

 

Is this the normal behaviour with the X17? The Cpu run all over the places and is more below 3.2GHz than max boost.

 

This isn't unique to the X17. It also happens on the Zephyrus S17 if you look at that users other videos. I think it's due to Dynamic Boost 2.0.

 

Yep, and it's still up to the OEM how they tune the power sharing between the Cpu and Gpu. Or add max allowed power cap. If this isn't as a big problem with the previous model with same Gpu, then they have tuned it wrong in firmware for the newer models. 11980Hk shouldn't eat much more power than 10980Hk with same Gpu. And they both have same 330W power brick.

Have already seen the x17 struggle to beat previous models from last year in 3DM Time Spy. Shouldn't be like this.

 

Yes, after a few minutes the CPU is throttled to 30w. You can avoid this with an OC profile in the AWCC.

At least it worked until the last update. I can't check if it works again, because I sold my X17 and kept the A51mR2.

 

Scalper!

 

Nope... I sold it +-0

 

Dell have updated their specs sheet for Ampere graphics cards in the Alienwares with more models. Even with some older models. Took some time to follow Nvidia's guidelines for the OEM https://www.dell.com/en-us/lp/hmc-alienware-laptop-graphics-cards


Dell XPS 17 70 W vs. 130 W GeForce RTX 3060: How much slower is it, really? notebookchech.nt | July 19, 2021

We suspect that its newer 11th gen Intel Tiger Lake-H Core i7 CPU and spacious 32 GB of RAM are helping the system close the gap between it and other RTX 3060 laptops where 10th gen Comet Lake-H CPUs and 16 GB of RAM are much more common.

Yep, same thinking also for the brand new Alienware x15. Cripple the graphics TDP down to minimum and put all the money on the newer Tiger lake processors and faster ram so the gaming performance should be about equal. Can't offer both. Yes, Dell follow exactly same practice whatever its their XPS or AW gaming brand. Same engineers for both brand under the same hat/umbrella will make this possible.

 

Wait how is that possible? Acer gets a lot of flak for being the bargain basement brand yet the Predator 500SE RTX3060 I just bought has about the same thickness as the X15 more or less and even it is 105W. It even has zero fan operation on battery and stays about 40C browsing using edge, you mean to tell me that the $3200 X15 I seriously considered buying cant but my $1600 Acer can? Is it that bad now?

 

Dang, can hear that annoying whine pitch of the fan at high speeds when laptop heats up for a bit. That is an immediate no for me for any laptop, it's really making finding a laptop difficult.

I have an m15 R5 on the way as I've seen a few reviews where they don't have whine issues with the fans (Mash IT's review I didn't hear a whine for example), and the ones that do - some have had success with simple tape mods which I'm willing to try (potentially an option on this X17 as well...). I'm hoping the lower power of the 3060 I ordered it with will help with the overall noise, but if not it's going right back.

 

Hardly surprising. Small fans tend to be noisy because they need to run at higher RPM to deliver the same airflow as larger fans.

 

Definitely not surprising, but if my cheapo Walmart laptop (Overpowered, Eluktronics rebrand) from 2018 can manage it, there are no excuses for such a high dollar product.

 

Where is the best place to ask Alienware a technical question? I'm very confident that all x17 motherboards have a MUX switch but currently it is disabled (only my assumption). I own the 4K model and I want to put this topic on Dell/Alienwares agenda...if there is any

 

They wouldn’t give a straight answer or it’ll be some random flunky answering out their booty and not know for sure spreading miss information.

 

So everyone who has bad scores with the 4K x17 Alienware Notebook and the internal display. Please try to lower the Windows resolution to 1080p and run the 3DMark Benchmarks again... Here is my score with internal display:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (notebook) Grafikkarten Benchmark Resultat - Intel Core i9-11980HK,Alienware Alienware x17 R1 (3dmark.com)

 

I don't know if this is possible. Saying the X17 has a MUX on the MB means that it has the link from the dGPU to internal display disabled for no apparent reason. Why would any OEM disable a function like that?

 

Dell's own forum https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware/bd-p/Alienware-laptops

Or Facebook/twitter.

And what OEM would disable Cuda cores?

 

Fair enough! Lol...

 

It's not as if I've been patiently waiting for over a month, and I get this today which just so happens to be the shipment date. Not to mention that up until this afternoon said it was on schedule. What wonderful customer service they have. And never mind I paid extra for 2 day shipping.

 

My X17 arrives today .

I've read a ton of people from EEUU in Reddit having delays with their orders.

 

There are corsair and ballistic at cl16 @3200 when fine tuned can hit cl15

 

Are you talking about SODIMMs or desktop RAM? Even if such SODIMMs are available, would they be confirmed working with the x17 at CL16, nevermind 15? How would you tune RAM in an AW laptop?

Remember we are talking about a laptop running CL22/24 RAM by default.

 

Can the I7 11800H Version be undervolted with xtu or do I have to go for the 11980HK? I am pondering to pull the trigger. Is there any reason to go for the 11980hk regarding the limitations of the cooling system? I would order with the 3080 and the 360Hz Display as it is the only option to avoid optimus... My only use case is running RTX games.

 

I receveid mine yesterday, i will try in few hour after work to reply you about UV with XTU.

Mine is x17 with I7 11800H, 3080, 4k panel, 32 go xmp

 

This is the ram I received with the x17 (2x16). Is it crap? How can I know the density?

 

It's not great (look at the CL), it also says single rank which means it could be worse (dual rank/high density).

 

Yeah I know Dell is sending crappy CL Ram but I'm fine with that if it is not high density, thanks!

 

Welcome to Dellienware

 

So it can be undervolted, thank you! +2 rep.

So is there any point opting for the i9 11980HK regarding the cooling capabilities of the x17?? Does the i9 have a better cooling sytem? More or bigger heat pipes??

 

I can UV my 11800h 60mV. Less than that, crash.

Any advice?

 

My x17 (3070 + 11800h) is faster than my desktop (2080 WC and 9700k @5Ghz WC) in Firestrike and Timespy.
I'm surprised TBH.

Does the amount of RAM matters on this kind of tests?

 

I mean it has the same cooling system. At least if they have the same GPU.

x17 R1, CPU throttling at stock settings dell.com/community/Alienware

 

I find stuttering while playing with Optimus disabled (it is supossed to be full dGPU performance). Any ideas?

Edit: I think disabling Optimus directly in BIOS solved it, need to do more research.

 

So with the 360Hz panel optimus can be disabled in BIOS? Could an owner of the 4k panel check if with this panel optimus could be disbled, too? I wouldn´t need advanced optimus. I just want to disable it. In this case I would go for the 4k panel.

I cannot believe that AW uses different mainboards for each panel. I guess the 4k panel is not (yet) certified for g-sync / advanced optimus and therefore the option to disable optimus is not possible.

 

Currently there is no way to disable optimus on the 4K panel. You need to connect an external display to use G-Sync and dGPU. I'm looking everyday on the Alienware support homepage if a new BIOS is available... nobody knows if the 4K variant has a MUX switch or not. I also do not believe that Alienware developes different mainboards for different SKUs.

 

Yes sodimm. They are xmp profile so theoretically it should work as long as it's in the speed limit of the board since it's 3400mhz 3200mhz c16 should work as long as xmp profile can be set. You should see a good chunk of performance uplift. No need to tune just xmp profile and profit. i wouldn't do more then 64gb do to imc. Personally I'd buy 2x 16gb kits and call it a day for gaming or 1x 4x8gb

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083W5ZRJ1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_WSAMAATXXJHAJJXC59S8

Or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799MLW77/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_KA0DFGEC92Z8S15RS95C

Or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QHNBR9J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_KPMF1D9NGJ9CYKKFEB0N

I don't have a x17 to test but amazon has an awesome defective return policy......

 

Yes, it can be disabled in BIOS for the 360hz panel.



The display appears as directly connected to the dGPU

 

Those are indeed all CL16, nice. Forget about Cl15 with tweaking you can't do, I would be amazed to see those work at CL16 with the x17. Someone will try soon, I'm sure. Please post your findings.

 

I don't have a x17 to test on unfortunately I have m17 r4 I did not like the x17 design. Amazon has a excellent return policy for (non working) or as I call it defective product... full refund and a label to return or even free pickup

 

11880h doesn't like much undervolt, only seems stable at -45mV (at least in my unit).

 

By looking at some internal shots some units seem to use Sunon fans (which I really like) and some use FCN fans. Some even seem to use combinations of Sunon paired with FCN. The service manual shows all SUNON. Maybe due to supply chain issues again.

By comparing the cooling system of the m17R4 with the X17 the back heat sink seems to be way smaller on the X17. Wonder if the 2 tiny additional fans on the side with this sleek side heatsinks make up for this. I am not so sure that the m17R4 has a weaker cooling capacity by just looking at the pictures. However, the higher weight of the X17 should come mainly from the cooling system which may be a good sign.

 

I have read on a Chinese Forum that someone was able to enable this setting for the other panels through editing the bios with RU.EFI
If you're using the device strictly plugged in then it would seem like a no brainer to have the screen display directly from the dgpu at all times.

 

Do you have a source ?