*OFFICIAL* Alienware m15 Owner's Lounge

IDK, my guess is it would work (based on my AW15 experience only). I didn't bother trying because the 2800MHz HyperX has higher CL.

 

I measured the original pads before replacing them and they were exactly 1.0mm, and they had marks done by the VRMs, not very deep but enough.

I don't know how others apply it, but you can always check how much original paste is present in your CPU/GPU and heatsink. In my case there was no obvious spot with enough paste to justify that the contact could be that bad. Also, even just a very small quantity will spread as you press with the heatsink, so even if you think it is thin, it will be more than enough to fill any gaps due to an uneven surface.

 

I have a question for other OLED owners. I've read that the m15 OLED screen doesn't really support HDR games, and only HDR video streaming, and that you should get only that option in Windows 10 Display options. I don't know why, but I have the "Enable HDR for Apps and Videos". When I enable it, the color accuracy is great, no longer it is over saturating colors. Also once it is enabled the monitor appears with 10bits of color.

After that, I've tried several HDR videos through Edge with impressive results, but the only game I've tried that supports HDR, Destiny 2, doesn't allow me to enable it. It complains about lack of support in the screen. Any other game or demo I could try to double check that? I wasn't expecting it to support HDR games, but I would expect games to use the Windows API to detect it.

Another question, how should I calibrate the display? I have a i1Display Pro and was going to calibrate the screen with HDR mode enable (as I think I'm going to keep it) but I don't know if this is making the HDR colors less accurate. Any suggestion?

 

Sounds like you have a different mobo variant.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider demo on Steam supports HDR. I have a HDR capable monitor but turned the feature off. HDR content looked good when enabled, however no better than well calibrated SDR, but then I also noticed it was clipping the shadows (there would be a visible jump from black to grey) in SDR content - both games and videos

 

Sorry, for the sudden question that already might be answered here. There is still a slight possibility that I will switch from my Area 51M to the new m15.
- Are there people who already received their new m15 models?
- Are there any zero day issues with the new m15? Just like the Area 51M had the burning issue, especially with the RTX 2080 gpu's.
- Is there a reason why there is a shortage of stock in certain countries (including mine, Belgium)? Where the new m15 currently is not available at all.
- Does anyone know the temperature difference and power consumption difference between the RTX 2070 max q and RTX 2080 max q? (preferably temps for a machine with an i7 cpu).

 

Zero day issues include soldered limited and likely slow RAM, soldered WiFi, inverted motherboard. Look around for the m15 R2 thread.

 

No one has it only Umar and his team showing the gaming performance on YouTube. Great cpu temperature I would say, i believe better than any r1 out of box or even with LM. Though it’s kind like MacBook that all parts mostly soldered and unfriendly for users to upgrade, so better go to max setting gpu and ram.

 

Is the alienware m15 r1 worth the hassle over the Triton 500? Narrowed my options down to these two. Alienware is 15% cheaper tho. Reading through last 100 pages of this laptop I have mixed feelings of it's performance..

 

I remember looking at Triton 500, something killed the deal for me, might have been the battery, and of course the lack of AGA option, which in the latest AW laptops is pretty awesome because the onboard dGPU doesn't get disabled.

Performance is great after UV and repaste, so you need to be prepared to do both.

 

Keep in mind the Triton 700 is currently on sale on Amazon + if you get the 2080 Max q version, you can switch between Optimus and gsync unlike the m15.

Triton 500 cons:
Flipped motherboard (hassle to get in)
No graphic amp support (15% better than TB3 option)
Worse battery life (4-6 hours on Optimus vs 8-9 on 90WHr batt on m15)
Ports aren't in the back (cleaner setup with m15)
Acer support (not as good as Alienware)
2080 Max q is 80w variant (Alienware is 90w and 10% more powerful as a result)
Very basic bios (can't turn off raid and thus it's harder to install Linux)

Triton 500 pros:
Gsync support
3 Ms response time (Alienware is 7ms)
Better cooling out of the box
Can switch between gsync and Optimus (on 2080 mq version only)


Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

Flipped motherboard is kind of an issue. Getting in means, more waste of time.]
Graphics amp not needed for me. I have already a dedicated PC. This laptop is just an extra one for on the go.
Battery life is actually close to same, not as you suggest. Both can run on iGPU and will have around avg battery drain 13-15w with light use. So 6-7hours. (triton has 84wh and m15 90wh)
Ports indeed look cleaner on m15. Lenovo for example does this also better.
I would never get in contact with acer support, because I don't buy direct from them. Alienware you have to buy sadly from dell, which has terrible support I have read.
2060 version has only optimus and no g-sync.
Panel is indeed better on the triton. Alienware uses 8.0 version of the AUO panel and Acer uses 8.2.

How is Dell with accepting returns? In Europe you have 14 days the right to send something back.

Ordered the M15 (I7 8750H + RTX 2060 + 16GB + 512GB (2x 256) SSD + 90wh). Now lets hope I get lucky and this ones heatsink is applied correctly and has decent paste job.

 

Killer 1650X WLAN Driver 21.30.1.1
Killer E3000 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Driver 10.035.0510.2019
Killer 1650X Bluetooth Driver 21.20.0

 

A Dell operator have said that will send tommorrow a technician to my home for solve the issue.
He told me that they have to change the motherboard,the heatsink and the battery.
Sincerely I prefered a full exchange,because the motherboard can have bringed all the components with it (ex. ram,ssd,wi-fi card).
I think also that Dell himself suit better to do so,the 80% of the laptop is involved in problems.
I don’t want a mended laptop.
Does Dell usually try to repair over exchange?
If you were me,would you ask for the exchange?

 

You can ask but I doubt they will offer it.
If you reported the issue within the return period, they would still only offer a return not exchange (which sucks if you got your mahhine on sale).

The mobo replacement should be very straightforward though. Make sure you test everything before you sign off and let the tech out of the premises.

 

So I asked for an exchange arguing the fact that for me (maybe I’m too scared) having a laptop adjusted with other part not member of the stock laptop is a trouble;I was answered by the operator that he will forward the manager that I want the exchange and also he said that given the situation is highly probable that my request will be pleased.
If it will be so I can simply say that Dell assistance is very good,because they were not obliged to indulge that.

 

I was also very happy with Dell support, although they didn't solve the disabled short Turbo Boost after sleep issue, but neither did the Twitter support nor Frank Azor.

 

Congrats.

The paste job will be bad, it's the Dell standard. Order Phobya Nanogrease Extreme, keep calm and repaste - it's very easy and I'd say actually exciting to see the results

 

Ok so an update on my issue, everything seems to be working fine and I wont need to be getting the MoBo replaced as I originally suspected. I contacted Dell support first thing on Monday and they had some troubleshooting steps they wanted to go through before they could send a tech, I didnt have the laptop on me at the time so I told them I'd call them back when I do. Been a busy week but finally found some time this morning so I went ahead and called them again, was connected to the same tech support agent and the first thing he asked me to do was open up the laptop, disconnect the battery and hold the power button for one minute. I did that, then he told me to reconnect the battery and try again, and that was it. The issue seems to be resolved for now. Any ideas what was up and why draining the system of power helped fix it?

 

I still have 11g tube of kryonaut lying around here. Because I repasted my PS4 Pro and I upgraded my CPU cooler for my PC. I will see if temps are fine with the dell paste. Because I don't like to get inside the laptop inside the return window.

 

I repasted with Kryonaut innitially, and after barely 2 months or so I need to repaste again due to deteriorating core temp differences. 25C in CB20 currently. Just saying.

 

It's very easy to repaste the m15 r1 . Once you remove the bottom cover the heatsink is literally right there staring you in the face. Just unplug the battery.

Another advantage of the r1. Pop open the back cover and you have access to mostly everything -- heat sink, memory, SSD, WiFi. All removable and replaceable (like it should be).

 

So now that the my laptop seems to be working fine and it's out of the return period I'm thinking of going ahead with a repaste and replacing thermal pads. I am thinking of going with IC Diamond for the paste since it's thicker and could help given all I've read about warped heatsinks. What about the thermal pads though? I've no experience with something like that since this is my first gaming laptop I've only owned Ultrabooks and desktops in the past. When I opened up the laptop I noticed that there was absolutely no cooling for the pch, should I stick a thermal pad on that too although I haven't had any issues with the pch temps so far?

 

Repadding is very likely a good idea. Dell uses very hard adhesive pads so they are almost surely suboptimal. I used Gelid GP Extreme since they offer second-best thermal conductivity, and are very compressible and easily available here unlike Fujipoly. It's kind of hard to quantify repadding results though.

I haven't noticed any PCH temp issues (40-70C), but I guess sticking a larger sheet of some hard, thick and strongly adhesive pad couldn't hurt (not sure which pad would work though). I suppose don't fix it if it ain't broken rule applies.

 

Use cooler master MakerGel or IC diamond or even Phobya nanogrease extreme.

 

I'm still waiting for Phobya. It's on its way from a secret TIM lab in Germany and evidently delayed, which I accept with humility and patience.

 

Hmmm... then get ic diamond 7 and repaste and enjoy your PC until Phobya arrives.
Don't worry about high spikes to 98C because its firmware throttling and you can just your hand to confirm the heat coming from base cover which doesn't feel like 90C. You will notice CPU fan speed is reduced whereas GPU is not. Lastly, setup DPTF properly to avoid throttling.

 

it's worth the wait d00d. This is the best thermal paste out there (non Liquid Metal that is)

 

Is there any way to control the performance profiles without the command center? I don't need the library and all the other features, just switch between balanced performance and quiet. Any lightweight tool to do so?

 

Not aware. Older AWs had the option to change this in BIOS. Anyway, who needs to worry about lightweight tools if they've got absolutely massive 16GB of RAM in their new $6500 Alienware m15 (R2)?

 

Got a shipping number on the 5th of july, but still says it's underway to ups in china. I need a laptop dell, hurry up

 

Why can't they prebuild them in China and config locally (RAM/SSD) for next day delivery in major markets is a bit of a mystery.

 

Apparently it did ship correctly, but they handed from ups the package over to DHL and now they handing it 50 km from my house back over to UPS... Strange way of delivering but ok

 

I hope you get it in your hands soon. I remember how excited I was to get mine and I'm hopeful you enjoy your new m15 as much if not more.

 

It arrived Going to play with it and tweak some stuff now!

 

Damn it. They shipped my laptop with a LG display panel instead of the BOE panels. Also the battery has out of the box 8.2% wear level!! Wtf

 

5-8% battery wear on arrival seems standard on these. They are basically lying about battery capacity.

 

Yikes, im going to demand them refunding part of the order for this bs.

Also anyone have an idea how to get fan control? Seems to be broken...

 

Let us know how it goes. Perhaps we can put together a little class action lawsuit here lol
Alienware Control Centre.

 

Mine had 9% battery wear on arrival and they said it was normal ... I decided to keep it as I can always change the battery in a year or two but I wasn't happy about that.

 

Haha I'm just going to ask them like 5-10% refund. I tried but the alienware command center doesn't do anything.. It does it all manually, modes don't even have affect.

Temps are great. 140mv undervolt + 2cm lift off and GPU is running around 75 degrees and cpu around 83.

I'm also keeping it because thermals are fine and laptop feels and is great. Only the fan control doesn't work.

 

Curious if they give you any discount for the battery.

AWCC can be confusing. The fan control mode changes only work on the main screen (you can also change it on per game /app basis) , you can't change the mode from the Fusion section as one might expect, but you can modify profile parameters, and if you modify the currently selected mode, changes will be reflected immediately. Hope that makes sense.

 

AWCC has been working fine for me, the different thermal (fan) profiles seem to work, although all I use is Performance Mode so the fans spin max when gaming. Still, it was a big pain to install correctly, I had to uninstall AWCC Suite and OC Controls via Control Panel, then I think I installed the OC Controls via Dell installation package first, then the AWCC via Dell installer package afterwards . I didn't even bother updating via Windows Store.

This general movement towards the DCH/UWP crap is driving me nuts.

 

Damn. It is confusing indeed, thanks for tip Now I understand haha. Laptop is great. 35-40W cpu power and still max 85 cpu temps. The cooling of this laptop is so much better on the M15 than the Y540. As long as you lift it 2 cm up though.

 

I think I need to open up the laptop. When I tilt the laptop in the air it sounds like that the left fan is hitting almost the grill and makes strange whoosh sound.

 

Those are amazing temps! It's the 9th gen cpu? Even with a -150mv undervolt I still hit high 90's. Just received my NanoGrease Extreme. Still waiting on the GP-Extreme pads and I'm going to repaste and change all thermal pads to see if it helps.

So...dot, X or spread technique?

I also bought the SSD heatsink, should I change the pads that came with it?

 

The 2cm lift off is the difference. Without I hit 95+ temps on cpu. I have the 8th gen i7, running basically 3.9Ghz constantly while games. Looks to be a good in general.

 

I will be repasring with Phobya soon too, do share your results. I would be spreading by default. It's a thick paste apparently.

 

Can't that increase the chance of getting air bubbles? (just a thought, never done that before)

 

A dot would be sufficient enough.

 

It might, but if the paste is very thick and sink pressure low there is also a risk of poor spread and non-coverage with the dot method? I'm thinking out loud here too lol.