*OFFICIAL* Alienware m15 Owner's Lounge

Maybe worth a try. Test out an older version Windows ISO so you can rule out anything from newer Win 10 versions. Windows and Office ISO Download Tool and use Rufus. Test out without newer patches. Only needed drivers + Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes All-in-One

Edit. Remember install .net3.5 for Takeownership.

I would also take contact with Dell Alienware support on twitter/facebook. Umar Khan is gone from the spotlight but they should have other people higer up who should be able to give some answers http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-win-update-bios.831450/page-13#post-11004757

 

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Does anyone know if it supports Opteron?

 

What are the general impressions on the standard keyboard vs the cherry one?

 

You should ask this question to m15/m17 R4 topic

 

Does anybody knows if there is a way to control how charging works for m15 r1? In the bios I have two options (fast and normal charging) but I would like to keep the battery at 80% when plugged in, as usually I have it plugged to the AC adaptor. It seems that some m15 r3 owners have a "desktop mode" when right clicking on the battery icon in the taskbar, but I haven't seen something like that in my m15 r1. Any idea?

 

This would probably have to be supported in BIOS. I tried installing Dell Power Manager - no luck.

 

OK, so they m15 R4 I purchased would come with Dell's generic 512GB SSD (not Raid) and Windows 10 Home. I want to replace this SSD with my own SSD (M.2 NVMe Samsung EVO 970 512GB). Should I just replace the SSDs and execute a fresh Windows 10 install (I have a thumb drive with Windows installation ready to go) on the Samsung SSD? Or should I clone the drives? Would I lose any good stuff that was preloaded on the PC from the factory if I do a fresh new OS install?

 

Hey everyone, I am interested in rejoining the Alienware community and was wondering if anyone had seen any reviews or gotten ahold of the new Alienware M15 Ryzen R5?
I'm looking into the QHD, Ryzen 7 with RTX 3070 and Cherry Mechanical Keyboard. Seems like the perfect combination to me. I currently have a Legion 7i with i7 and 2080 Super Max-Q and the biggest thing that I would be losing is the beautiful screen so I'm hoping the QHD 240Hz display of the R5 would be nice. I would also be sacrificing the NumPad which is a bit annoying but oh well. That's why right now, the upgrade is between this, and the Legion 5 Pro (or wait for the upcoming Legion 7). Still not sure though so any feedback you all have is appreciated!

 

Has anybody benchmarked their m15 r1 lately? With my Throttlestop settings I was able to run CB20 under 60W so it will run at 4Ghz without throttling as many times as I would like, but yesterday I tried again and found that I'm using 62.4W, so it will end up throttling once the PL1 time is over. Undervolting is working because if I disable it I will go up to 70W very easily. I'm using the same old BIOS (2.1.1) and have all the mitigations for spectre and those things disabled. The microcode of my i7-9750H is DE (according to HWINFO64). I have a m15 r1 with i7-9750H and RTX 2060.

Any clue?

 

I happened to bench CB20 a few days ago (8750h), and even though it can hold the max 3.9GHz all the time, the score is still 100 points lower than the record, although that was the result of the first security patch a while back.

 

Did you checked your package power usage with Throttlestop, I suppose that if it can sustain it is below 60W. Mine will go below 60W as soon as throttled to 3.9 (the 9750 should be able to keep 4.0). What is "the security patch a while back" that you mention? I missed that.

 

56W
One of the BIOS updates way back. Sorry not sure which one. I'm on 2.4.1 but it was one of the earlier ones that caused this perf hit.

 

Is the CTRL+ESC to enter recovery bios still working in newer BIOS? I'm trying to help a friend undervolt his m15 (bios 2.6.0) and to do so I'm trying to flash back to an older one using the recovery method but it does not work. If a hold press CTRL+ESC and connect the AC power the machine will boot, then I have a black screen for around 10 seconds or so and the it continue with the normal boot. Doing the same thing in my laptop (m15 with 2.1.1) gives me the BIOS recovery screen every time.

 

There is no harm done with a fresh install. I'd actually recommend it.

 

Cool, so with a fresh Windows 10 install - I'd need to re-install all the Dell/Alienware software manually, correct (laptop management, fan profiles, etc.)?

 

BIOS 2.7.0 is out with intriguing release notes:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/e...oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-m15-laptop

- Updated the default setting of Battery Charge Configuration in the BIOS to Primarily AC Use.

I'm currently on 2.4.1 and wondering whether to roll the dice.
If anyone has tried this, please advise if undervolting still works, and whether the Primarily AC charging option is actually available in BIOS.

 

Updated my m15's BIOS, and it does add "Primarily AC Use" in the BIOS under Battery Configuration Setting. Can't comment on undervolting because I'm still trying to unlock for my laptop.

 

You'll need to reinstall AWCC (Alienware Command Center), AWCC Overclocking tools, all the Intel drivers, and your Nvidia driver. I recommend not installing Dell's SupportAssist application or the Alienware variant of the same bloated nonsense. You are totally okay blowing out the recovery partition when you clean install Windows. The only reason that partition exists is to restore the laptop to a factory image, which is basically what you're doing with a USB drive.

 

I've updated (as the Primary AC Use is very important for me) and I can still undervolt, but I have a 8950HK, I don't know if that makes a difference. I also have another m15 with 9750H on BIOS 2.1.1 and I've not updated that one, as I'm going to sell it, the new user will decide .

After checking the new offers from the different vendors and where are we going I decided to get a 8950HK with 2080 max-Q for cheap and just stay in the last "upgradable" laptop for as long as I can.

Also, you can downgrade from 2.7.0 to any BIOS over 2.0 without problems.

 

BTW has anyone seen this issue where the white background on the internal IPS display starts flickering subtly with different shades/colours, usually blueish? What could be the reason?

 

Finally tried out FW 2.7.0 today and it killed my AGA performance. My 1080ti was detected fine but it seemed like it was constantly dropping frames or something.

 

There's a 2.10.0 firmware update for the m15/m17. I attempted to update but it fails, has anyone else experienced this?

 

Fails how?

 

It does a system scan, then it just says this. Going to the Dell drivers page and downloading the .exe I double click it and nothing happens.

 

Nuts, I'm not sure what's going on.

 

Anyone experience issues with the R1 Trackpad not clicking? Touching/tapping works, but pressing down to "click" seems to work only when it wants to and doesn't more often then not.

 

So the battery for my m15 R1(8750+1660Ti) has swollen up so badly that the bottom cover isn't even remotely flush with the keyboard deck. Its out of warranty, I contacted Dell and they told me a replacement battery was backordered, and I'd have to wait some time for a new one. I was already kinda annoyed by having to lug around the beast, I always prefer small thin and light laptops and use a desktop for games, but I had to make an exception cause my situation at that time made a desktop a unpractical and almost impossible option. That is not true anymore and I've been wanting to build a desktop but have held back hoping for the GPU market to improve. Sorry for rambling but just wanted to give a better idea of my current situation, I had to wait to get a new OEM battery, I did have the option of buying a 3rd party non OEM battery but I decided to cut my losses with the AW, bought a thin and light for my daily driver which made my life easier, bought parts for a new desktop except the GPU(have had little luck securing one for a reasonable price, hoping it'll get slightly easier after the holidays). I figured my PS5 will satisfy the gaming itch till I finish my build.

But I've been seriously itching to play the new Halo, so my question is can I use the M15 despite the swollen battery? Per my understanding, the swollen battery will reduce performance, but can I just remove the battery and use the m15 while plugged in and get the full potential performance of the laptop? the 1660Ti isn't exactly a beast so I am gonna need as much performance as I can squeeze out of it to play a new AAA title like Halo. Or should I just pony up for a non OEM battery? I dont want to spend anything on a obsolete laptop I'm not planning to use anymore but if I might look into it if thats my only option here

 

The irony that my machine had a “shipping delay” in Roswell, NM is funny as hell!

 

Get that battery out of there, a swollen battery is a ticking time bomb. Don't wait to get the replacement, get the old one out and safely disposed of. You should be able to use the laptop without the battery without issue.