*OFFICIAL* Alienware m15 R4 / m17 R4 Owner's Lounge

What are you mining on the cpu?

 

Bitcoin using NiceHash.

 

Bold move bro.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/tag/matjaz-skorjanc/

 

For configurations that don't have a MUX switch and run through the IGP on the built in display, it is most likely your display port to an external monitor that will bypass it. It's the case on my M15 R4 4K and has been so historically on this M17/M15 line.

 

Ok, I would be curious on some feedback here about GPU utilization.

I've been playing Baldur's Gate 3 on my M15 R4 3080 at 4k and everything works as I would expect. GPU utilization is at 100% at 140w constantly, frame rates are good at all ultra settings.
Then I started experimenting with playing with HDR enabled. In order for this to work, I have to enable HDR in Windows, then run BG3 in DX11 mode instead of Vulkan. It comes up with the HDR calibration options and is clearly running in HDR. It's stunning really, looks great.

My problem is the performance. Frame rates are roughly half that without HDR, but this is largely driven by the fact that the GPU is only drawing 90-100w and running at 60% utilization. I've tried a myriad of changes from the Nvidia control panel and ACC to ensure the GPU is getting maximum performance. It's not a heat issue because the GPU is running around 63C at that power, whereas it is usually around 70C at 140w. Do you think the explanation is as simple as poorly optimized code from the game itself? It seemed odd to me that by cranking up some visual details that you would expect to create more demands on the GPU, it actually started running at a much smaller fraction of its full potential. You can see it running at 140w in the game menu but as soon as I load into an actual area the GPU utilization takes a vacation.

 

I 100% believe it is the switch from DX11 to Vulkan. What is your CPU showing as far as usage?

 

Well, I was switching from Vulkan to DX11. Right now HDR is only supported in DX11. After playing around with it more, I do think it's primarily down to the implementation and lack of optimization. It's still early access and has some weird behavior.

For instance, with Vulkan API when I run in fullscreen mode the textures look bad and the GPU only pulls around 90w. When I switch to "fake fullscreen" it looks good and pulls 140w. This is the best performing mode out of all of them.

In DX11 without HDR the GPU pulls about 130w and fairly decent frame rates but not as good as Vulkan. When I enable HDR it suddenly pulls a lot less from the GPU and the frame rates scale down linearly with it.

In all of the above cases, the CPU is running at about 40% utilization regardless of the graphics settings at 4k.

 

Yeah, they make changes without a notice. And people should avoid updating their firmware. Rather have security problems than loose what you in short paid for.... But you will with this miss some needed patches for other flaws as etc Compatibility issues. In short a choice between Plague and Cholera.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...2-owners-lounge.770311/page-440#post-11085455

 

Trying to match your OCs and undervolts and all I get is horrible artifacts and tearing.



Any type of bump in either core clock or memory clock results in what you see in the video above. When I first got the laptop, I was able to do some incremental pushes and got my TimeSpy score over 13k (total), but now, I can't even match anyone else's with stock clocks...

GSync is off. Fan is set to full speed. I'm using MSI Afterburner and ThottleStop to match your numbers. I've updated the drivers, firmwares and BIOS (which hopefully isn't what screwed me).

 

Each CPU and GPU is going to be a little different than the next due to varying silicon quality. Some need more voltage than others.

The type of artifacts captured in your video are generally due to voltage being too low. The core clock is probably too high for the undervolt. It could be the memory overclock is too high, but that generally results in a black screen or "snow" and "sparkly" artifacts rather than the zig-zag looking artifacts.

 

I am on the original bios but I know others have updated and not seen reduced scores...yet. Can you make it thru the run with the artifacting. I have seen that as well with higher clocks. My gaming bin is 1725@ 775mv GPU will max at 1755--two more bins this way and I can run my CPU at 4.4-4.5 without throttle. This seems to be best bang for the buck on my unit.

Exactly as Mr Fox said. My timespy OC would not be and is not gaming stable. Also best runs are after cold boot.

I just did a run for you with my gamer settings. This is 4.5 CPU with -185.5 CPU and Cache. Note--You have to have speedshift and step off to get this

GPU 775MV@1725 Mem@999

I would be happy to remote in and look at what you have going on if you like assuming that does not break forum rules.

I just tested this bin as well and it looks pretty solid. No artifacts and under 165 watts the whole time in 3dmark so no throttle.

 

Yeah, I can finish it. But the scores are worse than when I don't overclock.... I don't understand, how can I be pushing 135 core and 800 memory and the scores are only 12k.... lol

I don't think MSI Afterburner is actually doing anything to be honest.

 

Something is just not working correctly. We will figure it out. You have to be patient with this hobby.

 

The model is the AUO B173HAN05.2

 

Hmm, can't find data on it anywhere. The fact that it's from AUO scares me though. Some reviews online say it's a great panel with higher than the rated brightness of 300 nits. A couple guys say it maxes out closer to 350, so that's good at least.

 

Well, i think that is in the same level as my AUO B173HAN05.1(300Hz), about 300 nits.

You not will find info about this screen in web like panelook…the only place where you can check specs and buy that screen is in taobao.

 

Has anyone gotten the m15 R4 with 3080 and ran timespy? I'm debating between the m15 and m17. Also, do these systems have optimus? I'm not seeing anything about it on dell's website.

 

If R3 is any indication, 144 and 60Hz display options should have Optimus, 300/360Hz don't (resulting in abysmal battery life).

 

Nice, now I just have to figure out the performance difference between the two. I can't believe some of the m17 R4 is hitting 13000+ on gpu score on timespy.

 

some 14k. My gaming bin at 800mv hit 13.7 last night. That is my 24/7. I do have the 360hz display. somewhere between 775 and 800 is the sweet spot at 150-165 watts.

 

Sure, you want to take a look at it, I'd be grateful. I'm at the point now to where my brain does not understand what is actually going on. How can I be overclocking and my scores are going down, lol

 

Finally got around to setting up my m17 r4 and I'm pretty happy with it. Seems a lot better built then my m15. I prefer a desktop for most things, especially overclocking, and a lightweight laptop for on the go, but my work situation changed and I'm not home nearly as much. Desktop just collects dust these days

 

You can see my latest scores here

My stock score was 11365 GPU, 8305 CPU = 10769 total

Also, the screens without high refresh rates (300hz/360hz) have optimus. This would include the 144hz and 4k OLED on the M15 R4.

 

What specs?

 

10870H, 32gb ram, 3080, 4k screen and 512gb ssd. Popped in my 2tb 870 evo from my m15 r2 when it arrived. Maybe this weekend I'll have time for a few benchmark runs. Definitely not going to be able to keep up with the guys with the unlocked CPU's, but we'll see what this thing is capable of.

 

I see you also have a desktop with 2080TI and 9900K CPU. So far reviews shows that the 3080Laptop GPU performs well in TimeSpy benchmark (close to 2080TI).
But.....in games we found that it doesn't deliver good FPS. Much lower then a 2080TI (stock from stock) slower then 2080 laptop also.
It would be nice if you could compare in games the FPS and confirm if you find this to be true.

 

If 3080 mobile aint faster than 3070 desktop card you'll have your answer here. See from 3.40

 

Hello,
Who can help me to remove that plastic to have access on screen, i want to fix the lightbleed.
Thanks!

 

I haven't benched my desktop in a long time, but I'm guessing I'll be able to get better performance out of it. My 9900k and 2080 ti are both underwater. Doesn't seem fair but we'll see what happens

 

I like this guy. He runs systems 24/7 like many of us. Mr Fox has me thinking about doing a crazy customer loop like he has. I actually scored what appears to be a pretty decent 10900kf. It does 5.4 HT off at 1.30 volts. I think 5.4 @1.4 with HT might be possible if I can cool it.

 

Finally arrived, so far I'm very happy with the quality, build, screen. Fans definitely have a higher pitched whine than what I'm used to, but I'm assuming its because they are super thin. You can only notice it at low rpms, not when gaming on performance.

 

I have tried that before. It wasn't a success. You know with IPS panel lightbleed is consider «normal». I recommend you learn to live with it. Mine does have light bleed but i only notice it on windows startup. Oled and TN panel don't have lightbleed but they have other issues (TN color are bad and Oled refres rate is bad).

 

Hello,
Finaly i removed the plastic very hard about 15 minutes and retaped the screen, now light bleed is gone.

 

Please share how you did this. How does the plastic come apart? I too would like to fix the bleed on my screen.

 

m17 R4/m15 R4, BIOS changelog, undervolting feature
by Malkiyah dell.com/community/Alienwareon ‎03-25-2021

For Alienware m15 R4 and Alienware m17 R4 a new BIOS released:
Version 1.3.1, date 23 Mar 2021

"Could anyone confirm, that undervolting IS NOT LOCKED in new bios ?"

Can this be confirmed or denied (unlocked and locked processors) ? And as usual useless answers from Dell's tech support team on the question in the thread topic...



If locked out, please post in my thread. Thanks
BLACK LIST 2. Adjustable voltage control/turbo ratio limits locked out - Affected 10th gen notebooks

 

Hi Papusan! You got ahead of me, that's my topic
Also I made a topic in reddit community as this is very important and we need to get answers asap by all available means.

 

Hopefully undervolting is enabled and works well so Dell will be encouraged to bring it back to the rest of its product stack, including older Alienware laptops as well as the XPS and G3/5/7.

 

See this thread... Alienware Discord AMA with Eddy Goyanes and Ernie Gonzales

You all should tag @DELLChrisM a second time and ask for proper answers. The product managers at AW clearly state that you all should be able to undervolt your processors (unloced or locked shouldn't matter). If they lock you out from undervolting it just means they are liars and can't be trusted. Once again. A locked down processor should be equal easy to undervolt.

 

Are Intel forcing people and OEMs to use 11th gen or 12th gen CPUs by disabling undervolting? The newer so called microcode fixes do consume lot of power and nearly killed undervolt headroom in skylake/kabylake.

I think they used Prema BIOS which had those features w/o sacrificing undervolt feature. Dell sells undervoltable laptops which are locked after a firmware update.

 

Good news.
2 owners from reddit confirmed that undervolting is still unlocked in new BIOS 1.3.1
https://i.imgur.com/rbXcpFj.jpg

 

Is it confirmed that undervolt is possible for both the unlocked and locked down processors?

 

What means "unlocked" and "locked down" cpu's ? Haven't met this before...

 

The picture above is mine. I was the one who posted it on reddit. It’s the i9 just FYI

And just a question, are there unlocked BIOSes available for these newer machines ? Something you can flash with a hw programmer ?

 

Hk models have unlocked multiplier. Aka you can overclock the Cpu opposite to most of the H branded models who is locked.

Nope.... http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-owners-lounge.826831/page-1771#post-10981390

Dell started lock out this in 2013. And have continued thighten the lock screw as the year come. The newest member in this family is the Intel Boot Guard cancer.

 

That’s a bummer. I’m totally conflicted whether I should keep this or return it. The performance is fantastic for the form factor considering my previous machine was a 15R1 with 980M and 4720HQ that’s still chugging along with a battery replacement. But the fact that they soldered the RAM and WiFi is beyond frustrating.

 

Well, M15 R4 and M17 R4 have 2 options:
i7-10870H - means this one is locked
i9-10980HK - means unlocked
Correct?

 

Yeah, Dell don't want that you tinkering with your purchase. And they are in front, regarding follow Apple's philosophy on how notebooks should looks like in the nearest future. Thin and sleek design over upgradeability. The only difference nowadays is the soldered storage in the Applebooks. Otherwise pretty close.

Yees.

 

Thank you. I've clarified.
Those 2 owners who confirmed undervolting is possible in new BIOS 1.3.1 are i9-10980HK (unlocked cpu) users.
But still no any reports from i7-10870H (locked cpu) owners.

 

I can confirm that latest bios allows me to undervolt with throttlestop, and I have the 10870H

 

Does this timespy result seem too low for my configuration? I'm looking only at the CPU and GPU score

https://www.3dmark.com/spy/19287200