*OFFICIAL* Alienware Area-51M R1 Owner's Lounge

True, this is not the first time I've experienced this, first time was with the Clevo P870DM but I was surprised with this since I haven't heard a lot of cases of poor fitting heatsinks on the Area-51m or perhaps not many care to test the differences between various thermal pastes to be able to tell.

 

Sometimes the fit changes every time you remove the heat sink or loosen the screws. Laptops are all made kind of sloppy that way. MSI seems to do a better job than most with heat sinks, but they've got their own unique set of flaws and engineering defects to deal with.

 

MSI's heatsinks have all been flawless for me and their cooling solution is the best hands down. Not once did I buy a GT model that overheated, I only repasted to improve things not because I had to.
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Anyone in for some humor? Latest tweet by Dell:





https://twitter.com/i/status/1249404459828097028
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@Mr. Fox @jc_denton @Papusan

Look at this dude claiming his Area-51m does 5.0 GHz on all cores at 30C! Yeah sure, on idle! and with freakin' Kryonaut which he can't even spell!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/g04tfg/alienware_area_51m_undervolted_i9_9900k_running/

 

If your temperatures always spike to 90c or more in CB15 and doesn't matter the clock speed then it is a bad repaste or AWCC corrupt, needs to be reinstalled.
For exemple if i run CB15 at 48MHz my max temps are 95C, at 47MHZ max temps is 86C, at 46MHZ max tem is 82C, at 45 MHz max temp is 76C. This is with phobya nanogrease extreme (Thin layer, spread method, heated before applied in hot water so it's easier to spread).
My undervolt is -135 core and -125 cache. When i play a game like GEARS 5 i found it throttles at 47 overheats at 46 and it is mid 80 at 45MHz.

If you decide to uninstall AWCC (this sofware is the worst and full of bugs all the time) delete the file in the REGEDIT in ALIENWARE an DELL folder also. Anyway i know you have the best knowledge for windows.
Anyway good luck finding the solution.

 

Not you... Quality problems. I would open up and take some pict. Then ask for repair.

If you get better Cpu temps with thermal paste you have a heatsink quality problem.

Not the first time for you. But with your hot chips I would think this chips have a bad sTIM job from Intel. Delidde it and go with Conductonaut bethween die and IHS.

https://imgur.com/a/2xHnNVn

Yeah, And I'm sure many out there take this advice seriously

From your reddit link. I wonder if this one know that Alienware make other models than the Area-51m. Very few ODMs out there, went fully retarded and soldered on the whole ram package + even the wifi on their newes thin high end gaming models.

 

Meh... Reddit is dead to me, like Facebook and Twitter. All three domains are blocked in my hosts file. There is nothing I view as useful or desirable in any of their social media platforms, and they're overrun by idiots. I call them Deaddit, Facepoot and Twatter.

Brother @Papusan can keep us posted on the nonsense with the emo kiddos from Deaddit. He does a fantastic job of that. I'm grateful that I never have to worry about getting their digital cooties.

 

What more can be said...

 

Do you game using the lid closed?

I use 2 330W adapters since the 180W falls short. Using your spare 240W adapter is highly recommended.

I'm using Dell knockoff 330W adapters no problem, cost 1/2 or less as much as the OEM.

 

I read a few posts and had to close the tab immediately after the Prime95 comment.

It's kinda melancholic to see some of the stuff that brother @Papusan finds on there.

 

I just switched to the 240W power adapter, I noticed a nice thing about it, it has a cool LED light to indicate that it's power on. I wish the 330W and 180W adapter also had this, looks nice.



Now the BIOS shows that my adapter is 570W instead of 510W.



By the way, does it matter which adapter goes into which port at the back of the laptop or are they the same?

 

All of the larger capacity AC adapters they are using have been around since the 1990s, including that one. Not likely they will change any features on any of them. The only new AC adapter designs out there are the USB-C type for the low-powered junk.

 

Latest LAN/WLAN/Bluetooth Drivers 13-Apr-20

Spoiler: LAN/WLAN/Bluetooth Drivers versions

Killer E2X Ethernet Driver v9.0.0.50

Killer E2K Ethernet Driver v10.038.1118.2019

Killer E3000 Ethernet Driver v10.039.212.2020

Killer E3100 Ethernet Driver v1.0.0.13

Killer 1550/1650/Intel WLAN Drivers v21.80.0.4

Killer 1202 WLAN Driver v10.0.0.355

Killer 1435-1535 WLAN Driver v12.0.0.938

Killer 1525 WLAN Driver v12.0.0.448

Intel Wireless Bluetooth Driver v21.80.0.3

Realtek LAN Driver v10.35.510.2019

Don't forget to unblock the ZIP file before unzipping it otherwise all the extracted files will have a BLOCKED status since this is a file you downloaded from the internet and Windows puts a BLOCKED status on any downloaded file which causes incomplete or erroneous installs. For how to do this, see:
"Are you sure you want to run this file?" [Yes or No]

 

But it is way easier to break, or at least that's my experience with the 240W.

 

Care to elaborate? I've got two of those. Going strong. One for over 5 years.

 

Easier to break? It's a power cord bro, I just plug it in the laptop and never touch it

 

I got mine with my Alienware 17 R1 back in 2013 and it stopped working after 5 years but the problems started after the first year when the rubber part (I don't know if it is the right word sorry) that connects the rest of the cable to the LED broke off revealing the cables underneath. I did try to fix that but nothing worked.

Well, I do travel quite a lot, but I think that it broke because I had it hanging a little since I keep my laptop on a cooling pad that also raises it a bit.

a video I took of the cable before I replaced it with a 330W: https://gfycat.com/generousgratefulhydra

 

Traveled myself extensively with a 240 watt and had zero issues with it, I think some is just dumb luck in the end. They are power supplies, they are trivial to replace. I get more concerned about keyboards and so for the hassle they bring. Replacing a PSU for a laptop is nothing.

 

Agreed, I had planned to change it anyway as part of the GPU upgrade on that laptop so it was no big deal. I was probably unlucky with that 240W PSU.

 

I had the same problem with one AC adapter for the M17xR2 (same AC adapter). I also traveled extensively and it got broken while on a business trip. It's weak where the LED ring is situated and lateral pressure can break it because of how it is designed. It was replaced under warranty and after that I was more careful with it, knowing that the design had an inherent weakness. Never had any problems with the other three AC adapters like that one.

 

Thanks for sharing. Upon closer inspection I noticed a begining of this occuring on my newer, 1 year old m15 lead. Basically the base part is starting to separate from the see-through plastic part on one side. I guess no downside to nipping this in the bud using epoxy adhesive...

Come to think of it the lead has always been a bit weird. It became permanently deformed because it has been running at a ca. 90 degree angle to the floor (laptops are kept on tables and power bricks rest on the floor shocker!). The fact that the laptop has been resting on an angled cooler must have further increased the tension beyond Dell engineers' imagination. Will run it at a gentler angle with no tension going forward.

 

Guys if Computex 2020 has been delayed for 28 30 sept where nvidia should release his new graphic cards GeForce RTX 3060 - 80....and the Intel's 10th Gen Comet Lake-S Desktop CPU is just around the corner....when do u guys estimate that alienware area 51m r2 has the higher chances to be release...CES 2021?

 

Doen't matter. See also my reply below.

Dell use two different 240w power adapters. The well known Delta and the El cheapo Flextronic adapter. Checked what you have?

R2 will be with Comet lake + the Rehashed (2060/2070/2080) Super cards. This year.

 

To me it matters - When I have my two 180s attached, the one hooked the the right side (facing the screen) draws the bulk of the juice (getting warmer than the one hooked to the left). If I had one 240W and one 180W, I would hook the larger up to the right side, letting the smaller 180W be drawn on as needed.

 

Hmm, my old 15 R2 adapter is Flextronic and the plug is fine. The new m15 adapter where the plug started falling apart just says Dell.

 

Have you checked the small print?

 

Yes, mine is similar but doesn't have that section at the bottom where it says "DELTA EL.."

Model number is different too: LA240PM160.

This one is pure Dell quality - breaking down after a year

 

Just checked the 240W that is no longer working was a Delta,the 330W I got in its place is not Delta, the 330W I got with the A51m is Delta again.

 

If so, probably a cheapo 3rd supplier. I'm pretty sure Dell isn't allowed to remove the Delta brand sticker. Neither from Flextronic adapters.

 

As someone who has been tracking a potential refresh for a long time now, I’ve started to lose hope. As someone have said here, I’m starting to believe this machine was a failed final experiment by Frank before he left the company. It was probably his baby and was abandoned once he left. From here on out I’m personally expecting Alienware to focus on light, portable ultrabook type machine instead of these beastly monsters like 51m. Hope I’m wrong though.

 

The machine has only been out for little over a year about a year and a half. Not really time for a refresh but getting close. Plus they have had nothing to refresh it to yet! We will see a refresh I think late third quarter first of fourth quarter when new gpu’s are out.

 

IIRC when I did this, I was also unable to connect to the internet, so my password/pin wouldn't work, and every workaround I tried to get out of safe mode wouldn't work either.

 

You should NEVER have a password/PIN when entering Safe Mode, it won't work and you will be locked in safe mode. That has been discussed many times by the developer of DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) when people were using his app, rebooted to Safe Mode and were stuck forever requiring them to format so now he puts a warning in his app.

 

Well, that's just it. They designed it at the end of the cycle for a lot of parts - notably the Intel Motherboard and CPU, so there is nothing to really upgrade to unless you started with a much cheaper setup. 3000-series cards won't even be revealed until August.... so I wouldn't expect a refresh to even be shown until CES 2021.

I am hoping for a 3000-series upgrade option, but not holding my breath.

 

I guess either I am lucky, or doing something different. I have no problem entering Safe Mode with my password. Using my PIN will not work, but remembering my password is not a problem. I enter Safe Mode frequently using my password.

 

I think part of the problem is most people (unfortunately) sign in with a M!cr0$h4ft account either by choice or not even knowing that there is a way to create a local account. Now, when you are at the password entry phase and this is what I *assume* is that because it's a Microsoft account, when you're in safe mode it is unable to verify the password you entered due to not internet connectivity.

I have never had a password since I am always at home anyway.

 

Can someone also try this?
BIOS 1.9.3
VBios 1.0.0.3 200W

GPU overclokced to 7150MHz on ACC
Thermal on ACC Balanced

GTA V for hour no throttling
NBA 2K20 no throttling

Games reaches 74 °C

 

Doesn't matter.

The A51m chassis has room and flexibility to be modified by Dell to suit future hardware. It's just that next gen stuff has to be launched first.

Since Dell opted for a more open approach to the A51m chassis, being offered from low-end hardware to over the top, it has been a platform with far more reach than the likes from other manufacturers. It will be refreshed since it's profitable.

 

Is this the 2080? I find it hard to believe 74c is the highest temp seen with no throttling unless you are playing it on the lowest settings. 74c sounds like its hitting the BIOS thermal limit (75c) for the GPU.

Are you using HWInfo64 to monitor for throttling?

 

That's on Intel. If AMD can design a socket that does not have to be changed almost EVERY single new CPU release then there should be no reason Intel can't either aside from greed. I know when I build another desktop I will be going AMD all the way, I have zero interest in Intel CPU's at all. Laptops are another story because until most recently we didn't have a lot of choice, and knowing Intel we still won't.

I knew as soon as they even mentioned CPU upgrades down the road it wouldn't happen, because Intel would change the bloody socket again, and here we are.

We can only hope Nvidia does not change stuff up enough that they have to redesign the DGFF standard.

 

What do you guys think, worth it or not to pick up new area51m w/2080 for 2930.00$ today? Just got off with manager from sales.

 

Good deal!

 

I sign in using a Micro$lop account and PIN on my turdbook and on my crash test dummy Windows 10 Enterprise 1909 Cancer Edition installation (one of 3 Windows 10 installations residing on my desktop) and still have no issues entering Safe Mode with my password. I want to be sure I have every opportunity to experience Windoze OS X at it's worst so I can relate to any issues that consumer peasants are facing while using this pathetic abortion operating system from the Redmond Retards.

 

slop, turd, cancer...im holding back...to funny

 

Im worried about reliability, I like reliable hardware that I dont have to screw with every week working a second job figuring out why its not doing what its suppose to be doing. I dont mind testing stuff as I am an enthusiast after all but I dont want to deal with crap breaking on me.

 

Yes, I apologize for softening my speech. I try to be as diplomatic about it as possible while still conveying the right message.

And, more accurate descriptions are not allowed because the use of profanity is prohibited by forum rules.

 

The 51M definitely was a challenge for me when I had it, felt like a chore weekly.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

 

Can anyone direct me to the to a guide for fresh OS install with drivers and bios? I want to install my own harddrives as I dont like the options and pricing dell has. Would it be recommended to migrate what it comes with or do a fresh install? Thanks guys.

 

Before you do anything, do the tweak in this guide to prevent Windows from automatically blocking downloaded files otherwise the installation may not fully install successfully:

"Are you sure you want to run this file?" [Yes or No]

Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide
Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)
Fix for Windows Store: This app is not compatible with this device
Alienware Area-51m Drivers 14-Apr-2020 (latest drivers with the correct installation order, don't forget to reboot after each driver install even if you were not asked to)
Force downgrade Alienware Area-51m Bios (or any alienware) to locked lower versions
Area-51m BIOS / VBIOS Collection (mirrors)
Alienware Customization - Wallpapers, OEM Info, Start Menu

 

TY VM

 

I knew you'd come through. I just knew it. Because...

Spoiler: Meow, meow...