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

gimme a while matey while I finish my so I can test more

 

The Lunar White color complaints will never end. It will be much worse the coming months. Dell should withdraw all machines sold with this color. Replacement machine or refund.

Odd discoloured lines on M15....won’t come off. There are 4 of them total 1 inch long around the outside case. Any ideas?


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Regarding faster memory options for Area-51m. You ain't alone. The Alienware desktops have exactly same compatibility problems with faster memory. I can't see this will change with the refreshed Area-51m R2
Memory Upgrade for Aurora r10 - How to maintain 3200MHz?

Can you see undervolt offset values in TS or Hwmonitor? Check if you see Cpu package power consumption will change with undervolt. As well max out undervolt offset for your testing.

 

@Wiz bit


Before unlocking the profiles.zip (read only)



After unlocking it (read only unchecked)

 

Alienware Area-51m Drivers 30-May-2020

Spoiler: Changelog

Alienware Command Center updated to v5.2.89.0
Enhancements
- Added feedback mechanism to allow user to provide direct feedback on their experience with Alienware Command Center.

OC Controls updated to v1.2.70.1237

Intel Management Engine Driver updated to v2007.14.0.1488

Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver updated to v1.41.823.0

Intel Integrated Solution Driver updated to v3.10.100.4122

Intel HID Event Filter Driver updated to v2.2.1.379

After you download the ZIP file and before you unzip it, make sure it is not blocked by right clicking on it, go to Properties, then see at the bottom if it says "this file came from another computer and might be blocked..." click the UNBLOCK button then hit APPLY followed by OK! To prevent Windows from blocking downloaded files automatically, make sure you read this guide:

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

The drivers are organized in numbered folders with the correct installation order.

Please restart after every driver install even if you were not prompted because some drivers will fail to install if there are any other pending operations (ie. had the Intel HID Event Filter Driver fail to install once because I did not reboot, the driver package was installed but the actual device in Device Manager was not updated)


@Fire Tiger @PDUB72

Edit: With the new Command Center and OC Controls, I am unable to unlock the GPU temp slider anymore even if I set the profiles.zip to read-only. Anyone else getting too?

Edit 2: Right, so I figured it out, it's ok to install the latest AWCC but NOT the latest OC Controls as that will lock the GPU Temp slider even if you set the Profiles.zip to read-only so I will reupload the drivers again but will leave the PC Controls at the previous version v1.2.61.1233

Edit 3: So copying Profiles.zip from the previous OC Controls version will still keep the GPU Temp slider unlocked. Thanks to @Helifax for pointing it out. I have included the previous Profiles.zip in the same OC Controls folder

@MogRules

 

Hmm.. the latest OC Controls are perfectly fine, if you swap the Profiles.Zip with the old one and Mark it as Read-Only
Should I upload them here?!

Cheers!

 

Oh nice find! I will save the profiles.zip then and try again tomorrow as I'm tired for today. I am on the previous version so I have the old profiles.zip but thanks

 

Nice find @Spartan @Helifax

Post saved so I can point others to it should it come up on Reddit.

 

Is this temperature limit stuck in the new oc controls a bug or is Dell trying to permanently paralyze area 51m R1?

 

it is either a bug or dell crippling the 51m via command centre now for those of us on bios 1.50 or earlier versions such as 1.3.2 like I am an 190watt vbios. I was an early adopter to the m51 last feb an never had any issues with it.

If you look at recent posts there appears to be a solution which I will try later.

But if it doesn’t work, living in the uk I will
contact dell support, they will make me upgrade my bios to the latest version which of course won’t work an I will do reluctantly, an then go through lots of replacement heatzinks, like the a17 r4 an r5 to stop the throttling at 75c an failing that as we all know that won’t work, hopefully they will either give in an give me a refund for a unit I’ve had well over a year or offer me a new r2.

75c throttle for a 2080 gpu is ridiculous

I’m not going down the route of repasting an repading thermals like I did with the r4 an r5, got bored of all that

I have to say dell uk support are good but you have to be prepared to really push them.

 

I’m now not even getting the overclock options now ... see image

Also the profile file you say copy, is it the 1 in the picture from the profile from March overclock drivers I need to copy ? Ty

 

I always have to wait around 30 seconds after I boot the Laptop for the AWC to work. Wait 30-60 seconds? If that doesn't work something is strange. The Profile.zip are from the last version (Previous version of OC Controls exactly after install - not the silent update it pulls after a reboot).
If it helps, I can upload them somehwere

 

Outstanding! Perfect timing for my third clean install, too. Serendipity.

 

For a DTR system, its _insane_. My AW 13 R3's 1060 routinely hit 87' with spikes to 90' and ran fine for years until some general mb failure.... and the cooling doesn't compare...

 

the offset values do change in HWMONITOR -100

Ok so I installed March 20 command centre 5.2.81.0, A00 an March’s 1.2.61.1233, A00 overclock controls, I have undervolted an underclocked the cpu and raised gpu to 84c temp.

But when I connect to the internet, Alienwarecc will update silently in the background an I will end up on the locked 75c again. Is there a way to stop this updating in the background.

On: bios 1.3.2 vbios 190w

 

1) Press the Windows Key + R to launch the Run dialogue box

2) type regedit then hit Enter

3) Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Alienware\Alienware Command Center

4) Double click on the string value " InstallVersion" and edit the value to 5.2.89.0 or whatever the latest version is.

 

Man I have tried just about everything I can think of to get AWCC OC controls to work, but I keep getting the spinning loading icons any time I try to access OC or temp controls. I've tried installing as admin, admin account, different versions, setting Profile.zip to read-only, Revo uninstall and reinstall, etc.

I do not want to reinstall Windows just to get this stupid think to work...

 

Has anyone else installed Windows 10 2004 update yet ? Do you have Type-C phone you can test on the USB-C port? Mine will charge but not getting data over it anymore.

 

@Wiz bit

Did it work ?
Since I am getting mine next week ..
Just reading the posts makes me regret not going for the R2 version already ...
Dell told me I have 15 days to send it back when I get it .
I can swear if after changing the thermal pads and putting some new thermal paste the thermal are not okay it goes straight back to them .
The only reason I haven't canceled it yet is because I have a spare delided i9 9900 k at home with good thermals so hopefully that will help already a lot

 

I only have a USB to Type-C not Type-C to Type-C



Just tested it, worked just fine on my Samsung Galaxy S20+

 

if your getting a new 51m r1 you may not be able to revert to bios 1.3.2 or 1.5.0 so this workaround may not apply to you as your locked anyway as far as I understand only those with bios 1.5.0 or lower can fully get round this thermal nonsense, have a look at previous posts on this thread ..,

with regards did it work I’ve played 2 hours and so far all good, however as you can see from the image despite changing the key it’s sensed there is an update (update available) to command centre despite changing it to yesterday’s (30may) command centre update.. not sure if it will update or not ..?

 

I plan on reve

Good to know it's working so far !
I plan on reverting to bios 1.5 , spartan explained me how to

 

hi, can you please upload the old Profiles.zip file only?. thank you

hi, can you upload it if possible? thank you

 

mine has been working fine out of the box but I have turned all of the updates off. I just block AWCC in outbound rules of windows firewall so it cant update it self and all has been well. I had to do it a second time though after about 3 weeks, but other then that its been fine.

 

Profiles.zip

Make sure to right click on the file you just downloaded, go to Properties, then hit Unblock from the bottom right as it may be blocked since it was downloaded from the internet, if you don't do this the file may not work. also ensure that it is set to READ-ONLY status.

To prevent this automatic blocking of files in the future so you don't have to go unblocking every file you download to ensure it runs properly, follow the guide in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/are-you-sure-you-want-to-run-this-file-yes-or-no.825668/

 

First they paralyzed the BIOS, then they castrated the vBIOS RTX 2080 from 200W to 180W and now they would also like to paralyze the system software!? My Area 51m is a beast, I love it, I don't accept that my experience of use with this machine is ruined by four incompetent people who write code with their feet. I am fine with BIOS 1.5.0, I am fine with vBIOS 200W and I am fine with all the software updated in March 2020. As for me, I will not update anything anymore

 

thank you

 

Thank you for this, I was not able to recover my slider even though I did the correct workaround. Replacing my Profiles.zip file with this one fixed the issue

 

the workaround doesn't work anymore with the latest version. So this is the Profiles.zip file from the previous version which is still relatively new but works.

 

I just installed both Alienware OC Controls Application & Alienware Command Center Application from Dell and updated the AWCC app from Microsoft Store.
After replacing my *old* Profiles.zip file with the one you shared, everything is working fine

Here is what I get :

 

Yeah I'm using the latest versions as well with the previous profiles.zip

 

I feel relieved that you guys made it work I was already pissed off before even getting the computer.
So you've just got to install the above versions of the software I can see in the attached pictures, then replace the profile.zip with the one spartan provided above ?

 

Exactly.
However, I did not do this in this precise order.
I first installed the new OC Controls Application then did the trick to replace the Profiles.zip and make it Read-Only.
Then I rebooted and installed the Alienware Command Center Application and the AWCC app from the Microsoft Store.

I did not want to do all this in this order. It's just that I realized there was also an update for the AWCC stuff after I first updated the OC Controls Application.
It worked for me this way but it should also work when installing both programs and THEN doing the trick .

 

ok so I’ve just logged on and I’m back to locked 75c - see attached image, this is with putting in the key for the latest command centre version via regit, worked ok for a few hours, but back to locked version

 

First, uninstall the Alienware Command Center completely using this guide: https://www.dell.com/support/articl...einstall-the-alienware-command-center?lang=en

1) Install Command Center

2) Install OC Controls but when asked to reboot, don't reboot just yet

3) Navigate to the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Alienware\Alienware Command Center\OCControlService

4) Copy/Paste Profiles.zip and past it in the above directory

5) Right click on the file named Profiles.zip then click on Properties

6) At the bottom of the Properties page, check the box which says " Read-only", hit Apply, then Ok

7) Now you can reboot

 

Yes, did all that a few times, thanks however after a few hours play it works ok an then updates in the background somehow.. I try the regit edit you suggested and also blocking dell updates via the firewall ...

 

what updates? The links I provided are the latest versions so there is nothing to be updated

 

Guys, I'm having trouble with my are51m i9900k 2080. Since I was facing fps drops every 5 minutes I tried downgrading bios from 1.10 to 1.5.0. Since further downgrade to 1.3.2 aw51 was stuck in a boot loop. Once the computer was restarted I'm having a blue blinking power on/ff alien head with AC adapter connected and Red power on/off with AC adapters disconnected. I tried everything including clrp1 reset using sw3 switch and using a flat head screwdriver on CLRP1 itself. I have recovery USB with 1.10 on it but the video doesn't turn on to go to recovery bios. If anybody could help me out in figuring this thing i would really appreciate the effort.

 

When did you get your A51m and what BIOS did it come with? A few reported issues going to 1.3.2 after having gone to 1.8.0 or above. Other haven't had any issues though, seems random.

The CPU required replacement on these, unsure of the blinking light sequences of theirs though.

 

I got it in November 2019 and I think it came with 1.7.3 or that was what it was getting auto-updated to.

 

@Biker Gremling is probably better replying to you here.

But also check the user manual and see if that gives an indication as to what the blinking LEDs are referring to.

https://www.dell.com/support/manual...0a87a2-f7de-45c3-8aaa-e6585d53e11b&lang=en-us

 

The weird thing is I did the 30sec hard boot removing the battery,ac adapters, and reconnecting. Once the power is on it shows steady light on power button but the keyboard and back strip blink every 5 to 6 sec.

Now it's more 2 red and 1 blue.
I think CPU failure
If this is the case is it possible to buy i9 9900k and slap on the motherboard??

 

I had a feeling it might be the CPU sounded too familiar to the issues the others faced.

You could speak to Dell and see if they'd cover this under the warranty? In normal circumstances you can stick in a 9900k but I'm not 100% certain if its only a CPU issue or if other components were replaced to resolve.

 

Sad...I don't know especially here in Dubai when this situation of corona will be over to sent something gets fixed and returned. Probably have to buy the CPU try and if it works if not.. i have no idea.

 

I'd contact them and at least see where that leads. I do hope you get it sorted.

 

I can personally confirm your cpu is no more. From my belief it has to do with whatever revision the cpu is (1 or 0). I may be wrong tho.

Question. The plastic area around the power button when gaming gets quite hot. Is this normal?

 

I have noticed this in 1.5.0 in 1.10.0 it doesn't get hot much.

I contacted them and followed their steps. They still can't pinpoint what is the issue. I have to send it to the local dealer and see what they can do. Thanks for helping out so far

 

The heat come from the small black heat spreader. Cap the temp limit and I'm sure you'll feel less heat around the power button.

 

What you have is CPU failure (Dead CPU) it usually happens when people with recent system tries to downgraded to bios 1.3.2. It happened to me and to 5 others recently. Your MB is ok. You have to change the CPU only. Trust me i know! People should avoid at all cost bios downgrade to 1.3.2. I wrote it many times, warning people about this. + i have to add there are walkaround that will give you as much performance without downgrading. I am on Bios 1.7.3, 200w vbios, 87C max temps, gaming without throttling thermaly. Sorry for you CPU. If you still have warranty call dell otherwise you will have to purchase another CPU. Good luck.

Not normal i would say. You need to monitor your temps while gaming. It happened to me once it got really hot. For some reason CPU undervolt did not autorun in throttlestop (100C CPU at 4.6GHz). Then the power button got hot. I fixed it by using AWCC for undervolt CPU. Now i have 2 apps that can undervolt the CPU. If one fails the other takes over. It is very complicated to use awcc software because it is full of bugs but it works.

 

This is crazy....Dell has completely lost it. I refuse to buy the R2. I am beginning to think all this feedback we give them they use it to further neuter the R1! Ridiculous!!!!

 

People seems to forget the past. Click the link in my post #234. Read "How Dell capped the balls of their last flagship". They used the feedback the way they wanted.