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

I was wondering why I am all of a sudden getting crashing with my -140uv at 4.9ghz. I dont let support assist or Windows update anything with my knowledge or consent. I had not updated AWCC since October. I may have to use the trick along with some performance testing to see what I can get out of it now. I am on bios 1.32 and running fine until today. I may have let an update through that may make me have to update the AWCC and OC controls. Smh...

 

Why on earth is a BIOS downgrade ruining CPUs? What kind of trash-tier engineering is this? Coupled with the 2400 memory limit, this may be the worst motherboard in history.

Reviewers should re-review the laptop with the latest usable BIOS. Absolutely disgraceful to neuter a machine after reviews are published.

Are you referring to P0 and R0 steppings?

 

Dell did exactly the same for the XPS models.

It’s amazing that none of the Area-51m owners has taken up this with the editors at review sites as etc Notebookcheck.net

Same for Pcworld.

Maybe they can bring up this topic in coming review of Area-51m R2

Only bad publicity in main review sites can help to stop this mess.

 

They'd likely allow it on review models and give them a non-consumer based BIOS that unleashes more of the system's potential. Similar to what they did with the R1 they gave to the overclocker to bench.

 

@Suhailap well man everything was running perfect last night, woke up this morning and turned the laptop on but I only get 2 red blinks followed by 2 blue blinks from the power button every 10 seconds. I called Dell Dubai and did the troubleshooting by holding the power button for 30 secs then trying to hold the FN + power button but no luck. Now I am Waiting for them to get back to me on what is to be done

 

Hope you get this sorted brother, had you made any significant changes before the shutdown?

 

Yesterday when I launched AWCC it started to auto-update. I was WTF is going on here! This program is blocked by the firewall! Turns out, it was magically enabled again! What the hell is this!?

Enviado desde mi HTC One M9 mediante Tapatalk

 

@Suhailap Dell called me and suggested I remove the RAM sticks, I only inserted one RAM stick in the left side ports and the laptop worked. After a few tries, we concluded that the right SODIMM slots are bad that's why it wasn't booting. I installed both RAM sticks on the left side now and the laptop works but only in Single Channel RAM mode not Dual Channel since they're both on one side. I'll use it like this for a while until Dell tells me what they want to do. Most likely they will swap it with a new motherboard.

 

Good News... They contacted me and gave me their local tech support number. This morning I had whole chat with them and they confirmed its CPU failure. I dint mention I tried to downgrade I just said it happened when flashing bios. They will send engineers tomorrow to look at it and confirm if they have parts available. They insisted if it is an integrated CPU, mobo has to be changed even after saying that this laptop has a desktop CPU. They really have no clue about this laptop

 

Isn't it crazy that 1.5.0 works fine though it gets really hot but with night and day performance difference. But when you switch to 1.3.2 it just burns your CPU. I really loved the support dell has provided so far. But they should mention in thier frimware website or article about this issue. i downloaded from one of the links here in notebookreview the older firmwares. If its not mentioned about this issue, they have to so that the users wont go through the same.

 

Good luck brother ...hope it gets fixed soon

 

I am happy for you that they will fix it under warranty. Now for performance difference in bios i hope you will stay away from downgrading after repair. I recommend 1.7.3 bios for performance. Follow @Biker Gremling guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-area-51m-undevor-and-overclock-guide.830857/ to improve performance and your system will perform just as good as the ones running bios 1.5.0.....untill dell finds another way to crippled those system with an update.
I also strongly suggest you take extended warranty with Dell. As you said, they have a good warranty, but there system will fail every year or so. With extended warranty you will get it repair or replaced with a new system when it breaks....and it will.

 

So can you down grade to 1.7.3 from 1.10 bios?

 

Well after some tomfoolery with the dell "technician", looks like ill have a repair tech coming to my home this time. After a fresh windows install and bios and drivers and everything in between updates, they are sending me a new lcd (hopefully with g sync this time) and graphics card.
The bonus to having a tech come is I will be able to hound over him and make sure all the right things are being done and to make sure everything is working as it should when he leaves.

 

I can confirm you can dowgrade to bios 1.7.3 from: 1.9.3 or 1.8.1 (wich is not available for download at dell website).
I have not tried downgrade from 1.10 yet but i would assume it would be no problem.
The issue really is with bios 1.3.2 (avoid at all cost).

 

Um where is 1.7.3 bios available from?
Have you repasted before the guide to max performance?

 

Its this that keeps me in the Dell camp, and the designs (sorry aesthetics matter to me, like Elon Musk lol).

 

In this thread. http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/area-51m-bios-vbios-collection-mirrors.829190/

 

All in all this system has been real good to me so far (rounding 1 year as of the 25th). If I wasn't a stickler for aesthetics my system would still be up and running just fine (it is running really good just no g sync). If it wasn't for the temp limit throttling in the bios and software I really wouldn't have much to complain about about this system. It does everything I ask it to do, and it does it well. All my games generally run at the 100fps rage (title dependant) and man it is still fast and in comparison significantly cooler than my 17 r3.

I am on the 1.10 BIOS and running the 180 VBIOS at the moment, and with the temp workaround the system works the way I would expect it to (slight performance dip to the 1.5.0 BIOS from my experiences)

 

That sucks. Did it just randomly happen or did you do any changes to the laptop beforehand?

 

Yeah my USB to Type C worked as well, but Thunderbolt to Type C was not. Lots of thunderbolt issues so I rolled the update back and functionality returned. I plug my phone in via USB C all the time so that was a deal breaker for me for now.

Microsoft has a pretty well documented bug list that includes the thunderbolt stuff, so if you use USB C on a regular basis might want to steer clear for awhile.

 

Well I am using a Samsung Portable T5 SSD connected to the thunderbolt port and that's fine too. Did you ensure you update your Thunderbolt Drivers to the latest? Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver v1.41.823.0

 

Not randomly. I had Liquid Metal like 2 months back on the CPU which I then replaced with PHOBYA NanoGrease Extreme and the laptop is stationary and never moves. When I removed one of the RAM sticks today, I noticed there was a drop of liquid metal under the top RAM stick so I think it did something to the SODIMM as all the ones on the right where that drop was don't work but the left ones are fine. I don't know how in the heck did that drop get there and why just last night? I never moved the laptop.

Anyway, Dell Dubai was very helpful, luckily I had a senior agent with me and he kept calling me time after time again telling me to try things like resetting the BIOS, changing RAM sticks, etc. He was was the best tech agent I spoke to from Dell. They have ordered a new motherboard for me.

@custom90gt @Mr. Fox @Papusan @Fire Tiger

 

Now there's the mandatory 75C temp limit on AWCC. One day they will find out how to patch the HWinfo thing. Really getting sick and tired of all of this, honestly I feel bad just thinking about selling this thing and someone else having to start dealing with all of this. But maybe ignorance is the best way to enjoy this machine, using it without touching anything and enjoying the HeY mY tAmPeRaTuReS aRe FaNtAsTiC gPu DoEsN'T gEt HoTtEr ThAn 74C!!

Enviado desde mi HTC One M9 mediante Tapatalk

 

Ah I see, there's a reason why @Falkentyne calls them conductive balls of liquid doom. When you applied/removed LM, did you do it inside the chassis or? I'd try to trace and see whether anymore might be lurking near and around the socket.

 

No point in dismantling it now since Dell will replace the motherboard. I HATE disassembling laptops.
======================================================
Alienware Area-51m Drivers 02-Jun-2020

Spoiler: Changelog

Alienware OC Controls updated to v1.2.70.1237

Alienware Command Center updated to v5.2.89.0

Intel Chipset Drivers updated to v10.1.18267.8194

Intel Serial IO Driver updated to v30.100.1947.3

Intel Dynamic Tuning Driver updated to v8.7.10200.12510

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

Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver updated to v17.8.0.1065

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 @MogRules @PDUB72

 

Thank you brother! Hope you get sorted ASAP.

 

100% agree with you. Dell is working hard to reduce performance of our system. I can only imagine the same thing will happen with R2. Good at launch but after all the reviews....let's cripled the systems with updates.

 

Quick questiom regarding the new temp limit in AWCC. Does it happen on the 2070 as well? Also, is it only when you download the newest OC controls or is it AWCC itself?

Selling my 51m in a couple of hours and want to make sure i set him up with the right software.

Thanks.

 

So I just downloaded the latest AWCC and OC controls and the temp limit slider is still available.

I didn't do any of the steps provided. Maybe it's just a bug, or they only lock the slider on the 2080? I have the 2070.

 

DELL pushed a FORCE update AWCC last night or this morning, I have NO DELL update anything software on mine and still AWCC updated, I imagine something in the update borked your system the AWCC install runs an XTU scrubber which probably deletes all your timings before rebuilding to "DELL" Spec.

I also now have GPU Temp Slider Locked at 75C issue ……..

Copied over with OLD Profiles.zip (Read ONLY) and successfully defeated Dell's evil plans, my GPU temp slider is now back in action !

 

Several people have reported that it did not lock for them until several reboots later.

 

So before it was 78 and now they blocked it down to 75 degrees ?
I just think I'm gonna cancel my order
I was so much looking forward to getting it though seeing all of you guys complaining so much about the throttling took away all the hype of this laptop

 

Hopefully it's just a bug and they fix it. Not so much an issue for 2060/2070 owners but really digging the hole deeper for 2080 owners.

Really hope dell fixes this though. Thankfully there is a workaround in the meantime though.

 

We have a user in the German AW forum who has the same problem. He also reports that undervolting with BIOS 1.10 no longer works on his device. I asked him for more information. Still waiting for his feedback.

 

yeah reboot and watch it get locked back

 

So no more way of going over this 75 degrees throttling?

 

I posted how to unlock it in this thread

 

Yeah at this point reducing the limit to 75 is tantamount to admission they failed with the 2080 in the R1. For all the hassles, I am not regretting opting for a 2070 + 9700K for a decent gaming laptop with gsync. At least the design makes it easier to clean and repair even if not using a 2080+9900K.

 

But you just said after rebooting the computer it gets blocked back right ?
Or the patch fixes that permanently?

 

Guys help me

what does this mean?

https://imgur.com/a/p70JtEy

 

Just need to replace the PROFILES.ZIP file in OCControls with previous version and make it READ ONLY …. then you will have Temp slider working again, @Spartan posted about this not too far back.

Jeez a lot of people seem to have had adverse effects from the FORCED AWCC update that EVIL DELL slipped to us all last night.

 

same thing happened to me, just reapply in firewall.

Its not blocked, I dont know what there going on about. Just make sure not to update the AWCC and all is fine. The thermal limit slider is still functioning with my unit, but I havent updated anything out of the box and just use my own tweaking software.

Before I get into the rest of my thoughts on this matter, I just want to state that I in no way think I am smarter or have some ability that makes me less prone to having the issues that have been occurring to people in this thread. I more then probably anyone need and want my Area51m unit to function as intended without interruption or issue. I think I may lean toward the reliability side of things more then squeezing the system of every last watt it can muster but in the end we come to the same point.

Guys, Im not trying to crap over what it is your trying to get across here and I want my machine to work and function the way I want it to like anyone else but the irony in dell helping there customers in the last few pages doing everything needed and hearing everyone bash dell at the same time is perplexing. The reason dell is doing what they are doing is to keep the ordinary user who just wants a fast laptop from turning it into a brick from high thermals. For starters, if any of you have bought an i9 processor thinking your just going to be gaming mostly with it, why? The TDP compared to the 9700 for gaming is absurdly high for a laptop. There is no reason to be cramming a i9 into your machine unless you need it for workstation purposes, in which case the reasonable thing to do here is too buy two Area51ms, one for gaming and one for workstation purposes. I want to get a second area51m, maybee when hopefully the R3 comes with 3xxx cards. Cmon guys, think about the bigger picture here.

Its like buying something on the market that only a handfull of people know how to properly utilize without breaking. For prospective buyers, do your homework, know what your getting your self into. Buying this laptop as your first laptop is ill advised and you will be hard pressed not to find trouble and problems you will have to deal with. I have been buying laptops all my life, and even I was hesitant to jump into the waters with all the complaning going on here but I seen the light, I seen a path through before I bought my machine and so far, god willing, it will stay working for me. I needed a DTR so bad, and I wanted it to work out, and it has so far and exceeded my expectations.

Hearing someone from Dubai trying to change bios's is plain silly especially if its hard to get something fixed there. If your in a country where customer service is going to be an issue, tweak it for reliability not bleeding edge speed. If you lose a bit of performance, well its better then waiting for some random repair center you have never seen or talked to rip apart your 4 thousand dollar laptop. You should know before buying, that if you have the i9 processor your going to have to work around the temperatures that come with it and downgrading Bios's on this machine is a nightmare. I would not consider downgrading the Bios for anything on a 4 thousand dollar laptop anyway, that is friggin stupid unless it was a simple procedure that was at no risk of any failure of any sort.

I dont like to make these posts because it seems when I start talkin about reliability issues with computers I always get the raw deal through karma but it has to be said here. Read the posts and discussions that have been going on here, if its not something you are prepaired to deal with or know how to deal with go get a Macbook.

Its really not as bad as this thread is making it out to be. Its like a wound you have that has scabbed over, let it heal and your skin returns to normal, but if you keep trying to tweak the system to death its going to fail or in the analogy the scab will bleed and reopen. If you have been using windows long enough and tweaking gaming laptops the work arounds for the issues that are cropping up or pretty tame or mild in comparison to what we use to have to deal with back in the day. This is all software related for the most part, which is the easiest thing to deal with. Thermals have always been a problem since graphic cards were first being put into laptops. From my perspective, this has been the most thermally efficient laptop I have ever owned and i have not had one instance of a problem cropping up concerning thermals although my Samsung Nvme gets hot with my marathon BF5 sessions.

I literally could write a 2000 page book on my thoughts of whats going on with all the issues and problems surrounding dell and the laptop market is self just from reading a few pages on notebookreviews every day and that my friends is sad.

And another thing, im shocked Spartan has had a mobo failure. I would have figured if anyone he would maintain his system reliability. Sorry to hear about that problem spartan.

Anyway In closing with this post I wish everyone reliable Area51m's! Bring on the R2!!!!

And another thing!,... nah im JK thats it!

 

@Reclaiimer have a look at the image attached. Disconnect the LCD connector from the RTX 2080 and plug a hdmi cable into the gpu. That will show you if the LCD is bad or not. Had this exact issue when I first got my faulty alienware 51m, turns out the lcd was bad. In your case the lcd connector might not be fully seated on the connector...

 

Its just updates man, when you have windows updates on top of manufacturers updates on top of driver updates on top of software updates everything goes hay wire. For a high performance system things need to be kept some what static to keep redundancy and reliability front and center. Im loving my 2080 and I would be disappointed if I held out for anything less and the performance has been exemplary and amazingly satisfying coming from a host of BGA laptops. It runs in the 60s along with my 9700 CPU and the performance is out of this world compared to my 2070 MQ.

I use to keep all my updates off and for this system im doing the same thing and it all has just worked really well. Just want to keep it that way! It disconcerting hearing all the crap other people go through though, and I actually have been going through that with lenvo and the Y740 where I have had to send it in multiple times for months on end for a whole host of issues so I know the feeling. I did some homework before I jumped into an 1100$ GPU upgrade though and not everyone can afford that, everything already is fast in this laptop though, the mindset should be underclocking not overclocking and cool temps over benchmark numbers.
Another thing to consider, since I am an laptop enthusiast I keep multiple laptops all the time, more then I should, so Im never on just one laptop all the time which can wear down an electronic. I spread out my workflow and daily driver purposes so that most all my laptops I have bought in the last 10 years are still usable and the ones that are older are there for craps and gigles.

Buyers just need to do there homework before deciding on what they want to purchase. For instances like these, with this particular laptop, a buyer needs to have a game plan in mind that they need to follow and stick with it. Settings up your tweaking software, what applications and games are you going to be using with it, how are you going to deal with problems when they arise because its going to happen in some form or another either through software or a driver. Things like these need to be assessed before buyers plunk down there hard earn cash. Also as I have mentioned, things like is a buyer going to be tweaking there system for reliability or performance. How is the system going to be used, gaming or workstation use. Electronics and especially laptops can be extremely finicky, if the software does not get you in the end the hardware can get you and then thats a whole new problem to deal with.

 

So I updated BIOS to 1.10 and I regret it. As someone mentioned here you can no longer UV your CPU. I need to go back to 1.9. Someone downgraded already? Is it safe?

 

This is bad.... I genuinely had hopes we wouldn't get any sort of plundervolt fix.

So far I have only seen reports of issues when going back to 1.3.2 for some. It works for a lot of users without issue as well though.

 

@Papusan, is this the Plundervolt you warned us about: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...locked-out-due-latest-win-update-bios.831450/

Bios update 1.10 with intel security INTEL-SA-00289? https://www.dell.com/support/home/e...wt64a&productcode=alienware-17-area51m-laptop

 

What @Lopt said. This giude has been posted many times in this thread.

After you raise the bar to the max and hit Test & Save. You need to name it, ie. 4.9 GHz or whatever. That will be the profile. But that's not enough, you need to select it for it to be active from the Home tab of Alienware Command Center








If the GPU Thermal limit slider is locked, then here's how to unlock it:

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 Alienware Command Center

2) Install Alienware 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) Download this Profiles.zip file and then copy it to the above location replacing the existing one.


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

 

which is the LCD connector?