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

some sneaky firmware updated itself this morning, can't figure out what it is??, certainly wasn't BIOS, I just checked and its still on 1.5.0

 

yeah ignore it, it's nothing.

If your BIOS was older, then when you reboot you will see it updating the BIOS automatically like a VIRUS

 

Most likely firmware for ssd. Dell prefer push out firmware via Win Update. A Ticking Bomb because firmware flashing can go wrong. Always have backup of everything you care about.

Remember the flawed firmware for Samsung Pro? Fun when it happens and you haven't done your backup Or get lower performance vs. before. Yeah, ignore it

 

I haven't played on my 51M for quite some time now. No real issues with it anymore, but I've grown tired of it, I'll see if I can sell it and may I'll build a gaming rig in small form factor.

 

Why are you tired of it?


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Did you disable hardware related windows updates and driver updates? Do that before you allow any updates to be installed in your system. That should take care of this annoyance.

 

Hi,

I disabled this.



However, in the lastest Windows build, there is only Yes or No. The "never install driver software from WU'" option isn't here anymore, and I'm not sure to what extent it changes regarding BIOS updates through WU.

I finally managed to force downgrade the BIOS by checking this to No and I also re flashed the 1.5.0 over a first BIOS flash via USB. Not sure what made Windows stopped force updating...

Is your "hardware related windows updates" option something else than the option I attached here ?

 

Applying any firmware update from Dell/Alienware is a massive risk that carries an abnormally high chance of impairing performance or damaging a system that is otherwise functioning properly. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies more to their products than any brand I have seen before. If it ain't already broke, there's a really good chance that it might be after you update a Dell computer's firmware. Using proprietary firmware on SSDs and HDDs that basically ruins them compared to the otherwise identical generic consumer equivalent is beyond stupid... it's unethical. And, there's no excuse for that.

 

Yes this is it. As long as you keep this disabled, there shouldn't be any problem.

 

Pointless experiment alert! Anyway I'm building a pc for a friend. So I thought I'd test his nice new 2080ti in my graphics amplifier I've never opened from years ago. My 51m has a 2080 in it and 9700k. I had limited time so only ran the test once. The CPU is not overclocked and the 2080ti is stock albeit a fancy evga XC variant. Hopefully the results are posted correctly at the bottom of this. Honestly I wasn't expecting a huge difference but I'm well impressed with the amplifier. It's not a million miles off a 2080ti in a full on desktop. The laptop runs much quieter too obviously not now cooling the GPU. Bit of a shame the 2080ti are so bloody expensive still otherwise I'd be tempted.

 

Right, the images aren't showing up. What have I done wrong?? Anyway the 2080 in the 51m got 9789. The 2080ti got 12089. Timespy at 1440p on external monitor. I'll try and sort the images. Sorry!!

 

I think you copy pasted the imgur link. You want to press "get shareable links" and copy the BBcode (forums), it includes the img prefix.

 

I'm don't really have to time to use it, and by the time I will have time to use it, I might as well have standard rig with a big curved lovely monitor.

 

Hello,

so ive bought a refurbed area 51m with rtx 2080 and noticed that it only has a non gsync 60hz panel.. is it possible to use a 144hz gsync enabled monitor with this and which port do i use?

also is it possible to swap the panel to a gsync one down the road?

 

Yes on the monitor. I don't know about the panel swap because the panels on the a51m are much more solid and they don't seem to come apart easily. You would probably have to end up buying a whole other panel that has the features you want and replacing the whole thing.

 

Good news the laptop is back, new unit, just opened to swap disks and check some stuff about work, quick things I notice is this one brought a sk hynix ssd and memory while my first unit is with all Toshiba, other thing is the panel have some bleeding compared to my first unit that was extremely subtle, so I guess this days gonna pass making a frankestein from the good parts.

overall it feels good to run again everything fast in a laptop like this lol.

 

nVIDIA Graphics Driver for Alienware Laptops v26.21.14.3169

 

what did you install/check first when you got your area 51m? I got a refurb one and want to check if i got a good unit.

 

If you plan to change the panels keep in mind the new Mei Chei (unsure on spelling) will lose its G-Sync ability if you prefer the earlier BIOS revisions (1.5.0 / 1.3.2 etc.).

Let us know how it goes and how the temps are etc. once you've applied the new paste.

I done a complete re-install of Windows 10 and followed @Ultra Male guide http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10-clean-installation-guide.781178/.

Then I installed ThrottleShop and messed about with overclocking and undervolting whilst gaming in between changes to see monitor stability.

 

Thanks mate! What bios and vbios versions are you running?

 

hey all, is there a sub forum anywhere for secondhand area51m ? looking to buy

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I'm running the 200w vBIOS and 1.7.3 System BIOS. I haven't run into any 'extreme' throttling yet with the GPU. Lowest I think I have seen in-game was around 1500 Mhz.

 

I just got my Area 51M and I am having trouble getting the amplifier to work on the built in display. I have the 144 gsync display. Is it confirmed that you cannot use the built in display at all with the graphics amplifier? I will only be able to use an external display with it?

 

I can't help but @ssj92 might be able to as he has an amp and A51m.

 

dell releases new nvidia graphics driver which is the same as the older version

Fixes & Enhancements
- Not Applicable.

 

You can buy mine... ;-) Guess the keyboard won't fit you thou. ;-p

 

, Apple sure knows how to integrate exceptionally

My Arlo Ultra just got HomeKit update , and it’s been effortless integrated into my other HomeKit stuff , Apple is d bomb


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I have an amplifier but have not used it yet,

However I am pretty sure the amplifier only works with an external monitor

 

So Dell service just left. The good news, I now have both sound channels working.

It was an....interesting experience. I ended up removing and replacing the bottom for him....unfortunately after he fixed some of my screws to be non capacitive.

I did stop him from removing the rear IO panel and the black carapace by gently pointing out the soundcard is under the SSD.

Rather then unplug the soundcard cable from the board, he choose to unplug from the card. I'm......Sureeee there is a reason....

On the bright side....he was a very nice guy.

My advice....the soundcard is super easy to replace. Just do it yourself.

 

Because our laptops have G-SYNC and are wired directly to the internal GPU, we are stuck using external displays with the graphics amplifier.

The amplifier is only useful if you decide to use external displays. I mean you could of course add one for video editing like me or macOS usage or even a Quadro for CAD, but all of that will be done on an external GPU.

ONLY way to use the external GPU internally would be if the game supported mGPU in DX12 mode, which allows you to use any mix of GPUs.

 

Hello everyone, my certified refurbished Area 51M is arriving tomorrow! Super excited, got a fairly barebones 8700 + 2080 model. Figured I can’t change the screen, color, GPU (for now), and other things so I’d get the best in those things, upgrade elsewhere over time. This will be my first Windows computer in several years, if someone here would be willing to help me over DMs once in a while with my questions, I’d really appreciate it. I’ve done a lot of research but it’s one thing to watch videos and read forums, another to actually do things.

 

Thanks for the info. Can I still upgrade the internal gpu then? Swap out the 2060 for something more powerful someday and retain the built in gsync screen?


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Yes, I'd go with 2080. However, as of right now the DGFF 2080 isn't available for sale. You can try contacting dell support and see if they would sell you one or tweet at Umar and see if he can do something.

 

Hello, sorry to ask but I wasn't able to find the post, could someone post a link to "how to get the Alienware head in the system after a clean OS instal" thing ? That would be appreciated

 

@IXVIXXII I think this is what you are looking for.

 

Hi everyone,

Today I noticed something strange with my area 51m, the GPU (2080) power never exceeds 177 Watt while 200W (1.0.0.3) vbios is installed. This result in low GPU usage in games / bench. The performance drop isn't huge but still I don't understand. I am using 1.5.0 BIOS and the temp never reach 70 so I guess no throttling issue here.

Thanks for your help

 

what do you guys re-install after a fresh windows installation? i mean apart from the ones listed on ultra male's guide? do i need the aw command center?

 

I have AWCC installed to control the fans. I have most of the apps mentioned in that guide along with ThrottleStop, some of the benchmark apps and then the host of launchers needed these days for games.

 

are your DDR4s really 2666mhz Fire Tiger?

 

Btw recieved mine last monday!

Got a question regarding bios or might be something else.

I'm having some issues with my RTX 2080 downclocking itself to 500mhzfrom time to time when gaming? Is this a known issue? It still full loaded 99% but drops to 500 mhz, that means fps will be around 25% of its full capacity at 1900-2000mhz


Spec:

2080rtx
9700k
2x8gb 2400mhz

 

Yeah, but they only run at 2400Mhz due to the A51m limitations.

 

Its "normal"..AW has gimped the 51m to throttle the gpu when it hits 75c.

 

Yesterday I installed the latest nvidia drivers from nvidia themselves (I use the ones from nvidia, always have).
So there was an update available. Installed it.
Shut down the laptop.

Today I boot my pc, and I notice that my external monitor has no signal.
I check in device manager, and see that the Nvidia RTX 2080 is no longer in the list.

What should I do?

I looked into the bios, and the RTX 2080 still shows up as a discrete GPU.
Which makes me assume the GPU isn't dead.

 

Use DDU clean out all nvidia drivers. Download the previous driver and not the latest to see if it shows back up.

 

DDU clean won't help if device manager doesn't see it.... Sounds like bad news.... If you don't even have Microsoft Basic Adapter listed it's shot (you can try a bios refresh?) Otherwise sounds like it's toast....

 

You can use an app called GPU Tweak from Asus to increase the limit. I think 80c becomes the new limit regardless if you set the app to higher.

Heres a video made by @ssj92

 

Since I've been out of the AW-world for a while... is it still good to be on BIOS 1.5.0 and VBIOS 1.0.0.3? I'll still have G-SYNC with my monitor?

 

Yeah, anything after 1.5.0 introduces a 75c limit on the GPU, in fairness I haven't seen it having too much of detrimental effect on FPS or clock speeds in game, however, some have seen FPS drop drastically or the clock speeds dropping to 300mhz.

 

So I uninstalled the drivers. And the new drivers refuse to install telling me it couldn't find a compatible hardware.
Damn I guess this yet another failing alienware area 51M for me.

Dammit. At least I'm happy it's still within my premium warranty.
But on the other hand, this really troubles me, as this doesn't give me a confidence about the future of this laptop, even if they were to fix yet / replace it yet again.

Is there anything else I can try before calling support tomorrow morning?

 

Okay so I tried running a system restore, which I had from a windows update of 2 days ago (If I remember correctly windows udpate did install bios 1.7.3 on its own)

Suddenly my gpu works again. It is recognized again, despite it said system restore failled. But some stuff is not working correctly. Chrome didn't start up. I had to reinstall it. Gefore experience doesn't boot.
But at least the GPU seems to be working now. VERY weird, buy I'm very skeptical now, and don't know what I should do.
And I want to know what else isn't right on my pc right now.
Damn, what a mess.

EDIT: Anyone knows, what actually happened? I just tried running a game it runs fine. Due to the system restore the GPU driver is actually back on the older version. I'm so confused and a little scared right now.