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

Ok it might be me totally not trusting insurances, but 24x7 hardware and software support is different from hardware substitution in case of failure. It's one of those way to let you believe they are going to change something broken, while they will actually just tell you "try this" "try that" and when you say "look it's broken, I need a new one" they will reply "oh but it was just normal wearing, that is not covered" "sorry that part is not covered by warranty" "sorry extra service is for supporting and troubleshooting only, it's not for part substitution"... but maybe I'm wrong.

 

Apologies, I completely get what you mean now. I haven't had any previous experiences with Dell, but have read some good things in terms of the warranty. I have read about people having newer revisions offered as a replacement etc. on the flip side I have read some horror stories as well.

I will say that when I reported my 1 dead pixel, it was no questions asked and they sent an engineer out to repair it. This was within a few days of receiving it. I could have pushed for a total replacement but who knows how long that would have taken. Not sure it'll be the same experience in a few years time but its a chance I'm willing to take.

 

Hello !
Got 3 samsung SSDs inside : 2 EVO (1 M2 & 1 2.5") and 1 M2 pro, all working flawlessly.

 

I don't know if that has already been posted but I can confirm that the 51M is working properly with an i9-9900T. Just installed mine today. R20 bench is 25% slower (compare to i9-9900K) for more than half less power consumption.

An other subject : Anyone know if they plan to support DDR4 faster than 2400 ?

 

This was asked a week or so ago. My reply is still relevant - http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-owners-lounge.826831/page-1611#post-10962491

 

Thanks for the info !

 

Alienware made good on ONE promise.

GPU upgrade kits are now available. Pricing is quite high, though I assume we get to keep our old GPU at this price..

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...rea-51m-gpu-upgrade-kits-nvidia-rtx-2070-2080

Edit: Link from Tom's. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/alienware-area-51m-rtx-2070-2080-upgrade-kit

Seems they may be available cheaper sometime soon, this price is much more reasonable IMO.

 

And now the core issue - does it still have the whack VRM's!

 

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Good news!!! I chose the 2060 because of cost (I'm retired but not rich) and although I'm more than happy now, it's nice to see this, very nice.

 

*quoted* you can also have a technician from the company come to your house to perform the installation, which is built into the cost.

Would be nice if they would deduct the price for those that are OK installing themselves instead of charging same either way.

 

$1,138.99 price for a RTX 2080. It's high but I mean we saw MXM cards around these prices before too. Hopeful for RTX 3000 upgrade kits now

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/acc...acd=12309198375458460&VEN3=110105180167612148

Keeping in mind it also includes the heatsink

Wow says a Dell technician will come to your home to install too lol

$838.99 for 2070:

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/acc...acd=12309198375458460&VEN3=110105180167612148

 

Awesome. Selling off our current GPU should definitely offset a lot of the cost. I’ll be happy when I see the 3000 series available. What sucks the most is no CPU upgrades. The best we will have is the 9900KS, and that’s probably way more than enough for a very long time.


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th 9700k and 9900k hell even 8700k is more than enough for a LONGTIME. GPU's upgrades would be more beneficial.

 

So I ended up getting my replacement 51m and it's working so far but just some concerns, so I did repaste the system with nanogrease extreme, and the cpu Temps are amazing but the gpu is climbing up to 84c when gaming, is that normal? The environment I was in was abit warm at the time, but I just moved so it's like 16F atm lol.. I have the 200w vbios with main bios 1.5.0 when I undervolt the card pulls about 175w and decreases temp aswell as fps quite abit but I would like to be able to run at 200w unless there isn't a point. Also the tobii software from windows isn't installing either no matter what I try and one big problem is when I use gsync in any game my screen flickers black pretty bad, im on driver 441. I'm also on windows 1909 unless I should go to 1809 or 1803. And the drivers I installed came from a post on notebook fourm with everything in one big order, they could have been slightly out of date. But I wasn't sure.

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GPU-temps are OK with that BIOS.

I actually had to reinstall my Windows completely to get the results I was hoping for, laptop feels al ot better since. Im running the latest updates with no issues. The G-sync will probably not work with the 200w 1.0.0.5 bios if you have a newer batch laptop. Chi-mei panels will not work with G-sync below bios 1.6.1.2.

With latest vbios your temperatures will be lowered to 74c instead of 84 aswell if you're having concerns with temperatures, but the clock speeds might go down aswell. Im running latest vbios and my computer is handling it well, no throttling what I can see.

 

You may have accidentally mixed up the BIOS and vBIOS.

The vBIOS provides the GPU with either 180/190/200w.

The BIOS is what is controlling the GPU throttle limit, so anything after 1.5.0, had a 75c limit implied on the GPU. Anything before 1.5.4 had no thermal limit, allowing the GPU to hit 87c.

What you have said in regards to G-Sync is slightly correct, if you have Chi Mei panel, which is supplied on the newer models, then you will lose G-Sync if you chose any BIOS prior to 1.6 (cannot be 100% on version). This is due to the panel not being within the Dell inventory when the earlier BIOS' were created.

You can run any vBIOS along with any BIOS, its just that depending on which BIOS you have you may lose G-Sync or find throttling etc. as per above.

 

Yes you are right. What Fire Tiger said is correct.

 

So my currently max temp with 180w bios is 75c it seems but it definitely lowered the performance abit. can the 51m not handle 200w that well? I wish I could just run it at that x. X really sucks but goes over 80c, I mean I think it could be my paste application wasn't the best but then again I'm not sure if no matter what is done if 80c will happen with 200w regardless.

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Is anyone else who performed a clean install of Windows having issues with getting the Alienware Pointing Devices software reinstalled? I'm just looking to be able to disable/enable the touchpad when I have a mouse plugged in, but after my clean reinstall I cannot download this software off of Windows Store. I just spoke to Dell and they said they cannot help without billing me for a tech to come to me and look into it, since I bought certified refurbished and added third-party drives. No, idiots, it's not the fault of the SSD I bought or the job I did on the reinstall, it's your fault for having garbage software!!! What a bunch of BS!!! Anybody run into this issue?

Edit: Also, I can tell already after being told twice on different issues that I need to pay for service, that Dell's warranty service is worthless if you plan on ever adding third-party parts. They will not help without taking your money, regardless of whether the issue is related to the added parts or not.

 

Please link which one you got

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There is a driver from https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...t/product/alienware-17-area51m-laptop/drivers

Go to catagory Mouse, Keyboard & Input devices ---->> you will find your driver there i had the same problem but got it fixed by installing the pointing/touchpad drivers

 

Thank you so much, had no idea there was an additional driver that was needed to be installed first. Doesn't fix the clueless tech support at Dell or the shady "warranty" that I have, but those are for another day.

 

It handles 200w without any issues, in earlier models some 2080s burned out and as a precaution Dell released less powerful vBIOS to lower the power/heat going through the GPU.

If you have an 80c limit and want to go higher, you need to roll back to BIOS 1.5.0 or earlier. However, in doing so, you will lose your G-Sync ability if your machine has the Chi Mei panel.

EDIT: Sorry re-read your post. I don't think the GPU going over 80c is too bad considering the form factor? Others maybe able to advise but I wouldn't be worried about it around 84c? The nVidia limit is 87c.

 

glad I can help!

 

Running more than 180W will cause the laptop run hotter. At 200W, 85°C can be expected running max fans and a cooling base.

Pick your poison

 

So will 85c kill the unit? I'm just not in the mood for that

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Nope, it won't. While its best to get the temps down that seems reasonable. At 90C+ I would start to try and figure why its not efficient but even then it won't kill it.
It will throttle etc but there are safeguards in place from both Nvidia and intel.

 

Why does it get so hot? I mean there is an hp open I have seen that dosent get to 80c that has a i9 9880h and a 2080 aswell which some ppl install the 190w vbios. But then again I still scored higher than a friend that had the 190w bios aswell.

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Just curious did the tdp ever get raised for the 2070s to closely match their desktop equivalents. I believe they where initially released with 120w tdps

 

I run 200W vBIOS auto fans. It does go up to 87C rarely but most of the time low 80s high 70s.

I need some thermal paste, using carbonaut right now.

 

What vbios are you using? And main bios? Versions.

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200W vBIOS
1.5.0 BIOS

 

I think I may stay on 190w and just try to stay under 80c something about it makes me feel odd lol I don't think performance will be much different, I'm also alittle worried my thermal paste application may need to be redone but I also am not sure because the temp like very slowly climbs to 80c but I'm also using a 1.5mm thermal pad on the 6 silver blocks *stock* because I haven't had the chance to repad this laptop yet I only had some 1.5 fujipoly for rear mosfets, but I remember seeing that using 1.0 instead of 1.5mm on the silver chokes I think? Makes the gpu contact not as good to heatsink.

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Have your temps improved since the repaste? Thats a good way to gauge the success of your repaste. Honestly, if I were you I'd stop worrying and start enjoying.

 

I still hit 82c with max fan speed and 200w vbios is that okay? Or should be lower?

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It's fine.

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Hmm seems today they release RTX 2070 and 2080 upgrade kits, I am wondering if those will fix all the issues with the systems

 

82c is fine, honestly, have fun with it, make backups and worse case, use the warranty if it fails.

 

Where?

 

Seems is "Discounted" as of now

2080 -
Est. Value$1,638.99
Dell Price$1,138.99
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/acc...acd=12309198375458460&VEN3=811405182052039421


2070 -
Est. Value$1,038.99
Dell Price$838.99

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/acc...acd=12309198375458460&VEN3=811405182052039421

 

https://www.anandtech.com/show/1507...-20702080-upgrade-kits-for-area-51m-available

Ouch
Long live upgradable* laptops
I wonder what they’ll charge for next gen, something users will actually want to upgrade to.

 

I have strange problem
my 2080 dont rizes more than 50w in 3d applications and about 800mhz gpu freequency
temp about 57c load 99%
both ac adapters connected - bios shows 510w so they are both working. Battery 100% charged and does not lowering
and monitoring shows about 50w power consumption constantly
I wonder why it not rises more ?
perfcap reasons are temperature and power. i guess its only power but why it is limited to 50w I cant understand
windows 10
videodriver 441.08 DCH

Another strange problem is I dont have Nvidia control panel
I always have it with nvidia drivers
so i tried to uninstall video driver, apply DDU, download latest and reinstall it
but when i ununstall nvidia driver and while downloading latest version seems like windows downloading video driver automatically and installs it but without nvidia control panel)
i google for "Install nvidia control panel" and find out its installation packet in windows store for dch drivers but when i clicking on download nothing happens at all i wonder
how do you install nvidia control panel?
its my first laptop actually)

 

Does anyone know why tobii on my 51m isn't working? Sensor is plugged in, no damage to cable looks present.

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Did you make sure you installed the latest Tobii Driver followed by a reboot?

 

I read about this around the web. Clearly enthusiast pricing, BUT, if you’re an enthusiast and know about your device and the issues that come with it, you probably won’t want to drop +1000 USD to upgrade to a 2080 only to have it limited with the thermal caps. Thank goodness I have a launch 51m on 1.5.0, 2080 and 9900K running smoothly without caps. Zero issues!

My intent has always been to be able to upgrade to a 3080 or 4080 or whatever comes out when we’re at the 51m R2/R3 generations.

9900K has performance to spare for years to come, not too bummed that the last we’ll be able to do is the 9900KS. Not worth an upgrade ever in my opinion if you’re on a 9900K already.

 

Unplug one of the power connectors and plug it back.

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I had a XPS laptop back in the day with dual SLI graphics cards and they burnt out about 2 if not 3 times. Luckily Dell warranties are (were?) Really good but my 51m laptop is packed ready to go back due to the thermal throttling it does make me wonder if desktop hardware in a laptop is just not viable

Yes, 1.5.0 removes the throttle but they did that due to burning out of components. Whilst yours is fine now, is the lifetime going to end up with issues later?

If 2080 has issues now, why would future graphics cards be better? I hope they will be but I am not so sure

 

The 2080 architecture/chip production is known to have issues when it launched, so Nvidia will be keen on quality control for future GPUs (3080 or whatever).

They have probably been slightly revising and fixing the 2080 architecture currently as they produce the chips, but it seems like there’s an inherent design flaw that causes some to still burn out more than other GPU generations before it.

I just want Dell to do right by us and have the 51m be a long term platform with multiple R2/R3/R4 revisions that keep our current systems future proof like the good old MXM days around 2011-2016 with the 17's.

 

Just a question - Dell stocks various options of the Area51m that differ wildly in price, but if I want the most barebone one just with 9900K and RTX2080 w. G-Sync/Tobii, should I just grab the cheapest option with 2x4GB and 256GB M.2? Or are there other hidden things that are different like screen model etc? Asking because Dell wants a lot of $$$ for simple upgrades like 8 to 16GB is already a €115 (!!!) premium.

Notebookcheck reviews stated that the 51m only runs at full power when you use the profile that locks the fans at 100% all the time, is that still true?

 

I bought 8GB + 1TB HDD model (base at the time) with i9 9900K, RTX 2080 and 144Hz G-Sync display. You will be fine.

Performance is max on BIOS 1.5.0 after that if your temps exceed 79C it will throttle. You do NOT need max fans. Just use balanced like me and you get full performance as long as temps are fine.