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

I think spotting depends on if its a stain or a scuff... scuffs might be permanent. You might also get unlucky and get a bad finish, but you have Dell support (I hope). So far I like the material on my Lunar Grey A51M, but I am _very_careful with laptops... my trust AW13 R3 hasnt a single scratch except on the bottom plastic and one small one on a hinge. I think if you are careful it won't be a problem.

It needs both PSU's to function properly. You can run the larger alone but it will suck performance-wise, only good for productivity tasks.

 

Weren't people reporting yellow tinting just from regular use of resting your palm on the edge?

 

I found one person who did, one that I could confirm. Another had a dark spot on the right side, but he was left-handed, and Dell replaced the deck. I was seriously concerned but then I read a lot of other people saying they had not had this issue and used it every day for months. I think it might be a slight defect rate in the finish so I wouldn't worry too much and you have a warranty.

 

To be fair, everything eventually wears down given a long enough timeline.

 

The last part is not really correct, it does not suck performance wise. Actually last day i was playing rdr2 and noticed that my fps was lower than normal but still very good. It turns out i only had 1 psu connected. Also when i play WoW i always have only 1 and still get 100+ fps. It's not as good as 2 psu's but still better than 90% of the laptops out there when gaming.

 

Mine is a first batch 51m and I got small stains from resting a black microfiber cloth over the palm rest in between my palm and the computer to avoid sweat. The black microfiber somehow rubbed off color INTO the white paint. Cannot be removed.

You said someone had the entire “deck” replaced? That would be the entire chassis basically then, right?

How?! Me want replacement! Haha

Edit: just took a peek at the service manual. Replacing the “deck”/palm rest means a complete teardown. LOL. You literally have to take EVERYTHING apart.

Probably worth inquiring about anyway with Dell.

 

I think he's telling the truth, because with one psu (even with the big 330w) the gpu is limited at 50w. The TDP off the 2080 is 170, 180 or 200w (correspond to Vbios version). The 2070 has also much higher TDP than 50w (and therefore much more power with two psu)

In some games 50w will be enough, yes, but not in many modern games for 120 or 144 fps.

 

I will have to try it today and see- I do mainly Overwatch and Kerbal Space Program currently, neither are terribly demanding but that is good to hear if you can.

 

I have a new issue, my Katana soundbar driver refuses to install. I get the error 28 - This operation requires an interactive window station. Do you guys have any idea how to get around this? I have set 'Adminitrators' as the owner of both the drivers and driverstore folders within System32.

I have also copied those 2 folders from a machine that still recognises the soundbar to no avail. I have done numerous uninstall and re-installs of the driver and software using Revo.

I am at a loss as the speaker works fine on another laptop.

 

Curious anyone use a AW Graphics Amplifier with their A51M at all? I realized i was lacking the driver for a 1080 ti (duh), and while its seen in Device Manager, the system doesn't employ it. I have to call Dell and see what the issue is, perhaps the system is "deciding" the 2070 is the better GPU but I seriously doubt it. Anyone else tried successfully running the GA with an Area 51m?

 

@ssj92 uses a graphics amp I think. Not sure if he can help.

 

It should be backwards compatible from what I remember.

 

I have the Lunar White version, and I just barely clean it. Microfiber cloths ruin the finish of the laptop, better use one of these : https://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Uni...ds=keyboard+cleaner+gel&qid=1576784616&sr=8-7

Running with one power supply limits the GPU to 50W, but performance of the RTX 2080 is still decent and surprisingly good. I many times play at the bed with just the 180W power supply.

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Could you re-post that link, its just going to default pictures of dogs on Amazon? And what evidence is there that microfiber is bad for the finish, did folks report problems with them?

 

Lunar White and microfiber cloths

https://www.amazon.com/Honyuton-Keyboard-Cleaning-Suitable-Notebook/dp/B07TB5K25L

 

Thanks - just curious, what do you guys recommend to clean the screen on the A51m?

 

Any solvent-free and alcohol free cleaner will do: https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Mom-C...eywords=screen+cleaner&qid=1576784783&sr=8-19

 

You don't need to buy any type of cleaner, just use water and a couple of microfiber clothes. Dampen one (not wet) and use the other one to wipe dry.

It's all you need and works perfectly

 

Any risk of the microfiber wearing screen coatings?

 

Gpu is undervolted that much? What mhz are you at?

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Hey guys,
i just ordered a 51m w/ a 9700K and 2080.

My current laptop is a M18x R2 7970m crossfire from 2012. It's good to see @Mr. Fox still here! He helped me teardown my M18x R2 half a decade ago to install a triple pipe heat sink on the CPU.

i decided to upgrade as there's a few good configs priced nice tonight. Is the 9700K and 2080 a good combo. i saw @Sup3rKillaX swapped his out.

 

Really stable 1800 MHz @0,85v and CPU @4,5 GHz with really stable -100mv.
(not much less power than stock, but much less energy required)

The system needs significantly less energy than 330w (when playing - not for parallel benchmarking). In the hardest games without fps-cap cpu+gpu needs ~240W. All together maybe 270W. In the most cases the system needs under 250w (I cap at 120 fps and many games are not so hard as Division 2 for example.) One psu would be enough for my setup. I tied the psu`s together and adapted them to one power plug. That is a nicer, but not yet optimal.

edit:this (see attachment) could be a (better) solution.

 

Never had a problem with microfiber, just make sure you get good quality. I tend to use the type made for car paint and polishing as they are super plush and soft.

I have cleaned all my macbooks, laptops and monitors like this for years and never had any issue with screen coatings wearing away. Even Apple recommend microfiber as do other manufacturers

 

Yeah - would think as long as your not using any kind of solvent with a decent microfiber its nothing to worry about. Frequency of cleaning is probably the biggest question.

 

One thing that frustrates me the most is why everyone kinda complains that this laptop or clevo laptops etc have a *massive* or *to big power brick's* I mean come on? I've seen my gpu pull upwards of 199w when gaming heavily cause of 200w vbios 2080 and cpu can use as much as 130w+ depending on the load or situation... So let's say this, a desktop usually will have 500w to a 600w psu which is more than enough for 9900k and 2080 or even 2080ti for that matter but then you have a screen, cables all over the place, 35lbs to move around now and you can not be able mobile with it at all. Soooo?? Vs this aw 51m that has 2 power bricks supplying more then enough power yes with 510w total but seems gpu works off the 330w and cpu the 180w, who cares if they are alittle bulky you have nearly desktop performance and if you plan to buy a laptop of this size idk why anyone in right mind will plan to try to be light weight with it and conserve space... Do you people not read what your getting yourself into?... Let's spend 3000++ to complain about power adapters when a desktop can't even be mobile at all!... And what's the point in having a split 330w adapter? It might as well have one connection. All in all I don't want a single 330w powering this 51m cause it's just gonna break it in the long run or stress it out. Maybe this is why dell don't allow us to run at full power with just one brick connected. I'm glad there is more then enough power going to it so bricks don't get stressed out... That's like getting a desktop and saying hmm.. Well let me buy a 400w power supply because my 2080 and 9900k should not pull over 350w total it will pull only 300w and I'll be okay!!? NOOOOO definitely don't want only 50w of power spare just incase something spikes or you get an upgrade? Usually best to always have 150w+ headroom on power supply from the max you think your system may use. It's the same as an ssd and why windows will light the bar red if you have under 60-50gb available because ssd uses itself to run efficiently and if you fill it up to much your only degrading it's performance.... Please let's just be happy we can run this kinda power from our laps :3 oki.... I go sleep now.

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It's a distinction, and therefore an easy target. Justly, it is a consideration for those who are weight conscious for one reason or another, but if you are, then a desktop replacement makes no real sense anyhow, so to me its a moot point. It's like shopping for a sedan to seat six, then looking at large pickups to do the job and being irate at the gas mileage or cost. You either want a power laptop with the concessions that brings, or you don't. You can't have it both ways but it doesn't stop people from emotionally wanting it. I too would love a true desktop equivalent with a 21" screen form factor that weighs 3 pounds... with a tiny 130 watt brick.... it ain't happening

That being said, it was complimentary to my trusty AW 13 R3... I get to use either when the time is right, so that helps. If you do opt for desktop replacement, then a smaller lappy is not a bad idea if you can swing it.

 

I agree lol

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I could write a lot about this, but I don't do it. Maybe you shouldn't interfere in this topic. However, there are people who are interested in the topic. And for me the comparison between desktop and Area 51m is nonsensical, because the desktop 2080 is faster and quieter. I don't lower the clock speed at the desktop-2080, I increase it... my desktop (also 9900k and 2080) needs a lot more of power consumption (and is quite). My 2080 from the Area 51m is limited at 0,85v, she can`t reach 200w. There is enough reserve for the 330w psu (in my case). Sure, if you want to have full performance (that isn`t interesting for me because it is too loud), then the 330w psu isn`t enough.

 

I haven't used my A51 for quite some time as I found it unstable and just didn't want to deal with it.

Just about a week ago, I installed the latest BIOS and VBIOS and uninstalled ThrottleStop. And what do you know? It's not unstable anymore.

I obviously had too much undervolt going, so now I installed TS again, with lower undervolt, and so far so good. I'm at about -120 and not a freeze so far.

Lowering by -5 if something crashes until it's 100% stable. The undervolt makes about 10C difference when benching, so it's really a good thing to do.

 

just logged on at lunch, thanks @Sup3rKillaX for the help over dm.

 

And I just need to write alittle about this, your trying to make a laptop that's deigned for high end gaming into some m17 r4 or sometbing lol. If you wana undervolt a 2080 that much! just get a bga notebook where a single 330w will do the job, a solution isn't a split 330w. whats the point in that? And actually bud between desktop isn't MUCH different my buddy got a 12k with 2080 in timespy and I got 11562 I mean? Not massive difference. Like the 2080 in here is pretty dam nice, and my 9900ks at 4.8ghz vs some desktop at 5.2ghz won't be like 50 more fps maybe like 7fps more... Lel

Edit: @Spartan liked your post. Yeee

I just realized you underclocked cpu to 4.5ghz ><.... Lord save me

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1) you must know something: Undervolting != less perfomance. For example: you can undervolt / limited your card at 0,9v and have (stable) ~1900 MHz. This is in the long run more clock speed than stock (stock is ~1815-1935 MHz or similar - if the 2080 is warm 1815-1860 MHz). That means, that my 0,85v Setup with 1800 MHz isn`t much slower... a few fps in gaming... (but this setup has much lower temperatures and power consumption)

2) A thinner notebook with one psu and 2070 (or 2080-Max-Q), for example, isn`t a solution for me. I tested the Alienware m17r2 and the Razer Blade 17 (both with 2080 MAX-Q and biggest CPU). For temperatures without throttling I must configure the fans too fast / loud (and the fans has a high frequency...)

I`m very happy with my Area 51m and my silent setup. Two psu`s are ok. But in my case I can optimize the psu-setup.

But I admit that I am a small target group. I like it quiet/silent and fast (near stock) at the same time. Both is possible, with little perfomance-disadvantages (of course you don`t have bad chips for undervolting).
Everyone has to know that for themselves. We can end the topic now.

200 MHz don`t generate more fps (maybe 1-2) at 120 or 144 fps Gaming (I don`t play with more fps). But temperature and power consumption is noticeable lower (but with my setup I could run the CPU at stock 4,7 GHz - the GPU-undervolting makes the biggest difference).

 

I just have to make a point with #2 the msi raider has a 150w 2080 I think that would peform similar to what you have done to your 2080. You see I feel like the boost clock which usually is 100mhz more I always factor that in.. So if downclock under this seems like a performance decrease

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You're wrong, small form factor pc are just as portable as the area 51m nowadays. I have one in which I can fit the entire system in a backpack with keyboard, mouse and portable display.

The area 51m had so much potential which is why I had high hopes for it. It's really held back by the lack of switchable graphics, staining lunar light finish, gimped performance with one 330 watt power brick. You should be able to run at least 150 watt on the gpu with one 330 watt brick. Rog mothership allows charging with usb c, if only it wasn't so crazy expensive.

One laptop that noone seems to be talking about is the aorus 17. It's lighter, all aluminum construction, switchable graphics, full powered 2080, mechanical keyboard, 94 watt power battery, good cooling, and 240 hz display.

I'm liking mine more so so far. Been exclusively using it with just one 330 watt power supply. The gpu is limited to 150 watt, cpu is limited to 85 watts but I'm able to sustain 1950+ mhz. I got firestrike gpu score of 26711. Only issues so far is it's fan noise, but I will continue to optimize the fan curve. I didn't like the appearance but it looks better in person and it's growing on me, still quite busy.

 

Not trolling, but I literally only found a one set of pics, and a couple anecdotal stories on this. Is there some thread or site with a lot of these cases documented?

 

Bro if you have to carry around a screen it's not portable, small form factor pc and laptop are 2 different things, the moment I need to pull out a keyboard, plug wires in and worry about a bunch of connections it's not portable anymore period.

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I get where he's coming from, but good luck setting all that junk up on the go like an airport.... a hotel room or relative's maybe... but otherwise.... oof.

 

My lunar light finish developed discoloration in the palm areas. Also yellowish discoloration along the bottom, and that's with minimal use.

Yes small form factor pc and laptops are different things, obviously. Pulling it out my area 51m and setting it up and using it in a stationary position is just as much of a hassle as setting up my mini itx desktop. I can pack my desktop, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and headphones in a pretty short time.

I've done exactly that, brought my entire itx desktop through the airport, set up in a hotel room, and my in laws house.

I've tried bring the area 51m to work and using it with the 240 brick, as well using it on my lap. You know for laptop things and it was pretty painful so it ended up sitting on the desk.

 

Sad to hear that - how long did that take and was there any recourse with Dell? Just wondering what my odds are with a new one in hand I picked up over Thanksgiving.

 

Ahem..

 

Pretty much yeah. Unless you go from point a to b with a screen keyboard ready to go in each area... I mean not so portable :/

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I'm just saying with a battery life that terrible I can't imagine anyone actually using the area 51m as an actual laptop that they're going to bring to a coffee shop to work, or maybe watch something on the couch or project something in the living room. It's really a shame cause it's relatively light for it's given size and it comes with a large battery.

All the other competitors in this category offer switchable graphics to boost the battery life to 4-5 hrs. On the Aorus 17 I can actually game quite well with a single 330 watt making it that much more portable where the GPU power is severely limited even on a single power brick. Sure is the alienware are51m more portable than a mini itx desktop, yes but barely.

I also find alienware software pretty atrocious, worse than MSI, Razer or Aorus.

 

LOL

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I am just a bit more careful with the lunar light. I've been using it for 10 months now and i don't have 1 yellow stain anywhere. I am however lucky that i don't rest my palms on the chassis while gaming.

 

As I said, there is no alternative for me. I don't like the notebooks mentioned (MSI, Aorus...).

The Alienware Area 51m has the follow advantages for me:
- the most beautiful
- desktop-cpu
- G-Sync
- with undervolting the most quiet fans possible (and they have the best characteristic, resounding, no high frequency)

The last point (fans) is very important for me! Fans from the m17r2, MSI Raider, Razer Blade aren`t good...

Disadvantages:
- as I said for my undervolting-setup one psu (330w) would be enough. So I'm going to rebuild (two plugs) my psu
- more dimension and weight as the mentioned notebooks, but ok for me (because see advantages), but less dimension and weight than other desktop-cpu-notebooks with 2080

Optimus/Battery runtime isn`t important for me.

I think I've said all I need to say on this subject.

 

So your going to rebuild your psu for your aw, probaly cause a short circuit, ontop of it all limit this thing to 330w max your gonna stay crippled, I'm pretty sure the laptop dosent just work off having ab180w and 330w in it but also knows the total available power hence in bios it shows how much total input is if it only sees 330w max input in sure it will be like wtf is going on here. So your just going to get the same error with 2080 @50w max if you don't have both power adapters plugged in or unless you spend 600$$$ and buy the 780w dual adapter from eurocom. your performance is heavily capped like half nearly soo pretty much a 2080 max q would be getting more performance in a m17x lol. Oh and speaking of 2080 max q here is a timespy I got with a MQ on a Asus zephyrus GX701 laptop with 190w 51M 2080 bios flashed to it

https://www.3dmark.com/fs/20858427

26k in firestrike nearly from a laptop slimmer than a dam Dime my 2080 OC to 2050mhz in my 51m got a 29600 not to far ahead :3.. So I'm near certain the same can be done to a nice m17x with 2080mq also, and youl have that nice uncapped gpu power without doing all this extreme you are doing to a laptop designed to not be super quiet and run fast. And I highly advice not modifying any psu bro.. Something gonna pop with this unstable laptop already. But gg



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That's not true. But it is too tiring for me to explain that in more detail. English is not my first language.
As I said, I think I said everything I have to say on the subject. I won't go into that in more detail, sorry.

edit: m17r2 I have already tested.
The individualized Area 51m is the best for me.

 

What isnt correct? The fact that my 2080mq got a high score or that the aw will know you have 330w max power? The 2080 limits itself alot when you only have a single adapter in period. I don't think you did your research before buying this thing. Dell locks everything down! No custom bios, no cpu adjust anything but clock speed, crappy adaptive voltage curve on cpu, a power system that needs 2 adapters in or Will cripple performance. But you better get ready to have that warranty expire when you tell dell you split the psu in half and tried science on a 3k laptop that pretty much Is a no go because there are plenty of ppl that have talked about psu stuff with this laptop. And I have not seen anyone in this thread try some single 330w mod split power stuff because it's obvious that will not work and even if it did you will see real fast that it will stress it out a single 330w on this thing is a horrible idea and cpu will still use 100w at 4.5ghz and gpu will go to 150-160w even with the undervolt you have leaving so little with the power to breathe. But hey man your money your choice I guess /:

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But did you try the 2080 MQ mod I just told you I did??? No it's a simple flash and 2080mq gpu will hit near 2080 speeds if not the same. 26K firestrike??? That's alot for a mq from my crappy 23k on stock

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Why are you sounding so mad? Just let him tinker his machine or psu, atleast that way we will all know it won't work for sure ^^

 

Not mad but like just don't Wana see ppl waste money or break anything

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