Alienware 14 tight USB port, HDMI port doesn't fit the chasis? is it ok?

Hi guys,

I'm almost pulling my hair off on this matter . Please accept my apology if I sounds too picky but I paid a lot of money to this system and I want it to be good at start.

Besides all of the problem such as subwoofer, audio jack, one thing that I'm worried about this system is the ports. My HDMI port (metal part) doesn't seem to fit tightly in the port of the laptop housing, there seem to be a small gap in between the bottom of the HDMI port (again, metal part) and the housing.

Can you guys please tell me if it happen on your AW 14 also (a picture would be great)? If this is the way it is designed, then I really question Dell because most of my laptops before (Thinkpad, Asus rog), the ports seem to be fit perfectly into the housing. And by "fit perfectly" here, I mean it looks as if it is glued into the housing of the laptop without any cavity, looks and feel very sturdy

Same thing happened with the audio jack, it is not entirely fit tight into the slot of the housing, you can see there is gap between housing and the port (as if circle within circle). I'm just worry these gaps will break the port after certain time of usage when we plug/unplug because there is no way that we can make sure we unplug thing in straight direction/manner everytime and with these gaps between the port and the housing, the port can swing/wiggle without support of housing/chasis and can break

Thank you for reading this post

ttran

 

All my ports have a black plastic fitting surrounding the actual port and it looks very finished looking. Please don't take this the wrong way but maybe you should pack up that rig and send it back. I'm all for having a tech come by for a problem and maybe two. But with all the issues you seem to have I don't know if it is worth it. Mine has been perfect since it's arrival and I can't, nor do I want, to find anything that is not working properly. I know you will miss it, but don't give them a choice. You have the right to return it in 30 days. Just do it and reorder a new one when they refund your money. I wouldn't do an exchange because who knows what you will get. This is just my opinion because I'm getting a sense you are not going to be happy with this machine in the long run and it is probably causing you unneeded stress. Just do it so you can be happy with your 14.

 

Thanks Bill,

Return is too easy, what I'm trying to do is to confirm if this problem is just mine or in general. Someone told me their system look like mine too so I'm staying ok for now

For the gap, this is what I'm talking about:
This is what I'm talking about:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/atd56fzyon6f0rp/photo%20%282%29.JPG

There is a review from Verge, and I saw their pictures and the gap is located at opposite direction, which is on top:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zlq4t2qys38n27q/2013-06-01_04-44-44-1020_verge_super_wide.jpg

Please tell me what's going on, I'm almost ready to return this laptop

 

Yep mines looks the same,, I believe its normal.. lets see what the others say.. Your port isn't moving right? If not, it doesn't look like a problem to me.

 

Thank you very much for your answer, now I feel relief because it's not something abnormal on my system. Yes, it is not moving unless I put big force on it lol (Which i'm not that crazy to do). I guess each system will be different from one another a bit but I think the gaps I mentioned exist.

Also, I can confirm with you about the static sounds come from the first jack. I think it is software, might be has something to do with the Alienware audio because whenever you put in headphone etc...that window pops up as you to confirm the device. Also, on my system, that static stop a bit after I play music, that's why I'm positive it is software issue.

 

I don't know buddy. It is such a small space I can't tell if it is any bigger than mine; i do however, don't think it's a problem.

 

It's not uncommon for USB ports to be tight when they're brand new and they well break in quite nicely in sort order if used enough.

When you have a cable plugged into the HDMI port is there any appreciable play? If not then I wouldn't worry about it causing the connection to the mainboard to weaken over time.

If it bothers you that much I'd take Billy's advice and return it and re-order.

 

For what it is worth.

My 14 is exactly like yours. It doesn't bother me at the moment, I don't use the HDMI anyways.

The usb ports are really tight, however, I like that. It gives me a sense of reassurance that it won't move and lose connection.

 

Thanks for your advise,

When I plug it in, it fit nicely and tight, I only worry about for the future use though, gap like that might be can weaken the connection over time...oh well

@tecrp7: Thanks for your kindness and willingness to share your info

 

I agree. I don't use HDMI either but my USB ports are really tight. I like that also. My Zenbooks USB's are really loose but I suspect it is just the way they are designed. Like tecrp7, I like it as it appears so much more secure than my Zen.

 

Thanks guys,

I really love to keep this AW14 but I think i will wait a bit more until every issues are clear because I can't afford it if some of the issues that people talking about are real and we only have 30 days for that. Therefore I'm going to return this lovely AW14 for full refund

Again, thank you so much for your input

 

Good luck to you. Please let us know how your return goes. We can all learn from it for those who wish to return their rigs and what they should expect to happen in the process, Thanks

 

think yourself lucky! we only get 7 day return period here.

 

Just be carful, look what happend with my M14x R2......

 

Haha, you know sometime money is not all. I can keep this system since I bought for it with all the msata, screen upgrade and 3 years accidental damage warranty for just a bit over a thousands. However, I don't want to live with a system that I'm having many questions in my head everyday about it, it is just not cool. Having said that, I think Alienware 14 is an impressive system and I will buy it again for sure, just not now, there are two many little things they need to clear out/fix for us first.

On a different aspects, I played Diablo last night and the throttling just went crazy. I could make it go away by increasing the set temperature for the system but I won't do that until I hear from Dell that it not harmful to the system.