A help guide: "HELP MY R2 is a piece of crap and I can't afford an R3!"

I found a steal when I got my R2, not it is not stolen but I did manage the listed specs for 400$. 720qm 4GB 500GB 2x HD5870 RGBLED bluray reader. Because of this I put up with ALLOT of crap from it and for most part overcame most of its issues. Since I am not an experienced columnist or even one at all, please bear with me as I dredge though the problems.

--------------------------------------------------

addition:
(weinstein888) This computer had all of its major parts replaced just before I bought it. I only had to upgrade firmwares. The rest of it was trying to work past the faults you see throughout this m17x forum which are common.
(rsgeiger) Even though this is my first r2, this is not the first R2 I have dealt with. I had actually had to re solder the pcie slot back down for some one because the warped card popped it up from heat. In my experience, the mod is no better than the dubious xbox 360 retention clip fix. You have to know exactly the problem before applying a fix. it is better to add proper compound, squeeze the pad to the die after tightening screws.

Also, I have also had to replace fets because of video card's over power draw. Though this does not happen that often which is why people continue to do it, it will catch you off guard.

--------------------------------------

#1 issue. POWER. This issue resonates throughout ALL of the computer's problems. Did you know if some of you remove your keyboard the computer will not take power from the wall brick? Not all are affected but most are. You will be surprised how many charge issues I fixed in these simply by reseating the keyboard ribbon.


"The power brick shunts when I plug it in and DELL has a long convoluted way of resetting it"

Solution: Plug the brick to laptop and THEN plug it into the wall.
(power brick will shunt when remove from computer while under load)

"Laptop runs too damn hot!"

Solution: download the modded bios from bios mods and set the fan tipping point really low. OR get hwinfo64 and use its fan controller bringing it up to around 3500rpm.

artic silver is a fine upgrade for this computer.
you don't need as much as you think. just because the send you a tube does not mean the entire tube goes on a single chip.

Ram does not need artic silver.

"My games video and or audio stutters"

Solution: ATI users turn off power play. Nvidia users turn off power saving solutions and or get rivatuner and force bypass on the D3D or get D3Doverrider which will also help ATI users who dont want to turn off power play.

"HELP my computer is in a BSOD boot loop after messing with video drivers!"

boot into safe mode with F8, in device manager, un install video drivers and check the box to delete driver files. Reboot into windows, and uninstall the ATI software. Reboot. then download new drivers and install them.

"My computer BSODs .... ALLOT!"

Download the modded bios from bios mods and update the firmware of your ATI video cards using the video card firmware from dell.

"the ports of the right side of my laptop quit"

replace ports either by soldering on new ones or replacing daughter board and this time be nicer to them. they are EZ-Break ports on that side.

"The RGB screen is TOOO bright in the night"

the half bright setting is the same as most normal laptops full bright.

"the slots only run at 8x"

Use 2 video cards to level it out.


I sure hope some of you R2 owners find use in this. After I figured out all this crap, it ends up being a pretty decent computer.


Things not to do:
Dont do any cooling mods to the video card requiring adding standoffs or shims. this will warp the video card and damage the slot.

Dont upgrade the video cards beyond the 240w PSU because the R2's circuitry is not as large as the R3 or m18. the switching fets can over heat and blow. Remember. the video card runs on 3.3 and 5v and the regulator has to convert those many many amps into those voltages from the brick's 18v.

 

Thanks kakureru! That was an awesome guide. Lots of issues i heard of in other threads but there were a few new ones here.
And you are right about the seating of cables, keyboards, and cards. The smallest millimeter can cause havoc! Found that out the hard way.
Also, by your warning in the end I guess you are not a fan of the retention clip mod?

Edit: (kakureru) thanks for the response on your opinion on the some of the mods going around. Very informative and a point of view not often seen here.

 

The fact that you bought it for $400 may have contributed a significant amount to your issues. I know a lot of R3 users who wish they could have R2s simply for the SLI and CrossfireX compatability.

 

Yup, it's getting to be old, but the R2 is still a real beast. I love it, despite some of its weird little quirks.

kakureru - nice "quick guide" for the R2. +1

 

I've...never really experienced any of these issues...just certain games don't like Crossfire...but that can't be helped.

 

you are one of the lucky ones

 

Where is the link to the bios mod for the R2?

 

Here you go:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...r2-bios-mod-need-suggestions-future-mods.html