*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 Ranger (2013) Owner's Lounge Thread

This info should we received from the Aw representatives in the forum. We should ask them. They could eg asked engineers at Dell(not to late for that info). This info should we been told for long time ago.

 

boo! looks like even with the stock clocks for the 980M svl7 bios is crashing in the heaven benchmark....drivers of a busted GPU?

 

i want to install 980m in my laptop, Can I Convert My SSD (OS) Drive From MBR to GPT Without Re-Installing Win8.1?

 

you can, there's instructions available but it's a lot of commands. just install a windows 10 build and test it

 

i noticed in hwinfo that there's a difference in timing between the 2 8gb sticks and the 2 4gb sticks....what to do?

will remedy this by taking out the 2 4gb sticks so now back to 16gb of ram.

EDIT: took out the 2 4gb sticks....at least i have the spare space now

 

Anyone know where i can get M3x3, M2.5x8, and M2.5x3.5 screws? i seem to keep losing them

 

If there's a difference in timing between sticks, then in my experience the PC will just run all of the sticks to the lowest common denominator - ie will run them at the looser timings of the slowest stick.

 

i did a clean gpt format and installed windows but there is a problem!!! i cant enter in the bios! when i restart the laptop pressing f2 or f12 does not work,it doesnt even show the keys on the right corner of the screen about how to get into bios anymore!!!

 

1. which windows did you install?
2. can you boot into the OS?

if you answered...

1. win 8.1
2. yes

then try this:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/open-advanced-startup-options-windows-8.htm

click on troubleshoot > advanced options > UEFI settings (this is your BIOS).

 

Don't know if this helps; these are on the UK eBay, but they do appear to post worldwide.......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/800pcs-La...920?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51bcc18848

The only screws I can't see anywhere are the bottom cover ones which are plated and have a pattern on them. So try to not drop those beauties!

 

The screws for the bottom cover are the same as the ones that hold down the msata ssd, WiFi module.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

Can't we get the screws from Dell ?

 

Have you got plain screws on your bottom cover? Mine has these decorated metal ones retaining the cover and the AW Build plate; My first Ranger also had them



Excuse the poor image quality........

 

They're the same screws that hold down the stock GPU: M2x3 think.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

my windows key now works when i play games,it didn't work a week ago and everything was ok ,how do i disable it?!

 

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,5B,E0,00,00,5C,E0,00,00,00,00

 

thinking of getting either 2 x 256gb ssds or a 1 x 512gb ssd - suggestions?

 

Numerous argue that SanDisk Extreme SSD PRO is perhaps the best choice... I have Samsung 850 pro and Ocz and works well for me. I have 2 OCZ's SSD. This is relatively expensive SSD drives but have mlc nand that is preferable.

 

was thinking of 2 x 256 samsung evos

 

A better choice.... http://www.sandisk.com/products/ssd/sata/extreme-pro/?capacity=240GB
Have a chat with @Matrix Leader6

 

Out of all the SSDs in the world, you chose the worst and most unreliable TLC garbage SSDs!

 

It does not matter that Samsung has come with a new Evo. Either slc or mlc nand. No one can guarantee the quality of the new Evo. The past has shown this.

 

i'm still lookin' so no biggie. crucial an ok brand? i use their msata ssds and they seem to be fine.

EDIT: This no good?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147360

 

Crucial had a good and cheap ssd. Mx100. You may find this for sale at a very good price .. The new I do not know so much about but the old was known as a very good choice.
850 Pro or Sandisk in previous post.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...1998&cm_re=Sandisk_pro-_-20-171-998-_-Product
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extre...436495029&sr=8-5&keywords=sandisk+extreme+pro
Sandisk $ 139.00/$ 161.99 vs $ 174 for Samsung 850 Pro.

 

I think that's a pretty good choice. The 850 Evo performance is really very very good for a client workload (not for enterprise) - top of the charts pretty much, and they're good value too. The 840 Evo debacle that was hinted at earlier - that looks like it's been fixed now with the latest firmware update that came in April - it solved the Read Speed Degredation of Old Data problem on my drive (that was the problem with the 840 Evo). I would have no hesitation buying the 850 Evo, it's a different 'structure' of TLC nand and I doubt it will have the same problems the 840 Evo had.

I'd buy x1 512GB drive though rather than x2 256GB drives. Random performance will be a bit better with just one drive, but if you transfer massive files quite a lot, then get the RAID solution.

 

So I upgraded my machine to the GTX 970M (ordered here from @woodzstack, went very well). I used the 100w heatsink that came with my R9 M290X. Needless to say, an 81W card using a 100W heatsink runs very cool.

Just finished playing a bit of Heroes of the Storm at Ultra settings. CPU topped out at 71C, GPU at 60C. Very nice.

 

That's a good candidate for flashing a modified vBIOS and doing some serious overclocking, you could get praps nearly 30% increase in performance doing that.

 

I almost exclusively install Crucial at work (they're a local company here). We've installed 50+ in the last year and none have had any problems. I run 6 in my server, 1 in my laptop and 1 in my desktop and haven't had any failures. Their MX200 line is really nice, it uses the MLC NAND like SLC NAND when you have enough free space which helps the drive last longer and run faster. Always get a larger SSD rather than two smaller ones UNLESS you're going to be doing a crazy amount of simultaneous read/writes. You will get lower access times and faster random read/writes with just one because there won't be a RAID controller thrown into the mix. My recommendation would be the 500GB MX200 for ~231 CDN, very fast drive and reliable.

 

What's wrong with the Sammy pro evo SSDs?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

The Samsung Pro and the Samsung EVO are two different models, just FYI. As for why I'm not a fan they've had crippling firmware bugs with the 840 EVO and a new TRIM bug that luckily doesn't affect most usage scenarios. I'd rather get an MLC drive than a TLC drive as well but that is just me being picky. You wouldn't be able to tell a difference in a blind test between any of the decent brands of SSDs anyways, Intel, Samsung, Crucial, Sandisk, they will perform the same in normal usage 99.99% of the time.

 

@thegh0sts ; Buy the biggest ssd drive you can afford instead of two smaller. Then you can enjoy this for a very long time. Small ssd discs will never be used on a new laptop later. A good advice... Buy either a very large SanDisk Extreme PRO or Samsung 850 Pro. Keep in mind one SSD with MLC NAND has a very long lifespan(10 years warranty on these). This you'll enjoy if you buy the biggest. You're never going to use one or two old small SSD in a new laptop later. Guaranteed. One or two small SSDs is going to be left in a closet or drawer when you the next time buy a new desktop or laptop . A large SSDs will be used anyway.

 

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_1229_1088&item_id=074182

was thinking of this one. or this one:

http://www.ncix.com/detail/crucial-bx100-500gb-sata-2-5-4b-104940.htm

 

It's a good SSDs but why buy 850 pro when Sandisk extreme pro is cheaper? Both of these ssd's have mlc nand and 10 Years Warranty.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_1229_1088&item_id=073304
SanDisk extreme pro or 850 Pro is the only choice if you want an good Ssd.

 

I think the Crucial would be the best option instead of EVOs as it's MLC, bang for buck, Dynamic Cache Acceleration (SLC conversion from MLC, boost in all realms though only MX200), BX100 is the cheapest consumer class SSD but lacks some features against the MX100 and MX200 , moreover Crucial has a good rep here in NBR SSD subforum.
For the high-end option, the PRO version uses MLC again with more boost, either 850PRO or Sandisk Extreme Pro would be great, IIRC @SSD subforum, Sandisk has more user preference...Samsung's V-NAND is pretty awesome though

Spoiler: Basics of SSDs

http://www.custompcguide.net/the-differences-between-crucial-mx100-vs-m500-and-m550-ssd/
http://www.custompcguide.net/the-differences-between-sandisk-ultra-plus-ultra-ii-and-extreme-pro/
http://www.custompcguide.net/compare-samsung-850-pro-versus-840-evo-and-840-ssd-series/

 

It really depends on your budget. If you're willing to spend more, the Sandisk Extreme Pro is appealing.

I personally stick to something like the Crucial MX100. Probably best performance/price you can get.

 

i'll get some SSDs after getting more tatts done LOL

also, where can one buy a 120hz panel for the R1?

 

Try https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/series/Dell/ALIENWARE/

 

i looked and there's no info for whether it's 120hz or not.

 

Send an email and ask if they can obtain one for you.

 

i left a message. also asked woodzstack if they can find out too

 

Hey guys, got a 980M on the way! Which thickness VRM pads do I need to get? I'm going to get some Fujipoly Extremes.

 

i can't tell ya that cos i am using the existing pads

 

IIRC the stock thermal pads are fine...
But here are a few posts that should help you with.

Spoiler

No one had posted a guide for the AW17 Heatsink thermal pad placing like this by mr.fox, but these should be of some help regarding the choice and placing

 

@Ashtrix you are a master in search/google the correct info... Wish I could the same . The original pads are very good. There may be a worse temp result if they are too stiff as those much better thermally conductive pads.

 

Thanks to @Mr. Fox & enthusiasts here at NBR for the amazing work, helps out everyone in every possible situation, veterans !!

 

Thanks for the info! I will give the stock pads a shot and see how it goes.

 

i wonder if using a custom BIOS chip would solve all our problems?

 

Which problems?

 

fan control, MXM card compatibility

 

The fans are controlled with the separate EC controller, so unlocked BIOS won't effect those. Soldering a switch into the PWM line on the fans works great though, I get max temps of 65C on my 780M @ stock clock w/ .95V.

As for the MXM cards aren't all the cards currently out working? The 970M/980Ms work and I thought the unlocked BIOS got rid of any throttling or is that not true?