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

900p screen is terrible if they still use the same one the r3 started out with. It doesn't even compare to the 1080p panel in any way. definitely go 1080p.

 

I'd say go for the 1920 x 1080p screen. It would be more of a loss if you get stuck at 1600 x 900. with the 1920 x 1080p screen, you can always scale down the resolution to 1600 x 900. If you get the 1600x900, you'll never be able to scale up to 1920 x 1080

 

I prefer upping the price by a few hundred dollars to Dell's approach of limiting configuration options. If I had any interest in buying this year's models, that killed it.

 

Haha, I disagree with you guys, but that's fine. I do know the screen is a bit rubbish in comparison to the 1920x1080, but downscaling games to 1600x900 on a 1920x1080 screen is likely to produce worse results than just having a 1600x900 screen in the first place. It looks like we'll beg to differ, but that's fine.

 

They are no longer offering the builds they did at launch. I could no longer get the same system today I received just a couple weeks ago. I don't understand why Dell is doing this to everyone, I for one would rather get the best GPU (780) and the lower end CPU 4700 . A gaming rig that can not come with the best GPU is really just plain dumb "Stupidity, a lack of intelligence"

 

You have to wait till mid to late August. They have large part shortages right now. My config with the i7 4700 and GTX 780m was about $2200, you can still pre-order that config from HIDevolution.

 

They should then allow one to pre-order and be told shortage of parts instead of making one believe these are the only options.

 

Someone might be able to help?

 

Why don't you just "help yourself" by making a few posts on T|I - that's the easiest thing to do. We do not 'cross-share' svl7's work here, as it's not fair to him, or T|I.

 

because they need minimum 5 quality post .... but i don't speak english so u think it`s easy making 5 quality post ? I have to use google translate but no`t easy!

 

Well, you've made 21 posts on NBR - it can't be that difficult. You don't have to write a essay (posts like the ones you've made here will suffice!)

 

Or you could just paypal a donation. Better they are user funded rather than advertiser, where conflicts of interest can happen

 

Sooo... nobody has any overclock suggestions then? My goal is to overclock enough to be able to Play Tomb Raider on Ultimate mode and get 60fps... if that's even possible

 

I saw your post earlier, but didn't reply because I don't have a 780M, and it seems that sometimes when you overclock the 780M you get worse performance sometimes, so I can't comment on that one aspect.

But I can explain how I approach overclocking, of which some of the same principles will apply to you.

Use MSI Afterburner, or another overclocking program. Have some programs available to you that can monitor GPU temperatures (eg GPUz). Have some stress testing programs available (3DMark11 or a demanding game that you know taxes your GPU to 100% usage - GPUz will tell you the GPU usage). Then run the stress testing programs with GPUz open, check back to GPUz to see what the highest temperatures were. If the temperature is below what you're comfortable with, then you can consider over clocking (I'd say anything below 90degC is OK, but below 80degC is better). Then increase core clock in increments of say 50Mhz. Retest as previously described. If it's stable, doesn't crash, you don't see artifacts, and your fps hasn't dropped, then increase the core Mhz another notch & keep retesting until the temperatures are either too high, you get artifacting, or crashing, (or fps loss). Then you back down to your last stable core overclock, and that's your Core Clock determined. Then do the same thing, but this time increasing the memory clock in notches.

That's it really! I tend to use 3DMark11 so I can see the effect on performance easily, and have found 3DMark11 to be a good test of stability. Far Cry 3 & Tomb Raider also seem to be good for testing stability, exposing any borderline stable overclocks.

With the standard vBIOS you won't be able to increase the core beyond +135Mhz, and you'll need a modded vBIOS to go above that. The same holds true if you want to overvolt, you need a modded vBIOS. Overvolting (applying more volts) allows the GPU to get to higher core frequencies, but it increases temperature exponentially, and is the best way of wrecking your GPU if you're not careful!

EDIT: users on here have been using EVGA PrecisionX to greater effect than MSI Afterburner, but you'll have to read this thread for their posts or have another user help you out more on that one.

Hope that helps.

 

I think this is the best way for me! THANKS!

 

Excellent information thank you sir, right now I have the gpu clock at +75 and memory at 100 but I shall try having them at the same mhz going forward and go from there, I am still breaking in my thermal paste so perhaps I shall wait a little longer before pushing the GPU again.

By the way Tomb Raider looks absolutely incredible on this machine. I'm already hooked haha

 

Yep, Tomb Raider was pretty good, and good graphics too. Did you say you're going to have the core & memory overclock amount to be same? If that's the case, then that's not necessary. Just try & get the highest stable and temperature acceptable Mhz for both the core & memory, the core & memory don't have to be overclocked by the same amount.

 

Usually its pretty safe to mess with graphics cards core and memory clocks at stock voltage. Its when you up the voltage that you have a higher risk of cards failing.

 

So has anyone else noticed that in game you can't use their numpad, only only the number keys above the letters on the keyboard? Is this normal? numpad works just fine when not gaming but can't be used while gaming for me for some reason?

 

I haven't noticed that.. only because I use a 360 gamepad. But I have noticed that on FPS games you can't run with "W" and use the touchpad to look around simultaneously which is odd. You have to stop moving, use the touch pad to move your head, then go back to moving.

 

Turn the sensitivity off in the touch pad software and it won't lock up like that when pressing keys.

 

Palm Check feature right? That's what I thought when I saw Lundon44's post.

 

What about the numpad though is it normal for it not to work in game? And yes numlock is turned on

 

Tried mine in game seems to be off the num lock sends my toon forward running in a locked setting.

 

I wonder if it has something to do with many systems not even having a numpad to begin with so the developers don't implement it's control?

 

I've managed to try out PCSX2 with this laptop and it runs pretty well. Problem is, is that the Maximum temp sometimes goes to 78-80 but when I check the current temp and refresh back the max temp, it went back to high 60s and then repeating the cycle over again. Is that okay for the CPU?

 

Seems just a little warmer than what I'm experiencing. Not concerning, but not optimal either. The paste jobs can be iffy on systems - it just happens.

If you never want to see above 80C again on the CPU, take it apart and re-paste.

 

Does it void warranty though? I got the MX-4 and I'm scared of screwing something up. This is gonna be my first paste job.

 

Just re-paste my CPU and GPU the CPU had paste everywhere pretty bad. The GPU not so much but both were hard to clean. Feel much better knowing whats in there now.
Had a spare tube of Antec Formula 6 Diamond so thru that in there.

 

Hi, owners of new alienware, how would you rate the quality of the 1080p screen (non 3D)? What are the viewing angles, color accuracy, color gamut (SRGB)? How noisy your system in idle and under load? Thank you)

 

For anyone concerned about the 1080p non-3D screen, this reviewer had decent results after calibration:

Dell Alienware 17

1000:1 contrast, about 98% SRGB, max Delta E of 1.8, spot-on gamma and color temperature, but the brightness is only about 160 nits.

 

While I can't say I've measured it, (look to Diaphanous's post for that) the screen on my new 17" looks much better than the one on my m17x r3. Much less glare, better viewing angles, and all-around a better screen. Probably not comparable to a m17x r2 screen, but still pretty nice.

 

It's ok, seems warm but not overheating. Fan RPM vary depending on the temperature, so it is normal to see them going up and down.

Not going to void your warranty unless something breaks in the process. It's pretty simple and you can get lots of tutorials on youtube and here.

 

you may also try contacting the sales dept. over the chat or phone. They always provide good deals.

 

Never mind I just saw the site, you use to be able to configure the $1999 model with that GPU but I guess not anymore. Seems someone's money hungry

 

It's not only that. People have been buying the 780M because it's only $200 more than the 770M - I bet they're back-ordered. If I remember correctly, the 680M was $499 more than the 675M.

Alienware makes the most profit on their "maxed out systems," so I presume they're saving whatever 780M's are left for that specific configuration, for the time being. :thumbsup:

 

What about noise in idle, web surfing, and under load?

 

Ok guys, received my AW17 today, beautiful machine! NOW to the 780m issues lol. I installed the latest beta drivers, A03 bios, and i even tried the trick of downloading nvidia inspector....click the wrenches by the driver version? and while on global setting page click, set card to defaults? This is the highest 3dmark 11 score i can achieve: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4800MQ,Alienware 068R5X (6341). I think this issue is throttling....under heavy load...watching the temps in the inspector, i reach 67-68 max and my clock speeds are up and down on the inspector. Any suggestions of settings i might be missing?

 

You shouldn't be experiencing throttling at those temperatures, especially with NVIDIA Inspector running.

You probably need to upgrade the driver to 326.19 - it works fine.

 

326.41 is the newest...why go back a driver?

 

because newer isn't always better, especially with driver releases these days.

 

I'm on 326.41 at the moment, no issues that I've noticed. Whereas 326.19 has serious crashing issues with Borderlands 2.

Of course, I'm on a 765m - so no throttling for me. 780m I have no idea.

 

326.19 is the best so far runs just fine for me..:thumbsup:

 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4800MQ,Alienware 068R5X

In this case it doesnt matter. I switched to .19. Within 100 points.

 

Just received my new system
i7-4900MQ
GTX 780M
32Gigs Ram
3D 1080p

And I just added dual 840 pros in raid 0

This thing is a BEAST !

benchmarks soon

 

sounds like it's going to be damn fast at pretty much everything. Have fun with that thing!!

 

Ok obviously i overlooked the apply default card settings. I did this under the area, if you look at your driver version under inspector, there is a little wrench next to it. WRONG: You need to apply default card settings under the OVERCLOCKING tabs, if anyone else has a problem, make sure you do it this way. It was easily overlooked.

Here is my new score NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4800MQ,Alienware 068R5X
Throttling was set at 66 degrees, i upped it to 85 because default settings raise it to 92, little high for my liking. 7133 isn't so bad, i'd like to be higher, especially when i never went above 71c on the temp monitor. My other question is, does inspector have to constantly be running to get rid of the temp limit now, or is that set in the card.

Thanks for the help guys, this machine is awesome, can't wait to toy around with it more.....now off to work to pay for this thing :hi2:

 

Pretty sure that nvidia inspector isn't modifying the card bios, so you're going to have to run it at startup to remove the throttle and over clock the card.

Edit: nice score BTW!! I'm Slightly jelly.

Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013) using Tapatalk 4

 

Nvidia inspector has a option to create a shortcut for the desired setting you want..
After creating it.. U could just add it to the windows start-up processes and there will be no need for doing it yourself every time you turn it on..

 

congratz on your new machine!!