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

I've managed to solve the packet loss issue with the Broadcom BCM4352 card. I eventually turned of WMM on the card and instantly the packet loss was at 0% as it should be... just in case anyone else has the same problem

 

Glad it was such an easy fix.

 

I am going to buy My dream soon ( Alienware m17X r5 ) Anyway i have a couple of Qs

1) Does this laptop accept drivers from nvidia website or i have to download from dell ?
2) Does it have sorrund sound like it did in R4 ? if it did how does it work ?
3) Do you I have to buy Alienware Vindator Backpack to fit or is there any other option ?
4) is the matt screen really woth it over having glossy with more beutifull soft glass on front of it like it did on t

 

Does anyone know how this machine's (plastic?) LCD bracket is attached to the panel? It looks like glue. I hope that the m15x fiasco doesn't repeat.

 

Hi, I know some of your answers:

1) Sure, you can install drivers from NVidia site. Recommended for best performance in latest games.
2) Don't know about surround.
3) Carrier bags - double bag to prevent rips for added security & peace of mind! ;-)
4) Don't know

 

1. Yes.
2. Yes, it's very similar.
3. You may need to, yes. The new lineup is somewhat larger than the previous form factor.
4. Yes, it is worth it. The quality of the screen has not decrease, if anything, it has only gotten better. However, I have not seen the 120Hz 3D bundle on the new AW17 and I believe that is still a glossy screen.

I'm actually in the market for another laptop as well, so, I may end up getting the AW17 with the 3D bundle. Thing is, I need a computer NOW, and not in October...

 

Hey guys any updaes when gtx780 cards will available.my system is in production from 19aug.no estimated delivery date as its an exchange order.now am unable to even use my old system as the tech screwed it up its like dead now hence need to send it to depot for repairs which will take total 10days and send it back as i get my new exchange order..the tech did something wrong while replacing the damaged part which i had in out of box issue,he did replaced the faulty part but damaged the system and was unable to fix it.its not starting now.you all wont believe he used a mini drill gun while opening the screws and tightening them which damaged the palm rest as two screws came out of the palm rest.he should have used a screwdriver.now i dont wish to send to depot for repairs as now i simply can resist to use the screwed system.i would wait instead to get my exchange order

 

1) Drivers install fine off the nVidia website, including geforce experience - absolutely no problems with that so far.
2) No optical audio out, but you can get the same signal from the HDMI port as on the r3/r4. No idea how surround from the headphone jacks works.
3) I have a jansport something-or-other that didn't fit my r3 in the laptop sleeve, but now fits my r5 just fine. (of course, I don't know the backpack model name - it's at least 3 years old though) Aside from that, there are several other backpacks that fit the old r3/r4, and I'd assume fit the new r5 just as well if not better.
4) The matte screen is really awesome. I can actually use my laptop outside....

 

My CPU temps started to reach 90c after a month of heavy use so I decided to replaced the Thermal paste. I took a picture for those who wants to see the 4700mq with the stock paste. after I replaced the stock paste, temps immediately dropped to 75c under full load.

 

I think i'm going to do the same, mine are reaching 85-87ish, i've had my system for about 3 weeks now. What did you use? My local bestbuy carries antec, thermal diamond Antec, Inc Formula 7 - Best Buy

 

I used Tuniq TX-4 since I have 2 them in my house.

 

Hello, need some help here. I have a new 17 and love it. I have the regular 750 HDD and 64 SSD cache drive. Before my system gets too old, I would like to add a SSD to be the main boot drive. I know I can use AlienRespawn to create a USB flash recovery disk. My question is, is it possible to install a SSD and retain the other drives in place? And then, how to tell the system to use the new SSD to install the OS on and to be the boot drive? Simple questions, I know, but I don't want to learn from trial and error. Any other pointers? Thanks

 

Yes, you can retain the old drives, there are two drives for the Alienware 17 and then there is the Msata drive. the other drive has no Drives installed so you can put your SSD there. I installed my SSD the moment my Laptop arrived at our office. What you do is go to the Bios and rearrange the boot order to recognize the SSD first before anything else. Make sure you Use ACHI. After that, just format the new SSD and the laptop should boot from the new SSD.

 

How many people are actually using laptop coolers here? I was just wondering if the laptop can handle gaming and educational use easily without a cooler. (Assuming that thermal paste job, heat sinks and fans are all on good condition and the GPU/CPU is GTX780M/4800MQ.)

Another question, this may be a little hard to answer but, how will the single GTX 780M 4GB (Laptop GPU) perform compared to SLI connected [2x(GTX 560 2GB)] (Desktop GPU)?

 

I used laptop coolers before (Cooler Master EVO and U3), I notice that I didn't need them anymore since may lappy wasn't going near the thermal threshold, the reason might be because the bottom of the laptop is just one big vent. My CPU after I replaced the paste is maintaining a temp of 75c at full load (it went to 80c but immediately went down without loss of speed), My GPU on stock paste never went above 80c at full load. I live in the Philippines so it can get pretty hot/ warm here.

As for the Desktop SLI 560, Laptops will never be able to catch up with their Desktop counterparts. That being said, the 780m is actually a gtx 680 with lower clock speed, this puts it in the same speed and power as a gtx 660ti. I'm guessing that the 560m SLI might perform slightly better though I'm not really sure.

 

Thanks archie, What is ACHl ? Does the new SSD need to be mSATA? Will it be the c: drive if I do what you describe?

 

Just as a quick note, I'm not sure if you'll see a huge difference in performance in going with an SSD if you've already got a 64GB cache drive. From what I've read boot times are basically the same, and so is application performance once the drive knows your work patterns. I don't think it will be the night & day difference that you would see if you were going from an uncached HDD to an SSD. Although this does depend on how you use your system. Just thought I'd drop that in to perhaps save you the money or bother if in your situation you wouldn't see any benefits from doing the upgrade you talk about.

 

SLI'd GTX 560's are slightly slower than a 780M according to 3DMark11 scores on Guru3d website. Not much difference though (about 10%), but you won't have to put up with SLI issues when just using the 780M.

EDIT: the GTX 560 sli on Guru3d was tested with old drivers back in 2011, so if using up to date drivers they're probably equally as fast as the 780M, but with SLI issues.

 

Another thing to point out regarding upgrading to SSD. If your new 17 shipped with a 750gb HDD & 64gb mSata combo, and if you want to carry on using the 750gb HDD in the other port - still cached by the mSata, you cannot do this if you change Sata operation to AHCI in BIOS - it needs to be left at RAID so the mSata can cache the 750gb HDD.

 

AHCI just basically stops the Bios from checking Raid drives hence faster boot times. However, you would lose your raid functionality aka using 2 hdds or 2 ssds for faster read write times. The SSD doesn't have to be Msata, the other drive is for regular SSDs/ Hdds. I really wouldn't bother with RAID or AHCI since the difference is just a few seconds. I would agree with the other comments to just maintain your Msata drive and if you use your msata for caching your 750gb, maintain raid. My laptop doesn't have Msata and that's why I went for AHCI.

 

Hi everyone,

First post! First off let me thank the people on this forum and this thread specifically for all the informative posts that really helped me in deciding what computer to get, even if you didn't know it .

Have had this computer for about a week now and I am very pleased with it. Having used Apple computers for the past ten years, I finally got tired of paying over the odds for sub-par hardware and I am incredibly pleased with my decision. The overall quality of this machine is amazing and I am very happy with the 1080p non-3D screen (which is said to be an issue with the ASUS ROG G750 series that I had originally ordered but cancelled after multiple delays by the importer). Seen the G750 series in stores and it doesn't come close in terms of build and screen quality, plus you can't clean it so I am pleased with my choice even if it's a fine and quiet machine.

Regarding the performance of my AW17, I am able to max out most games, just not some like Far Cry 3 or Bioshock Infinite running at 60 fps (though not too far from it). Tomb Raider runs great with that fancy hair effect turned off. Haven't tried Crysis 3 or Metro Last Light yet (last one is 60% off on Steam right now btw), but I am sure I'd run into some trouble with those two at max setting.
I know full well that benchmark scores aren't everything, but I have some concern that the computer isn't living up to it's true potential.

When running 3DMark11 I have managed the following scores:

Out of the box:

4100-ish, then 4800-ish on the next try. Might not have switched to discrete graphics there, can't recall.

After upgrading to the 04 bios and the 326.80 drivers:

6500-ish

My best score so far:

OC-ing GPU +135mhz, memory to +300mhz (just testing, usually scale it back a bit for gaming because I get a bit nervous from overclocking. Never seen any artifacts or screen tear yet though):

6888

Specs: i7-4700MQ, 16GB Ram, 780M.

Overall I am very happy with the computer and statistics only go so far, but still when you see people getting scores of 2000 points more with the same spec, you've got to wonder if I am really getting what I paid for out of the machine.

I think throttling might be the reason, since I see sudden framedrops of 20 or so fps both in 3dMark11 and in some games like Far Cry 3 for instance. You're at 60 fps and then, boom down to 30.

Still my temperatures aren't bad, 45 C idle and mostly in the 70s when playing with the occasional spike in the low 80s.

Out of curiousity, what 3dMark11 scores do you guys achieve with your AW17s and do you have any tips how I might get more out of mine? I tried OCing with Nvidia Inspector, MSI Afterburner and EVGA Precision, didn't change anything although I might do something wrong. Could it be the driver / bios that is the issue here?

 

Regarding the discussion above I also got mine with a 64gb mSATA drive and a 750 GB HDD since I didn't buy it directly from Dell and the company that sold it had it in stock. I bought a 256 GB Samsung 840 EVO as my boot drive. I simply moved the HDD to the second slot and put the SSD in the "first" slot (don't know if it matters but heard it was better) and then installed Windows 8 on the SSD. Lastly formatted the HDD and now use it for some applications, music and other storage. I left the system in RAID and now the mSATA is caching the non-boot HDD, Can't really tell if it's worth it or if I should be using the mSATA as a separate drive though.

 

The 17's A04 BIOS should fix the throttling.

 

Sorry if the questions bother you. I don't want to buy a laptop and have the screen fall off after a year, and AW has made design choices that are almost as strange.

I posted again to bump the thread. Maybe a mod can merge my posts later.

 

Cheers, but I already have the A04 BIOS installed :/

 

Thanks for your feedback. I am thinking 750 GB will eventually not be enough storage, so I might as well upgrade early on. That, and the fact that the last PC I purchased failed its hard drive after a two foot drop onto carpet. And that was with the fall protection turned on. In retrospect, perhaps a fundamental design flaw with the Sony handheld PC (that had a spinning HDD, circa 2006?) was that it was so light that it was too susceptible to someone or something snagging the power cord and pulling the thing off the table. Whereas I think a SSD would not have been damaged in that fall. Obviously, rotating storage media's time is coming to an end, but you have persuaded me to hold off for now and wait for the prices to drop.

 

Where/how can I get the A04 BIOS? It is not showing up on the Dell support site, and System Information reports that I have A03.

 

It's on the dell site, you have to click on "All related drivers for your Product" and it should appear.

 

Yes, I don't think you're getting the full performance that you should be getting. That 3DMark11 score is not very good. Strange that your temperatures are OK. I'd recommend tracking the temperature & GPU clocks while gaming to see if there's any correlation between temperatures, throttling, and frame rate drops. Perhaps also keep track of CPU temperatures & frequencies to make sure that's not throttling too.

 

Looks like we might have a newer version of the A04 bios? On twitter, @alienwaretechsupport they posted NEW BIOS! Its named A04 though like the last one, but the release date is 8/29? Here it is Driver Details | Dell US

 

Looks exactly the same as when I got my AO4 2 weeks ago :|

 

Ok, found it and installed, thanks. My 3DMark 11 score went from 6500 to 7650, about a 18% increase :thumbsup:

 

It;s the same file, I checked the MD5.

 

Did anyone here experience delays/parts shortage on their order?

I ordered on August, 5 and my original estimated delivery date was September 5. I was told that my order could get affected but then after the revision of my delivery date, I again got September 5. After speaking with many support agents and my case specialist, I learned (on September 2) that there were no holds on my order and it was in the Final Stage of Production. A support agent told me that it meant my order was built and was awaiting to be picked up by the carrier. On the morning of September 4, I find out that my order's new delivery date is October 7 and my order is delayed due to shortage on GTX 780M.

 

I think I've asked this before in an older post a while back but its driving me mental; is there any way of disabling the volume notification when you turn the volume up or down with the F-keys without fully disabling AlienwareOn-ScreenDisplay.exe? I find that if I launch a game and toggle the volume up and down as the game is booting then I have no issues, however if I forget (which is often the case) it brings me back to the desktop every time which is ridiculously annoying. There must be a way to stop this without killing alienwareon-screendisplay.exe completely

 

In the run command type Msconfig, then go to startup, disable the alienware O.S.D ( on screen display ). This will prevent you going back to desktop in windows 7 while playing a game if you try to adjust the volume using FN commands. Also this solves the 10% increments in sound, so now using the FN f7/f8 you get increments of sound increase in twos, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and so on. Much better.

 

Works perfect thank you! I never thought to try disabling it on startup because when I kill the process manually it stops the volume F keys from working completely however disabling on startup works fine... and the smaller increase/decrease increments is much much better.

 

how many slots for HDD/SSD is there actually in the AW 17 ?? becuase they are advertising quad ssd raid zero 256 gb but i can't find the option on the web page and how are they gonna put so many ssd's in it ?? i thought there where 2 bays and one msata ? plz answer quick buying it but wont waste money on 4 ssd's if it isn't even possible....

 

It is... But u will need to remove the disc drive..

 

You have two HHD cages and the mSata plus as stated remove the Disc Drive and install a caddy as I have it gives you 4 drives total..

 

Anyone here end up getting the 4930MX in the AW17? I'd like to know what you think of it: performance wise and perhaps battery life. Also, how's the overclocking? Can you hit 5.0 GHz?

And anyone with the 120Hz screen: what's it like compared to the previous M17x? And once again, how's the battery life?

Thanks in advance.

 

Guys.. Anyone know if the EVERKI FLIGHT backpack hold the new AW 17???

I know it is advertised as 16' bag, but i saw a few people saying that it holds a 17.3'

 

General rule of thumb - these laptops will fit in a bag advertised for one size larger than what they actually are. (17" will fit in an 18" bag, etc) Exceptions are where they specifically market to Clevo/Alienware owners, but there are only a couple of bags that do so.

Given that, I would assume that the people fitting a 17" laptop in that bag are using something like a 17" MBP, which is SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than even the new 17.

 

I've tried quite a few backpacks to find one. It does not fit in the Everki Flight. The nicest one I found other than alienware's own bags is this one:

Solo Executive 17.3" Backpack - Solo

The AW17 fits just fine.

N

 

Just got a great deal on a Alienware 17 with a 780m, 4800qm and everything else stock. It was 2,740 before tax and somewhere around 2900 after. I told the guy I only had about 2,350 after tax and after about 10 minutes he gave me 2,140 before tax and 2,310 after tax. What a great deal, 2nd day shipping and everything. I am very happy right now with a 600$ discount . Also going to call in 2 to 3 days and say I want to cancel it so they discount it even more. Last time I did that I got an additional 150 off.

 

Nice bag.. But can't find this one in uk.. Only the 16".... The only way is maybe a wenger ibex or the everki titan... Which are great bags but to heavy for the 8 kg limit of most airlines...

Only the notebook and the bag will be 6+

 

Anantech Review: Immature BIOS and platform.

AnandTech | Alienware 17 Gaming Notebook Review

 

What's the best cooling pad that will comfortably hold the 17?

 

If i buy the basic GeForce 765M GTX will the power ac be thin or it will be differnt from the 780m gtx ?

 

I think you'll be getting a different power brick. It might be the thicker one