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

Will this work in a 17 ? Amazon.com: HyperX 16GB Kit 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 Non-ECC CL11 1.35V Low Voltage SODIMM Notebook Memory DDR3 1866 KHX18LS11P1K2/16: Computers & Accessories

 

Yes, it will. Any 1.35v should.

 

Thanks Bro. Would you mind telling me why you're selling your 17? You can PM me

 

Yes Finally!!

You're selling yours?

 

Yeah. I don't want to, though. However, I won't keep it without at least three years of warranty, and they didn't live up to their word about letting me extend my warranty when I got my eGift Cards for the same price as if I were to just buy it straight up. I'm still talking with Manager's and Case Specialist's about it, so, it may happen... But, until then, it's for sale.

I was continuously lied to through the entire process of getting this system, and it's nothing more than a liability for me now.

 

I can definitely understand where you are coming from. I knew about my laptop being shipped before the "Executive Customer Service Team" did, in fact, they've been telling me all week that it was still in transit from the manufacturing facility and would be at least another 5 to 7 business days. This from the team who is supposed to be the cream of the crop of Dell agents and paying extra special attention to my order.

That was just my latest complaint in my whole ordeal. The Vindicator Briefcase that I received, I've used a total of 4 times and the leather is peeling off of the front of it already and they are refusing to exchange it, even though it's within 30 days. I'm in the process of writing a registered letter (yes I know in this day and age it's crazy using snail-mail, but no one will give me a contact at corporate) that will be sent both to the BBB and corporate head office detailing the ordeal. It's typed and 2 pages long so far detailing everything that has transpired.

It is safe to say that I will never buy another Dell product ever again!!!

 

Yeah, Alienware has definitely lost some loyalty on my part for this experience. After buying two AW 17's and other systems from them, they still treat me this way...

I don't only see these systems as a "toy" for me to have fun with -- I see them as an investment. And when my investments are time bombs waiting to blow, I get rid of them fast, like a hot potato. I'm not wealthy enough (yet ) to replace the 4930MX if it should die next year, or the 780M if it went dead one week after the warranty expired... Stuff like this happens all of the time and I can't believe they will not honor an agreement made, especially considering how expensive of an investment this was.

I'm not asking for a ridiculous discount on the warranty -- I'm merely asking them to honor our agreement of matching the configuration price of warranty (the price you see on Alienware.com while configuring systems).

 

Precisely, I can see the level of service declining for say a $500 laptop, but when you are talking about configurations that cost $4000-$5000 you expect, rightfully so, a certain level of service. If I treated people at work the way I've been treated by Dell, I'd be on the unemployment line.

 

Does anyone else have a ridiculous amount of partitions on their OS drive? I have the 256gb SSD with:
500mb EFI Partition
40mb OEM Partition
490mb Recovery Partition
196gb NTFS Primary Partition (Main OS)
350mb Recovery Partition
8.38gb Recovery Partition (AlienRespawn)
32.01gb Primary Partition (Intel Rapid Start)

Does anyone else know what the other ones are!?

 

A bunch of crap you don't need, that's what it is. That rapid start partition is useless. I'd rather have my 32GB's back.

 

So I finally spoke to the helpdesk again today about the low benchmarks and not being able to install Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework Driver. The person I was speaking to told me the driver was not relevant to my system and that's why it wouldn't install. Now I really wonder, has anyone else has not been able to install this driver? In particular anyone with a rig containing any of these 4900mq/780m/120Hz.

As for the benchmarks he said to try the newest Nvidia drivers and the newest firmware which I have. He said I should try to run the benchmarks a few more times and use different ones as well. I also have Windows 8.1 pro so that could be a factor too. Anyway, he said if I'm still having issues in a week they'd go into the problem and possibly replace more parts (videocard for a start). I'm not sure this is really necessary as I don't fully trust the benchmarks anyway (doesn't windows 8 have a problem with benchmarks?). I might try to find some for linux too, though I'm not sure if anyone else with a 780m has been running benchmarks in linux.

 

If you don't use Rapid Start (turn it off in BIOS and uninstall app) - you should be able to remove the 32GB partition and add all of the space to the C: drive.

Or if you have only 16GB of memory, it should be possible to delete the 32GB partition, extend the C: drive by 16GB and then re-create the Rapid Start partition with only 16GB of memory.

I've used hibernate with previous systems - and still evaluating whether I'll keep the Rapid Start and shrink the partition or drop back to hibernate and delete the partition completely.

 

Does anyone seeing problems on theirs GPU since they've migrated to Win 8.1 ?

In my case, the 780m is throttling under games or benchmarks. This is not a temp issue cause i've already seen throttling starting @ 70/71°. This is obvisously a power limit issue. For example, in a particular sequence in heaven 4 benchmark, the gpu frequency get down to 666 Mhz for 5 seconds and then go back to 849 immediately after. The worst is on MSI kombustor. Always stuck to 666 Mhz ! I'm on the latest A05 bios.

Could anyone try this ? I'm trying to solve this thing but i don't know if it´s a bios power limit or my gpu that get sick.

 

How do you then merge the empty partition with your main OS drive? As it is separated by a recovery partition

 

So is a score of P7509 good in 3D mark11 (not touched anything other than drivers)

4900MQ
780M

 

Yeah, that's in the normal range.

 

Sounds like the problem I'm having as I also have windows 8.1. It would be good to know if this is a hardware or software issue.

After updating to win 8.1 did you try reinstalling all the drivers as per: Alienware Initial Driver Installation | Dell US

Also, have you had issues with external keyboards not being found unless they are plugged in after windows starts?

 

So, i tried to come back to Win 8 with a previous backup and the problem seems to be the same. I just didn't notice it. Everything @stock and heaven 4 throttle the gpu for 5 seconds in the last 20 seconds of the benchmark. Don't know why. In fact, i presume that´s a power limit trigger. In games everything seems to be ok.
This implies one question to me. How could people overclock their GPU without flash the vbios ? It´s quite impossible with this sort of power limit. Already tried with no luck. Throttling happens in a worst manner. Even in games.

I do not have the external keyboard issue with a logitech K800 for my part.

 

What kind of scores do you get in Heaven, Furmark and 3DMark11?

 

You problem is probably solvable with a flash to an unlocked vbios. However, I would note that the throttling when running Kombustor or Furmark was intended, I actually surprised there wasn't any throttling when running Kombustor with Win 8.

Running Kombustor or Furmark with the unlocked vbios can be dangerous.

 

Just checked my system SSD - and notice the same issue - that there is a 350MB and a 9.75GB partition between the C: partition and the Rapid Start partition - so reclaiming the space won't be as simple as removing Rapid Start and then extending the system partition.

For now, I have enough space in the C: partition not too worry about the extra 16GB that's wasted in the Rapid Start partition because I only have 16GB of memory - but if I do start getting tight, then I'll hunt around for a solution.

Or... would I benefit from upgrading to 32GB of memory???

 

So, I finally received my system (actually came on Thursday) and have it all setup. I am in love with this laptop! I've started playing around with it this morning as I was working yesterday and installed Crysis 3 and Tomb Raider.

Crysis 3 plays fine and 3D was great! I had a problem with Tomb Raider where the game was all red, playable but just solid red everywhere. I update to the latest Nvidia driver and that solved the issue, but now I've lost my 3D and don't know how to get it back.....It's almost like it doesn't detect the onboard receiver.....

Anyone have any ideas?

So I did a system restore to back before I installed the update driver and have 3D again, but still the same Red screen issue with Tomb Raider....

 

You can't use 3D with every game. You need to disable it. This may be causing the Red Screen of Death.

 

Oh, maybe but Tomb Raider is a 3D enabled game, there is options in the settings for it. I figured out why I couldn't enable the 3d with the updated drivers, I was selecting on the wrong thing, should have just been selecting "detect glasses" I believe.

 

The issue is definitely related to 3D. I've read a lot about the Red Screens and they're always related to the driver or 3D gaming, or the card not supporting it, but ours does.

 

kk, well I installed the latest driver again. I'll setup the 3D and try again, if it doesn't work then I guess no 3D for tomb raider

EDIT, now it's even red screening when trying to setup the 3D.....I'll try a clean setup and see if that works....

Same result....

 

Have you tried other games? Your GPU could be malfunctioning.

 

Crysis 3 works fine in 3D as well as movies. The only issue is Tomb Raider and when I update the driver.....

EDIT: You are right though, if I disable 3D when on the original driver that came with the system, everything is good. Tomb Raider works fine.

I guess no updating drivers for me or 3D on Tomb Raider.......I'll test out some more games later....

Edit, now Crysis 3 is red-screening as well. Guess I'll have to call freaking tech support

 

I think I figured out the issue. It's only giving the option for red/blue 3D....

EDIT: So after spending all day today with this issue, and most of the afternoon with Alienware Tech Support (2 different agents), looks like we are going to be replacing the laptop.

He has to escalate it and was talking about replacing the IR sensor and taking the screen apart. I outright informed him that I would not accept that as a resolution, I've had the laptop 2 days and if it has to be taken apart for anything, they can have it back. He said that is also another viable solution as I'm well within the timeframe to do so.

Sucks that I have to return it after only having it for a couple of days but I'm also not going to let some yo-yo come over and take it apart and put it back together and go through all of that. I'll keep this one until they can send me another one and just transfer my data over to it.

 

Have looked every where for info on up dating memory speed for the 17. I know it's got to be low voltage 1.35 but anyone know what speeds we can put in or is it set to only run on 1600? I have read several reports of BF4 running up to 22% more fps on 2300 speed vs 1600 would be worth the upgrade for that kind of jump?
Also it is said they recommend 16g with 8g min for the game. Looks like ram and cpu's are making a come back in gaming.

 

Hey,

im just collecting money for the 14/17.

And asked me: When will the 2014 one's come ??

 

Not until Q2 2014, at least six months away, probably eight.

You should wait, if you can. Next year's hardware will be a decent upgrade to this year's. Continue saving up and grab an even better configuration next year.

 

ok good idea..

Do you think that they make a 15" again?

Would be my perfect size...

 

No, I doubt it. Not anytime soon. They will have at least one more year of the 14", 17", and 18". They just refreshed their entire lineup's design, they won't abandon it now.

 

oh

i'd go with the 14 anytime, if it was just upgradeable in the future..
dont want to stick with that poor 765..

 

Sucks that they install 4gb sticks in all slots rather than 8gb in the hard to reach slots - makes upgrading a bit harder

 

Agreed. Don't go with the 14 if you want better performance. Even getting the AW 17 with the 765M is a better choice than getting the AW 14 with it, but I wouldn't recommend anything less than the 770M.

 

Ok, so i'll save my money till Q2 next year and see what i can get for the money.
I hope that they dont blow up the nice design, really like the current and the ones from the past.

 

I have my alienware 17 since last Thursday, and all OK, but I have lag in BF3 online.
Someone is having problems with Broadcom wifi?

 

Turn off WMM in the advanced adapter settings and it should sort that out

 

At least they're giving you a new one. Best of luck.

 

Even the tech guy said, that if I say I want a replacement laptop, they have no choice but to comply with that request, given the time frame.

It's just such a shame, everything else seems to be working great. I did notice some artifacts and stuttering in Tomb Raider, but I'm assuming that it cause I everything maxed out (but damn it looks so sweet, except with it being so rainy and cold, you would expect certain things to be umm pointy?? lol).

I think I've pretty much replaced my PS3 and 360 wiith this beast, if only I could get used to a keyboard/mouse setup instead of a controller. Though, after 20+ years of console gaming, can't really blame a guy and support for controllers on PC games is much better than it was a decade or so ago....

 

I used to be a console gamer, too. It's an expensive change, but the graphics are just amazing compared to consoles, making it totally worth it.

 

Funniest thing, 3D just started working.....

I just spent the last half hour playing TR in 3D!

And ya, the graphics are phenomenal compared to console....right now I'm using Motionjoy with my PS3 controller hard-wired emulating a 360 controller....

EDIT: 3D just died again

 

It just randomly started working? That's weird... Maybe some cable is loose or something.

 

After playing with it for a little bit, if I get the screen sitting in a certain position, the 3D works....I think you're right, the connection must be loose with the IR transmitter or something, now I'm debating on letting them take it apart to fix it because the whole half hour I played tomb raider, my fans weren't audible at all. I didn't measure temps, but the laptop is not hot by any stretch of the imagination. I would hate to change it in for another that has heat issues after wards....

 

I bet that's all it is. Something is probably just loose and could be shorting out the connection. Since you're already getting a replacement, why not open it up and take a look? The owner's manual is pretty self explanatory and easy to follow. I recommend taking a look.

This isn't uncommon among Alienware's, in general. Loose cables and connections are actually quite common, mostly with SLI, but screens and other stuff as well. Although, sometimes when things are about to fail, they have weird moments like this where they work and then stop working. So, it could be anything at this point, no one knows for sure until you get in there and look.

It's probably better to just take the replacement anyway.

 

Ya, I'll just go with the replacement. I would take it apart and fix it myself (I am a computer tech by trade, after all) though I don't want to give them any excuse to renege on the warranty and I paid a pretty penny for a 3 year accidental and complete care. The way they have been, any excuse to get me off their back will do.

 

Ok guys wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I'm noticing some kind of weird audio glitch sound while watching movies and also while gaming it will just last for a split second then go away. I'm wondering if it's related to the graphics card possibly interfering with the sound card but obviously I'm no tech so I'm not sure. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and if so if they have a solution. I probably should also mention that I did flash the vbios a while ago with SVL7's flash from tech inferno, not sure if that might cause it either.

Any suggestions?

 

Finally I installed other drivers from lenovo site and works fine. ( Broadcom 4352 WLAN Driver for Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) - ThinkCentre E93z, E73z and M73z)
Thanks anyway