*OFFICIAL* Alienware 18 Owner's Lounge Thread

Roughly 8 inches by 4 inches by 2 inches.

 

Just checked and my 18 now shows as shipped with an EDD of 7/11. Ordered on 6/24 with an original EDD of 7/26. Gonna wear right through my phone's screen refreshing Fed-ex's site come Thursday.

4700mq
780m SLI
8 gigs memory
750 gb hdd/64 gb cache

SSD and memory upgrades are on standby. May do a processor upgrade later in the year depending on the gains seen by others.

 

Can anyone who already got their 18 do me a favor and dump the bios and send it to me?

Thanks in advance.

Same for the vbios btw.

 

I am interested to see comparisons of the 4700MQ + 780m vs 4800/900 + 780m. I am thinking of getting one of these behemoths, but I do not need the bluray drive, 16gb ram, or even the 64gb ssd that comes with the 4800 because I am going to put a larger boot SSD in and my own ram! From what I can tell, the 4700 should be enough to run gpu intensive games like crysis 3 but I think I would have some bottlenecking on mmos and the like in upcoming years.

 

I had the same issue. Call support and they wil send you a flash drive for recovery of the Windows 8 operting system. I received my usb flash drive today.

 

I cant believe laptops are now having 8 gigs of VRAM now, somebody report how much vram they use running some games.

 

Estimated delivery :

Wed 7/10/2013


Arrived at FedEx location

KEASBEY, NJ.

 

Wish I could, Blackjack, but the system is not yet invoiced in my name. They cannot provide me any technical support until that has occurred, which they told me would be 24 to 48 hours from now...so, I am not going to do much updating or game playing until I can get the OS on the SSD, and the system running the way I want it. Frustration ensues. Thankfully I plan on going out of town until the weekend, so hopefully by the time I get back I'll have the flash drive in hand and be able to get the SSD in place. Meanwhile I'm attempting to understand windows 8, and reading up on Mr. Fox's suggestions on getting Win8 bearable.

 

First pic with a 13" MacBook Pro for comparison, tactx keyboard, and Logitech g500.

 

Awesome Pic! Congrats!

 

Do it come with alienrespawn installed?

 

Your advice is money bro. Worked like a charm first time through. I can;t thank you enough! I started at 90.000A and 0 throttling. Now I can unleash the full potenitial of this beast. Will let you know benchmarking score.

 

Mine is at the same exact place lol.

 

My intel benchmark score was 871 Marks. According to CPU-Z and wPrime I am getting throttling at 3.79/ 3.80 at 38 multiplier. Huge improvement over yesterday.

 

Ugh, without start8, I'd have no idea what programs are on this thing...there's no way to see them! Very frustrating, but YES, alienrespawn is installed. Once I get my copy of windows 8, I'll be sure to make a backup once everything is the way I want it.

 

Hi Folks,

Going nuts waiting for my 18! So I'm going to drop a 840 Pro into my machine the first day I get it. I have copies of Windows 8 pro and I heard that backing up a Win OS from a HDD to a SSD may not be optimized? I'm not sure but I'd rather just go completely clean. My question is there does not seem to be a version of Alien Command Center available for download for the new models unless its this one below.

Alienware Command Center Driver, A02
This package provides Alienware Command Center Application and is supporting Alienware M18XR2,M18X,M11XR3,M14XR2,M14X,M17XR4 and M17XR3 running the following Windows Operating Systems: Windows 8.
Manufacturer: DellDriver Type: Dell Support SoftwareRelease Date: 2/22/2013 (Latest Version)Importance: Optional
Previous versions of this driver

Any advice on if this will work... want to make sure I have my pretty lights working...

 

Never mind...I found it...


Command Center 3.0 for Notebooks
Command Center 3.0 for Notebooks
Release Date: 7/5/2013
Importance: Optional
Version: 3.0.29.0,A01-00 See Previous Versions

 

Glad those settings I suggested helped. Maybe they will release a system BIOS update pretty soon so you will not need to use those modified power settings in XTU.

Maybe you can help with the request quoted below?

Did you get any help with this yet, Brother svl7? Looks like several guys have their new 18's now. Some might need help doing the BIOS and vBIOS dumps.

 

Last friday got the invoice for the AW 18 and stat. was moved to "in production". Shipping date is still 26.07

Also got bored so i combined my desk and notebookcooler. Hearing how good the cooling is it might seem the desk mod is pointless but will see.


Cant wait to get the new machine

 

That looks very nice, DH48. How are you powering it? Is it normally USB powered or AC adapter? If you want to share more photos, including the underside, etc. we would enjoy seeing them.

 

Yes USB powered and also has a 5v input
It was a Zalman cooler.

Still thinking what way to go (keep it USB powered or add a 5v power source).
rough cut of the underside is like this. Have already cut and sanded the sides for a nicer look.
View attachment 98836

Will get better pictures after i build a small case for the USB hub and fan control board. Still have to decide were to but it.
Options are:
Under the desk to minimize the wires on top.
On the desk lots more wires but easy access
Build into the desk like the top mesh. (mill a space for the case and then glue it)

 

Great job on the custom desk/cooler, DH48. +rep!

 

I am not sure exactly how to dump the BIOS. I take it means making a copy? It is probably a simple process. Any instructions and more than happy to help.

 

Hey guys,

Ordered the following laptop about 2 weeks ago and it will be arriving tomorrow. It's my first laptop and my first Alienware product, although I do have a high end gaming desktop (Gtx 690 )

Anyway how is the build (see below packing slip)?

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

1

203-41652

N00AW829
1

210-AAOW

Alienware 18 BTX Base Mod
1

320-BBDZ

Anodized Aluminum
1

328-BBEK

Shipping Box Alienware 18
1

338-BCHY

4th Generation Intel(R)Core(TM )i7-4700MQ processor (6MB Cach e, up to 3.4GHz w/ Intel(R)Tur bo Boost)
1

340-ABFJ

Ship Docs : Eng
1

340-ADGB

Placemat English
1

370-AANN

16GB Dual Channel DDR3L at 160 0MHz
1

391-BBDS

18.4 inch (467.36mm) WLED FHD (1920 X 1080) TrueLife Display
1

400-AARV

750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
1

429-AAGC

Slot-Loading 8x SuperMulti Dri ve (DVDR/RW)
1

450-AAKK

330W A/C Adapter
1

451-BBCB

8-cell Lithium Ion (86 wHr) Ba ttery
1

470-AADY

UK 250V Power Cord
1

490-BBHS

Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M w ith 2GB GDDR5 - NVIDIA SLI Ena bled (Standard)
1

555-BBEQ

Broadcom 4352 802.11 ac 2x2 a nd Bluetooth 4.0
1

555-BBJK

5G WiFi Broadcom 4352 802.11n/ ac and Bluetooth 4.0 driver
1

580-ABEQ

Internal UK/Irish (QWERTY) Key board
1

619-ACMB

Operating System : English Win dows 7 SP1 Home Premium (64 BI T)
1

620-AANG

Os Media : Included with your OS
1

630-AAMH

Software: MUI Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013, EMEA
1

640-BBIN

Alienware Avatar -Alienhead 3D
1

658-BBOH

Additonal Software
1

658-BBOI

Resource DVD
1

754-56825

Standard Service - 1 year of Next Business Day coverage included with your PC
1

754-81456

1 Year NBD with Premium Phone Support
1

755-10605

No Accidental Damage Protection
1

799-AALV

Alienware M18XR1 Order
1

800-BBEV

Thank you for Choosing Dell
1

990-10175

Free Freight
1

998-20391

Thank You for Choosing Dell
6

817-BBBC

Not Selected in this Configura tion

 

Very nice!

 

Nope. Well I got a 780m vbios from some 17 users, 770m vbios would be interesting as well. But I'm still primarily looking for a bios dump.

I'll send you a PM.

 

Is it dell xps mouse pad that's what I have been using from last 5 years as well

 

Is it dell xps mouse pad ? That's what I have been using from last 5 years as well

P.S: Excuse my double post please.

 

Hey svl7, is the way to backup bios the same as what you instructed in this post: Lenovo Y400 / Y500 - unlocked BIOS / wlan whitelist mod

Will the backup.bat work the same way too?

As a side note, for those that have received their AW 18, could you check what brand of RAM is inside and what timings are on the RAM?

 

Unfortunately, I have been getting error messages restarting the system this am. I have been dealing with Dell customer support for the last hour and a half to restore everything, which has turned into a nightmare in itself. I am going to be returning the system for a full refund then reordering. Yahh, it sucks will be without a killer laptop for a while! I will most likely be reordering with the 4930MX Extreme processor and maybe less RAM (I can upgrade myself).

 

Hello Blackjack,

Just wondering if you reversed all of the settings that you had made (per previous posts between you and Mr. Fox) and tried to get your system going before calling support...perhaps those settings were too aggressive?

I ask this because I am considering purchasing an Alienware, and it doesn't bode well that you had the system for only a few days before problems crept in. I have always been concerned about heat issues (not that this was the problem with your AW18) ever since my experience in 2006 with a Sager 9860, so the reliability of these high-end, overclocked, high-heat generating systems is of paramount importance to me.

 

Hello, I appreciate your question. I had a feeling someone would ask. The answer is "no" . I am confident it had zero to do with a cpu setting, as the settings were back at default at the time. It was more of a windows problem. A file was missing or corrupt causing an error. Then I tried recovery which led to more issues The laptop is awesome! I wouldn't even think twice to buy. The system had zero heat issues and is silent as can be. I own a Sager with a single 5870as well. The thing is noisy as hell compared to the dual gpu AW 18. It is like comparing a Ferrari to a pinto.

 

Can any 18 owners tell me if the sides of the laptop (where the ports are) are plastic or metal?

Thanks

 

The sides appear to be plastic.

 

Dell called/emailed me yesterday and canceled my order so they say. I put in the wrong shipping address when I ordered and I quickly found out how wonderful Dell is to deal with on the phone. They are paid and if I look up my order it says it is in production. I will just wait and see what they actually do but so far they require too much attention for just a base model.

 

I got an answer email from my dell representative concerning as to why my order got switched from Win8pro to Win7 home premium.

He says manufacture are rejecting order cause of incompatibility with componants drivers (video card) and win 8 pro. Personnally I think that's utter BSing. what's your opinion on this? Anyone got their aw 18 with win 8 pro ? Quite unhappy developper here...

 

Hi do you mind checking on CPUZ and see if the RAM timing is 11-11-11-28?

 

I have win8 pro, I haven't done much with it as of yet, but I haven't run into any errors. Currently have stock 750gb+64gb caching drive in and awaiting win 8 pro on the thumb drive which is expected in 24-48hrs. I hope I don't run into issues with the 840 pro and win8 pro. But I'll keep you posted.

And to whom asked before regarding the mousepad, yes it's a now 6 year old dell xps mouse pad...can't bring myself to throw it away, it's sturdy aluminum, and the texture has worked great with my laser mice. Used it with my first performance desktop, then with my previous sager. Since the new 18 didn't come with a new mousepad, I'll keep flying with it until i need to resurface it or something...

 

Well, I don't think that video card has anything to do with it, but I do know that if you configure an 18 on the UK website with a 512gb mSata, it does not allow you to select Windows 8 Pro......I have no idea why it would not be compatible though.....

 

Finally got to have some time with my 18. This laptop is much bigger than I expected. Btw blackjack the sides are coated in rubber too

 

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIItttttttttttttttt'ssssssss SHIPPED!!. Tracking info say 2 x packages both weighing 3.5ks?? Either they sent two or I'll have to build it myself.

 

My m18x weighs 5.2kg???

 

This command was modified to your request. A new order number could have been sent with this amendment. If you feel that your order has been canceled or changed in error, please contact for assistance.

 

Gentlemen, I am officially in the club. Placed the order for 4700MQ + 780M SLI without bluray. Got $200 off and $200 gift card, which is not that bad, considering this is the first rep I talked to. I probably could get a bit more if I kept calling, but it seems that Dell rep has a record of the time you called them. Plus, all the haggling exhausted my phone's minutes for the rest of this month....

I'll be putting in a 4800MQ and more RAM. Thinking of getting 16GB RAM. I want to get the Kingston LoVo which has CL9 but I am afraid that the stock RAM don't run at CL9. Maybe I should go cheap and get Patriot low voltage RAM, which saves me about $30 compared to getting the Kingston. That's 15 tacos there.

 

Congratulations on receiving your system. It is definitely a beast in terms of power and size. Yes,I stand corrected on material, rubberized.

 

Come on people, I want to hear more about the Alienware 18!

 

mine was at my door today. and guess what guy, the F. baby sister didn't sign because she didn't know I was expecting a delivery.

 

Lol no clue how to do that

 

Wow, you're lucky it wasn't stolen, LOL.

 

Got my unit and have a couple of questions before I start my HDD swap. My unit came with the 750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s + 64GB mSATA SSD Caching. I'm going to remove the 750GB and replace it with my 256GB Samsung 840 Pro.

1. Should I run alienrespawn first and then transfer everything over from HDD to SDD, or do a fresh start, re-download every driver and then back up my data after?
2. I could be mistaken but it looks like Dell installed the OS to the mSATA drive, because it only had 3MB of space available. Should I install the OS to the mSATA drive or my Samsung SSD?