*OFFICIAL* Alienware 18 Owner's Lounge Thread

Thanks for the reply. Got it to work. (Zzz) well i must say i love my new system. Its hugeeee. Also my sytem screensaver had windows 8 theme as a default, dont know if thats normal either but idc cuz the alien head was an option in the settings :3 now to install some games and test it out!

Edit: i should also add since its been a concern, my new system came with a windows 8 recovery disk.

 

Lucky you, my aw18 was ordered on 2nd and is still in processing phase

I ordered 32gb, I know I need it, I got relatives who get jealous of tiny things, so in order to make them crap in there undies, I ordered 32gb

 

Perhaps it only show that when not gaming?

Either way, PCIe 3.0x8 is way overkill for 770M SLI

 

Oh, nice. It came with the OS disc, or just a recovery disc, or did you mean "OS disc?" Sometimes I get those confused.

 

Hmm.. Just recovery? Am i supposed to call them for the OS disk? Cuz that can be downloaded online o.o

 

I need to get the Windows 8 Recovery Disc somehow since mine won't be coming with Windows 8

 

Well, I guess it doesn't matter, lol. What's important is that you got a disc!

 

gpuz shows @8 in rendering test had the same problem with my m17xr1 had to reduce it to @8 kept crashing
a bad hardware design decision very little hardware cost

 

Ordered another 18 for my little bro. Base 4700MQ/765SLI this time but with 16GB DDR3. Curious to see how it performs with some nice over clocks on the GPUs.

 

I gotta say, after getting the CPU clocks stabilized, this thing is a magnificent beast, even more so than I had hoped. Even with just stock turbo speeds it just blows through any game I throw at it with great frame rates. With a light OC from stock (XTU is saying 3.9GHz under load on all four cores), and a light OC on the 780Ms (+150/300 @ +62.5mV), I'm averaging around 100fps or greater in BF3, right around 60fps in Crysis 3, 70-80fps in Hitman: Absolution, and really ridiculous frame rates in older games like Deux Ex: Human Revolution. All games with settings maxed of course. Can even handle the Witcher 2 with ubersampling turned on.

 

Run metro last light, with everything on max seething And tell me what you see.

 

@8 is not overkill u r thinking transfer rate not bandwidth can make a big difference

having trouble with my bluetooth driver crashing and needing to be repaired
thought maybe conflict with skype but doesn't seen to be the case
anybody else having a problem

 

Can't. Metro LL doesn't work for me on any PC anymore. It starts out fine, but after 2-3 seconds, drops to 8-9fps and won't go back up. For those 2-3 seconds, I'm seeing about 60-70fps with everything maxed, PhysX turned on and SSAA at 2x, which is about what I expect since my OC'd 680 SLI/3770k desktop rig pulled 80-90 when my copy worked. 4x is unplayabled on my desktop, and I'd assume the same on the 18. 3x is pushing it, and I prefer to stay with 3x.

 

Wow, can I be your little brother too? XD

 

It will run at max 36 fps with ssaa at 4x.

 

What are peoples wireless controller showing up as?

I did a re-install when I got it (had to put in my 512 SSD) and the wireless controller is reporting as Broadcom 802.11ac. I've tried to download the Killer 1202 drivers from support.dell and killergaming, but both packages won't install or just "finish" really quick, leading me to believe nothing actually installed.

The Ethernet controller is reporting as killer e2200 in device manager.

 

Hello, can someone help me? Two problems:
1: Have someone a tutorial how to open the Alienware 18 to get to the ram under the keyboard?
2: I have two Cyborg Rat MMO7 mice (one new red colour and a old one grey with orange), once a time the laser hangs up... The buttons are working but you cant move the cursor. I have to disconnect and reconnect the usb cable The red one hangs up more often then the gray one.... I didnt have this on my old M18x R1....
And again sorry for my englisch

 

So here I was, eating Oreos and watching a film on my Alienware 18 when I decide to pull apart an Oreo. Somehow the biscuit broke off and launched a bit of a distance, hitting my Alienware and taking out the windows key - which came off! Luckily it wasn't broken, I just put it back on and it clicked into place.
Would have made a great YouTube video though.

 

Yea, that sounds about right. I think my desktop maxed at around 40-45fps, and averaged in the low-mid 30s. I did notice Steam had an update available for me today, and I installed it. Works from the beginning now; I just need to get to the church on the surface and see if it screws up everything again. I've got everything maxed, SSAA on 2x and PhysX turned on, and I'm average in the mid 60s, with maxes in the low 80s on occasion, and in really lighting intensive scenes (like the concentration camp at the beginning with the big light at the top of the level) it can drop to ~40fps, but looking at my CPU clock logs, it looks like my clocks are dropping at those points to ~2GHz, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's somewhat eliminated once Haswell gets figured out. My clocks are 100% stable in pretty much everything except 3DMark 11 and Last Light though, so I'm wondering if it's not just a problem with the way they approach scene lighting.

Look up the manual for the AW18. It shows how to access every component inside. It's on the Dell website and should be easy enough to locate. If not, I'll link it for you in a bit once I'm back from lunch.

As for the MMO7, I'm using mine (an older Cyborg branded black/copper model) without any issues. At least now. Before, I was having issues with the USB ports, and wound up having to install a separate driver from the device manager to bring the power state up to an acceptable level for USB devices. Might want to try that.

The wireless card is a Broadcom 4352. Only the ethernet is from Killer.

 

i have had problems win 7 with both ethernet and wireless enable at the same time disable one or the other

 

I got my AW18 on Thursday and am loving it so far. Thankfully there is nothing wrong with it.

 

Too bad they don't sell this beast in the Netherlands, otherwise I would have definitely bought it.

 

Would anyone happen to know the dimensions and weight of the box the AW18 is shipped in? I'm trying to estimate the cost of shipping the laptop overseas. Any help would greatly be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

FedEx had my alienware package listed as: 25x17x5 in. and weighed 21 lbs \ 9.5 kgs.

Hope that helps.

 

Unfortunately I don't remember which number I called

The good news though is that you can call any number and follow options that would put you through to an actual person - i.e., avoid the automated system, don't fall in their trap ^^, once you're through to the real person, explain what you're calling in regards to and they will put you through to the right dept.! That's how I did it and it works

Hope this helps buddy.

 

here is some comparisons of mobile cpu 4800 4900 and 4930
AnandTech Portal | Analyzing the Price of Mobility: Desktops vs. Laptops

and here is some mobile gpu comparisons
AnandTech Portal | Analyzing the Price of Mobility: Desktops vs. Laptops

 

Greatly appreciated, sir.

 

Can someone tell me if Kingston HyperX 2133MHz. will work in the new 18s?

 

is it 1.35V?

 

Hey guys I noticed some of you have the Unlocked Bios for you new 18...Ive looked everywhere cant seem to find it

 

The highest DDR3L for Alienware 18 I could find is 1866MHz. You have to buy 1.35V RAM, DDR3L

 

According to Kingston's spec sheet, it's 1.5v: http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX21S12P1K2_8.pdf but I don't know if it will run at 1.35v - some do and some don't but there is no mention of 1.35v in Kingston's web site. Actually, it does state:

As we know, most of the 1.5v modules will not work. Might be worth a call to Kingston or doesn't brother Fox have some of it?

 

Here is the fastest DDR3L memory I have found for Alienware 18 so far

PROVANTAGE: Kingston Technology KHX18LS11P1K2/8 8G 1866MHZ DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 SODIMM Kit Of 2 1.35V Low Voltage

 

best bang for the buck, imo

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (2 x 8G) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Laptop Memory Model F3-1866C10D-16GRSL

 

I've been looking at some of the AW18 models and I'm not too impressed...

The 5500 dollar model doesn't include an optical drive?

That doesn't seem like a value at all. Especially for the price.

 

It doesn't have an ODD because it's been removed to allow for four 256gb SSD's to be installed and ran in a 1Tb RAID0 array (x1 mSata, x2 SSD's in the drive caddy and x1 SSD in the ODD bay)....that's where a LOT of that price tag comes from - the SSD's. I'm sure there are lower configurations whereby you do not have to have the 'Quad Play SSD' set up and the machine would ship with an ODD.

 

What Steviewjones said. Instead of paying extra for Dell's SSDs, it will be cheaper to add your own -plus you will be certain that you are adding good ones. Personally I will say remove the ODD. The less mechanical parts inside a moving machine, the better imo.


Irrelevant to the post above: Anyone ever used Walsh Western (Syncreon) as a shipping company? They are handling my AW shipping, but their page is stuck on "DEPARTED MANU.FACILITY" since Saturday! How long do they usually take to deliver?
"

 

You shouldnt complain. My package is still in Denmark. Its been there since wednesday.

Schenker, god I want to strangle whoever runs that company. So slow

 

From my experience, the Walsh Western links to track are fairly diabolical. By far the best tracking/handler has been UPS - that's going off the Alienware's I've had delivered, and I've had a few!

 

I am not complaining! Just asking to see whenever I can trust their tracking system or not! I already "survived" one weekend and got a business trip in one week to keep myself busy!

I am tempted to call them, as I never heard of them before. Just hoping everything will come in one piece and safe!

UPS was fine... My favourite (not Dell related) carrier is DHL. I used it in the past to ship laptops/ other stuff. Always quick and got the best tracking! The worst so far for me, was FedEx.

 

They are a reputable carrier, just not the best at letting a customer track progress. I had a few machines delivered under WW - their tracking facility was pretty crap and it seemed like it never got updated - UPS on the other hand seem great at updating tracking info. I'm sure everything will be fine though...just a shame you can't physically 'see' what's going on behind WW's logistics....

 

My reasoning exactly, which is why I decided to order the top model w/o Blu-Ray drive, completely upgraded (ships Sep. 19). I know it would have cheaper to put in my own SSDs, but I didn't want to deal with a complete re-install.

I am going to buy an external BD drive that can also write! In my experience, every laptop I've ever owned had the CD/DVD drive fail first before I was ready for a new computer.

Anything I receive on disc media, I am going to convert to ISO files anyway and put it on my NAS anyway. You can go back and forth between media and ISO files on USB (even bootable) quite easily with ImgBrn and Rufus, which us what I plan to do.


Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4

 

This is sort of off-topic, but why didn't the Alienware M18x sub-forum get renamed along with the other sub-forums? Shouldn't it say, "Alienware 18 and M18x"?

 

I was wondering that too, I guess NBR doesn't like the Alienware 18 owners

 

Tomorrow its been a week, where my package have been stranded on that Island Denmark. Havent moved a bit, all they have done is calculated ETA two times.

I think Im calling them tomorrow because this iis unheard!

 

Somewhere in Denmark, in some darkened room, there's probably a load of Danish postal workers having a whale of a time

 

lol. You know, that wouldnt surprise me a bit. Heads are gonna roll if I see evidence that this notebook have been used.

How do they send the package btw? Is it a grey anonymous package or is it that Alienware box with the alien head?

 

Not sure how the new ones are shipped - my R1 came in a rather inconspicuous black box, but it still had AW on it...

 

Yes... you can tell what it is by looking at the package. Cloud, I think you're going to be very impressed by the packaging. The inner box (covered by a somewhat less conspicuous plain brown cardboard sleeve) is pretty amazing.

 

That actually sucks. I think there are maybe more than me who is impressed with that packaging.

Maaan, maybe they ARE playing with my notebook. Because there is no chance in hell it takes a week to process a shipment before sending it towards the customer.



Edit: sorry I cant read. Thank god there are cover around the alienware packaging. Makes me feel a little better and hopeful no one is using it.