*OFFICIAL* Alienware 18 Owner's Lounge Thread

Same here. I'm quite happy with ordinary and inexpensive when it comes to this. My ears are so messed up from years of loud noises (loud cars, motorcycles, guns, power tools and heavy metal music) that it is a waste of money to buy expensive headphones for this old man. As long as I can hear most of what it there to be heard I am fine with it.

The spectrum of personal tastes is pretty wide regardless of what kind of hardware is being discussed. Whatever a person likes best, and has the money for, that's what they should go with... being happy with your hardware and enjoying it fully is what matters most.

 

From my perspective, audiophile headphones DO have their place...probably more so when hooked up to a decent amp/DAC/CD etc.....and if you are REALLY into hearing all the subtle nuances of all kinds of music that one might like to listen to, then great. As for using a $600 set of headphones plugged into an Alienware (where the source will not be the best) is probably a waste of money - unless those same headphones will have a dual purpose in a high end musical system.

Personally, I'd have taken that $600 and thrown it toward a 18 with 780m Sli and maybe a 4930mx.......but I do agree that as long as the person doing the buying is happy, then the rest of us have little scope to comment.

Just my tuppence...

 

Oh I will be using a DAC too of course.
On the bright side, these headphones only have 30Ohm Impedance so they will run great even without DAC. And you cant just run youtube with crappy quality tracks either and hope the headphones magically will make it sound amazing. So having a good quality stream is also important.

There is a pretty big difference between a $40 Sony vs a lets say $150 Audio Technica. I get sick whenever I use the cheap ones now. I can never go back

But then again, Im not in to the tunes from Britney Spears or pop music in general anyways. I guess with music like that you might as well use garbage headphones since they match pretty well

 

Reviews apart, one need to look at the measurements. The measurements of headphones are like benchmarks on computers. When you have become good enough, just by looking at all the measurements, you will get a pretty good idea of how something will sound.

Which is why I never go to pub or clubs. I see my good hearing as a gift inherited from my father who's a musician. One can say, I take care of my ear like how I take care of the Alienware. Full of care and love.

Computer is inherently a noisy system. Ideally one would do it with a transport which only has a disk drive with all the music on it. What I do is use an external DAC and external amp for the headphones. Even that will not get rid of all the noise, but any noise will be way beyond ultrasonic noise since it's digital signal feeding into the DAC.

 

What DAC do you use kh90?

 

Does the shop you went to have any electrostatic headphones? Try those out if you have the chance. For $600, I'd say it's too expensive, since it's only $500 on Amazon ( Amazon.com: Beyerdynamic T 70 P Over-the-Ear Headphone: Electronics). I guess maybe it costs more in Norway than in US. But hey, whatever floats your boat man.

If you can afford the AW 18, I think $600 is no problemo for you.

As for price/value, higher end headphones are expensive for the same reasons Alienware is expensive. It's made to be better than the general product, and the market of those is not huge. Also R&D drives prices up too.

 

Used to have this, CEntrance -> DACmini. I went through too many headphones and spent too much money there, to realized very few, if any, come close to the Stax SR-009. If you ever have a chance, you really need to hear that pair of headphones. If you know some ultra rich guy with the Sennheiser Orpheus, you have to try that too.

Nowadays I am a poor guy after buying the Alienware, so I only have the ODAC designed by this guy in this blog, NwAvGuy: ODAC Released. Before I get the SR-009 headphone, I won't spend anymore money for now.

 

Yes norwegian price, obviously more expensive than in the US.

The craftmanship on the expensive headphones is pretty good. Leather, metal, bigger driver, acessories like a carrying bag made of leather, r&d etc etc.

Im looking for a mini DAC that doesnt take up too much space. Not sure if its possible to find a good and small one though. Thanks for the tip. Gotta read some reviews etc making up my mind

 

A lot of stuff in the audiophile world is snake oil. Since I'm more of an engineering guy, I go for measurements. ODAC is rather cheap for a DAC, when I got it the price was less than $150. For the cheaper stuff you can look at the Fiio stuff, people used to scorn at them but they have gotten better. Ideally, for the best value, I'd say, if you have something like a T1/HD 800, a DAC that is around $500 to no more than $2000 is more than good enough. But then again even a $50 DAC could be OK.

Synergy of components do play a part in picking the audio chain, but just be careful about getting tricked by snake oils. If there's measurements, that's what you need to look at. THD, SNDR, linearity of response, output impedance, etc.

If you meant the Stax SR-009, well, just a bit of story here. The company spent half a million USD into R&D of the headphone, the diaphragm on the headphone is some new polymer (something similar to mylar) which is less than 1 um (micrometer) thick. The headphone frame is milled from aluminum. The earpads are made from lamb skin. The electrodes is made from God knows how many layers of metals. Anyway, they spent too much money trying to make something close to perfect, and it wasn't until 2 yrs after the headphones went on sale that they saw any profit. And it isn't very profitable either, even though the headphone is selling at 300k Yen, currently about 3.6k USD. Because of that, about 1 or 2 yrs ago, the company was bought by some Chinese giant corporation. The fiscal was disclosed and that's how I knew about how much went into R&D. In the early 90s, it went bust once trying to make some rather advanced amp with close to 2500Vp-p voltage swing. They made the amp, but the company went bust and had to be bailed out by its own engineers.

Those people were not smart at handling the company, but it's precisely the "I give no crap, I am aiming for perfection" spirit that I like. I hope the people at Alienware continue doing it the same way too (except for the part about making the company go bust).

 

Anyone able to get the Intel Rapid Start Technology active in the Bios?

 

I will confirm with you the next time I restart my computer. I believe mine has it on, or whatever value it was on default.

In Power Option, if you click "Choose what the power button does", there's also a "Turn on fastup" option too. By default it's ticked for me, so I don't do anything with it. Too many things have become, or on its way to becoming more cryptic in Win 8.

 

I have been unable to get RST running in BIOS or load it and run as application
I think Acronis True Image 2014 modified the MBR
because COMODO cleaning essential wont run either
i havnt tried completely starting over with a new MBR and not installing Acronis
but that is the only thing I have left to try

 

Mine is just greyed out. I'm not sure if the Bios senses that there are no spinning drives in the machine? I have two SSD's in RAID and one MSATA. Oh, and I can't find any "Turn On Fastup" in the Power Options.

 

Also, I have this problem lingering in the Event Viewer.
System is sluggish and all BIOS settings are correct at Optimal Default with L3 Overclocking. Tried all levels of OC with no help. Only thing that makes it go away is disabling Speedstep.

 

I will check in BIOS later.

The option is here. If you click change settings that are currently unavailable then you can modify the stuff below. I believe this is only in Win 8 and 8.1 only. Good luck.
View attachment 102449

 

Mine was already checked. Thanks!

 

Idea Storm

 

I started over completely with a clean install, (EVO-SSD/ W8-Pro) with no Acronis 2014; (to isolate the issue). The issue I am having is when I extract the Rapid Start from the DVD resource disk it will try to load and then gives the error of: This computer does not meet the requirements for installing the software). Running a 4930MX CPU, so not sure why I get that type of error. The Dell website doesn't allow me to download RST. Its not an issue, shut down is 10 seconds. Cold start to desktop is 35 seconds after typing in login password, so the software is not really needed IMO. Samsung Migration software is not useful (CloudF)..its Fired !!

 

After trying a bunch of different possible solutions I gave in and called tech support (not that it's a bad thing, I just hate the basic troubleshooting process they have to go through). After a surprisingly quick troubleshoot session, the tech support rep told me that Dell is having issues with the Broadcom 802.11ac adapters they are using and "upgraded" me to the Killer N1202 (not sure if it's an upgrade since it's not an ac adapter).

I would suggest calling tech support and see if they would replace your wireless card. The tech is coming tomorrow to replace it. I'll update once I've used it for a few days. Hopefully all will be well with the new card! *fingers crossed*

 

BOOM, promoted and left a comment.

 

That seems a bit odd since the Killer WiFi adapter isn't currently offered on the 18. Is that the card that was used in the M18x or is that a newer version? If that card ends up working for you I may call in as well. I've been having this issue in nearly all online games even with a low ping.

 

What kind of issues are you having with the AC card?

 

New Alienware 18 A03 BIOS is out! You heard me from me first

Product Support for Alienware 18 | Dell US

 

How is it working? Tried it yet?

 

Hey guys, I have been enjoying my new laptop a lot. I just wanted to give my view on some things I've been reading. I, too, am experiencing less performance due to the wireless card in this machine. I wonder if there is a software update that will fix the problems? Also, I have noticed the problem with the bios since I got it, when I don't have my external laptop fan running and I have a heavy GPU intensive game open, it starts to heat up and the fans still won't kick on. So I guess that is a bios issue.

And I just wanna sit with the people in the audiophile circle. xD I got my first pair of overpriced headphones last year (V-moda m100) and they are awesome. The Alienware powers them fine, although I've noticed some things aren't as clear or boomy as they were on my last computer. So I might also invest in a DAC soon. :0

 

Downloaded it but haven't flashed it yet. Need to wait a bit for my brother to get off the internet.

Edit: Just flashed it.

Unfortunately...it still throttles to 3GHz under load, suggesting that none of the issues regarding the CPU were fixed. As for the fan table, let's just say, running the 4930MX at 4.1GHz, if I try to run wPrime 1024M, the CPU will still overheat and shut down. The fan still does not ramp up as fast as we'd hope it to.

 

That's not good news.......if the new BIOS altered fan algorithms, I wonder exactly what was done.....seems like nothing much....

 

This'll make some of you laugh....I think I've just spotted my returned M18x R1 on the Dell UK outlet. Spec is exactly what I returned to Dell UK not too long ago....look at the price they want for it!!! - works out at just over £2,400gbp

Dell Outlet UK



I guess I could buy it back (not!) and have some change left over from my refund....cash from the sale of my 680m's....and drop a pair of 780m's in it ahhahahahaha!!!!

I'd have considered it if we in the UK could use Dell Outlet coupons like you guys in the States can.....with a 30% off coupon, it would be tempting as I know the machine is MINT! :thumbsup:

 

Not that I personally notice on the 18 the cpu issues. I play games on it, don't run all the benchmarks alot of your guys do. I am enjoying the 18. But I hope for the sake of future modding/benchmarking on my behalf I hope they get it straightened out soon; well and for my fellow 18 benchmark hoes..

 

installed the new bios didnt brick my machine good sign
minimum cpu fan speed seems to be 1800rpm where it was 0 before
and seems to connect to wireless faster on boot

 

Can anyone give me an estimated EDD on an 18 that was ordered as a replacement on 9/24. 4930mx,780MSli

 

Didn't you just get a replacement?

Anyway, that won't ship until probably the second or third week of October. You should ask Dell, not us.

 

No I did not just get a replacement. I just approval for a replacement of my R2

 

It will take a couple weeks, at the least. I ordered my system on the 17th and it is estimated to delivered sometime this upcoming week.

 

Added to post #4 on the first page of this thread.

 

Nice to have a fresh parts list! - thanks!

 

Now this is just silly. I have to stop now.

Have bought this the last 2 days: Windows 7 Pro, really expensive headphones, a new amplifier for my headset and Spyder 4 Pro to calibrate the display.

All for this machine. Talk about doing everything I can to make it perfect. Baaaah :/

 

That's good... definitely a step in the right direction. How are the temps now compared to before? Had you done any wPrime or ThrottleStop benchmark runs before the BIOS update that you can compare to now?

 

from the parts list
the Viking "brand" i didnt reconize
and not sure where the 2R94W Hall Sensor board is used unless it is part of the touch pad

 

didnt have time to run benchmarks thermals in normal monitoring havnt notice any difference i suspect u guys with the 780s and the 4930mx may see the biggest change

 

Maybe this will help...

Alienware Project Code Name	Alienware Retail Model Name
Phantom	M11xR1/R2/R3
Specter	M14xR1/R2
Voyager	M17xR3/R4
Avenger	M18xR1/R2
Mariner	Alienware 14
Ranger	Alienware 17
Viking	Alienware 18

If you look on your order information, sales invoice, packing slip and/or box for the new 18, you'll probably find the name "Viking" printed in one or more places.

 

I prefer the old names to be honest.

 

Now all you need is a secret sam attache case to carry it in!

 

https://forums.geforce.com/default/...ay-driver-feedback-thread-released-9-30-13-/1

 

Nice find Champ! :thumbsup:

Downloading now and will test with my preloaded BF4 beta tomorrow.

Cheers.

 

Very good... investigating now.

Here are the Release Notes for 331.40 Beta.

 

Top Secret Photo leaked; allegedly from an underground secret lair,....some alphabet agency purloined the photo at dire risk.....this conversation never took place.....apparently is a new PSU developed in the utmost secrecy to power a particular AW 18 to new benchmarking records.......no names mentioned......the agent was trying to be "Mr. Foxy"... ......



The alphabet agency is worried that; if this individual manages to shrink the PSU to a manageable size, and in conjunction with " a particular AW 18", that this individual will be able to take over the world. They are considering this to be a very serious threat to their dominance....

If you have any knowledge of these events.......contact Mr. NoOne ........none at none.net


Keep on hammering those benchmarks, my friend.....

 

Hey Fox,

So how'd you go with these new BF4 Beta drivers?
I've heard a few rumors that it doesn't like SLi systems. Is this the case for you? A few users complaining that when they tried to enable SLi they weren't able to boot into windows.

9hrs to go till BF4 BETA!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

Cheers.

 

So far, so good. I am finding these beta drivers are better than the new WHQL (which I thought were not so good). Just ran really great FFXIV benches back-to-back with 331.40 beta and had zero issues. I just downloaded it on the 18, but haven't benched it yet. Below is an example on the M18xR2.

 

running out of numbers and letters

Velocity Micro Adds NoteMagix M17 and M15 LE to Gaming Laptop Line