Has Alienware changed its heatsink design?

Just curious if anyone has noticed better cooling on the new R4's being sold recently? They've known about this issue for months now. I'm wondering if they changed their ways or if they are still pushing notebooks to market with the known issue?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

Still overheating up to 100c due the well known TRIPOD HS design

 

The newer laptops aren't having as nearly as many issues as the early models and most are fine with stock paste (the thermal compound and pads have been changed although you're always going to have a few systems with issues).

iUnlock, who has likely been inside more of these machines than anyone else, has been impressed by the performance of stock units although, of course, you'll always see an improvement with a proper repaste.

 

The changed the Thermal Pads and improved contact. Temps should settle around 80*C now.

 

Mmm no

I had 4. The most recent was last week and it hit 100 in BF1 and other stresses.

 

With the 1mm pads?

 

Where they SkyLake or KabyLake and were they new or refurbished?

 

They were brand new Kaby Lake 7820HK with 1080 GPUs.

All brand new. All the same configuration

1st one: Stuttering in demanding games/tests
2nd one: Exchange. Huge line down the middle of the screen. Didn't have time to test stuttering before 30 days was up.
- purchase refunded

3rd one: Stuttering in demanding games/tests
4th one: Exchange. No stuttering but 100C in BF1 and 12C core differentials. Probably could have fixed it by leveling the heat sink and repasting but I'm good thanks.
- purchase refunded before the 30 day window ran out

5th one: On the way with the same specs from another manufacturer. We'll see how this one does.

How do you send people four $3,000.00 laptops like this? Sad. Seems like they're just hoping their marketing can overpower their quality control.

 

Why are you accepting this? Is design more important than a working machine? What if you get a working one and then later risking Tripod mess after a re-paste due a repair? And thermal paste should be replaced down the road as well. You will run into a heat problem lottery!!

 

I'm not accepting anything.

Maybe reread it. I returned 4 AWs and am getting a 5th computer from someone else with the same specs.

 

I couldn't run a business if I had to go through all this. Doesn't matter where you buy it. I can't rely on machines who have a flawed cooling design!! It would ruin the business!! @tilleroftheearth

 

It does matter where you buy.

Ford's cars aren't garbage just because Yugo's cars are garbage.

Right?

 

Mind you... Same TRIPOD heatsink design!! Nothing changed in the book.

 

The manufacturer I bought from uses a 4 bolt system on the CPU and GPU. It doesn't have a tripod heat sink design.

You're right though. The tripod is garbage.

 

Would be nice seeing how they can attach 2x 4 bolt system as the MB is designed for use of 7 screws. 4 for gpu and 3 for the cpu. Strange I haven't seen @iunlock mentioned this before. Could you post a picture of HS and MB?

 

It's not an Alienware.

It's another (different) company.

 

I see. But Alienware design and produce the MB!! I suppose we talk about Alienware Laptops. You talk about another (different) company manufacturer.
Edit. I re-read your previous post. Yoo skp Alienware!! Sorry for the misunderstanding. And yeah, TRIPOD HS design is garbage All too many have started with this awful heatsink design. Thin and flimsy + the love for mini sized MB even in the bigger 17,3 inches chassis is the culprit.

 

So you guys definitely recommend I skip the R4? Such a shame because it's so nice looking.

What would you guys recommend instead? All I want is a 1070.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Some people have not had any problems, some people have had lots of them (personally I haven't had any issues with my 13 R3).

 

Maybe look in your sig Not all can do the LM job properly as @iunlock

 

Very hard to service, only 2 RAM slots, lesser m.2 / 2.5" SATA slots, Tripod crappy heatsink....... watch this video please:

 

I didn't have any issues before iUnlock worked on it either and actually had good temperatures for the original stock paste...

But I decided to get it repasted because I wanted to maximize the system and see how much of a difference Liquid Metal would make. And I haven't regretted my decision and the next time I get a system that I don't feel comfortable working on myself I'll likely send it off to iUnlock again.

That said, if I had been in a position where I could not have sent this laptop off to be repasted I would still have been satisfied with the overall performance (especially given the price I got mine for). I wanted a small, solidly built laptop to replace my previous portable gaming laptop and the 13 R3 delivered - and the OLED display was a nice bonus.

 

They fix known issues by releasing new products with a new set of known issues. They don't have time to fix yesterday's problems because creating new ones is resource intensive. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Disposable turdbooks are not meant to be fixed.

Actually, we are all secretly mean people, using reverse psychology to trick you into buying one by pointing out how horrible they are. We are exploiting human nature by appealing to your dark side that, left to its own devices, wants to make bad choices.

 

Been here since 2011. I know you're all mean. =)

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

So,where were you between 2009 and 2011?

 

Haha. At first I'm like, what does this guy mean by that.

But yea, guess I've been here longer than initially thought.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

While the responses from the BGA hate train are a tad overblown, you can't deny that many of the earlier systems had issues. I should know - I returned 2 of them in 2016 for heating issues and bought an MSI instead.

However, I've recently purchased a Kaby lake model 17 R4 built 2 weeks ago and I've had no issues with it aside from a stuck pixel. The temps would only briefly hit 90 on the default fan profile because the fans are slow to ramp up. Turning on performance mode solves that and my CPU runs between 65-70 and GPU 63 with a -.120 undervolt. Core differences are only 1-3c.

It really depends on what YOU want. Is design and size important to you? Do you NEED more than 32GB of RAM? Do you NEED a desktop CPU in your notebook? Maybe you do, maybe you don't.

I get over 100 FPS in PUBG with my BGA "turdbook" at 4.0 Ghz with only 16GB of RAM and I'm perfectly happy with that. Plus, the design of my laptop is conservative enough to bring to a professional setting without being embarrassed (LED effects off, of course)

If you really want a 17 R4, go ahead and get one. If you're really worried about the thermal issues buy it from a place like Best Buy, Amazon, or Newegg that has a hassle free return policy and fast shipping. If you have a Best Buy locally I'd suggest that because they do warranty service in house locally and if they can't fix, you get a new system. Same as the Dell warranty but usually faster since their systems are pre built configs and don't need to be shipped in from the factory.

 

But Dell also has the same (if not better) return policy.

I would doubt newegg on returns though, they've been harsh lately according to some people.

 

If you RMA your new flawed Laptop to Dell and they send You a new replacement... You risk getting a used one with stripped screws. Not everything is better with Dell!!

 

Hey, I'm with you bro. I think the BGA hate train is overblown. It's just the trendy thing to hate here at NBR. I used to only buy MXM notebooks but after the trouble I went through upgrading one of the cards, I no longer care about it. Paying 1 thousand dollars for an upgraded GPU that may or may not require a lot of work is pointless in my book. Not to mention, your CPU is most likely going to be dated. I'd rather just buy another laptop with updated internals.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

I don't think 7700K stock or clocked @4.8 - 4.9GHz will be dated next year or the next year thereafter. And 1K vs. +3K usd it's a no-brainer in my book. Of course it would be opposite and a waste of money if you had a soldered i7 in the laptop as MSI.

 

Performance wise it wont be dated but it's life span will be shortened due to the temperature these chips are running at. Before you know it, you upgrade your GPU and then a year later you're looking for a new motherboard because your CPU went up. Been there done that. Never again.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

I dont think high temp are and will be a problem. Of course 50x can be a bit hot as 80c is on the high side. And I'm sure i can hit up a very cheap 7700K if needed. Even good binned. But it's very rare that desktop processors will burn up. Haven't seen it yet. FYI You don't need new MB because and if your CPU went up. The cpu is LGA. Aka socket hardware.

 

And if that happens you can send that unit back for another replacement - as much **** as people give them Dell/Alienware usually gets things right in the end and have been a lot better about making sure the customer is happy.

And it's not like cases like that, or worse, haven't happened with plenty of other companies...

 

It's mostly just a few zealots...
For some reason they're having problems converting people (maybe it's the juvenile behavior and personal attacks or how they seem to refuse to admit any error or mistake).

 

Last night while reading some reviews, I noticed that Acer also uses a 3 point triangle heat sink on their Predator line. Aside from Acer's crappy paste, why don't they have a problem with the 3 point heat sink sitting right? From what I've been reading, it looks like once a Predator 17 is repasted with decent stuff, it's Temps are extremely good.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

Depends on the attachment mechanism (Tripod legs) is in one piece or has thin flimsy arms such as the Alienware Tripod HS.

Alienware's weak Tripod arms

vs. Acer's Tripod HS in one piece

 

That same review where you got the image from says that the CPU hit 98c and both CPU and GPU thermal throttled during their tests.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Predator-17-X-7820HK-FHD-GTX-1080-Laptop-Review.207172.0.html

A tripod is still a tripod. I still think 4 point mounts for even pressure are the way to go.

 

I know, Tripod shouldn't be used in any notebooks. But you should also remember AcerBook who running same Stress test hold higher clock speed. Aka can hold higher Cpu clockspeed and will throttle 500MHz less vs. AWBook. 500MHz higher clocks will create higher temp

 

All the Predator needs is a repaste and it's CPU maxes out in the 70's and GPU in the 60's. You don't need to worry about doing all the other stuff required with the R4. I'd say the Predators design is pretty good. It's Acer's paste and paste job that leaves a lot to be desired.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

Sorry for Necroing this thread, but I just want to let everyone know that putting Gallium (Liquid Metal Paste) on your CPU/GPU die is the dumbest idea I've ever heard.
Gallium Induced Failure of a Heat Sink


Now imagine what it does to the bond wires on your CPU/GPU die. Gallium destroys every non ferrous metal, including copper and aluminum. ie. all heatsinks.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-compatibility-with-copper-heat-sinks.800890/

I think the reason why you're all having so many issues is BECAUSE of using Liquid metal paste.

 

So.... Not .... True

 

Please leave and never comeback.

 

People have been running LM for years

LM is used globally by industry experts. The video you show is Gallium being used on pure aluminum. Our interface materials are generally copper and nickle plated copper (IHS).

So your point - and post - belong on a granny forums that deals with windows 98 and older.

 

On every liquid metal paste vendor they explicitly state NOT to use with Aluminum heatsinks (or aluminum material in general). It is PREFERABLE to use with nickel plated copper, but will also work just fine with copper heatsinks (though it will stain).

Source: I've used CLU on my M18x with no degradation for the past 4 years.