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    When are the new Alienwares with Maxwell coming?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Cloudfire, Sep 29, 2014.

  1. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    There are always lemons but the variety of choices is quite high at the moment and I want AW to be out there as one of them :)
     
  2. FrozenSolid

    FrozenSolid Notebook Evangelist

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    Unfortunately AW just aren't leading the pack anymore. I am looking at a new rig in about 3 months and so far the best looking candidate is the Clevo P370SM not another AW.
     
  3. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Wonder what comes next?
     
  4. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    All modifications on the A17 and 18 are possible here at home. :cry:
     
  5. Ashtrix

    Ashtrix ψυχή υπεροχή

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    I guess they are prepping up for R2 releases of Viking and Ranger...

    EDIT : Hope they don't crap them out with the BGA installations.
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2014
  6. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    Wouldn't it make sense that they cease production and clear their stock with a revision coming up of the entire lineup to support the G/A? Seems perfectly reasonable, especially if there is a chassis redesign as part of the entire effort .... I personally still feel certain they are headed that way sooner or later with designs closer to the AW 13 thickness.
     
  7. Cerberus

    Cerberus Notebook Evangelist

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    I see 3 possible explanations:

    1- The 1080p screen is simply out of stock for the time being.

    2- The 1080p screen is no longer an option in the AW 17, a higher resolution will be offered. But that's not very likely as the 1080p should still be the standard option.

    3- The AW 17 has been redesigned and the new screens don't fit/work in the old models.

    That's assuming of course that this info is accurate as all explanations can be challenged if you ask me.
     
  8. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Only #1 makes sense. Having the 1080p replaced by a higher resolution is unlikely. The other possibility is the displays are sold out and no longer being manufactured. Some of them sold as new just recently were manufactured 2 or 3 years ago (which is very common in laptops of all brands).

    #3 would not make sense because they still sell parts for the M17xR3/R4 and AW17. If they stopped carrying service parts for their most recent EOL systems they would have serious financial problems having to outright replace every machine that needs only a minor repair.

    There is no way I would be willing to settle for a 900p display. I'd go buy my own aftermarket replacement LCD on eBay and pay out of pocket for it before I would let them downgrade me to 900p.
     
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  9. Cerberus

    Cerberus Notebook Evangelist

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    Exactly my thoughts Mr. Fox.

    At this point I'm extremely tempted by the P370SM, the only thing holding me back is the poor screen the resellers are currently offering.

    I'm gonna wait a bit and find out what the new models will bring to the table, things are looking very promising over at CLEVO.
     
  10. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    900p is barely tolerable on an M14x-, I cannot imagine anything less than 1080p on an AW 17.... a 1440p seems perfect for that size.
     
  11. QUICKSORT

    QUICKSORT Notebook Evangelist

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    Now that the release of the GTX 960M and 965M GPU's are near, it should mean that the alienware laptops will soon go over to 900M series too.

    Though still want to see an alienware 14 with the 965M (if the 970M was a problem for them to fit it in). And at least the i7-4810mq CPU.
     
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  12. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that Dell produces units in waves as they build up orders to make their lot purchases. Granted, they can't do this in the beginning of a new model but as they then proceed on, but towards the end of a unit run I could see where a particularly popular option like the 1080p screen sells well enough they deplete that stock and if people aren't queuing up to order new ones then they don't bother with a lot purchase for production (although they have parts set aside for warranty and direct sales). I have distinct memories of not being able to order options due to lack of parts on and off...
     
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  13. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Yeah, Docsteel, you're exactly right.... that happens all the time. The problem is the people that you speak with on the phone often don't have any answers about whether something is discontinued or momentarily out of stock and on order. To be safe they says it's not available. The people in Alienware Tech Support usually know, but if you call Dell Spare Parts and try to order something you're talking to a moron that can only tell you what it shows on the computer screen.

    I'm concerned here because technos was told by Alienware Tech Support that 1080p screens are no longer available for the AW17 on a system exchange. Otherwise, the dude should have offered to overnight a new LCD or complete lid assembly when the new LCD stock arrives. Maybe the tech support rep simply isn't trying hard enough to take care of technos and not looking for creative solutions to address the 900p problem. The only problem with that would be the Service Tag would forever show a 900p screen and that creates confusion if parts or system exchange is required later on. I have been told that Service Tag system configuration data cannot be updated once a machine is built. The bottom line is that NEVER should have shipped as a system exchange for a system with 1080p.

    I believe Dell has some sort of goofy inventory setup. You may be able to order a new AW17 with 1080p, but I think they have a different inventory pool for system exchanges and service parts. Dipping into the new system inventory pool seems to be a no-no for some strange reason. It would be interesting to get the AW17 LCD 1080p part number and call up Dell Spare Parts to pretend you want to order one and see what they say about availability.
     
  14. tinker_xp

    tinker_xp Notebook Consultant

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    So Alienware tweeting they are stoked to be working in Portland with @quangoinc on 'new assets' and @quangoinc tweeting a picture onset of a desert, which could be the ideal set up for Alienware? Area 51? Am I just 2+2=6?

    Who knows? Thoughts?

    Untitled.png
     
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  15. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Hmm... that seems like a lot of marketing hype designed to serve as a distraction. I'd prefer that they just openly show and tell so we can decide if the specs are good enough to spend money on, or move on and look elsewhere for something built with truly amazing über-beast DNA. They can skip all of the disco party, dub step grooving and Vegas-styled laser show nonsense designed to impress the children on Facebook... I just want to see some killer hardware. The debut of the latest and greatest monster laptop hardware specs is the only show-stopping performance I want to see coming from Alienware.
     
  16. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    They borrowed my idea about delivering packages with UFO drones, and are testing prototypes in the desert.

    [​IMG]
    :rolleyes:
     
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  17. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Show me the beef... I don't care about the bun. :laugh:

    <iframe width='420' height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Mskw4-tUibI" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

    C'mon Alienware... enough already with the goofy showmanship. I'm getting sick of the dancing with the stars fluff.
    Let's just knock off all of the panty-waisted fairies and unicorn crap. The food is on the table and the baby is crying.
    No more smoke and mirrors... just break out the big guns and let the Ultrabook-slaughtering BGA bloodshed begin.

    Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, dying time is here...

    <iframe width='420' height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pHU6K47qgc8?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2015
  18. Player2

    Player2 Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe the new laptops are going to be ip67 sand resistant and they are using the desert to test them out.
     
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  19. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    Remember that it was this ad Dell delivered when the other laptop manufacturers began to launch their new laptops with gtx980m. I think this was pathetic when Dell knew people rather cared about gtx980m .. The only thing we've seen of gtx980m are some tests with some Alienware Laptops with Bga garbage under some 3DMark tests.
    http://na.alienwarearena.com/news/a...otential-of-intel-s-core-i7-laptop-processors
     
  20. Robbo99999

    Robbo99999 Notebook Prophet

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    Haha, that's the WRONG type of extreme gaming!
     
  21. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    No need for that anyhow. If having an IP rating is important, maybe a Panasonic ToughBook is a better choice. It would be a shame for them to waste R&D money on that instead of putting their noses to the grindstone and pulling out all the stops on performance. But, I can appreciate the humor in the comment, considering they are out in the SE Oregon desert.
     
  22. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Someone. on my forum gave me this image. 7CuPxtq.png
    Very soon.
     
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  23. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    How exciting... Let's hope there's more to this.
     
  24. Ashtrix

    Ashtrix ψυχή υπεροχή

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    Hope they repair all these BIOS settings though the probability is very less. Atleast a more robust build with those touchpanel buttons would be cool.
    But this points to the 900M series, vBIOS. Time to upgrade older machines ;) !!

    Again if there's a BGA~HQ in that, then AW17" lineup is *dead*
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2014
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  25. pathfindercod

    pathfindercod Notebook Virtuoso

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    So a updated 17 is on the horizon.. I surely hope a 18r2 is in the mix.
     
  26. TBoneSan

    TBoneSan Laptop Fiend

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    I'll just be happy with that Dell Vbios for now :)
     
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  27. Cloudfire

    Cloudfire (Really odd person)

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    So what should we think about this?
    AW18 soon to be dead since R2 isnt listed there?
    AW17 R2 coming soon?
    AW13 is brand new and is there to stay?

    I noticed that they only sell GTX 780M with AW18 now.
     
  28. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    We can only, for certain, say the 13 and 17 stay. Anything else is up in the air. They could be incrementally updating the site (in low key regions).
    The 15 or the 18 r2. It all depends on how many GPUs the 17 R2 holds.
     
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  29. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    I find it interesting that there is a broken image link for the 17... kind of odd, maybe a sign they are indeed redesigning it a bit (or I am reading too much into it) :eek:? If so I would think the 17 would be "thinned out" and the 18 might remain as the dual-gpu setup beast.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2014
  30. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It would be interesting to see the Graphics Amplifier compatible with the AW 17 and AW 18. Higher resolution IPS panels shouldn't be a problem at that point. ;)

    Unless Broadwell ends up being extremely efficient and cool, I'm afraid they will toss out the Extreme Edition CPU's for the 17" model, like with the M17x R4, especially if they make the entire lineup thinner. (They never officially offered the 3940XM with the M17x R4, people just started tossing it in there aftermarket.) I can't imagine having a thinner AW 17 laptop with an Extreme Edition CPU, lol. I'll have to buy a gallon of Liquid Ultra. :D
     
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  31. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    Liquid Ultra is not especially expensive so this is no problem. :D
     
  32. Ashtrix

    Ashtrix ψυχή υπεροχή

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    Broadwell lineup doesn't offer socketed CPU's iirc, it would be a miracle if not.

    I really want Alienware to use the X79 in their machines like Clevo, which is highly unlikely after their messing up with the Fan profiles and BIOS :rolleyes:....or atleast use MX/QM from haswell.
     
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  33. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Nah, if they actually do anything amazing with laptops ever again I will be surprised. I hope they do, but the trend is looking extremely grim. Alienware haven't done anything ridiculously awesome with laptop performance since the M18xR2 was released in 2012. They went from world class with the M18xR2 to second class with the Haswell machines and their crippled BIOS and power handling limitations.

    If Broadwell is only BGA crap, and/or they start going BGA on all mobile GPUs, then nobody, anywhere, will have a high performance laptop that is worth buying. Being "nice" ain't gonna be anywhere near good enough. We've already seen what "nice" looks like. I want show-stopping wicked performance awesomeness.
     
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  34. Lukino

    Lukino Newbie

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  35. aaronne

    aaronne Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes listed with Graphic Amplifier Port and HM87 Intel chipset, only 2 gpus listed, 970m 3GB and 980m 4GB
     
  36. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    Looks like they thinned it out if I am reading it right, 34.4 mm vs. 46.24 for the current one. Weight dropped to 8.33 pounds down from 9.15 pounds too!

    Front edge lighting appears to be gone as well :(
     
  37. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    R2: Front: 34.4 mm. (1.354 in.)
    Rear: 34.4 mm. (1.354 in.)
    Depth: 291.9 mm. (11.49 in.)
    Width: 430 mm. (16.93 in.)
    Average weight: 3.780 Kg. (8.33 Lbs.)
    R1:
    Height: Front: 1.820 in (46.24 mm) Rear: 1.908 in (48.46 mm)
    Depth: 11.772 in (299.00 mm)
    Width: 16.282 in (413.56 mm)
    Starting at weight with optional SSD: 9.1494 lbs. (4.1501 Kg.)
    It's been trimmed, carries a 2.1 speaker setup, is wider by a good bit, has less depth, and is lighter. No more HDMI Input either. Two audio port, although one acts as a 5.1 output, bigger battery it seems (92 vs 86), will come with a QHD display according to the descriptions soon (so the display section of the specs is not finished), has two touch displays, and an Alienware 15 exists.
    "Essential accessories for your Alienware 15"
    Since the page is not finished, we don't know the full specifications. Considering the size of the laptop, it still seems as if the GPU is still MXM 3.0b. CPU? Uhhh... HQ? MX? HX?!
    No more 18, guys. Say hello to the new flagship model, the 17 R2.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2014
  38. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    Not sure about the 18 being gone, maybe it's the last to be updated? This link: Alienware Laptops & Gaming Laptops | Dell still shows it...

    And they said I was crazy for thinking they would start thinning it out :D

    And a new 15!!!! Damn, that AW 13 might be going back in January LOL!
     
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  39. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Yeah, Alienware doesn't like 18" laptops anymore.
     
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  40. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    How extremely tragic. I had a hunch this sort of calamity was coming. And wow, they even put the gimped the 17 with the 4GB version of 980M. Wonder if that means the GPU is a BGA turd as well.


    <iframe width='640' height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-22tna7KHzI?rel=0" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2015
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  41. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Seems as if Solvenia isn't the only one with a link to the new 17. Croatia as well. I guess more low key regions are going through some updates as well.
    There's also no DVD drive, accepts up to 16 GB of RAM, and nothing else new.
     
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  42. gabswiss

    gabswiss Notebook Consultant

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    interesting they still show m17x r4 pics lol
     
  43. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    What's interesting is this:
    It appears that once you up hook up the GA, only then can you treat it as an overclocking computer. It may come factory overclocked, but to have more freedom, you need the GA. Probably because of the 460w PSU in there, in tangent with the 180w charger.
     
  44. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Whoa, they even gimped the AC adapter at 180W? How pathetic is that?
     
  45. gabswiss

    gabswiss Notebook Consultant

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    Ugh doesn't bode well for the Alienware brand
     
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  46. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    That might be for the GTX 970m. There's literally no way a 180w PSU can handle a GTX 980m + an overclocked CPU. There's bound to be a 240w charger as an option (when chossing GPU that is) for the 17 R2.
     
  47. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Well, there's literally no way a 330W AC adapter can handle an overclocked 4930MX and 780M SLI overclocked and that didn't stop them from selling it.
     
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  48. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    That's going over the design of the product, though. If they can't power it at stock, then they'll have more problems than powering it at maxclocked.
    I'm sure the old 330w charger would be overclocking heaven for the 17 R2, even if Alienware doesn't supply it initially.
     
  49. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Making something that is just barely adequate is not very intelligent.
     
  50. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

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    Be nice if the AW 18 gets revised to use some weird dual G/A setup - seriously doubt it, but....
     
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