*** Windows 10 + NVIDIA WHQL Drivers are Killing Alienware and Clevo LCD Panels ***

Care to run MonInfo one more time? Think there's three possibilities:

1. No EDID at all; nvidia killed it by running lcd out-of-spec.
2. EDID is correct; idem.
3. EDID is corrupt; idem, only it may yet be salvaged.

With #3; if you, or anyone else, cares to ship me a defective panel; have tools to pull off the eeprom's edid. Send me a pm if interested.

If it turns out that is was corrupted (and not just a read->copy error) then I'll write it with the proper values. Can ship it back either way, if so desired, rewritten (and fixed) or not. Might test it first as well ... not sure ...will have to find an excuse to buy the necessary adapter board and mod it; don't have an aw18 to run it on and no further use for the adapter, either.

Tried PixelRepairer (or rubbing)?

 

@t456 no need. Alienware warranty is amazing. They are building me a brand new system for exchange. I'll just use this one via HDMI for now.


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they don't have spare screens?

 

They do. That's what I asked for; on site tech was scheduled to come replace it. An hour later they offer me a much better deal for a brand new exchange. They may want this one to try & tinker with it & see if they can figure out what's causing this. Dunno, but I'm happy.


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are you getting the 2015 models or 2013 models?

 

No more 2013s. 2015 17R2 maxed out specs with touch screen & Win 8.1 Pro. Amplifier for a desktop GPU included with a 980 Desktop GPU.


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No more 2013 models-that's to bad. Would you say everything your getting is equal to what you originally paid?

 

i'd sell the R2 just to get a clevo

 

It's not just equal to what I originally paid--it is significantly higher, but that's compensation for my inconvenience throughout the ownership of a few Alienware machines. They are incredibly generous. IMHO no one has better warranty than Alienware.

They've always done right by me; in an above & beyond kind of way. Very satisfied Alienware customer.


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would still resell it for a clevo

 

I like the maxed out specs & added perks they threw in. I'll probably sell the desktop 980 & buy a Titan X.


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A Titan X doesn't have double precision like the older Titan's right? So what would the point of getting it be besides 12GB VRAM? Also, it won't be faster than an aftermarket overclocked 980 Ti especially when the Ti is overclocked further. Just my 2 cents on saving a couple hundred dollars.

 

Can you (or someone) please provide a link to the best single card GPU I can use with the Alienware Amplifier? I need to make an informed decision on my choice... Reason is I don't know how much voltage the Alienware Amplifer puts out & how far I could overclock said GPU based on possible amplifier voltage restrictions.?.


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lol, your still waiting? @thegh0sts

 

think it is one of the new AMD cards

 

okay tell them the truth, your getting a downgrade to a 17AWR2...

 

for my cable? yes, if i don't get a status update by the 15th i might have to go to another source cos dell is out of them too.

 

LoL.. From all the YouTube videos I've seen on current desktop GPU comparisons Nvidia always beats AMD. I don't like AMD. Prefer Nvidia.

I just need to confirm that Alienware Amplifier will be able to handle an overclocked 980 Ti or better due to 'possible' voltage restrictions. They said on the phone that it works fine with a 980Ti--tested already.. But not sure how much room there is for overclocking per voltage left over within the power supply of the Amplifier..

In regards to "telling them the truth" I did.

But if you insist; I'll elaborate:

My AW18 with 16GB RAM, 80GB Cache SSD, 2TB HDD, 880M SLI, 4930MX with a broken screen is being traded for a brand new Alienware 17 R2 with a 4980HQ CPU, 980M GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB M.2 boot SSD, upgraded touch screen LCD, Win 8.1 Pro, Alienware Amplifier for desktop GPU with a 980 Desktop video card included.. They also threw in an Alienware desktop keyboard.

Total price on their web site: $4,969.00 CAD+ tax...

I already own another AW18 that I moded nicely.

I really like the touch screen option of this new exchange build, and the fact it's lighter/smaller so I can carry it with me to school/work easier than an AW18. Also like the fact I can use a desktop GPU, which overclocked will destroy any 980M SLI config. I almost always game on my TV anyhow, so the Amplifier is a win/win. To each their own.

 

what? you can't change out the PSU? the PSU doesn't have to power other things like HDDs, CPUs, the motherboard, RAM, etc.

the 980TI draws 250W on the spec sheet so any more than that should be OK.

on the note for the 980m:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/notebook-gpus/geforce-gtx-980m/specifications

ha! it says it's os cert for up to 8.1 yet they have drivers for it.

 

I think they said the Amplifier is good for 330W.. If I remember correctly. So, that means overclocking shouldn't be an issue at all. Now, what's the best 980ti I can buy for overclocking and cooling?? Link would be greatly appreciated.


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The Amplifier has a 460w PSU, but it allocates a certain amount of watts to the Graphics card and another amount of the USB ports.
Reading the PSU, 385w is for the GPU, and 142w is for the USB port (and yes, I know 385 + 142 == 527 > 460; not sure why this is, but might be for efficiency reasons? There are other information about the PSU with negative numbers labelled as watts and amps that I can't understand). I can post a picture of the PSU if need be.
But in short, the PSU is supposed to allocate 375w for the GPU according to Alienware, enough for the R9 295x2, which works in the GA. You have plenty of watts for an overclocked GTX 980 ti. Make sure the GTX 980 ti isn't too tall. People have fit long GPUs in the dock, so you should be fine with length.
But I wouldn't get the 980 ti yet. It's still not supported for GA use.

 

Thank, you. That info helps a lot. Been YouTubing trying to research which 980ti to order as there are so many various manufacturers offering different solutions. I really can't make up my mind on which one overclocks best. :/


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The Fury matches 980 Ti stock and in some things it even does slightly better. The downside is, AMD GPUs for the past couple of years have really sucked at overclocking. Sadly, it appears that the Fury is no exception and the 980 Ti totally rapes the Fury when overclocked then mops up the mess with it afterward. A CPU or GPU that doesn't overclock well is a pile of crap in my personal opinion. I don't care how great it is at stock clock speeds. If I can't overclock the crap out of it, then it's totally worthless to me and I have zero interest in owning it.

 

I have narrowed it down to one of these two:

1.) ZOTAC GeForce GTX 980 Ti AMP! Extreme (ZT-90505-10P)
2.) EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Classified Kingpin Edition (Not yet released)

 

Jup tried that but it still stays hot.

 

Big mistake, try for a refund.

 

That's the max size gpu the GA will hold? With the design of it I don't think I would put anything other than reference design in it. All the aftermarket coolers on the gpu's need alotmof air flow to help get the hot air out of cases. The reference cooler will help suck the hot air generated out the back through the cards shroud. Overall a non reference pcb and aftermarket cooling is better but mainly if the conditions are right.

 

The 980ti kingpins are out but hard to come by. I have three of them sitting in a box waiting for my review.

But honestly for gaming on air don't get a kingpin.. Better off with classified. Make sure the GA has enough pau plugs and can house the much larger pcb.

 

Agreed, US$3800 could get you a lot more. But ... equally true; at-home service has its perks.

Either way, before sending back the 18; care to run the .reg export one more time? May not help you anymore, but others might benefit from that.

That is valid, at least:

Then again, so were Daniel1983's display values. It was the graphics driver edid that was corrupt; want to run the .reg export as well? You're still running 353.62, right? If it doesn't match the display; roll back asap. Unless you want to use warranty, of course ... maybe it was time for a new system anyway ... (*ahem* evil suggestion *ahem*).

 

@Daniel1983 - Were you still on warrantee when they refunded for a new laptop. My broken M18x R1 is well out of that period.

 

@Sspawn26
Yes, I was but there are different warranty types. You'd have to have the more expensive warranty that offers on site tech & system exchange service. I had to convince them a lot to offer all of the above, as they have to by the terms give me exactly the same performance of what I had or better. Initially they tried offering all of the above with a 4700MQ (LOL) which naturally I told them to move up to the 4980HQ to match the performance of my CPU even though the 4980 is significantly more expensive (probably because of the much better onboard GPU) which is used at the same time you use your Amplifier to help out with gaming performance.

They agreed to that.

I then contacted them later and said I need an Amplifier & a 980 desktop GPU with it, as well as a free desktop Alienware keyboard to compensate for the fact I no longer have SLI but a single 980M VC. I argued the performance will not even be close. They offer me a refund, I refused & finally they gave me exactly what I asked for. This is why I will always be a loyal Alienware customer.


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I've been holding off on contacting them because I'm almost positive that they won't be able to help me. Plus I'm really bad with support. Needless to say, I've become quite good at repairs lol.
That is some amazing deal you walked away with. I'm drooling here.

 

It is very important to have excellent relations with support staff (which I really do). Most of them know me well because we spent HOURS on the phone over the last 2 years LoL. Good communication skills are essential. A tip: even though most people call in angry & frustrated because something isn't working right; don't take it out on them in a very negative manner. They hear that all day. Be polite, a little personal and crack a joke. It goes a LONG way! When you get to know an agent or two well, insist to be transferred to them as they know your case best. I have found 90% of them to be excellent at what they do. The odd 10% of noobs whom I end up educating over the phone (lol) probably because they just started the position; are asked to transfer me (politely) to someone else who knows my case better. In all fairness, they taught me a lot through support as well.

 

Almost two weeks on Win10 with latest Nvidia drivers, still nothing happened, LCD is alive.

 

one of the lucky ones. hope it stays that way for you.

 

Alienware Support does have some really outstanding individuals and they have always treated me very fairly. I have zero complaints about my experience as an Alienware customer. They have been amazing.

Personal opinion... had I been in your shoes, I would have taken the refund rather than the hardware downgrade to an all-BGA machine and used the money to buy or build something with more impressive performance. That money would have gone a really long way on a desktop PC build or a Clevo with an unlocked CPU, 980M SLI and dual AC adapter, and either one would rag-doll the living crap out of what you are getting as a replacement machine. Short of a refund, an Area-51 would have be much better trade-off that fits well with that outrageously great gaming setup shown in your videos.

While it is the best mobile BGA CPU that Intel can offer, I am not impressed by the 4980HQ CPU at all. The Iris Pro graphics don't add any value for performance enthusiasts and being more powerful than previous generation integrated graphics doesn't mean anything on an enthusiast machine. It would be an improvement on an Inspiron or Pavilion consumer notebook without a high end discrete GPU. It falls short of matching Intel Mobile Extreme CPU performance and the TDP is too limited to be useful.

 

If it is only used with the built-in display panel, I think you may be really lucky. If you're using it on a desk with a monitor attached, you may have problems that you are not aware of at this time. Either way, I'm very glad it appears you have escaped tragedy. I would not wish this for anyone.

It is also entirely possible that Micro$oft and/or NVIDIA saw what was happening and quietly slipped a force update fix out to stop it from happening to other machines without publicly acknowledging their mistakes or accepting any responsibility for the damage already done.

 

Thats what i wanted to ask now. So many days passed ano no udpates from microsoft and nvidia. And i still bascailly do nothing on my alienware. I dont even connect it to external monitor wich causes a lot of inconvenience. Was sure, that there will be any news by now, but now i see they might do nothing in upcoming days/weeks as problem might be gone and still it will be my decision to risk with hdmi connection and see how it goes...

 

Unfortunately, Micro$haft and NVIDIA do not have the level of customer care that Dell/Alienware does. If the problem is either of their faults you can expect silence and lack of concern for the situation. They're far too busy admiring themselves and figuring out how to earn their next fast buck to be bothered with accountability or integrity.

 

Yep, only built-in display panel. Strange... why it is working for me... I can provide any info for you guys, to help find out wtf. Ask, if you need any.

 

I understand what you are saying brother Fox, but you don't understand my need for specific tech vs function. My working AW18 is already modded with SSD's 32GB RAM, xtreme CPU & 880M SLI.. That one will soon get a facelift to 980M SLI... Good enough. I was strongly considering purchasing a new Surface Pro 4 with maxed specs once it gets released; I actually need the touch screen. Now with this exchange, I can use the Alienware 17R2 for what I was going to buy the Surface Pro 4 for as it also has a touchscreen. It is much more practical for my work/school needs.

In regards to a desktop I already own a killer 64GB RAM 16 core Xeon workstation with two Titans in it and about 40TB of space.

I will build a killer 4K Surround desktop gaming rig when Pascal hits the market; not a moment sooner. I am not convinced that anything aside from Pascal can offer a true 4K Surround gaming experience with all settings cranked to max while maintaining a minimum of 60FPS. It would be foolish of me to begin that new project anytime sooner than Pascal's arrival for a sweet 2-4 way SLI setup (depending on what will be needed to drive Project Cars fully maxed out in a 4K surround experience).

So, to sum it up; I believe for my own personal needs--I am getting what I need. Or want. LoL

Thanks for sharing your POV; always great to see it.

 

Ignoring the new topic, but I know Alienware's engineers have been told this problem. I have heard nothing on development and such, but that's all I can say. Hoping they either fix the problem or tell Microsoft and Nvidia about this problem.

 

I replaced my dead display today on my 17 with a 120hz replacement and all went fine. Broke one clip on my palmrest but I'll deal with that some other time. On boot I got 5 beeps. Reseated the bottom two ram sticks because I didn't want to take off the palmrest. Machine booted fine with all 32gb of ram showing in bios, bios reset itself for some reason but kept uefi settings. Running fine now. Wanted to thank everyone for their help. Will definitely be going back to 382.84 for the time being.


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Actually I seated the palmrest incorrectly somehow and after removing it and placing it again everything fits perfectly. Thanks again guys


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So which driver does everyone recommend using 352.84, 352.86, 353.30 or some other one?


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No driver recommendation here. I'm back on Windows 7/8.1 dual boot with the drive Windows 10 cancer was on totally nuked with a diskpart clean.

M18xR2 is alive and well again with a fresh LCD panel. Gotta love that Macrium Reflect. Everything was put back to pre-Windows 10 status is about 20 minutes. So glad I made a disk image of my Windows 8.1 drive before I started.

 

Glad you got a new LCD Mr. Fox.. Yes gotta love image files.

 

how did you manage to find one? they seem so rare!

 

Donation, I believe

 

i hope that a 120hz panel = protection from this lcd panel failure mess of a problem!

 

I found a replacement screen for my M18x r1 for cheap on EBay. Should I load back in and then roll back, or just load windows 7 on a usb? Don't want to risk killing my replacement screen.