[Alienware 17R4 / 15R3] - Disassembly + Repaste Guide + Results

It's because I'm outside the US and the part is not in my country.

 

Then should you get a discount on your laptop. This of course depends on whether you bought from Dellienware in your area. If so, pay same price but got less. Oh'well.

 

Yes I know. I already discussed the issue with them. But they tell me that the International warranty is different. As I buy it in the US coverage is different. They tell me that I have to take it to the country where I buy the laptop to complain. I do not know what I can do.

 

I haven't dealt with Dell support for long time. Maybe @rinneh can help. He have the experience with Dell.

 

Actually you can transfer the warranty to match your country if bought in the US.

 

Well I used these values until I realised it was still underperforming. Best way to be sure is to disable CPU performance mode in BIOS, save and exit then renable it again and set absolutely everything to 0. Then in Windows max every limit in XTU to the maximum value (also bed to do this each time you have a crash)


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In fact, I did what you say from the beginning, because the motherboard is new. I replaced it a couple of days ago.

It is true that to change the values from the bios, sometimes it does not take them correctly and you have to disable performance mode first. This is not the case. The performance is correct in my case.

 

Hey guys,

New 15R3 owner here - I've done some repasting myself following iunlock's OP, but I'm seeing a very large delta T across cores 0 and 2, even after repasting twice. From what I can glean from the posts in this thread, it appears that the retention arm on the VRM/choke side is not allowing for full heatsink contact.

Question is, I don't know how to bend the retention arm. Can someone please tell me how to do this?

As always, here is my system info:
Specs: i7 7700HQ, GTX 1060, 1080p IPS GSYNC
Repaste material: Arctic MX-4 on both GPU/CPU, done with both spread and squish methods. Squish method gave me better thermals but still a very large delta T.
I accidentally ripped off the thermal tape from the chokes on the CPU but I've reapplied some of my own thermal tape (0.1mm) to replace it. I'm using fujipoly 11w/mk pads where the OP said to do so, but I followed his 17R4's retaping photo, and IDK if those thicknesses are the same as the ones I should be having on my 15R3. If anyone can clarify for me, I would really appreciate it.

Here is an hour of P95 using small FFTs after my most recent repaste (with reapplication of thermal tape and squishing the MX-4)

 

@iunlock Dell sends me a new heatsink and thermal pads that fix the problem of temperature. Dell original (fixed) thermal pads are better than the Fujipoly? Because now I have the Fujipoly + Grizzly Conductunaut. Which one do you recommend? Dell originally fixed or Fujipoly?

 

I would use the fujipoly 11.0's and Conductonaut for sure.

The new heat sink will still need to be fitted to make sure that it sits properly.

::iunlock::

 

I can try one and the other. Then compare the results. (Always with Conductonaut)

 

Can someone tell me the link where it explains how to bend the cpu arm?

 

Anyone? Help? Please?

 

Ok, this is after a repasting tho I did not use LM due to the risks and how much my laptop gets bounced around. Anyone see anything wrong or does it look good for stock ?

To me the temps look ok, but the one thing that bugs me is the YES marks on power limit. Is this because the powerbrick (240w) is not pumping out enough or is this the CPU limiting this ? any insight from you guys would be helpful. =)

 

You either need to go into the BIOS and raise the power limit, or use a tool like Intel XTU or ThrottleStop.
Power Limit does not have anything to do with the PSU being enough or not.

 

For a stock setup like this what should it be raised to in the Bios ? I just want to it to be able to suck the juice it needs to run stock now that temps are under control. This is a Alienware 17 R4 with a 6820HK.

 

Also, any other advice from those numbers would be appreciated, I have not messed with this stuff in years and am admittedly quite rusty.

 

Try those settings :

 

3.2GHz 4 cores for 6820hk?

 

@iunlock looks like you could clear this up for him.

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It's for overheating issue check: Stock clock and PL maxed to avoid power throtlling. If he stays under 75°C with OCCT without undervolting he can move along and try to push the 6820HK to 4.0GHz.
But If temps go over 85°C he'd better call DELL.

 

If I try to push it temps climb, I have ordered better paste and am waiting on that and ill repaste again. Calling dell is kind of a moot point as they will just stick heat sink on it that is the exact same as this one. (This one is the reversion one) So my only real option is a better repaste which ill get done.

Stock clock she holds avg of 75 c in battlefield 1 for 2 hours of play and spikes up to 81c. So for now these clocks will stay.

 

Hi. From Dell give me the option to change my 17r4 6820hk gtx 1070 for a 17r4 7820hk gtx 1070. Is it worth to make the change? The 17r4 7820hk has temperature problems too?

 

Yes, the Kabby's have thermal issues also.

 

I already solved the temperature problem in my 6820hk. Only need to change the display 4k (bleed light) but as I live outside of EE.UU and the spare takes 2 months to arrive to my country. (They already sent one and it was failed). If there is not much difference with the 7820hk, I prefer to wait for the new display.

 

I have the light bleed issue on this one also, Dell rep said the new bezel should be shipping out at the end of this month. It was sucked so hard against my screen it caused color distortion so they are replacing the whole screen on mine.

 

They sent a new display last week, but it was faulty too (a gray line crossing in the middle) also sent me a full motherboard and heatsink with the 2 fans. The last two ok

 

Keep in mind that thermal issues can have several origins :

• Thermal past
• Thermal pads balance
• Warped heatsink
• Damaged/faulty heatpipes

You can undervolt to gain up to 10°C with an average -150mV offset using XTU @stock clock

 

I just change heatsink + thermal pads + Conductonaut.

before without OC 98° max
after OC 4.0 66° max / OC 4.1 70° max

With undervolt -0.50 descends to OC 4.0 62° / OC 4.1 66° ... Very little difference, so I do not use it. Also the average is 45 °

 

I ordered a 15 r3 a couple of weeks ago and found this forum and I immediately bought all the tools to do a LM repaste. My AW just came in the door so I decided to do a quick OCCT to see how the temps were and if the cores would be miles apart like many others experience. I ran OCCT for about 45 mins and the results can be seen in the uploaded image below.

http://imgur.com/a/3psby

To me it looks like the temperatures are actually not that bad out of the box compared to what I have seen others experience, what do you think? It made me question if I need a repaste, but now since I got all the tools and conductonaut I suppose there's still room for improvement even though I can't OC my 7700HQ. Another thing that kinda caught my attention, and excuse me if this is a stupid question, but why is the CPU not going all the way to its' 3,8ghz boost?

My model is the
FHD ips panel
7700HQ
gtx 1070

 

Don't worry I run 4.4GHz for benchmarks

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But the evidence you provided was that it doesn't hold stock clocks very well as all as its being throttled to 2.6 GHz due to TDP limit. This will significantly reduce your temps (giving you false assurances of a good repaste). I know this because I had it on my first repaste



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I never said it was a good repaste I did say it will do for now. I ordered better paste, shimms and new pads. Ill have to do it when I get back in the states but for now it will be fine and get me by until I get back home.

 

Doesn't look so great to me I'm afraid, you have severe throttling. On all four cores for the i7 7700HQ the max boost clock is 3.4GHz. Out of the box Dell set power limits as well as thermal limits and you sir are suffering from power limit at least. You need to post your hwinfo showing throttling reasons and temps, voltages etc. Check the 8hrs OCCT link in my sig for an example

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4.4GHz wow. Then you can smash all in Cinebench R11.5 and the same for Cinebench R15

I'm sure you smash all in Wprime 1024M stress test as well with 4.4GHz

I'm sure @iunlock want to see the numbers.

I put in the links for these benchmarks as you can see. You have them perhaps from before, but here they are.
Do not forget Wprime must be run as admin. Then select 8 threads in advanced settings. Run 1024 (stress test). You can create a profile in Hwbot.org so you can be No. 1 in HALL OF FAME for these benchmarks with i7-6820hk
CINEBENCH_R11.5 - wPRIME v1.5 - CINEBENCH_R15 You're welcome

Spoiler: HOW TO PUT CPU-Z FOR VALIDATION. AND WHERE TO SUBMIT IN HWBOT.ORG

Submit your scores http://hwbot.org/submit

 

Doesn't sound too good :/ I ran another 45min ish OCCT and I got all the hwinfo right here. Hope you can tell me what's the issue with my unit
http://imgur.com/a/gy6eC

 

Haha I guess I deserved that I want challenged you desktop lot with ****ty LGA. I'll run them tomorrow

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@Pete Light: Not many can compete against @Papusan, he would bring down the PC temps to 10C with his ice power to OC his CPU and GPU. So watch out

 

Now that @Pete Light has started and already at 4.4GHz. Perhaps try 4.5GHz. If not... 4.4GHz should be closer 980cb in Cinebench R15. Target is set

Spoiler: Cinebench R15 - 4.5GHz

 

The goal for me is to match or break all the numbers that the Asus produced.

If it can't then there's going to be a problem. lol...

Here's the cbR15 from the Asus at 44x.



980cb is a tall order for a mobile chip at regular ambient temps, but it's a great goal.

 

Why're you using old version of TS? Use SST tech using TS to reach new heights of OCing. I good to see your PCH and CPU temps. If you look at my temps, your temps are ideal ones that PC manufacturers test their PC for overheating issues and other stress test. maybe you can clock to 5.2-5.3Ghz and still have temp of 85C.

 

I don't use the TS version in Throttlestop guide. You can't compare processors in high-end DT - MB vs. in laptops

Spoiler: Throttlestop

967cb is low for 4.4GHz. Almost same as my 4.3GHz score

Spoiler: Cinebench R15 960cb with 4.3GHz

 

@Papusan : You have disabled Speed Shift. See I told you can overclock your PC if you keep your lappie outside. Your temps are great for i7 6700K. Almost incredible!

 

Not everyone lives in the Arctic lol.

 

Who need AC Bench? I just need a bench outside + a cold bottle of something good, then sit down and watch the numbers fly Me ↓↓


Edit: And my Doberman Ivan the Terrible outside my doorstep. A good dog aka a proper watchdog.

 

@Papusan I wonder if the dog is LGA or BGA or normal dog.

 

@Pete Light Any chance you can tell me how to fix these power/thermal limits? I linked an imgur with the full hwinfo earlier

 

Sure, disable CPU perf mode in BIOS then renable it and go straight to customisation. Then set EVERYTHING to 0, save and exit. Then boot and launch XTU advanced mode, accept the warning and raise all limits (NOT offsets or voltages! ) to max value, close XTU in systray. I'd save that profile in XTU as well as you'll need it to reload limits each time you get a crash finding the sweet spot undervolt for your CPU

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CPU performance mode was actually disabled in bios, so I just enabled it. Also what do you mean by setting everything to 0? It's a hq processor, so there's nothing to tweak in the BIOS. Regarding the maxing in XTU it seems to me that all the rockers are some sort of offsets or voltages, so if you could maybe specify a bit more? I linked an imgur of how my panel looks.
http://imgur.com/a/xgnWK
Also note only the first core has a multiplier of 38x at the bottom of the XTU panel? Is that normal? When monitoring OCCT the frequency also jumps to 3800mhz without running the stresstest but as soon as I start benchmarking it drops to a steady ~3400... Please bare with me I'm just trying not to fry everything

 

It looks as if the 7700hq is locked to to run only the first core at x38, 2nd at 36x, 3rd at 35x and 4th at 34x Anyone knows if it is possible to force them all to run turbo at 38x?