[Alienware Refresh] Initial thoughts and impressions? Hit or a Miss?

Anyone know which PCI-e drives are being used on the new models?

 

Screen lays flat? Interesting...



::iunlock::

 

Here are some pics of the new AW...

Looks to be very easy to take apart and repaste.

* Disclaimer: Blurry pics....better than nothing...

 

Anyone hear anything about the Alienware 13?

 

Here's another sexy shot.

 

Those sure look like someone is using a cell phone to take a picture of a Youtube video. Seems like it would be much easier to, you know, do an actual screen shot on the computer instead of using an outside device.

 

Wow really? Completely irrelevant. Having a bad day there?

You've completely missed the point. It's not that serious. Tomatoes - Tomatttoos. ..same thing dude.

SMH

::iunlock::

 

Does anyone know if the 4K 60Hz screen with G-Sync to be released will be IPS? If not you guys know what panel type?
It should be the same panel type as most other manufacturers, as the new g-sync ones were just produced for laptops and many companies are using those same panels.

I was interested in the 120hz qhd monitor, but I don't want it because it's a tn panel

 

The 4K screens will be IPS and yes the QHD will be the TN, however, it is the newer improved version of the TN which should hopefully solve the traditional issues with TN such as the viewing angle and pink hue.

 

AW 1070 GPU Temps seem promising...

Holding steady in the mid 60's.

 

QHD is TN Panel?!?! UGH!!! They almost had me!

 

It's a new TN variant known as TN-WVA. There is a game-play video online of the new screen. It seems fine.

 

Build quality looks phenomenal. Anyone seen good photos of the keyboard's backlighting? Is it dimmer/brighter than Razer's/Clevo's/MSI's?

 

Has anyone got any shipping notifications yet? I ordered mine on be 24th and it says ships on the 20th.

 

That's a really cold 1070.. My 1070 in my GT62VR and MSI 16L13 (Barebones) both do 76c with Epic settings.

 

Nothing yet for my 15, EDD is the 17th for me.

 

I think they are a big improvement, but they're just too big for me. Cut down on bezel size and the alien logos, and you've got me. I do like the fact that they actually try to cool their components, unlike other many other companies (razer, gigabyte).

 

The bezel size being too 'fat' around the screen on any computer is what urks me. IMO the new refresh looks very retro and mature compared to the previous generations, but the huge ridiculous space on the bottom for FROBII is just retarded IMO. It's straight up fugly IMO. SMH....overall though the design is sleek.

We're all waiting to see if the new cooling system can live up to the bold claims made by AW.

There are two parts to this:

1. How well does it cool the GTX1080 out of the box?

2. How well can it cool the 1080 after a liquid metal repaste. (thermal pad replacement too...)

So far, every manufacturer has had their fair share in struggling with the challenges that the GTX 1080 brings about.

Number 1 above is important for AW, because AW, MSI, ASUS, GB etc...are all laptops that are intended to be able to drive right out of the box and perform within normal operating temps. ie...it's suppose to just work out of the box without mods.

Now...unfortunately for the masses this holds to be true (non modders), however, the way that I see it, if there is any room for improvement with modding if yourself, that's always a bonus.

The truth is, these machines with a GTX1080 special edition Pascal Furnace will need all the help that it can get so a repaste, repad and some turning is going to be mandatory.

 

I too have seen that screen online and it looks just like an IPS. Like most of you I'm very familiar with TN panels so it doesn't take much to be able to spot the viewing angle nightmare and pink hue of TN's; as when viewing them online, the camera actually brings out these defects of a TN even more.

Here's my 4K (1ms) TN monitor... Pink hue galore, but it's gorgeous within the normal viewing angles. Gaming and editing are a pleasure with bright vibrant colors, contrast and saturation.



Now...take all goodness of what TN offers now and wipe the downfalls away as the new TN-WVA will address the short comings. Then...how will that really differ from an IPS? It's not to say that IPS doesn't have their perks, but we're dealing with a solution here which is a good thing with TN.

We'll just have to wait and see....I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the QHD screens though.

 

I was going to buy one, contacted Dell to check if they where putting in TPM's but they are not so I won't be getting one. I'll wait for a top gaming laptop that also has this basic security feature.

 

You are sure? How can DELLIENWARE get away with this? They was very fast with secure boot so no one could modify sBios in 2013 models. Maybe the cost to implement this feature is too high? Save a few bucks? Or gaming books doesn't need it? They said also this when the first Aw Echo models was released..., You don't need Raid functionality in gaming laptops!! https://mspoweruser.com/new-windows-10-pcs-trusted-platform-mode-2-0-enabled-default-restone/

 

Is it just me or does the 2nd M.2 port look like it goes over a cutout in the battery? Wonder if you get the bigger battery if the 2nd port is unusable?

 

The new AW does have TPM 2.0, its required now.

 

Read

 

Hey, just got the shipping notification. My 15 will be here thursday.

 

Well if they are then Dell representatives are told otherwise

09/23/2016 04:41:04AM Me: "Hi, I just wanted to check regarding the new Alienware 17's if they have a TPM."
09/23/2016 04:41:14AM Agent (TIP_Par Da): "Welcome to Dell US Chat! My name is Daryl and I will be your Home System Sales Chat Expert. I can be reached at [email protected]

How may I help you with your purchase today?"
09/23/2016 04:42:05AM Agent (TIP_Par Da): "Glad that you chatted, I'll be happy to assist you."
09/23/2016 04:42:50AM Agent (TIP_Par Da): "let me just check"
09/23/2016 04:44:28AM Agent (TIP_Par Da): "thank you for waiting upon checking they dont have TPM"

 

Is this a sales representative or a tech support representative? If the former, then they may not know what they're talking about (they're kind of unreliable with facts).

 

I just ordered mine. I got the AW15 1060 GTX with a 1080p screen and the basic quad.

Price was $1429 + tax CDN (RFD helped me get the price down another $100), which is about as low as I could find for a 1060 GTX notebook. Sad this won't be as tweak-able as my old M17x models of various generations.

For a notebook that outperforms a 970m and sometimes 980m, I think the price and size are acceptable.

 

I received my Alienware 15 with the gtx 1070 in it today. As of right now I am impressed. with everything stock it got 12680 in firestrike and the temps were low 70s. The fans did climb during the bench but it was a whoosing sound an and wasn't all that loud. I would say the fans maxed out are more quiet than the reference blowers. I haven't overclocked anything, but from some one helping me on the benches they said a repaste would drop the temps a few degrees. The screen is gorgeous and very little ips bleed on dark screens. The keyboard has no flex but i wish they got rid of the macro keys, throws my hand placement off. Ask away if you have any questions.

 

Your 3DM Fire Strike score is all too low. Here are review of Asus and MSi. Look at the Fire Strike score.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ROG-G752VS-Notebook-Review.171608.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/MSI-GT73VR-6RE-Titan-Notebook-Review.172916.0.html

 

It helps if you provide the link to the test results on Futuremark, so we can see the break down of the scores. I am assuming that 12680 score is the Total Score?

We usually share the Graphics score as that is the most important one, and what we use to compare, like those review article scores @Papusan listed, there are graphs for the Graphics scores.

Here is a 980m SLI - 21,345 Graphics score to compare against:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/5708173

 

Wrong bro. You can see both total score and graphics score in the reviews

 

I didn't say they weren't there, said the Fire Strike Graphics scores in those reviews were what we use to compare GPU performance.



The point of the post was to get him to post the link to *his* Fire Strike results, so we can see the break down of the Total score, to get the Graphics score - which is the most important for comparing GPU performance across laptops.

@quickie

The 3 1070 Graphics scores shown are: 17,354 - 17,066 - 16,757

What is your best 1070 Fire Strike Graphics Score?

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/15406707

Everything is stock on this run, cpu was 92 peak and gpu was 72 peak.

 

Your score break down:

12,789 with Generic VGA(1x) and Intel Core i7-6820HK
Graphics Score - 16,862
Physics Score - 9,347
Combined Score - 5,662

The 3 1070 Graphics scores shown are: 17,354 - 17,066 - 16,757

Your stock graphics score is just above the Asus G752VS, but a bit below the MSI models.

The CPU score is a bit low too, which is expected with the 6820HK at stock - see if you can tune it for 40x multiplier on all 4 cores, with some undervolting to bring down CPU temp - 92c is right under the thermal throttling point of 93c.

It's a good start for "out of the box".

 

Nice, just about 100 pts above the Asus; right on target

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/15406907

with +134 gpu clock +242 mem clock

 

I need to do a repaste before I play with the CPU. That's the only thing making this laptop loud, with a +200 on the gpu and 400 on the memory it's still 73 degrees.

 

Interestingly, while your Graphics Score went up about 5%, your Physics score (CPU) went down 9.4%...

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/fs/10456522/fs/10456633

Did you play with the CPU performance tuning?

If not it could be a power issue - not enough power to OC both CPU / GPU. What PSU wattage did it come with?

What does AW use for OC of CPU / GPU?

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/15407001
there is a +200 +400 cpu hit 93 gpu hit 73

sorry for all the posts, amazing it went that high on an overclock.

 

The GPU score went up again, nice, but your CPU score went even further down - 93c is thermal throttling point so that explains that.

Try undervolting with XTU or TS, all the Skylake BIOS's set up the CPU voltage way too high.

As much as -200mV and more has been reported as working with Skylake CPU's.

Try -50mV and keep dropping -50mV at a try until BSOD, then back off 25mV and zero in on max stable undervolt

 

I don't know how to undervolt, does it drop temps for the CPU? it seems really hot. Playing Rise of the Tomb Raider the laptop is quiet, but playing Warcraft the CPU kicks up and you can hear the fans. Its not that loud but if the house is quiet you can hear it.

 

I'll show the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility method examples, hopefully someone else will show the Throttle Stop method - only use one at a time and uninstall one tool when you try another.

Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)
Version: 6.1.2.13 (Latest) Date: 9/30/2016
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/66427/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-

Here's an example, showing 40x on all 4 cores, everything else default:


Here's another example, 4 cores at 35x with a -100mv core undervolt and a -100mv cache undervolt.



Have fun

 

So results look really damn good.

Any chance of a video review? I'm trying to decide between the 4k and the 1080 in 17"...I want to try the tobii. I've got a 4k and 3k monitor at home, so was also wondering about the 1440p.

Any impressions between 4k and 1080 and 1440 in the 17" size?

 

I would do a simple re-paste before I payed with CPU voltage, especially if I have never tried that before. A good Paste job will probably lower temps at least 10 C on the CPU.

 

Any recommendations on paste? I really don't want a metallic paste. I heard gelid is good.

 

IC Diamond is cheap and reliable. So is gelid... really it comes down to application methodology. Google a guide and follow. Good paste + good guide should give yoy all you need. If temps still very high; then go into the relm of undervolting, or risk the liquid metal

 

It's funny, I view things completely differently

After all these years I've discovered that if I repaste the laptop, I have to do it again... and again.... and again, as the enthusiast paste oxidizes and needs replacing.

And, if I can get the CPU to undervolt to remove the heat, and it never thermally throttles while I am using it, re-pasting becomes a superfluous gesture - more fun for me, than needed or worthwhile for the laptop CPU.

And, I have lots of other fun things to do besides spending my time re-pasting to a recurring schedule.

So, I always check to see if I can tune the CPU, GPU, and fans to reduce the thermals first, before performing surgery on my in warranty laptop.

 

92C degrees max temp for a puny 3.4GHz in Firestrike? Oh'well. Run also 3DM Sky Diver and 3DM11 also.

@quickie How high is the core voltage during your benchmark testing?

@hmscott The image you showed with undervolting. But the man did it the wrong way. He lowered the clockspeed also

 

That was on purpose

I found that 45w power limit supports a sustained 3.5ghz, so made a custom profile for long batch runs @ 3.5ghz.

Starting at 3.5ghz allows you to undervolt more - which kept the CPU cool @ sustained 3.5ghz.

Otherwise starting at stock max sustained speed was only 3.2ghz.

See, BGA tuning can be cool too