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    AW 15 R2 + GA Question

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by TheSandman2236, Dec 8, 2015.

  1. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

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    I currently have an un-opened AW 15 R2 (1080p+970m) that I got for 1125 from Dell (phone call discount). I also have a standard desktop with a 4670k + GTX 970. I'd really like to consolidate my two machines into one. I've had a bad run-in with the graphics amp in January 2015 and return both the AW15 R1 and the amp.

    Has the amp matured enough for me to keep the AW15 R2? Or should I return it all (and sell my desktop) for a Clevo/Sager with the Desktop CPU and the full GTX 980 -- I can get that laptop for about the same price as:

    AW 15 R2
    GA
    GTX 980
    External Monitor.

    What do you guys think? I love AW in general but i'm a little worried about doing this all again...
     
    TheSandman2236, Dec 8, 2015
    #1
  2. Chris_Wayne

    Chris_Wayne Notebook Consultant

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    u already have the components, wouldn't it be easier to just get the amp and a monitor?
     
    Chris_Wayne, Dec 8, 2015
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  3. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

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    It would be, i'm just asking if the amp is working smoothly these days. I had nothing but problems with drivers when it was first released.

    If it isn't I would go for that other option I mentioned.
     
    TheSandman2236, Dec 8, 2015
    #3
  4. Chris_Wayne

    Chris_Wayne Notebook Consultant

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    Well, from what I've heard recently it works well, the only card with problems with the amp was the 980ti, not sure if they fixed that already. Just keep in mind the slight performance drop when using the amp vs a regular pc.
     
    Chris_Wayne, Dec 8, 2015
    #4
  5. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

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    Good to know, I'll keep that in mind. Do you remember what the issue was?
     
    TheSandman2236, Dec 8, 2015
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  6. Chris_Wayne

    Chris_Wayne Notebook Consultant

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    Not much, just a manual installation to be done via the nvidia website, it doesn't detect it right away.

     
    Chris_Wayne, Dec 8, 2015
    #6
  7. CSHawkeye81

    CSHawkeye81 Notebook Deity

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    I am in the same boat as well.
     
    CSHawkeye81, Dec 8, 2015
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    TheSandman2236 likes this.
  8. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Pretty much, the only recent Nvidia GPU that isn't supported is the GTX 950 (the Dell ID for the GTX 950 hasn't been made yet). All other GTX 900 and GTX TITAN (sans TITAN Z) GPUs are supported (Alienware recently did a Twitch stream with the GTX 980 ti). As for AMD, I think the R9 280x is still having troubles, but the other recent AMD GPUs will work.
    Since you have the 15 R2 (also applies to 17 R3 and 13 R2), make sure to get the latest BIOS and Command Center to enable PCIe 3.0. Make sure you either have the latest Dell Nvidia driver or the latest from Nvidia as well.
     
    Game7a1, Dec 8, 2015
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  9. jpsm

    jpsm Notebook Deity

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    Was wondering how you got the discount. You just had to call them and thats it? I have the 15 r1 and want to get the r2 i can probably sell my machine around 1300usd in my country despite it being used and i will be going to the us 1q of next year so really want the upgrade.

    Sent from my SM-N910S using Tapatalk
     
    jpsm, Dec 8, 2015
    #9