*OFFICIAL* Alienware 13 R1/R2 Owner's Lounge

Oh boy. This is my first day back at work after the holidays, so it feels like Monday to me... Thinking it was Monday the 5th (with the CES show floor opening on the 6th).

 

I would recommend you to call them by telephone anyway.
At least a few years ago, people always recommended me to call Dell because you can get more discount.
Especially now that the best alienware discount site was discontinued, you hardly get discount in germany.
So try calling Dell and get some discount on the "old" AW14

 

I just went to dell/anlienware's site to configure an AW13, and now there's is not option to choose the 1440 screen nor hard drives. Odd. Did they run out of it?
This is the US site if anyone is wondering.

 

I checked. First option, all options still available except for RAM.
5th option (the i7 model), usual options it had before.
They are just selling 3 configs people most bought, so they offer them without any customization.

 

Hi all,

So I realized that my system did not come with the recovery USB as ... it should.

Could the owners please confirm that you guys did indeed received these recovery USB and also please provide me the part number as written on a sticker of the USB? I will have to call again to get this... sigh.

Thanks

 

Thanks to Cloudfire, we know the 900m series power over the 800m series (according to this thread).
If the 13 is coming with a GTX 960m tops, current users aren't missing out on much. Now the GTX 965m on the other hand...

If you didn't pay the $20 for it (I assuming that you live in the US because I see New York as your location), then you didn't get it. If you did, you could either file a missing item request/report or fill out this request form.

 

Ah, shoot. Thanks, didn't know that.

 

Yea, sucks that we have to pay for it.

 

Something is up, how would there not be an option for the 1440 screen and no option to update to ssd.
Can't upgrade ssd for all 5 options.

 

Because three of the models (in the US) are fast shipping ones. So you can't alter them in any way because of how Dell manages fast shipping configs.

 

Prior to this ordering options, there were a couple of fast shipping options, but there was also option to change. Like for the i7 model i recently ordered.
Now the i7 is not a fast shipping option and there is no option to configure. Sad, but I check it daily as I get bored at work to see if there's any discounts i can take advantage of.

 

I check daily too. Boredom is spreading everywhere!
As of now in the US, only 2 configurations (1 and 5) can be changed on the online configuration. One of the fats shipping is limited in supplies, so they might be pushing leftover stock.

 

Nah, I just want to have my LCD screen fixed on my AW13. There's this super-faint purple on my LCD screen that you can only see when the screen is showing black or dark colors.

 

It works on the Windows 7 models, no sign of it on the Windows 8.

 

Call AW tech support and tell them you didnt get the recovery disks. They will overnight your the USB sticks free of charge no question asked.

 

Not to be pedantic, but there's no such thing as Windows 8. It's technically now called Windows 8.1.

There's actually a difference when you're programming in Win32... A lot.

 

In the scope of the discussion I think the designation of "Windows 8" covers all applicable versions in question. If this were a programming or true system thread you can be certain I would designate any subversion necessary, whether it be Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update

 

It seems Dell pulled the i7 option? I don't see it on the site Perhaps soon to be replaced with Broadwell?

 

It's still available on the US site.

 

That's fine. I can't wait for the I7, to order!

it still is available with I7 4510u.

 

I don't think it was ever the 4510u, the general consensus is that it'll be the 5500u, which it better be or I'll be furious

 

Also sorry to double post but... Regarding the backup flash drive. R they generic windows recovery drivers or do they also have all the drivers and what not? Also r they all the same with every compatable driver for the aw13 or specific to the version purchased? I ask bc if anyone could make a disc image of the drive id just make one myself

Also ps anyone who purchased the 16gb ram option. R they name brand or just generics?

 

Well there are computers that haven't updated to Windows 8.1 when there are Windows 8, so Windows 8 still exists. Just not as supported anymore.

 

it is better to make an alienrespawn backup, to a flash drive or dvd disc. the dell windows recovery do not have drivers.

 

Hello!

I'd like to buy a broadwell AlienwareM13... what's the best memory for this model?

Thanks very much and Happy new year from France!

 

RAM or storage? Because 8 GB of RAM would be enough for just gaming, but for storage, it depends on your needs.

 

RAM I'd like to put 16GB in this Alienware...

 

Do you have anything that requires that much RAM or alot of RAM in general?
You can put up to 16 GB of RAM in the machine.

 

Yes, 2x virtual machines!

 

I'm not even going to ask why you need 2 virtual machines (so don't answer), but 16 GB of RAM would help with that.

 

Ok, thanks Game7a1 but which model should I buy? Do you have any refs?
Thanks!

 

I'm no good with virtual machines (ran only 1 back in the day, but that was it), so I don't know if you would need a good amount of CPU power. Either way, any of the models would work. If you get an 8 GB one, buy 16 GB yourself. It should be cheaper.
2 of these should give you your 16 GB. About 17 Euros cheaper than through Alienware, and you know what RAM you have.

 

RAM is Samsung in mine (model M471B1G73BH0-YK0 )

 

Maybe you're seeing a cached version...no i7 on the US site for me: 2015-01-04_1515

 

5th option. Click on next.

 

Thank you Game7a1. What about this modules? does it fit in the Alienware M13?

 

I had the option for either and I always go disk myself. USB just to me is less reliable as too many differences creep in. Either works but if you go USB I would darn sure make certain I could actually use it before putting stock in it as a backup method. Just made my AW 13 Respawn disks yesterday as a matte of fact. If you're cloning drives I think it's even more imperative, I tried over the holidays to restore my M17x-R2 using the maintenance partition with no luck, I'm guessing something in the clone process I used 4 years ago didn't quite jive. Fortunately I was able to make media and reload that way, made me jump to getting it done for the AW 13. Next on the list is my M14x-R2.

 

@ Docsteel. yep I will never use cloning drive it is no 100 % reliable I think. I always create factory reinstall disk with dvd disk or flash drive!

 

I've never had an issue with it for upgrading drives, but it has been 50% successful in allowing me to invoke the maintenance partition. Frankly I am just not motivated to ferret out why (getting old I think lol), it's just easy enough to use the re-install disks with an external drive if necessary. This really is why I have an Area 51 as a desktop incidentally, besides just liking the whole Alienware theme and styling, after so many custom built systems I was just tired of the process of assembling and loading systems.

 

I also want to upgrade my RAM to 16Gb, I edita a lot of video + Photoshop + a lot of apps.

AND VERY IMPORTANT: If you have a SSD like me you should disable the virtual memory in you HD, because this cause a lot of write/read in the SSD and it's not designed for this, I prefer to have all the virtual memory in my RAM, faster :-D

So @capitanealbator, keep me updated please

 

Sadly, that RAM won't work. It doesn't work at 1.35v, which the 13 only accepts. But these work.
Though this does bring up a good point. If someone with an Alienware and a GA could check for to see what RAM frequencies the 1 will accept aside from 1600 MHz.

 

Thought you folks would find this interesting, posted on the Alienware Facebook page:

"Master of the house, indeed. For anyone questioning the beastliness of the Alienware 13 + Graphics Amplifier (as I certainly did), I performed some benchmarks between my desktop rig and the Alienware 13 with the same GTX 670 and achieved near identical results! I was skeptical of this little guy, but the numbers don't lie. Thanks for surprising me with the coolest, most useful addition to my setup this year, Alienware!

Desktop: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Win 8.1 x64
Alienware 13: Intel Core i5-4210U, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Win 8.1 x64
GFX card: MSI N670 PE 2GD5/OC
Driver version: 344.75

Benchmark (Res + Settings - Rig): Min, Avg, Max
Sleeping Dogs (1080p Extreme - Desktop): 36, 46, 65
Sleeping Dogs (4K High - Desktop): 15, 23, 32
Sleeping Dogs (1440p High - AW13): 15, 24, 32
Sleeping Dogs (1080p Extreme - AW13+GA): 28, 43, 60
Sleeping Dogs (4K High - AW13+GA): 15, 25, 34
Tomb Raider (1080p Extreme - Desktop): 30, 48, 62
Tomb Raider (4K High - Desktop): 34, 40, 48
Tomb Raider (1440p High - AW13): 32, 39, 48
Tomb Raider (1080p Extreme - AW13+GA): 30, 48, 62
Tomb Raider (4K High - AW13+GA): 34, 40, 46
Bioshock Infinite (1080p Ultra - Desktop): 14, 83, 187
Bioshock Infinite (1440p High - AW13): 7, 32, 82
Bioshock Infinite (1080p Ultra - AW13+GA): 18, 83, 151"

 

My Graphics Amplifier coming tomorrow!

 

I see you returned your i5 for an i7... any word on when it is due, and what graphic card are you going to run the G/A with?

 

no sure when it is due. about the graphics card I will like to put the gtx 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290X!

 

Sometimes it's hard to come to the forums here lol. You guys make it depressing sometimes giving me buyers remorse now. Got the i5 with full hd and 256 ssd for 1100 with tax included but making me wonder if I should return for i7 and 9 series gpu. Grrr the forum it's like a addiction that pains me lol.

 

If the 13 comes with a GTX 960m tops, it won't be worth to get it. We'll just have to wait and see what the R2 is like.

 

Should I be ok with putting a non-reference video card in the Graphics Amplifier? For example, if I get a EVGA GTX 980 Classified, will it still perform better than a reference GTX 980 when placed in the Graphics Amplifier?

 

I think you should be fine with any 900 series GPU (since the cool so easily). I would check to see if such a GPU can fit, though.
Put it this way, Alienware sells an overclocked, non-reference GTX 760 and R9 285 (though stock clocked) with the GA. If they think that is fine, then so should that GTX 980.

 

Have a GA and 970 sitting on my desk just waiting for the I7-13 to show up! Has anybody heard if the driver issue for 970/980 been resolved?