The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
← Previous pageNext page →

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

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Mr. Fox, Dec 10, 2014.

  1. raiden87

    raiden87 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    56
    i monitored the GTX980 and it was at 0% usage... so yes its using the intel gpu. I installed the newest nvidia driver. I think i will revert to the dell version and give it a shot... i am quite disapointed now
     
  2. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    The LaptopMag reviewer did say that were problems using the GA with the GTX 980. Wonder what's going on.
     
  3. Egnix

    Egnix Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    115
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    When is the invoice date? When you place the order? When they ship? ??
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2014
  4. raiden87

    raiden87 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    56
    i read that review, but he said that the performance at least was higher than without it... for me, thats not the case

    *EDIT*
    So i tried to install the dell driver, without success. It seems like that the driver is only for GTX860m, GTX780 and GTX690
    I also noticed that an external display wont get a signal if its connected to the amplifier
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2014
  5. xxpmrong

    xxpmrong Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    2nd unboxing video I can see on Youtube. Video is not that nice, this one is quite long at 14 minutes. Plus you get a surprise at around 10:23.
    Enjoy!

     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
  6. xxpmrong

    xxpmrong Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Better video quality but this one is in German

     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
  7. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

    Reputations:
    7,764
    Messages:
    2,988
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Speaking of MBA's the touchpad has the same 2 finger inverted scrolling gesture! When you scroll down it goes up and down when you scroll up. :p
     
  8. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Dude that first video jump scare freaked me out!! Otherwise not a bad review but nothing I haven't already heard so far, if anyone could do an alienfx video that would be cool, the m11x would shift colors not as smoothly as I'd like and I was curious to see how well the 13 does it
     
  9. xxpmrong

    xxpmrong Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    you mean the AW13 has the same scroll feature in the track pad as the MBA? that going to be nice! I thought apple patented it all?! haha how about the back and forward commands when in a browser does it work when you swipe left and right?
     
  10. xxpmrong

    xxpmrong Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    164
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    lol i also had a scare on that one and I was on headphones! good to hear that others got the surprise too =)
     
  11. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Brah me too, I jumped to quickly I scared my gf studying next to me, also I'm beating a dead horse here but 9.5mm harddrive depth check??? Otherwise ill be wasting 150$ bc by the time I get my system I won't be able to return my wd black^2, thanks guys ur the best
     
    xxpmrong likes this.
  12. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Sorry, I don't have a drive that large. :/
     
  13. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

    Reputations:
    7,764
    Messages:
    2,988
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Checking for you now AA9510! :thumbsup:

    Luckily I have a couple of faulty ones lying around still.
    Unfortunately it doesn't look the WD Blacks will fit.
    For starters the WD Black hdd doesn't align up with the hdd caddy screw holes and it is much more thicker.
    I tried to take out the M2 SSD system board and squeeze in the WD Black however it is not going in either :(
    Much too thick I'm afraid.
     
  14. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Next video up!

    Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls (Very CPU intensive game)


    Up next...Battlefield 4 and Titanfall.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
    reborn2003 and bumbo2 like this.
  15. Desi Munda

    Desi Munda Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thanks for sharing, TheSandman2236. I am planning on jumping to the machine from a 13" Retina MacBook Pro. Do you think it will be able to play the new Assassin's Creed games on high settings ?
     
  16. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56


    No problem! Not quite sure to be honest. I don't have any of the AC games.
     
  17. bumbo2

    bumbo2 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    324
    Messages:
    1,612
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Excellent performance! :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
  18. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Is it just the thickness not working or the whole drive won't fit at all bc this should use the same mounting
    holes

    3.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 Inch is its dimensions
     
  19. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

    Reputations:
    7,764
    Messages:
    2,988
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Unfortunately the whole drive won't fit at all. There is not enough room for it in the 13. The 7mm or 6.7 OCZ SSD's might though.
    Anything else and it is too thick. The space for the hdd area really is quite limited.
     
  20. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Damn :( well that shot that plan in the face, I guess I'll just wait for a ssd 500gb to lower in price over the next 6 months, thanks man I appreciate it
     
  21. Smin

    Smin Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I might be mistaken but it will only take an m.2 SSD right?
     
  22. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Not if you bought the 13 with a HDD. If you did, then you can use 2.5" SSDs.
     
  23. Smin

    Smin Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Oh, I might have to change mine then. It's not shipping until early Feb.
     
  24. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
    So r the actually memory bays different or I assumed just the memory encloser where the drive mounts was different based whether or not u order a ssd or hdd
     
  25. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,700
    Messages:
    8,323
    Likes Received:
    3,820
    Trophy Points:
    431
  26. AA9510

    AA9510 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    16
  27. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

    Reputations:
    7,764
    Messages:
    2,988
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    101
    The Memory bays are the same as usual. All good there.
     
  28. Smin

    Smin Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I ordered it with a 256SSD. Didn't think that was a bad price but is it more worth it to just get the regular HD and install your own SSD?
     
  29. Toscan

    Toscan Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    47
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Could somebody tell me how many hours of battery life you get on the AW 13, with just web browsing ?
     
  30. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,700
    Messages:
    8,323
    Likes Received:
    3,820
    Trophy Points:
    431
    From what I remember hearing in videos, it lasted more than 4 hours on average. For a 4-cell battery, that's good, I guess.
     
  31. reborn2003

    reborn2003 THE CHIEF!

    Reputations:
    7,764
    Messages:
    2,988
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Just web browsing I'm getting easily over 5hrs and close to 6hrs.
     
  32. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,700
    Messages:
    8,323
    Likes Received:
    3,820
    Trophy Points:
    431
    That's better than I expected, lol. I imagine with the QHD screen you'd get a bit less.
     
  33. Toscan

    Toscan Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    47
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Wow thats nice. thanks!
     
  34. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Battlefield 4 video is up!

     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
  35. CapitalPrince

    CapitalPrince Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Its annoying when people post these fps videos without saying/posting a picture of the settings. no one knows what the "recommended" settings are.

    Another example is the officlal alienware 13 video cod: advanced warfare, simplying saying "optimal settings". its totally meaningless. its probably on mostly medium settings, given that an i7 4700MQ +gtx 860m can only average 41 fps (notebookcheck)
     
    Egnix likes this.
  36. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56

    Did you not read the botton of each post? I post at medium/high settings etc. And if you watch some of the videos I actually open up the settings to show you the settings. I'm not going to sit here and write it all out.
     
    Desi Munda likes this.
  37. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Maybe they mean what Geforce Experience recommends?
     
  38. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    This ^^

    That's what I've been doing for all of the games, if it gets around 30 FPS or lower, I scale down the settings from there. If that guy is looking for a voltage,clock, temp, and full FPS test under every res and every setting then he's looking at the wrong guy.

    Ain't nobody got time for that.
     
  39. CapitalPrince

    CapitalPrince Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    16
    BF4 is on medium settings. Sorry i did not see "medium settings" since it was at the bottom and there was a space between the specs. my bad.
     
  40. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

    Reputations:
    529
    Messages:
    3,159
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    231
    ... except for me...
     
  41. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    No worries man, I'm just trying to do this stuff after work. Lack of time while the wife and I are out shopping and such for the holidays. I wish I had more time to be more in-depth.
     
    bumbo2 likes this.
  42. raiden87

    raiden87 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    56
    so i did a full reinstall of the os including dell driver etc: no change at all.. i cant get the GA working
    Does no1 else got a GA with GTX980/970?

    In the GA Software it shows me that my GTX980 is succesful connected and ready for use, but its not activated in games nor does the external display gets a signal
     
  43. roar-k

    roar-k Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    6
    I got a conflicting report from the sales tech that I spoke to while ordering my AW13. I had him check on a few things before I ordered and one of them was concerning soldered components. The tech stated the CPU and RAM were not soldered in, but from what I have read elsewhere they are. Anyone know for sure?
     
  44. ninja2000

    ninja2000 Mash IT

    Reputations:
    434
    Messages:
    1,674
    Likes Received:
    268
    Trophy Points:
    101
    as already stated previously in this thread. CPU and GPU soldered. Ram is not
     
  45. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

    Reputations:
    776
    Messages:
    2,147
    Likes Received:
    911
    Trophy Points:
    131
    No question on this - the CPU and GPU are soldered; RAM is not. M11x's and M14-x/AW 14's are all this way to my knowledge as well. The market is headed this way in general, even on the top end and eventually on desktop (CPU, not GPU at least not universally).
     
  46. Docsteel

    Docsteel Vast Alien Conspiracy

    Reputations:
    776
    Messages:
    2,147
    Likes Received:
    911
    Trophy Points:
    131
    My AW 13 is in the Atlanta Fedex sorting facitility woohoo! Supposed to be delivered sometime today, knowing Fedex with next Business day delivery the dude will show up like 5:00 PM or so, but they have to 8:00 PM so who knows.

    Personally I think so... but that is me. I am enamored with the Samsung 850 Pro series (I have a 256 GB to swap into the AW 13 after a time). I missed a deal on NewEgg for a 850 Pro 512 for $316 USD.... I could scream :mad:

    (argh - double post again, sorry this is what happens when I post before I have had enough coffee)
     
    bumbo2 likes this.
  47. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I'll run over to Microcenter this weekend and pick up at 970 or 980, I'll do some testing as well. Did you call AW support?
     
    reborn2003 likes this.
  48. raiden87

    raiden87 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    56
    so i did some testing at work today. I got it working with an amd graphics card... no issues there. Plugged it in, installed the official driver and it worked like a charm.
    Tried another nvidia one (GT610).. Exactly the same problem as with the gtx980
    It seems to be a driver problem
     
  49. TheSandman2236

    TheSandman2236 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    116
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hmm...interesting. No luck with AW support? I'm curious if they'd do a remote desktop session. If it's not working with Nvidia cards I'm should going to return the whole setup. This is what I bought it for.
     
  50. raiden87

    raiden87 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    46
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    56
    to be honest: i dont think they can help much (aw support). I am pretty sure its a driver problem and they will say that the gtx 980 is not supported since they dont offer a driver for the 13 or that i should do a alien respawn.
    At least our techs in germany will say that.
     
← Previous pageNext page →