*OFFICIAL* Alienware 15 R4 Owner's Lounge

The picture in my previous post is a 13 r3 heat-sink how it looks with default Dell pads. Red X are 1 mm, blue O are 0.5 mm, measured correctly.

I had no contact between components and heat-sink where the 0.5 mm pads (blue O) are. I replaced them, and all the rest with Gelids 1mm, so now all pads on GPU side are 1mm Gelids. The 2 white default processor pads are 0.1 mm, but they caused high CPU core temperature differentials on my machine. So I replaced them with 0.5 mm Gelid pads, which adjusted very well, because I have ZERO core differentials since. If anything is still unclear, please let me know.

 

You have repasted it and you will send it back? Doesn't this invalidate the warranty and all other 14-day refund rights?

Do those heatsinks apply only on the CPU and GPU or do they also make contact with other ICs? Did you make sure the heatsinks rest perfectly on the CPU/GPU without any thermal grease in between and without screwing them down?

 

Your thermal pads look untouched, I did not see any pressure marks in your photo and did not think that those pads made contact with anything else you'd see them compressed in places.

If I understand you correctly when you remove the heatsink, you need to replace multiple pads at multiple contact points, not just the CPU / GPU ?

 

I may just reorder but wanted to ask if the 4k screen is worth the upgrade if I'm getting a i7 and 1070.
Will the higher res. Put strain on the gpu to push out frames if I play at 1080.. (mainly 4k for watching films etc)

 

My previous laptop (3.5 years ago) had the GTX 970M. I did not buy the GTX 980M at the time and saved a lot of money back then. I am not sure what the performance difference is TBH. Currently the 1080 is about to be superseded by the 1180 and so it might be an idea to wait, because 10-series prices will drop as soon as the 11-series are announced. And as soon as Dell starts shipping AW13/15/17 R6 with GTX 1180, prices of the R5 with GTX 1080 will drop very quickly!

In terms of quality the 4K screen has very nice colours - I saw colours I had not seen before. You can look at it almost sideways and the colours change very little or not at all. The only problem is a faint glow when the whole screen is black, but this is the trademark of IPS panels.

In gaming, I did from 85 to well over 100 FPS at 4K and full settings, the panel is 60Hz only, so anything over 60Hz is adequate. But the card was pulling 180W at the time! The 1070 is only 150W and inside the laptop it could be less.

The i9 even if throttled, when properly cooled, is still faster than the i7 is what I think.

 

As far as I could see they don't touch other ICs. Yes, I checked on that several times, they were perfectly plain. But the CPU heatsink itself wasn't perfectly plain, imagine a bowl which isn't that deep.

 

Bad machining made in China... Bringing down the whole Alienware line! Well done Dell.

When I called Dell tech support to complain about excessive heat, they offered a replacement heatsink and cooling system. I asked them at the time, how could this possibly help since the machine was brand new and a brand new model, surely the replacement heatsink would be the exact same as the existing one. It seems to me that they knew the truth and they probably had a stock of properly made heatsinks. Then they offered to order for me a replacement laptop and again I asked, how would this be better, and they said it would not have the same problems, and they sounded so sure it puzzled me at the time.

I know think they knew the full story and maybe there has been dodgy dealings in some Chinese Dell factory....

 

Interestingly they offer repairs on brand new machines, and yeah, replacement machines sound nice but you need to wait, but you expected a device that's well designed and built for a higher price than the competition. The competition isn't perfect too, but if you build something inside the same housing, you could at least do your job when advertising cryo v 2.0 or whatever it's called.

 

I don't get how they can ship these i9s and it overheat and the new xps lineup is going to have the same i9 (albeit with a 1050ti or 1060 max q)
It seems the same processor is going into their other models with lesser cooling solutions (I saw the xps only has 2 heat pipes)

I think the 1180 will be late, especially with how long dell take to introduce it into their range... I'm not sure a r6 range will come out when they just launched the r5?... I guess it depends if it will all fit in with the same motherboard.

I guess I'll sit it out and wait for things to calm down.
Hopefully the 1070 will be able to handle a 4k screen. I guess you are right with a throttled i9 being better than a good i7 but aren't the temps lower on the i7 giving better longevity or can a i9 handle higher max temps?

 

I think the Alienware is NOT the same housing it is like HALF the height of the very bulky and plastic competition.

 

When I play my game, the CPU is around 20% but the GPU is pulling 180W, the bottleneck is the GPU, with the 1070 I am not sure it will handle the 4K screen just as you'd like, however no matter what the game, you can always turn the graphics down.

The i9 does get hot but I believe it is a very badly fitted or designed heatsink - when the CPU is at 100C and is thermally throttling, why are we expelling COOL air from the left side vent ? That is bonkers!

 

Nooo, I meant they built the Aw15R4 inside the same chassis that the AW15R3 had, so they didnt change anything, even the cooling isn't better

 

The picture on previous post with circles and crosses is how you receive 13 R3 with Dell stock thermal pads. No imprint whatsoever.

Now my pads look something like this (pic. 1 and 2), all Gelid-boring-grey and the processor side received 2x 0.5mm Gelid pads instead of IC7 (picture shows IC7 melted off, did not take a picture of CPU pads ON) lol
I used Liquid metal grizzly conductonaut for dyes. BTW. I put thermal pads not on heat-sink, but on chips around CPU and GPU so I can see against light if there is contact after I put heat-sink ON (smartphone camera light, a strong one).

 

cool air from the left side vent? Should be hot air coming out from the left and 2 back vents. The right vent is a cold intake vent. If the air comes out cold left it means your heatsink isnt getting hot, so there is some heat not being transfered somehwere which could be the CPU which is on the left side by the way.

 

Imagine stress testing, CPU at 100C, GPU at 180W/72C, PCH at 93C, SSD at 93C, keyboard at 52C, fans very loud.

Place your hand at the left rear vent - (quite) hot air coming out, not very strong.
Place your hand at the left vent - cool air coming out, very strong. Where is this cool air coming from? Why are we wasting the fan's airflow to divert air on to the left vent where obviously nothing needs cooling, and not over the CPU which is cooking (and as a result throttling)?

 

A flawed design. The shared lonely pipe who being cooled by both rear and left grills will be cooled down by rear heatsink grills enough to lower the temp before it reaches the left grills.

 

Delete. Double post.

 

see when i had mine, hot air out the back, warm air from the left side vent... but it was still overheating !. but the palmrests were exceedingly uncomfortable with heat and it was obvious the thermal throttling

 

The air coming out of my left side vent is quite hot. So this can mean 2 things in your case, you have a malfunctioning heatpipe or the cpu block is not making proper contact thus isnt being heated up.

 

Another chap here at the forums somewhere, noticed the same and taped over the left vent trying to divert airflow towards the rear left vent, I tried the same too without any improvement to the airflow or cooling of the CPU. That means may be there are two independent fans at the left, I cannot explain why taping over the left vent does not increase the airflow over at the back left.

 

Because blocking it off pushes the air back into the chassis.

 

The i7-8750H has much higher TDP than the i7-7700HQ at stock speeds and voltage. Given that we know Dell's QC for their heatsink and factory paste job is already not good, it does not surprise me that the 15R4 runs hotter than the 15R3.

With a heatsink that is making proper contact with the CPU, you will get hot air out of both back vents and the left side vent under load.

 

Can i ask about screens

Dell has two screens for the alienware - (1070OC card)

15.6 inch UHD (3840 x 2160) 60Hz IPS Display- Silver Chassis

15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 60Hz IPS Display NVIDIA G-SYNC Enabled- Silver Chassis

Is it worth getting the Gsync? i was underwhelmed at the Gsync screen i ordered first - it wasnt as sharp as my 1080 XPS. I think is it something to do with model numbers so are the two screens different or just the same screen with a gsync chip in?

Im thinking to try the non gsync panel if its going to be better or sharper.
PS my XPS screen is AU Optronics B156HW01

 

Hy everyone,

You can see my configuration,
If you have any questions?

Alienware 15 R4

Processeur Intel® Core™ i9-8950HK de 8e génération (six coeurs, 12 Mo de mémoire cache, overclocké jusqu‘à 5 GHz)

Windows 10 Famille 64 bits anglais, néerlandais, français, allemand, italien

Carte graphique NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 avec 8 Go de mémoire GDDR5X

Écran UHD (3 840 x 2 160) 60 Hz 15,6 pouces avec technologies IPS et NVIDIA G-SYNC, châssis argent

32 Go (2 x 16 Go) de mémoire DDR4 à 2 666 MHz
400-AXHC

Disque SSD M.2 PCIe de 1 To

Killer 1550 Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2x2 et Bluetooth 5,0

Sincerely.

M.G

 

Yes. Why have you gone all out about €3700 on a max q config that a 1070 can achieve with OC. And a next gen 1180 that will probably be closer to a 1080ti? That’s about a 50% increase if you can wait.


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you'd have to wait until the end of the year - latest news is a slight delay in 11xx/20xx series of GPU's and production wont start till aug/sept.

 

Based on the thermals from the poor souls who have posted screenshots, I don't know why anyone would want to buy a new model Alienware laptop at this point. Jeez am I ever glad I jumped off the AW train when I did.
Do yourselves a favor guys, just get a desktop PC.

 

Just had a question about RAM. How easy is it to upgrade (add in another stick of 8gb 2400) to these laptops, are there any compatibility issues... Should I order extra from the start or can I add it later without too much issue?

 

There are very good laptops out there that you don’t have to resort to a pc. But that depends on your expectations.
I can never get when someone that doesn’t like laptops or their experience owning one thinks that everyone else uses it the same as one that suggest to ditch it. Like there are some that travel. No real space for it.
I move around the house using mine etc.
If non of that applies then sure pc is the way to go


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Ok, I just undervolted my i7-8750h (in my Alienware 15 r4) by 0.350 V ! All cores are capped at 3.6 ghz and cpu stays at 3.6 on all 6 cores through an hour of Bf1. The temps are really good now, stays under 77 degrees Celsius, and obviously doesn't throttle. The Alienware's cooling solution isn't the best (was getting low 90's without undervolt), but damn can these coffee lake cpu's undervolt! Also this is without a repaste and I'm using throttlestop.

 

Congratulations!
Shame you had to undervolt but that is a bit more of an acceptable temp.
Although low 90s are better than high 90s/100+

Just had a question about your build... Did you get a nvme drive and what brand was it?

 

Oh I have nothing against laptops! I mean look at my sig! I've owned so many Alienwares over the years that I should not have to make that sort of statement.
My issue stems from the fact that on my AW15R3, where I spent well over $3300 on the damn thing, you would expect a fully functional product out of the box.
It is supposed to be PREMIUM. So having to dismantle the bloody thing 3 goddamn times to fiddle with it and repaste over and over in order to fix what is CLEARLY and engineering brain fart is UNACCEPTABLE! Add to that the fact you went out on a limb and spent your hard earned cash on the "next gen" of the AW15 and somehow are in ever worse shape that I was with mine, is befuddling to me.
Long story short, my comment is NOT meant as an indictment against those who buy these systems, but rather it is an indictment against the companies who get away with selling half-assed laptops.

 

I totales agree with kyussmanchu, imaginäre e.g. you would buy a super expensive car, go at full speed and it slows down because somebody didnt think about people who actually use the car for what it is built. You could have bought a car which is less expensive and would drive too , as fast as it can but without slowing down. I think it would bother you

 

I agree. I got my first aw13 I loved it so much. It didn’t really suffer any issue.
I thought I’ll try the 15. Nothing but issues and the agents are fed up of helping me that’s its leaving quite a taste in my mouth for the future with them. Thankfully I got it used and fair price. But I had to try this bigger model now to see if I wanted the next gen model.
However disputed my issues. I won’t give up on laptops. I’ll just likely try elsewhere if I don’t like the options.
And that would of been hard if my experience with the 13 carried over to the 15. Now I’m open minded. I’d even consider the xiomi mi model and this rate. Aorus x3. Aero 14. Msi gs65 or razor blade 14. You can see my preferred choice in laptops.


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Agreed. I'm sure there are some quality manufacturers out there. Hell, Alienware USED to be one back in the M15X days.
It is a shame because, I REALLY fell in love with AW once I was finally able to afford them and to see how far down the crapper they have gone, breaks my heart.
To be clear, I'm not complaining about the BGA BS, I can live with that. Odd engineering choices and lack of transparency from AW are killing the brand for me. I just can't trust them anymore.

 

I didn’t get an nvme drive, just the normal pcie ssd (256 gig)

 

Do u know what brand it was?

 

Well yousisqo and all the members! Thanks for your feedback, I get it.To be clear about my deal;

-i know I’m only have 60htz UHD screen, so what! Yes I used to play CS a lot but now with kids !! They love to play PsVr sometimes..It’s Magic for twin Brother..And I’d like trying Vr with my Pro.
-after all my read here I know I bought a Oven, so good to make diner!!..will see in Vr on aPro. I needed a compact-portable solution...expensively ! definitely.

 

so you got one right? What did u buy and how does it run

 

I bought a MonSter Oven!!...config few post ago..still waiting for the delivery ..China is a long flight even for an AlienOven...I’ll see in VR!!!with a pro...and for clear information the option 1080q is not Oc like on the 17R5 or on the 1070...so cool down again!!

..bro

 

...I even bought

https://goo.gl/images/cDTEzw

...just in case F..K!

 

Hi all,

please can anyone with the 1080p 60Hz IPS Display NVIDIA G-SYNC Enabled let me know what the part number is shown in HWINFO?

I was trying to see in i can buy one to replace the screen in my AW15R2.

 

Thank you very Normimb!.

1st time I am coming across this model, I take it that this was never offered on the AW15R3 so may work? but not show up as g-sync despite g-sync motherboard?

 

@Normimb do you have the 15r4?
How are your thermals

 

I answered your question in post #716 on the 17r5 forum.

Envoyé de mon SM-G935W8 en utilisant Tapatalk

 

I just spoke to Dell UK about getting the AUO60ED (60hz IPS g-sync) panel. They were adamant that if the bezel is taken off, It wont fit properly back again so I will need a new assembly (whatever that is) as well.... and they were willing to supply+fit for £197 and let me off the cost of the assembly

Is this true or just a fib?. The youtube video i saw shows a straight forward replacement of the screen ... similar to any other Dells I have replace damage screens on

 

just to add as well, Dell refuses to sell me the screen because the system is still covered by premium support!

Is this correct?

 

New bios 1.1.6 installed on my 15r4 (I7 8750H, 1070GTX) and temps are even worst for me. Thermal throttling and average of 97C running aida 64, FPU CPU test. what is impressive is as soon as i start the test, temps reach 85C before the fan even starts. Also i tested OCCT and after 2 minutes test the cpu was showing 85C so i assume if i let it go another 15 minutes it will reach above 90C for sure.
Just to clarify the temps are worst for me with this new bios and i have LM condoctonaut on both cpu and gpu and undervolt 150mv. Original pads. I am in the procees of system exchange but tought i would share my experience for those of you who had hope for this new bios. Also i am the previous owner of 15r3 7700hq and 7820hk and have experience in repasting sucessfully those system. This one i have no success.

 

Howdy,

maybe you guys can help me out.
I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, i.e. an AW 13 R3 with the sexy OLED display or an AW 15 R4 with the beefier GTX1070 and the 120Hz TN screen.
I'm not just looking for power and (or versus) portability, but a piece of tech that will make me happy everytime I look at it. Super in love with the OLED display of the13" but I'm afraid that the processor and/or gfx might be obsolete pretty soon. Price difference with the student discount for Germany is around €200,- (1850,- for the 13" vs. 2050,- for the 15")

Also, as I browsed through this thread, all the horror stories about ****ty paste jobs, warped cooling units and whatnot got me kinda worried. If I spend 2 grand on a laptop, I expect perfection.

Thanks a ton!

(Still waiting for the money to come in from Asus, who managed to lose my laptop. Week 7 so far, but I'm clinging. Hope Dell offers better customer care)

Cheers!