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    *OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R4 Owner's Lounge

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by katalin_2003, Oct 24, 2016.

  1. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    This is an issue with the QHD screen on Clevo, MSI, and other manufacturers.
    Regarding a new manufacturing process, that is a possibility. Often there are multiple panels of the same spec from different manufacturers. However as of now it looks as this is new and the only one.
    Its definitely a tough decision.
     
  2. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    I'm my own boss in our company but our corporate funds are seperate from my personal, so I used company money to buy my AW 17 R4 - It was well worth it, and the tax man can't ask no questions :D Less than a new "Macbook Pro" anyways when you compare the two :p So $3200 for a company laptop purchase is a normal biz expense for what I do.
     
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  3. votum

    votum Notebook Consultant

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    It may be a faulty panel.

    I am waiting to bother dell until other people get it.
    Installing GTA V now. That's the only modern game I've got access to with a built in bench.
     
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  4. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    Repost from the repaste thread: I narrated the original teardown video to help anyone who needs assistance with repasting :)

     
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  5. Bubloo

    Bubloo Notebook Consultant

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    15 R2 sharp panel was not 400, it was barely 300 nits all across. can you tell the model number for yours?
     
  6. mr_risks

    mr_risks Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello all,

    do I understand it right: If you take the G-Sync Display, then the optimus function is not available?
    With the 60Hz screen, the optimus is available? If I have the 60Hz screen with optimus is possible, can i use a G-Sync external monitor?

    Thank you.
     
  7. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes Optimus does not work with the G-Sync systems as they have to have the G-Sync module built into the motherboard.

    You should be fine using G-Sync with an external monitor as the module will be in the monitor and the only requirement at the PC end is that you connect using Display port which all the new pascal alienware's have.
     
  8. vkt62

    vkt62 Notebook Consultant

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    External GSync monitor should work since it will be connected to the dGPU.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  9. sste

    sste Notebook Geek

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    On the non-gsync laptops with Optimus output are connected to the iGPU.
     
  10. votum

    votum Notebook Consultant

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    Someone asked about battery life awhile back, it appears to be between 3 and 5 hours with light usage.

    Also, only modern benchmark in a game I have access to is Dirt 3, min FPS 58.66, average 138.22 with everything maxed at 1440
    At 1080 with everything maxed it was: 58.69 min 159.15 average
     
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  11. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    battery is great for me when needed
     
  12. Maineiac12

    Maineiac12 Notebook Evangelist

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    Not true. The Mini DisplayPort is connected to the nvidia gpu at all times. The manual even says as much. I also verified this using the Best Buy model of the 17R4 plugged into a gsync display. It worked!
     
  13. sste

    sste Notebook Geek

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    Alright. That'd mean no optimus with external display then. On Maxwell generation Alienwares (at least what I have) the miniDP and HDMI are wired to the iGPU.
     
  14. Maineiac12

    Maineiac12 Notebook Evangelist

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    I didn't test it too much but from what I gather you can hit fn + f7 to force it back and forth between Optimus mode and nvidia only mode. My main concern was getting external gsync with a non-gsync laptop screen.
     
  15. sste

    sste Notebook Geek

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    But to do so you need an actual MUX switch which they don't have. From what I understand the current Fn+F7 switch is software only.
    Are you sure you had actual working Gsync on external display? Can anyone confirm that?
     
  16. Maineiac12

    Maineiac12 Notebook Evangelist

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    100% sure. First I asked Alienware support on twitter and they said yes but I decided to test anyway.

    The menu of the Asus PG278Q lists the status (resolution, hz, gsync, etc). I verified it was on and then went into the nvidia control panel and turned gsync off and checked the monitor status again - it showed no gsync. Loaded BF1 and had screen tearing. Then I turned it back on in the control panel and verified the monitor status was reporting gsync (it was). Loaded BF1 - no tearing!

    It could be that the DisplayPort output is always connected to the nvidia gpu and Optimus is only active for the laptops LCD. The laptop manual even alludes to something similar happening.
     
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  17. sste

    sste Notebook Geek

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    Then the dGPU is active when the miniDP is connected, no optimus.
     
  18. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    Pallab likes this.
  19. Maineiac12

    Maineiac12 Notebook Evangelist

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    That may be true but then you'd still have Optimus when you're unplugged and that's when it really matters, right?
     
  20. Pallab

    Pallab Notebook Consultant

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    spiralzz likes this.
  21. nemoris

    nemoris Notebook Evangelist

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    i've noticed you can now pick 6820HK with the 120hz screen.
     
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  22. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    Well its made me feel more comfortable about what its gonna be like... :D

    The Resolution seems to be the sweet spot for the 1070
     
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  23. Pallab

    Pallab Notebook Consultant

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    Absolutely, and i dont think this interlacing would be much of an issue.
     
  24. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    Where? I do not see this.

    Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
     
  25. Pallab

    Pallab Notebook Consultant

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    deleted*
     
  26. Pallab

    Pallab Notebook Consultant

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    I just saw it, its doable and you would get the error "processor not compatible"
     
  27. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    I'll say this regardless of whats connected or not my 3dmark score went up and temps went down alot just by turning off the iGPU and only using the 1070.

    If that means anything - even tho I only had the minidisplay port display activated.
     
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  28. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    Its available on the USA site
     
  29. Pallab

    Pallab Notebook Consultant

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    spiralzz likes this.
  30. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    Also the thunderbolt 3 video output is only the iGPU - I'm using a dual monitor thunderbolt 3 adaptor at work with display port and it's only using the igpu

    when im connected in hybrid mode - i can duplicate the desktop on my display with the igpu and 1070 hybrid
     
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  31. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    Are new owners using their systems with Graphics amp?

    i ask because my R3 was buggy as hell with the AGA and wondered if these were any better.
     
  32. nemoris

    nemoris Notebook Evangelist

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    ah i see. my mistake.
     
  33. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    good shout never noticed that on my screen.... ;)
     
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  34. Maineiac12

    Maineiac12 Notebook Evangelist

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    They are now giving away a copy of Watch Dogs 2 with new 17s.
     
  35. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    i just ordered mine they should send it to me
     
  36. nemoris

    nemoris Notebook Evangelist

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    just hoping the 1080 comes out in the next 2 days.
     
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  37. jeremykrak

    jeremykrak Notebook Guru

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    mine is working fine. I got it open box from micro center.

    my 1080 FTW on the other hand is suffering from this issue
    http://forums.evga.com/GTX-1080-FTW-Black-screen-amp-fans-spin-up-to-100-m2530081.aspx

    tracking number says my rma one will arrive tommorrow
     
  38. sazistas

    sazistas Notebook Consultant

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    Guys, I am waiting for the gtx1080 to arrive for the 17 R4 equipped with 6820HK and the 2K 120Hz screen. Between the AORUS X7 DT V6 and the Alienware 17 R4 which would you choose? The AORUS X7 DT V6 (which is the same hardware inside) with GTX1080 is already available at a very good price (~$3000). Do you think the alienware will cost way more than this? Also as far as I know the alienware has only two memory slots but the Aorus has four. I need the 64gb ram for my work (for 3d modeling and editing 3d laser scanning data), is there any possibility to have 64gb in the alienware by 2x 32gb memory sticks?
     
  39. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    1080 comes out in mid November.
    However Azor did say they would try to push it earlier.
    My view is that they take their time and not rush it. :)
     
  40. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    Alienware, Warranty, Nuff Said. :)
     
  41. sazistas

    sazistas Notebook Consultant

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    yeah sure , 1 year warranty for Alienware vs 2 year warranty for Aorus :p
     
  42. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    Next business parts... on site support ... always keep possession of your laptop vs mailing in your laptop and waiting 2 weeks.
     
  43. Bubloo

    Bubloo Notebook Consultant

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    Whats the model number for the 1080p screen?
     
  44. QUICKSORT

    QUICKSORT Notebook Evangelist

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    I will soon buy the alienware 17 with the GTX 1080. By far, it will be the most expensive system I will have bought so far.

    So I had a request from the alienware 17 owners. I would want to see the QHD TN panel compared to the 4K IPS panel.

    Could a person who owns the QHD panel and a person who owns 4K IPS panel kindly do the following?
    So I linked a spectrum image, and an example image below. Could you open the spectrum image full screen and take pictures of it just like it's done in the example image?
    + a single image of a full black screen.
    Both on maximum brightness and in a dark as possible environment. If your camera is not very good with taking pictures in the dark, try to lighten up the environment a little more.

    I know it might be a pain to do, but it would be really helpful to me as I don't want to have any doubts or regrets when getting this system.

    Thanks in advance. And hope this might be helpful to other people too.

    SPECTRUM IMAGE:
    http://i.imgur.com/m2LqJtS.jpg

    EXAMPLE IMAGE: (the laptop in the image is an alienware 17 R3)
    http://i.imgur.com/QSnfc5j.jpg
     
  45. judal57

    judal57 Notebook Deity

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    someone here did a video ..
     
  46. QUICKSORT

    QUICKSORT Notebook Evangelist

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    I know, and have seen it. Still I wanted to see what I asked for.
    Thanks for your reply though.
     
  47. judal57

    judal57 Notebook Deity

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    @QUICKSORT
    1080p display aw15 r3
    [​IMG]

    for me seems like it have low nits ...
     
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  48. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    For now 2x 16GB max :cool:
     
  49. ashknani

    ashknani Notebook Consultant

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    But dont u guys think waiting for kaby lake and perhaps a vega gpu will be a better option ? ill upgrade the rams from amazon and is there sa chance that when kaby lake is out it will have a higher memory speed ? coz these models have it limited on 2667mhz and im gonna replace the hdd of the laptop with firecuda 2tb
     
  50. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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