*OFFICIAL* Alienware m17 Owner's Lounge

So good news this one came from Realtek Audio - I haven't seen that before. Keep reducing your undervolt by 5mV and see if that helps stabilise things, and check any new dumps. The most important info is the Image/module name.

If it is just Realtek related, you can disable Realtek sound card in device manager and see if that stabilises the system.

Worst case scenario if you can't return the laptop, you get yourself an USB sound card.

 

Okay, I rolled back the driver update for the HD Audio, now I am running into a different BSOD. The error is still Driver Power State Failure.

"
IMAGE_VERSION: 10.0.18362.1
STACK_COMMAND: .thread ; .cxr ; kb
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
BUCKET_ID: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
TARGET_TIME: 2019-06-20T16:26:02.000Z
OSBUILD: 18362
"
"
FAILURE_ID_HASH_STRING: km:0x9f_3_acpi_image_pci.sys
FAILURE_ID_HASH: {20ddeb92-07eb-ebdc-bd08-44da71ffbd68}
"

 

Doesn't tell me much, can you somehow post the whole thing?

 

"
BIOS_VERSION: 2.0.4
BIOS_DATE: 04/29/2019
BASEBOARD_MANUFACTURER: Alienware
BASEBOARD_PRODUCT: 0N8F19
BASEBOARD_VERSION: A00
DUMP_TYPE: 1
BUGCHECK_P1: 3
BUGCHECK_P2: ffff9c8f26d6f060
BUGCHECK_P3: ffff9b8131c67c00
BUGCHECK_P4: ffff9c8f3d9c4b30
DRVPOWERSTATE_SUBCODE: 3
IMAGE_NAME: pci.sys
DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP: 0
MODULE_NAME: pci
FAULTING_MODULE: fffff80580d70000 pci
CPU_COUNT: c
CPU_MHZ: 8a0
CPU_VENDOR: GenuineIntel
"

CPU_MICROCODE: 6,9e,a,0 (F,M,S,R) SIG: AA'00000000 (cache) AA'00000000 (init)
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: WIN8_DRIVER_FAULT
BUGCHECK_STR: 0x9F
PROCESS_NAME: AWCC.Background.Server.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
BUCKET_ID: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS: 0x9F_3_ACPI_IMAGE_pci.sys
"

Well, one problem after another. I would send you a PM with the whole thing.

 

Image name: pci.sys

That obviously doesn't look good. Have you tried clean installing windows? There is some info in that process in my BSOD thread.

Clean install, dial down UV to a very Conservative number like - 120mV. Any BSODs you just need to try to fix the repaste or return.

 

I would attempt to troubleshoot with both HID and DELL.. I am hoping a simple update or possible rolling back an update would fix the problem..

 

Good luck then. Realise nobody else is having these issues. Best reinstall Windows (download an image from Dell), and if you don't brave cleaning up the likely repaste mess on your own then I'm out of ideas. It could be just that they messed up the pads and something is overheating causing this instability.

 

Alright, contacted DELL a few days back and they did some adjustments and repairs to my software, redownloaded some updates and I did not notice any issues nor enountered any more BSODs. I have just installed all the latest updates from the DELL website, hopefully no issues would arise. I am now also experimenting with undervolting and I am quite satisfied with the results. My CPU would spike up to 100 Degrees Celsius whilst the game is loading but once in-game, it is maintaining the temperatures at 85 Degrees and below. I would just keep my BF5 settings to Med-High 1080p to ease the load on my hardware and maintain good FPS, and no issues so far running my other games, they run like a charm on this laptop so I am quite happy.

 

I suspect LM has dried or buggy firmware. I repasted my cousin's HP Omen laptop and AiDA64 CPU test showed 70-78C and running both CPu,Cache, RAM and GPU would spike the temps to 96C even with undervolting to -105mV on 7700HQ. The reason I found was, CPU fans slows down considerably while GPU fans runs at max speed. Here's the odd issue, GTA 5 at medium settings at FHD (Lack of RAM prevented me to test High settings, I asked my cousin to buy more RAM and big SSD) never caused CPU temps above 80C and GPU temps at 55-65C w/o VSYNC. With VSYNC ON, CPU is at 67-73C while GPU is at 62C.

Just feel the air especially in bottom vents that CPU fans slow when CPU+GPU load is initiated. Its just a experiment.

 

Has anybody seen the cpu/gpu assembly in the wild yet which can be purchased? Can it be ordered with a part number?

Thanks.

 

Hello, are there any M17 owners here who upgraded their storage? I currently have a 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD occupying my 2.5 inch Drive Bay and I am planning on adding in an additional 2TB Worth of SSD storage on the Two M.2 slots or 1 M.2 slot depending if I could acquire a 2TB M.2 SSD. Would this be possible? I have been reading the M17 user manual and it states there that it could only support a 1TB SSD and the DELL reps I contacted told me my unit could only support 1TB more worth of storage on one slot since the other slot is only for Intel Optane memory. Could anybody confirm this? I really want to add in a lot of storage for my M17.

 

The second slot has no issues with taking a normal NVMe SSD. I have 2x 970 PRO 1TB in mine without any problems.

 

Check out my sig. I doubt there are any issues with 2TB NVMe drives.

 

Killer 1650X WLAN Driver 21.30.1.1
Killer E3000 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Driver 10.035.0510.2019
Killer 1650X Bluetooth Driver 21.20.0

 

Does anyone on this thread is owning the new M17 (with the new design and cooling system)? Can't find any test on how it handles temperatures. Delivery date here in Canada is 35 business days so I was wondering if its actually available or if Dell is actually planning to release it somewhere in Aug.
Thanks.

 

Nobody has them yet. They originally planned to ship orders on July 1st, but it has been delayed to August. Many of the configuration options they announced aren't even available.

 

If i where in you, i'll rather wait for it to hit the market, wait for some review and then if it is worth it, purchase it. New chassis, new design, i would not purchase something so expensive on day one.

 

So something odd happened... I was going to install the latest OC controls and control panel so I uninstalled them both, installed the latest control panel, but when I got to installing the OC controls I get this.



The even more odd part is that if I try to install the OC controls version I had before, it does the same thing. When I restarted between the un-installation of the old version and installation of the new, some windows updates were installed, so I suspect something there.

Anybody else getting this?

EDIT 1: Seems that there's something screwed up in my computer in general. Can't install certain other things either, like Intel XTU. I get the same end error message, which apparently has something to do with .NET. There was a .NET update applied, so I'll start from there basically.

EDIT 2: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...l-breaks-intel-xtu-and-doesnt-install.829667/

 

I will chime in also that with the delays in configurations and availability on the new model be very careful rushing to order. If you can afford to wait get at least a few reviews before you jump, just so the basic problems have been exposed and you get to decide if you can live with them. Sometimes you can't wait. But if you can, it may save you headaches later.

 

Hi all,

With the recent drop in price, I am looking at buying an Alienware M17 (2018) model.

I have done a lot of research and read/watched a lot of reviews on YouTube, etc. and there seems to be a common theme around high temperatures and throttling. Is it really as bad as the reviewers make out, and if so, are there any effective workarounds, eg: thermal re-pasting, etc.

I like the look fo the new M17 2019 models, though the soldered memory (I want to take the laptop to 32GB mem), and the fact that you can't buy it with a 4K screen (yet) has me looking to picking up one of the 2018 models instead.

Any feedback, much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Take a look at the sister m15 thread. Long story short, no issues once you undervolt and ideally repaste, which these models are very amenable to.

 

I had this exact problem..Dell were no help over a weekend. Eventually downloaded and ran the Dot Net Repair tool from MS...said it fixed something and the problem went away

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=30135

 

I had a 17 R5 4k with i9 and 32gb & gtx1080. It was constantly throttling even when it was idling. After 3 visits and motherboards?? when it was still a problem Dell replaced it with an M17 same spec but with a 2080 it is SO much better...yes it gets hot and yes it throttles but only when it's being pushed. I'm currently getting non-gaming temps of mid 40's C. There are no over-clocking options anymore they say it's now all linked to the thermal profile you use and that in turn adjusts the PL1 Power Limit. Is it perfect No but it's a laptop

 

It's crazy to me the amount of sample variation out there. I had an m15 back at launch with the 4k screen, i7 and 1070 max q and it would sit at 70+c idling and any games would get me throttled down to below 3ghz on the CPU. I have a 4k 17r5 with the 1080, but only the i7, and while it does struggle with heat, with the lastest paste job that I've done I've gotten it down to idling in the 50's and under load staying around or under 90c on the CPU while maintaining full boost. My experience was basically opposite yours and while I'm glad you got your issues more or less resolved, it's a shame dell can't build a more consistent laptop model.

 

What CPU/GPU combo are you getting for the m17?

 

Did anyone find a part number for a heat sink covering two NVMe:s?

Cheers.

 

I believe it is "R46DX" .

DUAL M.2 Heatshield for Alienware M17/M15.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I am also looking to acquire the same part, but my countrymen are making it very hard to do so :/

 

Hello, someone here who has repasted the brand new Alienware m17 R2 ? Any guide available somewhere?

After opening the device (remove the backplate und the plastic tape) it seemed to me to be one of the hardest repastes I have seen. No clue where to start...

 

Picture or it didn't happen.... just kidding, but please, can you share some picture of how does it look like? anyway, this is a link for the service manual of your machine. It's the spanish version, i'm abroad (somewhere in the sahara desert...) and with poor internet connection, and i'm automatically redirected to the mexican dell site, but should help you nonetheless, besides just google Alienware m17 R2 service manual, eventually, you will get the english version. Because of internet connection issue i didn't manage to download and have a look at the manual.

https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-m17-r2-laptop_service-manual_es-mx.pdf

 

Thanks to the Service Manual I was able to repaste my m17R2. Here is a link to another forum where I have uploaded the some pictures. Temps dropped by 10-12 degrees.

https://www.aw-community.com/forum/...chassis-design/?do=findComment&comment=113679

 

Been trying to find the info but having a hard time. Anyone buy the base and tried to do a replacement on the screen themselves?

 

Is anyone here able to compare these models with the R2? What kind of temps are you seeing with your CPUs?

 

I figured I'd throw my opinion of the M17 and M17 R2 after I have used both for a few weeks.

I have owned 3 Alienware laptops in the past, the last one being a 17 R3 with a 970m with a 4k screen, I also have an AW Amplifier with a EVGA 1080 TI Sc2. I owned it at the same time as a 2018 HP omen 15 with the GTX 1060. I kept gravitating to the AW 17 but it was way to big to travel with. I travel every week so weight and ruggedness is important to me. The HP Omen traveled well, but I was unhappy with the lid cover flexing so much and all the plastic. So the last couple of months Ive been researching light powerful laptops and the Razer looked good to me because it is all metal and powerful.
I really like the 17" screen and I decided thats what I needed to have. The AW M17 was not much larger than the Omen 15 and still weighed less.
I researched the M17 and the M17 R2 and the R2 weighs a little bit less. There is a huge price difference between the two.

Over the labor day weekend sale I was able to order fro the Dell outlet an M17 with the I7-8750H, 16Gb ram, 512Gb SSD 1Tb SSHd and QHD 120Hz display with RTX 2080 Max Q for $1950. I thought this was a great deal.
I still like the looks of the M17 R2 a little better.

BestBuy had a sale on the M17 R2 and I bought one to try it. It was 2100. This has the I7 9750H and 16Gb ram and 512Gb SSD with RTX 2070 Max Q with a FHD 144Hz display. The first thing I noticed was that the CPU temp idled at about 66-73 C wherass the M17 idles at about 50-53 C. This concerns me and while playing games it reaches 100 C easily. It probably needs a repaste but its not as easy to do as on the M17.

Another thing I noticed is that the lid cover is very flexible, its not rigid like the M17. I don't think this would hold up to travel as well as the M17. The chasis doesn't seem quite as rigid as the M17 either.

Edit: I forgot to mention, one of the worse things about the M17 R2 that I bought is the light bleed. It's terrible and any light touch to the bezel makes it worse. I have no light bleed on the M17.

I am going to take it back in a couple of days, so I can post some thermals if people are interested.

After using both for a couple weeks. I decided to keep the M17 and take the M17 R2 back because of the ruggedness, and ease of upgrading and repasting if I feel the need to.

Overall I'm really happy with the M17 and have upgraded the memory to 32 GB, added an Evo 970 500gb and a 2Tb Firecuda SSHD.

 

My only hope is that the idiot who designed m15/m17 R2 already got fired.

 

They might have completed the design of M17 r3 and A51 rev 2 with superior Intel 10 th gen CPU or even Ryzen Threadripper 2990Wx at 45W TDP.

 

Every manufacturer will have models with the latest processors, but not every manufacturer will solder RAM.

 

and wifi cards, and flipped motherboard... and why did they remove the num pad from the 15 inch model is still a mistery to me... i hate a 15" laptop without it

 

I like a number pad too. I have to have one. The body is not that much smaller than the R1 so I'm not sure why they soldered everything...maybe to cust costs. I was trying to post some pictures of the 2 stacked on top of each other for size comparisions but my photos are too big at 5mb, do you know what the size restriction is for uploads?

 

use something like imgur to share picture here

 

Max 2MB.

 

Seriously. One thing on the exit interview "soldering sxcks enough said"

 

Can you mention what exact memory you used? I recently switched from my 17R4 to an m17R1 (Dell refurbished) and the 32 GB Kingston HyperX I upgraded the R4 with won't work in the m17. Anybody have an idea why? Some setting I can change?

 

nVIDIA Graphics Driver for Alienware Laptops v26.21.14.3169

 

Hello sorry for delayed response. I used 2 of Micron PN 16ATF2G64HZ-2G6E1 DDR4 2666

I'm not sure why your memory doesn't work. Hope you can figure it out. I don't know if there is any bios setting that would make it work.

Update.... I tripped over the cord and it pulled and flipped the m17 off the ottoman and landed lid down on tile floor and slid a foot or so. I thought for sure something happened. Nope nothing bad..just a tiny quarter inch scratch on the lid. There's my ruggedness test...and then last night the dog ran by and tripped over the cord and it pulled the cord from the laptop and dragged the power brick into the next room. I was concerned the power Jack was messed up but its ok....

 

Has anyone found a good skin for the M17 R1? I would like to order one just for extra scuff protection. I love this beast.

 

Hey there,

On my original post I said that I would be returning the M17 R2, which I did. Well I tend to watch prices etc and I looked for this laptop to show up as open box at best buy. It did. So when I returned it, I opened the box and showed the lady the computer and power supply and she logged it in. This is the priciest item that I've ever returned to bestbuy. I don't shop there often, but enough that I have a rewards ccount etc.

I was quite surprised that they listed it as open box as Fair condition, "major cosmetic defects or vital accessories missing" This kind of pissed me off. I know all the retailers track customers for abuse of return policies and I don't want to be on any black list.

I happened to be in the area today and stopped at bestbuy. I saw the laptop in the open box cage and asked to see it. It looked pristine condition.. it was missing the power supply.
So I assume that someone that works there stole the power supply before it could be put back into stock. I just hope that I don't get labeled as returning an item with parts missing etc. Does anyone know about how the bestbuy return sytem works?

 

Well, Dell already replaced my motherboard and it still failed to register the second 2tb M.2 SSD. I guess the M17 R1 just could not handle a 1 TB 2.5 inch SSD with two 2Tb M.2 SSDs afterall.

 

That's weird, besides the capacity, on my m15 R1 i'm using 3 ssd (500gb nvme + 1tb nvme + 1tb 2.5" ssd). I can't see why the m17 should not be able to handle the same config with just different capacity.

 

Same here, but well, two motherboards and still the same problem. Oh wells.. Right now, I am just monitoring the temperatures since IC Diamond was used to replace the original thermal grizzly conductonaut. So far... I am hitting really bad temps in BF5.. but I still need to test more.

 

I can give you a hint! I faced this issue yesterday after 1909 screwed up my NVMe drive from being detected in BIOS. Accidentally, I switched to Legacy BIOS by turning off Secure boot voila Disk appeared out of nowhere!