Requesting Alienware Heating Issue Update for Laptop Guides

Hi guys,

I haven't been able to follow all of the owners lounges to closely so I wanted to ask you AW experts for the low down on the current status of AW machines.

My current guides (laptop buying guide and build quality/quality control) still have a fairly negative perspective on Alienware because of the heatsink issues.

So my questions are:

How is the Alienware 13 right now?

How is the Alienware 15 right now?

How is the Alienware 17 right now?

Answer any you are capable of, I just want to know what the status of issues are. The AW 15 I know users here helped figure out better thermal pads to get better contact. Is that implemented?

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

Dell fixed it about a month ago IIRC - they worked with users/modders from this forum to pinpoint the issue and fixed it by swapping out the thick VRM pads.

 

So all the models are working well now? Or just the 15?

 

I believe the 13 never had issues to begin with - as for the 17, I don't know.

 

Did they recall all their machines released back late 2016?

 

No, they didn't.
They send a technician to swap mobo + heatsink if customer complains and they refurbish retracted faulty units as they are.

 

this could be a bit difficult if you're outside the U.S and you've purchased a faulty unit....

 

Any country which sells Dell laptops usually has a Dell service centre that handles such things. Even in my country we have one, hell, I live next to it

 

fair enough but paying for a faulty unit right out of the box?

 

With Dell NBD service you will have it fixed by the next day. And considering any unit manufacturer in 2017 is fixed, I'd say the chances of having real problems are low. Not to mention you can return the laptop within 2-4 weeks no questions asked depending on the store.

 

was about to order this: http://www.hidevolution.com/alienware-17-r4-hid58-1080-qhd.html last month but when i read that thread posted by iunlock: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ything-you-need-to-know-now-and-later.799020/
I changed my mind and look the other way instead.

 

Does anyone have any links to threads that have Dell's involvement and/or threads that have a confirmation of new shipments being shipped fixed? It's upgrade time for me (specifically the new 17 with 1080) but I'm holding off pulling the trigger until I can be sure. I'm technically competent, but with such a large spend for my budget I daren't fix the issue myself despite having iunlock's wonderful guide.

I asked a Dell rep via live chat, but as expected they had no information on the issue (or even knowledge of the issue ever existing).

 

I go would like to know if there is an official release stating this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

So the consensus is they have no heating issues anymore?

@iunlock Do you mind offering your opinion? I know you've done a lot of work with them.

 

The recent systems (latest builds) that we've been receiving so far have respectable temperatures under normal conditions.

For the extremists that Overclock and push things to the limit, a repaste with LM, repad, custom HS fix etc...is all still needed to obtain its peak efficiency.

 

Thanks a lot! So would you recommend changing the status of the entire Alienware line in the guides? For quality control AW has been bottom tier while the heatsink issue was happening. In the days of old they would have been tier 1. I'm thinking boosting them to mid tier 2 makes sense right now.

Are there any other known issues for the 13, 15, or 17? I feel like I haven't heard much since the heating issue was so prevelant, but I want to give people accurate advice.

 

Great idea... I'll include a current status indicator in the OP of the other threads, just trying to think of how I'd want to do it scale wise....

The only major known issue is bios 1.0.9. Stay away...it's a ticking time b___b.

Stick with either Bios 1.0.2 (favored) and/or 1.0.6...

ps..Thanks for the reps! Greatly appreciate it. 500th.

 

Thank you for the info iunlock!

I will probably consider getting this professionally done at some point.

 

R13 R3. No heat issues but I still repasted and now it's amazing and even better. My problem was a defective battery. After 5 days battery wear shows 20.4%.
Had it changed out under warranty obviously.

 

Well... That's not good...

 

I bought a 15 R1 back in August of 2015. The temps are garbage I get like 60 when barely running anything and I even repasted.

Edit: I did also talk support into getting me the 240 W PSU a while back. They said it wouldn't help and they were right. Not much difference. And I also have downgraded to A00 as well.

Edit 2: Wrong year

 

Hidevolution no longer sell AW 17 late 2016 model could it be a sign of back to depot?

 

The reason why it can reach 60c while idling is because the fans slin up after 65c. Since 65c is not a problem for any cpu, dell perrfered more silent operation.