AlienWare M14x R2 [Still Alive in 2018, 2019]

Recently I started a thread regarding new BIOS update that fixes Spectre problem. It can be found here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-m14x-r2-bios-a15-march-2018.822996/
As I don't want to off topic there too much I'm starting a new thread for all M14xR2 users out there. Let's say it's a little tiny tribute to this machine as it deserves it


On previous thread I was asked about M.2 drive and cooling down capabilities (please go to the BIOS thread first). This is my answer:
M.2, but only 42mm drives fits there. Something like this SSD: https://goo.gl/TSqucF. Need to remember that this port doesn't support NVMe drives. Only "slow" SSDs up to 600MB/s

Heatsink is fully sufficient to cool down 3820QM even when locked to 3.6 GHz. Only TDP is a wall. For first few minutes it's 51W but after that and under full load on all cores with no breaks it goes down to 45W. Then clocks on 8 threads are jumping between 3.3 - 3.5 GHz.
I am using my laptop as a workhorse and it's unkillable. I left it for about 3 months to convert all my 4K video library from H264 to HEVC using handbreake (It was about 800GB of videos)
Only left screen slightly opened as there was some heat coming out through keyboard too. During that time I broke one AC adapter and overheated second couple of times - when this happens need to unplug it for few minutes and then it's ready for another portion of tortures. M14x R2 is still a best Under full load hottest core is around 67-72C and CPU package up to 80C.

Underneath I added some risers to allow for better air circulation:




Lately I was thinking about upgrade as I hate screen in my AlienWare. I am content creator and also making some tech videos for YouTube. I have a full desktop with 32" 4K screen with Ryzen 1800X, but I am using laptop a lot when I'm away. Few days ago I bought Dell 7577 with 4K screen and 7700HQ. To be honest... wasn't happy at all. I used it for few hours and it's disappointing when comparing to M14xR2. I sent it back. CPU was slower and it throttled under full load. Build quality and overall look seemed like a cheap laptop bought from Tesco / Walmart. No offence to anyone who uses 7577, seriously guys, don't! Dell 7577 has excellent 4K panel and it's thinner, but AlienWare is way higher standard and looks like a spaceship... old spaceship Oh! And a sound quality! M14xR2 has exceptionally better speakers. This was one of the biggest reasons why I didn't want 7577.

Below few pics of my old friend

 

Get the 1600x900 screen. The full assembly brand new cost me like $50 on eBay. It's wayyyyyyy better than the 1366x768 display.

 

I dont know about the Alienware M14x R2 but I agree that it is a beast. And what is its current display. 1366x768 one?

 

It is 1366x768 but it can't be swapped for 1600x900. Pins are different - it won't work. If it would I will have it done already

 

It was plug n play for me..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/laptop-screen-upgrades.816139/page-2#post-10722145

 

If I had known it two year back... Although, it's still something worth consideration even though I was thinking to swap it for something like 15 R3...

I've found something like that: https://www.ebay.ie/itm/New-Dell-Al...249298?hash=item4aecf7e692:g:02kAAOSw2s1UxjyY
It is still TN panel, but does anyone know how it compares to the 1366x768 one?

 

I bought the whole assembly:

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/NEW-Dell-Al...495224?hash=item3fa72a1f38:g:xScAAOSweuxWT3xC

1600x900 display is much better than the 1366x768. Colors are better, it's sharper, etc.

 

But it's still a TN panel so I'm not convinced it's any big difference when it comes to color reproduction. By any chance... do you have a screen pic before and after changing screen?

 

Totally agree, this is a fantastic machine hands down and still one of my two daily drivers. Recently got a replacement battery and getting 2-3 hours of regular usage.





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Alienware m14x r2 i7 3630QM / 16GB DDR3 1600 / Geforce 650 / Win7
Alienware 17 r4 i7 7820HK / 16GB DDR4 2667 / Geforce 1070 / 2K 120Hz G-Sync / Win10

 

Well I still have my Alienware m14x R1(i7 2860qm and 16GB corsair RAM), m17x R2(i7 920XM and 16 corsair RAM) and m11x R3 systems. They all go strong. However the m14x has this special size and calculation power packed into it that just makes it a real good working machine on the run. Not too heavy and not too weak either, I have just ordered a 1600 x 900 LED screen for it.

 

I quite wanted one back in the day, when I was replacing my M11x. I was looking for something a tiny bit smaller, since the M11x's form factor really endeared itself to me, so I ended up passing this unit. Looking back, I agree with @Dwarf King ,the M14x was about the sweetspot in size/power. Nothing else I got really came close to the magic of the old M11x though it seemed like the M14x put forth the best effort in its day. I really hate how thin everything has gotten. Battery, cooling, keyboard, etc are all worse as a result (IMO).

 

Guys! I am still conflicted deep inside about getting new machine. Well... actually I did at some point few months back and sorry for saying that, but DELL 7577 is kind'a crap when compare to M14Xr2.
I got it on ebay: https://i.imgur.com/AOUawvX.png... True Story!
I ordered it. I waited for it. I was thrilled to unpack it. I used it... for about three hours and realized that paying that much for something new that looks cheap, feels cheap, runs cheap doesn't make sense - this laptop throttles and make as much noise as my old Alienware... It was 7820HQ with 4K screen... Sure... Screen was OK but everything else sucked as hell. Speakers too when comparing to Klipsh solution on M14Xr2. So... I sent it back to the seller with apologies as it was way below my expectations.

Be or not to be? Am I a fanboy already or just a sane person and there are no more any good laptops in this world... that I don't need to take a 2nd mortgage on? I want to buy something that isn't a terrible crap. I am still thinking about M15 R4 but according to some sources it's hot garbage too.
I don't mind laptop to be slightly thicker here and there, but why the heck companies puts powerful CPUs to let them throttle after 20 seconds?

I still watch YT reviews from many creators, but still can't find anything that will suite me. If you're in this thread and you know or had at some point M14xR2 - can you give me some hint where to look for?
CPU performance and good IPS 15" panel is my priority. Anything?

 

If you like AW then the 13 R3 with 1060 and OLED panel is a good machine and good size too.

Otherwise you can try the new m15 with i7-8750H and 2060 graphics.

there are also many other gamign brands out there too compared to 7 years ago.

 

@ssj92 Thank you for your reply. I checked out AW13 R3 and I like it overall look except those bezels They are huge. Anyway idea is quite good, but 7700HQ is less powerful than mine 3820QM when locked to3.60GHz. So... Replacing for something slower isn't an option as for current things that I do I really need as much RAW power from CPU as it gets.

I know that I'am very fussy when it comes to laptops. Well... I know what I do and I know what I need. Today I started to google around for some custom build laptops and found these guys -https:// www.pcspecialist.co.uk
Never heard about them before but seems legit. I am based in Ireland so shipping shouldn't be sucha a pain.

For now I prepared something like that. Money is always an issue and picked parts that really matter to me. I am not gaming on the laptop so 1050Ti is very sufficient for video editing and rendering. I need 2TB mechanical drive as I keep there all footage that often need to get back to - Intel OPTANE should speed-up HDD drive a bit for often used files. It has mechanical keyboard and quite good cooling (but noisy) where 8750H and actually work as it suppose to. Total Order Price €1,458.00.



Guys! You have any thoughts or ideas? Standard thermal paste - I'll swap it to Thermal Grizzly Krayonaut anyways 16GB of RAM is kinda OK. 32GB would be petter but price is bumping up for another €120. Swapping to 1060 would cost another €90 and I don't really need it...
Do you know any other worth considering custom laptops in UE?

 

Where are you getting that it's slower?

M18xR2 with 3820QM overclocked to 3.9Ghz 24/7:



AW 13 R3 7700HQ set to full turbo constantly:



I understand if you had the 3920XM overclocked then it can beat 7700HQ:



These are all my systems and personal runs.

 

According to Passmark 8750H is performing about 25% better. But You all know. it all depends how bad it throttles.
I am actually thinking to upgrade it to 32GB of RAM... I was rendering my last video on Alienware and around 80% it kept crashing. Killing all crap from task manager that was running in the background worked fine to free few gigs of ram and after that I could render my project. Video was about 30 minutes long, 4K in 60FPS. Usually I don't do such a long videos, but this time I did. That's the link- https://youtu.be/6eH3uS3-HOk. Yeah... I know it's in Polish, but you get the point why I need "horsepower" with excellent ventilation! Oh... and decent screen as that video was painfully edited on M14xR2!

 

I'd assume you'd trust a NBR enthusiast over a passmark rating but to each and their own.

My AW 13 R3 does have thermal grizzly pads and a repaste so that might be why.

 

Passmark prove to be solid benchmark. Cinebench have too short runs unless you keep pushing.
That's why I like to just throw a batch video encoding. Won't throttle or won't die over a period of 30-60 minutes it's a huge plus

 

hi bro..
i have aw m14x R2 , and put mSATA on it , but the machine didnt detect mSATA drive. (in BIOS Menu , also Disk Management)
and i check , Bios Verison is A05 but for M14x R1 (Really Weird)
I tried flash the BIOS and said "on an unsupported system".
Any advice to solve this problem ?
Thank you.

 

Can you check which graphics card the laptop has and CPU?

 

hi bro..
Service Tag 97WN4R1

317-6678 : Intel Core i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2 .9GHz Turbo Mode, 6M cache)
317-6667 : 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600M Hz
331-2069 : Alienware M14X 150W A/C Adapte r
320-2229 : 14.0 HD (720p/1366x768) WLED b acklight display and 2.0 MP we bcam with digital microphone a rray
318-0643 : 3.0GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 5 55M using NVIDIA Optimus techn ology

need advice..

 

You have a M14x R1 not the R2.

R1 has 2XXX series CPU and 555M GPU.

R2 has 3XXX series CPU & 650M GPU.

R1 does not support msata. You plugged your msata into the secondary mini pci-e port.

 

hi..
you mean this one ?


http://prnt.sc/mq0z5l

isnt msata slot ?

 

Msata slot https://forums.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-SSDs/An-Overview-of-mSATA-and-M-2-SSDs/ta-p/170179

 

That's the DMC slot for other mini pci-e devices such as wireless hd. There is no wiring for sata in that port.

You cannot run msata in the R1 only R2.

You best bet would be to remove the optical drive and buy a hdd caddy OR if you can't return the msata, try and see if there's a msata caddy for the optical bay.

 

Thank you.
got it now..

i have plan to do :
Buy HDD Caddy (which one is correct ? 12.7mm ? ) , also buy coverter mSATA to SSD and put into HDD Caddy , do you think will works ?
or
Buy converter mSATA to mPCIE.

Sorry for my english.
I want know also the speed if i use mPCIE and replace the optical drive..
anyone have information about this ? thank you.

 

You can try this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Pcie-...Standard!94553!US!-1:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/9-5mm-Univ...3:g:rP8AAOSwI3RW~Uut:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Speed will be same as primary port, sata2.

 

Thanks for help..
I will update before and after installation..