Aurora R5 - OC failure

Question

Hello,

I received my brand new Aurora R5 just less then 3 days ago and at least 2-3 times daily I am getting the message on Support Assist ("Warning - Over Clocking has failure, enter bios to reset OC") It freezes my computer and I manually have to enter bios and setup the 4.2Ghz factory OC.

Id like to know what I could do to fix it as I spent quite a lot on this system and this is not acceptable by alienware standards, especially considering I bought the K version so I could overclock.

i7-6700k(4,2 Oc'ed)

GTX 1080 FE

16gb ram 2133

850PSU(liquid cooled)

Meowland · Answer

Actually, looking at Intel's spec sheets they are supposed to turbo boost to 4.2ghz. If that is an unstable clock then it might be that the processor is below standard and could probably be replaced under Intels warranty. Hopefully Alienware will replace it for you, but if not you might manage to get Intel to replace it. But Intel would be harder and you would have to do it all yourself. (Plus you don't have original packaging which complicates matters)

As I explained the Silicone Lottery above, I forgot to mention turbo boost. Turbo boost is like a self induced OC that the CPU is supposed to undergo to itself when it can. So the 6700k should in theory be able to OC to 4.2Ghz stable at a minimum and this is under warranty. Dell is factory OC'ing these components to 4.2Ghz because that is the turbo boost frequency which all the 6700k's should be able to do safely and without violating warranty, and if they can't then in theory Intel will replace them because they are below quality standards. So at the end of the day Alienware is only losing some man power to replace this CPU as Intel should exchange the below quality one with a new/refurbished 6700k. (This is kind of a generalization)

Meowland · Answer

In theory, Alienware should replace the processor as its not stable with the factory OC. In practice, I don't know what they would do.

Basically, every CPU is different as they come out the lab/factory. What I mean by this is that they all have different levels of imperfections. The less imperfections they have the higher they can OC (usually) and not every CPU can overclock nicely. This process is known at the Silicone Lottery.

Its possible that your CPU isn't exactly able to OC all that well which is causing an unstable Factory OC. Never the less, Alienware should replace it as you bought a product that was supposed to be OC'd to 4.2ghz.

I would reach out to Alienware support and see what they have to say.

Don't let them walk over you and get you to take a OC that is lower than the factory OC (say 4ghz). You paid for the factory OC of 4.2ghz and you are entitled to that at a minimum.

Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.

wolvican · Answer

Hey, I have the same problem and same configuration like yours and also got my computer 3 days ago :).

Maybe, I have different problem since I am getting this OC failure while using Ubuntu 16.04.1. I have added an extra SSD to the system, and disconnected the windows side. I was thinking that my Ubuntu is causing the problem.

So, did you fixed the problem or what is your solution?

BJFox · Answer

I'm able to run my Clevo P870DM-G laptop with 6700K at 4.7GHz on air all day long with no problems and I bench it on AC cooling at 4.9GHz. In the Eurocom Sky X9E review/developer unit I had for about 6 months (same base machine, Clevo P870DM-G) I ran that 6700K at 4.7GHz 24/7 on air cooling.

In a desktop you should be able to at least do 4.5GHz across all cores simultaneously with stock voltage with an average 6700K sample. I think Alienware messed up something in the BIOS. If it is crippled by firmware, you should return it for a refund if you still are within the return window and use the refund money to build your own. If your return window has already closed, then maybe buy an aftermarket motherboard or find someone that can unlock everything that has been crippled in the BIOS. Hopefully, they haven't blocked a BIOS mod with Secure Flash. If they have, then an aftermarket enthusiast grade motherboard replacement is the only viable solution.

Do you have full access to custom memory voltage and timing, and core, ring/cache, CPU input voltage, PLL overvoltage, etc? If not, then as a last resort you can try enabling overclocking in the BIOS, leaving a factory overclock and then try to override those settings in Windows using ThrottleStop, XTU or a combination of both. That might not be enough, depending on how much they have locked down overclocking options in the BIOS.

The video below is what a legitimate Aptio BIOS for Skylake should look like if all of the feature are available. (This is a video of my P870DM-G laptop BIOS.) If you don't have all of these features, the machine has been gimped and will probably never run extremely well unless you do something to correct the BIOS limitations.

13last · Answer

Thank you for that, really helped. I ended up talking to them on the phone since I have 4 years of premium support. I have approximately one month from yesterday to return if defective.

Now the tech I talked to connected to my desktop and checked out the freezes/bluescreens I received. He stated it was a mixture of the sata raid controller and the intel storage faults. He then went on to say that currently this is a BIOS issue with the new aurora r5's(happening to quite a few people) that is to be addressed in a few weeks. I have BIOS 1.0.4.

The only way to stop my freezes/crashes for now was to disable my CPU overclock which in my opinion is stupid as I did not pay extra for a CPU that is meant to be overclocked.

I also saw your video and to be frank I am missing quite a few of those options, kinda disappointing to be honest. Was expecting Alienware to do a better job since this is 2016.

Might return my R5 at this rate.

BJFox · Answer

You're welcome, bro. I hope it all ends well with a happy solution for you. Keep a close pulse check on it if it looks like the return window is going to close before it is resolved, send it back while you still can.

Goody489 · Answer

Did you adjust fan speed and curve in AlienwareFx? Also do u have fan settings running on your GPU overclock? I have gotten 2 errors in the 2-3weeks I have owned the machine and realized it was because my AlienwareFX fan control was locked at 40%.

Zayna · Answer

I am also having the issue with oc failing.

Meowland · Answer

It sounds like not all these CPU's could OC and be stable...

Goody489 · Answer

Mine failed 2-3 times within the first week or so. Once I went into thermal controls and manually set a good fan curve for all my fans I havent seen it again. I also went into bios and saw an OC LVL 2. I have been running that for a few days and it OC me to 4.4Ghz! Any insight on that?

13last · Answer

I'm supposed to get a call tomorrow from the tech who was working with my OC failure case. He emailed me stating there are new steps he will follow. Doesn't look like there's a BIOS update anytime soon but I'm sure he's going to try something with the fan's(curves and whatnot).

Ill let you guys know once I am off the phone tomorrow.

ranc · Answer

I am having the same issue. Any updates?

ranc · Answer

Have you heard back from Dell yet?

beauchef · Answer

I have this exact same problem. I just received my bran new Aurora R5, and got "Warning! Over Clocking has failure".

I called support, and I was told that this was a known issue with the BIOS (I have v1.0.4), and it should be fixed with the new version that will be released in 2 weeks (3 at most).

Sigh.

beauchef · Answer

Well 1 day after I wrote, a new BIOS was released (1.0.7), on august 26. But sadly, here's the list of improvements (there is no fix!):

Fixes:

Not Applicable.

Enhancements:

- Improved USB performance.

- Improved overclocking warning message.

- Updated suspend/resume protections.

Locked Topics – Alienware General

Aurora R5 - OC failure

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