Aurora R6 - Tons of Issues

Question

I bought an Aurora R6 in early September, since then I have had more issues with it than I have ever had with a new desktop. I'm wondering if it could all (or mostly) be video card hardware issues? The computer is almost unusable at this point, would love some guidance/suggestions: 1. Of course I had the rattling power supply noise. Getting it taken care of but the new power supply is back ordered for 6 weeks, so I guess I'll see if that fixes it when I get it. Is that really the only available replacement part they can get?? 2. Random freezes/shut downs: I have a very simple/minimal software set up on my system. Office, chrome, and a few games. The computer outright freezes all the time, need to do a hard reset. When I reset it, it generally freezes again either on the Optane Memory Check or on the windows load screen. I generally have to hard reset it about 5 times every time this happens and even a clean startup where it makes it back into windows takes a good 10 minutes.  3. If I put the computer to sleep, I can't get the displays to come back on when it wakes up, not sure if it is actually frozen or not (I think it is based on lack of sound when pushing buttons I know would cause sound), but again I have to do multiple hard resets to get it back on.  4. If the monitors go to sleep, it freezes about half the time when I wake up the monitors, and it actually is frozen, usually the screen will come back on, but I can tell it freezes right when the screen comes on, nothing on the mouse or keyboard works, have to hard reset multiple times. Because of the above, I now have to leave it on, not in sleep, not letting the monitors sleep, all the time to even have a chance at it not freezing.  5. I have tried full hard drive wipes/resets, same problems happen even when there is literally nothing on the computer except the default windows and whether or not updates/drivers have been updated.  6. I have 3 monitors, I have used them on multiple other computers. This computer has a horrible time working with 3 monitors. My 3 year old laptop can run 3 monitors (and it's own display) seamlessly. I have dual RX 580s on the computer, monitors plugged into 3 displayports (I have tried using 2x displayport and 1x hdmi, no difference. Here are all the problems that can happen with the monitors:    a. On a successful reboot, only 1 monitor comes up. Have to just play with the cords/power/windows settings until I eventually get 2 and then 3 monitors up and running.     b. Sometimes on a successful reboot, 2 of the monitors will come up, except it's a random 2 out of 3, and it continuously cycles between 2 of them about every 5 seconds. Have to turn off one of the monitors which generally leaves only 1 of the remaining 2 working, or do a soft reset.     c. I have tried using eyefinity, which seems to work better than the windows default display management, but it also causes problems and I need the monitors to be seen as separate for workflow purposes (start bar on each screen, etc.) 7. The dual video cards are only recognized sometimes. Half the time when I restart, only 1 video card shows up. Seems random. I usually have to try random fixes (restarted, physically remove the card, plug it back in) to get it to recognize it, or sometimes it just randomly recognizes it.  8. Biggest problem - I have never been able to successfully play a single game (at least a higher end 3d game). I have tried even older games (2012 era), runs for a few minutes fine, then freezes. High end games freeze almost instantly (although they do run incredibly smooth at ultra settings while they are running). And when it freezes running a game, it is quite a spectacle (the speakers all short and blare a constant sound as if I'm touching the end of the jack to metal, the screens (even if I'm only using 1 screen for the game) all display solid white. Have to hard reset of course, usually even more times than normal. Sometimes takes a solid hour of trying to reset it to get it to come back on.  9. Oftentimes when the computer freezes, the output to the monitors will look like a checkerboard with the odd squares showing windows and the even squares just showing snow/random digital output.  10. Noise. It seems to make a lot of it. Even besides the power supply rattle. It just has a constant hum even at 0 usage. It's water cooled, I'm surprised the fans needs to run that much all the time. I have other desktops that are completely silent except under heavy load.  I've had the computer about 90 days right now, I would certainly return it if I was in the 30 day period. Is it possibly a video card hardware problem? It seems to fit most of the issues, but that really seems like an uncommon problem for a new set of cards. I have tried plugging the monitor/monitors into the 2nd card and the same problems occur.  Obviously I have kept all drivers/bios/updates current, but the problems are the same regardless. Again, I have tried multiple factory resets and the problems are the same. Also I have a very simple set up: chrome, office, some games, barely anything else. Problems remain regardless of what software is on it. Any suggestions would be great, right now I have a $2000+ single screen web browser / email checker that has to remain on at all times to even function.  Thank you.

Tesla1856 · Answer

I suggest a good UPS (like APC).

Power-down and un-plug. Check that everything inside is securely plugged-in, memory DIMMs are snapped down properly, etc.

Run ePSA Diags (including Long ram Test). If this passes, motherboard might be good.

Disable CrossFire and then remove the second video card. Keep the best one installed in top slot. Only connect 2 best monitors for now, using best ports (ie, both on DisplayPorts would be ideal).

Run CPU-ID HW-Monitor, and make sure neither the main-processor nor video-card is over-heating.

Clean install Windows-10/64bit. Hopefully you have a SSD there somewhere to use as C:

fixed

See this post for how to stress-test:

Aurora-R6 : Hard-Lockup and crash while gaming (SOLVED)

Tesla1856 · Answer

Obviously, you have a Dell 1-year warranty.   Are you in the USA and in a normal city (easy to get to)? What does Dell say about your problems?

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. Is that really the only available replacement part they can get??

2. I'm surprised the fans needs to run that much all the time.

3. I have other desktops that are completely silent except under heavy load

1. When I got mine swapped-out, they only had the Huntkey-850w and the Delta-850w as options for the Aurora-R6. All the others were 460w. Pretty sure the Delta-850w is also used in Area51-R2 and several other large Dell desktops (however the DPN might be different).

Alienware Aurora R6 clicking noise

2. It really depends on how you have them configured in Thermal Controller. My Aurora-R6 is quieter than my Aurora-R1 when reading email. No, the Aurora is not a XPS.

3. Maybe they weren't liquid-cooled or maybe they don't have 2 power-hungry dual-slot video cards in them. Pretty sure when you connect more than one monitor to a video-card, it no longer down-clocks. I think running them in CrossFire-X does the same thing.

Locked Topics – Alienware General

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