Hi @Xenxen,

What video driver version are you using?

1. Make sure the BIOS is up to date.

2. Configure G-Synch

   1. Disable the NVidia G-Synch (only applicable on G-Synch supported models.)

      1. Right click on the desktop

      2. Select the Nvidia Control Panel

      3. Click on Set up G-Synch in the left hand side menu

      4. Uncheck the box next to Enable G-Synch

      5. Click on Apply

   2. Restart the PC and enter the BIOS by tapping rapidly on the F2 key during POST

   3. Navigate to the Advanced tab and select Performance Options and press the Enter key

   4. Change the CPU Performance Mode to Enabled

   5. Set the Core OverClocking Level to OC LV 3 and press the Enter key

   6. Press the F10 key to save the changes and exit the BIOS

3. When the system boots up, using the pre-installed software Dell SupportAssist run the stress test.

   Dell SupportAssist > Hardware Checkup > CPU > CPU stress test

   

4. Launch the Alienware Command Center and go to Fusion and monitor the CPU frequency. Ensure that the CPU frequency is within the range during the first 5 minutes

5. Monitor the CPU temperature on the Fusion page

   • The CPU peak temperature should be less than or equal to (≤) 100 ℃

   • When under high stress, the system average temperature can be expected to be up to (≤) 95 ℃

   

Hello! I've updated my BIOS, my video drivers and the rest of the PC. CPU performance mode is already enabled, and I cannot overclock or underclock the CPU as it isn't unlocked, it's a i7-7700HQ instead of a K. I also can't seem to find the stress test option anywhere, could you include more details? 

And oh thats disappointing, I just got this laptop and you guys already released a brand new version. Rip my money.

Oh man, the help from mods isn't very good lol. If you're pushing your 17r4 that hard, it's going to hit those thermals. Hard as in above 3.2ghz 90%+ CPU utilization, and similiar with GPU. The only way to offset this is to undervolt your CPU and/or repasting your thermal paste on both the CPU and GPU. Trust me, I had a 17R4 and had it running at 4.4ghz on all 4 cores and only hitting maybe 85C at most. Don't remember exactly, but I know it never reached thermal throttling, even in the hardest stress tests. Also, monitor your cores and ensure that they're all within a reasonable range of temperature when under a stress test, lets say 9C. If not, you have some issues with your heat sink. My recommendation is to repaste with liquid metal as you'll see cooling of up to 20C. You'll need to repaste every 10-20 months though, depending on usage, so keep that in mind.

I'm not pushing the laptop is anyway shape of form haha, I would only be playing a single game with no other applications running in the background. For example, Guild Wars 2 at low graphics settings makes the PC pretty spicy, a single VR game makes it thermal throttle. 

And liquid metal isn't an option, I carry this laptop everywhere, it's on the move daily, which will make the liquid metal move and short the CPU.

Darn, I'm already using Kyronaut on my device, I guess I can take it apart and try cleaning it out and repasting it again with what I have left of my kyronaut. I'll look into underclocking it if the device continues to be difficult after the repaste, thanks for the suggestions!

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@Alienware-Eimy wrote:

@Xenxen,

You can try standard repaste with diamond grade thermal paste. Otherwise, you can underclock using 3rd party apps available out there. If you need it, I can send a tech to do the repaste, but the thermal paste would be the same brand as the one you currently have. Users have found better results with Kryonaut, Arctic Silver and some other aftermarket brands.

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@Xenxen,

You can try standard repaste with diamond grade thermal paste. Otherwise, you can underclock using 3rd party apps available out there. If you need it, I can send a tech to do the repaste, but the thermal paste would be the same brand as the one you currently have. Users have found better results with Kryonaut, Arctic Silver and some other aftermarket brands.

@Xenxen,

Ok, let me know if you need something else!

 Mine has heat issues as well I've found that turning on fan performance mode, replacing the stock tim, undervolting CPU and GPU through Intel xtu( for CPU) and software such as msi afterburner( for GPU) to keep temps below 90°c but you have to be careful with undervolting because it can cause crashing I recommend doing several stress tests to check stability. It also helps to seal the gaps between the fans and heatsinks with tape.

Undervolted, applied new thermal paste and I'm keeping the vents cleared. Still getting a temps up to 97°c. Nice, I got a 4000 dollar paperweight. 

hi bro,

ive got the exact same issue with my laptop same model. have you found any solution as yet ?

Nah sorry dude, they did nothing to help me out. It's got to the point that the overheating is starting to around with my GPU, causing my screen to randomly go out occasionally, only solution i found to solve that issue is to uninstall my 1070 graphics card from the laptop so it stops using the GPU. I've tried everything. I can't play any game without it blasting its fans and my headphone jack getting extremely hot. This laptop is basically unusable.

Also, why does emily or whoever (The alienware moderator) say that the peak tempurature should be less than or equal to 100c? This laptop thermal throttles itself basically as soon as i start playing a game. Either 100c isn't the correct tempurature or i'm going well over 100c pretty **bleep** quickly.

Actually I've got the same issues as you, Xenxen.

The PC starts to thermal throttle at 90c and also goes to 99c.

Even the Intel XTU tool and HWInfo says its going to thermal throttle which leads to having all the games I have lag after 3 minutes and sometimes the display starts to flicker.

But I got the problem solved in the past. Even under full the GPU and the CPU stays at 80c after the fix.

The solution is simple. Since I have premium support for 5 years, I regularly get my heatsink and/or my motherboard changed. I've did this in the past every half a year and this solves the problem. (3 Times already)

Finally I have these thermal problems again and because of this I now get a technician today which changes the heatsink again... I suspect this is a construction failure of this line of notebooks.

We all know this is not a good solution. But hey... as long as support was bought use it if you can.

P.S.: I wish the Area 51m would have been available when I bought the 17 R4. Then I'd have done the maintenance by myself.

Edit: Heatsink was replaced now. Temperature stays between 75-80c at full load.

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@Xenxen wrote:

Also, why does emily or whoever (The alienware moderator) say that the peak tempurature should be less than or equal to 100c? This laptop thermal throttles itself basically as soon as i start playing a game. Either 100c isn't the correct tempurature or i'm going well over 100c pretty **bleep** quickly.

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I have had 3 m15s and all gave me same issue. never solved. I will never buy anything DELL branded.

Thanks for letting me know, i have protection on my laptop so ill look into bringing it back for a replacement