Area-51m R2, AGA not working

I have updated the AGA FAQ found on the Alienware Laptops page with two Alienware team videos and the AGA software application.

Hi @DELL-Chris M  that was quick, thank you for the updates to AGA FAQ. 

The Alienware Graphics Amplifier and Mobile VR video demonstrated change to Device Manager's driver from internal GPU mobile to external GPU at 1:34 minutes. 

Did not find AGA software application for my Alienware 17 R5 or this user's Alienware Area-51m R2. 

Does the Alienware Graphics Amplifier have its own AWCC FX and Fusion page, and how are these Alienware Graphics Amplifier pages installed, a how to video would be good? 

Did not find AGA software application for my Alienware 17 R5 or this user's Alienware Area-51m R2.
* Agreed. The latest version I found was only for the 13 R3/15 R3/17 R4.

The Alienware Graphics Amplifier and Mobile VR video demonstrated change to Device Manager's driver from internal GPU mobile to external GPU at 1:34 minutes.
* It appears to be an automatic transition from laptop GPU to AGA GPU when you restart. But those were older models, he does not specify. All we know is the video release date of April 2016. Maybe I was given bad data and maybe these newer models really do not support the AGA?

15 R4
m15 R1-6
17 R5
m17 R1-4
Area-51m R1-1
x15 R1
x17 R1

Does the Alienware Graphics Amplifier have its own AWCC FX page?
* According to the only AGA User's Guides I could find (13 R1/15 R1/17 R2), the Alienware Graphics Amplifier is standalone and NOT part of the AWCC.

Hi @Pgraham93  DELL-Chris M has updated AGA FAQ. The "Alienware Graphics Amplifier and Mobile VR" video demonstrated change to Device Manager's driver from internal GPU mobile to external GPU at 1:34 minutes. Does your Area-51m R2 Device Manager now show single line transition from Laptop 2070 super GPU mobile to AGA 2080ti GPU desktop?  

Evidently, Alienware Graphics Amplifier is standalone and NOT part of the AWCC.

Hi @DELL-Chris M  thank you for sharing clarification. This list is based on information provided within Dell Support webpages. 

External graphics port for Alienware Graphics Amplifier
Alienware 15 R4 Yes
Alienware m15 R1 Yes
Alienware m15 R2 Yes
Alienware m15 R3 Yes
Alienware m15 R4 Yes
Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5 No
Alienware m15 R6 No
Alienware 17 R5 Yes
Alienware m17 R1 Yes
Alienware m17 R2 Yes
Alienware m17 R3 Yes
Alienware m17 R4 Yes
Alienware Area-51m R1 Yes
Alienware Area-51m R2 Yes
Alienware x15 R1 No
Alienware x17 R1 No

Hi Crimsom, 

 I'm not quite sure what you mean by single line transition, originally the aga didn't show up in awcc, but the 2080ti graphics card did and my internal 2070 super had a little warning sign on it, when I tried to play a game I was only getting 5fps as only the intel i7 chip was working, after following your post about removing awcc and reinstalling then connecting the aga with awcc on, this fired up the aga and the alien head light came on, when I tested it in the unigine benchmark it showed both graphics card working, the internal was using about 30/40% while the 2080 to was using 90/100%, both cards now show up in the device manager, same if I use the gforce both cards show up.

Hi @Pgraham93  thank you for sharing update. 

The video that DELL-Chris M provided was acknowledged to be a demonstration and not recent. Evidently, your Device Manager shows both laptop mobile and AGA desktop GPUs sharing and contributing to providing good video FPS. So this is a good fix. 

Hi Dell-Chris M, the aga faq is from 2019? You mention the aga may support 3070 cards in the future, has this been confirmed yet ?

Hi @Pgraham93  the unofficial response is that the Alienware Graphics Amplifier (AGA) will work with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series GPU cards. 3080 + AGA Graphics Amplifier Working! How To and Benchmarks | NotebookReview  NVIDIA is supporting the small form cards that Dell provides, but Dell Warranty is not officially supporting the RTX 30 series cards installed in the AGA. 

Support for your Area-51m R2 (and my 17 R5) External ports says there is external graphics port for AGA and external Thunderbolt 3 port for eGPU. 

The AGA enclosure has up to 460W Power Supply Unit, but this will not fully power some of the new power hungry RTX 30 series cards. New Thunderbolt 3 (and 4) eGPU enclosures have more powerful Power Supply Units. 

Alienware Graphics Amplifier PSU upgrade (what to look for on a new PSU) - YouTube

Hope that this information provides the clarification you wanted. There is considerable discussion on the internet, including when is Dell going to create the next generation AGA. 

Finding any Alienware Graphics Amplifier specification information is now difficult, there are exceptions Here. This AGA (Dell Part 452-BBRU) has a 460 Watt Power Supply Unit (with seemingly no option to upgrade) and qualified to work with 

• Alienware 13 R1, R2, R3
• Alienware 15 R1, R2, R3, R4
• Alienware 17 R2, R3, R4, R5
• Alienware m15
• Alienware m17
• Alienware Area-51m
• Alienware X51 R3
• Alienware Alpha R2

Which GPUs are qualified and which graphics cards are compatible: The AGA  provides deeper backwards compatibility for available GPUs compared to TBT3 options and offer support for a single full-length, dual-wide, PCI-Express x16 graphics card. This system can support graphic cards of up to 375W and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti as well as AMD Radeon RX series and newer. 

Note: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series GPU cards are not mentioned. 

We were also told that the decision to leave the legacy external graphics port on the motherboard was made by the manufacturer, not Dell. A cost decision. So the "functional support" of said port and AGA and newer systems is still at question.

Hi @DELL-Chris M  just as I thought I was getting to grips with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier, you throw me a curve ball. The Alienware Graphics Amplifier utilizes the Alienware proprietary PCIe connector on the rear of some Alienware laptops. Is the Alienware proprietary PCIe connector still on the motherboard, and its just the external graphics port and its cable that is 'missing' ??? 

Is there the option to use a customised rear/side panel, and to restore/upgrade the AGA connector ??? (speculation).

Hi crimsom 

 When I'm using the aga with the 2080ti it sounds as if a fly is trapped inside, like a high pitched buzzing noise, at first I thought it was one of the fans but I've had them up to 100% on afterburner and the card was silent. Do you think this could be a psu problem with the 2080ti, maybe needs more power ?

Hi @Pgraham93  thank you for sharing update.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti  draws 600W from the Power Supply Unit. Your Alienware Graphics Amplifier's Dell Part Number has not been shared, guess it has a 460W Power Supply Unit, and also consumes (unknown) power when GPU card is not installed. 

Guess the Alienware Graphics Amplifier should be upgraded to have 750W (or greater) Power Supply Unit, with one 150W 8-pin PCI Express power connector and one 75W 6-pin PCI Express power connector recommended ( Here for similar GPU Here with Suggested PSU 600W). 

Having purchased a new Alienware Graphics Amplifier, this is when you ask for Dell Warranty Support assistance. 

Alienware Graphics Amplifier PSU upgrade (what to look for on a new PSU) - YouTube