Area-51m R2, AGA not working

The Alienware Graphics Amplifier is designed to give desktop GPU performance to laptop screen and/or up to three external monitors. When AGA is connected to laptop, visit Device Manager to get the extra drivers. 

Alienware External Graphic Amplifier Software Application  

Hi Crimson, 

 When I download that software it says it's not compatible with my device, is there anything else I could try? The 2080ti graphics card us showing up in device manager but I can't see the aga, and when I use the gfirce experience it shows the internal 2070 super and the 2080ti but in the aliwnware control centre it only shows the 2070

Hi @Pgraham93  thank you for sharing update. 

The Alienware External Graphic Amplifier Software Application webpage includes: Get the latest driver by inserting your service tag. Guess that this did not offer to provide driver for your Area-51m R2 system. 

Alienware Graphics Amplifier Supported Video Card List includes the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. So there should be no compatibility issue.

The Alienware Graphics Amplifier User’s Guide says: If the Alienware Graphics Amplifier software or Alienware Command Center is not available on your computer, you can download and install it from the support website. But this just says download and install the AWCC application. In the absence of any clarification, implicit is that when installing the AWCC, it automatically gets the extra resources for the AGA. Support for Alienware Area-51m R2 Drivers & Downloads currently provides Alienware Command Center Application Version 5.3.2.0 <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>. If already installed, running the installer again will offer Repair. If not installed, remove the old version using Revo Uninstaller Free's advanced scan mode, when uninstall successful window appears, Restart (not Shut Down). Connect AGA and then download and install the AWCC update and wait for the AWCC application to get its resources, which should include the peripheral AGA resource. 

Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you. 

Hi, right, I've completely removed everything alienware from my laptop the reinstalled it, still no aga in acc however the graphics card shows up in device manager and the aga fires up with the laptop, just the alien head dosen't light up, when I run unigine benchmark program both the internal 2070 super and the 2080ti in the aga show up, not sure if both cards are being used at once but my score on extreme is 8768 with high fps 89, when I use only the internal 2070 super I get a score of 5274 and fps 50.

Hi @Pgraham93  thank you for sharing update. 

Please check that the most recent BIOS version is installed. At splash screen press and hold down F2 key so that BIOS menu opens. Look for eGPU (or AGA PCIe support, etc.) listing and enable hot plug and play options. Please share image of the BIOS eGPU options (remember to remove any private Service Tag and/or Express Service Code information). 

Hopefully Dell has included these options in the Area-51m R2 BIOS. 

Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you. 

Hi crimson,

I can't find those options in bios.

Thanks for your help

Hi @DELL-Chris M  within your Dell Community interactions, where is the Dell Support for Alienware Graphics Amplifier webpage. My internet search did not find this webpage, but did find an AGA User’s Guide. Dell has discontinued supporting their eGPU Alienware Graphics Amplifier, but new and used are still being sold. Any help appreciated. Thank you. 

Did find Alienware Graphics Amplifier VR Support FAQ | Dell US , but Area-51m R2 is not included within Supported Systems list. There is no link to Dell Support for Alienware Graphics Amplifier webpage, or YouTube, Alienware Support: How to install Alienware Graphics Amplifier. 

Hi crimson, 

 Yes that's worked, the alien head light is on. I can't control the fans or gpu though, unless use msi afterburner 

Hi @Pgraham93  thank you for sharing update. The Dell AWCC application should include eGPU Alienware Graphics Amplifier settings within AWCC Fusion. Guess that this is another problem for Dell Technical Support to work on. There are now Thunderbolt 4 eGPU enclosures, see Area-51m R2 BIOS menu images, and the AWCC is still not being supported. 

AGA (Alienware Graphics Amplifier) FAQ - Dell Community  AGA User's Guide

YouTube - How to setup the AGA?  is a Private video. 

I've been having a nightmare with AWCC, I've installed and reinstalled it that many times as nothing is working, my alienware mouse has now disappeared from it, support assist won't

Hi @Pgraham93 thank you for sharing update. 

The Dell AWCC application is not stand-alone and Window 10 x64 updates are known to interfere with its function. Dell Technical Support should work on making their flagship application stand-alone, or at the very least get it to automatically fix its inability to coexist with Window 10 x64 updates. 

Please install Visual C++ Runtime solution. Solved: m15 R3, AWCC, stuck on loading - Dell Community 

Your Alienware Mouse settings should be manually installed into the AWCC again.

SupportAssist should never be used to install any updates. Use Drivers & Downloads "Let Dell automatically find driver updates for you" [Check for Updates], or manually download and install Run as administrator. 

Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you.