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Go to SolutionArea-51m R2, AGA not working
Hi,
Does anybody know if the AGA (Alienware Graphics Amplifier) works on the Area-51m R2 laptop screen? I’ve just purchased the AGA and a 2080 Ti graphics card. I’ve powered it up the AGA lights up, the graphics card lights up, it shows in device manager as fully up to date with current drivers. But when I try to play a game only the CPU works. Also it doesn't show in the Alienware Command Center. Am I doing something wrong? Or do I need an external monitor?
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Posted July 20th, 2021 17:00
System Power Supply
Minimum 650 W or greater system power supply with one 6-pin and one 8-pin
PCI Express supplementary power connectors.I read the minimum specs @crimsom and it said 650W minimum because its part of a Full system and not an External Graphics box which is only the GPU inside of it. so combined with the maximum amount of power for each connector: 75W from PCIe Slot Power + 75W from 6 Pin PCIe Cable + 150W from 8 Pin PCIe Cable = 300W Maximum and that seems like enough unless the GPU needs 2 8 pins which would mean 375W of power or even 3 8 pins which would be 525W of Power if the PSU even had that many 8 Pin cables.
What I meant to say was that The PSU in the AGA is perfectly fine for the 2080Ti but feel free to upgrade if needed.
*NOTE: I am NOT a Dell employee, But I am a Community Rockstar*Quick Tip: If your laptop has voltage / charging issues, try shutting it down, unplugging power from laptop, hold power button down for 30 seconds to do a full reset!
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Posted July 15th, 2021 15:00
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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]3380
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Posted July 15th, 2021 23:00
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
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Posted July 16th, 2021 01:00
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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]3337
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Posted July 18th, 2021 13:00
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.
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Posted July 18th, 2021 15:00
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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]3308
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Posted July 19th, 2021 03:00
Hi crimson,
I can't find those options in bios.
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Posted July 19th, 2021 10:00
Thanks for your help
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Posted July 19th, 2021 10:00
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.
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crimsom
9 Technologist
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6114 Posts
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Posted July 19th, 2021 08:00
Hi @Pgraham93 thank you for sharing images of your BIOS. Seemingly this BIOS does not have external graphics port settings for the Alienware Graphics Amplifier (AGA).
Setting up your AGA should get your AlienHead/docking status light to turn on. The following box contains the Setting Up extract from the AGA User’s Guide.
Computer is Turned On
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2 Connect the graphics cable from the Alienware Graphics Amplifier to the external graphics port on your computer.
NOTE: For the location of the external graphics port, see the documentation that shipped with your computer.
The AlienHead logo on the Alienware Graphics Amplifier lights up and a dialog box appears on the computer asking you to restart the computer.
NOTE: The AlienHead/docking status light will not turn on if you are connecting the graphics cable for the first time.
Enable the docking status light using AlienFX in the Alienware Command Center.
3 Click YES to restart the computer.
NOTE: The light on the graphics cable turns on after the computer restarts.
Can you Enable the AGA the docking status light within the AWCC FX tab?
Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]