What they don't tell you about Gaming Laptops

Manufacturers of Gaming Laptops love to talk up their specs and capabilities to try and give the impression of desktop matching performance. But despite the impressive numbers, in the real world the experience can be quite different.

In today's video, I take you through the reasons why I'm returning my recently purchased Alienware M15 R2, and some very important things to be aware of before purchasing any "gaming laptop".

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#alienware #gaminglaptop #thermalthrottling

[boostedmedia]

TIME STAMPS:
Intro: 0:00
My DELL Customer Support Experience: 1:45
Issues specific to this particular laptop: 3:42
Issues with Gaming Laptops in general: 5:09

Also note: I recorded this video a few weeks ago while I still had the laptop, but didn't want to release it until I had received my refund. Unfortunately, the process didn't go well. It took 2 weeks for Dell to collect the machine, then a further 2 weeks of broken communication to get the refund for a total of just over a month between when I organized the refund and actually received it.

[charly]

I have to say that I disagree with this video.


- Open an alienware laptop won't avoid the warranty as it is (sort of) said in the video
- Yes i9 will throttle in any thin & light laptop, and it is normal. It is not "marketing lie" from Intel. They never said "Look our new i9 max-q, specially made for 20mm thin notebooks !" i9 Are made for thick laptop... and if you put it into a macbook, what can they say ? If you buy me a 800hp car to do 50mph I will still be happy to sell it to you.
- Gaming laptop ARE doing desktop-grade performance... in g.a.m.i.n.g. they are not "ruin-me-with-virtual-test" laptop. Why no one show bad frame rate while throttle ? Because they are still great, and that is what matters. Yes if you push it with 4k rendering or whatever it will be slower, but it's not what it's made for.
- Why i9 then ? 1) it's an option 2) people like to get the best. Who really use all the power of his iphone ? very few. They just like to buy the best and that's okay.

[junitoortega]

I have an Acer Predator Helios 300 with an RTX2060 running a full laptop to desktop and couldn't be happier. It just takes everything I throw at it like a champ even VR. I got it on a sale for 1200$. Once I fire up any heavy task it sounds like a jet engine because of the huge outlet fans but I don't mind because I rather have a noisy cool PC than a Hot quiet one. The problem is manufacturers try to keep the noise down at the cost of performance. In my opinion the sweet spot for laptops is that budget to mid-range area. At the higher end you are better off building a desktop that will blow any laptop out of the water on performance. Great discussion as always!

[Harley_ashtonn]

Heat
Tips
Lower your voltage helped me a lot
I have a m17 with a gtx2070q max etc
Gotmy temps from 100 c to max at 75-80c

[FredEricS-Moto]

True, a desktop is far more efficient than a laptop. I've had an Alienware 15 R1 for 5 years now and still very happy. Yeah, the Core i7 never reaches it top clock speed of 3.6 Ghz and it gets up to around 80°c under load, but the GPU never goes over 75°c and I can reliably play any game I throw at it (that being said, I don't play stuff like PUBG, COD, BF where high detail and every frame counts...). I know I could get far more out a similarly specced desktop, but I love and need the mobility as I often stay in hotels around the globe for work. I think you just have to be clear on what your preference is - do you need max performance of every component? Don't get a gaming laptop, get a desktop. Need the mobility? Maybe look at a desktop replacement system (i.e. Area 51M). If you don't need max performance but want/need the mobility and more power than a normal business laptop, get a gaming laptop. And as you said, do your research before you invest.

[CaptainCrunch]

I researched for 6 months and decided on a configured laptop due to space restrictions, and was able to select an i7-8750H, 1070 gpu, 16gb ram, with Throttle stop running and FPS uncapped with g-sync and a 144 Hz monitor on a display port. I can run any SIM without issues, but custom display settings is a must with each SUM to keep the thing under 80c.

[pandaninja]

This is so interesting cos I see other videos where command centre works perfectly fine and undervaulting reduces temps by a good 10-15 degrees. It's clear there is a ton of variation in each unit which is unfortunate because it seems that th good units work pretty well

[magicfingers]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video, some pretty good points touched on. Shame this machine had so many problems out of the box! I have the exact same model and everything has worked just fine. Good luck in future 🤙

[ThatBeTheQuestion]

Just FYI, I've heard the Dell XPSs are pretty good. My friend has a slightly older one and it's done him quite well. I believe Linus gives them high praise, too.

[ivankabanets]

I just got myself MsI gs75 with i7 9750h and it was super hot out box and I was hitting 90-95 C on it but then I downloaded trottlestop and undervolt by 145 mvt and lowered frequency to 3.8 ghz and I can tell you that’s help me a lot cpu temperature lowered at 70-75 and no issues on cooling side, I lowered my fans noise quite a lot and performance got lowered from factory settings by 2 % so honestly if you wanna get a gaming laptop be ready that your laptop gonna get high temperature at the bottom of it when you gaming or doing some heavy load apps but u can definitely avoid thermal throttle by lowering your boost frequency and undervolting and you barely gonna notices any real work difference, also if you just want to get yourself ultra book with low fan noise and respectful performance get LG Gram

[MrSculptedzoo]

I bought a Alienware 17r2 max specs for the same reason as you in 2017. I’ve had to send it back to Dell every 3-6 months for repairs & replacements ever since. I’ve tried to reason with the people they’ve always been helpful, but drop the ball each time with my case and I have to re explain everything each call. I’m currently trying to get it repaired again but motherboards on back order so I’m out of my work horse. Told them I need a computer it’s been 3 weeks in the making of either getting new parts or a new computer. Neither are working. Thanks for this amazing video I feel I will go desktop next round.

[dustinp]

I feel like your expectations for what you had inside the machine we unrealistic. maybe they shouldn't allow an i9 as an option but it seems like all the issues stemmed from that and overheating. Would be interesting to have you do a review on i7 inside

[James-wcmt]

Can you look into the new Alienware m17 r3? I'd really like to know if it's any better.

[floofiegaming]

I think I’ll buy an Alienware for the unboxing experience my fav part of the whole thing haha 😂

[nate]

So important to help new people getting into this. Thanks.

[ZackD]

thats why you dont put an i9 an a 20mm laptop, they have laptops made for that cpu and are 2-3x thickness, although, putting higher quality paste and undervolted should help

[XtreamStealth]

Hi Will, Sorry things didn't go as planned. This is what happens most of the time when a big corporation buys up their competition. Dell/Alienware, Ford/Jag, not a positive. On the other hand Dodge/Mercedes, that was very positive. (plug for my Challenger) LOL. I have a friends Alienware here right now that I'm fixing. It is also Dell/Alienware just after Dell took over. Being top tear, he also had problems with overheating. I'm the third person to fix it and because the owner trusts me, he gave me free rain to do what needed to be done. So he will get a new motherboard and two new GPUs, but when he gets it back the overheating will be a thing of the past. I'm watercooling both GPUS and the CPU using a custom made external cooling system that will plug into the back of the laptop. Doing away with the heat pipes and cooling fins opened up a lot of space and now three internal fans can move a lot of air across the internals. Wish me luck. Honestly, I don't see the point of using a laptop to game. But then I'm a bigger is better kind of guy. P.S. we need to do some racing soon,

[theanimeotaku]

It’s just the way Alienware designed the cooling solution it’s just not enough to keep it stable unless you undervolt and change the thermal paste which is what I do and it helps but the main thing I hate is the battery isn’t big enough to power the laptop for gaming on the go

[yannisr]

Great video. Thank you very much for sharing this and saving people's hard earned money. You got a new subscriber and I shared your channel with my friends.

[Dirtytechnique]

I ran iracing for 3 years on a lenovo y700. Only bottle neck was the gpu. My wife now had a really good laptop and im back to my new desktop.