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expired Posted by Grumblez • Jul 1, 2021
expired Posted by Grumblez • Jul 1, 2021

Alienware M15 R5 Laptop: Ryzen R7 5800H, 16GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, RTX 3060

w/ Dell Preferred Account Financing + Free S/H + 2.5% SD Cashback

$1,180

$1,600

26% off
Dell Technologies
220 Comments 97,968 Views
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Deal Details
Dell Home & Office has Alienware M15 Ryzen Edition R5 Laptop on sale for $1179.99 when you checkout with Dell Preferred Account as your method of payment. Additionally, earn 2.5% in Slickdeals Cashback before purchase when you follow the cashback instructions below (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member Grumblez for finding this deal.

Note: You must select "Financing" as your payment method in Checkout. Discounted pricing will be reflected on the Verify & Submit page, where you may confirm your order.

Specs:
  • AMD Ryzen R7 5800H 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor
  • 15.6" 1920x1080 165Hz 3ms with ComfortView Plus Display
  • 16GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
  • 256GB PCIe M.2 Solid State Drive
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 Video Card
  • Color: Dark Side of the Moon with High Endurance Clear Coat and Silky Smooth Finish
  • Mechanical Backlit Keyboard
  • Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 802.11ax 2x2 Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.2
  • Windows 10-Home 64-Bit (Free upgrade to Windows 11 when available)
  • Ports
    • 3x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
    • 1x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
    • 1x HDMI 2.1
  • Weight: 5.93 lbs
  • 6-Cell 86WHr Battery

Editor's Notes

Written by slickdewmaster | Staff
  • About this deal:
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details & discussion. -StrawMan86

Original Post

Written by Grumblez
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Dell Home & Office has Alienware M15 Ryzen Edition R5 Laptop on sale for $1179.99 when you checkout with Dell Preferred Account as your method of payment. Additionally, earn 2.5% in Slickdeals Cashback before purchase when you follow the cashback instructions below (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member Grumblez for finding this deal.

Note: You must select "Financing" as your payment method in Checkout. Discounted pricing will be reflected on the Verify & Submit page, where you may confirm your order.

Specs:
  • AMD Ryzen R7 5800H 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor
  • 15.6" 1920x1080 165Hz 3ms with ComfortView Plus Display
  • 16GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
  • 256GB PCIe M.2 Solid State Drive
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 Video Card
  • Color: Dark Side of the Moon with High Endurance Clear Coat and Silky Smooth Finish
  • Mechanical Backlit Keyboard
  • Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 802.11ax 2x2 Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.2
  • Windows 10-Home 64-Bit (Free upgrade to Windows 11 when available)
  • Ports
    • 3x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
    • 1x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
    • 1x HDMI 2.1
  • Weight: 5.93 lbs
  • 6-Cell 86WHr Battery

Editor's Notes

Written by slickdewmaster | Staff
  • About this deal:
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details & discussion. -StrawMan86

Original Post

Written by Grumblez

Community Voting

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Top Comments

jonjonk
152 Posts
41 Reputation
this is actually a incredible deal. Almost as good of a deal as the walmart legion 5 pro. You can easily just add another HDD stick, and have the 256 drive act as the OS drive.

edit: only thing you need to keep in mind with the m15r5 is the build quality and ease of access for repasting. The mobo is upside down, so it is incredibly difficult to repaste the cpu, as you will need to take the mobo out to repaste.

edit 2: this is a better deal than the legion 5 pro base model 2060 and 2tb of storage on Lenovo's official website for $1500. You can use the $321 difference to easily upgrade your HDD to 2TB and still have money left over.
Solandri
1311 Posts
1752 Reputation
The need for a MUX switch is actually pretty niche. Nvidia Optimus (dual Nvidia + Intel GPU) work by having the Intel graphics in control of the screen 100% of the time. The Nvidia GPU acts as a co-processor. When you run a game which you assign to use the Nvidia instead of Intel GPU, it draws a frame on the Nvidia GPU, then passes that completed frame to the Intel graphics for display. The Intel graphics always handles the screen drawing. That's how Optimus is able to run multiple programs simultaneously, some using the Intel and others using the Nvidia GPUs. You get the low-power consumption of the Intel graphics all the time, with the higher power consumption of the Nvidia GPU only when a program needs it. 99% of users will be fine running this way.

Having the Intel GPU always in control of the screen has two drawbacks.

V-sync is essentially always on. The Nvidia GPU's draw buffer essentially acts like a v-sync buffer, with completed frames passed to the Intel GPU for display. This adds a small amount of lag, and reduces framerate slightly, but eliminates tearing, just like v-sync. They may have tweaked this slightly when Intel added variable framerate support.
Certain old and poorly-coded newer games assume your computer only has one GPU. It searches your hardware for a GPU, and stops searching when it finds the first one. This will be the Intel graphics since it's connected to the screen. These games cannot use the Nvidia GPU at all because of the way they're coded.
Older Intel graphics couldn't handle some of the higher resolutions, higher framerates, nor adaptive framerates like Freesync like Nvidia and AMD GPUs could. This is pretty much a non-issue with modern Intel graphics, so I've struck it off the list.


A MUX switch lets you disable the Intel graphics, putting the Nvidia GPU in control of the screen. The Nvidia GPU ends up running 100% of the time so you get higher power consumption. But it gives you back the ability to turn v-sync off (at the cost of tearing), giving you a slight fps boost and less lag. And it will allow those old/poorly-coded games to use the Nvidia GPU, since there is no longer an Intel GPU for them to find. If you're not a gamer who demands absolute max fps (in which case you probably shouldn't be using a laptop), and you don't play some of these obscure games which can't run on a second GPU, you won't care about a MUX switch since you will be fine with the Intel graphics controlling the screen all the time.

In lieu of a MUX switch, many gaming laptop makers connect the Intel graphics to the screen, but the Nvidia GPU to the video out port (usually HDMI or Displayport). So if you're in the 99% who are OK with Intel drawing the screen and the laptop doesn't have a MUX switch, you may still have the capability to use the Nvidia GPU directly. If you should find yourself wanting to play without v-sync one evening, or you run across an obscure game which can't use a second GPU, you can still do those things. You just need to play on an external monitor, instead of flipping a MUX switch and rebooting to play on the laptop screen.

The AMD GPU + Intel graphics ran the same way on the laptop I played around with 5 years ago. In fact that's where I first noticed a certain game would only run on the Intel GPU. I incorrectly blamed it on the AMD GPU, before trying the game on an Nvidia + Intel graphics laptop and having the same problem. I haven't had a chance to play with a newer Ryzen laptop with dedicated AMD GPU (haven't run across one). But I assume they're set up the same way.
JosephJ3521
139 Posts
77 Reputation
Repasting a brand new machine is a waste of time. Unless it wasn't applied correctly during manufacturing, changing to a "better" thermal paste isn't going to make any significant difference in operating temperatures.

219 Comments

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Jul 1, 2021
135 Posts
Joined Feb 2021
Jul 1, 2021
Debuki
Jul 1, 2021
135 Posts
Thx op.
Jul 1, 2021
152 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Jul 1, 2021
jonjonk
Jul 1, 2021
152 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jonjonk

this is actually a incredible deal. Almost as good of a deal as the walmart legion 5 pro. You can easily just add another HDD stick, and have the 256 drive act as the OS drive.

edit: only thing you need to keep in mind with the m15r5 is the build quality and ease of access for repasting. The mobo is upside down, so it is incredibly difficult to repaste the cpu, as you will need to take the mobo out to repaste.

edit 2: this is a better deal than the legion 5 pro base model 2060 and 2tb of storage on Lenovo's official website for $1500. You can use the $321 difference to easily upgrade your HDD to 2TB and still have money left over.
Last edited by jonjonk July 1, 2021 at 03:58 AM.
3
3
Jul 1, 2021
1,679 Posts
Joined Apr 2014
Jul 1, 2021
CodeChimp
Jul 1, 2021
1,679 Posts
Quote from jonjonk :
this is actually a incredible deal. Almost as good of a deal as the walmart legion 5 pro. You can easily just add another HDD stick, and have the 256 drive act as the OS drive.

edit: only thing you need to keep in mind with the m15r5 is the build quality and ease of access for repasting. The mobo is upside down, so it is incredibly difficult to repaste the cpu, as you will need to take the mobo out to repaste.
Do you need to repaste the CPU? Is there like an issue w/ it, or are you referring to 5-10yrs down the line?
Jul 1, 2021
152 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Jul 1, 2021
jonjonk
Jul 1, 2021
152 Posts
Quote from CodeChimp :
Do you need to repaste the CPU? Is there like an issue w/ it, or are you referring to 5-10yrs down the line?
the Alienware m15r5 is known for running a little on the hot side, especially the 3070 version. Multiple reviews have pointed out that it runs north of 100C at max load. Along with undervolting, proper repasting is the best thing that can be done to lower temperatures. However, if you decide to use this laptop for 3-4 years before upgrading, chances are slim that the machine will fail due to heat.
Jul 1, 2021
48 Posts
Joined Feb 2019
Jul 1, 2021
.Alive.
Jul 1, 2021
48 Posts
It doesn't have mux, so it's a pass for me
2
Jul 1, 2021
862 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
Jul 1, 2021
lip008
Jul 1, 2021
862 Posts
Quote from Mohammad-JavadA :
It doesn't have mux, so it's a pass for me
I never realized this was such an issue. The fact that you need to use an external monitor to used the dedicated GPU seems like a failed product. That is what the lack of mux is, correct?
1
Jul 1, 2021
139 Posts
Joined May 2014
Jul 1, 2021
JosephJ3521
Jul 1, 2021
139 Posts
Repasting a brand new machine is a waste of time. Unless it wasn't applied correctly during manufacturing, changing to a "better" thermal paste isn't going to make any significant difference in operating temperatures.
2

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Jul 1, 2021
48 Posts
Joined Feb 2019
Jul 1, 2021
.Alive.
Jul 1, 2021
48 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank .Alive.

Quote from lip008 :
I never realized this was such an issue. The fact that you need to use an external monitor to used the dedicated GPU seems like a failed product. That is what the lack of mux is, correct?
No it's not like that! The dedicated GPU is used even without external monitor. That would be a failed product like you have said! but because integrated GPU is being also utilized for reducing power consumption and dedicated GPU is not directly connected to screen there is something like 5~10% drop in performance in games.

BUT! In my case which I want to use very power hungry engineering softwares there is a chance that these softwares can't use the dedicated GPU at all if it doesn't have mux and only has regular optimus! because I read in their guide that the laptop should not have optimus otherwise the GPU can not be utilized. Of course those softwares run better on quadro GPUs but those laptops are very expensive and can't game. This way I think I can cover both grounds. Big Grin
1
2
Jul 1, 2021
2,508 Posts
Joined Apr 2021
Jul 1, 2021
PowerfulClub4936
Jul 1, 2021
2,508 Posts
I see it for $1299. I signed in with rewards - is it over?
Last edited by PowerfulClub4936 July 1, 2021 at 07:37 AM.
Jul 1, 2021
1,750 Posts
Joined Feb 2021
Jul 1, 2021
FuschiaScene411
Jul 1, 2021
1,750 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank FuschiaScene411

Quote from lip008 :
I never realized this was such an issue. The fact that you need to use an external monitor to used the dedicated GPU seems like a failed product. That is what the lack of mux is, correct?
No, a MUX is a switcher between the iGPU and the dGPU. The conventional, aka cheaper, way of doing this is to route the dGPU graphics through the iGPU. This increases latency and decreases performance.

By adding a MUX, you directly connect the dGPU's signal out to the screen and remove the is latency. You will have higher FPS and performance from an otherwise identical laptop if you add a MUX
Last edited by FuschiaScene411 July 1, 2021 at 08:03 AM.
2
Original Poster
Jul 1, 2021
11 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
Jul 1, 2021
Grumblez
Original Poster
Jul 1, 2021
11 Posts
Quote from PowerfulClub4936 :
I see it for $1299. I signed in with rewards - is it over?
IT starts at 11am Eastern Time
Jul 1, 2021
2,545 Posts
Joined Apr 2007
Jul 1, 2021
MPohio
Jul 1, 2021
2,545 Posts
Quote from PowerfulClub4936 :
I see it for $1299. I signed in with rewards - is it over?

As posted in the original post "Will be on sale tomorrow on dells website. " Wink
Jul 1, 2021
572 Posts
Joined Feb 2019
Jul 1, 2021
LazySurfer420
Jul 1, 2021
572 Posts
Still showing $1299 for me. I have logged into my rewards account.
I also applied for Dell financing, but did not get a account number. How long does it take?
1
3
Jul 1, 2021
2,508 Posts
Joined Apr 2021
Jul 1, 2021
PowerfulClub4936
Jul 1, 2021
2,508 Posts
Quote from Grumblez :
IT starts at 11am Eastern Time
Thanks.

Is it up, because I'm not seeing it?

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Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
Jul 1, 2021
10,837 Posts
Joined Jun 2012
Jul 1, 2021
StrawMan86
Jul 1, 2021
Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
10,837 Posts
Quote from PowerfulClub4936 :
Thanks.

Is it up, because I'm not seeing it?

Per the picture in the OP, starts 11am ET on 7/2

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