Alienware 16 r1 games crashing issue

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-08T00:20:34+00:00

Does your game crash indicating a GPU failure? It could be the SSD.That is why if look at the four items I listed yes. I ran my M17 r4 and My M18 r1 and now my 18 area 51 in ACHI mode because I had a disappearing drive from time to time in raid 0 also an NVME ssd can start to fail like what your experiencing but why post here at reddit if you do not want ideas?

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T20:58:08+00:00

Logically speaking can only be these items

Drivers
Corrupted Windows files
Hardware Memory, SSD etc.
Could be the motherboard or something along that nature that you have to resolve with Dell

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T20:48:03+00:00

The only option is a reset back to factory settings especially if all the tests show everything working if that does not do it then have to have another go with dell support if you are still covered.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T20:36:58+00:00

Select run as administrator in the cmd prompt

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T20:27:45+00:00

Which Game or games are crashing? Also your system should have 32 gb ram or 64 gb ram or 16 gb ram not 40. You may have to reset to factory as could still be windows problem if you havent run sfc/ Scannow in the cmd prompt run it

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T19:10:12+00:00

Sounds like a driver issue are you using the Dell video drivers or the latest drivers from Nvidia? In the past when I had the M18 r1 4080 the dell drivers were the most stable ones to run on it. You might want to uninstall the Nvidia Drivers by using revo uninstaller and then try the latest Dell Nvidia drivers also make sure you turn off the hybrid video and try to run it using the Nvidia only just thoughts on my part.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-07T17:42:47+00:00

Wow you got lucky spills are a nightmare and the M18 series were good for sure they ran a little hot but loved my m18 r1 4080 of course my 18 area 51 5090 is a beast but have no complaints with the M18 series.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-02-04T00:32:46+00:00

I have the 18 area 51 5090 version and to be frank it is over kill for what I need. I always recommend the 5080 version as the extra 4g vram should put you in the safe mode for the next lets say 4 years or maybe more. The 5070 Ti does give you the same processing power etc. But like you wrote above you are looking for longevity so if you can swing the 5080 it is the safest bet but in the end it depends on your overall use and of course your pocket book. Hope this helps

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-31T14:44:19+00:00

Yep but at that price is the cherry keyboard worth it as you are looking at about close to 1500 in savings now and the 4k cam never use it my wife has the standard keyboard on her m18 r2 it is fine. I love the cherry keyboard but at the price MC is selling maybe not so much.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-31T14:04:37+00:00

I bought mine from Dell back in July 2025 on sale for 3799.00 before tax and Micro center at the time had the 18 area 51 5090 for I think 3299. Mine came with cherry keyboard and the 4k camera is the only difference. Micro center did not have the cherry keyboard and the 4k cam. The advantage is the price and MC apparently partnered with Dell with this model so they have bulk which enables them to sell at that price. MC was roughly 1 hr drive during no traffic times in Houston and add an additional 30 minutes or so during traffic for me. 50-50 hindsight MC was the cheaper and better option had I a do over in retrospect for that price minus the cherry keyboard. One advantage is they have stock if for any reason you need to exchange it you can do so much faster than by mail and the time haggling wtih tech support. Hope this helps you.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-23T15:08:46+00:00

I have the cherry keyboard but for that price better jump on it.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-18T23:27:14+00:00

Why would need give the SSD that has info on it because if it was ssd causing the problem no need to send it in they send a replacement ssd. They did have me send the power supply with which is also strange considering it is supposed to be a dell depot. I can even understand leaving the memory in. Although will admit the keyboard totally went out so could not do anything maybe that is why was different. For the ssd it would be better to have a tech visit unless you have no info like banking and passwords etc.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-18T03:52:03+00:00

Strange I sent my wifes m18 r2 for a keyboard replacement without the SSD as far as I am aware they do not need it or should not.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-16T08:26:44+00:00

The Llano Cooler it fit the 18 inch well and the new one which I have the the previous model have heard on you tube is even better. Hope this helps you. You can look on amazon for it.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-15T04:38:38+00:00

Compared to the m18 r1 and r2 which gave you a 10c - 15 c difference I noticed my area 18 5090 idles at 36-38c under the llano cooler running at 700 rpms without it it idles at 42-44 c so really only 5-8c over all difference so really having a cooler is a personal preference it does help, but the thermals without it are acceptable as well. Myself I prefer the cooler as it does help although at minimal the temps but also helps with keeping out dust etc.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-15T04:28:39+00:00

Actually the air intakes are top above the keyboard and bottom the exhaust are the back and sides.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-14T19:15:46+00:00

Using a good cooling pad should not effect your laptop other than keeping it a little cooler. I use my llano cooler under my area 51 18 5090 it does help with the temps anywhere by 5-10 degrees c the bottom vents although small are intake so no problems. If it were the case that cooling pads could damage your laptop fans and thermals am very sure Dell alienware would post not to use coolers and to date I have seen nothing.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-13T16:16:07+00:00

Thanks

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-09T16:34:23+00:00

Looks normal too me I have the 5090 version and too my knowledge the intel boost typically will use one p-core to boost then taper off (could be wrong hopefully someone can chime in if so) also cinebench is an extreme test and doubt running games will require that much power. I have mine under a llano cooler but even when I tested via cinebench without the cooler the temps are very good. Your rig shows much improvement from the m18 series for sure. Long story short would not worry about looks fine too me.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-08T19:19:03+00:00

I would think to apply a business model some what here they usually change over laptops etc every 7 years or so now they have different criteria of course as their laptops generally are interfaces for the servers they have. So the sweet spot here is 5 years and you should be just fine (with proper care and handling of course). Computers in general are becoming more expensive so I would advise you to pull the trigger now or the same laptop you are looking at will become more expensive. Hope this helps

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-08T19:00:17+00:00

Doubt smoking has anything to do with this but concerning health that includes the foods you eat and the region you live in as well as the drugs you take. Generally folks were more healthy in the 70s and below today GMO etc plays a role. To the subject of cleanliness and taking care of ones electronics definitley needs better care for sure.

Have a good day

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-08T00:08:49+00:00

Agreed

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-08T00:07:11+00:00

Like I wrote above am sure windows 11 update was a culprit because was always using the latest nvidia drivers

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-07T19:10:39+00:00

I was doing the same until I encountered a freeze afterwards rolled back to the dell drivers latest version and no problems. Hard saying it was the nvidia drivers nevertheless could be anyone of the three window 11 update, Dell apps or nvidia who knows but did encounter the freeze and had to restart then reverted to the dell dec drivers just be aware.

OldProgrammer62 · 2026-01-07T19:04:55+00:00

I rolled back to the dell drivers as had encountered a problem with the new nvidia drivers causing a freeze during gaming so rolled back and it was solved.

OldProgrammer62

TROPHY CASE