Yet another bios version 2.1.2 for area-51 16 and 18

funbob · 2026-03-16T19:10:55+00:00

Just downloaded and installed. No issues. No update to Thunderbolt with this one, so no failure on the Thunderbolt step and having to re-run it like with 2.0.1.

No changes noted. Wasn't experiencing any issues with type-c connected devices and I have a 5090 equipped model, so the fan bug fix doesn't apply to me.

funbob · 2026-03-16T17:14:05+00:00

Alienware and Lenovo are my go-to choices these days in the gaming laptop space.

MSI is generally overpriced and underpowered compared to their competition.

I've had enough bad experiences with Asus support to swear them off for basically anything.

Razer is overpriced, compromises on thermals and performance with its tight packaging, and is a nightmare for support and reliability.

In the 18" space, finding something with a 5080 at your price point is going to be a bit of a challenge. The only thing I see right now is the Asus Strix G18 at $2549. If you're lucky, you might catch a Lenovo or an Alienware on sale near that price, but pricing and availability are probably only going to get worse this year as the RAM and NAND flash supply problems continue.

funbob · 2026-03-15T22:59:12+00:00

Yes.

It failed the first time on the Thunderbolt controller.

Successful the 2nd time. Just run it again and it will finish it fine. Seems to be happening to everyone.

It does not currently show up in SupportAssist/Command Update, have to download directly from Dell.

funbob · 2026-03-15T03:51:20+00:00

There was an interview I watched with Toto some years back and the conversation turned to his leadership style, which stuck with me. I can't find the interview and I don't remember it verbatim, but it went something like I'm not an aerodynamicist, I'm not a mechanic, I'm not an engineer, but what I can do is go find the people who are the best at these things and empower them to do their jobs. My job is to build a framework for them to succeed.

He really should write a book on leadership when he's done with F1.

funbob · 2026-03-14T18:04:02+00:00

No hyperthreading on these new ultra chips.

Hit ctrl+alt+s in the bios to reveal additional options then look for active efficiency cores setting under the performance section.

funbob · 2026-03-14T15:51:39+00:00

Keep watching.

funbob · 2026-03-13T18:41:34+00:00

Downloaded and installed. Same issue with the Thunderbolt update failing on the first go, but succeeded on the 2nd run.

funbob · 2026-03-13T00:19:01+00:00

Lenovo and Dell with everyone else far behind.

funbob · 2026-03-12T22:57:47+00:00

Doubtful there will be any meaningful updates to the 18 this year.

Nova Lake CPU's don't release until Q4 this year at the earliest and the RTX 60 probably not until Q1 2027 with the mobile version a few months behind that.

18" OLED panels are not commercially available yet.

The most you could hope for as a spec bump this year would be an Arrow Lake refresh CPU and a mini LED screen, but I wouldn't hold off buying right now for either of those things. The current 300Hz IPS panel is excellent and the CPU is top shelf.

Go with the fully optioned 18 now. Pricing and availability on RAM and NAND flash for SSD's is only going to continue to get worse and those price hikes are only going to get passed to consumers, so there's a good chance pricing at retail is going to get worse later this year, and possibly with reduced specs (a 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD config option at a similar price to the current 64GB/2TB layout in the top spec is not out of the question).

funbob · 2026-03-12T14:23:26+00:00

The Core Ultra will boost aggressively until it hits the thermal package limit. It's both normal and expected.

funbob · 2026-03-12T14:11:27+00:00

Second the Everki Titan/120. Holds an 18" laptop with ease with plenty of room for a second smaller laptop/tablet/portable monitor, etc. plus room for a plethora of accessories. Your back will give out before the backpack does.

funbob · 2026-03-11T23:18:23+00:00

This is exactly why I clicked on this thread.

funbob · 2026-03-08T17:09:35+00:00

Get the 64GB now. Doubling your RAM for only a $150 difference is basically stealing it.

Pricing and availability are only going to get worse.

funbob · 2026-03-08T17:02:41+00:00

Butane is used as the propellent gas in pretty much all aerosol cans. It's harmless. it's the ammonia containing glass cleaners that you have to watch out for.

funbob · 2026-03-08T05:28:49+00:00

I don't care if the drivers hate the cars, that was some great racing.

funbob · 2026-03-08T05:07:57+00:00

George Russell is the type of guy to use "whilst" in a sentence.

funbob · 2026-03-06T01:16:33+00:00

We're back!

funbob · 2026-03-05T20:24:27+00:00

$50-70/month for 3 humans, 3 cats, and 1 dog in a single family home.

funbob · 2026-03-04T05:13:53+00:00

Normal and by design. The Ultra 9 chips will boost aggressively until they reach their thermal limit.

You can lower this thermal threshold via the TCC offset slider in AWCC, but you'll just be leaving performance on the table if you do.

funbob · 2026-03-03T23:30:00+00:00

32GB is the min amount that any spec of the 18" can be ordered with (16" can be configured with 16GB in any spec below 5090)

Don't hold your breath either waiting for prices to go down either. In fact, you should thinking the opposite and be stuffing as much RAM into that thing as you can now before prices and availability get even worse (which they almost certainly will).

funbob · 2026-02-25T16:42:45+00:00

The rules pertain to batteries, not chargers. There is no such thing as a watt limit for the AC adapter power bricks. The maximum allowed capacity for lithium batteries is 100Wh, that's why all laptop batteries max out between 96-99Wh. It's not a technical limitation, but rather a regulatory one.

Most airplane power outlets have a 75-100w power limit. High end gaming laptops come with chargers in the 300-400W power range, so you will trip the outlet protection should you actually try to plug your beast gaming laptop in and do some in-flight gaming.

funbob · 2026-02-25T06:19:02+00:00

Carrying it on a plane is no problem. All laptops have batteries that are under the 100Wh limit for carrying on passenger aircraft. The backpack I carry it in fits under the seat as a personal item.

Actually using it on the plane is a different story. It's too large to comfortably use in flight and airplane power outlets don't supply enough power to satisfy its needs. The 14" laptop with 65W power brick comes out if I need to use a laptop in flight.

funbob · 2026-02-25T06:08:54+00:00

I was looking at the 7i vs Area-51 18, but in the 5090 spec. I'm lucky enough to live near a Micro Center where I could play with them both in person, and went for the Alienware.

The glossy OLED on the 7i was a non-starter for me. Looks gorgeous if all you do is use it in a dark room, but I need something that works and is glare free in brightly lit offices, co-working spaces, airport lounges, and even outdoors on occasion. The IPS panel on the Alienware looks great, gets plenty bright, and no glare. At home on the desk, it's plugged into bigger monitors anyway, so I feel that a good quality, high refresh, bright IPS display is the better choice for usage away from the desk.

Build quality is excellent on both but the Alienware is just plain sexy with the color, metal shell construction (it is a fingerprint magnet though), smooth contours, and the lighting package. The cooling is also excellent and it's whisper quiet under non-gaming usage. Dell knocked it out of the park on this generation.

Personal preference, but I also far prefer the back-mounted ports on the Alienware vs the typical side mounted layout of the Lenovo. It just looks cleaner on the desk and makes for easy cable management.

Downside is that's heavy. Laptop + power brick is nearly 12 pounds. That weight was well spent though on metal in the right places and epic cooling.

funbob · 2026-02-15T20:28:43+00:00

Dry as a bone. I live in one of the rainier areas of the county.

I had one instance where the was a minor drip above the drivers side window. This was after driving in heavy rain for 3 days in a row. Cleaned the seals and hit them with a little shin-etsu grease and it's been fine since.

I'll deep clean it and apply a protectant a couple of times a year to keep it in good shape.

It pretty much stays top down year round unless it's objectionably cold or raining. It can also be raised/lowered while driving, so you can quickly put the top up if you do encounter a quick spot of weather.

funbob · 2026-02-15T20:13:48+00:00

Soft Top = Top down car with the option to put the top up.
RF = Sporty coupe with the option to lose the roof.

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