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March 22nd, 2017 11:00

Alienware 13 R3 and TB16 thunderbolt dock, issues

The TB16 Thunderbolt dock that I have used successful with a XPS 15 9550 is currently also functional with a new Alienware 13 R3. However there are a few issues. I'll list the different (from XPS15) behavior I observe here and hope others would chime in on this particular combination:

(1) The thunderbolt cable's light doesn't come on and the Alienware doesn't charge. I know the power limitations of the dock but was hoping it would at least trickle change.

(2) USB ports on the dock, and those on the external display (connected to a USB port on the dock) work but with artifacts. The keyboard is exhibiting a "sudden key repeat" problem, where it would all of a sudden spew out the same key (as if the key Up event were lost somehow). It's more of a problem is the "sudden repeat" is with Backspace.

(3) Again with USB, plugging in a device can knock other devices out, such as, I plug in a webcam, and the mouse (a Razer Orochi on wired connection) would stop working.

(4) The external display (via HDMI on the dock) works. This is the smoothest part: it just worked from get go.

51 Posts

March 22nd, 2017 12:00

In fact, for got the mention, I actually get a pop up window when plugging in the TB16. Image attached. I'd like to know what "some features" are--such as charging?

2 Posts

April 7th, 2017 16:00

@GreatArtist, thank you very much for describing your issues with TB16, I have absolutely the same issue with Alienware 17 R4. I installed every driver correctly. Since one week my all evenings are wasted with trying to get it work, no chance, still have the same issue.

My intent was to get my external two QHD 144Hz (G-Sync) Monitor to work but unfortunately the TB does only pass through the Intel HD 630 Graphic, not the GTX 1070. You can do whatever you want, reinstall in right oder the driver or what else, there is no chance because the discrete GPU has only two external ports: HDMI and mDP, thats all. The USB-C Port in the back passes only the Intel GPU to the TB16.

Either the designer was not able to think of the iGPU concept or this is technically not possible because you need only an iGPU when you need save energy but when you dock your Alienware you have already unlimited elektricity so you can use your descrete GPU. I really dont understand why this is not described anywhere. They are hiding the limitation and let you imagine whatever you can combine with this ports. On the other hand, the professional notebooks owner like Precision or Latitute doesnt face issues like this - right? Very interesting.

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6 Posts

May 22nd, 2017 03:00

Ohh no... unable to passthrough g-sync is the saddest thing i heard for alienware.

Apart from this, can the TB16 power-on button switch on alienware with lid closed?

1 Message

August 20th, 2017 16:00

GreatArtist, does the thunderbolt cable led come on when your XPS 15 9550 is plugged in? I have the Alienware 17 R4 that I'm using with the TB16. I haven't been able to get it to charge the laptop (the led on the thunderbolt cable does not come on either). I'm trying to figure out when I should see the light on the cable com on. Does it only come on when plugged into a compatible laptop or is always on unless plugged into an incompatible laptop? I'm hoping for the latter at this point because a defective dock would hopefully at least get me a refund. 

 As for the discrete graphics, as I can tell it is working (GTX 1070) when plugged into an external monitor via the display port from the TB16 to the external monitor. At least, the Nvidia control panel monitor shows Autocad as using the GPU when I check. Does anyone know a way to double check what graphics card is being used? 

For others researching compatibility, I was told by Dell Sales Chat that it the TB16 is compatible with the Alienware 17 R4, however I was just told by Alienware customer support that there is no dock that is compatible because of the power requirements and the graphics. It seemed plausible to me that it would work, at least as far as power requirement go, because both the dock and the 17 R4 use the exact same 240 watt power brick. 

1 Message

September 15th, 2017 06:00

I have a 17 R3 and have tried two TB3 docks with it. The Caldigit TS3 was a miserable failure, cost me the return shipping to Taiwan for a refund. It had a specific issue with my external Dell P2415Q and could not support 3840x2160 at 60Hz refresh, only 30Hz. If 30Hz was acceptable I would have used the R3's HDMI port.

Now have a Lenovo dock (Thinkpad) and it works far better but, like the Caldigit, does not charge the 17 R3. IMO this an issue with the 17 R3, not the docks.

The other issue I have is with a KingSpec Z-1 1Tb external USB 3.1 Gen 2 SSD. TB3 is supposed to be backward compatible with USB-C devices but if I plug the Z-1 into the TB3 port on the R3 I get the drive partition corrupted and device failure messages. Same on the pass through TB3 port on both docks.

Both docks passed the nVidia GPU signal through, I did not have the iGPU only issue.

I get the feeling the the R series are not fully compliant with the TB3 standard. Poor design or cheap components perhaps.

Any comments?

1 Message

January 4th, 2018 04:00

I have an Alienware 15 R3 and I am having the same issues that you are describing on the TB16: 

  1. No thunderbolt light from the cable connected to the laptop.
  2. The powerbutton does not work

Most of the features are working fine so far, I was able to play LOL with full graphics without problems. 

One extra question, is it possible to use the TB16 without the thunderbolt 3 connection? or get some kind of adapter for a female USB-C connection? 

Thanks.

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