Hi, I have an Alienware 15 R3 that I just bought a new motherboard for from ebay.. I have been trying to figure out this issue for 2 weeks already and I've decided I need help from the pros. 
Laptop specifics:
Model : Alienware 15 R3
CPU : i7 6820HK
GPU : Nvidia GTX 1080 Max Q
RAM : 16GB PC4-19200 (8GB x 2)
STOR : 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
Motherboard : Compal LA-D753P Rev 1.0
Problem : The laptop runs fine with most things, even GPU/CPU stress tests seem to run without problems for extended periods of time. BUT the laptop just shuts off when I run games. I undervolted the CPU and GPU which helped, some games run fine now, others wont even start.. About 25% of the time when the laptop shuts off unexpectedly the AC adapter also shuts off (blue light ring goes out until power cycled). I have tried everything possible on the software side, there has to be a hardware issue of some kind. The only thing I have been able to find by visual inspection is there is one (of a pair) of 100uF 25V capacitors that has a dent in the top. Is there any chance that the dented capacitor could be the cause of this? I will attach a picture.
I have already bought a new 240w adapter but that made no difference from the old one. Another thing that may be relevant is the computer originally had a GTX 1070 with i7 7700HQ, I replaced the board and am using the heatsink from the original configuration. I don't believe it is a heat problem though because I setup remote monitoring with hwinfo64 on another laptop and when it shuts off from the games it doesn't like, the GPU and CPU temps are usually very low, under 80C - sometimes around 60C.. And the same games work every time, as well the same other games cause it to shut off before they even finish loading. I have tested the cpu and gpu with every stress test I know of, those never cause it to shut off. Except for Catzilla, it shuts off every time right when the cat shoots the laser from its eyes. No matter what resolution its set to. And on the other hand since undervolting I can run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p with everything maxed out and it has no problem running it. Is there any chance that replacing that cap that is damaged would solve everything? or is that pipe dreaming?
I apologize for the long post, I'm just trying not to leave anything out that may be useful.
Thanks everyone for your time and knowledge, I appreciate you!!
-ZK
--Edit-- One more detail, I doubt its significant but I am running the laptop as a desktop, no battery.. (it swelled)
Laptop specifics:
Model : Alienware 15 R3
CPU : i7 6820HK
GPU : Nvidia GTX 1080 Max Q
RAM : 16GB PC4-19200 (8GB x 2)
STOR : 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD
Motherboard : Compal LA-D753P Rev 1.0
Problem : The laptop runs fine with most things, even GPU/CPU stress tests seem to run without problems for extended periods of time. BUT the laptop just shuts off when I run games. I undervolted the CPU and GPU which helped, some games run fine now, others wont even start.. About 25% of the time when the laptop shuts off unexpectedly the AC adapter also shuts off (blue light ring goes out until power cycled). I have tried everything possible on the software side, there has to be a hardware issue of some kind. The only thing I have been able to find by visual inspection is there is one (of a pair) of 100uF 25V capacitors that has a dent in the top. Is there any chance that the dented capacitor could be the cause of this? I will attach a picture.
I have already bought a new 240w adapter but that made no difference from the old one. Another thing that may be relevant is the computer originally had a GTX 1070 with i7 7700HQ, I replaced the board and am using the heatsink from the original configuration. I don't believe it is a heat problem though because I setup remote monitoring with hwinfo64 on another laptop and when it shuts off from the games it doesn't like, the GPU and CPU temps are usually very low, under 80C - sometimes around 60C.. And the same games work every time, as well the same other games cause it to shut off before they even finish loading. I have tested the cpu and gpu with every stress test I know of, those never cause it to shut off. Except for Catzilla, it shuts off every time right when the cat shoots the laser from its eyes. No matter what resolution its set to. And on the other hand since undervolting I can run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p with everything maxed out and it has no problem running it. Is there any chance that replacing that cap that is damaged would solve everything? or is that pipe dreaming?
I apologize for the long post, I'm just trying not to leave anything out that may be useful.
Thanks everyone for your time and knowledge, I appreciate you!!
-ZK
--Edit-- One more detail, I doubt its significant but I am running the laptop as a desktop, no battery.. (it swelled)
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