Alienware M17x R4 Pre-Order Configuration Questions... Ask HERE

I have one. Its the Samsung 830 msata. Overall its fast and runs like a champ. Only issue I have is that its says its only operating at SATA II speeds.

 

I have a few questions I hope someone will help. My main concern is getting a nice bright looking screen but I would also like to get the ATI card too. Is the 1080p screen without 3d the same as as the one with 3d? What would be good aftermarket ram to put in? I order one with only 6gb so as long as i van get 12gb total it would be fine. I would love any input as far as the screens go? Thanks in advance!!

 

Thanks for that info Hawkeye - what sort of time does it take to boot from cold? That's probably the main thing I'm looking at wrt the whole SSD v mSATA v 7200rpm HDD?

 

Just to confirm: The OS is loaded (factory) on the mSATA boot drive if you ordered a model with one, right?

Assuming you ordered this, does the configuration go:
C:\ [This boot drive]
D:\ [Your primary HDD]
E:\ [Any additional SDD/HDDs you may add]

Finally, if so, does anyone know how much space is remaining on the boot drive?

 

I've seen on here that someone else posted approx 20 gbs left on the 64gb mSATA drive after the recover partition and OS are loaded on there.

 

Why would you want the recovery partition on the mSATA drive? Seems like an awful waste of space doesn't it?

 

Guys, a clean Win 7 installation, with third party device drivers, rarely requires more than 10-12GB of disk space before primary programs and utilities are installed. The rest of the disk space gets used for non-essential or nonsensical purposes for many users. For example, the pagefile will routinely occupy 12-20GB using Windows's default settings depending on the amount of installed DRAM, nearly all of which is and will remain empty. You can and should reduce, remove or relocate the pagefile to recover huge blocks of wasted disk space. In the same way, more disk space can be recovered and made available for useful purposes by removing or relocating the recovery partition. There's nothing in there but a vanilla Win 7 installation with basic drivers, many of which will be updated or replaced before you have any use for the recovery data. Once you have updated Windows and made your fundamental configuration adjustments, then make a backup image using Win 7's own tools or a third party utility for storage on your data disk or an external drive. More can be recovered by turning off hibernate, eliminating or restricting the space devoted to Restore System files, index files, etc. Here is a recent revision of one of the most popular SSD optimization guides that discusses these matters and other SSD related adjustments that should be considered. Not all will be suitable for all users, but they provide a useful reference framework. SSD space is too precious and expensive to waste it like Windows 7 does. The SSD Optimization Guide Redesigned - The SSD Review.

 

Some great information there Revelator, thanks very much.

 

1: Yes

2: Yes

3: If you move the pagefile, about 20GB

 

Cool, 3 seconds faster boot no, thanks Revelator!!

 

I see many people ordered 500GB 7,200 RPM + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD. Is it necessary to buy 32GB mSata to boot the system?

 

No, no. A single drive (500GB or 750GB) will work just fine.

 

No, it's not necessary. A lot of people chose to get the boot drive option to take advantage of its functionality (and it was relatively inexpensive). It also has the upgrading advantage that your OS is not on your HDD, which means it's easier to swap in another SSD down the road (in addition to the SSD being added to Bay #2).

 

I can check later tonight. Overall its fast and I am happy with how it performs.

 

The boot drives are useful, if not spacious. The 64gb option that was (is?) available is obviously a better option given that Windows takes up like 13gb as is. You can reclaim space dedicated to the page file, backup etc as Revelator describes, but a 32gb drive still isn't going to hold the OSvand all of your program's.

Also, IS the 32gb option a actually a boot drive? The 64gb option was described as a boot drive, but the 32gb is described as a caching drive. Is there a difference?

 

What brand of RAM does the r4 come with when ordered from Alienware.com? And also my other question, what brand is the 512gb ssd option, Arai said samsung (thanks btw ), does anyone agree? Disagree?

Thanks in advance

 

Mine was Samsung memory.

 

Saw it again yesterday in this section of the forum, someone ordered a SSD from Dell and it's the 830 series Samsung.

Look around I as I don't remember the topic (they shipped a 810 by accident but it should have been the 830...search posts from Dell-Bill B or w/e his name is.

 

Thanks for very helpful info, guys

 

Thanks for the answers CSHawkeye81 and Arai, really appreciate it

 

So guys this is most likely the final specs im going with and gonna order in a few hours....
Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate SP1 64bit (English)
COLOUR OPTIONS Nebula Red with Soft Touch Finish
MEMORY 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 4GB)
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load Fixed Blu-ray BD-ROM / DVD + /-RW Combo Drive
VIDEO CARD 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970M
WIRELESS NETWORK CARD Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video
WARRANTY 3-year Premier Service with 1-year CompleteCover
mSata cache 32GB msata

Being charge about 2873USD....price is converted from my local currency...what u guys thing worth the go??? My only worry is amd not releasing drivers.....and that would make me turn to nvidia abit though i nvr used them before....

 

-Why W7 Ultimate?
-Catalyst 12.5 BETA drivers modded...seems to work well apparently.
-Did you go through EPP link and whatever discounts you can get?
-Where are you from?

 

Im from singapore it originally comes with ultimate with no options of downgrading.....price was given my cso and she said she will giv another discount once everything has been confirmed....

 

To be honest looking how well the 7970M performs you should really take it.
I myself was going to go with a nVidia but compared to the 7970M you'd be robbing yourself.

I also noticed it's cheaper than the GTX 675M...so win/win.
Make sure your CSO/rep give you a nice discount, because that price is the same as their website.

 

The 7970m is leaps and bounds ahead of the 675, so I think you should stick with AMD.

 

I have a quick question:

If I order the 32GB mSATA cache drive + 500GB HDD, can I install a regular SSD in the open bay as a boot drive but keep the mSATA as a cache drive solely for the HDD to speed it up?

Thanks,

 

Read a *heap* on this forum this evening and now have square eyes (the HP Mini 5101 I'm using makes reading for a long time hard on the eyes!). I haven't found the answer to my question and thought I had better register to ask directly. Even a search on just the work "vmware" returned the error" Could not find phrase 'invalid_search_query'."

I think I've more or less settled on an Alienware M17x (my first). One piece of info I haven'f found a definitive answer on; will it run VMware Workstation 8 with 64-bit VMs. I know the i7-3610QM supports Intel VT (but not VT-d). This is a key requirement for me. Anyone confirm this?

I'm after the M17x (at lowish spec, compared to many in the forum) as it has great upgrade potential a while down the track when I have more $$$ and component prices have dropped. Most other brands I've looked at only go to 8GB, or perhaps 16GB. With the M17x going to 32GB I can expand out as I need to in future.

Cheers
-- JEFF

 

Just ordered with the specs which i posted above...sadly that was the best price she could offer....but still feel its worth as its cheaper than sager...

 

Congrats man, let me know what your expected delivery date (EDD) is.

Welcome to the Alien nation

 

Thanks bro, hope this lappy will last me for a long time =D kk so far only received acknowledgement....confirmation letter will only get on monday....

btw im curious the msata they gave me a 32gb and put caching.....isit possible to make it my bootdrive when it arrives?

 

is there any delay in alienware for orders with 7970ms?

 

nope, not lately. The dell 7970m's are shipping in volume

 

Not sure. I believe that the mSATA drive is installed with the OS to start... Not sure that there'd be an advantage to doing it this way.

It seems like if you're adding a regular SSD anyway, you could just install programs on that while putting files on your HDD....?

 

What Slick said. Just ordered mine last night and it is already in production with an estimated delivery date of 6/8.

 

I think I will be going the alien way tommorrow

 

I just ordered my M 17 X,estimated delivery is 6/8/12.Happy Happy ...

Nothing,from my preorder experience today

 

LOL hi5, same EDD, and I am having a long weekend that week. Hopefully everything go smoothly and no delay, so that I can receive it when I am home.

 

How many RAM slots are there under the back cover? I'd much rather not take the keyboard off. Also, do you need any tools to swap out the RAM or any software changes in BIOS or what not?

 

2 screws after removing the battery, and 2 slots for RAM underneath that.
Max memory is 32GB, the other 2 are under the keyboard as you've said.

Only need a screw driver, it's really cake ;3

 

The ones under the keyboard?

 

That's a different story, look for SlickDude08?'s guide on the 7970M
It gives a better idea how to get there, I'm not gonna pry that far with my M17x.

But it is possible to go all the way to 32GB of RAM.

 

Hi everyone! I just wanted to see if the build I made was a good deal.

Upgrades:
7970M GPU
1920x1080 Screen
500GB + 32GB mSATA caching Drive

Website Subtotal: $1894.00
2% EPP Student: ($37.88)
Add'l Off Negotiated: ($50.00)
>>>>I had to add the 32GB mSATA option though
My Subtotal: $1806.12
CA Tax @ 8.25% = $149.01
CA Recycling Fee = $8.00
Dell EPP Gift Card: ($200.00)
Dell Advantage 5% Gift Card: ($90.31)
TOTAL w/out Gift Card Incentives: $1963.13
TOTAL w/ Gift Card Incentives Factored In: $1672.82

Estimated Savings w/ Gift Card Incentives: 14.79%


I've been seeing other people report a savings of 11% and even 24% -- I am wondering if those were discounts that included such Gift Card savings like I got or if they were discounts "out-the-door."

Please help! If anyone can help me get an even better deal, please LMK! I don't mind having to wait a bit longer to get a better deal.

Current EDD is 6/11/2012, so I should have some time.

 

After tons of trubble with my m17xr3 it looks like Dell will replace it with a R4
Not 100% decided yet, but fingers crossed

But i dont know if i should pick the 7970m or the 675m.
I hardly never use the 3D function of my R3, but perhaps the 3D on the R4 is still worth getting? I was hoping for the 680m to be relased before they decide what to do with my old one, but with no relase date it can take forever :S

Also seen some complaints on the 7970m, mostly driver issues or faulty cards to blame?

7970m vs 675m what to choose?

Regards!

Marcus O

 

You were able to get the $200 gift card with the M17x? It's not an option online, did you have to convince your rep to give it to you?

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I think when Dell offers a replacement, they'll give you a build that is as close to yours as possible. If the parts aren't available, then they give you the next best thing. If you had a 580M, then I think they're going to offer you the 675M.

I've never had to ask for a replacement, so I am not positive on this. Perhaps someone with experience will be able to help out better.

 

My R3 is a replacement system, i had a R1.
The R3 had the spec with the slowest CPU and the 580m
And for a small fee i could upgrade what i wanted.

So the spec for the R4 aint a problem, just not sure what to pick

 

Ok guys, I need help.

I ordered the m17x r4
i7-3610qm
7970m
6gb ram
500gb hd
1920x1080

I ordered from newegg
Crucial m4 ssd 256gb
Corsair vengeance 32gb (4x8gb) 1600mhz ram

Why so much ram? I am a networking student and I work as an IT level 2 and I wanted to be experimenting/learning with a virtual machine environment. I went with the Alienware because I want to be playing games as well.

After placing my order, Ive been reading some posts and it mentioned that the i7-3720qm offers support for virtual machines. Should I return my purchase and order it again with the 3720qm?

Also, I got the stock wireless card. Will the killer really help with gaming? My ISP has a download speed of 15mbps and 1.5 upload.

Thanks for any input

 

the 3610 works fine with vmware WS 8. running multiple systems at once.
you will not get this option on de 3610QM:

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
but vmware works fine without.

 

Thanks. I did a little research and I read this from Inte's website

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-virtualization-technology-for-directed-io-vt-d-enhancing-intel-platforms-for-efficient-virtualization-of-io-devices/

"Intel VT-d is the latest part of the Intel Virtualization Technology hardware architecture. VT-d helps the VMM better utilize hardware by improving application compatibility and reliability, and providing additional levels of manageability, security, isolation, and I/O performance. By using the VT-d hardware assistance built into Intel’s chipsets the VMM can achieve higher levels of performance, availability, reliability, security, and trust."

Technically, having the VT-d should improve performance of VMs. I will be experimenting a lot with multiple VMs (different server versions, different OS versions, AD policies, etc.). My laptop is arriving tomorrow and I can still return it and upgrade to i7-3720QM.

My question is, is it worth it?

 

To some it is worth it to upgrade. For others, not so much. It all depends on how you plan to use your system. By reading your comment above, it seems you already answered the question for yourself.