Low Battery backup in Alienware m17x

I have an Alienware m17x r4 which is 2 months old. I have a 3d version, no integrated graphics, nvidia GeForce GTX 675 M, battery is 90wh 11.1v.i am getting 2.5-3 hours of battery backup when I am not gaming. I checked online and saw that m17x gives 4-5hrs.i even had my battery replaced by still I am getting only 2.5-3 hours. Laptop is running on balanced mode with level 3 brightness. Cam someone please tell me exactly how much backup should I be getting and if I am getting less then what could be the reason?

 

I have not seen more than 2 to 3 hours of battery life on any system out side of a m11x and I have owned several of every model since the R1 models. Thats a gaming rig you got there its not meant to give much battery on the go. I think your ok.

 

Alienware m18x gives 5-6 hours

 

Thats not 5-6 on the main GPU's is it? I believe the OP is running on his GTX 675. I was getting about three with my duel 6990's.

 

Sounds ok for the 3d model, running on discrete only will reduce the battery time.

How to improve the battery performance of my Alienware

 

Exactly the same as I get. You said the reason in your question, no igpu. I think you'll find that 5 hours plus is the norm on non-3D models

 

Is there no way I can use iGPU? I mean is mine disabled or not there?

 

It's disabled in the bios, to my knowledge .. There are no unlocked versions that will allow you to use the igpu on the 3d version do to boot conflicts with it and the 3d display. Since the igpu can't normally handle it on its own.

However theoretically if you can dump and edit the bios you could allow the igpu to show. But boot issues as stated by the reps would be present, to be specific, I can't that's all I know from reading I've done.

 

This picture was taken after my m11xr1 had been running for 6 1/2 hours already. Lights off, screen dim, browsing the web and steam running.

 

Honestly, no way to use it. If intel put 120hz microcode on their gpu (part of the CPU) or dell used a multi-sync monitor it could be done but as it will not start with the igpu, a driver cannot be loaded to fix the problem.

I'm sure dell did not want to design a special motherboard for this scenario but they had to to disable the iGPU completely. The display is plugged into a different port directly connected to the NV card.

In conclusion the iGPU is there on the CPU die but is wired out of the system.

Before I knew this I used an unlocked BIOS and set it to use the iGPU, the machine would not start, only 8 beeps. The only way I got it back is a blind flash (look it up on NBR) and that is tricky and scary with the machine beeping around 30 times at one point and multiple restarts! That was when I started to investigate why I could not use it and found out the info I have given you here.

 

Outstanding there ejohnson, outstanding..:thumbsup:

 

Makes perfect sense, more sense then the bios theory I had thanks for clearing this up !

 

Glad I could explain it - sometime I go too propeller-head and make it worse!

See last line of my sig

 

I can still hit around 5 hours with my original battery, Igpu on, and everything set to power saving mode. Alienware certainly knows how to make some awesome laptops!!

 

That's just part of our OCD .. Lol

 

lol back at ya! Very true