M17x "All Powerful" General Information Thread

this thread is a place where a lot of basic and valuable information on the "M17x All Powerful" can be found.
As information becomes available, as well as reviews, please let me know and I will link them here.

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[-OFFICIAL-]-Alienware M17x-Owners' Lounge by whizzo
[Officially now the most replies in a thread on Alienware NBR Forums]
[retitled 16 june 2009 - same great thread, just a new name]

*OFFICIAL* M17x Order Status Thread... by sleey0

M17x (**Europe**) status order.. by adrian890

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benchmarks/tweaks:

M17x Benchmarks thread !!! by Mr. Moo

reviews [pre-release]:

Alienware M17x at E3: Exclusive Video Hands-On by Chaz

Alienware M17x First Look by JerryJ

Alienware M17x - Exclusive Preview hosted by driverheaven.net
[external review linked here due to multiple postings with it]

reviews/pics [post-release]:

New M17x Pics- with Nikon D80 camera by Vandit

M17X Initial Review by GabeZ

M17x review finally by The Moo (TM)

My new RED m17x pics: ))) by bigelvis

M17x vs M15x, A Detailed Features Only Comparison - by Marvie100

unbox vids/user vids:

video 1 by Clauss [first reported video]

video 2 by SumKallMeTIM
New AW M17x Unboxing Video by SumKallMeTIM [thread and member comments]

M17x Pictures/Video Thread by Scytus


Backpack/Messenger Bag Reviews:

M17x - Belkin Dunne Energy 17" (Black/gray) Backpack Review - The Dutchy


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documentation downloads:

as stolen fm whizzo:
M17x Online Support Hub [one stop shop for all the below]
M17x Mobile Manual
M17x Service Manual
M17x Comprehensive Specs

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reference:

the following were provided by GabeZ:
m17x diagnostic LEDs, m17x Memory Info, New M17X Command Center

M17x Drivers thread and M17x BIOS Thread by The Moo (TM)

RAM: 1333Mhz vs. 1066Mhz in M17x by Scytus

How to overclock the QX9300 processor on the new M17x? by daz7781

M17x - My lights went out!! by Mandrake

M17X - Hard Drive Caddy ( secondary Drive) by Beardog

M17x and Windows 7 by kqmaverick

Windows 7 Upgrade Program for M17x by Quadzilla

M17x Diagnostics Thread. Got a problem? Look here by Scytus

M17x Allpowerful CPU guide by The Moo (TM)

How to recover your M17x from a bad BIOS Flash by Axman

How to Overclock ( noob edition ) by The Moo (TM)

how to repair your dead graphics card in your alienware!!!!! by Rob41
[note: attempt above steps at your own risk]

How to configure RAID 1 (or 0) on M17x that didn't come with it - by SpecKane

Possible work-around for COM SURROGATE errors when attempting to run 3DMark06/Vantage - by BatBoy

How to delete the backup directory after using AlienRespawn 2.0 to recover your system - thanks to Jadraja

Fix for battery will not charge / Touchstrip controls not lit or responding - Mandrake

How to Respawn the M17x without AlienRespawn Disc using Acronis Disk Director - Rengsey R. H. Jr.

Windows XP Dual Boot on the M17x - NDJason2009
Windows XP on the M17x - cpaqf1

Guide to properly solve wireless connection problems on the M17x - Glzmo

SLI Guide: How to enable SLI, check if SLI is enabled, actually working in your game and what to do if it's not - Glzmo

Guide - How to check for and restore Alienrespawn utility at Boot by The_Moo™

Ubuntu on the All Powerful M17x - Thanks to Aikimox for kicking this off

How to remove and install the NVIDIA Display Driver on the M17x - BatBoy

Why I am not able to delete the BACKUP folder after performing an Advance Recovery process with Respawn 2.0?

Num Lock Notification (and Caps Lock) pop-up causes issues with full screen apps (gaming)


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the great debates:

Alienware M17x Black or Silver? by daz7781

M17x lcd by Malignant

Alienware M17 vs Alienware/Dell M17x - A Detailed Features Only Comparison by Marvie100

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customize it:

M17x Photoshops - What's your dream laptop look like? by Praze
[awesome looks...this may be a trend]

M17x Lighting - AlienFX themes | Red vs. Green Theme (A MUST SEE!) - thanks to DSlade for keeping this going with quite a few contributions!

[GUIDE] M17x - Remapping the Touchstrip Command Center button - by BatBoy

 

Nice collection of infos.

 

Thanks for the sticky!!!

 

Time to make Alienware a sub category of Dell or would that urk too many people?

 

I think we should leave that alone Don't want to start WWIII

If they drop the AW name, then of course.

 

Haha, agreed.

 

I'd be quite irked.

 

really? me personally, i'd be irked.

 

i would ........................as to..............

dell is to alienware as mac is to gaming

thats a inside joke to some

 

^

The M17x will prove otherwise!!!!!

 

I would leave NBR.

 

There are a lot of Dell based questions here. It would kind of make sense but my past purchases are Dell not AW so it wouldn't bother me.

 

I'd be urked. We've got plenty going on in our forum without getting washed out in the huge sea that is Dell.

 

The only reason I am contemplating buying the m17x is because I would be dealing with Dell instead of Alienware. Alienware comes up with great designs but the crap I've had to deal with in less than a year with m15x and the CS at AW is just ridiculous. I know there are a lot of die-hard AW fans in here who are going to be upset with me for saying that but I was relieved to see the redirect from the AW site to the Dell site and furthermore when I called Dell to see if I would be dealing with them directly. Getting rid of the AW name would be stupid and is probably unlikely but getting rid of the AW CS and replacing them with Dell CS would be refreshing.

 

Lol Quanta (the company that makes Dell and AW laptops) made the m17x and the M17x and your m15x .....Quanta screwed up the design but AW never made them fix it

 

Yea...merging this gargantuan section that's larger then half the other company sections and make it a sub section isnt a great idea. Also much of the old AW design team remains in power in the new DELLienware, it still has a considerable amount of independence. It's pretty easy to see the amount of influence the old AW design team had in the new M17x's design, it's so close in the design to the old model it definitely deserves the term refresh.

 

Chaz just added more info in the news section.

Basically, to switch between dedicated GPU's and the integrated GPU, it's virtually instantaneous. From what I can gather from his statement, with ATI cards in Xfire, you'll have to restart the laptop to switch to integrated graphics.

 

that is understandable lol

i imagine a modified driver for this and chipset

 

Actually Alienware/Dell comes up with the design schematics on paper, and then Quanta builds it to spec, Quanta doesn't decide what Alienware gets, Alienware does.

 

How about a compromise? Since the M17x is order and supported through Dell how about sub section called Alienware M17x? Keep all the other Alienware stuff separate?

 

i understand that AW says what it wants and they build it to their specifications simple as that . Quanta designs them when they are building them ...determining where to put stuff etc.

i unno if i make sense its early

 

Yeah, I think I would blame Quanta for the shoddy hinges (m15x), not AW.

 

The only thing i'd blame Quanta for is not telling Alienware their m15x design was a bad idea. lol

 

no quantas fault for not designing it correctly and i blame AW for not putting up the money to fix it( to forced them)

 

Alienware knows its 90% their fault for asking for such a design that couldn't be properly built due to poor choice of materials used at Alienwares discretion because they wanted to save cash that's why they don't ask Quanta to fix it because Quanta just did what they told them to. If Alienware decided to have it built thicker with better heat dissipation and an aluminum chassis like the new m17x i don't think we would be having this discussion Alienware said jump and Quanta said how high, thats about all they are at fault for. Perhaps Dell should ditch Quanta and shack up with Clevo for their Alienware line.

 

That's funny...

AW's older systems were always rebadged clevo's!!

 

I am so glad Alienwares rigs aren't based on Clevo's anymore.

Is it just me or do the Clevo's STILL look the same after all these years?

 

Nope.... Clevo's haven't changed much.

 

If they merged I wouldn't be able to just refresh the main forums page to see what the latest message posted in the AW section was. That's how I watch and know which forum to jump to. When I refreshed it would show what the latest post was in any of Dell's many subfolder's was.

...and I don't care what Inspirion and Vostro owners are talking about. ;þ

 

Yeah, you wouldn't want a Corvette forum tossed together with all the other GM models would you?

 

I guess I can see your point if you look at it from that point of view.

 

lol nice....

 

links added to main page.....

 

and that is before anyone actually gets one in hand.

 

Not entirely true. 7700's and 3450's were rebranded Clevo's. The rest were of Uniwill design.

 

I just ordered mine on Friday, cant wait to get it in a few weeks.

 

@TallCoolOne: Congrats!...Love the avatar, did you make it?

 

Hey Mandrake... I didnt make it, i had it for awhile and probably just copied it from a website. I havent talked on here as much since I returned my m1730 laptop before the 30 day policy a year ago but now that I have purchased the new m17x, im baacccckk! LOL Forums are great to have, kinda like having a car club but for laptops. Too bad we cant all hang out Hooters with our m17x and have a geek fest! just kidding!

 

lol! Car clubs do it. If we start our own little M17x club we should share an avatar similar to yours. Slightly enhanced NBR style.

 

yeah I would recommend something along with the new dell, i mean alienware face logo that is on your avatar. I would like to have a wallpaper like that too.

 

I have a dumb question, but do you think it would be possible to have a docking bay for this laptop ?

Thanks

 

No

10char...

 

I have not seen a gaming laptop with an optional docking bay yet. HP and Dell makes them for their business line of laptops but that is about it. I remember Belkin created a dock but that was several years ago but it is a universal so-called docking station. If Dell ever decides to make one I would probably buy one myself.

How long does it take to change my profile on here? I dont even have this laptop anymore and I made changes early yesterday for my new laptop.

 

Driverheaven did a preview: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=782
More pics to drool over

 

Yeah, that's already been posted a while ago.

WELCOME!

 

updated....
added the customize link for dreamers....

 

i have seen universal docking bays i had to get one for my Gma so she could have a serial port

 

anyone know of an estimated battery life?

 

I think Mr.Moo hopes to get 2-3h with the "low grapic" stealth mode, but I don't know wheather this is a guess or he knows it for sure

May be I even disunderstood him^^ so don't leave on me^^

Greetings
Julian

 

Haven't read for sure but I think it's safe to say almost an hour on dual GPU's and hopefully, close to two hours on integrated graphics/miser settings etc.