*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M17x-R2 Edition Owner's Lounge - Part 2

Howdies chiefs,

Yeh the R1 and R2 housing is exactly the same Oles. Both hot and top stuff!

Cheers.

 

the casing on the M15x isn't plastic, its magnesium vs the M17x i aluminum. the only difference is on the bottom of the M15x, the removable plate that reveals the components is plastic. Not sure why Dell went cheap with just that part, but everything else is rock solid.

 

ok this is really getting annoying

After "fixing" my performance problem, it's back again...

back to getting 30-45FPS... the odd thing is my Video fans aren't kicking up like they had been

I checked my crossfire tab, still enabled, i reloaded 10.10 still nothing

any thoughts on why the video cards aren't kicking into gear?

 

I'll have to have another look at the m15x next time, because the one I saw really looked like plastic.

On the m17x r2 the bottom cover (on mine) is also plastic, you are talking about the cover that the HDD's and Rams is benieth?

 

hi all,

when you were installing the new drivers and vbios for the 5870's, which one did you download first?

is the WHQL vbios from Dell?

Did both the new vbios and amd drivers worked well? Any performance boast?

Could you link me the new WHQL VBIOS and AMDs 10.10 8.782 which you have, if you don't mind?

Thanks mate! =)

 

Well I'm about to be an owner again (after a failed outlet attempt). It's at Fedex in Chicago. This time the only thing that will stop it from happening is a natural disaster between Chicago and here!

 

Hi there chiefs,

Yeh the new vbios is direct from Dell. I would suggest if you wanted to update you vbios to do it in this order.

Update your system bios to A09 1st if you haven't already done so. Although this is optional, there are no known problems and its good to be up to date on this one.

Downloads


Then download and update your GPU drivers. In order to perform the Vbios flash your going to want to install the dell 10.8 8.763 drivers 1st so that the vbios application can detect your GPUs properly and flash them accordingly. Once you have flashed the vbios you can install the newer AMD 10.10 mobility drivers again if you wish.

Dell - Support


Once you have successfully installed the dell driver. Now you can run the vbios update program and create either a cd or bootable flash driver to use and flash your vbios.

Dell - Support

Once you've made either the CD or Usb bootable flash drive restart your notebook and hit F12 to bring up the boot menu. Select either the cd rom or bootable usb option and flash your GPU vbios. Follow the on screen instructions, ie. press B and once completed press any key to restart.

Cheers.

 

thanks reborn2003,

So let me get it straight from your instructions. Correct me if I'm wrong.

So, 1) Dell's Bios
2)Dell's Ati driver update
3)Dell's vBios update
4)Ati 10.10-from AMD website

Am i right?
Also, for me to download the latest Ati driver from AMD website, which one should i download? The Catalyst Software Suite or the Catalyst Control Center?

As for the flashing of the vBios, do i just need to save the file in the empty usb and then just flash it? or is there any steps to regarding that?

 

Hey there chiefs,

Yup the steps are all correct.

As for the AMD 10.10 drivers download the Catalyst Software Suite 1.1mb Run it and it will dl the driver for you and then you can install it. Make sure to run driver sweeper and cc cleaner in safe mode to clean out old drivers before installing new drivers.

As for the GPU vbios run the application and it will give you instructions on how to make the usb or cd media update. Your flash drive will have to be 2gb or less though if you want to use the USB flash drive method.

Cheers.

 

many thanks again reborn2003 for the reply,

So as for the installation of the AMD 10.10 drivers;
From your post,before installing the AMD 10.10 drivers, i need to uninstall Dell's Ati driver update right?

Correct me if i am wrong.
Do i just need to uninstall it from the Dell's Ati driver through the Add and remove programs(from control panel). Then run driver sweeper and cc cleaner in safe mode. Then install the Catalyst Software Suite 1.1mb and Run it. Am i right? =)

 

Yup that is correct chiefs.

After removing and cleaning in safe mode is done just reboot into normal OS mode and install the new drivers accordingly.

You should always do the clean method before installing any new drivers. So even before you install dells drivers to do the vbios update you should perform the clean as well.

Cheers.

 

thank you so much chief!

you have been a great help! =) i will update soon about my installation of my new driver update. Thank you so much again for your patient in answering all my questions! Until then.

Cheers! =)

 

No worries.

Good Luck chiefs. Catcha on the flip side!

Cheers.

 

also chief...i forgot to ask something...how do i reboot to safe mode after uninstalling the old drivers? on safe mode after running the cc cleaner? how do i identify the old drivers that needed to be removed? can i choose to use either drive sweeper or cc cleaner? rather than both?

 

To boot into safe mode. When you restart your notebook you just hit F8 a few times after you see the Alienhead splash screen and then choose safe mode. Boot in and run driver sweeper. Select ATi and analyse and then clean. Run CC cleaner Registry clean. Then once all done reboot back into the normal OS mode and install the new drivers. You can use GPU-z 4.7 to confirm the vbios and drivers you have installed.

Cheers.

 

thank you so much again chief! =)

 

Hi chiefs,

After installing Dell Ati driver and Vbios(from Dell Website), is this what i'm suppose to get in my command centre?

Driver Packaging Version 8.763-100810a-104118C-Dell
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1059
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001...
Direct3D Version 8.14.10.0775
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10151
Catalyst™ Control Center Version 2010.0810.2122.36491

Next, i wanted to download the latest ATi driver 10.10. To double confirm again, do i need to actually uninstall the current Dell Ati driver from control panel using the EXPRESS Uninstallation on ATI catalyst centre? Just needed to make sure because this is my first time changing a GPU driver!

 

Yup that is all correct chiefs. Yes to the bottom section as well.

Cheers.

 

Hi there,

I'm sure this has been asked before. It tried to search but couldn't find anything.

I just got a M17x R2 with 5870's and RGBLED screen. I read that I'm supposed to change the gamma to 1.8? Where do I do this? The color calibration thing in windows 7 only has a slider and no numbers for me to set to 1.8. I installed powerstrip and my gamma is reported as 1.00. If I move the slider to 1.80, everything is so bright and looks wrong. I cant change it to 1.08, as it jumps from 1.05 to 1.10. How am I supposed to change the gamma? Any help would be great.

Thank you

 

i also posted this in the technical question thread...

any one know why the 940 doesn't show up as an extreme cpu.. pretty much anywhere? not in cpuz, not in the desktop gadget i sue, not in windows properties... but it does say Intel Core i7 x 940 @ 2.13 Ghz

 

Probably just because those programs need an update to show it as an extreme. It is still a relatively new processor and they most likely have not been updated since it came out. Don't worry, it is extreme

 

Mine is the same way, and I want it to say extreme! Then it's cool! lol hahaha But yea, the CPU is new, and it may have something to do with the CPU being an ES chip. If it is, Not sure if an OEM Chip is the same way or not.

 

also it make some high pitched noises... like electrical hum. i think my r1 did that too, but its been so long since i used it idk...

well just ran 3dmark06 on the new R2 (look at sig) and here were my results completely stock from the factory:

17655 3d marks
6694 SM2.0 score
9318 HDR/SM3.0
4234 CPU score.

 

chief!

Is this what im suppose to get?

Driver Packaging Version 8.782-100930m-106237C-ATI
Catalyst™ Version 10.10
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1081
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001....
Direct3D Version 8.14.10.0784
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10243
Catalyst™ Control Center Version 2010.0930.2237.38732

Also, previously i had the ati audio hdmi driver at the ati control centre...after installing this new version, i dont see anymore. Is that driver a necessity for the HDMI? where do i download this driver?

 

Oles chiefs yeh that should be correct.

Try right clicking in your sound playback devices and click the 2 options that say enable and or show hidden or disabled devices.

Cheers.

 

Toms Hardware did a good comparison between the M17x and the x7200

Is That A Notebook? MALIBAL's Six-Core, Dual-GPU, Speed Demon : Incomparable Performance?

Shows how pathetically overpriced the GTX 480m is since a desktop GTS 450 outperforms it will costing $120 and using the same power

 

Waste of money imho..
i also was surprised to see that a dual 5870 outperforms a single 480 by more than 30% on average

 

No one expected otherwise. What was the main take away for me from that article was this:

Why in the hell is the GTX 480m so expensive? Typically the justification for the higher priced mobility parts is that they are engineered for lower power consumption. But this article showed that the BOTTOM OF THE LINE GTS 450 outperforms the GTX 480m while using the same power and costing MUCH less. Major nvidia fail here.....at least they had one generation of reasonably priced mobile GPUs with the GTX 200 series......complete fail before and after it though

 

Wow, I just think it would be fun to bench with that 980X in the system. I wouldn't pay for it though, thought I almost held off on the M17x R2 for that system

 

I really didn't expect the difference between the sli480m and xfire5870m to be that big, I mean for example, in Crysis(all max) they should both be around 30fps, according to this:
Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards - Notebookcheck.net Tech
but I notice that they had the 480s pull around 60fps, which one is the correct?

 

For a pretty much complete description of ALL the different [electrical] noises emitted by our Alien-Where, see here.

And specifically talking about the CPU noise, while this thread explains how to get the Intel Chipset to behave correctly, meaning not preventing SSDs to work at their full capabilities, it turns out that it also gets rid of the CPU whine...

So basically, if you are like me, absolutely NOT willing to endure those unwanted and disturbing noises, you should find in those two threads some peace of mind for your ears and brain.

And-Joy !



eYe

 

from previous benchmarks (from toms hardware they reviewed a 2 AVDirect Laptops one with a single HD5870 and one with a Single 480M) the 480M was a bit quicker than the 5870m but not substantially so I expected the HD 5870m in CF to be quite a bit quicker than a single 480M.

Benchmark Results: Crysis : GeForce GTX 480M: AVADirect?s W880CU Is Packing The Heat

What confuses me is, why in some bench marks the HD5860m CF is close to the 480M SLI, and in others its runs closer to a single 480M, could this be due to the 128bit vs 256bit ram interface?

And there is also the Infamous M17x r2 review

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/m17x-mobility-radeon-hd-5870-crossfire,2744.html

That shows that the HD5870 in CF is alway quicker that a single 480M.

I also wander if Tom's (and by wander I meen they did not), put the new Dell ati drivers on the M17x machine an re-run all the bench marks.

And I've read (on the forum some where) that tom's scores for ati cards are usually lower, does any one know if this is true?

 

My everyday 3DMark Vantage score hovers around 16.5K. I always use ThrottleStop, and a 50Mhz OC on my GPUs though. They have that fully loaded M17x-R2 coming in at ~13.8K, which is not accurate at all. I guess if they didn't tweak either machine, then it's fair. Is there a laptop running 480Ms with a mobile 920 or 940? That's obviously a much better comparison.

 

Toms does not do any tweaks or overclocking with laptops. It is benched the way it was out of the box. This is one of the reasons their laptops reviews are not the best. And out of the box, that vantage score is right

 

I gues I must have lost site of what the stock numbers where. 13.8K to 19.2K is a hell of an overclock. Either way, the system games fine in my opinion. A Tech is on the way over to hook me up with two new GPUs. If only that would solve my on board speakers issue and my bad touchstrip ribbon cable. I'm curious to see where the go once the new GPUs are in and the system still doesn't turn on. lol. I tried to request the send the tech a ribbon cable but she assured me that was not an issue.

 

Ehahahah ey LOL LOL. Geeeee sometimes people just don't want to listen or ehahahah geeee.

Good Luck with the next step lol. DR's Alien adventure saga continues oles.

Cheers.

 

Personally that's what I want from a review-want to know what I'm guaranteed to have. (Though I don't overclock, so...)

 

I did not say it was a bad review. But whenever they review desktop parts they always do stock and overclocked results

 

Well as we speak, the dell tech is in the next room over raping my system. figure if she messes it up I can always file and run it through the system. Anyhow she just put the new screen on my M11x and as she leaves Ill have to reseat the keyboard and touch strip. Can't wait to see what I have to do with the M17x once she leaves.

 

Well M17x GPUs replace, now the system doesn't power on. Like I knew it wouldn't. The touch strip cable ribbon is damaged I think. Too much assembly/dissassembly. So now she's calling. Lets see how they do with this

 

Man, I so don't want to have to deal with techs in person :-/

 

lol, at least now I have shiny new GPU's and heatsinks. When she leaves I can alwaus swap the touch pad ribbion cable and power up with that. But if I could just get a touch strip cable ribbon all would be good. Well not really because my speakers don't work, the ribbon cable connections for both parts of the keyboards are bad.

Well looks like it's going to the Depot knew it. Pretty sure i'll be getting a replacement.

 

I have only had techs that let me do the work my self so far. Guess I have been lucky

 

I never asked to do the work, she seems like a nice person and atually really competent. Other than the M11x issues. But she said to Depot I remove my HDD (I still have the original with the original untouched image on it) and I remove the battery. So if the replace it I could end up with an extra HDD and battery. Although I think she's mistaken. I'll call to double check.

Might power it on before I send it back to run 3DMark06. Now that I know how to cool the CPU better, I think I might be able to take the top spot. Might be worth it with new GPUs.

 

Still not in the owner's club just yet

This whole case is just weird. Get offered a replacement system, case then goes in to a black hole. File an unresolved issue complaint and Dell very quickly get the specs for the replacement sorted out. After some revision, I email back to accept them... and nothing. I email again to see if they got my request to proceed and to clarify on the current status as I haven't received an order confirmation, still nothing.

Unless I hear back in a day or two, I'm going to have to take the bizarre step of filing an unresolved issue over an unresolved issue. And the case is almost resolved; all they need to do is confirm the order and put it in to the factory. The horse seems to have collapsed an inch from the finishing line.

Generally the support on this case has been very good, but in the customer service department the ticket seems to fall in to a black hole at each stage.

 

^^^^ Keep pushing. It's only the wheels who squeak that get the oil my brother . And never forget it

 

Well just recieved my depot box and am sending back my system tommorrow. Ran a few benchmarks, nothing fancy, but had to put my system back together in stock config (which means it won't power on) so I will probably get a replacement. Made sure to keep the second HDD caddy though I was too lazy to remove the drive from the caddy. Also they sent a box and it's not very big. So I couldn't get the hat or anything else in it. Looks like I'll just keep all that stuff. Not like I need or really want the hat

 

I hope you know you can *refuse* to send it in to depot, well at least i did and they just sent me a replacement. Dell's in-home service should be like it says, and you should never have to send your laptop anywhere.

As soon as i threw that in their face, they immediately said, "oh... uh.... you're right, we'll try and find another option for you"..

Just letting you know for next time.

 

Order confirmed, ETA 18th November.

Dell seem to be very fast at responding to unresolved issue tickets!

 

I'm an OWNER!!!!. It is in the mail, should be here next week!!!!