*OFFICIAL* Alienware M17x Owners Lounge - Part 2

I tried loading command centre and I got this message "Could not load file or assembly 'Alienlabs.UpgradeService, Version=1.0.49.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=bebb3c8816410241' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)" is it because the source file has moved? I dont think so because I looked up the base file in properties and it appears to all be there...any suggestions anyone?

 

Well not liking the red as much as the black. It's the shade of red I thought it was but the black just seemed nicer.

Pulled everything apart and the heatsink was absolutely horrible. Maybe that's why some have issues with OC'ing. I lapped it to make it a little better but I think I want a new one and modify it some.

I used OCZ Freeze on the proc, GPUs and 9400M. I installed the my HyperX memory and the OCZ SSD I had in my Thinkpad and now I'm reinstalling the OS on it.

 

yeah i'm really happy with the black. Feel like I'd get sick of silver or red. Everyone is very impressed with the black and wouldnt have gotten any other color on it.

 

Yeah the black is very nice although a tad bit of a finger print magnet.. Black go's with every single color in the command center so thats why i think its the best choice myself..

The Nebula red deal with the 2 cards for $1999.00 is just to good of a deal to pass up though IMHO..

 

Yeah, cheaper is one reason I got it.

 

What did your specs run you ?. And what did you get ?.

 

PM'ed ya the info.

 

what about me

 

Mandrake, take the ATI's for a spin and let me know what drivers you end up going with. As far as overal laptop compatibility (working with all the Dellienware features) I think we need to stick to Dell's drivers

 

thatls because of the stupid 9400m. The computer is made for a standard user to an advance user. But it isn't for an advance users.

I know they tried to make it for every one but leave the hybrid, and extra stuff for the m15x.

 

Just need some time to play with it.

 

Anyone know what the point of the Infrared Reciever is??

 

I believe it's in front aligned with the left side of the trackpad.

 

Something like a Media Center Remote is all i can really see it being used for off the top of my head..

 

wow I read that question wrong, lol.

 

OK I started playing with OC'ing the CPU and it's much different. This is starting all over with CPU OC'ing.

 

Just amazing the difference. FSB at 1250 doesn't boot, anything above or below does. Anything above automatically forces your memory divisor to 1:2...no choice in the matter. Anyone with the ATI system seeing this?

 

Crazy stuff indeed.. Wonder what changed by installing ATI cards ?.

 

I really like my silver. Red would be nice. I really wish they would have had a nice blue. That would'be been awesome.

 

I'm thinking the system board. If no one else with an ATI system is seeing this then mine is just an isolated incident.

 

Now you understand why I get so frustrated trying to OC the CPU. Mandrake , you can try leaving the multi at default and just change the FSB I tried it one time and got it to 3111x GHZ. I dont remember what FSB I had it at though. but trying to go over 3.0 GHZ is a mission.

 

I'm already over 3Ghz. Just trying to get a feel for this system. Do me a favor if you can. Set your multiplier to default and unlink your fsb and memory. Set the memory to 1333 and the fsb to 1260. Then check your memory speed either during boot up or with cpu-z. Does it still read 1333?

 

we can do some comparisions mandrake.

download
everest
hwmoniter
sandra lite
PC wizard

take screen shots of everything regarding the motherboard.

when I reach my house, I will also do the same.

also a screen shot of gpu-z would be nice.

 

Let me do more testing tonight. We can do the comparison tomorrow.

 

yeah. Take your time
(not really. Lol)

just tell us every step you make.

 

Here's where I'm at right now. Not being able to change the fsb:memory ratio is going to limit some of my testing.

 

I never had that option in the bios. That 1:2, 3:4, and some more stuff. Maybe because of my CPU.

but I know with my CPU at 1000 and my ram at 1333, it reports the same speed in cpu-z. Even on auto it still reports 1333mhz.

 

That option isn't in the bios, you only see it in cpu-z. The issue I'm having is setting your fsb to anything above 1250 automatically sets your memory to that speed.

 

oh OK. I see.

change your ram and see what's up. Even if it did work in your old m17x.

 

I did that already and the power drain. I haven't tried re-flashing the bios yet.

 

Well thats awesome your at 3160mhz already.. Wish i had more luck with my testing thats for sure...

 

Can't find it, so apologize if it's a repost of a question, but does the chipset support 12 or 16 GB memory in total?

 

not really. Sure. For the m17x. Right now it's at 8gb. But why do you need more then 4gb of ram?

I hope I get lucky also with my CPU. We will see. I know for a fact I can hit higher at least 3.33hhz at 1066fsb and it's not the CPU but it's the lack of voltage travling threw my system.

 

Here's where I'm at. Pretty happy w/it. Though I notice the multiplier seems to jump around every few seconds. Perhaps that's also a part of the latency issue?

Also, what's the whole 1:2 thing w/the RAM? I'm noticing my FSB RAM is also a 1:2 ratio. Is that a problem?

 

that is eist

 

It's only an issue if you didn't set it that way.

 

By the way you do still hear the screeching noise from the GPUs but the nVidia system was louder.

 

i'm finally home. I will take snips of my mobo and see what's up. And when ever your ready we can do a direct comparison.

 

I have everest already loaded so that wouldn't take much effort right now.

 

set it that way? I set both FSB and RAM frequencies to 1333 mhz in the BIOS....

 

So yes you set it that way.

 

pcwizard has more on the motherboard then everest does. but here's some everest and i'll do some pc wizard also.





ok. here is some more shots of the motherboard using pcwizard. mandrake when you get a chance please take some shots of yours. i'm sorry it's not organized but ti should be easy to follow.
pic1



pic2



pic3



pic4



pic5


pic 6 very important


notice the last two i tried to circle. lol.

it's the gpu's showing that they can both support 16x max but the motherboard is locked at 8x max for some reason.

 

The motherboard is not capable of running both cards at 16x sadly... So its not a matter of them locking it in that way but a motherboard limitation itself..

 

oh oh i see. i was just confused when i saw that last pic that's why i brought it up.

 

yeah I noticed that in CPU-Z as well. Too bad the mobo can't do 16x...

 

the MCP79 SLI chipset only has 20 PCIe 2.0 lanes, so x8 to each card and the other 4 for peripherals (one to express card, one to gigabit ethernet, one to firewire, etc)

I am unsure if one card will run at x16 though (as in one physical - one card removed from system) but this will not make a significant difference in performance really....not with these GPU's ( maybe if they were REAL GT200s)

Don, you circle like a mongoloid....just use the draw rectangle tool lol

 

Just looking or graphic card info....

I've never used Nvida graphic cards...What is the big difference between the 260 GTX and the 280 GTX, also how do the ATI 4870 stack up against the 280 GTx? for the M17x.
Why are aticards notan option for the machine, im asking since people seem to have it.

 

i got my replacement on 31st oct and now i possess the personal mobile nos. of some of the top brass in dell. they r also givin me compensation but i can't reveal wat its gonna be. btw i got cod modern warfare 2 prestige edition. uploaded unboxing vids.. again in 2 parts hehe. will give both links in some time.

 

here r the 2 links chk them out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6AFUNJCG3c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvBc85j5vV0

 

Just wondering has anyone figured out a working fix for audio stuttering/fps drop? it is starting to get very annoying, i can hardly stand listening to music on this thing.