*OFFICIAL* Alienware M17x Owners Lounge - Part 2

Yes graphics on rgbled looks amazing when playing games! thats why i am going to save up for one of these things. I do like the way intel is heading with their strategy but there is that line when you do to much and it falters hopefully they understand that.

 

Scook... just curious about the benchmarks posted in your sig now... do the Radeons outperform the 280's if the 280's are at stock? What scores do you see with them at stock?


EDIT: I just found your thread on it: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=453436&page=2

 

yes, the radeons beat the stock gtx 280m's pretty well when all at stock

when I get time, I will OC and bench the 4870s as well to get some records I hope

 

I've missed something important...what's dual core mode? Do you mean using Processor Affinity or a setting somewhere in BIOS? I'm on bios A03 atm. The statements above don't suggest processor affinity.

And which two cores? 0 & 2 or 1 & 3? assuming first CPU is core 0 & 1 and 2nd CPU is core 2 & 3 (the affinity menu should say 'core' instead of 'CPU'). And don't all apps by default run on all 4 cores?

(I underlined that) - what known issue? stutter or underutilization?

 

We are just changing affinity. It seems that 3DMark06 runs it's gpu tests better on 2 cores rather than all 4. The issue with nvidia was that better scores were attained for gpu tests with dual core. It is now looking like the fault was with 3DMark06 though and not nvidia

 

ic. So which two cores are recommended? Both cores of one CPU or one of each? If I decide to try that for a few apps.

 

I have not tried different combinations.

 

Well, if the point of using two cores is to emulate a traditional 'dual core' feel while running 3dMark06, then it would be logical to assume that one would be looking to run two cores on the same CPU.

 

I am unsure how the OS assigns the numbers in relation to what cores are on what die

John had mentioned to me about testing to see what are my fastest 2 cores so I assume there should be a measureable difference but I have not had time to do this since then

 

Are you running your CPU at stock clocks?

 

I did some tests at 3.25 GHz

the results are somewhere in the M17x benchmark thread lol

 

So your current scores are with CPU running at stock clock?

 

??

the stuff in my sig is full system OC for the GTX 280m's and full stock for the 4870s (have not had time to OC them yet)

I just compared some scores between running 2 or 4 cores for stock GPU and OC CPU to 3.25 when I had the GTX 280m. Just to see the difference in SM2/3 scores when running the 2 different modes.

 

Scook, thanks for the information.

Your ATi scores--yes, the ones you did with cards at stock--what was your CPU clock for the benchmark runs? I am particularly interested in the 3dMark06 score.

Edit: Sorry. Got the link to finally open from your signature. So yeah, stock CPU. I was just interested in learning what you could accomplish with a QX9300 at stock.

 

So I ordered one today. Tired of the crappy DPC problem. I'm sure there's some lucky soul on ebay waiting to buy current M17x at a bargin price. *sigh*

 

cores 0/1 seem to be the fastest 2 cores...now where they are on the cpu...not really sure, but is open to suggestions.

running dual core gpu and quad core cpu netted this stock everything run in 3dmark06
15,891
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=10340001
which is still one of the highest stock runs for nvidia mobiles...if not the highest total for all mobiles...(speculation of course)

 

It's still a very high score and especially when you consider that the 9800m GTX is running stock. I bet you could've broken 16k had you used one of the 182.xx drivers, but back then, such a thing didn't exist, did it?

 

i wished i sli'd my sager.

 

Haha. Watch me do this too.

 

it was the program i was using...i couldn't get it to act right over time, so i couldn't break 16k...or 17k over clocked (16,890 or something like that)
probably could do it now...but then...that would be....... speculation

 

Seriously, how much?

And Johnkss,
I am just going by speculation as well, but when I was using those drivers--and I just have some luck with benchmarks--my 3dMark06 with a T9500 and 8800m GTX SLi at stock, was 11.5k. When I moved up to 185.85, I actually made it past 12k at stock. And this was not my highest, because 182.46 (I think), made my machine go well past 12k as well after a fresh OS install. So if you were already at 15.9k with those old drivers, I'd say it's possible that you would've passed 16k with the 182s.

 

I thought you did, then sold it.

 

i did. i bought the second card but school came up and i didn't have money or time to waste to get the heatsink/fan/sli cable which was an extra 200 on top of the 500 i paid for the card. so i dump it.

 

back then..benching with the factory drivers proved far more fruitful than using any updated drivers.....it was wired...but only for 3dmark06. vantage needed the newer drivers to work better.

 

Yeah. . . I guess. But like I said, results did vary, but most of the M1730 users saw larger yeilds with the earlier 180s.

Of course, don't get me wrong. When it came to actual gaming, many of us favoured the 185.85 drivers over the earlier 180s.

 

but of course..the 180 to 185 series we're better for gaming. on the sager...we just had to use separate drivers for everything...lol
damn pain in the butt!

 

Or, better yet. . . damn Nvidia!

Ha! Ha! Kidding. I am actually content with my driver-setup.

 

That is why I do not miss nvidia at the moment...different drivers for everything

And John, have to qualify that stock score of yours, it was with a quad cpu that was stock 3.0 GHz. Not a normal "mobile" system lol (still dam impressive of course)

 

Yes, but that's why I'd rather have better CPUs that properly scale SLi.

I actually feel wrong for missing out on some of these laptops that used desktop CPUs. Sure, they would've had rubbish battery life and heat issues, but they could push hardware and alleviate bottle-neck constraints.

 

if the M17x did not exist, I would have a clevo np9262 right now with an x3380 in it lol

 

and i would have to add...if you guys could not over clock your cpus...you would not have caught me. so just think if i could over clock that cpu to 4.0 ghz...you guys could forget it... ...that was another reason why i sold it. if they would have updated the bios to run 1600mhz...i don't think anything would be able to touch it.(specualtion of course)

and we all know that over cocking the cpu to the outter limits..nets about a 2k point difference in cpu scoring for 3dmark06..(speculations just in case im not correct here..lol)

 

true that

why does clevo always limit the bios so bad....

 

im thinking....
they dont want to be hit with numerous rma's do to user missuse of their product, then trying to blame them for not letting the end user know,(who already knew from hanging around in forums asking 1500 questions) the potential of voiding ones warranty and paying out of pocket to fix it.

i was going out on a limb there...lol

 

well Alienware is rubbing it in their faces now

especially with unlocked vcore in Bios of the M17x R2

 

they have all been rubbing it in their faces since the whitebook...and that was like 4 laptops ago....

although, something is starting to happen with the m98 and someone over clocked a d900 to like 4+ ghz or something...not sure.

 

that was my plan.

 

the D900f overclock was multiplier only using an EVGA e-leet utility and 4GHz was not stable at all

this was done by gophn

 

that's easy to explain.
his temps are far to high to be trying that. they need to be below 60'c
this is at 29 multi
so going to 30 put him over...he would need to cool the cpu down another 20 to 30 degrees and 4 ghz will be stable. 975 can go to about 4.0 4.2 on stock voltage..(real stock 1.268)
and those 100 mhz plus jumps start to take major voltage when you get up to 4.4 ghz and higher.

 

So I was looking at CPU Z on the M17x. and it says GPU is Geforce 9400. Its supposed to have GTX 280M SLI. Is that supposed to be right? Do I need to install drivers or anything, I would assume they would already install all the drivers.

Thank you

 

There should be drop-down list on the 'Graphics' tab of CPU-Z, unless you're running in stealth or onboard-only mode.

There's also GPU-Z.

 

There is no drop-down list on the Graphics tab. The 9400 option is locked. no drop-down. This is my first time with Windows 7 and M17x. How do I check if I'm stealth or onboard-only mode. I went to Command center and graphics processing is set to maximum performance. Where do I go to get out of stealth mode then?

Thank you

 

A very easy to ensure you are not running onboard is to check in your bios. Advanced, Graphic Setting, Intergrated Graphic [Disabled]. If you are running the ATI video cards, you can not switch back and forth.

 

hey did u guys receive the same information as i did?

i tried calling dell for upgrades and they told me i cant because of the chasis and the heatsink. is tht something bs they r trying to pull out or isit true?

 

What were you trying to upgrade?

 

Isn't it obvious? The bit about not being able to put in ATi cards is absolute B.S.

 

i was trying to upgrade the i7, mobo and the RGB LED

 

Oh. That's totally different.

 

Lol. That was funny.
I should use this as my sig.

 

Uhuh.

Laugh it up, WaR. Laugh. It. Up.

 

umm yeah im trying get the 3dmark programs going...takes for ever to install and getting like 1fps during the test..

specs are :
SILVER METALLIC
AIRBORNE DOCUMENTATION,SY
8X DVD+/-RW DL,QS,CNB
INTEL CORE2 EXTREME QUAD
4GB DUAL CHANNEL DDR3 AT
SLI DUAL 1GB NV GTX1 -
17.0IN, WUXGA,LCD,ANW,M17
NAME PLATE ENGRAVING
256GB SOLID STATE DRIVE ,
MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007 PRO
McAfee VirusScan Plus,36M
ADOBE READER 9.0,MLANG,I/
AVATAR1
POWER PLAN, BAL
WINDOW STYLE, DFT
TIME ZONE, CENTRAL
AUTOMATIC UPDATES ON
ALIENFX BLUE
WIN 7 ULTIMATE,64,ENG,AW
SW,SFTCON,Dell In Home,AN
WIRELESS 1510 - US ONLY


talking to dell right now, trying to just get a full refund for the original m1730

anything i needed to turn on or adjust starting it out fresh?