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    *OFFICIAL* Alienware M17x Owners Lounge - Part 2

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 5, 2009.

  1. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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  2. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    :confused:
    Hey guys, when I try to add 494025-001 (QX9300) into my cart at teh HP Parts store it won't let me. Feel free to smack me for missing the obvious, but I don't get it.
     
  3. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    Did you click the select all checkmark box?
     
  4. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    wasnt the part number different?

    507946-001 ? Try this one.

    The one you linked says not able to order

    says to
    contact Reseller
     
  5. Slammin

    Slammin Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, been away and busy of late so good to drop by. Feels weird not posting in 1730 owners lounge ; )

    I've just done the DPC update rigmarole and all good on my system.

    I am trying to run Furmark but it won't see my 260m's in sli. Yes I have tried multi gpu and the single gpu program options and get the same reading of @3300.

    Any ideas?
     
  6. Lord_Zath

    Lord_Zath Notebook Deity

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    yeah time to update your avatar, Slammin!
     
  7. Slammin

    Slammin Notebook Consultant

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    Heh, heh the venerable 8800's all they needed was a bios update...
     
  8. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    This was the part number that many of us used to get the good price (502.55 USD)
     
  9. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    You gotta' call 'em up and order it. It's on a need-to-order basis now I believe.
     
  10. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    Yea, I had to dig it up..lol.. :) The one that was linked was a bad one so i provided the one that I knew worked.

    nah.. If you use the one I provided you can order on the page.. I verified.
     
  11. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    So I'm selling my t9600, and getting a qx9300 :)

    Anyways, I have to sell the t9600 tomorrow, and still no word yet on when my new one will be here. Can I use the processor from my buddy's m1710 in my m17x while I wait for the new processor?

    Processor
    Processor type Intel® Core™ Solo processor
    Intel Core Duo processor
    L1 cache 64 KB
    L2 cache 2 MB
    External bus frequency (front side
    bus)
    533 MHz or 667 MHz
     
  12. SumKallMeTIM

    SumKallMeTIM Notebook Consultant

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    Hello, PLEASE HELP ME!
    Quick question. After physically closing my new replacement R1 (while it is on), and when I open the laptop back up it wont turn on. Sometimes after I open it all the lights will be on but the screen doesn't do anything, or just the power button is lit up, and I am forced to turn it completely off and turn it back on. And yes I have tried moving the touchpad and pressing some ranom buttons.
    Why cant I just close my laptop and it turn back on when I open it? Whats the deal??
    Thanks so much as this is REALLY bugging me.
    :)
     
  13. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    The issue is quite common and the fix is to change the video drivers, but you'll have to experiment.
    What are your system's specs?
     
  14. SumKallMeTIM

    SumKallMeTIM Notebook Consultant

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    The specs are in my sig, and I just installed the new Dell Beta drivers (which I love).
    But I never did delete the old drivers first and use CCleaner but I didnt think it really mattered much since they were both official drivers..... I also installed them when hybrid was enabled, if you need that info.
    This thing really needs to be taken care of, I can't let this keep happening because my M17X is on battery mode and with me all the time.
    I appreciate any and all help.
     
  15. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    To be sure I'd reinstall the drivers (use CCleaner afterwards).

    Still same problem, - try older drivers(I tried the 186.82 and 195.81 with no problems on my R1 before sending it back to Dell)

    Next, if the problem persists - play with the power options, don't let it turn of the screen when the the lid is closed (not the best solution but still..)
     
  16. SumKallMeTIM

    SumKallMeTIM Notebook Consultant

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    I really just am totally confused when I use CCleaner lol. Like I can't find where to tell it to just check for graphics drivers....
    And also when I uninstalled the ORIGINAL Dell drivers and checked the delete files box and restarted the computer, it just automatically reinstalled those original Dell drivers. So I dont know where those files are physically located to delete them before I stick the new BETA ones on there. It's obvious this is my first real computer that requires actual work lol
    :/
    sorry im such a lame dude....
     
  17. rubyboy79

    rubyboy79 Notebook Evangelist

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    should uninstall, use driver sweeper then install again.

    it does matter alot even if they are both official drivers.


    @maverick,

    i too paid 1200 dollars when my xps 1730 was replaced with my current M17x r1

    dell replaces systems based on specs and performance not the price. i tried to get a similar priced replacement for my R2 replacement but failed.( the R2 im getting is almost 1000 cheaper)

    i bet even if u wait till the 5870s come out, it will take some time for the current 4870s to go out of stock so youll probably get the 4870s in your replacement unless you can stay without a computer and drag all the way till(maybe end of the year?) all the 4870s are sold off and they have no working ones left to put into systems.
     
  18. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    Can anyone confirm for me whether or not the optical bay SATA connector is SATA-I or SATA-II? I want to stick an HDD in there (a third drive). All I know so far is it's micro-SATA.
     
  19. dondadah88

    dondadah88 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    not for the r1
     
  20. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    You don't need to look for the drivers, just let it do a registry clean and you're good.
    I always do a complete clean up at the same time.
     
  21. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    But you can always order one from Dell (for your friend's M17X-R2 bought on Ebay ;) ) and keep the old one for warranty. It's not cheap though and probably cheaper to sell the R1 and buy an R2. :p
     
  22. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    R1-Montevina platform (Core2Duo, Core2Quad), R2 - i5/i7 CPUs.
     
  23. doublee

    doublee Notebook Evangelist

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    Also R1 - Geforce 260m SLI only without RGB LED option
    R2 - ATI 4870 Single and in XFire mode with RGB LED option.
     
  24. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    I don't see the problem, m8. They offered you a better system. Don't look at the price as they do not go by the price. They will offer you similar or better specs, that's all.
    I tried to force my replacement upgraded (paid 3.5k 7months ago and they offered a 2.5k replacement R2) but it didn't work.
    I can assure you, you got a good deal. The price of the new system is irrelevant to the matter.
     
  25. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Technically the 4870s are available for the R1 too. My R1 had them. The RGB LED screen can be put into R1 with no problems but $$$.
     
  26. doublee

    doublee Notebook Evangelist

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    Just saying as of now =).
     
  27. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    I found it!

    [​IMG]
     
  28. afterloss

    afterloss Notebook Enthusiast

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    Better be SATA2 if it comes with the option of SSD's in RAID 0... Sata1 barely has the bus speed to support 1 decent SSD much less 2 in RAID0 :)
     
  29. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    As in speeds its sata 2

    /10char
     
  30. nobodyshero

    nobodyshero Notebook Speculator

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    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=469880

    Pman is trying to do 4870's vs 285...I was trying to make the point you should really be doing with equal CPU's if your running those kind of benches. Maybe one of yall r2 owners with a 920 feel up for challenging his "victories"
     
  31. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    So I got the qx9300 from HP finally and stuck it in. I'm doing OCing in the BIOS, and I can't get it higher than 1285 FSB Mhz (3.06) without it BSODing. Should I be satisfied, or should I try and get an exchange and hope for a chip I can OC further, like to 3.2?? What are others' experiences?
     
  32. nickbarbs

    nickbarbs Notebook Deity

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    You will notice absolutely zero difference between 3.06 and 3.2, IMHO, Not worth wasting your time over. Plus you don't even guarantee you will get a chip that can break 3.0ghz. I'd just be happy with the quadcore as is, up to you
     
  33. Heartache

    Heartache Notebook Consultant

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    edit: wrong M17x thread >_>
     
  34. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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  35. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    No, but I'm going to now! Is this what people are doing who OC past 3 Ghz? While I do value what nickbarbs said, I DID just buy the damn thing and was expecting a high OC, especially since I'm screwing around with the thermal paste and I don't mind overvolting if I have to, but obviously will needlessly avoid it..

    +1
     
  36. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    You cannot overvolt the qx9300's, wish we could.

    Then I would have 20k in 06 lol
     
  37. aneroid

    aneroid Notebook Evangelist

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    If I'd read your post earlier, I would've told you not to do that. Or...sell me your t9600 :)

    I'm quite disappointed with the "qx9300 and gaming" experience. too many games don't benefit from it and many play like crap on 4 cores. example, L4d (but you can change that in the settings) and DiRT (the first one). unfortunately, in L4D, if you try to run it with 'set processor affinity' or a "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start /affinity 3 left4dead.exe", Steam authentication fails mid-game, consistently.
     
  38. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    I see. I heard that a game like GTA IV would definitely benefit from it, however, and that's the type of game I'd like to get into next. CS and DoD play just fine on the quad cores. Thus far I am happy.
     
  39. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Software will definitely start catching up when more and more 4-6-core CPUs are out from Intel and AMD starting from Q3-Q4 this year. SB will bring forth even bigger guns - 8-cores. So, it's just a matter of time.
    I'd still stick to a higher clocked duals but would be ready to upgrade any time.
     
  40. lewdvig

    lewdvig Notebook Virtuoso

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    GTA IV goes from being unplayable with dual core to very smooth with four cores IMO. Test results in my sig.

    [​IMG]

    With a q9200 or qx9300 you get the best of both worlds - 2.8-3.33 Ghz and four cores.
     
  41. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    Very interesting. Thanks.
     
  42. myx

    myx Notebook Deity

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    Quick question : In my M17x cpu-z reading, the gfx cards show up with link @ 8x, max available 16x. Is that normal for SLI config or something is wrong?
     
  43. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    That's how it's supposed to be.
     
  44. Vitotherm

    Vitotherm Notebook Consultant

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    A opinion from you guy's,

    I am still having some problems with my M17X R1, processor stuttering (QX9300), sound latency issues, BSOD at startups.
    i expected with the new bios version A03 to solve most of these problems (as it is a complete new product bug's can happen) did not worked out great so far overall experience until now.. not so powerful as advertised for me..

    About two 3 months ago starting to have problems with my SD reader (does not work at all any more (i did a complete clean install W7 (nuked it), to see if there where some conflicts but still same problems after fresh set-up.

    Try to get some support from Dell but got refused because the system was bought in the US and i am asking service in the Netherlands, need to do a tag-transfer to get service.
    When i purchased it in the US i special asked if there's international support plan !! yes there is Dell told me, if you buy 3 year full service.. so i did.

    But my main problems is.. I am living 2 months in the US, 6 months in Mexico, 4 months in The Netherlands for my work so every time a tag-stranfer :confused:

    yes thats the way it works he told me (the services representative) :confused:

    so how to go from here... file a complaint with BBB ?

    main issues are:

    Not working as advertised:

    CPU stutters
    latency, stuttering audio, popping audio
    at start-up on internal graphics 30% BSOD, on external graphics 50% of all startups BSOD
    freezing with doing multi-tasks

    No service as advertised on there website


    From there website:

    The Dell International Services Program offers the security of knowing you can receive service and support when you travel with your Dell laptop outside your home country. To qualify for international service, you must purchase the Next Business Day On-site Response Service.

    * The International Notebook Service is for customers who are traveling with their notebooks for a period of less than 6 months. Any period of time longer than 6 months requires a Global Tag Transfer to be completed . See - http://www.dell.com/globaltagtransfer


    as you can see as above no tag-transfer needed, bud Dell keeps telling me i need a tag-transfer anyhow to get service in whatever country.

    Thanks for your opinion.
     
  45. hankaaron57

    hankaaron57 Go BIG or go HOME

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    How do you know your CPU is stuttering?
     
  46. claxdog

    claxdog Notebook Evangelist

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    Vitotherm did you try the beta nvida drivers and other fixes for this (stuttering)problem?
     
  47. Vitotherm

    Vitotherm Notebook Consultant

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    maybe it's not really stuttering

    Copy and paste but it's the best explanation:

    The QX9300 chip tends to push all the workload onto one core running at 80+% three sit at 15% workload and temps of 35-45C. There is some flaw which is causing this (i think it's the MOBO combi with bios)

    Maybe in gaming it's a great CPU but in my applications it tends to do this. (if you give it a break it recovers with all 4 core's on full load)
     
  48. claxdog

    claxdog Notebook Evangelist

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    I dont think the chip is doing that. the software you are using tells the chip how to work(if i am not mistaken)the chip does not tell the software how to work.
     
  49. Vitotherm

    Vitotherm Notebook Consultant

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    I been trying them all, i am a big fan of NBR to read all possible solutions
    and try them.

    Thanks to: The Moo, Mandrake, Sleey0, and many others
     
  50. Vitotherm

    Vitotherm Notebook Consultant

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    I am thinking its related to the bios, or my MOBO is the problem from the start..
     
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