*OFFICIAL* Alienware M17x R3/R4 Owner's Lounge Thread

Just an FYI here guys, the Dell systems engineer on the conference call ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...x-580m-78c-throttling-see-post-191-later.html) said that GPU utilization figure was not a reliable method of seeing how much your GPU is stressed. He said what it is actually showing is frame buffer useage which approximates to it but not in every circumstance. It's down to how the individual game is programmed.

Rage, which is a very nice looking game IMO never goes past 30% with everything maxed, but it's written on Open GL and not Direct X so works in a different way.

 

Well I followed his guide and as soon as I did the registry thing I restarted Afterburner and it let me increase core clock and memory but not voltage. You might want to make sure your in the right part of the registry and editing all of the entries that he states need to be changed. Also when you edit the config file you have to make sure it is saved and for me that meant I had to edit the file permissions and give my self total control and then it magically let me save it and it then worked. So perhaps that was your problem.

 

There is a setting in witcher 2, ubersampling (something like that) , that doesn't seem to make a visual difference but stress almost all rigs. Turn that off nd u should be fine : )

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Cheers just a quick one about windows, i hear that windows 8 is out later this year will games released after windows 8 only run on windows 8 or will windows 7 be ok?

 

Seeing as how games still run on XP and Vista, I think you'll be OK.

Also, please don't post the same questions in multiple threads.

 

The only other thread i asked a similar question in is a thread i started which isnt affecting anyother users

 

Yeah, no chance of that happening. Since the latest beta drivers for Nvidia state Vista/win7/win8, M$ have not changed the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) like they did going from XP to Vista, which is why XP gets it's own drivers.

 

Hi all, is there on R4 with gtx675m throttling issue?

Thanks

 

yup, there is still the 78c temp throttle, but the 63 power throttle has been removed

 

Confirmed - I've just gone from an R3/580 to an R4/675. I only see what is referred to as the power throttle (P1 state-405Mhz) when it should like during cut-scenes. Hasn't happened in any games during play . Even on a mild OC at 720 the temp never goes above 68C so nowhere near seeing the 78c throttle.

My very first R3 hit the 78c brick wall in minutes of the first game I loaded up. I just backed it not knowing what was going on at the time...

 

@Slickdude

Hey I'm reading through your "Installing and Overclocking" guide in order to do a thermal repaste on my 7970m (though I'm not switching out any GPU). Should the process be similar if I have a R4 model? Also, I ordered a mx-4 and frojoly 1.0mm thermal pads (wasn't sure which pad to buy). Am I doing this right?

 

process will be identical on the R4...mx-4 is great

 

IMO unless the stock paste is not put correctly or not effective then you should try a repaste. Otherwise just leave it as is. If it ain't broke...

 

My GPU is idling at around 60C. My fan likes to go a bit loud once it reaches about 65C so I'm hoping to drop some temperature for possibly a more silent gaming experience.

 

You guys are so brave. I've built my own desktops before but I can't bear to take my laptop to pieces in case I do something wrong.

How strict are dell with the Warranty? Is there any "warranty void if removed" stickers or are we basically free to do what we want with the obvious exception that replaced parts are not covered by Dell?

 

Ordered M17x R3 a while ago, having problems with laggyness on some games and found out i didnt even receive the graphics card that was meant to be in there and only have some dodgy intel card which cant handle anything. Really wanna play witcher 2, any reccomendationson what card to buy??

 

As the alienware reps have said in this forum - the computers are ours to do anything we like as Alienwares are made moddable for a reason. If however we think we're Ben Heck and mess up a part while trying to do something crazy i.e taking the gpu out, its on us. Also aftermarket parts are not covered (obviously).

 

Hello everyone

I got my brand new alienware m17x yesterday!
And everything is working just fine but one thing, the harddrive doesnt seem to be correct..
Or is it i dont know, i have never had this kind of harddrive before and maybe you guys can help me and explain to me what im doing wrong.

the harddrive i have now is : Hard Drive : 64GB mSATA Boot Drive + 500GB SATA (7,200rpm) (well i was suppose to have that one)

the OS is installed on the 64 GB. But when i got it, it was pretty much full already.

And it says 48,8 gb out of 48,8 gb..

 

The OS has filled up the msata boot drive , its intentionally made just for your os

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7970m or gtx 680m , those cards will handle what ever you throw there way!

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Fn+F7

10char

 

Windows 7 itself probably occupies 10GB or less, depending on the version, with drivers unpacked and installed. The rest of that space is being reserved for collateral purposes, many of which are either unnecessary or overdone. For example, the pagefile probably accounts for anywhere from 8 to 20GB of drive space, depending on the amount of installed RAM, the great majority of which will never be used. Wasted space. You can reclaim all or most of that space by going to Start>Computer>System Properties (from top tab)>Advanced System Settings>then under within the Performance section, click Settings>Advanced (tab)>within Virtual Memory section, click Change and then (a) uncheck Automatically manage pagefile . . ., (b) select (highlight) c: drive, (c) click on Custom Size and set to Minimum = 1024 and Maximum =2048 and then click on Set, then OK and out. You can also completely eliminate the paging file, but that is not recommended. Finally, you can move the pagefile from your c: drive to your d: drive, freeing up disk space on c: but slowing down the system to varying degrees.

You can reclaim additional space by disabling the Hibernate function, which is superfluous with an SSD, disabling indexing (all drives), disabling or severely reducing the space used by Restore System (which most experts say should be disabled generally with SSD's because of the resulting wear and tear from the constant writes). Start with the pagefile change detailed above. That will result in the most dramatic recovery, and then you can explore the other options if desired. This is a useful reference if you are new to SSD's. The SSD Optimization Guide Redesigned - The SSD Review (ignore 11-14).

 

also disabling hybernation gives back same amount GB on disk as system ram.

in elevated command promt type powercfg /h off

also probably the recovery partition is on the ssd, better nuke the install, wipe all partition and install from alienware dvd to reclaim that space.

 

What about just using disk manager to delete the dell partitions and add the free space onto the c: drive?

FYI, I have 2 'extra' partitions on my pre-installed boot drive, one with no name but a descriptor of 'OEM' of 39mb and one titled 'recovery' of 9gb. I'm not chasing space so they can stay but it's there if needed.

 

Isn't it powercfg -h off?

 

Two ways of saying the same thing. Either syntax works fine.

 

Hello everyone. I ordered my M17X R4 about 2 weeks ago, and the EDD is soon approaching. I wanted to do a clean install, but I was wondering if the copy of Windows 7 that AW provides still has the bloatware that would initially be installed on the computer. Also, are there any other things I should look out for upon first boot. I've already read through the SSD optimization guide, as well as the Windows 7 optimization guide, but I've never owned an AW before and I really don't want to deal with more tech support and all that.
Thanks in advance!

 

hi guys, i kinda need some help im just got my laptop today. any tips what i should do first? like for the battery, os, softwares or anything to make sure the laptop will run smooth for sometime?. here are my spec . Thank you guys =)
P: 3610
V:7970m
R:16gb
1HDD: 60 intel ssd
2ndHDD: 750 gb 7200rpm

 

I might be wrong but I remember that AW includes a separate disk for drivers but I've only purchased refurbished AW before (like you waiting on my new to be delivered).

I hope it's just a clean version of Windows so I can choose what I want to install.

 

first off: Welcome To NBR!!!

I don't think you should have a problem with bloatware. If I remember correctly these machines don't come with anything other than The alien-ware command center, and maybe antivirus installed. As to things to look for would be to make sure that your system is within the normal temperature range and performs as it should. Congrats on the new machine

 

You'll get a DVD with an AW customised version of windows and a separate drivers disk (often out-of-date but usable). You've also got a 'factory image' on the boot drive that you can trash in Disk manager if your chasing space.

Not a single piece of unwanted/demo rubbish on the R4 I got last week or the R3 I purchased 6 months ago..

 

Well Alienware is usually pretty good with bloatware but the first thing I'll do is uninstall any non-AW programs including the anti virus. I use Microsoft Security Essentials which is a very good free and light weight AV.

 

Im still waiting for my laptop but like you im wondering what to download and where to download stuff like drivers, beta patches (still not sure what they are) and any other things to make sure everythings top notch! how to do stuff like check that everythings performing as it should and temperatures are ok! Also how to check the fps of games il be playing? Anyone got a dumbed down idiots guide? Might start a new thread to keep it off this wall...?

 

most of the times it's not possible to kill oem partition while running windows.
depending if partition state is locked.
i rather go save and clean install it, get's rid of all other dell stuff i don't want on it.

 

Makes sense, I've never had any problem since Vista with trashing OEM image partitions but that small one with no name might be locked - then again, the option to delete is not grayed. I think that is where the Dell diags are that they get you to activate via F12 on boot when they want you to test it..

 

1. Drivers will be on the Alienware "Resource" disc that comes with your laptop. The modded drivers for the 7970M are linked in SlickDude's 7970M installation guide, but using them disables Enduro, so keep that in mind..

2. Get MSI Afterburner (again, follow Slick's instructions on how to unlock overclocking on your card). You can overclock now for more performance, and manually downclock on battery if you want. It seems to give me more life on battery this way (since I can't switch to integrated).

3. You can check fps with many programs, but the most commonly used one is Fraps. google it. - It is also used to record videos - It runs in the background and shows an fps counter at the corners of the screen in-game. Note that having fraps running can knock of a few fps while gaming, and then even more so if you're recording.

4. I use HWinfo64 to keep an eye on all components, temperatures included. Click on the "sensors" tab for this.

5. Checking back on this forums all the time will ensure you know what's going on and can stay up to date

Yup, I used to use AVG, avast, but now I just stick to MSE. It runs so silent that there's no way of telling if I even have it installed, lol. Now that's a bro who steps out of the way and lets you game on

The Alienware version of Windows comes with only command center, which is for changing your lights and some other system tweaks. That's about all the "bloatware" I got on mine and seeing as I actually need it I don't count it as bloatware So you should be all set there, nothing really to remove.

Ultimately, its the same as any other computer when it comes to stuff like that so you should have no trouble. Just follow the directions in the "How to do a fresh install...." guide and you'll be fine. You've already read the SSD optimization guide right, so don't forget to make those changes. The M17x out of the box is basically a fresh install of Windows anyway, the only reason I reinstalled was because I wanted it on my SSD.

 

That's great! Doing a clean install is so boring sometimes :/ Should I invest in a cooling pad or just use Plastic bottle caps to lift it off the surface for better air intake? Also, what sort of core and GPU temps are normal? I was looking around and saw it was around 60-65C, just wanted to be sure.

 

For the cooling pad question, bottle caps work just fine it depends if you want to move it or use it on your lap. I got the Targus one and although not as pretty as some I have seen, it's light, with a comfortable soft surface and perfect for transitioning between a desk and your lap - along with a mild temp drop over propping it. No more hot legs

 

Get the Cooler Master U3 it has adjustable fans that you can place in perfect areas. one fan for CPU one fan for GPU and another for the little holes in the middel of the laptop. I dont believe there is a better cooler out there (perhaps higher quality ones, but not better)

 

That cooling pad is quite interesting. My only question about it is if I put a fan under the air intake ( the hole in the middle ) will it really help much, or will it just hinder the air intake? That's the only thing really keeping me from buying it off amazon right now.

 

Cooling pads don't help much, its more to raise the laptop for air intake and for comfort on your lap.

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If you wanna spend money on a cooling pad that's up to you. Personally I just use bottle caps and it works great.

Sent from my Asus Transformer tf101 running Revolver 4

 

Bootmgr missing .... I tried a reinstall but windows can't pick up my hard drive? Help please.

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Fixed it! I disabled Intel rapid storage in the bios, and did a windows repair re enabled it rapid storage, and now all is well

65C is pretty cool, When I got my laptop, I was surprised the temps were so low! You won't really have any problems with over heating etc. If the cooling pad gives you peace at mind go for it! or if you can get one cheap! (Got a coolermaster ergonomic stand for 2$ )

but bottle caps would do the job

 

Agreed. Get the Notepal U2 instead of the U3 for $20 off of Amazon, return it in a few days if you don't think it works but it will, it has its rep for a reason. I'm getting mine in the mail tomorrow lol.
Its cheaper than the U3 and will work similarly, and you can always get a higher-powered thermaltake fan to attach to the chassis for around $10.

Cooling pads work, depending on usage.. just don't expect instant refrigeration

 

Interesting. I think what I'll do is wait for the laptop to arrive (supposedly tomorrow, called in and talked to a sales rep), play with it for a few days and monitor the temps. If they seem fine with the bottle caps, then I'll hold on the cooling pad. Thanks for all your help guys I'll post if I have any troubles with it once it arrives.

 

Thanks ,

can you please post a ssd bench and compare with the same ssd on r3 and r4?

It is for verify that the sata controller works good on R4 (or better than the R3)

 

I can only do the R4 I have now if that is any use for you to find comparisons just let me know what bench is best? I never went down the path of benching the SSD. I did run something once on the R3 that reported I was running in SATA2 so I backrevved the BIOS to A08 and it showed as SATA3 so I never went any further.

I can say this one takes around 5 seconds longer to load windows though. Probably just some windows thing but the R3 would jump to the desktop just before the windows logo finished 'assembling'. This one few seconds longer.

 

I just saw the Verge's review of the R4, and in the photos of it the Intel and Windows sticker were on the palmrest.

That's ... classy.

 

I agree with the classiness of that positioning... So I moved them gently to underneath the battery. Little alcohol and no trace they were ever there.

 

i have posted this in another thread but theres more people in here to help

ive just ordered a M17X R4 with the 3820QM ivy bridge i7, 16GB RAM, and the 2GB 7970M GPU....

payments gone through and its now in production and then i go and hear that the 680M will be an option within the next month... bad move or good move to order the 7970M?!

from what im reading the 680M will offer 5-10% more than what the 7970M will!yet the 7970M offers better overclocking potential (which i would prefer not to do as im not confident enough in my abilities to overclock safely) so if im not going to be overclocking the 7970M should i have waited for the 680M which sounds more 'noob' friendly or have i made a good purchase?

how good a system have i ordered really and for how long will i be playing new release games for? 1 years,2 years, 3 years...? as tech seems to move quickly!!

i guess after spending £3000+ im hoping that the machine i have ordered is more than a match for 50+ fps in BF3 and will be future proof for at least 4 years playing new release games (far cry3, crysis 3 etc etc) before ultimatly i move over to a desktop which i hope to build myself!

so im calling on the pro's in the forums to give me a heads up lamens term explanation! rep+ for any help!! cheers in advance.

 

No need to double post your questions. It'll get answered soon enough.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...w-alienware-m17x-gtx-680m-10.html#post8639471