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

Yes and yes (but the array will be sata II since the msata port is sata II - but not noticible on an SSD IMO.) Or you could leave it speeding up the original HDD

 

Thanks for the reply so in your opinion I should move the hdd to the 2nd slot put the new ssd to the 1st and cache the msata to the hdd?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

Yes. Even easier, just put in the new SSD, change the boot order in the bios and fresh install windows. You still have the original installation then until you are happy with the new install and you can format the old drive later.

Edit: You don't need to do anything with the caching this way either as it's in firmware and will still be operational (it only uses the windows IRST software to configure it)

 

Awesome thanks for your help mate really appreciate it.

One more quick one I have read through the fresh install process and the AW look and feel part as well in doing this does it actually look like when you first got the laptop or do you lose some of the features??

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

You're very welcome!

I used the windows cd that came with the machine and it looked exactly the same as the AW factory install. I used the drivers cd that came with it as well before updating them from the dell site just to be sure. Strangely, using the AW windows CD it did not even ask me for a license #. It went on-line and authenticated by the time I got around to checking.

 

Its exactly the same mate, i did mine the other day aswell.

If you get a second unplug the power and restart with the switchable GFX card (Fn + f7) and see if your laptop boots up, mine just beeps at me until i plug it back in :/ - Adam

 

Sweet as thanks again guys!! Now I'm hanging to get the 512gb 840 pro.

Will do mate as soon as I get home.



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

when i unplug it and pres FN+F7 it says Your graphics solution is automatically configured for optimal performance also when i go into task manager only the gtx 675m comes up is that supposed to be right??

Edit: just read that because I have the 3d 120hz screen the integrated graphics are automatically disabled sorry I can't help you on that on

 

Well it looks like everything works fine when plugged in.

So when you're on battery, it goes to the iGPU... and gives you the beeps when you try switch to the Nvidia card?

Doesn't this somehow confirm that without being plugged in, the Nvidia card can't get enough power... So IMO there's gotta be something wrong with the card or your battery, perhaps a fresh windows install would help :S but this is really stange

 

Yeah thats pretty much it, for some reason without being plugged in my nvidia card cant be detected. For a while lastnite it was working in iGPU mode and the nvidia card was detected, i shut down and restarted a few times and it was still there then when i booted up this morning it was gone again. After i plugged the power in it took a couple of restarts to detect it again...

- Adam

 

Just a word, I notice that my GTX 680M is not detected as running when under battery mode, unless I run a program that actually needs it, HWinfo 64 does not detect it if its not being used/idle. When running a game or itunes (forcing the nvidia gpu to be used) then it will show under HWinfo as it's actually doing something. Also you might want to check which power plan your on, it might be preset to avoid the discrete gpu when under battery, it should be in the advanced setting of the power plan management.

 

Mine doesnt even show in bios without power attached, the power plan i have is balanced maybe i should try a different one? - Adam

 

Probably a power management setting hiding it form the bios when under battery mode (may be on efficiency mode when on battery hence no discrete gpu is required under bootup). I don't really check the BIOS for if there is the discrete gpu detected, as long as the taskbar icon is working when it should be then I'm happy, shouldn't ever really need to boot up in discrete mode only, especially on battery.

Under battery mode if you force a program to run under the discrete GPU and the taskbar icon shows it then you should be fine, shouldn't have to be checking the bios for it. HWinfo 64 does not even see I have a gtx 680m when i launch it under the integrated graphics, only when its being used will HWinfo 64 see that I have a discrete GPU. I don't think you have to worry too much, as long as optimus is working you should be fine.

 

Under battery mode i dont even get the option to run under discrete GPU, there is no trace of anything Nvidia on the system at all, its asif it needs more power to even detect the card when it boots up - Adam

 

Hello,

I would to purchase an additional power supply for my m17x R4 and want to make sure if this is the right power supply. It says it's for the R3 but I believe it's the same one:

240-Watt 3-Prong Additional AC Adapter with 6 ft Power Cord for Select Dell Alienware Laptops / Precision Mobile WorkStations : Laptop Accessories | Dell

Is that the correct power supply for the R4?

 

Tried looking on amazon for them? I bought mine (amazon uk) for £40 for a OEM one, is exzactly the same but cheaper.

 

I'm posting this for my friend whose screen recently started displaying small vertical purple lines where white should be. This issue is noticeable even when booting. His laptop still plays games fine, doesn't crash, and displays correctly to an external monitor. Attached are photos showing the issue.

issue - Imgur

Anyway, we were wondering what to do. I think it's probably the screen (or maybe the connection? Is it worth taking apart to check?), but the laptop is no longer under warranty.

 

I had this, on very rare occasion, on my VAIO F11. I believe it to have been the connection, as it only ever happened after closing and transporting it.

 

@Leo Any luck yet, bro? TBH, at this point I'd respawn to factory settings and get the GPU and screen replaced if the problems persist.

EDIT: Actually, just the GPU since it seems to have no video on external monitor as well. Depends on how sure you are you are correctly booting with the monitor attached. One sure fire way to tell is to disconnect the on board LCD cable.

 

No luck gonna have to sort out DHL shipping stuff asap

I'm not gonna disconnect the on board LCD cable... I was just wondering what EXACT key presses I gotta do to get it running on the external monitor. Mini displayport to VGA

About respawn, I have a ton of stuff on my hard drives already :| how does the whole respawn process work?

Thanks,
Leo

 

hey guys i just got my 3d M17x r4 gtx675m i7 3720qm recently and i was wondering if my performance on doom 3 BFG with patch 1 is normal. All maxed sliders 16x AA 32x Motion Blur and im avging 5x fps. I was just curious as 5x fps for an old game seems low. I've never played doom3 b4 so i don't know how demanding its suppose to be

 

If I'm not mistaken, Doom 3 is somewhat demanding. But no matter what game if you go to x16, x32 ... that is really taxing for the graphics card. Try lowering the Antialiasing a bit and see how it goes. Ultra high shadows are also very taxing.

 

I've come back to Windows 7. I tried to get comfortable with the Windows 8 interface and overcome some technical issues I was having with some of my games but I finally gave up and restored my Windows 7 image. I booted up and it was just like putting on a pair of old comfy slippers! I realized how hard I had been trying to convince myself to like Windows 8. I may do a fresh install down the line but for now I am nice and cozy

 

Glad to hear that reechings

My rep told me my Alienware was going to be shipped with Windows 8, so I thought aww yeah I'm getting free upgrade

But then it arrived with Windows 7 and honestly I am SO happy it did

 

I'm happy for you Leo

I've run dual-boot Win 7 + Win 8, and after a week of playing with Win 8, I couldn't convert on a normal usage PC, my downstairs media tower PC and my little sister's PC are all using Win 8 now, for it's smoothness and sleekness. For me? Win 7 is still the champ for day-to-day usage.

If any of you have ever had a WP7 phone (windows phone 7) or a WP8 (windows phone 8) phone, the interface is literally identical.

 

Yeah and you still have the $15 dollar upgrade option that I took advantage of so you can try it out later if you want. Best of both worlds having it come with Windows 7 I think.

Yeah I liked the interface for the most part. I think I might have had a few issues because I did the upgrade instead of new install. I had a weird thing going on where I couldn't enable/disable the wireless through a desktop shortcut properly (had to do this as "airplane" mode would also disable my bluetooth which I didn't want to do) and I also didn't like how whenever I copied files it would always show the progress in a window in the background that I would have to switch to see. I will probably try it again when I get bored.

 

I don't understand why you would need a desktop shortcut like that :S when there's already a button for that

 

I'm running Win8 on mine and love it, but I'm not using the metro, I've added "classic start" from Ninite and it works great... Just like working in Win 7 for the most part, but I can switch to the Metro if I want to...

The only thing really missing from 8 is the old MS games.

 

You could always dual boot reechings! What I did was dual boot, and when I didn't want or like it anymore, I went back in windows 7, I went to disk management, deleted that partition, and merged the Win 7 OS w/ the Unallocated space. Literally took 5 seconds on my laptop. It worked without any errors too! Boot up went back to a normal bootup with windows 7 popping up instantly.

I think you can get that in the MSN store for free. Unsure as I only plyaed for a little bit lol!

For the interface, i'm still not use to diagnostics within the OS yet, sort of why I didn't switch over yet.

 

I never did try one of those programs that brings back the start menu so that may be a consideration if I try it again.

I didn't dual boot because I have my SSD filled up pretty good already and just wanted to try it out for 24/7 usage, might be a nice way to break myself in to it slowly down the line. I am also more comfortable with the interface in the background as well plus I do like the Aero glass etc. better on Windows 7.

I mostly didn't like that Windows 8 would override your settings for the Wireless disable button on the media bar to automatically do "Airplane Mode". You can set if you want it to disable Wireless and/or Bluetooth in our BIOS and Windows 7 will do what you set it to.

 

Hey guys! I recently ordered an M17x, and when it arrives I would like to reinstall the OS. The OS will come by default in french (ordered off french site as I live in france but I am British), and I was wondering if the Windows 7 install disc that comes with the laptop will be multilanguage so I can reinstall it in English? Thanks!

 

Yeah, you go through the usual language/locale selection so it should be OK.

 

Thanks for the quick response! Should be getting this Beauty pretty soon!

 

Hi guys. I just wanna ask, why is it that every time I click my guild wars 2 short cut a window will prompt and will notify me that the program is making changes on windows, and after that the monitor dims. I tried setting the notification to lowest level, restart the laptop, and still get the same results. any tips?

 

You said lowest level, is that DO NOT NOTIFY? Or is it DO NOT DIM?

P.S. I find this little gadget useful It prevent unwanted software to auto-install itself

 

is the wireless card upgrade just plug and play? my current wireless card is Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 With Bluetooth 4.0.
is it worth upgrading to killer wireless?

 

From most of m17x owner's posts, it is worth it, I dont find it necessary though, as my wireless is fine for me Plus I get bluetooth (unless the killer wireless N gets bluetooth too).

 

Yes, it can be worth it. If you game and do lots of downloads, it will make sure that your gaming gets priority bandwidth, or any other program you specify.

Yes, Killer Wireless N1103 comes with Bluetooth. Yay!!!

 

Personally I don't use wifi, I have an ethernet cable... But I still got the Killer wireless in case I go to a friends house, or coffee shop, airport, etc.

If you are literally gonna be using wifi for hours and hours every day, especially if you don't have super high bandwidth. I think paying like $20 more is most definitely worth it. If you're gonna be using primarily wifi for the next few years, don't skimp a couple bucks on it...

I think the killer wifi could have longer range than the other ones, so if your router is far or a couple walls away.. Go for it

 

Thanks for the insight!

Thanks for the insight!

--------------

It's just plug and play right?

 

Well if you're buying it separate and installing it yourself... I'd assume the only thing you have to do is wipe the old wifi drivers and install killer wifi drivers... but I'm not sure

 

I think the bluetooth on the killer 1103 is provided by a dell 380 card on my R4 with factory killer wireless.

 

That's awesome! I did not know it came with bluetooth, because when I read it, it didn't say any options besides it being a Killer Wireless card.

Ahh... so it is separated?

 

Yup its entirely separate for both the m17x r3 & r4. I forget where the module is exactly though, just that it is somewhere on the mobo

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix

 

Ohh..... the Centrino card has built in bluetooth though, correct? And thanks for the info bigtony!

 

I went with the intel 6250 Wireless because I wanted to wirelessly stream to my tv, all the while not thinking it through, as the 3D R4 can't use the Intel iGPU hence cannot use WiDi that I use for my tv. ugh.

 

I wouldn't be to worried about it. The killer card isn't a huge deal breaker. If you really want one though, they can be found on amazon for around $60.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix

 

Hey guys i just ordered some corsair vengeance 1866mhz 8gb ram and was wondering if it would be better to run the corsair by themselves and upgrade later or to run it with the stock memory at lower speeds. Has any one tried mixing the corsair with the stock samsung before, will it work ?

 

Just food for thought, but did you know you can stream any video from your AW to your TV wirelessly if the TV is connected to a router? Right click movie file (.avi, .mpeg, etc. etc.) click on "play to" and select your television.

 

Is it normal for an empty HDD caddy to come without the screws to attach a second HDD into it? I got an unprepared surprise and had to take 2 screws from the other caddy to attach this one to the caddy.