*OFFICIAL* M17xR3 Owner's Lounge Thread - Part 1

I would hope that MS would make it easier to do it with a legally valid copy but it just may be my ignorance.

By making it less than simple MS might sell another copy of an OS, OEM's might encourage people to just pay the higher price up front for the hardware configuration that they would rather make at a later time, but I am sure they have their customer's interest first.

 

How much simpler do you want it ? insert disk, install OS.....

 

So the OEM product key may not work with a retail disk installation?

 

I have never tried, but I dont think so....I dont worry about it.

 

Switching to an SSD drive after the purchase may be a bit more expensive than I originally thought - which is what Dr. J seemed to be hinting at a few posts earlier.

 

Dell does not provide the OS disk any longer. I suspect the "recovery disk" that Dell provides may not do an install from scratch.

Anyone add a second drive with a Dell provided recovery disk?

 

I repeatedly installed clean version of the OS on the notebooks using the product key from the bottom of the chasis and the retail windows disk (often it's impossible to install clean windows out of the recovery CDs make from the recovery partitions, no matter which manufacturer). Do not remember a single instance when it didn't work. The only trick is to get ALL the drivers, preferably prior to installation of the OS.

Last time I did that was with Windows 7 Home Premium Russian retail (don't ask ) and plain US Lenovo lappy that came with US english windows home premium with it's OEM product key. Still working fine across the pond after activation, pulling all the updates and displaying windows genuine logo.

Hope this helps

 

OK, like I said, I dident know and I dont worry about that. Plus, would that work if you change VERSIONS ? like go to ultimate from Pro ? I dont think so in that case and I always install Ultimate.

 

I never said anything about Dell provided OS disk.....

I said insert OS disk and install....I probably should have been more specific....insert RETAIL OS disk.

There better ?

 

Dell does not provide a retail OS disk which was part of my original question.

Without buying a retail OS disk, can you install an SSD and make it your boot drive using Dell provided reinstall software?


I'd bet a lot of people are going to upgrade their basic 320GB drive from Dell with a SSD sometime after receipt.

 

Thought this was interesting.

Here's the link to the technical specs for the R3: Tech Specs

Note the listing of the 2GB 485m under video.
Also lists 32gb of ram capable.

 

Correct me if i am wrong, but it was my understanding that you could call up support and have dell ship you the OS disk free of charge. You HAVE paid for it. they are just not shipping it out by default.

 

There's no guarantee on getting Dell to ship an OS disk, and when they do send disks a lot of times it's the "windows+dell crap" disk that they ship. There are ways of creating your own disk that are 100% legal, check out this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html
Doing a clean install of windows isn't as hard as some people are making it sound. Follow the instructions in that link to make a Windows disc, then download all the applicable drivers and make a drivers disc and you're ready to go.

Edit: And if you're buying a small SSD and want to do a stripped install of Windows to save space follow the instructions in this link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/516410-windows-7-optimized-ssd-install-5-5gb.html

 

Yea, like I said, download drivers, burn drivers to CD, install windows, install drivers, all done.

 

Oh awesome. 2 years is perfect for me and $150 is a great price. Hopefully I can get this when I order!

12GB should be fine. Know that you won't be running dual channel if you mix and match RAM like that, but dual channel is such a minor increase in performance its really not important anyways.

No. The key that comes on the bottom of your computer is an OEMAct license that is only designed to work with Dell recovery CD's. Microsoft added this "feature" in with Vista.

 

Interesting! First legitimate proof that the 485m will indeed be in the M17x R3!

Although its frustrating that the 6970m is not in that list. I wonder if someone copied the wrong video card to that list.

 

Is this an older or newer link? I do not see a way to get to purchasing the system from here. I can on other pages that don't include the 485 in the specs. I can not find a way to this page except through your link, though just because I can't does not mean that someone else can't. Seems that link does not list the same options identified in the manual. I guess there are other paths that seem conflicting besides this one such as savings, etc.

 

Anyone know how long the AAFES 30% off promo will last? I really want to save 30% but I also want to wait for 485m or 6970m to come out. Also what's the difference between 1080p 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz besides the refresh rate?

 

120Hz is what is required to be able to view 3D content.

 

I believe there is often truth to a rumor and the fact that so many different M17X R3 pages through out the world have mentioned the 485M that it must have some basis for it. I mean the Dell guys that write the website content don't invent it. They write it based on information given to them by their superior and they must have seen it written at some point to be able to post it on the website so many times in so many different countries.

I believe there is something internal going on at Dell were the 485M might have been one of the options to be proposed but something happened in the testing phase and they removed it last minute. (Pure speculation on my behalf)

 

Yes, without the 3D 120HZ screen you cannot see 3D. That is if you call a half inch depth 3D. We are far from holographic 3D coming out in the next 20 years.

 

I think you are right. I also think that the 'something' that happened was cost and availability. Adding $700 or so to a r3 shoots it into r2 territory and that was blowing well past the target price.

 

I'm not sure. If they are planning to keep pushing the 3D setup, why wouldn't they put a more powerful Nvidia card in the R3? It would not make sense for them to keep the 460m.

And what is their "target price" 5abivt? The R2 is most likely getting phased out and will be taken off Alienwares website soon. So you can't compare the two laptops prices and base any assumptions off of that.

 

Once the R2 came out the R1 stayed on the website almost a year. There is no way it's going away soon at least not until there is a strong replacement for it which means the M18X.

 

I think that u have to be in the military or know someone from the military to have access to such a huge discount

 

YouTube - Dell Alienware M17X R3

 

Mhm. Klipsch premium speakers...
That'll be interesting!

 

It's playing FFXIV nicely. That impresses me. I'm looking forward to the R3.

 

May have been answered already, but does anyone know if the Warcraft pre-installed software includes everything up to Cata or just WotLK?

 

So a few questions answered in that video. Klipsch speakers so maybe they will be good! You can transmit 3D through Wireless HD.

Also he said they won't be implementing Wireless HD until February or March. And you can game on Wireless HD and it seemed to be streaming quite well.

 

Wireless HD card, in February or march he say?mhm

 

I'm sure the card is right, just early.

 

It's not available for purchase, it's simply listed in the specs. Most likely someone added the card into the system early and didn't deactivate it's availability on the spec sheet, etc. So this pretty much is proof it will be available, the question is when.

Dell's site(s) are very complex which leads to these issues. They also do create deals that aren't public per se, and those deals can be hidden like this. They could even be a mistake (ie not supposed to be active yet).

 

Most likely it's availability or they need to iron out some tech issue before launch (such as power/voltage/etc).

 

There's probably good reasons why the R2 is still available, and it could also explain why the R3 isn't listing the 485 yet... they want to burn through R2 stock and who would buy the R2 at lower specs and a higher price than the R3? I sure wouldn't.

 

The whole 485 is speculation ONLY........so tell me again what good speculation does ?

 

Speculation? Hardly. And if you have some kind of issue with people posting specifics that show the card will be availble, well, you don't have to read the posts. But hey, I can understand the need to flex your virtual muscles now and then.

 

Regarding the Wireless HD capability. Here's the latest I have from Dell after a fairly extensive discussion with a sales rep and an Alienware product specialist. (I'm still not convinced but...)

Apparently if the correct Wireless card is purchased (supposedly the 3x3 card) then the system is wireless HD ready and just needs a receiver, such as this one from netgear.

I'm still not convinced however. The youtube video showed FFXIV being streamed and the presenter discussed the ability to also stream 3D as well, something that the Intel integrated graphics cannot do (and the wireless HD mentioned above uses the Intel graphics, not nVidia). I'm thinking that the R3 can support Wireless HD now but that it is likely not the same Wireless HD discussed in the youtube videos.

So folks when you speak to Dell about your system ask very carefully if the WirelessHD is the same WirelessHD shown at CES or if there is another card coming in March as others have hinted at. I'm tempted to wait if yes, but if it's something that can be retrofitted I'll be ok with that.

Edit: Just noticed this story (sure it's been posted before) taling about Sibeam's 60GHz WirelessHD that will be in the R3. This is definitely not the Intel WiDi. So I think the Dell reps have it wrong, or aren't being told about/allowed to talk about the unreleased adapter yet. My main goal is to determine if it can be added after the fact.

 

Any one who wonders why the nvidia GPU is only the 460m only needs to remember who is Ati's buddy ...who got the 5xxx series first?

Money and politics go a long way...

I personally just want my dang battery life and a final answer on what setup will let me use my dang optimus

 

Lets see, show me where it says the 485 is comming ? Also let me direct you a few posts and you can direct your comments to him:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/549347-anything-about-m17x-r3-485m.html the last post there

and also maby here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/548760-m17x-upgrade-485m-2.html

and maby here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/545754-any-chance-gtx-485m-being-offered-aw.html

and lastly: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-m17xr3-owners-lounge-thread-part-1-a-16.html half way down, by BatBoy, a moderator

Think that about coveres it, now, where did you see that official post by Dell that is or will be avaliable....thought so.

 

Feel better?

I'd say the Dell Public Spec Sheet I posted is pretty good proof it will be available. Let me link it again for you since you don't seem very capable of reading it yourself. Here you go!

And a direct copy and paste of the video section in case you can't make yourself click:

Video Card Options

M17x Core i7
1GB GDDR5 AMD RadeonTM HD 6870M1
1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M1
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M1

 

FYI on HD Wireless:

The service manual for the R3 shows a unique card for the wireless HD. I am not saying it is accurate, but it is in the service manual listed at the beginning of this thread. I guess it is possible that it could be the same card as the 3x3 card mentioned earlier. However, the section on the display panel also lists the wirelessHD card cable and Mini-Card antenna cables as two seperate items in the text, but does not identify the the Mini-Card antenna in the picture / table.

 

Because companies never post the wrong information on a web page.....
Or change their mind late into the game.....

I see you are new here, so you are not familiar with the 4870 GDDR5 fiasco that happened in the R1 in October 2009, trust me, until someone gets a GTX 485m (GETS not orders) it is not available in my book.

 

Here, let me resolve this little hiccup for you folks who are bickering about the 485M showing up on that specs page... Until you can configure the system with the 485, quit bickering about it... ok?

As Scook mentioned, we've seen typos before. It happens. Not the first time and certainly will not be the last time.

BTW, if you have issue with the above statement, PM ME.

 

Facepalm


Just order one from rjtech and go for it ... Where is speedy....

Still planning on getting one just have to line up my discounts

 

More FYI on HD Wireless

HD Wireless is different from Wireless Display. Page 16 and 17 of the R3 Mobile Manual (listed in the first post of this thread) explains things MUCH better including which technology is needed when! Better for you to read that then for me to try to repeat it

 

If you find a discount on the XM proc, hook me up. $1200 from RJtech is rough.

 

I know Speedy will try the 470 in the M17x but not so sure about the 485 since he does not have one on hand and that can be a rather expensive "Test"...

As for the $1200 XM proc ... LOL Hope it works Drake ..

 

I was just talking with Speedy, I didn't know he bought one.

 

Yeah he ordered one friday afternoon..

Like everything else he has to experience it first hand and just seeing pics was not getting it lol..

I doubt its a keeper with the 460m though unless the 470/485 works in it ..

He will never be happy with a single 460 compared to his dual 470 system.. But atleast he has a card to try on hand, though it would be far more interesting with the 485m and he knows that but the price of the 485s are just stupid $$...