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

Here you go:
Drivers and Downloads

 

Just have to remember that even in IGP he had the system on High Performance and AlienFX on and he got around 5 hours ET which is great. Unlike the nVidia Optimus which still need to be on power saver with alienFX off.

So you just have to ask yourself. If your going to use your laptop for surfing web and work related activities do you want to still have functionality or can you comprimise mind you you will have to knock an hour off again to surf the web with the WiFi on on unfortunately.

In my opinion the ATI system and its abilities to give a greater increase in battery without diminishing performance greatly is what I want in a computer like this.

I think that 3D is still far away from becoming a standard as it does not cater for everyone in the public. Innovations like the 3DS glasses less free screen is one great step and is turning out to be a better experience not say that but you don't have to were glasses which subsequently dim the room by 40% and make you look dumb.

 

Ahh.. Convincing me to exchange for 6870. Damn whoever convinced me to get the 460m.

Further convincing me to exchange.

Word.

 

Why don't you wait until the 6970M comes out? it should only cost $100-$150 more than the 460M

 

Don't need it. Trying to save as much money as possible. Also, I'm going for battery life, so the more powerful GPU won't give me that

Vertex2 is an SSD right? If I'm using the regular HDD, I'll have less battery life, right? Also, 2720qm will take more battery life away also, right?

4:22 still not as good as the 5hours that Usshell got though

 

Stop complaining! my r2 gets 1:30mins if im lucky hahaha

 

I don't know why people have the laptop settings on "High performance", the CPU will have turbo on 100%. Set it to balanced then change your settings.

I tried this on my sager, seemed to work well http://forum.notebookreview.com/6679028-post466.html

 

I have to agree with this - if you are benching, then sure - go with High Perf. If you are just plugged in @ the desk and are gaming, surfing the net, etc., set it to balanced. I find that this tends to introduce the least amount of issues. For the balanced profile, I will change the sleep default for plugged in to never.

Works for me. No negative impact to gaming.

 

Do not understand people unhappy with 3, 4 and five hours with a gaming laptop on battery power. If I want to surf the web, read a book, or watch a video while on the go, I use my iPad for 10 hours at less than a pound!

 

Cuz we don't have enough money to buy 2 computers. We have been waiting for a jack-of-all-trades computer like the R3. Ideally, IGP should be like other computers with IGPs, and pump out 5hours. Re: the GPU, personally I don't mind if it gets 3 hours. Even 2 hours would bring a smile to my face. The most important thing is getting lots of battery life with the IGP. Why else would it have been invented?

 

All things to all people, I too wish it. But it's like cars. You cannot get the utility of a Honda van and still get the performance like a Porsche.

Really though, folks that pop two grand plus on an alien ware can pop another 500 for an iPad.

 

I guess this doesn't apply to me. I spent 1311.80, which was a pain enough as it is. And I'm not guaranteed of receiving it either, even though aafes already charged me. Dammit.

 

If you were charged, you will get it.

 

Are you fer shizzle? Fer sheezy? Ferreal? I hope you are I really don't mind receiving it with the "faulty" board, cuz they're gonna replace it eventually anyways.

Comeon Dell, pull through damn you!

 

Ditto on the charge and payment due 3 Mar 11. My EDD is 18 Feb 11, however have heard nothing. I emailed AAFES today and the reply said someone should get back to me in 72 hours. I asked them to contact Dell and get status as I didn't intend to wait until April for a laptop they took money for in Jan...

 

Can you PM me when you get your reply? They took my payment very soon after my order date of 1/28.

 

Hmm, thought Dell didn't take the money until it was fully built and about to be shipped?...

 

I got charged by aafes, who paid the money to Dell. Which means that technically I got charged, right? So they better send me my computer, right? Otherwise, TOTALLY unfair. But of course, the techsupport guy I sopke to today said that I'd have to talk to Customer Care about this, and most likely if they were to issue a refund, it'd go from Dell to aafes and then to me. So once again, even in a refund, I have to go through this damn middle-man type situation.

 

That would be the case with Dell direct orders Meraki, but with ordering through a 3rd party they get their money up front before it's even built. I hope all turns well for you dookie but I'd imagine there's no guarantees at this point, best bet you have is to just remain calm and semi-unattached to the situation then call Dell on Monday morning.

 

EZ for you to say, bro. I've never prepaid for anything before, except preordering SC2 and waiting like 5months for it hahaha. Before that, was preordering PSP when it first came out, and that was like 6+months waiting, but they were both guaranteed, and nowhere close to $1.3k :[

Monday morning it is For now, I'll try to learn as much as I can through these threads about the 460m and the 6870.

 

Dude call AAFES Customer Service and canel the order and tell them you want a refund.. It shouldnt be an issue. I canceled my order and had refund within 72 hours. Have you tried this?

 

I think he's avoiding it

 

I don't want to cancel. Calling them and simply cancelling isnt hard at all. It's just the headache because of verifying this n that, cuz my brother's on the high seas somewhere right now. Also, I had the 30% off deal, which isn't easy to get back again... So yes, avoiding it

 

I was having huge issues with the clean install on the R3 (was BSODing left, right and center). Even tried the BatBoy's modifications to nVidia's 266.58 driver (i'm running non-3d version of 460m) but, alas, still had BSODs on reboot 80% of the time. Naturally reverted back and forth with clonezilla images with partially installed drivers from the Dell downloads site but the order of driver install didn't change much - it will be fine for a reboot or 6 but then will start BSODing like it was already december of 2012.

I did notice, though, that couple of BSODs mentioned sdbus.sys driver (realtec's card reader) so i started considering that being the culprit and not the video. Naturally i uninstalled it and disabled the device - several hours of BSOD-less experience.

I was trying to figure out what did Dell do differently with the original setup that did't cause BSODs. Then I recalled that before wiping the default installation (I'm using Intel's 120G SSD as OS drive), I copied the expanded drivers directory Dell had on C: drive. So, suspecting that, perhaps, the card reader's driver i downloaded was somehow corrupt, i installed the driver from that directory. Guess what? I'm still configuring the hell out of the R3 (installing and personalizing), rebooting quite often just to be sure, but I'm yet to see another BSOD on the current install.

I don't know if that would work for others having issues with clean install (no, I didn't have SSD-related issues like others do with their OCZs, Intel's SSD was visible with the default install as a secondary drive so I was able to update its firmware and then turned off the RAID in BIOS) but if you're BSODing on reboot, try booting in safe mode (F8 during boot) and uninstalling and/or disabling Realtek's card reader.

If anyone needs the driver that Dell left on the hard drive by default, I can try to zip it and upload somewhere.

Naturally, I will update if I see another BSOD.

 

Well the good news now is that Dell has at least a month to fix all the issues have you been experiencing before the re-release of the M17X R3.

 

I am making a change and switching from a desktop to a laptop. The M17x R3 caught my eye right away. I am a geek to the core. Software engineer for almost 22 years. So trading in my beast of a desktop and going to a mobile lifestyle isn't going to be easy but I have to say this laptop is impressive. That all said...

I am not really that into 3D but the 120hz screen is awesome but only available with the nVidia card. Does anyone know when the 6970 will be available? I need to buy as soon as the laptop is for sale again. Because the screen is so good I may buy with the great screen and install a 6970 later. Does anyone know if the 6970 will drive the 120hz screen?

Also, anyone with some inside information on when they will be for sale again? When the version with the 6970 is released will there be any changes other than the video card?

 

As it stands right now the 6970 is official but there is no set release date, all we know for sure is that the M18x will have it and no release date on that either.

AMD Radeon HD 6970M reviewed: major leap from HD 5870M, not quite a GTX 485M -- Engadget

Dell Alienware M18x Gaming Laptop | Gadget Review Blog and Shopping Guide :: ConnectionPros

Next, the screen. Nvidia has their own 3D software so I highly doubt that an ATI card will be compatible.

Lastly, no one knows when sandy bridge is coming back... It could anywhere from 1 to 3 months depending on how fast intel can fix their own mess . As for changes when the 6970m is released, there have not been any announced but a lot of people are hoping that Dell will "introduce" the RGB led or even a B+RGLED screen.

If you are looking for a laptop that has the power of desktop then I suggest you get the M18x. Since it will have everything the M17x has and more; and it should come out the same time that the 6970m does.

 

New to the posting on the forums here, but long time reader. I've been planning on buying an alienware laptop since the m17x r1, and I have finally saved up enough cash to afford the r3. I can get an epp discount, but that only adds a 2% discount. How in the world were you able to get it up to 30% total? Good rep, dumb luck, or some other discounts? I'm only 17, and this is a massive purchase for me so i want to save every penny possible. Thanks!

 

The 6970M was available on the European Alienware websites before the Intel recall so i have no doubt that it will be available once the R3 is available again. Not sure about the 6970M with a 120Hz screen, in the manual it does show 2 120Hz screens (3D bundle and without) although when you select the 3D bundle 120Hz screen you have to pick the Nvidia card.

You will probably have to wait until the end of February that's when manufacturers should get them, and hopefully be available come early March.

AAFES discount, and probably a little haggling with the sales rep. Most i got was $100, other times, free gear and warranty.

 

AAFES discount. My brother's in the Navy. They had a 30% off deal up through 1/27.

 

ok. just got off the phone with my dell rep.

they are unable to exchange out my 6870 with a newer 6970, due to stock shortage and also due to hardware limitations(according to dell's engineers)

she also mention that it will only be around march or april before the R3 comes back out for sale, due to intel's blunder with its chipset.

the only good news that i managed to get from her was that all R3 owners will have their "return" period extended till such a time until intel/dell has fixed the chipset problem. the only issue is that you wont be able to do a return. you will only be allowed to do a replacement, meaning you will have to get back a R3, but you can change it's components since they will be building a brand new one for you. e.g change from 2630 to 2720 or from 460 to 6970.

do keep in mind that the rep i spoke too only handles singapore and malaysia's cases. so it might not apply to the US.

 

that sale at AAFES was still going on when i ordered mine on the 31th. got $1100 off a loaded r3. still showing an EDD of 2/21. got the 4 year adv warr so they can ship with a bad MB. also i heard the raid is on a different port.

 

Hate to put it this way, but AAFES sale != Dell sale. AAFES is not oblidged by Intel to honor a recall, Dell is. So, just because AAFES is still selling it, Dell probably will not be shipping it untill the fix is in.

 

I see. I knew military discounts were good, but that is impressive. In that case i guess I am going to have to stick with my teeny tiny discount. Oh well.

 

Anyone have any news as to when the R3 will be back up for sale in the US?

 

See this post here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...sandy-bridge-issue-what-does-mean-m17xr3.html

 

AAFES is not the people who you're buying it from. It's actually like a middleman service. Though they technically "own" the machine right now (my order information according to the csr has aafes's phone number on it, and warranty is registered to them but I just have to change it when I receive my unit), we're still buying from Dell. It's just that we got billed by AAFES. Also, returns n stuff go through Dell then back to aafes, so aafes is in charge of giving you back your money. Also, aafes has a Dell rep, so we can go through him/her for this kinda stuff.

Furthermore, the aafes service is basically an EPP discount, so you're still really just buying from Dell, cuz the shipping/billing info still has your name on it when you call dell. The only thing that they don't have is your phone # for some reason, and have aafes' instead. Hope this helps us though.

They offer 20% atm. And as always, they offer no tax and free shipping. No tax is part of the aafes system, and free shipping I'm guessing is cuz it's a type of EPP benefit ?

 

My EDD is for 2/17.

Just wanna know,how does the quality feel?I just bougth an m11x a mont ago and im happy whit the quality.Is it similar,better or wrost?

Also what about the tickness?I just cant imagine for now but would it be possible to use it on a plane in economic class?

Its my first 17 inch laptop so sorry for my noobness XD.

 

I have used my R1 on the plane multiple times (and my rear has never touched a first class seat )

It is a monster and smothers the tray table, but it can sit there. You will have to have the screen tilted towards you though if the jerk in front of you puts their seat back (I hate when people do this.....laptop or not)

 

Hmmm, that's odd about the 6970M, they did offer it on the Dell European website, I can understand shortage, but hardware limitations?

I'm hoping The R3 will go on sale late Feb early March. Intel is sending out the chipsets late February.

 

Received my order today (cancelled dell ordered new in box from an ebay seller)

I am FREAKING EXCITED. I just spent 20 minutes playing with the LED's

Will be writing my reviews, etc., here shortly

By the way:

Intel ships Sandy Bridge chipsets again, but should you buy one? | Crave - CNET

Laptops might get sold again

 

Congrats and enjoy, feels like Christmas as a kid again...

Looks like April for the updated R3s....

 

You'll be happy I am.

I am creating my alien respawn USB stick right now (just bought a 16gb)

Reformatting as RAID-0 then restoring. Will report back after completed.


Mmm... 1.5TB of space :>

 

Are any of your HDD's or Blu/DVD conected to the SATA II ports? I ordered mine with raid 0 and a blu-ray.

 

the optical drive is the one and only drive connected to sata2

 

Thank you.

 

But mid-Feb for non-updated-guaranteed-to-be-fixed-eventually R3s ?

 

Ok.

Heh apparently I am not allowed to to F My Life It removed the letters O_O

Created alienrespawn, rebooted, enabled raid-0, booted off the USB stick, the alienrespawn utility is BROKEN, the system recovery is broken...NOTHING was properly written to the USB stick. GOOD JOB DELL >_< !!!!!!!!!

Now I am reinstalling from the CD.

How do I get the alienrespawn properly made

 

Ok, I am seriously destined not to have a damn laptop.

"Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware."

I don't get it.

EDIT: Made a thread if anyone can help: Click here

 

Messed up Sata port!