*OFFICIAL* M17xR3 Owner's Lounge Thread - Part 2

Welcome to Owner's Lounge for the Alienware M17xR3 (part 2)!
(part 1 is here and part 3 is here)

This thread is a place to discuss your new M17xR3 and share information on your system with fellow owners.

Below are some handy links -

** http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...idia-geforce-460m-580m-560m-see-post-1-a.html

Manuals, Teardown, Drivers, etc.

System Teardown -
*To be added once Dell adds it to their official youtube channel.

Manuals (Owners Manual and Service Manual) -
Documentation

M17xR3 Drivers straight from Support.Dell -
Drivers & Downloads
(note: drivers are not yet available yet however Dell has created the landing page for the 17xR3 downloads)

Dell Released Parts List for 17xR3 -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/550787-m17xr3-part-number-list-reference-thread.html

Benching, Overclocking

Overclocking -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/560044-m17x-r3-overclocking-sort.html

Benchmarks Discussion
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/455435-official-m17x-benchmark-thread-part-3-a.html

Misc. Links

Owner Answered FAQ/etc. -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ntly-asked-questions-read-before-posting.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/563332-widi-wihd.html

Order Status Discussion -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/487300-m17x-order-status-discussion-part-3-a.html

3D Capability/Discussion -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...7xr3-3d-discussion-questions-tips-thread.html

Bags, Backpacks, Cases & Sleeves -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ags-backpacks-cases-sleeves-discuss-here.html

Clean Install -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...er-install-order-guide-alienware-systems.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ook-feel-after-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

***IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE PERFORMING A CLEAN INSTALL WITH AMD GPU***

•For M17xR3 with AMD, install the AMD Display Driver first. Once done, the Intel Driver must be installed when in Integrated Mode. You will need to use the FN+F7 to switch over to Intel. A reboot may be necessary. Once done, install the Intel HD driver. Once installed, switch back over to your AMD GPU.


http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...are-diagnostics-your-m17xr3-resource-dvd.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I will add more content as the community begins to receive their systems and create threads/how-to guides. When you receive your system, a few ideas for threads follow:

1. M17xR3 Tweaks Guide
2. ?????
3. ?????

Congrats on your system purchase! Once you receive it, feel free to show it off... pictures, benchmarks, etc. Have fun!

Related Launch Media:

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/FxwbRlxJFoQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/FxwbRlxJFoQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height='385'></embed></object>

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/iRM4P7SvLtM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/iRM4P7SvLtM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height='385'></embed></object>

(Thanks to vikingrinn for the heads-up on the videos)

 

NOTE: For those of you running into a Control Panel issue with IDT (sound driver), see this post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...driver-v6320-released-3-16-a.html#post7263703

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/456885-aw-dell-ordering-advice-how-save.html
(not sure how easy it will be to obtain a discount since the system just launched but its worth a try)

When posting about Order Status, please use this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/487300-m17x-order-status-discussion-part-3-a.html

 

Awesome, can someone make some videos of their r3 (more in depth) Ordered mine on the 7th... and cant get enough!!!!

 

Already on a part 2, that was quick! The R1 OL is still i part 1 I think haha

 

I plan to in about a week.

 

If you're using a new OCZ SSD, you'll probably want to read this. (if using SSD with updated firmware, just know that you can't use RST 10.x at all - RAID not possible on r3 with gen2 OCZ sandforce SSD!)

EDIT: No info regarding gen3 sandforce OCZ ssd

 

WOW !! I dont own a R3 but that is messed up.

 

I have the Alienware M17x with Intel Core i7 2630QM 2.0GHz and added on the 1.5GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M. I am not sure that I am getting the best performance out of the GPU with this "Optimus" tech that is included. Base don what I have read teh IGPU has to stay active. Does teh Nvidia control pannel realy route the high end stuff to the dGPU? Recently tried the DragonAge II demo on highest possible settings and it ran bad. But I am not sure that it was running through the dGPU.

 

highest possible settings = DX11, which was broken for the demo.

 

Thank you. Are you having any issues pushing the Card to its max? Are you using the utility? I was also having problems getting the drivers to update because when the driver update utility would run it would say it didn't detect the 460 and my only guess was the fact that the Optimus had it turned off.

 

Make sure you are whitelisting your game .exe's and setting them to use the NV GPU. Reference this tutorial (its for the 11xR2 but the process is the same).
YouTube - Nvidia Optimus Feature on the Alienware M11x- R2

linking to this since you did not state if you whitelised the title... just to be sure.

 

Hi Footy, it has been said that if you get the 3d bundle the Optimus isn't activated due to the screen(We have 120Hz and the integrated graphics can only support 60Hz). That being said I wonder if the 460m just can't handle DA2(highest).

 

performance is application dependent for me. Games will run near 100%, renders run near 100%, autocad + 3ds max + revit +CS5 run the GPU around 8%-15%

What utility? If you want to update the drivers, you'll have to modify an .inf for another verde release (or extremely modify a desktop release). Nvidia is not including the r3 in their verde drivers yet. It took around 3-4 months for the XPS 15 to be included in verde.

 

I am stoked. I just ordered one of these beasts, and I am very excited. I chatted online with an alienware rep, but I wasn't happy with what they could do with the price, so I called to talk over the phone with a rep (per someone's suggestion on here). She was able to take off about $250, as well as throwing in NBD shipping, mostly because I asked her to after she gave me the quote. Obviously it isn't a massive discount, but it's better than I would have gotten if I hadn't called, so whoever said to call and talk to someone about getting a discount is a hero in my book. Can't wait to get this thing in.

P.S. I got the non-3D model, so any discounts applicable to 3D wouldn't have applied to me.

 

Funny thing is in the control pannel, it only shows the Laptop monitor getting fed from the IGP and therefore teh Physix and 3D apear to only be able to out put to the HDMI not the onboard LCD.

 

You mentioned something about updating the driver. Need you to expand on what you did. Sounds like a driver issue...

Post what steps you took along with links to the drivers you updated (non-dell) - only want to know what you did in terms of the NV driver.

 

What BatBoy said, also it would be helpful to those attempting to help you if you could list your system specifications in your signature

 

Anyone on the forum has the M17X R3 with the 6970M yet?

 

I think zippy got his and he has a 6970M

 

Good job. Did they nix the tax for you?

 

Unfortunately not. That would have been awesome, since the tax was well over two hundred bucks. I take it people have gotten that done before?

 

Does not seem that he got it with the 6970M. I guess no one has an R3 yet with the 6970M.

 

Looks like bios A03 may be shared by the M18x?

source: http://support.dell.com/support/dow...dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=447315



The file is M17R3A03-W64.exe when downloaded.

 

LOL, you guys crack me up. It could well be a typo - the 8 is right next to the 7... Regardless, lets not derail the thread with speculation.

Issues with this - contact myself, Kamin or Charles via PM.

Thanks.

 

Has anyone updated to the new A03 bios? I just did and the computer now throws constant bsods and wont boot to wimdows even after a reinstall.

 

F2 back into the BIOS and go the last menu tab and choose "Load Defaults", save changes/exit.

See if that helps. As a rule of thumb, I always do this - cant remember where I read it, but I saw this somewhere. Always load defaults, save/exit after flashing the BIOS. After first boot, you can go back in and make your changes.

 

Tried that and it still does nothing, everything was at default both before and after the flash. Windows repair does nothing, the system bsod's going into windows normally or in safe mode. The flash was sucessful because the bios shows as the correct one. Something about this bios doesn't like my computer at all.

 

That sounds like the settings got switched between RAID/AHCI/IDE etc so its failing to load right before Windows fully boots..

 

re-flash A03. See if that resolves the problem.

 

I can't get back into windows, I guess it's time to steal the wife's xps

 

That sucks Dane :/ I guess your warnings to me were well grounded!
Maybe try linux? I'll throw you my A01 backup if you need it.

I kept getting bsod today, found out it was the logitech usb unified receiver thinggy though (designed to stay in computer, but causes BSOD...good thinking!)

 

Got it working again after a reflash but seems a bit laggy, I'd honestly stay away from this bios guys. Unless we find out there's something majorly beneficial to it don't install it.

 

What'd you do to reflash?
I hope this isn't going to be an ongoing issue with future bios. How do we tell Dell anyway?
:/ can't rep your for guinea pigging self yet

 

Does anyone know if the Samsung PM810 ships with the latest firmware/"Magician" utility tool?

I'd rather not spend my first day doing a clean install. Plus, I'm definitely going to upgrade the display drivers to 11.2.

 

Just redownloaded the dos version of the bios using my wife's computer, created a bootable flash drive of it and flashed. Not too much to it if you've ever had to do a flash drive dos boot of a BIOS file but it still seems a bit laggy. I may try to reinstall Windows again to see if it helps any. I really have to wonder if the shift to the B3 chipset may have some sort of conflict there. I tried to call AW and got a technician that didn't deserve to work fry's at McD's let alone AW tech support so I don't know at this point. I'm gonna call my DFS/Sales rep tomorrow and see if I can get a system exchange.

 

Whoaaa now. Not saying you dont know what you are doing Dane, but before anyone passes judgement give it some time. Bad BIOS flashes can happen on occasion - this may just have been the case with Dane. Dont jump to conclusions yet. Now if several report issues - yeah, then lets sound the alarm.

BTW, lets continue here -

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/561298-m17xr3-bios-a03-released-discuss-here.html

 

I have the 6970M and I got it on Tuesday, 3/8. Has anyone had trouble with their wireless card? I have the 6300N and it has stopped working 3 times now. It disappears from my Network Adapters in the Device Manager and I've tried turning it back on using the media keys but it keeps turning off/on the bluetooth adapter (when the wireless adapter is not showing up).

The only way I've got it to work again is to reinstall Windows. Restarts don't work, new/old drivers don't work, wireless media button doesn't work... It just happened recently and I noticed that I accidentally unplugged the computer and after I plugged it back in it stopped working. oh, I also opened up the laptop and re-seated the wireless card and that didn't work.

 

Could it be something in your power settings (under wireless performance)
On that note, what's your battery life like with the 6970

 

No problems with my 6300. Was your installed by Dell or aftermarket?

 

On Battery and Plugged In are both set to Max Performance. I haven't tested the battery life cuz it isn't my main computer. I can disconnect the adapter and just let it sit there but that's not really a good test of the battery life.

By Dell.

*edit* Also, I ran Intel PROSet Wireless diagnostic program and it says "Driver version does not support Intel PROSet/Wireless ...." even though it didn't give me this error before it stop working.

 

Even switching it to the IGP and letting it sit there would give us an idea zippys, anything helps

 

Maybe just disable sleep/hibernate, usb selective suspend and screen dimming/turning off to make it more fair

 

Yeah that would be great Zippys. See if it gets close to the 5 hours Laptop Mag reported. I want my cake and eat it too. LOL

 

Running it now. I changed all the settings that I would use if I was using it on a plane. No wireless, bluetooth, 25% dim, never turn off screen or hard drive, etc etc. I'll give you the % remaining before I got bed in 3-4 hours.

*edit* 5 hr. 11min at 15 minute mark. I'm not doing anything on it though.

 

5 hours, no wireless, 25% brightness, etc etc? Not bad actually. The laptopmag test says they run it at 40% brightness with wlan on, and the script that visits and refreshes certain websites all day long though, and they get 5+ hours.

 

nevermind, fixed it. It got disabled after I did some Windows Update and I had to "Show hidden devices" in Device Manager and then enable it again.

 

I actually test the battery life and with the settings i will like to use like wireless on and 50% brightness and is only 4 hours not bad but i don't know how they get 5 hours

if somebody interested in gaming performance here is couple runs from yesterday, with 6970,2720 games are max out but no AA
Crysis


Just Cause 2


Mafia 2


Resident E 5

 

BTW, Dell shipped my system without the PowerDVD disc or installation in HD. This is the second time for me they didn't include the PowerDVD even though I order with Bluray. However, I decided I wasn't going to use it anyway snice I purchased TotalMedia Theater 5 from arcsoft. However, it is annoying they keep forgetting to included the disc even though it is clearly listed in the BOM.

 

My M17X R3 is on route for delivery.