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

Default clock are 680/900.

 

I have a question about the M17x. I plan on turning it into a hackintosh hybrid. However, is the graphics switching hardware controlled (BIOS), software controlled (Windows), or both? Also, if I get a 2720qm, would it be possible to disable some of the cores in the BIOS when I don't need them to get better battery life?

 

I believe the processor will dynamically clock itself and shutdown its cores when not in use. Stock I get around 4 to 5 hours on integrated GPU.

 

I will be using this laptop for engineering in college, as well as for dolphin X64 and PCSX2. How does this laptop perform? I saw dookie11 on youtube posting some videos, if anybody has some input please let me know performance and configuration!

 

That would be against NBR rules and the EULA to run OSX on a non branded apple hardware.

 

I'm not asking HOW to run it. I've worked on developing hackintosh for quite some time, so I'm familar with that part. What I want to know is if the GPU switching is Software or Hardware based (as in BIOS, or windows, or both). I want to make it clear that I am NOT asking for instructions on how to run OS X on the M17x

 

Yeah, it's a little frustrating when someone just notices a key word and focuses on that instead of what you are actually asking.

I will tell you this: The Clevo laptops are unable to use the integrated graphics due to Clevo disabling them in the BIOS.

Also, on my DESKTOP with Sandy Bridge, the integrated graphics are enabled and disabled via BIOS settings.

All signs point to this being more of a BIOS thing than software-based. Besides, don't Macs have switchable graphics? If there is a software aspect to it, I would think the software part is developed and accessible.

 

Sorry if you got frustrated but the question could've been asked without mentioning the purpose. It's just that discussions that target this purpose do not belong here for the reasons mentioned above and some of us want to keep our forum clean, was just a heads up.
@technos: there are two connectors on the mobo, one for the 120hz panel (on systems with the nVIDIA GPU only and not supported by the iGPU)and one for the 60hz ones. At start-up the BIOS simply detects the route it has to take and disables the iGPU for the route with the connector the 120hz plugs in. So it has to be BIOS bound.
Hope this answers your question .

Cheers

 

I haven't seen any mention of Powerplay. What is it?

 

It's an ATI specific thing: AMD PowerPlay? Technology

 

Can anybody with an R3 look around in the BIOS for me for any options for the GPU?

 

There are no options concerning GPU in m17x-r3 BIOS

 

I'm sure it's been asked but I was wondering your opinion:
Would you recomend selling my M17xR2 and buying an R3?
I currently am Maxed out on the R2 except for not having SSD's.
I was considering Maxing out the R3 with 1 SSD and 1 sata 7200.
Any advise? Personally I prefer a 16:10 ratio display but my warrenty has only 1yr left and for the cost of extending it I think I can sell the R2 and get an R3 with 4yrs warranty at about even cost.
Thanks,
R-

 

Why no intel xtreme processor offered in the M17x?

 

is it possible to add a blu ray burner to the m17x? I would think a laptop of this caliber would at least have the option of adding a blu ray burner....... any reason why there is no such option?

 

Give it time...

 

Might try asking the engineers of the M17 that, as I am pretty sure no one here was in on the design of the system....just a guess

 

Sorry I asked...lol The extreme edition is probably a massive waste of money, had one before, and it was outdated as fast as any other processor I've had....

 

The advantage to them is the ability to overclock easily and further than non extreme chips. With SB it is even more important since multiplier overclocking is pretty much the only option. If you get one for a good price it is easily worth it (like my QX9300 that I got for $505 brand new OEM)

 

yeah but putting a new processor into a laptop? sounds little scary,

 

It is not that bad....not any worse then a desktop....just smaller parts and harder to get too

 

In Alienware and Clevo machines, it's really dummy proof, when you can just remove a single panel and it's right there. I have yet to hear of anyone, in either forum, who damaged something during installation.

Now in Asus machines... it's a nightmare, with having to remove and flip the entire motherboard. That's partly why I won't buy their machines.

Pretty uncivil of you, no?

 

It is nearly a nightmare in my M17x R1...(same for the R2) where the processor is on top of the motherboard not on the bottom side. There is also a huge magnesium alloy plate that you have to take the whole dang laptop apart to remove it and get to the cpu underneath

Could be more accessible....that is something I LOVE in the M15x and M17x R3 designs (and the M17 from the past)

 

I got my M17x R3 motherboard replaced today. I am noticing more flex in the keyboard and the area where the multimedia buttons and power button are. It also seems that this area is bowed. I also noticed the power button LED is leaking through to the keyboard. Any ideas please

 

Why did you have it replaced? Just curious.

 

Not sure where to post this, and in all honesty it doesn't matter all that much in the end, so I'll forumz chat it for you all to read!

- Returned r3 due to hardware defects with promise of phenomenal discount and expedited assembly + shipping

- I had been setting up the re-purchase for a while with a specific sales agent, he kept trying to run my credit (buying with DPA) but I always said no because the refund had not yet been processed.

- Refund processed on Dell's side early this morning! Good news...so I emailed my sales rep...then found out that Dell Financial Services Canada would take another 3-5 business days to process the refund on their end. sadface! I need a laptop quickly!

- Called Mr. Lv2 that has been helping me out (great guy, very helpful) and explained what's up, so he escalated me to Regional Manager for Canada who promptly processed my order by pulling some weight - more great service! New laptop in production already

- Go home, eat, watch Stargate Universe, check email. Email there from the sales rep that I've been dealing with. It has a pdf attached....a financial contract? Congrats on purchasing an alienware! But it was already ordered, what's up?

Apparently the sales guy ran my credit without asking for my permission and made the sale in response to the information I gave him in the email this morning....so I now have 2 r3 on order. To be honest, I don't even know how this guy got my SSN and other info (need to run credit when doing installment plan sales even with my DPA).

random

 

That is a little startling if not upsetting. I ran into the same issue with tech support. They wanted to order me a brand new system, but I told them I would give them my card info until I returned the original unit. Are you going to file a complaint?

 

Not quite sure at this point. But most likely yes because...


I also decided to do a semi-yearly credit check/score on myself today. You know all those "soft checks" Dell says they're doing when you try to purchase with credit? Apparently they are full checks. My score went down almost 50 points due to TWELVE full credit checks in the past 6 months - 9 were from Dell (and only 1 was authorized).

Now I just need to figure out HOW to file said complaint.

 

There is a link on the better business bureau's website where you can file a complaint. That would be a good place to start.

https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx?siteID=113

 

BBB, foo. 10char

 

Hey dooks, Did they try to upgrade your system when you asked for a replacement?

 

nope. should I have?

 

I don't know, Well afaik kune and dangrclose had their replacement R3's with an upgrade hardware.

 

I got my first replacement with an upgrade (basically placed a new order but first got a confirmation that they'll accept a return upon my receipt of the new unit, got an RMA # and configured with upgrades on the phone). My second replacement, though, is exactly the same as I already configured everything i wanted. It's in the boxing stage now (past 2 days of the original EDD and 4 days away from the updated one).

 

So you also didn't pay for your upgrades m your first replacement?

 

I essentially got upgraded +1 year warranty, 2630QM - 2720QM, 460M - 6970M for no cost....and another $30 back

well...times two! Since they're building 2 r3 for me right now.

 

I paid for them but got the same discount (10%) as I had on my first order. Oh, and I was happy to pay the difference as I really wanted the 6970 which wasn't available at the time of the original order and I was past 21 days to return mine. Actually, when i started the whole replacement/return/upgrade lollapalooza, i was only 1 day past it and heavily-accented "manager" couldn't accept a return because i was out of the return period (and i know heavy accent, i'm russian)

Anyway, with SB fiasco and scratch on the screen where it touched the arrow keys, i managed to convince them to do the replacement (as in ordering a new one and hanging on to the existing unit until the new one arrived), paid for the new order and received it, returned the old one and finally got the money back. This way I managed to prevent my brand new but already old laptop torn apart for motherboard replacement, upgraded the CPU and got the video card i wanted but couldn't get at the time of the original order. All in all, it was what i wanted and all was good...

Until i noticed that the ALIENWARE word below the screen doesn't get lit up all the way - the WARE part gradients to black if "painted" blue (blue LED doesn't work). This and the dust/lint particle behind the edge-to-edge "glass" along with the rattle in the bluray drive allowed me to loudly enough at Alienware support so they let me repeat the procedure again (configure and order, keep the old one until the new one arrives, pay again, return and get money back). Waiting for the boxing stage to finish...

Sorry, didn't mean for it to get this long

 

kune, i have a feeling guys with edd in may would be more than happy to buy one off your hands before you even offer it for sale here

 

WTH. You are so lucky. Do they know that they are giving you two r3's?

Atleast everything was fine! No worries. Thanks!

 

I hope so, seeing as how they charged him twice...

 

I ordered and received my m17x R3 before Intel announced the manufacturing flaw with the sandybridge support chips.

 

^what he said, lol.
I'm going to share my discount powers with another Canadian and pay off the 2nd r3 before the 12 months interest free clause runs out.

 

Well looks like i just moved up to the owner's lounge

 

Congrats! What was your total wait time?

 

So they did really charge you twice? HA? I dont get it.

 

Well gentleman my laptop has arrived and everything is working great, I'm having a few problems working with the 3D, but I'm sure thats just me. Anyway, the main thing im noticing is the 120hz screen is extremely bright and so bleaches out the colors a bit. I changed the nvidia color settings but I can't seem to find a good setting. its either too bright or way too vibrant which is awesome on the LED screen. but I was wondering what you guys are using for color settings?

 

Just gonna leave this here.. :F

 

MrButterBiscuits I set mine to 93% digital vibrance and had brightness toned down to 3 or 4 bars using the short cut keys. Brighter settings are only necessary for 3d or if you want to view that movie in all of its brilliance.

 

I'm up to 3 orders now actually
and yes, they keep charging me (without my permission)

 

What?! Thats not right! I should now check my cc more often. Sorry to hear that kune. Hope you can fix that with no problems.