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

So I switched to the integrated graphics using FN F7 and now I can't get it to switch back to the dedicated card. Anyone have any suggestions.

 

Here is a thread regarding this issue. A lot of us are also experiencing this. http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/569952-r3-manual-graphics-switching-not-working.html

 

Hey guys I've noticed on my new R3 the wireless is having some problems, I got the best card they offered but I keep getting massive lag spikes. Anyone have any ideas? I've already disabled the ethernet adapter as it was a common problem amongst R1's but it doesn't seem to be the case here.

 

Have you restarted the computer/router/cable modem?

This just happens sometimes - happened to me last night. Let us know if the problem persists after the restarts!

 

I just picked up an R3.

My only question:

Will the 2630QM bottleneck the 6970m?

I'm pretty confident it won't, but I definitely don't have the same level of tech understanding as most of you here (I know a little, but not a ton about this stuff).

 

No it definitely isnt the router or modem, I reset and checked them first. I'm thinking it maybe has to do with conflicting hardware like on the R1's but I cant be sure

 

No, It will not bottleneck the 6970m. 2630QM is a powerful cpu compared to the last i series cpus. Take a look. Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist - Notebookcheck.net Tech

 

Actually, I have one more question. I ordered the 1080p WLED screen with it because I'm genuinely uninterested in 3D gaming (I have a 3DS that satisfies that drive).

What I'm just now pondering is, is the 120hz "3D ready" WLED screen a better overall screen that just happens to be capable of 3D? In other words, is it a better panel with the added bonus of being 3D capable, and I just screwed myself out of it?

I ask because the screen is the most important part of a laptop to me. I had the famed RGB on the R2, and I have the Radiance on my current Envy 14. I had asked how good the WLED was a week or so ago and had people tell me it was exceptional and only just behind the RGB (well it was a couple people).

I'm just looking to clarify a bit from you guys that have your laptops.

 

Well some users compared them and noticed the 120hz is brighter than the normal 60Hz screens.

 

You can't get the 120hz screen with the 6970. Only possible with the 460m.

 

I knew that. Doh. I was just telling him the comparisons of the 60Hz vs 120Hz screens.

 

Oh wow, I didn't even realize that. Well that makes it a no-brainer for me because I'd want the extra video muscle above all else. The fact the 6970m is available sealed the deal for me, we now have mobile cards that truly rival desktop performance without needing SLI/Xfire.

Very pumped about my purchase. Once I thought long and hard about it, the G53SW never had a chance, even nicely upgraded through XoticPC.

 

Your welcome dude. What specs did you get?

 

Now in sig. =P

 

Nice setup. Same as mine. One thing. Havent you consider to aftermarket upgrade your ram? The dell ram's are so expensive.

 

You're absolutely right, it is. However quite honestly when I spend the amount I did (roughly $2900), I just want everything to come ready to go without the need to do any upgrades on my own. The money spent to just have the RAM built into system to me was more beneficial than ordering RAM myself and butchering my new baby girl on her first day of life.

 

Did you select the Samsung SSD? Or add your own?

I was going to get another Intel SSD, but have heard the newer Samsung SSD's are getting better. I can always upgrade to a higher capacity Intel in the future when the prices drop.

I've been so spoiled by SSD performance, I don't think I could ever go back to HDD's.

 

Oh, I get yah. Well, I hope everything goes smooth with your beast.

Nope, I did not order the SSD. I didnt have the money for it.

 

Well another mess up by Dell. I scheduled a service call to get the motherboard replaced due to the sandybridge issue. The tech came out 2 days ago and replaced the motherboard. After he replaced the motherboard he entered the service tag into the BIOS, but he entered someone elses service tag. He tried to change it but he could not. I have called Dell many times to get this problem and several other problems resolved. The tech support people there are useless.

 

Dell tech should be called dumb techs for ruining our laptops. Where does dell find this people? Do they really undergo training?

 

Trade school...at least here in Cali most of these stupid IT guys are from trade schools (ITT tech, UEI, etc). Useless...

 

So I just played Bioshock 2 with the 3d setup and its incredible!!!! I was standing over the edge of a precipice and I looked at it with 3d on and 3d off, and I actually got a sense of vertigo! hallways actually have length, it has real depth which is really cool on my own laptop . I mean I know its not the most powerful card but it handles max settings on bioshock 2 with 3d on and I get 50-60+ frames most the time. its just really cool, really happy with my decision to go the 3d route.

 

I haven't tried 3D gaming but I was watching some Disney animation the other day at Sears in 3D on a Samsung TV and it seemed so gimmicky. It reminded me of those children's storybooks where they have the pop up pages, so fake looking. Plus the tint from the glasses kills the brightness.

 

Nvidia 3d vision, is a completely different beast. its really cool IMO

 

Yeah, the tint on the glasses is what turned me off from 3D in general. Also, the constant shutter motion of the active 3D glasses bothered me, even though we're technically not supposed to perceive the switching.

 

yea im all about the raw horsepower of a 6970

 

3D capable displays are actually designed brighter because the shutter process does reduce brightness slightly, possibly the reason the 120hz panel is about 30% brighter than the 60hz panel, I watched Avatar on a Panasonic 3D display setup in a store - first time I'd ever seen anything in 3D, it was goobsmacking - quite simply remarkable, I also read a review of bulletstorm which I have completed in 2D, I am so looking forward to the 3D experience reported in game review, guys 3D is here, ignore it if you want deny it as a gimmic if you want but movie makers and game developers are spending huge money on this 3D revolution, personally I think anyone that ignores it will be missing out big time, everyone has their own opinion about 3D - try and base it on experience, and those that decided to go the 6970 route there is no way back

 

just bigger: HD 6970M to larger external 3D?!?!

(so long as this solution ends up working out: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...play-port-dual-link-dvi-adapter-works-3d.html)

 

When they release an 18" notebook with glasses free 3D, I might buy into it. The tinted active shutters didn't convince me. I haven't seen avatar but I'll ask the guy at Sears to turn it on next time I go there.

 

Any you have an ID on what 1600x900 screen Dell uses?

 

Anyone tried the wireless HD yet?

 

AS far as I know dell has not sold the card that we need for Wireless HD(WiHD) to work.

 

For what it is worth I splurged and got some 3D glasses and the transmitter for my HTPC setup (GTX 570 out to a 60" Mitsubishi DLP HDTV) and have played with it some. I am working on getting the driver to work through my receiver (currently it only works when direct from HTPC to TV)

My initial impression is that it is interesting but did not help me any in game play. Granted, I have only tested Crysis so far, but it made it alot harder for me to focus and aim precisely. I need to move all my Steam games over, there I have a few "3D Vision ready" titles which I would expect to do better with it (Batman AA, Just Cause 2, Mafia 2) compared to Crysis which only has "Good" compatibility

I also come from the camp of "it is a gimmick only" but figured I would give it a try and if I did not like it, could sell the hardware to someone who likes it more.

 

Dell said I had 10 days to ship back the system but I'm glad I waited the extra day..

I got BSODs like CRAZY from either HDD or RAM in the past 3 days.. Nothing could solve it.

Just changed out HDDs and RAM and I now have no issues... Epic FAIL on Dell's part. First system they send it cosmetically screwed and the second had bad RAM (or HDDs). They can take their crap RAM / HDDs back in the replacement system. If they notice I changed them I'll just tell them what the phone rep told me when I asked if I could change out parts. "Its no problem sir"

 

Got mine, Will update with impressions. Maybe make a new thread like Dookie and Choppus.

 

Will letcha know how mine goes. I expect it to arrive on 4/20.

Do it!

 

I hope waiting that extra day doesnt bit you in the rear.......big companies can be stickliers about RMA's

My personal opinion, take it for what its worth, I have NEVER seen a HD casue a BSOD....seriousely.....I would suspect the ram before the HD.

And proper diagnostic procedures are change one item, test...change next item test. Changing 2 items at the same time and testing, you don't know which was the issue. Just sayin.

 

Any word on a fix for the right side of the media keys? I'm thinking about getting creative with some super glue because there doesn't seem to be anything holding the media bar on to the keyboard outside of some sort of adhesive.

 

Hey guys. The Metal strip where my media Keys are is coming up. Is there a safe Adhesive i could use to fix that because i really don't want to have to go through the trouble of either sending my laptop in or replacing it.

 

Well it looks like im not the only person having this Problem. You would think for the ammount of money we paid they could at least use the good stuff to hold it down.

 

The ONLY reason I would get the r3 would be so I could play my PS3 on it (with HDMI in).. and if that doesn't work.. I'll say wireless hdmi.. which I hope works?

 

I'll confirm that it works with HDMI-In. Check my yt page for proof. Only thing is that it doesn't seem to work with psjb yet, so nothing comes on the display and I think the ps3 has to detect the display at the same time, which is further complicated by the fact that you have to press Fn+F8 to get to the dang hdmi-display, which isn't like a regular tv where you let it go on standby/blackscreen on your HDMI/VideoIN channel. Ppl said it's "the handshaking" thing that's screwy with psjb (whatever that means). I'm checking with some buddies on the possibility of cfw though to solve that problem. If cfw works, then we would need to use that instead of psjb. I'll update my review thread when I get an answer

 

Yea that'll be good to know if and when it works. I've always been asking for years how to play my ps3 or xbox 360 on my laptop.. HDMI was the ultimate solution for HD quality, but if it isn't working yet, might as well wait for the m18x.

 

Yah, will hopefully find out by the end of today. Been really busy.

 

Has anyone with a Vertex 3 gotten the drive to work in AHCI mode and 6 GBbps in their M17xR3? I can get it working only in RAID and 3Gbps mode, and get BSOD in either ATA and AHCI.

 

Did you install the OS after setting to AHCI?
Which port do you have the SSD in?
Do you have RST installed?

If;
1 = no, then do so
2 = 0, then put it in port 1 (and set your boot order accordingly)
3 = yes, uninstall it

 

Thanks for the advice kunekaden. I've done both 1 & 3...but I do have the drive installed in 0.

It's really strange problem as to even get the OS installed (Win 7 Ultimate SP1) I have to first put the machine in AHCI, and then after the first reboot switch to RAID. Trying to install on ATA or RAID, the machine hangs. Trying to continue after the first reboot in ATA or AHCI the machine BSOD.

There are people on the OCZ forums with my similar issue.

Anyway, I'll move the drive to 1 and try it again. Maybe I'll do install with w/o SP1.

 

I was originally going to try and mess around with the media buttons by using super glue...but I think I'm going to shoot Dell a call and see what the deal is.


2000+ dollars shouldn't be having a problem with loose media keys.

 

Is port 1 the SATA 3 port? Asking the dumb question because I thought both ports were Sata 3.

 

Ports 0 and 1 are the SATA 3 ports, the rest are SATA 2.