Req: Newbie Tips For New Owner

Hey guys, i Recently got a Alienware M17x-R2 and i need some tips as to what to do with this Beast of a machine to fully utilize it to it's maximum potential.
if it's possible, would you guys be so kind as to give me some tips as to how to do so?
i want to Have a single Thread with all this information instead of Hunting and tracking down each individual tip just to maximize my Machine.
Knowing how you guys are with Spec's requests. Here's mine:
Display
17.0 in WideXGA+ dual CCFL backlit (1440 x 900)
Processor
Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73 GHz, (2.93 Turbo Mode,cache 6 MB)
Memory
8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
Hard drive size
1 TB SATA 7200 RPM
Operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium
Optical drive
Slot-load Blu-ray Disc (BD) combo (reads BD and writes to DVD/CD)
Video
Dual ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1 GB graphics memory

 

Is that supposed to be CrossfireX 5870s (2)? Cause the 5870 only carries 1GB max.

1. Put your specs in your sig for future reference.
2. Check to make sure you have all the updated drivers. Drivers & Downloads. Especially the VBIOS and video cards.
3. Read the stickies. It can be a pita, but it's one of the biggest helps.
4.I like to monitor my hardware, especially the temps. HWiNFO32 is my favorite. GPU-Z is also popular just for monitoring the GPUs.
5. I like to use CCleaner by Piriform to keep unwanted files, cookies etc out of my system. It also can be really great for clearing up registry issues (and is highly recommended to run after uninstalling old video drivers in preparation for new ones, there's a procedure for that).
6. Check out the Alienware m17x Wiki. There's some cool stuff there. I highly recommend the cooling mods, it helped my GPU temps a LOT and it taught me the best way to get to my video cards for cleaning too. Dust does get in there.
7. Speaking of, every 1-6 months (depending on environment) open up your Alienware and clean out the fans, vents, heatsincs...etc.
8. Grab the ATI Catalyst profiles. There's a link on the wiki or you can go straight to ATI. The newest profiles always have all the old ones included.
9. I don't know about your stance on anti-virus programs, but IMHO McAfee and Norton are largely overbloated versions of malware themselves. I prefer Microsoft Security Essentials (download straight from Microsoft) and Lavasoft Ad-Aware. Both are relatively little demanding as background AV programs go, and do their job pretty darn well too. MSE is free, the full version of Ad-Aware is an annual license. The free version works fairly well too. A lot of people swear by Avast.
10. Be sure to run a few good defragmentations after installing everything. Reboot between each. I like to use Ashampoo's WinOptimizer's defrag, but the full version of that is also paid for. Free is trial only.
11. Should be silly to mention, but some new users have issues with it. Make sure that Stealth Mode (where it uses the crappy integrated graphics chip) isn't enabled when you play games. You'll notice.

I'm sure I'm missing a few things, but that's all I can think of for now. The wiki and the stickies have TONS of info about all kinds of things on them.

Oh, and get Steam if you haven't. They're running some awesome holiday sales lately, on old and new games. I finally got a bunch of copies of stuff I've been missing for years back in my library, some for under $1.

For web-browsing, I like to use Firefox because I can install the Ghostery and Ad-Block add-ons. They're incredible for blocking out all the crud that sites you go to like to install through cookies and whatnot. IE never will compare. Some swear by Chrome, but it reports home to Google too much for me (one of the most blocked sniffers with Ghostery is Google *eyeroll*).

Most of all, enjoy your incredible new piece of hardware. I've had mine for half a year now, and I've never had a problem with it. It takes everything I can throw at it and begs for more. Never fear to ask questions, there are many many more users far more knowledgeable than I in Alienware-fu.

 

I agree with everything here BUT #5...CCleaner = EVIL. That is the fastest way to totally hose up your registry....TBH automated reg cleaners cause WAY more problems than they will ever fix. Stay away...far far far away from them

 

i Love you guys.... Thanks for the Tip!

 

Did you buy this laptop new or used....any reason you skipped on the RGB SCREEN upgrade. You could have gone with stock 4gb ram and upgrade to 8gb for less than $100 and sell of you old 4gb kit for $50 and use the difference for screen. The screen is well worth it and i would give up bluray and 8gb ram....and possibly my left nut

 

Yea, most likely an idiotic Move, but i bought this as a bundle...i feel stupid now.. but regardless, i didn't buy this for the screen but for the Processing power, if i wanted, i can just port out the display to somewhere else and work on That, Also, out just of curiousity, anyone know how to access the Signatures options so i can make one?

 

top left: User CP, edit signature.

 

Oh Cool, Thanks, Any tips for Rigging up the perfect Setup for an Alienware M17x?

 

perfect setup depends on what you're using it for.

 

Well i guess it would use it for rendering and Processing, since i'm about to go into Digital Arts and Animation degree within my college, the reason i'm gonna carry it to school being that my college's computers are undependable. so since i thought if i brought my own workstation, everything will work out ALOT better than if i have to work on it on something that Constantly Fails and shuts down on you. in the end, it's just proper time management~

 

That reminds me, anyone know how to properly install drivers and VBIOS for an Alienware M17x-R2 cause i have absolutely no idea how to do it...

 

You can find everything you need here;
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/519439-17xr1-r2-dell-8-763-driver-4870-5870-gpus-5870-vbios-discussion-non-beta.html

Make sure you have the latest Dell or ATI driver installed BEFORE you update your VBIOS.

Personally I wish I had never bought ATI cards as their support for games is very very poor. Some newer games dont work properly in XFire and for other popular titles (BFBC2) they have abandoned all fixes

Rant over lol

 

What? ATI doesn't support Battlefield bad Company 2? are you serious? (O_O)Come on...you're joking right?

 

They did support it but recent driver releases have tended to F**k things up a bit i.e. flickering screen, poor framerates etc. ATI have no intention of addressing these issues so their stance seems to be "you can either like it, or lump it!"

Poor considering the price of these cards.

 

Hey Killer,

I have extensively researched this aspect of the R2, using lots of my own effort and that of a few others, and here is a long post explaining the full rebuild procedure, should you want/need it. It includes flashing options, as well as much about driver sequence and putting it all together start-to-finish.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...r2-full-detailed-description.html#post6978195

I'm not saying you should do all this, because if you are happy with your new beast then just enjoy it. But if you need to "go big" this should help take a lot of the mystery out of it.

 

I'm not gonna wipe my entire Computer Clean! you must be MAD~ but i'm sure there's some people that need to do that so that's helpful too. i just got Rainmeter and all my programd installed in there properly, i just need to update everything and set everything up so i have Extra/More processing power.

 

My hatred for ATI grows even more now...did they inform anything or any plans for fixes or anything?...wait, if recent drivers would cause this problem.. doesn't that mean that i shouldn't update it?

 

I don't play BBC but I have dual ATI cards and have no problems running the games I want to run. My opinion is that the game company should be doing the fixes not AMD who owns ATI.

 

They can't have access to the hardware otherwise they'll start modding it, it won't work that way cause you need a licence from them before you mod it, the same way Galaxy,XFX, Sapphire and all those companies paid thier licence. Licence being the right to use or edit it in thier own peference. try to understand that this world revolves around money....besides, the game works perfectly fine on any other carrier, why should they care if some other AMD doesn't does a fix for it?

 

while this does involve money, it is also painfully clear that the order of priority for developers is Console (XBOX 360, PS3) then port to PC (usually a BAD port). Then in PC land, first priority is nVidia, then AMD. Bad Company II falls into this same category. There are many games that run fine on AMD hardware, as long as AMD hardware is kept in mind during the development. However, consoles make more money for games than PCs, and nVidia spends more cash on marketing and support for developers than AMD. There is your money chain.

On that note, however, I really don't understand why developers cant come up with a workable business model that can get PC gaming working again. The industry is pushing itself into a corner with this model. As long as you are platform independent, pick ubiquitous, standardized development methods that don't favor any piece of hardware.

Sorry to hijack your thread on this subject; rant over. Otherwise congrats on the new system and may it serve you well! I really cant add more than what the experts have already commented on. btw, I'm also on a non-flashed vbios and the origional Dell video drivers. no issues on my side, but I dont do BC2 either.

I was wondering what you meant by it came as part of a bundle?

 

Oh ,by all means, i'm actually intrested that people place thier opinions, i'm glad you shared yours. it does seem as tho that PC gaming is losing it's footing, but games developed for consoles are completely different for games developed for the PC. even the production and everything is completely different, different Coding, different programming, different Settings and peferences, different limitations. if you take a look at the differences is games that Xbox360, PS3 and the PC all have on it, the graphics are different, completely different because the spec's change depending on the system. now as for the industry to actually get PC gaming working again, it will surely be difficult, cause they actually have to get an setup done before production. they need to contact the distributors, they need to contact the developers, it's just way too much work...
also, when i ment bundle, i ment i bought this
http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...e-free-zune-hd-16gb-1-999-microsoftstore.html
seems like a good deal at the time so i jumped on the chance, besides, it was cyber monday...Which reminds me, i should reply to this thread that i bought this...

 

Yep, that is a nice deal! Good value there!

And I see the point of how PC programing can get too resource intensive, especially in testing and bug-fixing, but they already reuse the same engine everywhere (I am seriously tired of Unreal clones) and the APIs are well known. And when they try to shoe-horn a console game into the PC interface is just doesnt work. But no one learns better either.

Ok, I better stop this or this thread will be locked

Other suggestions for your rig is to make sure that you have a microfiber matt in between the screen and the keybard anytime you travel. That rough palmspace next to the mousepad is murder for your screen and makes big dents in the plastic. I mention this because you say you will be taking it to class. Protect that screen at all costs!

Again, congrats and good luck!

 

Like rsgeiger says, use a microfiber cloth between the screen and keyboard at all times during transit and storage. I bought a Radtech (?) online, and they will ship right to you if you cannot find them locally. Their large model fits an Alien perfectly. If you do not protect the screen this way and you transport the machine around, in time you will almost certainly have a scratched plastic screen.

 

Wait, Plastic? i thought the screen was made of glass... But is it really that necesssary? wow, thanks for the tip guys....shouldn't i just buy a screen protector for the laptop instead then?

 

It's plastic not glass.
And if you mean a transparent foil screen protector that can be a PITA to "install" and still can get scratched,you're better off with a cloth IMO as you only have to put it there during transportation after that you can enjoy your beautiful screen
cheers

 

Yep, go for a MF mat. A plastic foil cover will not prevent the deep holes that are possible.

 

Huh...wish you guys can show me examples, but thanks for the tip...When you say Micro-fiber Cloth, you're talking about those thick towels or thin ones that are used to wipe a screen?

 

Here, Killer... This is what I have (they make general sizes; don't be fooled by the Mac page name):

MacBook Screen Protector, LCD Display Cleaner, Keyboard Cover for MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, PowerBook, iBook & PC

There are many other ways, but these are very thin so the lid will close down nicely. You could also use any other thin rag I guess, but these are purpose built and cut to fit very well. Being microfiber mats, they don't leave tons of lint and fuzz that can get down in your keyboard, etc. I have noticed though, that it isn't perfectly fuzz-free, at least when brand new. Probably the fuzzing-out effect goes away with some use, but a cotton cloth will always release lint, forever.

The screen filter is a hard polycarbonate-type plastic, not glass. It is quite durable against polishing/cleaning scratches, but hits, dings, etc. will mark it.

 

Great product and comes in different colours too this is what we were talking about is as easy as laying it on the keyboard fully expanded before closing the lid and packing your rig

 

go look at the pics i posted in the backpack thread. it's a microfiber pocket that slips over the screen half. Never close the lappy without it. I've had it for maybe 5 years now (Inspiron 9400 -> M1730 -> M17x)...

 

OHHHH i get it now, i thought you guys were talking about those thick micofiber cloths you use for Cleaning cars. i was like~ "huh? that's too big...whatever do they mean?" thanks alot for the tip guys!

 

Does anyone know what the difference is between the
Dell Wifi to the Intel Ultimate N Wireless, whatever the hell it was called, is?
oh forgot, anyone also knows where i can purchase a RGB LED LCD (1200p) for my Laptop?

 

Well, the Intel Wireless N does of course N and is backwards compatible and has a booster in it I think. Thats what I am using and I always have a stronger signal then my friends lol. As for the LED, good luck, not sure how hard that is going to be with aftermarket stuff. If you want it that bad, call up Alienware and ask how much it would be for them to upgrade it. Good luck!!!

 

the Intel Ultimate N 6300 card is significantly faster and gets you better signal (it's a 3x3 card supported by the R2)

 

Oh, thanks guys, i'll call up the newest representive for alienware and ask how much those parts cost