Calling out to Alienware Support Where are our Official AMD 7970m Crossfire drivers ??

I feel guilty by having over $5000 on laptops and I can't use both at the same time lol and trowing a game on the M18X and knowing it just runs at 100 fps is not that exciting as fighting with the macbook to make a game run fine

also no offense but the rMBP absolutely destroy the m18X screen in all aspects lol

there is actually a lot of reasons including that I get bored quick and want to do something new

 

Retina MBP displays may beat the 1080P screen of the M18X R2 in PPI, but in FPS it doesn't. I've read a review where they were scrolling down Facebook and got 20 FPS. I don't care how sharp the graphics are, if it has 20 FPS, I am going to see it and it would look like crapola to me. Apple STILL needs to put beefier video cards in their systems, even though they are wont not to.

However, I am sure it looks very nice

 

Nice Speedy, Mac screens are hard to beat IMO, I genuinely feel Mac take a lot of pride in aesthetics too. Before my m18x I had the 2010 iMac 27 and it was one of the best purchases I'd made, and I'll definitely get one again one day. I sold it before I upgraded to the m18x but ill never forget what a beautiful display it had. The only problem was the GPU wasn't enough to run any games at its Native Res (while in bootcamp of course).

 

Gosh now i just want to puke.. jk! well speedy do you own 2 m18xs? or just the r2?

 

I'll have to follow your adventures over in the Apple MBP forum here and see what's to follow after you get bored with the rMBP and having to do things within the confines of "the Apple way". Apple computers are known for many things, but high performance computers isn't one of them. They're "safe". If you like tinkering, you'll get bored really fast. This new MBP has no user-replaceable parts. It's completely canned.

I dropped by the Apple store last week and looked at the retina MBP. It looked real nice until I launched Word for Mac. The text was rough and jagged. Apparently, not all apps work with the retina display right now. How could Apple sell a new computer where a major software suite doesn't work with their display? Ironically, seems like Apple or Alienware...doesn't matter...both have "issues" that will take some time to work out.

 

Those are astute observations, lancorp. I have always recognized that Apple products are well made, have good components and build quality, and they are "safe" as you stated. (I like the choice of words.) Their way of computing is a dumbed-down and very ho-hum existence and they are unfit for folks that like to have things their own way. I have always abhorred their over-the-top propriety. For that reason, I do not own their products and have contempt for their way of implementing technology. They do offer some nice features and those things will often find a place in a PC later on. From that perspective, I actually value their existence.

 

Thanks. Yes, I certainly have a point of view that I'm sure is shared by many, and I'm not biased one way or the other. Being a PC/Windows user since they practically existed, but also being an off-and-on owner of Apple computers and devices (currently an iMac 27, MBP 17, iPhone 4 and iPad 1, 2 and 3), I try to keep a realistic view of each platform. One thing I do know...Apple only lets you know what they want you to know, and only the positive. That's how their propaganda machine works. IMO, they've become exactly what they said they weren't in their 1984 commercial.

Fortunately, for Apple's pocketbook, people love their products and swear by them with a religious zeal!!

I'm surprised that Office 2011 for Mac was even installed on the Retina MBP, considering it wasn't Retina-compatible and looked lousy.

 

Maybe you should wait for the Razer blade 2.0 speedy. Quit a few changes and updates are supposed to happen and its coming in august.

 

Excuse me if I interfere but Razer Blade is a 'true' joke (made for some old strategy games)... If I am not mistaken the m14x is much better...

 

Much agreed and if you open it to even change ram or anythjng the warranty is viod. No user servicing att all if you want to stay safe jnder warranty

 

Question for Alienware-Mark_O, Alienware-L_Porras, Alienware-Luis_Pardo, Alienware-Frank_L, AW-FedericoH, or another member of the Alienware Support team... to your knowledge, have there been any 7970M hardware version updates, or just a variance in vBIOS versions? Just curious, as it seems exchanged GPU modules and exchanged systems that were malfunctioning are behaving fairly well based on reports from those whose GPU modules or systems have been exchanged.

 

I've seen this movie before. the lack of driver support of the M17 it had 3870 and the latest drivers were version 8 while the catalyst ones were already at 12. it also had many bugs.

 

Razer blade. Hahaha... What a jok. Lol

 

I am not talking about the current razer blade, which I agree is a joke.

The update is believed to be coming in august and will have quit a few changes.
3rd gen i7, anything from a 650/670/675 Nvidia card, likely a bump up from a 256 to a 512GB SSD, and a possible ram increase.

There is also talk that they might do away with the gimmicky touchpad or make it a plug in peripheral, and possibly come out with a 15 inch version instead of a 17 inch version.


The current blade is a complete joke in a lot of ways, but they did get a couple things right. They used a Matte screen, and the build quality from all accounts is phenomenal.

 

If it is made of plastic, has a smaller screen and one GPU, it would still be a joke compared to an M18x. It's not even in the same performance class. It would be a big downgrade.

Even for someone looking at a compromise in system size and performance, after their last performance, it would definitely be a good idea to let others be the guinea pig on early adoption.

 

I agree. One thing though. It is made of Anodized aluminum. its basically got the same shell as a thinned down 17 inch MBP. and its the same material we all love on the M18x.

 

Thank you for mentioning that, Defengar. Being an Alienware fanboy, I haven't paid any attention to the Razer so I did not know that. It's always great to see another well built laptop available for consumers. Even though I may never own one, I have an extra measure of respect for it knowing it's not another plastic pile of junk.

+1 Rep for enlightening me on that.

 

Thanks!

Even though my heart lies with AW, I like to keep an ear out in the rest of the market in case something new and exiting comes along.

 

Great question. Checked with our team. No changes to hardware or vBIOS.

Mark

 

Awesome, Mark. Thank you for the super fast reply. I hope you had a good weekend, my friend.

 

Any news about drivers?

 

any news about a good incoming AMD drivers?

 

How can Alienware claim to PWN NOOBS (what they mean is to PWN the owners of m18x) with the M18x and release crossfire hardware with craptastic driver support for crossfire. Alienware you let me down and seems like you wanted to release products without thoroughly testing them. If you expect your customers to buy your products and they are not even 100% ready...then I expect you to give discounts or compensations to all the fools spending $3,000+ on a system with craptastic driver support.

 

So the vbios versions are exactly the same? why release 2 of the same thing with different version numbers then?

 

We can keep asking the same question again and again, we will be ignored because maybe they do not know what to do anymore. True, patience is required but like everyone stated on this forum, this is way beyond anything closed to tolerance.

Don't worry juliant, this is **Subject to change** but we'll keep you and the other members informed, some day...

 

I have been talking to Alienware support, I am negotiating the cost of having a technician come to my house and upgrading to SLI 680ms. The alternative being I send the laptop back for a full refund. I won't let them try to save on costs by having me send the laptop back to them for an upgrade, the laptop is my only computer at this point.

 

The release of the drivers is still pending. We are using the feedback we receive from you as well as our engineers to get the official driver out as soon as possible. The ETA had to be pushed in order to address some of the issues you all mentioned here.

We will post as soon as we get the release details. I thank you for your patience. I know its tough, but I am on top of this and am pushing everyday for information.

 

Wouldn't it make sense to release some interim builds to users here and let them work through them, and report back any issues? Seem's the best way to get the bugs out, is to have it run on a myriad of configurations and games. Maybe you could setup a request for those interested to sign up for.

Just a thought.

 

should all of this be on the same irq?

Spoiler

 

How are your card performing?

 

Single card is descent..(just playable) but xfire is shot..(not playable at all..)

 

have you use radeonpro?

 

yea but the drivers as of right now even screw that up for me..

 

I think Dell will release their driver after the new release of 'another' driver from AMD

 

any updates? keep us posted please lol

 

Mark from Alienware has already mentioned few posts back that it will take some more time, they are working on the 'extra' issues we have mentioned on this thread and more...

 

Well I just received my first ever Alienware pc i.e the m18x. Loaded up skyrim and bf3 and so far it plays without any issues. I have the 7970m crossfire and made sure it was enabled. I have not updated any drivers as I don't want to fix what isn't broke.....yet! Lol
I didn't buy the m18x for its looks as its just a bit too garish for my taste but I bought it for the performance and so far I'm really happy with it.

 

Make sure you get OpenCL working with Photoshop CS6....kinda a big deal.

 

Disable CF on skyrim and see your frames hit the roof the problem with that game is that CF don't work and sometimes just affect performance will be fine if the game won't run better with CF but didn't affect performance either

BF3 yeah that game is using CF the way it supposed to

 

any new news on this?

 

yeah they released an new R2 bios to fix audio issues and add new video cards the 7970 is old news sadly

 

We are still working with engineering, they said that the it is very close to release and they are just making the final adjustments. Thank you all for your patience, we'll keep you updated.

 

Where do you see the new R2 BIOS? Their downloads and drivers site still shows A01.

 

Can you ask them if they are able to enable OpenCL in Photoshop CS6??? I need this answer asap as I need to ship it back today or tomorrow if they cannot get that working or if I have no answer. Thanks and apologies for my need for haste.

 

I know the answer to this but im going to ask any ways..

the new r2 bios.. is there any sort of compatibility to the r1 with this..

 

Ok today I ran MSI kombuster which shows both my AMD 7970m crossfires but when Im playing BF3 GPU1 shows as running at 98% to 99% while GPU is either idle or rarely shows up as 30% and then goes back immediately to idle. I have the 12.7 beta. Anyone else with the same issue on BF3?

 

New driver is out at Dell Drivers and Downloads | Dell [Canada] => For some reason the download link does not work?! Maybe later...

 

The new driver is showing up at the US site as well - link

I will give these a shot when I get home, but the only listed fix is for PowerExpress switching issues...............

EDIT: At least these appear to be based on the 12.6 driver.

 

This 7970m xfire system is not going to work for me despite having what I can see to be some of the most minimal issues on this forum...I have to have better openCL compatibility...I hoping my rep can get things settled soon today is my last day to exchange. I am only 40% (CS) and 0% satisfied with tech support...when Dell resided in WACO-McGregor Texas we surely did better job than these current baboons; I am not saying spend less on R&D but please can't we get some people to answer the phone who are not scared of a real tech question or a sales person who can actually sell me a computer...not send me to 90 other departments which half the time just hang up.

 

Dell has launched the official 7970 driver. Click on the link below to access the driver.

7970 Driver

Be sure to provide feedback as we are monitoring the progress.

They are uploading it now, so it will a bit of time for the link to be active. Wanted to give this thread the heads up as promised. Thank you for your patience. Again, if there are any delays we will post back. It is showing under the 18xR2, but once you select download you will receive an error message. This will change once the upload is complete.