M18x Makes Landfall! Pictures, Videos, Unboxing Thoughts, etc. Share away!

Thanks guys! That's very reassuring! can't wait to finally get mine!

 

With a red m18x, the rest of the room that it is in can be fairly disqusting and no one will notice.

 

Please post some videos with gameplay of crysis 2

 

oh my god. so glad i got "black". very much appreciate the pictures.

 

Heh, someone after my own heart. I could care less if mine is green or purple with Fur on it. I want performance! If I wanted something nice to look at I could have bought The Swimsuit calander and saved almost 4K

hee hee!

 

If I had a red one, I would want to put cards in its spokes!

Seriously, the color is critical because both make huge yet hugely different fashion statements.

Desprite my jests regarding the red m18x, I think it looks better than black but I am getting black because I think it will make me look better.

 

You will not regret the black, I was shocked at how good it looked when I got mine.

 

temps w/ furmark before and after cryo lx please :tongue:

 

You shall wait! I am still running the windows updates post fresh install. Then I will get it all set the way I like, then load all my benches and programs. I will do some stock benches and also observe temps under load.

 

waiting is all i do on this forum

 

I have not been able to have the requisite quality time with my m18x so far, working on remedying this lol

 

Pictures of Alienware Bios for those interested.

 

Here are stock benches for my M18x. Total stock with hardware in my sig. No tweaks implemented and no overclocking, stock Dell drivers.

In a word...WOW, this thing is a beast! This thing laughs at my R1 and makes a heavily overclocked R2 shy

3DMark06: 23472
SM2: 8716
SM3: 11931
CPU: 6205

3DMark Vantage: P20484
GPU: 20104
CPU: 21716

3DMark11: P5727
Graphics: 5569
Physics: 8083
Combined: 4681

 

@scook9 Very clean and laid out screens. Update those drivers and rebench because it makes a very big diff. My 3dmark 11 went up over 5800 on a 2720qm so would be interested what you get

 

Ya drivers are next on my list, need to read that thread to do it right, the amd tool wont download for me as is.

 

show us 105 bclk + lvl 3 oc in BIOS on 2920qm for 4ghz on all 4 cores

maybe a modest oc on 6970 (use trixx for that?)

and cryo lx temps

glad youre enjoying the laptop, this forum needs a morale boost

 

I'm running the 11.5aRC3 drivers with RadeonPro for problematic games and couldn't be more happier with my performance. Dragon Age 2 performance almost doubled from stock driver. Runs 60+ fps at highest settings.

 

Great job, Scook! How are the temps?

 

Did not closely monitor temps but there is of course room for improvement. Sitting on cryo and just web browsing the CPU cores are all in the high 40s. And this CPU drops down to VERY lower power when idle, it is quite impressive actually. GPUs are hovering in the low 60s at idle. I will have to open it up and see what needs to be done. That will have to wait though, maybe next weekend.

 

Good call on the drivers Again, no tweaks or anything special

3DMark11: P5939
Graphics: 5780
Physics: 8249
Combined: 4895

 

For some reason your 3dmark 11 score is lower than mine (physics is higher due to the 2920xm) but overall its not: Result I'm using the 11.5a rc3 + cap 2, you should give those a try. My bclk is a bit OC'd at 101 but I doubt that makes a big difference. Cool thing is when I push BCLK to 104.98, both our CPU scores are nearly the same in vantage

 

That was the dell driver, my 11.5a score was much better

 

Ah yeah just noticed. Have you tried the CPU oc yet? Really curious about that as I'm sure many others are since nobody that knows about benching besides you has one.

 

I plan to but see no point before re-pasting the CPU since we know that temps will limit the turbo.

 

Joker- Thanks fo the profile. I understand it is for your display, but is is a starting point. rep+1

 

The mothership has landed, however there appears to be a small nick on the top cover (on the side). Should I make a stink about it? I really love the machine, but I hate to wait another 14 days or so to get it

 

If the laptop is fine and just the box is nicked I wouldn't fuss over it. If the laptop is damaged, that would be unacceptable.

 

Cosmetic damage to the system istelf is not acceptable on a brand new purchase. If it were me I would be on the phone but only you can decide wether or not its enough to warrant waiting for either a new build or replacement parts. Again, from a personal point of view, I wouldnt be happy with a home visit to start replacing stuff as you received it in that condition.

Depends on what kinda person you are I suppose - a small nick may not bother some people but you've picked up on it so Im thinking your just like most of us and are a perfectionist - nothing wrong with that!

 

Call for an exchange, I wouldn't accept it. I know you waited a long time for it and want to enjoy it and guess what? You can. They'll build your replacement while you use this one.

 

I called tech support and one lady stated that they don't replace systems cause of cosmetic issues. I was like...huh..its new? I then asked for a manager and he stated that they don't have the ability to do exchanges at that time, so he sent me over to customer care. Then customer care stated they are updating there systems so he can't help me :/

 

Welcome to Dell.....lol

 

Indeed, please remind me why we all buy their stuff? lol

 

When their support system is NOT broken...(which it has been for a couple weeks now - funny how the sales system never goes down ) they offer the best support in the industry

 

For people who received their M18x with the 750GB HDD, before ordering a new one, can you confirm me if it is the correct model installed inside the M18x :

Western Digital Scorpio Black 750GB 2.5IN 7200RPM 16GB SATA3GB/S Notebook Hard Drive

PN #WD7500BPKT

 

Decided to keep my M18x order and have them send me a replacement. Need my system for school and can't wait on a refund + reorder. Here's hoping my next one doesn't have any GPU anomalies!

 

Just to clarify, I added my Scorpio Black 750GB aftermarket, my system shipped with a 320GB Scorpio Black

 

So you don't have to wait and exchange the entire laptop you can request that the part be replaced that way you get the new part and it's factory fresh with no damage but you can enjoy your laptop in the meantime.

I did this on my Studio XPS. It arrived and one of the hinges had cracked the top piece of black plastic on the case. The crack was in the nook of the hinge and wasn't really noticable but in fear it would spread and split all the way on the top of the laptop I contacted Dell. Told them it was a new purchase and I wanted the part replaced.

They sent a tech the next day with a New RGB-LED Screen, New top (leather grip) and hinges. I ordered a non Leather grip version as that top was 50 bucks more but Dell didn't have the part in stock so i got the upgraded one Free. Dell support is decent you just have to push them.

If you don't get the answer you want ask for escalation or call back and get a different rep and work with them.

 

I was given two options - get an exchange or get a replacement top lid, but as I and the rep pointed out, it won't be new.

Looks like I will have to call tomorrow since they are being upgraded.

Thanks all for the advice

 

The replacement top lid option is not bad....the replacement will be a new part so as long as it is properly installed the laptop will essentially be new.

The M18x has been out only a week....it is not like you will be receiving a used part haha

 

Don't go for a replacement lid. I can almost guarantee you the tech will break something in the process.

 

Agree with Joker ^^^^

You will run the risk of them "stuffing something up" when or if they come out to replace. These guys arent Dell technicians, afaik they are "hired help" from outsourced local firms.

You bought new - you should get new...end of story, if its damaged upon delivery, get a system exchange for one that isnt damaged.

Just as when buying anything new, eg a TV, if you got it home, unboxed it and the screen was broken, you wouldnt want the manufacturer coming out to fit a new screen would you? NO, you would insist on another TV - same princiapal applies here. Its not your fault or your problem that Dell sent you a cosmetically damaged computer. Dont stand for any crap from them.

 

lol the techs arent that great but some of them really know their stuff. they just bring their own personal laptop with the instructions loaded up on adobe. my tech figured out how to open a m17x first time w/ no problems. didnt break anything either.

 

I guess like with everything, you get some good and some bad. Some people report nightmarish tech visits whilst others sing their praises.

Its a gamble I wouldnt be prepared to take on a system thats only just landed and is brand spanking new.

 

Part number is in here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/579752-m18x-part-number-list-reference.html

It's a Seagate.

 

Yes, I originally bought it for my m17xr2. Was kind of spacious. It is like it was made for the m18x. About 3/4 inch space left on the sides.

 

Yep no sense in gambling on $3000 and your time.

 

My point is if you can't or don't want to wait to ship it back and then the whole process of an exchange request the lid be replaced and it will be new as the m18x doesn't have any other parts that could be used...yet...

If you get a bad tech complain or tell them on the phone look he broke this or that or whatever and get an entire lcd assembly and lid.

Now of course this costs you time but no where near the 2 to 3 weeks to reorder but that is only if you "can't" live without your new toy. Otherwise exchange it.

 

Keep in mind that if he opts for an exchange, he gets to use his M18x until the new one arrives and even then keep it another 5-10 days. I'm using my current M18x until my replacement arrives.

 

Well if they let him keep it then that's good news. Dell in the past has required to ship first or take a credit hold on a card due to the exchange to ship first. If you can avoid that cc hold and they will ship first then absolutely that is the way to go.

 

They don't do CC holds on Alienware systems as far as I know. They never have for me.