*OFFICIAL* M18x Owner's Lounge Thread

Awesome, thanks and +1 rep.

It rocks. I don't think that in gaming there would be a significant gain going from 2630 to 2920xm but I will eventually upgrade anyway just for the sake of upgrading

 

i wanna see gtx 580 sli in these bad boys. break the current '11 record!

 

I finally tried Crysis 2 and noticed that with the Dell stock drivers and CAP3, I see the flickering that everyone's been talking about. Is there something else I need to be doing? Should I try updating to the 11.6 drivers?

And last dumb question (for now), if I update the video drivers before I take my AlienRespawn backup, does that screw up the backup image because the factory-installed drivers are no longer there?

 

About Crysis 2, I know that in my system, aside from the combo Dell stock + 11.5 cap3 only the last 11.6 actually stopped the annoying flickering, although the game runs with less fps. So, theoretically installing the last catalyst should fix it. However, I know that a few people complained that the last catalyst haven't solved the problem and the flicker persists. I think that every card is different and it requires a different combination of driver + cap. What I did was harmed myself with lots of patience and tried the various drivers + caps until one stopped the flickering. If you install the last 11.6, you could use this trick every time you start Crysis 2: start the game, load the level, once this is up you go to the graphics settings and turn the brightness down a bit, and then without clicking apply, you turn it back to where it was. This should eliminate the flicker.

Concerning the backup, AlienRespawn should restore the old driver, and not the new one you just installed if you didn't run a new, or incremental backup. As far as I know, the program makes a back of the file system, drivers included. Since, you're just trying different drivers you could use Windows system restore and create restore points in case the drivers leaves the system unstable. Once you're sure that a certain combination driver + cap works, you could make a back up with AlienRespawn. Probably, there are better and more effective ways, but this is the way I proceed with my system.

UPDATE: I just wanted to share this news: Crytek is about to release both a fat patch for Crysis 2 - 1.9 - and a package of high res texture and DX11. They'll be made available on Monday June 27th. Hopefully, this updates will fix once and for all, and for everyone, the obnoxious flickering. So, all of you guys who are still having issues with Crysis 2 you might want to hold on for a bit longer and try these updates before letting your dear M18x endure the umpteenth clean install or driver update

Below is the list of the patch 1.9 improvements: I found it nice that it will also include a better multi-GPU support, and the possibility to run a benchmark.

Crysis 2 Patch 1.9

• Added Contact Shadows
• Added DX11 benchmark level
• Added DX11 support for Crysis 2 (the following features only work when downloading the optional DX11 package here):
• Tessellation + Displacement Mapping
• High Quality HDR Motion Blur
• Realistic Shadows with Variable Penumbra
• Sprite Based Bokeh Depth of Field
• Parallax Occlusion Mapping
• Particles Motion Blur, Shadows and Art Updates
• Water Rendering improvements and using Tessellation + Displacement Mapping
• Added Realtime Local Reflections
• Added support for Higher Res Textures Package
• Added various new console variables to whitelist
• Fixed bullet penetration, which had been broken by a bug introduced with the DLC 2 patch
• Fixed issue in MP where player stats weren't always saved at the end of a game
• Fixed issue in MP where player stats would sometimes randomly reset
• Fixed issue with MP time played statistic, which would sometimes be too low on leaderboards and in stats
• Fixed issue with JAW rocket not firing through window's containing broken glass
• Fixed rare issue where a user could not access MP with a valid CD key if they had previously used an invalid CD key
• Improved advanced graphics options menu
• Improved anti-cheat measurements: fixed exploit which could prevent vote kicking working against a user
• Improved multi-GPU support
• Improved Tone Mapping
• Re-added possibility to enable r_StereoSupportAMD via config file (unsupported)

 

Just wondering, but to achieve the best battery life possible (considering down to the last minute), what would be the best CPU + SSD combination, without sacrificing much performance?

That looks like an awesome update, I didn't realize how many things were missing from it as is.

 

Rafix, if I could give you +1 rep again, I would

Great info!!!

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I know that most of those who had the game and wanted to enjoy it with the M18x and the dual 6970 have been highly disappointed. So, finally we may be seeing light pretty soon, and just wanted to share

 

Other than not being able to run a few games in 3D (which are supported in nvidia's later drivers), not really.

 

I’ve been loving my M18x and decided to upgrade my warranty from the 1 year I got at purchase to 4 years. With accident protection the cost when I was configuring it was an additional $430 for 4 years plan over the one year plan. I was shocked when I was quoted a whopping $1,579 to upgrade my service to 4 years! Thankfully, after I raised a bit of hell, they offered to drop the price to the original $430 as a courtesy. Apparently, the policy is that Dell will offer the lower pricing up to 30 days after you purchase your machine but they bent the rules for me. So for any of you guys out there thinking about extending your warranty like I was you might want to move sooner rather than later on it.

 

Good Info. Glad you got sorted - they normally don't negotiate.

This is kind of a classic example as to why its best to get as much warranty as your budget will allow at time of purchase as its obvious that Dell will sting you worse than an angry nest of wasps (that are very very angry ) should you choose to upgrade afterwards....

Motto? - get as much "up front" to avoid getting kicked "up the rear"

 

Wow, you are really lucky. I tried to do this within my 30 days and basically I was told to send the laptop back and wait for a refund to do it all over again. I even spoke to someone in Dell Corporate in TX and they said there was nothing they can do...

Odd :/

 

Guys, anyone thinking of buying a Dell's machine: My recommendation as a long time Dell costumer (since 1997): buy from the start of the deal the full extended warranty for 4 years (5 if you buy the Precision). It's worth every single penny / cent / yuen / centavo / etc. If it's possible buy also the total accidental warranty and the "Lo-Jack"... Then you can sleep well

 

One more question on this topic - I'm new to the AMD/ATI world, and I noticed that there are newer "CAPs" out there. Should I download the latest and greatest or just stick with 11.5 CAP3?

Also, I haven't found a good answer to this: what do CAPs do specifically?

 

Hey there buddy,

I would suggest that you update to the latest CAP profiles + install and update your GPU driver to the latest 11.6 mobility version. Usually driver 1st and then CAP profile.
CAP Profiles FAQ; http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33961798

Usually the best combination is to update and install the latest GPU drivers and the CAP profiles.

So atm that would be a combination of GPU (AMD mobility driver 11.6) and CAP profile (11.6 CAP1).

The CAP profiles are AMD/ATi's way of adding GPU gaming support for newer games without having to release a complete new driver package; it allows them the ability to add newer support faster with a minor packaged update in the form of a CAP profile update.
They also can improve game support for dual crossfire GPU systems as well as improving performance for specific games. CAP's also can help fix in game bugs and other gaming graphical defects like screen tearing or other bugs and glitches.

Most people would like to continually update the drivers and CAPs however if you are extremely happy with the current driver version that you are using and it is working great for your specific gaming needs then by all means there is also no need to update drivers.

http://www.rage3d.com/cap/

Cheers.

 

+1 rep Reborn2003

I've been wondering this too, and this makes full sense to me, thanks again.

 

Thanks Gazery,

I'm going to turn you green the next chance I get.
+ 1 REP to you champ!
Tada you are now green LOL!

Cheers.

 

My return was finally processed and the credit made to my accounts. The question now is: order the same specs ASAP or does anyone think that a GPU refresh is at hand?

 

Well, speaking to my rep the other day and I asked about this. He said that 6990m was coming end of July. He also said that this wasnt 100% accurate as the Branding Team over at Dell arent allowed to release specifics to him......so I guess you could say this is semi-accurate, but I reckon he's right - just a question of how long you wanna wait!

 

20% off Graphics Upgrades on the m18x, i think it is trueeee

 

Very good answer pal!

I just would add, as a general information, that in today's world of OOP (object oriented programing), there is a seperation between support for a hardware (the GPU's cards), that are 'drivers', internal bios, etc. and support for a software appliance (that even can be external to the hardware manufacturer).

This seperations of objects and their functions / roles are very effective (not just cost effective) and allow greater flexibility and reliability for developers and end users.

 

Hi guys,
I'm a newbie here who after a lot of researching (2 months)has narrowed down my search to the Alienware M18x or the Dell Precision M6600 workstation.
Both would be configured with the i7 2920xm processors, 16gb Ram (1600mhz), SSD drives. I'm going to be using them mainly for live recording as well as general music production & djing & a tiny bit of gaming. They are both great & powerful enough machines, but my main concern is with DPC latency, especially when i'm live recording audio... are there any issues with this with any of these 2 machines? do any of these have Pro A/V, like the previous precision laptops had? I would really appreciate any info on this.

Many Thanks,
Peace!!

 

As far as I know there shouldn't be any DPC latency issue with the M18x. I'm not currently informed about the M6600. I also run the latency checker test for a while on my M18, and it seems there are no spikes, drop outs or noise whatsoever. Below are my results.
In addition, since you would also like to enjoy a bit of gaming, the M18x will allow you to run, and enjoy, any game you want with its 69970 XFire and the 18.4" screen ;-)

Cheers.

 

Both machines have a very low latency. I ran DPC Lat Checker on a few M18x's and M6600's and the results were very similar to Rafix73's.

 

THANX 4 QUICK REPLY!!
so is the actual latency 96 milli seconds

 

the average is about 100-150 on my machine with max spikes under 500

 

It's always within the range 75/100. In my system spikes never go higher than 130. I believe it's acceptable.

 

Thnx!!
which laptop had the lowest latency? & what was running on the laptop at the time of latency check?

 

I had both a CPU and GPU benchmarks running, iTunes playing music, while editing a 5-track songs with Audacity. I'm sure Akimox can provide you with some comparison between the two system.

 

Normally I run DPCLat Checker without any tweaks while browsing, scrolling large PDF's, watching video. Our purpose of the check is not to find the lowest latency but to see if we can create huge spikes (8k+) as those are really bad for gamers and are a culprit of stuttering.

Also, it's a case by case scenario. Depending on the components chosen and drivers installed your system may show lower or higher latency.

All I can say, both the M18x and M6600 have a very low latency and no huge spikes. Both can serve your purpose and I seriously doubt you will be able to find a laptop with a much better latency.

 

what was running on the laptop at the time of latency check?
i'm gonna be recording live audio whilst at the same time playing 4-5 tracks, so obviously its essential that the live recording fits in time with the other tracks with minimal delay... do u think this is possible on these laptops?

THNX!!

 

thnx guys...great info!!
When u say -
"I seriously doubt you will be able to find a laptop with a much better latency"
are u including the ones dedicated, tuned (BIOS) etc, for audio by ADK Pro Audio, RainRecording, PcAudioLabs etc?

 

If you own such a laptop, you can certainly run the checker and compare I haven't seen a single laptop for the past 5 years that would remain under 80 at all times, even mobile workstations with tuned BIOS. But then again, I'm not a pro audio producer and only checked the max latency, so take my words with a grain of salt.

 

ok. Have u heard of a feature called Pro A/V on the precision m6600 or alienware m18x? it definitly was on the previous precision m6500... pls checkout this short white paper by Dell about the Pro A/V feature:
http://i.dell.com/sites/content/bus...en/Documents/power-precision-workstations.pdf

 

The Pro A/V doesn't exist on M18x. Will check the M6600 BIOS on Monday but the thing is you can control the devices manually anyway. There's nothing the feature does that you yourself can't. It will be more time consuming though.

 

thnx!! pls do let us know about the m6600... much appreciated!!

 

Also what is the average life span with average medium usage of these Alienware, precision laptops? important if i'm gonna spend 4-£5000 on one!

 

Pal, let me tell you that the "fans" are changing those machines in 2 or 3 years... Some change them like socks... (Ask about Joker ) but those kinds of machines, with the support of a total advanced warranty, etc. can live much, much more...

As a sample, I have an old work horse which I love (a Dell Inspiron 8600), have it since 2004 (at its time it was one of the "top-of-the-line"). I travel with it, until now to 32 countries. The machine works 24/7, even when I sleep. And it works perfect with Win7 ultimate Photoshop, Avid Media composer, etc., and I do some animated graphic editing without much problem. Of course it doesn't have all the cores and GPU raw power I would like (and need) but still rocks and kick in my lectures very well indeed.

Sometimes I do miss the editing and gaming advantage of the "top of the line" Precision M6500 that I have at home since 2010... (I did pay more than $7k 4 it full loaded and now I'm wating for "my kind" of M18x to appear). But, all those kind of machines, at that level, have a very long life span with the adequate treatment. They are built to stay!

I'm sure Aikimox, Joker, and others here can give you a more educated insight on the question of the life span...

 

Lifespan is unpredictable nowadays. It's a hit and miss. Generally, your system can last you good 4-5 years but very few people will keep it that long. The most important part is the warranty. Get the best possible warranty if you wish to keep the machine for more than 1-2 years.

PM/email me and we can get you a better deal, we have both models fully configurable. The warranty is international and you can save up to 30% of the price even including shipping and vat

 

Just noticed Dell didn't ship a drivers cd The dell website has no drivers on it yet weird Any suggestions how to get the drivers

 

They are probably updating the website as we speak. Wait a few hours and try again.

 

Aikimox- You are right on with your 4-5 year estimate, still using my Dell 9300 daily. But now on to the good news...I will be replacing it with an M18 towards the end of the year. I will be purchasing through EPP. I can't wait :/

 

Aikimox- Just wanted to know if this offer is available to US customers? If so, I will gladly give my buisness to you.

 

We were talking about M6600 and UK There is no 30% discount on AW systems, even premium resellers don't get more than 10%.

Some are lucky to have good connections at Dell or exploit reps mistakes or have a military discount but other than that chances to get 10%+ are very slim.

 

Dear Aiki, I certainly will remember this next time...

 

In a moment of weakness last night, I almost splurged and purchased the m18x. I've been having some debilitating driver issues on my R2 and almost bought the m18x out of frustration.

I'm really close. But my rational side is saying wait another month or two and see what GPU upgrades come down the pike. Since Aikimox is working on a display upgrade, I'm not too stressed now about letting go of the RGB and I'll obviously be keeping my SSDs for install into the m18x, drastically cutting down the price.

I'm getting VERY close to jumping on this monster. The biggest decision I'm facing is Red or Black. Seeing some of the photos, I'm leaning towards red, for sure!

(god I love laptops)

 

Haha - you will LOVE Nebula Red. Same as the R2 I had, I would NOT go back to a "run of the mill" colour.....of course, I dont wanna offend those who chose black BUT every other laptop I see is black....not that I wanted a "stand out LOOK AT ME laptop" - I just wanted something "differenent" and the glorious metallic red is the difference I wanted. (tell you the truth, mine sits on the desk at home......its not "eye candy" for others to view lol)

Saying that, the black of the M18x is more like gunmetal from the pics ive seen....quite sexy in its own right but different strokes for different folks, right?

 

i like red too but sometimes , it doesn't match some of the FX colors.

 

Maybe - I suppose if you look directly at the very outer edges of the palmrest and display, they show the Nebula Red "edges" but the majority of "what you see" when the lid is open is just plain black.....to my eyes, every FX colour goes - but I do see your point.

 

To make things easier ... I recently calibrated my screen and it looks much better now. Can't believe how much so. As much as I loved that screen I'm not missing the RBGLED on the old R2 at all.

 

Both colors are stunning to behold and draw the eye. Truly easy to see that the M18x is a cut or two above.