*OFFICIAL* M18x Owner's Lounge Thread

Yeah, that cat would have gotten free flying lesson from there to the back door!.

 

Hello all. I'm a long time NBR reader.

As of yesterday, became the proud owner of an M18x

Looking forward to learning more about the capabilities of this machine.

As a full time professional photographer, the primary use for the system will be photo editing and graphic design.

I come with a history of Dell ownership of XPS M1730 > M17xR2 > to now.

Having unwrapped the beautiful box, that is Alienware packaging, my M18x unfortunatey exhibits light scratches on the interior of the LCD display, which is leaking backlight through to the front when displaying dark to black screens.

Currently in the process of having that sorted out, but just wanted to *wave* hello, as I know I'll be sticking with this system for quite some time

(and that's my intro... done...)

 

Hello Niraj - congratulations on the M18x. I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. It's an outstanding machine. Also, welcome to NBR. So glad you made the move from reader to contributor! That's awesome, and we look forward to seeing more posts of you in the days ahead.

My recommendation would be if you purchased this new from Dell to exercise your option to return it now (within the 21-day window of opportunity) and order a new replacement. They may allow you to continue using it and return it after the new one arrives. I would do that before allowing them to dispatch replacement parts on a machine less than 24 hours old.

If the person in China assembling your M18x was careless or inexperienced enough to do that damage, there is no telling what other unacceptable things may have occurred in the assembly process. Starting over with a fresh machine would be my choice.

 

Hello Mr. Fox,

Thank you for the warm welcome. Over my many months of reading, I get the impression you're the resident Alienware guru

The M18x is infact a warranty replacement in the untimely death of my M17xR2 due to an unskilled Dell Repair Tech.

During the replacement offer, I purchased several upgrades (namely dual 6990M's and an SSD). For that reason alone, I have requested a replacement machine be made, as I would dread to think the new parts that I've paid for would be at risk from internal damage due to the carefree attitude of the assembly technician.

After speaking with an AW rep earlier today, I purchased an upgrade on one more component in the replacement machine and got myself Dual SSD.

Just waiting for a response from the team with the quotation / order specs of the replacement.

Fingers crossed there aren't any mistakes and I can confirm back to get things moving along quickly

PS: I am based in the UK.

 

Thanks for the compliment. Impressions can be deceiving... I'm just one of the NBR guys, but passionate about computers... especially Dell/Alienware laptops.

I'm sure you'll get this sorted. Based on the history you've had, it seems you know that you're in good hands with the Dell warranty. It's always sad to hear when unskilled "technicians" mess things up. They're just machines and replaceable at the end of the day, but yeah... very disheartening when incompetence leads to a premature death, LOL.

If they send you Samsung 830 SSD in RAID0 it's going to be very impressive. Those are good drives and it seems that is what they are shipping now.

Have a great day, buddy.

 

Thanks. Yes i've got the single 830 SSD in this current system, and it's a treat to use. I've fully installed everything I will ever need, and got it up and running to a productively functional state, and my boot up time is nigh on 27 seconds.

Impressive is an understatement, so I can't wait to see how 2 of them in RAID0 will perform

Dell / Alienware Warranty support has been manageable, although I must say they are slow to respond and sometimes need a lot of chasing with lots of hours on the phone.
I can only assume they are understaffed and overworked.

When these "Dell" Technicians mess things up, I'm not sure they realise how difficult they can make the customers lives. I've been without a system since November 14th 2011, and only got this system yesterday. So it's been a pleasure to finally be mobile (sort of, lol).

You have a great day too, and yes I'll be posting more on here as I get to know this machine. Hope it doesn't give me any problems, my M17xR2 was the best system I've ever owned.

Come to think of it, I've owned some great machines from Dell.

Inspiron 8600
Inspiron 9200
M1730 > M17xR2 > M18x.

Loyal customer I think they would call it.

You have a great day too, mate.

 

Hope I made the right choices as this is what I just ordered. I decided to add ram and the ssd as I think they will be more beneficial than the processor.

Intel Core i7-2670QM 2.2GHz (3.1GHz Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
16 GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz SDRAM (4 DIMMs)
18.4 inch Wide FHD 1920x1080 WLED Display
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO
Internal Bluetooth 375 Module
Dual 2GB GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeFORCE GTX 580M SLI Enabled
256GB Solid State Drive, 1.7MM
6X Bluray RW
High-Definition 5.1 Performance Audio with WavesMAXX
Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter

I can honestly say, the guy I worked with at Dell deserves an award as he worked his tail off for me....

 

That will keep you plenty happy

 

It is usually the case to add RAM and SSD after the fact cause you can get it cheaper. However if you just want to add it now and not worry about it - you did the right thing.

The processor should serve you well since quite a number of games are GPU and not CPU based.

 

True - actually, regarding the SSD's it depends on what kind of ssd Dell put in for you (brand/sata II or III). Example being that my last replacement shipped with two Samsung PM830 ssd's (same as the retail 830 but OEM version) and if you get one of those for Dell's online price, I dont think you would get the same drive much cheaper aftermarket, as I think the retail price is ~$400usd (if im right, could be more)

Just wish there was a 100% way a buyer could be sure what ssd they were gonna get. Right now, I think its kinda pot luck.....

 

I feel I did quite well with the price so that leaves me a little more room, even if I purchase another ssd. At the end of the day I bought that computer brand new from dell for a better price than I could find on ebay.

looking forward to getting it!

 

Great stuff - well, as long as YOU are happy, that's the main thing right? - congrats on your purchase - hope you enjoy the beast!

 

Pilot - nice job... good config. I think you'll be very happy with it. Congratulations, bro.

 

Thanks..... buying it through dell was cheaper than buying a refurb off ebay.... no joke...

 

He sure did if it was cheaper than an ebay refurb! - sounds like you got a right ole Christmas "Cracker" - nice one!

 

never thought waiting to till the end of the month would pay off like it did. they all work of commission and are eager to make a sale. definitely call and not order of the website. not that a nameplate and an original box are that important, at least I know where it is coming from and I know it is brand new.

i am sure at some point i will get the crazy idea that i should of went with the faster cpu... can they be changed out?

 

Yep. You can swap cpu later if you want. Lots of guys buy a lower cpu from Dell and then buy an Engineering sample (ES) or Quality sample (QS) cpu off ebay (Shirley's or LaptopMonkey) at a much lower price. Those cpu's have obviously been used (and probably thrashed a fair bit) during testing - basically, to get to Intel to the final production stage of the chip - but they provide a very economical way to get extreme performance at a very marked down price.

 

How difficult of a job is it to replace the cpu?

 

Hello Everyone,

I just purchased one of these monsters and I have a question; is it possible to use the computer while it's plugged into the cigarette lighter? Will it provide enough watts? I have a 400 watt power inverter that I can plug into the lighter but a friend of mine told me that the lighter only puts out about 110-115 watts and that I would need to hard wire the inverter to be able to use it in the car? Does anyone know the answer to this?

Thanks

 

That's a good question. Curious myself.

 

It's not difficult at all. If you can disassembly the M18x, you can easily change the CPU. The service manual is linked in the opening post. You have to be gentle taking off the keyboard surround panel and palmrest so as to not break them.

That varies by vehicle. If it is an outlet designed for a 400W or higher power inverter, it will be no problem. If it is only intended to be a cigarette lighter, probably not enough juice. Some vehicles have a label with the output capacity right next to the outlet. If the outlet supports the demand of the power invertor, no problem at all. I use computers in vehicles all the time. If the invertor is 400W continuous and not 400W peak, it should power the M18x. You can get 1000W and higher and hardwire (much like you would a high powered car stereo amp) as your friend mentioned if you plan to do so frequently. That would be better in the case of frequent use.

 

My car cigarette lighter only says 120Watts Max. Could I plug in the M18x and just listen to music on it or would even just having the power turned on fry my car adapter?

Also, is there a way to disable the backlit keyboard on the M18x? I don't like all those flashing lights and glowing colors on the laptop. I prefer to have a plain black laptop with no keyboard lighting at all.
Thanks.

Well, if anything, the Anti-Glare Screen Protector will keep the actual screen from being scratched or dusty. That's a shame that the anti-glare film reduces the image quality, because I really detest all that glare; makes it so hard to work sometimes.

Fantastic! I was afraid there was no option of disabling all the lights. Does the "Go Dark" mode disable every light? I really do not like the glowing lights at all... and not just on the keyboard, but in the front, in the back, and that glowing alien face on the lid. Go Dark makes all of those lights turn off?

 

Answers below in different font...

 

Great! Thank you, Mr. Fox.
On the warranty, is a 4-year Advanced warranty a little too much warranty coverage? Is a 2 year plan sufficient?

 

That's really up to the individual. Here's my logic... I went with the 4 year advanced warranty and extended it an extra year to 5. There is no better "insurance policy" to cover component failures or accidental damage than what you can get from Dell. If you consider that most of us spent $3000-$4000 on these beasts, the cost of the warranty is inconsequential. The parts are expensive and they don't last forever. Some of the parts (like the GPU modules) are prone to failure due to heat and fatigue. One pair of 6990M or 580M modules costs more than double the price of the 4 year advanced warranty. The AC adapters sometimes fail. They are over $100. The motherboard is over $100. If you had the money to purchase an XM CPU, they are close to $1,000.

Dell/Alienware takes excellent care of the owners with an advanced warranty. What they cannot fix they replace with something equal or better. If a part is no longer available due to obsolescence, it gets replaced with new technology, which can mean a whole new (or refurbished) machine with current technology if the new part doesn't fit in the old machine. My warranty still has almost 2 years to go and it has paid for itself more than once. I'm not aware of any other place you can buy that kind of warranty.

The other thing about the advanced warranty that I like is having the parts (or an on-site repair tech for those that are not the DIY type) sent to me. If they are in stock, you get them the next business day. Having to box up my baby and sent it off to la-la land for some schmuck that I don't know to tear into it is not something I relish. That's pretty much what happens with most of the other companies for warranty repairs.

Did you know that Alienware even provides instructions for us to take apart our own systems and instructions for customers on how to overclock their XM CPU? The Level 3 Engineering docs are posted in the Alienware Forum on the Dell Community and the service manuals are posted in the support pages at Dell.com. How many companies actually provide those resources to their customers? Some even void your warranty if you take it apart yourself, beyond adding memory or swapping hard drives.

 

True. My total configuration costs $4900 with the 4 year advanced warranty. I believe you get what you pay for. On the warranty, if I get 4 year advanced and decide 2 years into it that I want to extend it to 6 years, does Dell give you the option to do that? Or would I need to get a 5 or 6 year plan right now when I buy the machine?



Question, after two years roughly, GeForce GTX 580m will be behind the curve somewhat. Are the GPU cards in the M18x "user-upgradeable"? I know Sager/Clevo advertises that their GPU cards can be upgraded. When the 600 & 700 series of GTX come out for notebooks, I'd like to install them.
Thanks for answering my questions.

 

Answers below...

Click the link in my signature. There are some things in there that you may find interesting.

 

Got my replacement order acknowledgement through this morning.

EDD 16/01/2012 - it's nice that I'll get to use this machine till the new one gets here.

 

I've been using my M18x with the exposed screen for months and have yet to complain. It's really a dream combo - anti-glare + super clear. It's also easy to clean and scratch resistant. All in all it's probably one of the best screens out there especially as far as crispiness goes. But to really appreciate it one must remove the glass cover....

 

We all hope that Dell/AW will understand the customers complains on this topic, the needs and the options... Dear Aikimox, you had shown to them the path to follow! Have a peaceful, fruitful and happy new year! Same to all and everybody!

 

Do yourself a favor and order over the phone.

 

There's still more to come with the heatsink project.

Happy New Year, my friend! Stay sharp and healthy!

 

Hehe, I have a kitten and she also likes to lay down on the keyboard while I play games. I put a thin piece of cardboard so she doesn't press any buttons.

 

My M18x is my pet, LOL. It doesn't eat anything, leak anything, need shots or have fleas.

Awesome! Congratulations, bro. You're going to love it.

 

On the M18x I have read people saying that the edge to edge screen protector on the 18x is glass. Has anyone actually verified this because when I took my screen apart it certainly did not seem like glass. Its also not so sounding like glass when taped.

I haven't been able to find any solid information on this yet so I'm wondering if someone here has verified this.

 

This might help http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/629665-m18xs-lcd-bezel-part-question.html

 

Why over the phone as opposed to online?

 

You can negotiate on the phone. Pilot-Werx got a good deal from a great AW sales rep.

Here's a thread on the subject: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/456885-aw-dell-ordering-advice-how-save.html

 

Yes, you can negotiate over the phone. I saved over $800... Send me a PM if interested and I will send you the contact info at Dell that I have...

Cheers,
Chris

 

SO i have read the manuals and it tells me that there are four memory slots A, B, C, and D. I have only been able to find two. No tear down that I have seen shows where all four area. In addition to this the service manual will not load the pictures. Can some one please guide me here? Also are there any 8GB sticks that run at 1866Mhz?

 

The other two slots are under the keyboard.

There are currently no 8Gb sticks @1866Mhz.

No, it is not glass.

 

Ok sweet. Thanks for the quick reply. Is it worth getting 1866 over 1600?

 

That sounds great, Pilot! Except I'm not planning to buy right now. Since humanity is only 5-6 months away from Q2 2012, I'm waiting until the M18xR2 comes out and I will buy that one. I was reading through your posts on here about buying your machine. Congratulations. You got 16GB of RAM I noticed. I heard that if you have 4 sticks (4x 4GB = 16GB) of RAM as opposed to 2 sticks (2x 4GB = 8GB), it produces more heat. Is that true? And does 1600MHz versus 1866MHz really make a difference? (Looks like I have the same question as AlphaMike)

 

You will see more difference between 1333 to 1600 not so much between 1600 to 1866 in the real world you can not tell the difference between the two, only in bench marking..heat is not an issue but yes there is more with 4 sticks than 2 sticks. If money is an issue 8 gigs is plenty as games won't use much more than 3 tops. You only need 16 if your running VM's or professional programs. Hope that helps.

 

It has also been proven that 1600 freq. Is the sweet spot for Sandy Bridge.

Happy New Year, everybody!

http://forum.notebookreview.com/off...ere-some-what-your-new-years-resolutions.html

 

When I ordered the M18X just recently, 5 days ago, the cost of 16g was the same as 8g. So I went 16g just for that reason.

 

Great deal 16 for the price of 8 ..nice

 

Virtual Machines are software that, for example, runs Windows XP in Windows 7 in a Virtual Machine so that you have backwards compatibility with older programs? I don't do stuff like that. I play The Elder Scrolls: Arena which is a 1992 game, but it runs okay on Windows 7; probably would run better on Windows 95/98 though.

 

Happy New Year Alienheads!

 

happy new year owners =]