*OFFICIAL* M18x Owner's Lounge Thread

My 18x order sent on 12/31/11....

team green with 580 sli, 2960xm, and upgraded to the ying yang....

 

Mine is still in production. I'm jealous.

 

Hi, I just bought an M18X after bricking my beloved M17X R2 (combined 6970Cfx and CPU upgrade went badly wrong). Anyhow, am I better off restoring important files from my external drive and reinstalling programs from scratch instead of swapping my old hard drives in? I'd rather avoid the headaches of installing everything all over again, but I'm concerned about Catalyst issues if I choose to swap in my existing drives (am assuming they weren't fried but can't tell atm). The reason I'm asking is that there have been problems with BSOD when I uninstall drivers ever since that 11.11 debacle. I'm worried that it might negatively impact things when I install the new Dell drivers I was reading about. I've done the whole Drivesweeper/Ccleaner thing AND used Regedit to clean out all the Catalyst-related junk that I could, but things seemed pretty flaky during my last driver install (before my M17X got bricked).

 

You should be able to just put your drive in and maybe update some drivers off the cd/dvd and it should just work. 90 percent of the time that is.

 

My M18x came with 16GB memory clocked at 1600. Board is HM67 and processor 2630qm. Everything is running fine but Sci-soft is telling me this board doesn't support it. "Memory bus speed exceeds chipset rated memory bus speed. . If you’re over clocking the system just be aware that it may not be as stable as you may think. Also you may be over clocking the memory modules themselves.

Fix: Reduce the FSB or reduce the FSB/Memory multiplier." Will this harm anything? If so how do I down clock to 1333?

 

Yeah, maybe I should give it a shot - if the worst happens and the Catalyst problems continue, I'll put the new drives back in and do things the hard way. Thanks!

 

Hey, I'm upgrading from 2 560's to 6970's. Apart from the obvious, the crossfire cable, what else might a need? Different screws? X-brackets? Heatsinks should still work, right?

Thanks for any help/advice in advance.

Mak

 

hey guys, i have a problem with my windows media player in my m18x, it seems that i can't enable my wmp plugins, but whenever i select a certain plugin (like alchemy etc) i can actually select them (and see them for that matter) but they the apply button is grayed out (can't use it idk) once i play a wmp music, there is no indication of such plugin even at windowed mode. i only noticed this one yesterday, another sad thing is i tried to uninstall it (thinking that wmp setup is fubar maybe idk honestly ) but i can't also find the uninstall setup .exe file. i went in both program files and program files x86 where both can be found at my C:drive.

i just saw this today because i haven't payed much attentino on my wmp softaware (im running wmp 12 in win7 by the way).

the win7 version is already on package when i bought my laptop, everything was configured when i started it, when i first started my wmp it has the typical configures it offered.

im not really sure on how to solve this (err actually the main reason because i stress this issue much is i like to have some plugins , i never experienced something like this before) and i really hope that reinstalling windows is not the answer just to correct this wmp issue. i also hope that there's a way (imo only as of my knowledge is concerned) to 'maybe' uninstall/reinstall wmp in a safe way.

i will also add that the scenario where i will play a music file (default to open by wmp) it will automatically run in window mode but the window is blank except the player length time indication. idk if i missed something when i started wmp the first time. please help guys

 

You are referring to "Visualizations" I think. (Plug-ins are for other apps like bluetooth devices and Windows Live Messenger.)

Just to be sure, you are starting out on the "Now Playing" mode, correct? Once you are in "Now Playing" mode, right click and select "Visualizations" and apply them that way. There is even one for AlienFX lighting.

You may have already tried this, but I thought I would ask the obvious first. If this does not work, can you post a screen shot showing the problem you are referring to?

No, it will not harm anything. You can select a slower memory speed in the system BIOS. It's found under the performance options. The message you are getting is not correct. In fact, it's baloney. There must be something incompatible with the software. The M18x supports XMP 1866 memory. I have 16GB of DDR3-1600 from Dell with the memory clocks and voltage bumped up and there is no issue. There is no Windows version of Scisoft astronomy software that I know of. Are you running this in a VM or running it under Linux? Or, is it something different than the Scisoft astronomy software I am referring to?

Mak - you need all of those items. The cable is totally different. The other parts are slightly different. If you have the x-brackets or heat sinks grounding out anywhere you can run into some real problems. The good news is that those parts are inexpensive direct from Alienware. You should be able to purchase all the hardware and cable for around $75.

 

here. i just attached the file mr. fox, i hope you can see the 'visualization' being like permanently disabled

 

Hello everyone. I am new to the forums but I have been reading here for a couple months now gathering information before I decided to buy. First off I would like to say WOW, this place is a wonderful source of information regarding the M18x and other computers in general. So much information to the point that I have gotten lost in all of it. I sent in my order last week and am waiting for it to be sent to my wife, then forwarded on to me in Iraq. Being that I work overseas and am rarely home I am trying to collect information on what drivers, BIOS, tweaks and mods that people are running that are stable and what benefits they offer over others. Stability is more of an issue than performance as it will be a hard process to get anything fixed out here. Thanks for any advice you can provide. My system specs are below:

1 225-0887 Alienware M18x Space Black Anodized Aluminum
1 317-8642 Intel Core i7 2960XM 2.7GHz (3.7GHz with Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
1 317-6884 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
1 331-2428 Alienware M18x 330W A/C Adapter
1 320-2269 18.4-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 WLED
1 320-2796 Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 6990M AMD CrossFireX
1 342-2629 256GB Solid State Drive SATA 3Gb/s
1 330-6106 Personalized Nameplate Trigger
1 331-2426 Custom Nameplate
1 313-8792 AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
1 421-5099 Alienware Command Center, M18X
1 420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp
1 420-9956 PC Restore
1 421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1 421-5813 Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 bit Service Pack 1,
1 410-0548 Adobe Acrobat Reader
1 318-0843 Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader, BR-ROM,
1 421-1305 Roxio Creator Starter
1 421-5100 Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
1 430-4332 Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming and Video
1 469-0549 Bluetooth 3.0
1 410-0572 McAfee Security Center, 30 Day, CNB
1 953-9080 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
1 953-9100 Third Party At Home Service, 24x7 Technical Support,
1 994-3700 Accidental Damage Service, 1 Year
1 950-9797 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
1 421-1719 Soft Contracts Consumer Accidental Damage Agreement
1 421-1723 Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for
1 994-3730 Warranty Support, Initial Year
1 421-1359 World of Warcraft Preinstall Edition
1 421-1599 Alienware Logo
1 421-1588 Alienware Logo
1 330-5090 Thank You for Purchasing AlienWare

 

is it worth it to add $900 for the i7 2960XM?

 

facepalm, okay okay i want to clear things out, i missed the basics, i had a honest mistake

okay, what i did is just intentionally opened a random file with the music and TRIED to change it the plugin setup (i mean visualizations) thru the options tab.

i just did the right way and noticed it by luck, what i did seconds ago is what i should've really done in the first place. as everyone else has been illustrating here in this thread. (had to drink some coffee now btw )

1. went on start menu, opened wmp. blank window.
2. changed visualizations to alienfx, alchemy and it worked!

i noticed though that even when my wmp is minimized, the fx still goes as the music plays on, strange but hey, can't hurt. when i close wmp, then it will go to dark, 2-3 seconds will go to lights on again automatically.

EDIT : guys what octave level do you use?

imo 2960xm is for heavy benching, 900usd stash is too much unless you really have the budget.

 

Hello everyone!

I am encountering a problem with M18x, and I was hoping that someone here might be able to help me. When I game I frequently have to get up ( I have back issues), and on occasion my power cord will get unplugged. My settings in power management are set to high performance, but the game runs terribly. I understand that the system is designed to Throttle the battery while unplugged to save power power and the life of the battery, and I have no problems with that, my issue stems from the problem not properly correcting itself once I realize the plug has been removed and I put it back it (which is obvious after I get back to my computer and start playing). If the power cable is left out for more than 30 seconds, performance will not increase after plugging the power supply back in. Quitting the game and relaunching it does not solve the problem either, I am forced to completely reboot the system to restore performance. Is there any way I fix this issue without having to reboot my system?

My system is a 6990 Crossfire.

Thank you!

 

Not that I know of Mormaer. I wish there were a way of latching the AC adapter into the jack to keep it from working loose to prevent that from happening. It's annoying even when getting up from your chair to fix it presents no challenges physically.

 

Bloodroses, thanks for the advice. Here is an update: I was set to return the red chasis and lcd cover today but had a mishap last evening. I usually keep my laptop on a tray on the floor when I'm not using it and accidentally knocked over an all metal external hard drive and hit the M18x and left a really bad scrape on the cover.

So I watched the tear down video on YouTube and began to do the switch. All in all it was not terribly difficult; I did not remove and repaste the video cards as I wanted to get in and out quickly. After doing all the disconnections the base swap went surprisingly smooth. I was also surprised how easy it was to change the LCD cover once I had it off. I had a few hiccups after reassembling; first, when I booted up the laptop after the swap I got the 5 beeps and not boot up, after rebooting a second time the laptop just went off. After a third reboot the laptop was running again. The other hiccup occurred with the control cover, the media keys would not light up; after reading some posts related to that cable I disable the ribbon and reinstalled and the keys were lighting up. The last thing I still need to tackle is finding replacement screws for the control cover because they were not there at all and I have to re-apply some stickers from the inside battery bay.

Overall, I am really glad I did this because I now have a really good idea of how my laptop is built and I now have the red that I wanted.

 

That's too bad. Are there any setting I can change to cancel the throttling in the first place?

 

is there huge performance difference between the 2960XM and the 2860QM? And is it worth it to buy the 2960XM CPU?

 

Put it this way.... You can run the XM pretty much any way you want...While the QM is bound by factory based settings. A XM can run QM settings while not the other way around.

 

Hey Sandbox... welcome to the NBR Forums and the Alienware Community, in particular. Congratulations on the M18x. What a great buying decision. I hope you love your beast as much as I do mine.

Given that stability is super-important in your case, and obtaining service is going to be a problem, I would recommend running it as close to stock as you possibly can. I think you should find it will do everything well without any significant of updates. Looking at the build information, the only driver you may truly need to update is the Killer Wireless driver. From what I understand, the Killer Wireless drivers from their web site performs well, but the drivers from Dell don't. The current Dell AMD video driver does a good job based on feedback posted in our thread for that driver.

So, my advice is have the updated Killer Wireless driver ready in case you need it, and otherwise just enjoy the daylights out of the thing.

There are numerous links at the post you will find linked in my signature. Please take time to browse them, as there is important information that will assist you in becoming a valuable member of the Community. There are also some links there that will help answer some of your questions about the M18x.

Again, welcome to the Community. We are glad you joined us.

 

Thanks. I can not wait to get my hands on this beast. I placed the order on January 1st. After calling Dell to ask if they anticipated any delays not only did they expedited the order, upgraded the shipping to next day air for free and they gave me a guarantee that it will be at my house in the U.S by the 7th! Then it is just a matter of waiting the 30+ days for it to get to me in Iraq. The anticipation kills me lol

 

That's awesome. Maybe I should call, but I'm not a hero. Order on the 26th and still have the 12th as a delivery date. Soon enough. Good luck.

 

Nice build you should not have any problems, like MR Fox said run it close to stock. Do not put a fresh install on it. First thing make a factory Image backup with AlienRespawn so you have your Disk's. Then I would run it out of the box for awhile before doing anything to it. That way you know if it is stable and if you change something you have an idea where the problem started.
Out side of that enjoy your new Beast, I do and welcome to the Forum, The Alienside.

 

I am by no means a hero lol. I just called them and asked them if I could have it completed before then, even if it meant paying a little extra to expedite the order. I got put on hold for a few minutes, the guy came back on and said they would have it to me by the end of the week. I did order mine through the AAFES website so they may have seen that on there. I think the biggest thing to remember is you will get a lot further being polite and patient. It can't hurt to call man. Good luck.

 

In my book you are. But yes, I did call waiting on the 580m. They seem to be low in stock, which I new ahead of time. I'm usually patient but its tough And with my desktop being down for the count its even harder .

 

Yeah I hear you on being patient. The only form of communication or entertainment I have at this point is a 10" netbook... But all will be well once again soon enough

 

I have my tablet and that's it. Can't do any cool games though .

 

Dear Guys,

Please help!!

The guys at alienware cannot put a single 6990 in for me..dunno why.

Sincerely,
Nappy

 

Questions like this have been answered many times.
See this thread, please:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ion-how-search-forum-read-before-posting.html

 

It's not hard. Alot can go wrong if you are not patient. If you haven't already done so, I recommend taking a look at the M18x service manual to see what you're up against.

 

I changed mine and I am a mechanic by trade. I was very careful taking it apart and noticed the last time after I was done I had tiny spider cracks in the front speaker bezel. Not sure how that happened because I was very gentle. So there is a risk to taking it apart. Its not really noticeable though.

 

Hi all,

Just purchased an Alienware M18X for 2400$. Below are the specs, Please give me your opinions on if you think it was a good deal overall. Thank you for your opinions

Specs:
Alienware M18x Laptop
Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI Enabled
Processor: Intel Quad Core Extreme i7 2960XM (2.7GHz(3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache)
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO
6X Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
Service Software
Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth Module
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
12 Cell Battery
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
4 GB Dual Channel DDR3 (1600MHz)

Powercord,125Volt,15Amp,10 Foot
18.4 inch Wide FHD (1920 x 1080) WLED Display
Wave Systems Software

AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
210W/240W switchable Slim 3P A/C Adapter
Accessory Kit
Software
Software
125V Power Cord
Nebula Red Anodized Aluminum
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Operating System DVD

 

good choice, if the hdd and ram are default then its fine, you may just upgrade the ram and hdd by buying outside the market for cheaper prices.

 

Nice build, best to purchase with cheapest ram and hd. You easily can upgrade to 8 or 16gigs and a SSD for the OS and use the 500 for storage. You will love gaming on it I do.
And welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks guys, Exactly my thoughts about the HDD and RAM. Got a scare though when i looked at the Alienware website and noticed that getting another 12GB of 1600MHZ RAM costs around 500 bucks. Do you think its just an inflated price or is that the average price for RAM these days?

@reaversedge

I noticed that your signature says you are using 4GB of ram on your notebook, Did you ever feel that an increase would have been beneficial when multi-tasking or playing games?

 

It doesn't cost any where near 500 bucks for 12gb of 1600mhz ram.

 

8GB (2x4) of 1600MHz HyperX costs round £35 here in the UK I think so Dell prices are hugely inflated as you can see...

 

I just noticed that your adapter says that it's 210W/240W. Don't all SLI/Xfire units come with 330W adapters?

 

I think that is a web mistake sort of thing. Mine said the same thing, but the 330W adapter is the one that shipped.

 

Just got message. Delivery out today, will get it Wednesday . 1-day ahead of time, yes.

I'm so happy

 

fox, any idea when the new ivy-bridge + hm75/77 chip-set along with pci 3.0 will be out available for the alienware?

im planing to get another alienware with all these new cpu/gpu/motherboard released. iirc AMD already released 7900 graphic card for desktop on the market few days ago, shouldnt be too long before the mobile ones are out right?

also does anyone know why the price for alienware.ca and alienware.com are so much different..? it cost $1200 for dual 580 SLI on alienware.ca but 600 for alienware.com

edit: also apparently even with i7 2600k and i7 3920x desktop processors cant reach 7.9 wei score for windows lol, pretty disapointing it'll take another 3-4 years for laptop to really max that wei out

 

I have no news on this... will have to find out when they announce it.

 

Does the M18x only have four USB slots?
Left side
Right side

So if I have five or more flash drives or other such USB related devices, I can only plug in four of those five?

 

The eSata port on the Right side, also functions as a USB2.0 port.

 

Excellent! So there are a total of five USB ports? It doesn't matter whether they are 2.0 or 3.0 to me.

 

5 useable yes

But if you have that many flash drives anyways.....why not also carry a usb hub?!

 

I have been itching to get an m18x every since I saw it, this will be an upgrade from my current laptop in my sig. I am giving my current laptop to my little brother.

Now my question is, should I buy now or should I wait? I want to be able to play Battlefield 3 online with ultra settings, with AA (can live without it), thats my main goal really everything else comes second.

So do you guys have any idea as to when the new Ivy bridge laptop CPU's will come out? Same for Nvidia or AMD's next gen GPU's? Do you think they will be out before summer?

 

I would expect both Ivy Bridge and some new GPUs within 4-8 months.

The question you really have to ask is how important are those things to you?

Ivy Bridge is not a new micro-architecture but just an improvement on the current. So far it is looking like perhaps a 10% performance boost and up to a 30% battery boost, that is quite small compared to what we saw with the jump to Sandy. In addition, almost nothing these days even stresses a current CPU, so the 10% is almost meaningless, the battery life is significant, maybe another hour to hour and a half for a system that gets 5 hours today. You are getting an M18x though, so I doubt battery life is a chief concern.

The GPU performance increase is harder to guess, however, you can look at the desktop 28nm AMD reviews and see it isn't exactly an incredible increase. Sure, it beats the current cards, but not by a lot. This is again looking like mostly a power savings and heat improvement, at least at first. Probably 10-15% performance gain over the current top of the line, but probably much more in energy savings and lower heat levels. Again though, your getting an M18x, so battery likely isn't your concern (and you never use the GPU on battery anyway) and the current model dissipates heat just fine. In reality you are looking at 5-10 FPS max gain from the current top of the line.

Thus, the question becomes is a 10% increase in CPU, and a 15% increase in GPU worth waiting 6 months for? Keeping in mind that in 6 months you will only be 6 months away from a GPU architecture change, which will give much larger performance increases than the coming die-shrinks. Then of course the next Intel microarchitecture will be coming next year, which will also be much more impressive than this years die shrink.

Quite frankly, I would buy now, I don't feel the coming upgrades are worth waiting for, the really good upgrades will be coming in 2013. If you wait for 6+ months to get a new system, then you are closer to the 2013 upgrades. If you buy now you can get more moneys worth over the next 1-1.5 years before the 2013 upgrades hit, and then if you want you can maybe upgrade your rig if you want better performance.

 

Wow, impressed with the shipping and build. Ordered on 12/29/11 and it showed up today... Great considering the holidays!

 

Just received a call before my class today from customer service on an update to my m18x its going to be shipped in the next day or so!!

That made my day, I was honestly surprised by the call, didn't think that anyone gave a toot enough to just call and keep me up to date. Damn best customer service in a while.

Next week is going to be awesome.