*OFFICIAL* M18x R1/R2 Owner's Lounge Thread

Archangel0007, you must not be setting something correctly.

 

What? Sarcasm? You must have had some loud computers. Mine gets pretty loud when gaming. Not that I mind, I use good headphones, so it's really my wife who has to deal with the noise . Maybe I'm biased, since my last laptop was an ASUS G74sx (which is near-silent). My m18x is completely silent when I work, though (integrated graphics on power saver mode + OS on SSD and HDD turns off when not in use).

 

I've had lots of computers. I've tried multiple laptops from ASUS/MSI and Alienware. I've built multiple desktops and messed with a R4 Aurora and few prebuilts.

My last main computer was 2760QM/M18x R1 6990M CFX. Those cards got hotter and therefore the computer ran louder. With these 7970M cards the computer doesn't make a peep. The 3610QM also helps with temps.

 

Yeah, I'd say the M18x R2 is pretty silent. Even when I had my CPU and GPU significantly OC'd...and even during bench runs it's not bad, at all. Very nicely engineered.

 

Ah - I see. I didn't think about desktops (or very powerful gaming desktops). I'm glad it's quieter for you. I have to admit, mine is much quieter than I expected. The fans will kick up to a higher speed for a few seconds, then go back to the typical speed while gaming (which I would consider loud, but not annoyingly so).

 

IT'S HERE! Time to load it up.

 

yeahh almost looks same as mine XDDD yeap its time to fly system

 

Looking good! I love to see the kid toys in the background. My 4-year old loves to play Arkham City with me on my m18x. (I just have to keep the volume down and the camera away for Harley Quinn for his sake)

I have this stereotype in my mind that most gamers are single and kidless - It's nice to see other gamers with kids. I hope that makes sense

 

The reason I bought the M18x is to play games up in the living room with the family. My man cave is down in the basement and I was missing all the fun upstairs.

Looks like the stock 8GB models are shipping with 2 4GB sticks installed. I'm not sure if the slots under they keyboard are populated or the ones under the back plate.
Mine came with the mouse pad but no hat or leather book anymore.

 

The RAM should be on the bottom and not under the keyboard. I didn't get a hat or book either.

 

Same here - no hat or leather book. I really like the mouse pad. I hadn't used one in years and found that it feels a lot better with the pad.

 

The Intel and Windows stickers peeled off really easy without leaving a bunch or crap on the aluminium. Nice.

Only small thing I've noticed is the plastic around the keyboard on the bottom right under the keypad is sticking out a bit. Like one of the clips didn't catch. Other wise this thing is flawless.

Everyone comes to the forums when something goes wrong, I'm sure happy I've got no problems.

Also... I noticed the headphone jacks have Mic detection if you have a headset for your phone. That's a nice touch. A lot of cheap laptop don't have the more expensive jacks with the third pin for mics.

The keyboard is really nice too. Keys have lots of travel. The trackpad buttons are the same. Lots of Windows laptops have cheap clicky trackpad buttons. The Alienware feels really nice.

I immediately uninstalled McAfee and Power DVD and put on Security Essentials and Total Media Theater 5. It's nice that it isn't filled with a bunch of crap.

I'm happy I waited the three weeks now for this machine as opposed to getting an Asus with a cheap plastic case and filled with a bunch of bloatware.

I noticed that the text size is set to 125% as default. Not sure why. Set it back to 100% to make things look normal.

 

I had this issue with my R1, as well as the replacement I received for it. I noticed that it wasn't an issue with a clip, the touchpad surface has a sticky adhesive that binds it to the base. For some reason the corners would always stick up slightly, it felt pretty cheaply done to me. It was one reason that I returned both of them, along with many other build quality issues. If this would end up being an issue with the R2 for me again, I'm not so sure I would want to risk purchasing it to only end up being sorely dissapointed with the QC.

 

Very happy so far. The single 675 is working just fine. Company of Heroes, Skyrim and BF3 all run great. I haven't noticed any slow downs at all.
Skyrim auto set to High and BF3 and CoH set to Ultra.
I haven't broken out fraps because of what my will do but I haven't noticed any slow downs.

I just noticed you can use the analog audio jacks to output 5.1. I didn't think I was going to be a ble to use my Tritton 510 headset but I found out I can use it just fine.
This thing just gets better and better.

 

i apologize if this was asked before, but my bluray reader is periodically making noise like it is checking for a disc to be inserted. its the same noise when you boot up your system.

I assume there isn't a way to stop it from doing that as I would assume its normal operation, but is there anyway to lessen how often it does it?
thanks

 

It sounds like a program is trying to access your optical drive. Check which programs might be looking for something on the optical drive.
It shouldn't randomly be making a noise.

 

Well guys I guess Im the newest member of the M18x club. Recently had a problem with my M15x so I decided to get the an M18x with SLI 580's. Got it for a great price so I couldnt pass it up.

 

Welcome to the club! - going on your signature machines/spec's I imagine we can see some rather good scores when you get your new beastie.....

 

I already have the M18x but my CPU is only a 2670. I purchased it a month old. So I wont be crushing anything. Plus Im done with benching. If I do any more benching it will be with the 15x as soon as I fix a small problem and throw a 7970m in it. If I was able to get a cheap enough XM CPU for the 18x I might just catch the bench bug but at the moment they are WAY to expensive. Also do you guys think its excessive to have an M11xR2, M14x, M15x, and M18x between just me and my wife?

 

Only from the point of view that you can only use any one computer at any one time....otherwise, nope! - a man can never have too many toys!

 

I hear ya... Our house has 7 computers for me, my wife and our two kids.

 

Ten desktops and notebooks for the five of us. (and those are the ones that we really use frequently, not counting the ones that don't get turned on often)!!

 

Here's the list...
i7 2600K, 16GB 1866 Ram, 6990 + 6970 Trifire. (Main Gaming Rig)
i7 920, 12GB 1600, 580 GTX, (Old Gaming Rig. Daughters Minecraft Machine)
2007 Macbook (Wifes bedroom laptop)
Mid 2010 Macbook Pro (My bedroom laptop)
Foxconn AMD A350 (HTPC)
M18x (My living room gaming machine)
2011 Macbook Air (Living room pc)

Totally Forgot about the Mac Mini i have in my office.
2011 Mac Mini, 27" ACD (iTunes Server and Media player when I'm playing games.)

Old not used stuff:
Asus 1201N (Old living room pc)
Core 2 Quad 6600, 8Gb DDR2 800, 4870 xfire (Old OLD Gaming pc sitting in closet now)

 

Crikey! - 10 machines? 7 machines? - you guys should consider donating some of the ones you DONT use to lesser fortunate people.....I'm no tree-hugger but I'm sure someone would benefit from a machine that's stuck in your cupboard gathering dust. I do this for lots of things that I dont use, glasses, mobile phones etc etc.....there is always someone who will appreciate stuff you dont use or need.

 

Don't get me started on all the cell phones I have sitting in drawers.

 

hahah - I think we are all guilty of having the odd phone lying around...

 

Theres a tech hoarder in all of us

 

My m18xr2 just arrived at home and I'm out of town working till tomorrow. This is killing me. Can't wait to run the 7970's and my 3920xm. So what is the most stable drivers for the 7970's or should I run the dell drivers that are preloaded?

 

Is there a bios mod out yet to unlock everything in the new M18X R2?

 

heh what are the chances they release 685m. if look into the history of nvidia graphics, the 85 version were released for 2xxm and 4xxm. no 85 version for 300 as well as the 500m series.

maybe and just maybe theres a chance 685 will be out this year =D

 

Mr. Fox recommended the drivers I have hosted here. I also have the "stock" Dell drivers hosted there.

Did some calculations last night - I am figuring a 680M SLI setup in an M18x will run $400 more than what the 675M SLI config does currently, does that sound reasonable?

Therefore, if I skip the XM CPU and get the 3720QM (since I wasn't too nuts about the value there for my needs) I can get a 3 year advance warranty + 680M SLI and have the config be the same as below AND be the same price (except no XM CPU, of course). The config below only had a 2 year advanced warranty.

It's the one downside to XM...+$900! We'll see how the cards fall. But even if it's $500 more for the 680M SLI (over 675M SLI) I will be under my previous config's cost.

 

Sounds good. I imagine the cost of the 680m's to be higher at the outset though....given the track record of Nvidia pricing - £1200 when the 580m's came out in the UK.

More warranty is always worth it in my book and as prices come down & we see more ES/QS xm's available, you could grab one of them for a good price - not currently though, from my research.

 

Yeah, I'm prepared for that and will spend whatever...but just speculating.

In the U.S. - base M18x has the 660M. It's +$550 for the 7970 CFX and +$600 for the 675M SLI. So perhaps +$1000 ($400 more) for the 680M SLI is a bit too conservative. Perhaps you're right - something like +$1200 is a distinct possibility especially when small etailers are selling the 680M for ~$300 more each over 7970M. That'd put it at +$1150 ($550 more) and you'd be spot on.

 

I'm hoping the 680m's WIL be cheaper - maybe they will be as they are 28nm vs. the 580m's 40nm, but I have a sneaky feeling that they will be "uber-pricey" - as usual.

 

Can we configure (and pre-order) the next M18x3 with this kind of display panel?

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/viewsonic-vp3280-led-4k-monitor-hands-on/

and 4 the M18x4 we will want: something based on new tech, of course!

http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/japan_display_develops_2_3_inch_651ppi_lcd_panel_tech_on

edit: sorry, my mistake, I wanted to post this on a different thread "M18x - IPS RGBLED Color Quality"

 

Lol no. M18x might add a 120 Hz option in the next gen, but we won't be moving up from the current color gamut or 1080p for A LOOONG TIME. Not just because they would need a long time to make screens like that, but also because the screen upgrade using that first links teck, would make the price of your machine go up by about two grand.
The 31 inch monitor in your first link costs four grand...

 

Imo I doubt they would considering 680m is based on 670 they could possibly bump clocks or memory or something ( I think the same for 7990m) But hey they might for all we know keep your hopes up

 

I reckon there will be a 685m - only because something "new" - regardless of how minor the increase in performance, it's still something "new" and "better" and lots of people out there will want the latest and greatest - that stuff sells....Nvidia know it, AMD know it....we should EXPECT it....

Look at what just happened with 580m>675m......classic example - even though they are basically the same in terms of performance, given the choice, which one would people buy? - there's your answer right there.

 

I think I'm getting paranoid but I got a random shutdown yesterday with my M18x. It hasn't occurred since though. What do you think is wrong?

 

Might just be a Windows error. If it happens again any time soon, call AW and have them do a remote diagnosis of the problem.

 

I didn't see what exactly happened then since I left it a while but I do remember I was installing a game. And when the system restarted, it said it had a Steam error.

 

I was having issues earlier today with Steam. I could not launch any of my games. I uninstalled Steam and reinstalled it (left all the games in place, of course) and now it's working OK again.

 

Could be a suden overheat or something maybe even a faulty sensor reading but its more likely that windows just spased out

 

I played on my M18x again today and I didn't notice any problems. I guess it was Windows being Windows?

 

Mr. Fox, Ran into that myself this weekend. Thought I was going to have to re-install all the games.

Might want to go for the re-install of Steam if you see it again. Leave the games in place as Mr. Fox mentioned. Seems to run a bit faster on the connection after the re-install.

 

Thanks. I will take note of that.

 

well, summer's here again and so it's time for some hard work and earning some cash. last year I bought a maxed-out Dell XPS L502X but this year I want to get an AW, definitely either M18x with at least a single 7970M GPU or CF 6990M/SLI 580 GTX, or a 17X R4 with 7970M. still have to decide which. I guess I'm going to wait till September in the hope that prices go down a bit and that there will be a manufacturer refurbished M18x r2/M17x r4.

I guess there's no hope of an RGBLED screen on an AW is there? that and the superb sound from the L502X are the only things which make me hesitate before going for an AW... otherwise, I wish I'd gotten an AW straight away last year. The 540M GPU got outdated way too quickly!

 

I feel your pain...I had an L501X that I thought would be good enough for gaming, but was very disappointed. The thing had a horrible setup - ran hot all the time and battery life was abysmal. I also thought I would be satisfied with running medium settings at 720p for more recent games.

My recommendations are to get an m18x for the aluminum chassis, dual GPU options and manual graphics switching (no optimus-type stuff; I'm not sure if they do that for single-GPU setups or not - maybe someone else knows). I would get a dual GPU setup if you can afford it - you will not regret it

The versatility of this laptop is one of the things that got me interested the most. It is silent in integrated graphics energy saver mode and gets 4-6 hours on the battery, yet in dual discrete mode you get awesome gaming performance. I love it.

As far as I know, there is only one screen option with the M18x. The M17x has a 120hz panel option, but that is only available with NVIDIA graphics and disables integrated graphics, IIRC.

 

well the L502X was an improvement with regard to heating but it still runs very hot especially during gaming sessions, and battery life with WiFI is just silly. as I said, ideally I'd like an M18x (R1, doesn't matter) with dual GPU option. the benchmark results of the dual 6990M card are pretty impressive - it's a great shame that alienware don't allow the option to choose a single 7970M GPU for the m18x r2 setup! it's very unfair on consumers. I for one like the ability to being able to expand graphical performance if and when I need it... I hope they rectify this soon enough.

not going for a 3D panel simply because 3D technology has not evolved enough yet, wouldn't be impressive on a 17-inch screen in my opinion. I'd rather put the extra cash on a better CPU or a better card.

bit concerned about the posts I read on certain build defects in some models, although since I'd be covered by warranty, that's not such a big issue

 

Yeah - Mine had the keyboard slightly too low so the bottom keys caught on the bezel. It was pretty easy to fix (thanks to Mr. Fox and others who have posted on the matter). Otherwise the quality of mine has been great.