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

Good to know. Ill call on monday and see what I can do. Thanks for the replies.

 

SSD prices keep falling, at least for some of the older models. Currently Samsung 830, 256GB is at the lowest I've ever seen 149 @ Samsung 830 Series MZ 7PC256B WW 256GB 2 5 SATA III MLC Internal SSD Single Unit 036725604919 | eBay

Reputable seller

It's tempting as I want to switch to two SSD's and then swap out my DVD burner for a third HD but I thought I'd let everyone else know. Still not certain whether running two SSD's in raid is a good idea. From what I've read there's no TRIM currently? Then there's the cost of both drives (I'd rather switch to 830's from Crucial M4) as well as the conversion kit for the DVD. Quite a bit to drop on uncertain gains. Have any advice?

Addtionly Shaggy Mac (I believe they made the cloth bag that comes with the laptops) is making 18.4 standard size keyboard covers. I ordered one and it's excellent. This is the fourth laptop that I've purchased one of these cloths for. Since my lpatop is almost always closed (external monitor, transit, storage) I like to have it for protection.

18.4" Laptop Screen Protector ShaggyMac Keyboard Cover / Lcd Screen Protector

Very happy with it.

 

I would highly recommend at least the SSD as your boot-up if you don't already. I have one and can't believe to took me so long to get one...holy cow the performance difference.

 

best laptop should go for the best performing SSD, i mean if your CPU and GPU already maxed out, why not max out the SSD too? MyDigitalSSD SuperSSpeed S301 128GB SLC Chris Ramseyer Edition RAID 0 SSD Review.

SLC AWWW YAHHH

 

So I tried plugging my m18x R2 into my 3d tv via a hdmi 1.4 cable to play a 3d movie. I've used the tv as a second monitor before and played 3d content on my playstation. However, when I tried to load the 3d blu-ray, the computer started working really slow. When the video finally did seem to load, the computer screen went blank and the tv said no signal. I am using the 3D pass through on my Marantz receiver, but I don't think thats the issue because it works fine with 3d content on my playstation. So do I need special software or something to output 3d content through my hdmi?

 

Does the M18x even have 3D capibilty with the player that's installed in it?

 

Yes, you do... NVIDIA GPU and a license for 3DPlayTV, among other things. If you search the Alienware M18x sub-forum you will find an old thread specifically for this topic.

 

heres how to overclock memory in m18x to 2400+ mhz. RAM overclocking m18x - YouTube

 

I'm just curious as to people's reasons for buying this laptop? In no way am I having a dig, I'm sure its an amazing machine, but I was in a store the other day that had one on display. I looked at it and it weighed more than my current desktop and costs twice as much. So what's it purpose, it seems too heavy to carry around in daily life, but more expensive performance wise than a desktop. Is it purely a lan rig or something, it just seems to be some kind of mutant half breed that seems beaten on either side...

 

I knew I was doing something wrong...

 

This is meant to be a desktop replacement. Its very powerful and upgradable. It's not small and its not light (in notebook terms) but you can still shove it in a backpack and take it to a coffee shop, move it around the house, take it anywhere with you. You cant move a desktop at all without a ton of trouble even inside your house.

With a desktop comparing the performance you have to think you also need monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers. All add cost. Yes you can still get a better performing desktop for the price but you wont have the benefits mentioned above.

Also, many people like me just like laptops better even if it stay plugged in at your house in the same spot 99.99% of the time

 

I bought mine cause I love the power it has. I currently run mine at 4.1 or 4.2GHz for everyday use depending on ambient temperature. No other laptop can match its performance that I'm aware of. It's very easy to upgrade, sure Clevo's can be done as well, but I love the build quality with the aluminum body as well. I'm going to be on my third processor by the end of the week.

Sure it may be heavy and I have a M11x for when I need portability, but when I deploy and going to be gone for some time this bad boy comes with me. That is where the premium price comes into play, the horsepower you get and yet it is still portable.

 

This is how I feel as well.

Also just to note, I travel about 95% of the year and both my m18x and m11x go everywhere I go. So to say it has to be too heavy to carry around for everyday use would have to depend on who you ask. There are many of us here who travel a lot and do exactly as I stated.

 

Same here... wicked beast and 100% portable. Love it!

 

Thanks for the responses, I realize it's portable but... I carry a graphics tablet and 17" razer blade and that's enough to hurt my shoulder so... For work travel I understand, being able to everything you do on a desktop anywhere. But I couldn't be bothered lugging that to a cafe... Or to work. But as far as laptops go you probably don't get more powerful.

 

BUMP just letting you know i called dell they sent a tech to my house replaced the motherboard / gpu's problem still persists lol so they're going to send another tech this friday " hopefully " replacing the cpu / motherboard this time my experience with dell support has been great so far. Anyways i was wondering if the cpu / motherboard replacement still doesnt fix this issue what else could i request from dell ?

 

I'd say if you have had 3 or more "attempts" to fix the problem without success, you should be looking at Dell to provide you with a replacement machine. They would have had enough goes at trying to fix it by then and should provide you with this solution.

 

sorry dude, you should not be asking the question if you own a razor blade. weight? yes, but not price cost/ performance. alienware m18x performance is way better than razor, no offense.

 

Hahaha, I know very well that the Razer's performance is no where near that of the M18x, I'm fully aware that the M18x is a beast, I have the Blade because it ticked every box I need in a notebook. And was sexy as ... The reason I brought up the price/performance in the cse of the M18x is the fact it weighed as much of a desktop and didn't seem viably portable, there for I classified it in with desktops. The Blade performs similarly to a $800-1000 pc so I can't really compare it to a desktop in price performance. But I realise I sort shot my self in the foot with that one

 

As long you have no regrets with the razer it shouldn't matter.

Sent from my XT910S using Tapatalk 2

 

I think I'm going to cry.:cry:

I bought a 2960xm processor last week Friday and had it shipped Express Mail and it should have been here by now. According to the tracking number it only shows that it left the facility and that is it. I spoke to my post office about it and according to him it's probably lost.

This sucks...

 

I would give it some time. Postal services work, but tracking seems to be really slow and behind.....Most of the time in my experience.

 

I would be fine if it was Priority as that can take any where from 7-14 days, but Express is suppose to get to me in three days. If I don't get it by Friday, I'm going to have the seller start paperwork for a refund. Good thing I put insurance on it.

 

Express from where? Aren't you like...Out of the USA? Express seems to work better from state to state vs country to country.
Not to mention if he or she actually mailed it on time. Just because they say they have a tracking number does not mean it actually ships that day. Could be the next day. Again, only going off my prior experiences.

 

It's coming from North Carolina to me here in South Korea and with Express mail they guarantee it to be here in three days, hence why Express costs so much to use.

Here is the tracking number. 9471009699939192001381

 

Looks like you still have 23 1/2 hours left before calling out the National Guard.

[h=3]International Flat Rate
Features[/h]

• No weighing or calculating needed up to 20 lb maximum limit
• Delivery in 3 to 5 business days**
• May qualify for Free Package Pickup™*** service at your door
• Includes delivery status information with our Track & Confirm tool

 

You know that's not a bad idea.

 

Im going to have faith and it will be there tomorrow. Since Friday doesn't count and your first Business day is Monday.

 

I hope that your right.

 

Hi guys, I want to order an M18x but I am not sure if I should get one with the GTX660M or GTX675M ? (I plan on going SLI later?) or should I throw a 7970M in that I have ? Help me decide

Oh and can I pull the slot loading bluray out and pop a hard drive caddy in there ?

 

Get a 680m now and be ready to sli later. With a single 680m you might not want or need to sli for a long time if ever unless your benching.

 

Well, if you have a 7970m just lying about gathering dust, I'd sell it...put the cash towards 680m sli right off the bat. Job done, time to go down the pub :thumbsup: - oh, and yeah - you can pull the optical and use a hard drive in the bay.

 

Where I want to buy it they don't have one with the GTX680, so SLI is overkill at 1080p in an m18x ? maybe an m17x then ?

 

Id deff sli 680m right off the bat too but thats over $1000 upgeade. I said 1 680m for now since by thier post $ seemed to be a factor. But if im wrong.. hell yea. Sli 680m now!

 

You can never have too much gpu power........

 

Is 3D worth it or a waste ? The m18x doesn't have 3D only m17x ?

 

I'm not a 3d fan. If you like 3d, then it would be cool, I guess. You can output a 3d signal to an external display with the M18x but you need the Nvidia card/s for that for sure.

 

"Overkill" is all a matter of opinion lol. But for everyday web browsing and watching movies yes it would be much over kill.... heavy vid editing. Playing latest games on best settings. Benching.... no not overkill.... jyst awesome

If you only want a single vid card id go 17x...

Advantages of 18x are bigger screen. Dual gpu. Extra hot keys. Better sound system. Little cosmetic differences also.

Although the 17x has a upgrade to 120hz 3d screen. And of course lighter....

 

Yeah I prefer Nvidia over ATI, what are the GTX660's like ? would that do for a while in an m18x ? How many hard drives can you fit in them ?

I think I will skip the 3D, wearing glasses would just irritate me I think.

It will be used as my main machine for every day use and gaming, plan on selling my DV7 and the Gaming rig in my sig.

 

660 would "do" for now but if you cant get the 680M now then you really have no choice in the matter anyways. Really sucks because buying a 680M off ebay or anywhere other than getting the upgrade right fom alienware when you buy its like 2x the price.....

3 drive spaces in the 18x, though I beleive only 2 are sataIII

 

3 drive bays without removing the Bluray drive ? Yeah I just looked on ebay and the prices for a GTX680 seem a little high but with the m18x at least I can upgrade later, with my DV7 I am stuck with the GT650, which isn't that bad a card really.

 

Upgrading is all well and good later on but you should also consider that buying the gpu's from Dell will set you back an arm and a leg....Ebay ones are cheaper but likely have little warranty. If there is any way you can possibly get 680m SLI right away, I would do that. The cost is high, yes...but adding a second card later on ain't gonna work out that much cheaper and when you look at Dell warranty, if you have SLI configured at the start, you are covered by their warranty should anything go wrong with the gpu's for however long you decide to take warranty out for.

The key things I always look for are cpu/gpu/warranty. Get the best you can right away and get as much warranty as you can afford. There is no display option in the 18x otherwise I would have added that to the list of priorities. You can streamline the rest of the build to reduce initial costs - the other parts tend to be rather easily and cheaply upgraded later on.

I wouldn't go with 660m's...possibly 675m's as they are essentially the same as my 580m's which still kick butt with all of the latest games. However, don't forget, you are possibly paying for something you will upgrade so could turn out a waste of cash.

 

Yes, without removing the CD drive. DO NOT waste money upgrading HDD/SDD or RAM. That is much cheaper doing your self rather than getting it from Dell unlike the CPU/GPU.

Stevie, Have you looked up prices of ebay 680M or any of the GPU or even CPU offered from Dell? MUCH MUCH more expensive than buying from Alienware from the get go.

If your gonna get the upgrade now on CPU and or GPU get it from alienware becuase other than being cheaper like steive said you also get the warranty on the parts.

 

Well to get one with GTX680's in them I would have to get from Dell Australia, and the price here is ridiculous, around $4300, I can get an m18x with GTX660 for around $1600, which I think is a good price ?

I will use use the 16GB of memory from my DV7 and the Vertex 4 and the 2 x 1TB drives from my DV7 or maybe just one, as I just read earlier in the thread they must be 7mm ?

 

Put it this way, a 680m SLI upgrade from Dell would cost you a Kidney. I had a figure of £2,000gbp quoted to me.....almost fell off my chair! - granted, that was for TWO 680m's and not adding a second - the math shows that even adding one from Dell later is still gonna mean Renal failure is imminent.

 

Wow. I thought you were in US. Why is it SO much more when buying in your country?

IF your talking the 1333mhz RAM you have you might wanna sell it and just get you some 1866mhz RAM. Pretty cheap on newegg in US at least and that would be a noticeable difference. Even the stock RAM is 1600mhz. Even cheapaer would be just adding another stick of RAM to the RAM it comes with since it will have a faster clock speed than what you have now. I beleive alienware still uses Hynix RAM which is really cheap.

SSD would be a cheap very good upgrade also from new egg. Samsung 830 256GB is only $169USD right now

 

Don't get me up on my soap box about pricing LOL! - UK price for 680m SLI is £1,020 so convert that to dollars and bingo....huge markup for no real reason. Even taking into account our import costs, it still is grossly overpriced in comparison to US pricing. Mind you, same goes for most things in the UK - it's just uber-expensive to live here and buy stuff.

 

Made me laugh. :thumbsup:

 

Wow, thats about $1600 I beleive. $500 more than is costs us for the upgrade.

I swear and mark my words there IS a huge market for Mobile CPU and GPU and mobile parts. It just going to get bigger and bigger also as more and more laptops become upgradeable.... Wish I had the resources and money to start something up to cover this lol.

 

Dunno if you guys in the US have an option for a single 7970m? - we do in the UK and as such, if he has a spare 7970m, that would also be a possible route if offered as an option on Dell.com.