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

Thanks mate, that did the trick, this thing isn't like my DV7 with the same CPU/integrated graphics.

So I can't run on integrated and switch to dedicated when I would like without restarting ?

 

Thanks a lot mate. I will read that page in the afternoon

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi m18x-r2 owners,

I was looking into picking up an m18x r2 and I was wondering if when the laptop is running in "Integrated Graphics" is the resolution lower than with discrete?
When jumping back and forth between the cards in the r1 it was clear when you reboot it runs in a lower resolution.

 

No...same resolution as with running the discrete cards. You may have the option of adjusting the resolution via the iGFX control panel but you would be able to run in at 1920x1080 without issue. Actually, both the HD3000 on Sandybridge chips and the HD4000 on the Ivybridge chips support outputting a max. resolution of 2560x1600 over DisplayPort, so, if you had an external display capable, you could still get native resolution from the iGFX. Reference this article: http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-processor-graphics/

Nope. No "on the fly" switching with the M18x. Actually, I prefer the manual style of switching with a reboot.

 

Ah don't like the sound of that

Had my first issue with it already, booted it up this morning and it just sat there with a black screen

EDIT: Ok I just come home from work and its done it again, turn it on and nothing but a black screen

Is it on its way out already after 3 days of owning it ?

 

battery out, adapter out and hold power button for 30 sec, plug AC back in but leave battery out and start computer. if it doesnt work, do that process at least 4-5 times, if still doesnt work try removing your ram and leave only 1 ram stick in it, swap ram slots to test ram slots/ ram stick. basically if theres no beep warning it may not be GPU error so it could be power issue? Also try resetting your CMOS battery see if that work, take it out for like a minute and put it back in.

theres a ton of problem so it's hard to solve if none of those work then you better call dell.

 

Thanks, pretty sure it was Intel RST, did a clean install of Windows 8 and used the latest driver and it hasn't done it since, I installed an older version before and updated which I think it didn't like, would happen at the same time the Intel RST configuration screen would come up, so I'm sure it was that.

 

Sounds like then, when you first turned it on, you got the normal boot screens, graphics, etc., but when it got to Windows, it went black? I ask because the Intel RST software (or ANY software) won't cause the computer screen to stay black when you turn it on.
If, indeed, like you described, the computer screen stayed black when you turned it on, it's not software. It may be coincidental that it's working now, but you may still have a problem.

 

No it went black as soon as it booted, exactly the same time that the RAID configuration screen would pop up (which is before the alienware logo)

 

Ok, then, the Intel RST software did not fix it. It must have fixed itself. I may happen again. Have you changed any settings in the BIOS or set any overclock options? Those types of changes can keep the system from completing it POST.
Terminology-wise (is that a word?), the boot sequence begins when the BIOS starts loading the operating system from the hard drive. The POST (Power On Self Test) sequence begins when you hit the power button and is the pre-boot configuration and testing.

Since the RAID config screen is part of the POST sequence, it's going black during POST, not boot. (I'm not criticizing, just clarifying so that you can get the correct help with the proper question).

I would do TWO things. First, check your BIOS version from within the first BIOS screen, and compare it to what Dell has online. If yours is older (and it usually is when you buy from the Outlet as Dell does not update that before reselling it), then update it with the newest BIOS.
Second, once your BIOS is up to date, turn on the M18x and during the POST, hit F2 to enter the BIOS. Take a look at your current settings and jot them down. Then on the last screen is an option to set BIOS to Optimal Defaults. Choose that and reboot.

Most issues i've had like yours is due to either OLD BIOS or bad settings in the BIOS. I'm not sure Dell really goes through these and sets them correctly.

Good luck and enjoy your beast!

UPDATE: I checked at the current BIOS version was just released last week (A08). There is also an A07 from earlier last month. I'm not sure what these updates fix as the "fixes and enhancements" section gives no details.

 

I honestly dont see how it'll be a driver issue causing it. if you see black screen how you install windows 8? I assume it worked again and you installed 8 this time around. screen going black has nothing to do with files on HDD/SSD, hard drive would and should only matter causing a black screen would maybe because it has something to do with power, again battery/ cmos battery discharge etc. if you get it to work this time thats great, but expect it to happen in the future. if you have Dell warranty then it should be all good, they got great services.

 

It was the RAID configuration.

 

Anyone know if you can run a MSI GTX680M in the R2 ? 4GB version, and can you run them in SLI without any problems?

 

There a reasin why your wanting 8gb of vid memory?

 

So they work or not ?

 

I read an article saying the 4gb card didnt pass their heat threshold. Not sure how true that is as it wasnt a offical article. But youd never use the 4gb in a sli setup and by the time a game came out that would use that much these will be outdated.... bf3 max settings dint use even 2gb btw. Ive verified this

But im not sure about them working or not.

 

Hey guys just want to say hi, I miss my Alienware M18x and hope to return to you guys soon.

 

Thanks, yeah I know the 4GB cards in SLI would be major overkill and a total waste, there is one cheap in the for sale section so I thought I might grab that and try and pick up another, but not if it's going to cause heat issues.

 

To follow up on this my memory turned up today, put it in and it works a treat

 

instead of 1866 why not go for 2133? hyperx also released 2133 few weeks ago.

 

Yeah I know but I could only find 4GB modules, pretty sure they don't make 8GB ones.

 

both 1866 and 2133 only have 4gb module. thing is 2133 is about same cost, or cheaper than 1866.. kinda lame

 

I have a CPU question. Hows the 3630qm? i ordered an m18x with it and 680m SLI, not im worry it wont be fast enough for the sli or limit my frames. Will it bottleneck a 680m sli or lower frames in any way?

 

It may, you can't overclock the 3630. It probably won't be very noticeable though. I would have upgraded to the 3740/3840 myself. As is, you will still be albe to play all current games (even the Witcher 2 and BF3) on ultra. GPU's are far more important to a gaming laptop than the CPU. In a gaming laptop, a 4 year old CPU can still chug through most games, a 4 year old GPU will have significant trouble.

Keep in mind there are many guides for upgrading later, and many resellers with all the parts you could want/need.

 

So how will i know my cpu is holding my 680m SLi back? will i see 100 percent usage on it? is there a way to tell its the bottleneck of this sli setup?

 

no modern cpu will bottleneck a gpu so don't even worry about it!

 

Your PC will not be hold back with that CPU don't worry.

 

Supposedly i will have to use MatLab and AutoCAD for college, will i be able to get away with that using the 3630 cpu?

 

Ok cool, thanks for the responses. I guess anything higher is for pro apps or benching?

 

I am using a 2760 and doing fine in autocad doing 3d models. they aren't huge models, but I haven't had any problems or long waits on rendering... What kind of stuff are you going to be doing in autocad is the best question.

 

Hi guys hope this is the right place, Having trrouble with my m18x and looks like i'm gonna need to call in the repairmen, catch is my warranty ran out the 1st of this month (typically). So i ring up 2moz purchase a new 1 year warranty cover can i ring up an hour later and report my problems with my system? Are their any time exemptions etc before reporting a problem?

I remember doing a similar thing with my m17x a few years ago and the guys at dell were really great and said that is was fine that do it this way, they get my money and i get what i pay for sort of thing. Is it still the same situation does any1 know? or should i wait a few days before calling and reporting the problem???

Thx
Lucca

 

i'll be pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering if that helps any, wont be starting until may.

 

I would also like to know whether it actually bottlenecks the 680m sli because im running a 3610qm with 680m sli and i get horrible gpu utilization in games, mostly in 50-60% range and it wont get any better no matter how high i clock the gpu so im thinking it might b a cpu bottleneck idk tho i tried literally everything possible from clean installing drivers, overclock gpu, reformatting, messing with nvidia control pannel....EVERYTHING to fix this issue but no luck still...guess well find out when i upgrade to 3940xm

 

Does horrible gpu utilisation actually result in horrible FPS? If not then it's probably that the 680m's don't need to run at full power to run your games well. Just to make sure we're on the same page, you don't have vsync enabled do you?

 

i have a 2 month old new m18xr2 with i7 3920x ....24gb ram..... and im having an issue recently...

it didnt start doing this until i updated the bios to the most recent version, but now sometimes the computer just suddenly goes into sleep mode....for no reason...my temps rarely exceed 51c usually in the 42-50c range....so is overheating the reason? its kind of annoying and i cant figure out why this would be happening...

furthermore are those temps good?

edit;yes i have mad adjustments in my alienware command center to remove sleep mode even as an option but it still happens...

 

Your temps are perfectly fine. The only thing I could think of is to maybe reinstall the BIOS.

 

I'm presuming you have the power settings configured to NOT sleep, right?

 

cmon man .....

obviously



listen....it goes to sleep at random and i cant figure out why

even more curious is the fact that sometimes it revives from sleep by itself


this is really pissing me off....its happened 6 times in the past 30 mins

 

Sorry bud - had to ask as someone else might have overlooked it! - still, that activity is really odd. What you could try is a power drain and pull the CMOS battery to reset bios to default. Disconnect a/c, shut down, pull the main battery, press and hold the power on button for 20 seconds and then flip her over, remove the base panel an disconnect the CMOS coin cell battery from the mobo for few minutes. Re-assemble and see how it goes.

 

thanks for the advice

i am trying to get a tech rep asap....if nothing works i will try your solution

the ed up thing is the laptop itself owns....performance is amazing its just ing stupid that some little within the past week is trying to ruin the entire experience...its like its possessed

 

Did you try setting sleep mode via power options and not the Alienware software ?

 

This thread is a place to discuss your new M18x and share information on your system with fellow owners.

 

yes i have completely disabled sleep mode in both programs....it still continues to randomly sleep and awaken...it did it to me once as i was typing this very message

im very frustrated that i spent so much money on this product and it is acting like its on drugs two months in....very frustrated

the fact that it self awakens from sleep mode leads me to believe that its something with the sensor maybe but i dont even know where that is or how to clean with/without compressed air

 

Try it anyways - you won't do any harm and it only takes a minute or two.....clearing the CMOS can work wonders.

 

^^ Agreed, try clearing the CMOS, if that doesn't help flash the BIOS again as homank76 suggested, if still no go, uninstall the Video drivers and re-install them, after you uninstall the drivers make sure you use Driver Sweeper or Driver Cleaner, reboot and use CCleaner to get anything else that remains.

 

do you have a map or any images i can use to do this....im totally ignorant with laptops this is my first one i dont know where the coin thing is or what i should be removing etc


please excuse my lack of knowledge i appreciate the help

edit: nevermind using google now

 

Page 19 of the User Manual.

 

To remove the base panel (after you have removed the main battery) you will see four screws on the outer edge of the battery compartment. If you remove those, you can then simply slide the panel (pull it towards the rear of the machine) and lift it off. You will then see where the coin cell battery is located. All you need to do is disconnect it from the motherboard - it has a small white plug which you can ease up gently until it's free.....wait a few minutes and simply reconnect it, put the battery back in secure the base panel and that's it....CMOS cleared. Take a look at the pic below to see where it is located:

 

Anyone else getting bsod when starting laptop when hooked to external monitor?

 

Working just fine with my external - 306.97. Have you tried uninstall/clean and fresh re-install?