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

I too just bought one new from dell. They say on or before the 8th of April. Post here and let us know when you get yours. I'll update if I get my before the posted date.

I did however receive my TactX headset today. Not too shabby...

 

Welcome Fiveohmike. You should be very happy with your selection. I'll look out for you in the AMD Drivers thread, if you have trouble updating the stock Dell drivers be sure to post in there for help.
I'm sure you're going to enjoy your set up :thumbsup:

 

Go for the 680m sli then

 

You have to set up Raid via intel raid option rom. You can access it by pressing Ctr + I on system turn on, before POST load bar.

 

Thanks Littleone. I will check that out when I get home tonight. Now I just need to know where to get Windows 8 ISO. I sure wish MS would have discs laying around like Vista that anyone could use as long as they have a Key.

Brad

 

Hey guys, is there any info on a 120hz screen/3D Vision 2 screen coming to the MX18? I'm in the middle of shopping for my next notebook, and if the MX18 had a 3D solution, I'd already have one in the mail.

Has Dell, or anyone else, said anything about this possibility? Thanks.

 

Man cant wait to get it lol

As for when I get it do you think thier is benefit to fresh installing Win 7 and the latest beta drivers from amd?

 

There is more one option. The other option is to install Windows, then use Intel Rapid Storage Technology to create the RAID0 setup within Windows. Both produce exactly the same end result. It is easier to do in Windows if you don't have experience doing it the other way. Once completed in Windows, the membership is visible in the OROM. If you choose to create it in the OROM before installing Windows, be sure to have the latest RST F6 drivers handy.

Both options are covered in the opening post of this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...llation-questions-troubleshooting-thread.html

 

Hi Mr Fox,

Ok, I am in process of downloading Windows 8, but not from the windows upgrade assistant( no option for those with key-went through process like 3 times), but realized that my AlienRespawn disc is inside my Slot loading dvdrw burner. No windows on SSD yet. How do I get disc out. Have done google searching for about 20 mins following dead ends. Doesn't seem to be a FN-eject button??

Many thanks for whomever knows
Brad

 

Got disc out, thanks

 

Brad - within Windows, open Computer and right-click the icon for the optical drive, select "Eject" and that should work. If it does not, if you go into the BIOS your CD eject button on the media panel should work.

 

OK the version of Windows 8 that I was led to is a 90 day evaluation version. It is in a you tube video posted in March of this year with title "How to download windows 8 if you already have key". So back to square one for plain old Windows 8. I tried using the one in Mr Fox's post but there is only an option to "pay" and because my IP is in Japan it offers me a yen price and forces me to input a Japan zipcode format or I can not move to next window. I found a different link to download it from Microsoft, but when I enter my key it says "Product key can not be used to install a retail version of windows 8" UGHH. Just need an ISO of Windows 8, I have a valid key.

Thanks for any links,
Brad

 

I'm not sure that old link is good anymore for anyone. If it's the one I am thinking of, it was a limited time promo.

I haven't found a place to download Windows 8 like we were able to with Windows 7 ISO files. Micro$oft has made acquiring it far more difficult that it should be.

 

LOL Intriguing thread

 

Is there a way with software to make an image of original drive ( that should be less than 180GB), put that image onto 1st SSD, then raid-0 2 together?

Brad

 

Hey guys, I'm about to buy an Alienware and I'm hedging between M17x and M18x. The only thing I'm concerned about right now is that whether 7970m crossfire is better than single 680m cause people are having a LOT of problems with AMD so I thought I would take the safer route. I was also wondering whether the M18x is comfortable enough to keep on your lap otherwise I might have to reconsider smaller laptops.How is the battery life when web browsing on M18x with integrated graphics? Thanks!

 

The 680m is solid and fast as hell, I have no AMD experience more recent than ATI so I cannot speak to them. These are more desktop replacement machines and I would say that while gaming it would get pretty hot in your lap. It is better on a stand for airflow and the advantages of having so many options to upgrade makes it a formidable piece of tech.

 

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

 

I need some advise on an error I get when trying to run A10 bios installation from Windows 7. I had a replacement MB last week and I am still running on A03 & I am getting the secure boot warning. Should I bypass the error since I have no W8 or secureboot issues?

Flash Process will be terminated!
Current platform have secure boot feature, it must provide NV
storage location by IHISI interface.
Please contact OEM BIOS engineer to add this feature.

Without this IHISI interface, the authenticate variables will be
modified or cleared by the flash process.

If you understand the risk and still want to flash.
You can add the following setting in the platform.ini to ignore error.
[EngineeringErrorDisable]
SkipSecureBootProtectionCheck=1

 

Mike, I never got that error flashing A10. Try flashing A09 first instead, then A10. There is really nothing of value going from A03 to A09 or A10, but I understand wanting to have the newest firmware.

What might be causing it is the newer vBIOS with support for Secure Boot. I don't use that vBIOS and that may be why I never saw that error message. You could also try flashing the older vBIOS and see if that error goes away when you attempt to flash A10.

 

I ran A09 and worked fine, this is close enough for me the performance is staggering regardless. Thanks again.

 

So originally I wanted the sli 680 because I'm just used to having GeForce cards plus I like my physx (in like the 3 games I play) but my friend convinced me to give the radeon a try especially since all three upcoming consoles use them, I imagine there should be some optimization boost.

So anyways, life story aside, the last time I used a radeon was in the 4xxx series and I quite hated the drivers and sold that computer shortly after buying it. How is it now? And how is crossfire compared to sli? And lastly, I keep reading about how this system can have up to 5 hour battery life. Is it the same for a pair of radeons, or does the graphics card not matter in this case?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

You wont get much battery life running any discrete gpu, wether it's Nvidia or AMD. The 5hr battery life is for when you are running on the processors's integrated gpu - HD3000/4000. You can select this option by Fn&F7 and you can switch between descrete gpu's and onboard iGFX for maximum battery life. As for Crossfire vs. Sli, all I can say is that I have seen more issues with Crossfire than Sli. If you were going dual gpu, I'd personally recommend Nvidia Sli over AMD Crossfire as it regularly performs much smoother and without issue vs. AMD's offering for dual gpu machines.

 

Hmm, you're right with the sli.

http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphi...ils-Capture-based-Graphics-Performance-Test-5

It's overly technical but basically shows that sli is just more consistent and reliable. Guess you do get what you pay for.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

I agree, you get what you pay for..... Dual 7970's are $850 less than DUal 680's (minus any discount) so for me it was bang for the buck. I'll take the small performance hit for savings. Similar to CPU, I went with 3740QM which was best bang for the buck. I will likely put an XM cpu in later on. For now I bought and installed 32GB of Corsair Vengeance 1866 ram which worked great at speed out of the box. I am now just waiting for Windows 8 ISO from Dell to utilize my 2 COrsair SSD's and the HGST 1TB 32MB cache storage drive.

Brad

 

Since I have gone a similar route as you intend I should let you know that;

If you plan on later upgrading the CPU to an XM (as I did), it tells me your more than likely to be OCing yeah..? As fantastic as my 7970m's have been to me, they don't have much room for OCing. The 680m's are absolute animals in this respect. 7970m vs 680m stock isn't much difference at face value until you start opening the taps.

 

my 7970m OC to +100 core and +300 memory without any problem, that's without overvolt. The problem with dell's 7970m if you have vbios with version 118 and higher you can't overvolt for the time being. I think if I can overvolt I ll be able to increase the core up to 1050 which is +200 and maybe more.

 

I didn't say they don't overclock. Just 680m's get better results from overclocking. Check out the 3D Mark 11 leader boards and its pretty clear.
You can overvolt if you flash the bios by the way.

 

from what I read and understand you can't flash the vbios if u have version 118 and above.

 

I didn't know of any that couldn't be flashed. Perhaps look around here and here. I'm talking about the Svl7's over at TI

 

yeah sad thing. check second post in this page
AMD 7970m - modified VBIOS - Page 36

 

As a noob with a XM and dual 680's, is there an 'overclocking for dummies' thread somewhere? I'm not looking to shatter benchmarks, but curious about a light, stable overclock and realized I really know nothing about it....

(yes, I did search, and found a couple, but most of them assumed the reader at least knew a little - I was hoping for a true teaching-an-idiot-from-the-ground-up basic level... )

 

Hey guys, Im not sure if im on the correct thread to ask this question but im just firing this one.

I recently purchased an Alienware m18x R2 - Black and heres the specs, and I want to add 2 x 512 gb SSD+500gb HDD+265gb msata SSD for caching. will there be any problem for this set up?

CPU: i7 3630qm
GPU: 2x HD7970m AMD GPU in CrossFire
RAM: 24GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
HDD: 1TB RAID 0 (2x 500GB SATA 3B/s 7,200 RPM) + 64GB mSATA Caching SSD and I want to upgrade to 2x512GB Crucial M4 SSD to RAID0 + 500gb HDD + 256gb msata (caching)

I am not familiar about upgrading parts or what to do first before upgrading. Can you tell me how?Step by step instruction please. I play a lot of RTS, FPS and MMORPG games. I will be using my Alienware for my photo editing softwares and music editing softwares as well.

It would be great if anyone can help me out since im not so good in these stuff. Sorry. and thanks in advance.

 

If you're only adding hard drives its very easy. You need to remove the bottom panel and you get access to the insides. Just unscrew what you need to get the hard drive brackets out and secure each hard drive to the brackets and reverse everything.

Edit: Also, if you switch with Fn F7 to the intel chip, can you still do cpu intensive tasks and such at max speed or does it downclock the cpu speed if you're using that only? So like, if you had a xm chip and o/c it to 4.1, would being on battery make it downclock? (Yea, on battery is the key question) I imagine plugged in it should run full speed.

 

Anyone know why phone tech support has been down for 2 days? My system has 2 years complete care warranty and it won't even let me do online chat technical support and tells me to call but phone support is "under maintenance".

 

That is a sad thing . Good work finding that too. Good info to know as well buddy :thumbsup:

Rep +1

Click this link here It was put together by our resident Mr Fox. Definitely book mark it brother.

 

heck yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered my M18X with 7970's exactly 1 week ago. It shipped today and will be here tomorrow....cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Did you order from the Outlet or brand new? I ask because I ordered new and got a shipped e-mail 3a.m. Tuesday morning but got no tracking information. Was hoping it'd be here by today or tomorrow. My EDD is Monday though.

 

I ordered mine direct from Dell on March 28th. I had to keep checking the order on the website to see it updated to shipping yesterday, April 4th. I paid for overnight shipping. Now I am playing the waiting game for the FedEx truck....even though its 6am in the morning lol

 

I ordered mine direct from Dell on March 28th. I had to keep checking the order on the website to see it updated to shipping with tracking info yesterday, April 4th. I paid for overnight shipping. Now I am playing the waiting game for the FedEx truck....even though its 6am in the morning lol

 

Hello, all.

Looking to pull the plug on the m18x r2... Amazon has the 8GB, 750GB, 675m configuration going for $2199 and no tax and free shipping. Is the 675m a powerful enough card? When configuring the identical system on Dell, it comes out to be almost $300 more on dell, Plus shipping and tax... The 675m is also considered an "upgrade" to the 7970m? Is this only in price/ From what I understand, the 7970 is a much more powerful GPU than the 675m.

Thoughts on this one? Good deal? Bad card?

 

Good price depends of it is 675m Sli, really. The 675m is a good card - basically a renamed 580m. The 7970m is roughly twice as powerful as 675m/580m. 675m Sli will be on a par with a single 7970m. I just looked at Dell US, seems that you can configure an M18x with a single 7970m, 8gb, 750gb for $2,399.00 - not being from the US, I dunno what the deal is with tax.

Is this the Amazon one? - Amazon.com: Alienware M18x R2 AM18XR2-7778BK 18.4-Inch Laptop (Space Black Anodized Aluminum): Electronics - if so, looks to be a single 675m so I would probably advise stretching to a 7970m at the least. Maybe ditch the other ram/hdd upgrades on the dell site and that comes in at $2199.00, right? - I'd recommend getting the better gpu configuration over an extra 2gb and slightly bigger hdd as you can always do them later on if you wanted to and cheaply too. I'd head on over to the Alienware Sales thread here and get someone to give you a better deal on it, if possible.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/669327-alienware-sales-assistance-thread-redux.html

 

While I love my system, Dell doesnt have a clue when it comes to its own shipping. They don't know anything because all orders seem to be drop shipped from china and they cannot track their own orders internally. I have been waiting the next day delivery of a keyboard for a week and a half and i was called once to say it would be there before i had to leave, which was next day. Then another call to say 3 to 5 days, and then another to say 8 days or more which it has been now. Was the same when I ordered the M18X. It will get there eventually and usually the system will be there roughly when they say on the edd. Everything else is a crap shoot with a level of ineffiency that simply boggles the mind.

Who has had success creating their backup media with Alien Autopsy? I have tried 3 different kinds of DVD +r / +RW / DL+R / DL+RW and it rejects all I have. I have update it to the premium version for $40 US and it does not help or offer you much more than a pretty interface.

 

Have you tried a USB flash drive, Mike?

 

No I havent, just do not have any big enough laying around. I do have a huge surplus of DVD's. I will get some new media, I was just hoping there was something with these discs, but we all know its a dead medium. I will grab a few usb sticks when I am out again.

 

I am going through this now. My EDD is Monday the 8th, but I have already received a shipping e-mail. I called them and they have no clue as to where it is, if it even shipped. I am supposed to get a call back Monday with any information. I'm just going to assume I'll never get a phone call.

The e-mail came Tuesday the 2nd at 3a.m. and the automated system says my order was shipped yesterday. Who knows...I have 2 day shipping on my order too.

 

You will probably get a call, and the person on the other end will appologise relentlesly, (condescendingly) reading you what you can see when you look at your account online, followed by another appology. I asked them not to call me but to just email me so I would not have to listen to it again. I am always polite, it is not their fault they have been placed in this useless position.

 

Well she showed up today just like the shipping said! First thing I did was put the latest 13.3 beta 3 drivers on, along with the XFire profiles......Just fired up Mechwarrior Online...maxed all settings and ran like a champ. Battlefield 3 is downloading right now.

This thing is BEAST! I dont think I have been this satisfied spending 3k on anything before:

 

I can't explain how much jealousy I have right now haha

 

I just finished replacing my optical drive with another 1TB HDD in a caddy.

I used this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008V66RDY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With the Samsung M8 1TB HDD, and after putting everything back together again, I am happy to say everything is working, and the new drive was located.
You will have to initialize and format the new hard drive (Right click on Computer>Management>Storage).

This was also the first time I have taken apart my M18xR1 beyond the keyboard trim/media cover. Nice to see I finished without any 'extra' screws being left over