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

If nvidia control panel doesn't show you the option, it sounds like you need to check if the SLI cable is plugged correctly.

 

I did unplugg it and change the sides.. Does it really need to plug it according to R and L?? Where R side is connected to the right gpu and L for the left gpu?? Btw an update from my alien autopsy shows that one card v-bios is 80.4.14.0.8 and the other shows 80.04.14.00.08.. So do i need to flash new bios in order to make both cards work together?

 

Nvm.. Both v-bios are actually the same.. So maybe sli cable not connected properly... Another problem is that even when i know one card is enabled currently the clocks stays low...

 

Now i know why its throtthling.. High temps..damn.. Need to adjust the the gpu heatsink again... Still no clue on the sli though might faulty.. Lemme try out some more..

 

Need help guysss how come my 680m gpu core clock stays 324MHz??? Why is it not using it's full clock number(719MHz) ??? Is it due to my driver modd error?? Or something else?

 

Is that under load/whilst gaming? - or are you just idle or YouTubing or something else?

 

That is when i'm gaming.. Btw i had just done benchmarking and firstly it was okay then suddenly it drops again and I saw the temp. Soar upto 94degrees celcius.. Awmygod... So this is throttling i had just done tearing the thing down and saw that the thermal paste are already properly done and no dust to clean off and i put the fans on max... And still this throttling issue.. What next should i do?

 

Well, hitting 94c is a sure sign that something is not right as far as the paste job goes. Looks like you might have to repaste and ensure that the heatsinks are firmly tightened down - not overly tight, but nice and snug to ensure best contact.

 

I suspect bad cards, or bad thermal pad layout.

Did you use original 680m heatsinks with all original thermal pads and their original layout? Or have you used custom height size and thickness thermal pads?

What thermal compound have you used?

 

Both cards are showing similar behavior when i switched them to the primary heatsink which i ordered that has no original paddings on them but it is used for 100W gpu for 580m and 680m.. So i did my own thermal padding on it... As for the thermal paste, i used IC diamond 7.. The right heatsink came with all the original paddings so no mod needed for it.. So do i need to flash the v-bios of the cards?? Oh yeah.. My display started to flicker too.. Hmm problem...

 

are both cards showing these high temperatures or just the primary where you did own thermal pads?

 

Since the secondary card is not active( i think my sli cable is not working) i really don't know what will be the temperatures when it is under load... But when both cards are switch to the primary slot both showed the same result though.. Heatsink's fault??

 

That could be a possibility. If both cards exhibit high temps when pasted and padded up properly using the same primary heatsink, it may well have a flaw somewhere.

 

try using secondary heatsink only for each card, one card at the time, and try monitor both cards temperatures during load

 

YAYYY found the culprit... It's meee!!! I am at fault for putting a thermal pad between the gpu die and the copper use for transferring heat... Stupiddd meeee.... Thank you very muc for your help guysss... Stevie and ultragsm thankyou for your time... Me gaming time.. Anyways i gotta buy me A new sli cable..

 

one funny story lol glad you find the problem

 

Well, hat's off to you for figuring it out yourself...nice troubleshooting. Hopefully now, you'll be good to go.

 

Hi,
I have two issues with my AW M18X-R2.

1.) I have WLAN connections at my house, at my appartment and I "had" one at my best friends appartment. I have now the issue, that I can't connect to the one at my friends home. No changes were made, the other two work perfectly, my smartphone connects immediatly as I enter his home, the WEP key is correct but the damn AW laptop won't connect. If I go for "solve connectivy problem" he always says "reset wlan connection" which he does but it doesn't help - have done this very often.
Now typing this by using his Lan. That is not an option for a 5000 Euro device - if there is a Wlan connects and I have the key I want to connect and thats it. I now spent more than half an hour with this issue

2.) My best friend just bought a new TV - Samsung LED60inch TV with SmartTV and WiFi Direct. When I bought my AW M18X-R2 I chose the normal Intel WiFi card instead of the Killer WiFi because Dell told me if I want to use this option to connect the AW with a SmartTV I need this card - now I wanted to put this into reality and well the TV doesn't find the Laptop and on the Laptop I have no idea what to do, to search for the TV. Do I need an add. software for that?? Or is there another trick or software I missed??

Many thanks

 

You need a wireless receiver to be able to connect your laptop to a tv. Like this one, Push2TV

 

As the Dell Rep told me, this can be done with the Intel Pro Wireless Adapter, the only reason I took it instead of the Killer Option. So if I now need an add. device I am quite annoyed.
But thanks for the hint and info.

 

dell rep likely to tell you a lot of things that aren't true in order to sell stuff to you. things like booting up the computer in 3 sec if you have an extreme processor lol

 

Well WiHD is totally different from WiDi, which relies on the Intel hardware. I'm actually not surprised the rep did not know the difference, actually. Here's the differences: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/563332-widi-wihd.html Basically, in a nutshell, WiDi is good for streaming movies etc but not so good at wireless gaming.

 

Upgrading my R1 again and coming a very long way from where she started.
Original Specs:
I7-2760qm
560m SLI
4GB RAM
500 GB HD 7200 RPM

Current Specs:
I7-2960XM
580m SLI
16 GB RAM @ 1600 MHz
512GB SSD and 750GB

New upgrades in the mail:
680 SLI
16 GB RAM @ 2133 MHz

 

Nice one, Brother Homank! - that 680m Sli upgrade will certainly rock your world.

 

where did yous get your ram bought with speeds of 2133MHz? What is the CL for that ram? and what voltage?

Thanks

 

More looking for upgrade speed on programs than gaming.

This is what I bought...Mr Fox and John can answer more than I can.

Amazon.com: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play 8GB Kit 2133MHz DDR3 PC3-1700 Non-ECC CL12 SODIMM Notebook Memory KHX21S12P1K2/8: Computers & Accessories

 

I can recommend the memory @homank76 recommended. Picked up my Kingston 2133 memory from Amazon.com for $72 for 8GB and see that it's now up to $85. I do have to say that installing this memory increased my score from 7.6 to 7.9 with Win7.

 

Did you ever post on V6power and have a mustang that you supercharged with a vortech?

 

One in the same. Had that V-6 'stang up to 492hp, then switched over to S197 V-8 and stuffed a turbo in it.

 

That is what I thought. I'm the one with the only Novi 2000 supercharger installed on a V6 mustang.

 

can't stand 16 gb, need 32 lol right now ram and SSDs are at a peak cost it prob wont drop for a while, gotta wait.

 

ive two vertex4 ssds (2x256gb) and 32gb low voltage ram, would sell lot cheap. PM me for more detailz

 

I hate to leave this awesome community; I've been around for a long time (mostly lurking). I think it's time to sell and move on. I need to get the old post count up; but I'll be following the rules by actually contributing. 35 to go!!

You guys have all been amazing and even though I have lurked the past few years; a lot of you had awesome advice during my several trips to Dell Hell.

 

Hello guys can any of you guys with an sli configured laptop show me a picture of how you guys connect the sli cable. I need to confirm whether my sli cable is faulty or not.. I did connect it by switching sides of the connector.. But both did not work out.. And is it okay if the cable is bended? Because when i tried to connect it to the gpu the ends need to be bended to connect it.. So a picture showing me your sli setup will really be greatly appreciated..

 

I just literally just replaced a bad SLI cable a few hours ago.

I didn't take any pictures but the cable does need to bend. In fact, there are solid lines in the areas in which you would need to have a bend.

I am not 100% sure if the cable can be switched around, but I don't see why that would matter besides not have the correct bend points.

If you feel the cable snap in place on the connector and doesn't fall off then your probably have installed the cable correctly.

 

Oh I see.. So I guess my sli cable is not working then.. Ordering new one... Huh~ how unlucky.. I hope i can use sli soon..

 

The markings are small and are not easy to spot at first glance, but the SLI cable is marked with an "L" for left and an "R" for right. I do not believe it is directional, but the lines where it needs to be folded that Billy mentioned coincide with that. If you get the ends switched after the cable has been folded, it will not fit properly and it should be rather obvious that something is not correct.

 

To me I think the R side of the sli cable is much more comfortably fitted to the left gpu whereas the L to the right side.. How about you guys?? Did you guys actually followed the direction of the sides on the sli cable??

 

I always install them in the manner intended instead of reversing ends.

 

Ohh so reversing the ends is not advisable?? Do you happen to have a picture of how your sli cable is placed?? I need to be cautious so that i won't spoil another sli cable..

 

I think it can only go really one way. the way it's bent. I know in my unit there is a plastic channel to indicate the direction of the cable.

 

So i just need to follow as what it is indicated on the cable then.. R for the right gpu(slave) and L for the lft gpu(master).. So any pictures guys??

 

As CrysDark said, there should be some markings on the cable to show you where to fold it. It might already be folded correctly. There really is only one way it will work and you will soon see it. Maybe if you have a look at the picture in this Ebay listing it will help:

Dell Alienware M18x R1/R2 NVIDIA SLI CABLE GDMRG | eBay

 

Yeah I'm only trying to really make sure which sides of the sli cable goes to during installation, don't wanna any unnecessary bend going on which could potentially spoil my newly bought sli cable.. That's where I bought my sli cable, the link you showed me stevie..

 

Well, the Sli cable is marked left and right on the ribbon, L and R, in small print on the cable. Left connector goes to the primary (or left) gpu and the right goes to the secondary (or right) gpu.

 

spoon-feed PRO hahaha , couldnt be explained better

 

Thnks for your help guys.. I will update once i got the cable already...

 

Cool. I doubt you'll have an issue, Bro.....easy as pie.

 

I've got an extra SATA interposer cable for the R2. Not asking much. Send me a PM if you're interested.

 

It will be easy don't sweat it.