Area51 m17x Barebone DIY project

As you might have read here i've bought several parts with the intention to build my own m17x, however, i've ran in some problems!

Current hardware

m17x barebone
T5550 - 11x166 1.83ghz 2mb 65nm
4gb ddr2
intel 4965agn
2x320gb wd
130 watt dell AC adapter

FX 3700M => Hp model, 0.10 bios flashable to a gtx 280m

Problems

=> Internal display does not work with my FX 3700M, i do not have any other card to test so i'm not sure what the problems is. Tried several bios files but no luck yet! If anyone could send me a working bios file that would be great!

=> Gfx card does not work at 3D clocks! Seems to be stuck at the second performance lvl -400/1000/400 (+-), changed the speeds using nibitor but if i raise the voltage and clockspeeds i just get a messed up screen after booting windows! I think this might be because of the Dell adapter i'm using instead of the real alienware powerbrick!Anyone who could try this for me? (using a dell adapter with an m17x)

=> No fancontrol, not even the cpu, currently running at full speed, this isn't a real problem, can fix this later!


A word of warning for anyone who wants their own alienware barebone!

i bought

eBay.be: New Alienware Area 51-M M17x-R1 Full Complete Barebones (object 190526398506 eindtijd 30-apr-11 22:42:55 CEST)

But i'm having some problems with it!

It came with a small dent in the lid (very small, +- 1cm long and 2 mm deep).
Touchpad ribbon missing
Powerbutton ribbon damage and unusable
Missing almost all screws!

I suggest you do not buy anything from this seller untill he sorts this out! I found a replacement ribbon for the powerbutton but since it had to bend it quite far it broke so now i'm left with a non working pc again!

 

Damn point taken!

 

I think you need a much bigger power supply. This machine came with a 240 watt power supply to be able to handle 2 video cards. Even with only one video card, 130 watts is not enough. The video card down clocking is similar to a problem usmc1488 has on his Area 51 m17x. His problem came when overclocking 2 video cards but that was with the 240 watt supply.

The fan control is a problem. It seems that the graphics fans won't run unless the BIOS finds one of the video cards it expects - an 8800M or 9800M. usmc1488 got around that by hard wiring on the video fans.

 

True, i'll have to get one. I'd be nice if someone could test this for me though!

did the same, removed blue/yellow and i have max fanspeed now

 

One how the heck did you get your system on with out the touch panel? Two I ordered a touch panel from ztronics for 30 bucks works great, but their customer service sucks!!!! Send me your email and Ill send you all the GPU BIOS that ive collected for cards running the G92 chip.

 

It arrived with the touch-power panel but with a ribbon looking like this

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

Not very pleased but seems like the ebay seller might finally fix this, only had to mention a visa chargeback...

Thanks for the bios! Send you my email.

 

Thanks for testing! I assume you run SLI?

SADP-230ABD is the correct psu isn't it?

I'll get one asap, i'll need one anyway.

 

Yes, I have SLI. The PSU I'm using (pretty sure it's the OEM) is the SADP-230AB D. It says 11.8 amps at 19.5 volts. Manufacturer is Delta Electronics. I have 2 and got the 2nd on eBay at a much lower price than it cost from Alienware. Guess it is a 230 watt supply, not 240 like I thought.

 

Just spotted this thread. I recently bought the same machine from the same Ebay seller and I'm currently waiting for the unit to arrive.
As you may imagine, I'm feeling a little nervous right now.

I was considering the same display card. USMC, is there a chance you can CC me those Bios files please?
..and USMC, I AM interested in those 9800s, do you still have them?

Also, can some kind soul make their support CDs available? I think I'm going to need all the help I can get.

 

Ah, another person with the same ingenious idea

Found a working cable

eBay.be: AWM RIBBON 20798 CABLE 0.50 mm pitch/20PIN/200mm 20PIN (object 320655060405 eindtijd 09-jun-11 20:43:18 CEST)


Way too long but managed to get it inside. Installing a fresh windows copy now!

Issues left

No touchpad cable
No internal LCD (hmdi works flawless)
No fancontrol, (cpu and gfx)

And no 3d clocks but I blame the 130watt psu, got a 230watt alienware one coming my way!

No biosses yet, i'll try some once I get the mail,

 

Ignore all the bad things i said about the ebayer, they decided to ship me a whole new barebone and i can keep the old one!

 

Experimented some more!

Check all the cables both inside the laptop and inside the display assembly, they all seemed 100% fine
Flashed loads of bios files, all 8800/9800/260/280m and the lenovo fx 3700m

No lcd....


Decided to try something radical, my 9600m!

Ripped it out of my acer, duck taped a heat sink on it and duck taped it in position (since the heat sink wouldn't fit).


No lcd.....

i did get bios temperature though! Never got it with my fx 3700m. Booted fine and drivers installed.

Send a mail to mxm upgrade, maybe they can help me, they might have a working card!

 

What BIOS are you using for the motherboard? Howd you flash them on with out a BIOS running already? I can send you BIOS from my hive tomorrow if you need them.

 

306

and hdmi works so i use it with an external lcd atm!

I'll get a new barebone one of these days (replacement for the first one), lets hope it was a controller chip or something.

 

Found this topic today

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...rkstation-15-4-alienware-m15x-p-fx-3700m.html

fx 3700m working in a m15x which seems very simular to my m17x (same cards working).

Working lcd

but also stuck in 2D!

Too bad i can't try this fx 3700m in my acer without major modifications.

 

Update!

Recieved an original PSU, no 3d clocks :'(.

No idea why, i even tried my 8600M GT and 9600M GS and they behave the same way.

No battery yet, maybe that could be the problem?

If anyone with an area 51 m17x could try this for me!

Laptop + psu without battery

Do you get 3D clocks?

 

IM BACK!!!! Yes with out battery I have 3D clocks.

 

Bios Bios

Thanks for trying! I'm so tempted to just grab an 9800M off ebay and sell my FX 3700M but i'm already out of money :'(

Do you still have an 9800M GT left USMC?

 

Yes sir Ive got two left. Debating selling them or the GTX 280m's now that Ive proved my point!!! Got a bare bones too

 

i'd be interrested in one of those 9800M GT's depending on the price. Can't really afford 2, or a single 280m

Got my X7900 in today, it's hot Oo. Way hotter then this T7500 at 2.6ghz. And that's without a keyboard or touchpanel installed. It'll be at 80°c once i get everything assembled i think. (15x200 1.265volts atm, starting undervolting now)

 

Something interresting usmc!

There is a little button near the cpu, bit below the socket. It's a power button! So no need to attach the delicated touchpanel cable while testing something.

 

Hahaha thats so cool.

 

The replacement Barebone finally arrived!

It was even worse then the first one.....

Broken motherboard
Broken display assembly (plastic damaged - wifi antennas removed)

And loads of cosmetic damage


But i did manage to get a fully working barebone now!

Flashed the fx 3700m with a 280m bios, works flaweless, gives me 1.05v

AND 3d clocks AND memory at higher frequencies Oo, still not working with the fx 3700m bios.

Only Problem with the 280m bios, no HDMI :-( Not a real problem for me but i can imagine some ppl would like to use this.

What i have now

x7900
fx 3700M@280m 583/1574/1000
4gb
320gb

Only problems left

- No HDMI
- No fancontrol
- No battery cover but i have the pieces to craft my own, not a real problem

I'll have a real 280m soon, if it gives me fancontrol and hdmi i'll keep it!

Upgrades i'll probably get in the near future (when i get a job)

SSD
8gb
lit keyboard


But i'm pleased like it is, wow runs very nice and it's a great lcd!

 

do you happen to have an extra DVD drive caddy? I have the smart bay for HDDs, but I need one for a DVD drive...


I would also be interested in an extra HDD caddy, mine only came with 1...


this guy is selling batts for under $85...
NEW Dell Alienware M17X Battery - MOBL-F1712CACCESBATT | eBay

 

No caddy sorry, ordered a HDD one to finish the laptop. No need for a dvd since i never use it anyway and if i really have to i have a firewire one.

And i have a battery, just no cover. Finished the diy cover only need some doublesided tape to finish this.

 

damn... I didn't realize that I need a batt cover too...


any idea on were to get one??

 

Nope, looking for one myself

Since i had 2 hdd/memory covers i cut one in +- battery shape (its not wide enough) and taped it in place. Just need some strong double sided tape and i'll look good enough.

 

Im back, again!!! Anyway, ll try out the HDMI on my GTX280s running 9800m gt BIOS and let you know whats what.

 

Hey Frag,

What fixed your display problem?
The reason I ask is because I have no LCD display and no HDMI display on my unit.
I also have a faulty power panel ribbon, so my other question is:
Did you have display problems with no power panel ribbon attached? i.e. using the internal motherboard power switch only.

Cheers,
Dez

 

A different lcd cable. Both of my lcd's work now.

Using the little onboard power switch is no different from the touch-skull.

Sounds like a dead motherboard :s

 

Im sorry to hear that. You can make me an offer on the chassis that I completed my GTX280 sli experiment on. Works great, nice 1900 LCD, I can send pics. Let me know bud.

 

I have my mobo+chassis+etc still...

 

No. My mobo is ok. All is good now, I just finished setting up AlienFX correctly so I'm very happy.

This was actually a nightmare build for me. My main problem was, I was supplied with a set of RAM sticks with one stick partially faulty. To make matters worse, I had a spare set that also had a partially faulty stick! The motherboard would boot, cpu fan ran ok but show no display with no video card fan action with both sets.

Then there was the Power panel and connecting ribbon drama. I had to get my ol' multimeter out for that one. There was a little too much flex in the connecting block on the panel side and not all the pins were making contact with the ribbon. I had to fashion a small plastic wedge from a Nurofen/Tylenol tablet packet and squeeze it between the ribbon backing and connector locating wedge.

Also, my Windows 7 x64 install was difficult. The install would hang half way through when using DVD media, no matter what drive I used. I tried 3 different drives. Only after successfully installing off a USB stick did I discover that this machine requires eSata drivers for optical drives to run the standard Win7 install.

Yeah... fun times.

Thanks for the offers. I might still be interested in your chassis though. My son needs a machine and.... I do have a spare video card. PM me details.