The Official Area-51 m15x Owners Lounge II

Actually with PAE it supports up to 64GB of RAM, instead of the previous 4GB. again, i'd like to note that the "4GB" RAM support is spread out across all reserved addresses INCLUDING the video ram.

eg. 512MB on the video counts against the total system memory possible (in this instance reducing it to 3.5GB)... there are other limitations and restrictions that bring it down the extra 512MB, but I'm not sure what they are/the names of them.

I'd have to ask a friend (who is a programmer)

 

Though it now sees up to 64 gig it still only uses 3 (if you have 4 gig and are in a 32 bit OS).

 

that is incorrect.

Please look up PAE.

 

According to Everest, it is still only using 3 gig. I know what PAE is.

However, CPU-z sees 4 gig... Hmm...
3DMark also only sees 3 gig.

 

any one application is limited to the 32-bit addressing space (4GiB), however, the system can basicly start that addressing space anywhere in the addressable space (of a maximum of 64GiB), therefore, any one application can only see up to 4GiB of Memory at a time, where the OS can utilize all of the potential 64GiB across all applications.

i can see how this can be confusing, however, the full 4GB can be used.

please keep in mind that the 4GB DOES STILL include space for video memory, so any one 3d style application on the m15x, even with PAE, will only see 3.5GB of physical memory. it breaks down to 512MB for video and 3.5GB remaining for system.

again, with other allocations and reservations, 3.5 can easily turn to 3GB.

 

just wanted to let u guys know my m15x is in phase 5 its ESD is mar 21,if i do get it in time i will do a detailed review of it for you guys with high quality pictures.crossing my fingers this system comes in time

 

Oh cool, welcome to the fourms

whats the specs

 

most user pre$$paid reviews are horribly vague, positive and glossy i hope u change the trend.

 

If you ordered it with the 8800M GTX video card, it won't be shipping tomorrow.

 

If it's in phase 5 at the moment it won't ship until next week at most, sorry to disappoint you.

Even if they would have the components to build it, which they don't in most cases (yes I know what P5 is) they would conduct testing, etc. which would take longer than a day.

 

i called today its shipping mid next week,i gotta call back on monday though =/

got the same specs as crystak except i got the 320gb HD and i will upgrade to 4gb ram myself

 

I just checked my order status, and My m15x has shipped today? lol wtf, earlier today I was on the phone witha supervisor and he said most likely it wont ship untill monday next week. Anyhow, rest assured there should be no problems with my machine and I will test it relentlessly when I get it (hopefully tomorrow) Its 2 day shipping.

 

congrats on your m15x. hope you enjoy your machine

 

I'm confused more than anything right now.. After being in phase 6 since last week Wed, today my m15x was shipped even after talking to a supervisor today saying it more than likely wont ship untill next week monday/tuesday. Mainly because they wanted to make sure the cards are not overheating/downclocking and that the line was still on hold untill either later today or Friday. This guy was well informed and actually let me ask quite a few Questions someone wouldent normally be able to answer at AW.

Well my tracking number says 2nd day, but my ETA says the 24th /mind boggle.

 

Well, let's count.

Today is the 20th, so two days, 21st, 22nd. Oops, 22nd is a Saturday. 23rd is a Sunday. So 24th it is.

 

the delievery service does not deliever on weekends.

 

mine entered phase 8 today, so it'll probably get shipped out tomorrow. i'll expect it sometime next week (i only got standard shipping... i think. there was a special and i didn't pay for shipping, so maybe?)

either way. next week.

but i only got the 8700M GT.

 

and monday

 

Well mystik that confirms it then, the line is moving once again and we should have worry free machines The first of the bunch lol

 

So I'm going to be getting an m15x soon. That's a given. The original idea is that I would be getting it as a gift for my birthday and high school graduation at the end of June. But here's an interesting development: my dad said he'd be willing to pay for his share of it pretty much whenever I'm ready to order it. I'm not yet sure if my mom feels the same way, but I bet I could convince her. So my question is, if I could order this thing tomorrow, should I?

I ask because of the overheating issues. I know Alienware is working on a fix, but that's precisely why I'm thinking of waiting. Should I wait until I'm sure that whatever they're doing is done in-factory? If it is just a BIOS update, that should be a pretty small deal to do on my own, right? I just want to be certain there's no situation that would necessitate my sending it back to them. That would be bad. Also, I do plan on getting it with the 8700, not the 8800..so I'm thinking the whole thing is less likely to be an issue at all anyway.

So what do you guys think? Should I take advantage of this oppurtunity, go ahead and order, or should I play it safe and wait for some news that they're gonna do something different when making them? Thanks for any input.

 

Guys,
I know you're excited about getting your new machines but I would very much appreciate it if you kept the number of new threads to a minimum. If at all possible, post in one of the threads already created. Unless it is radically different it should go in an existing thread. Thanks a lot.

Alienware is not shipping any new m15xs until the fix will be implemented. So no need to worry about that.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3126213#post3126213

 

The Fix is there, my m15x shipped today after I requested and argued numerous times to wait for the fix to the overheating/downclocking.

 

What is with the changing order #? before shipping and after shipping 2 dif numbers.

 

i would wait if i was you guys

 

from what i understand, the hold-up was on the 8800M GTX only. therefore, i can have mine shipped out faster, because the majority of builds are for the 8800, and having the 8700, they have a lot of free builders/testers, that should be assembling all your 8800's... instead, they're assembling mine.

who knows?

 

That's good news. Are you sure all new orders are shipping with the fix, or did you just make a particular fuss about it so they did something with yours. And sorry about the unnecessary thread thing, Chaz.

 

Don't worry about it, you couldn't have known. I do my best to keep this forum organized and if everyone had a thread for their m15x, well, you can imagine how crowded and hectic it'd be around here.

 

i'm fairly sure more than a few would go ignored... ha.

 

fed ex will deliever on monday since its a business day i think. i know you can also get it delievered on saturday but u have to pay extra.

 

Haha !! I'm in the EXACT same position - Graduation, birthday and everyting !! Except mine's gonna include my going-to-college and chrismas present too

IMO I think you should wait at least until they release the final version of the BIOS update (should be within a week and fix a little more than the downclocking problems) Then it'll go direct into your laptop in the factory - if it isn't already
and umm hold that trigger if you're a fan of the black/skullcap/black skullcap/black ripley My guess is that with the *supposed* price drop and new options, they'd be releasing the new cases soon... 2-3 weeks ?????
I got till August though.. So it should be all set for me

 

im in the same situation as you wraithers too. this is going to be my graduation birthday and probably christmas present...but i still had to pay for half.

@Callidor
i dont think the overheating problem will be a issue with the 8700 since i only saw 1 person with a overheating issue with the 8700 i think. i also agree with wraithers that if you are into the different cases then you should probably give it 2 weeks to see if the new cases come out. Other than the new bios that they will install in all the new machines i doubt they will have anything different when they make the m15xs

 

@ exiled - Oh yea.. I'm still saving up to pay for my part too.. Never had so much "money in the bank" !!
Spend the money.. DON'T !! Spend.. DON'T !! ARG !! Gonna have to cut my debit card up

 

Yea I've got no real interest in the black case..I prefer the white. So I sent a customer support message to alienware..they should get back to me tomorrow, so I'll post here and let you guys know if they're shipping new orders with the new BIOS already or what

 

Yeah I know, they got me confused too. I thought they shipped the wrong laptop. The one you use it to check on the site is called the P.O. Number. The new one they sent you to your e-mail -when it was shipped- is the "Sales Order Number" and you will have this number on your ID card.

 

Well, I just got my m15x today. Eye candy gets an A+ (It sure looks cool, I know I'll be the envy of the block )

I have yet to put it though it's paces, and I will have to review the heating test posted earlier in this thread.

I will also keep you all posted re: cracks and such. I have noticed one problem right off though. After inserting a card in the Express Card slot, the door that flaps closed has lost its spring back. What a shame... Hopefully thats the only problem I get.

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m15x; 2.5Ghz, 4 Gig RAM, 8700M GT 512MB; 200GB Drive; DVD+-R w/LightScribe, Intel Turbo Mem Controller, 1440x900; AW FX Lighting

 

Grats on your AW
Looking forward to your test results.. Wanna see if they're shipping with the new BIOS.. You could just check the BIOS version..

 

Consdering I ordered the Penryn X9000 and the 8800m GTX yes, the line is moving again. And yea, I was in close contact with alienware this whole time sorting through the downclocking mess and giving links/troubleshooting posibilities. So as I stated, it looks like the assembly line is back in business for the 8800m gtx. I was told there would be no more issues with the system and the 8800m gtx was fixed. Consdering my system is maxed out, thats a good sign if its showing no struggle at AW after having the line on hold, they will not ship out faulty equipment. Just to be sure, im going to test it throughly when I recieve my m15x.

Also take into note, as far as I know from talking to supervisors etc, the batch that went out today (including my m15x) and from now on have the new bios. I'm also positive as said above, there should be no more problems with the overheating/downclocking on the 8800m gtx. So therefor, mine, and whoever els that had there systems shipped today is the "new revision/batch" of m15x's.

Anyone that has recieved or recently shipped before today(Thursday, March 20th) will more than likely need the bios update.

 

m15x just dropped in price..i may get one..and join the notebook world

 

That is only the beginning . U will also notice there are alot of creaking sound when u close the lid. And be careful when u lift your m15x with one hand (creak creak crack sound).

2 major things to watch out. CDROM cover will become loose easily (I put glue to it and fixed it)- Careful when closing lid. There is a magnet at the top of the LCD cover and when it almost close the magnet kick in and slam it. Too much of these will result in hairline crack on your LCD cover.

Other than that Not much of a problem

 

They may have shipped yours out before the new BIOS was released, since I, too, ordered the X9000 and 8800M GTX, and I've been in Phase 6 since God was a boy. If my status doesn't change by COB Friday, then it's highly likely yours was shipped before it was ready.

 

what else is left

 

Hey guys, quick question about the m15x...

Simply put, I have the money... do I get one? My sig explains the specs I want. Are there too many problems to buy one this early?

If I should wait, then how long? What are the major issues right now? Just the CPU overheating and the GPU drivers not updated?

Thanks guys, this help is greatly appreciated.

~Brutality

_____________________

Future m15x (Debating whether to order or not)
| T9500 2.6GHz | GeForce 8800 GTX | Vista 32 | 4GB DDR2 | 200GB 7200 RPM | X-Fi | AlienFX |

 

if you ever use the right-mouse button, they havn't truly fixed that issue yet either. i'm sure they will eventually.

 

Well, I just spoke to Alienware again. Any M15X sent out yesterday and from now on have the fix.

 

Yup. I waited for their annoying sales rep popup on their customization page, and asked them if i were to order one in the next couple of days, would it ship with the BIOS fix. answer was a yes. looks like its safe to go ahead. And yeah what's the deal with the mouse on these. One piece but it does have left/right use depending on where you press?

 

Yeah its an integral piece (mouse button), but it has two seperate sides. If you press down in the middle it wont go, but either side lets you depress them.

 

that's pretty cool

 

Just talked to the tech whos been helping me with the Bios update. He gave me the FINALIZED Bios update. Which I would say is the reason they are restarting production now. Happy ordering you guys!

 

sounds like it's safe. you have a good chance of getting one that doesn't have any of the major issues.

HAPPY ORDERING!

 

I also recommend it; you can wait for my review which will be posted this weekend.

Great information, thanks. That is reassuring to hear.