Anyone done a M11x r3 tear-down / disassembly yet?

I'm trying to find out if the M11x r1/r2 DW365 BT2.1 module is compatible with the M11x r3, which is only offered with DW375 BT3.0. Looking on eBay, the modules themselves are very different: one has a direct PCB connector, one has a cable, but the r3 service manual shows a module exactly like the 365. I guess it could be an alternate version of the 375 now packaged the same as the 365, but I think the manual is just wrong.

That said, I'm curious and want to see what else is different!

Another question: Is the official Green Onion Supply AG2 Anti-Glare screen protector still good for the newer displays?

 

Yes, you can use it.

 

Soo... still nothing? Am I'm going to be doing the first tear-down here soon?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/580921-some-r3-motherboard-pics.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/579732-antec-diamond-7-themal-paste-works.html

 

Thanks. I saw what I needed to see. The M11x DOES use a Dell Wireless 375 (DW375) bluetooth 3.0 adapter but the cable seems different and much longer than any of the similar cables included on eBay. I already called Dell about ordering it alone and got shot-down (they told me to buy an external adapter), so I hope someone comes up with a solution to getting one.

 

Well, my r3 finally arrived and I took it apart without even turning it on first. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cable was present (unexpected) even though the BT adapter itself wasn't (expected), so all I need to buy is the bare adapter.

 

It was such a cheap addon, why not just get the original optional one?

 

I know this was already answered and in short yes it can be used for the new display but I also heard it covers up a second mic they added to the screen. I can't recall where I read this but just passing this information along. I am pretty sure I read it on these threads somewhere.

 

Yes I mentioned the mic issue in the specific Green Onion thread.

People can hear me fine even with them covered - though I'd recommend punching them out first.

 

Simple.

In a nutshell, ordering direct from Dell as a configure-to-order notebook is not the only way to obtain an M11x.

I encountered two such scenarios:
1) The original Best Buy M11x r1 model was not available with Bluetooth. I couldn't order online until I knew it would fit in my motorcycle tank bag, so I tried it in-store the first day it was available and bought it then (first week of April, 2010). It was $200 cheaper than configuring the same model online, so doing so to get bluetooth would have meant paying $220 more. Not so cheap, huh? Anyway, the Bluetooth adapter alone was $12 on eBay. What makes more sense to you?

2) Fast-forward over a year later and I now have an r3 as a warranty replacement. Because my original model did not include BT, neither does the r3. The r3 is incompatible with the same BT adapter (DW365). I attempted to buy the new one (DW375) directly from Dell along with an extended warranty (it sure paid off before!) and the official screen protector. They told me that, unlike the DW365 in the r1/r2, they could not sell me the DW375 BT module, not even as a part order (the DW365 was $20 CTO, $40 to order as a part, ~$12 on eBay). The official screen protector was no longer available online but the CSR processing my warranty was able to order one for me anyway, so I could only assume that there must be a good reason that he couldn't order the BT module.

Thanks, but I just made a near flawless installation of it while you were posting that. It not only covers one mic, it covers BOTH. The cut out around the webcam was meant to encircle the original mic on the left side but extends just as far to the right for symmetry purposes. The two mics in the r3 are symmetrical, but they are farther apart (probably makes the sound isolation easier). This means that they are both too far away from the cut-out for either to be exposed by it. My solution was to align the protector to the screen before installation and mark the two mic holes with a fine-tipped Sharpie marker. I then used a paper hole puncher to make two holes through the protector. I only had a three-hole punch, which was difficult to operate with making an accidental hole somewhere else on the film, so I had to remove the rubber bottom to look through the hole to center it. The two punches aren't exactly even and that's the only imperfection I see after the installation is complete. There was a tiny piece of something that got under the right side as I had to repeatedly re-start there until I got the alignment right. The backing kept sticking to the dust isolation sheet so I'd get one corner aligned and then be unable to move it up/down to align the whole side! Their advice about using scotch tape to lift the corner and another piece to lift the dust didn't work because there was no way scotch tape was tacky enough to lift the corner at all. Instead, I pushed the edge with my fingernail and it lifted because the debris was preventing that edge from sticking. That caused the whole side to lift and I was able to use scotch tape to pull it off of the protector (it was not on the screen surface).

I'm sweaty from all the steam in the bathroom, but it was worth it. I've had a lot of bad luck installing these kinds of things in the past and I haven't slept since yesterday (graveyard shift) but I was able to pull it off... probably thanks to their dust isolation sheet (what a good idea).

 

Never thought about getting an M11X from anywhere but dell - good point.

How the heck did you get an R3 replacement on an R1 ?!??? You lucky son of a...!


Yeah I got my green onion on perfect as well. I left the mics covered up, no one has said im quiet at all. I should setup a tripod to show how I put it on.

Not a single piece of dust is underneath, and it's aligned perfect. Just got good at it. I hate applying screen protectors. One mistake and its money in the toilet.

Alright time for bed! 1am. Why do I stay up so late!

CZ - what kind of bike do you ride? I ride a Honda Interceptor. I use a Chrome messenger bag when I ride though, I don't like tanks bags personally.

 

Well, they simply got tired of having me send in my r1 for every little thing. The thing is, I actually waited until I only had a day or two of warranty coverage left to send it in for several problems problems at once (hinge, broken feet, warped chassis, etc) and they sent it back to me with NEW problems (non-functional power cord, missing/stripped screws, incorrect non-captive screws in a warped baseplate AND chassis, missing rubber on palmrest, etc). They sent me a replacement adapter, baseplate, and palmrest part which was not normally something for the customer to install (they wanted to avoid another depot repair) and I found that the catches from the status LED/power button panel would not stay closed in the back under the screen due to being damaged while the screen hinges were bad. Also, their repair of the broken foot did not last more than a day. I was willing to live with the laptop rocking back and forth on even the most flat surface as long as they sent me a IO panel to close that gap behind the screen (I did not want contamination). That was all I was asking for but they took one look at my RMA history that includes a past display replacement, a past AC adapter and battery replacement, a past chassis and baseplate repair, etc and said "let's just get you a new one." I didn't even know the r3 existed. He said that they didn't have the exact model (of course) and would configure a new current model for me instead. I was surprised that the r2 wasn't still in production.

I stayed up over 24hrs when you posted that (had worked a graveyard shift that morning) and had to get a bit of sleep before replying.

The bike? It's just a 2008 Ninja 250R but it's my only transportation and I've racked up almost 25,000 miles in less than a few years. I love it. My neighbor has a VFR and those are slick bikes. I especially like the single-sided swingarm and shaft drive that some Interceptors have.

 

2008 is when they FINALLY redid the Ninja!

Great bike man. The new 250 Ninja is a slick little ride! I was thinking of getting one for my wife actually.


I *hate* dealing w/ Dell customer service. The language barrier, the hold times, etc. Im shocked you were able to get as much as help as you did. I'm also not surprised of crappy repairs. They have no clue what they're doing sometimes I swear.

I had an onsite tech break my touchpad and USB ports on my R1.

 

Here's a partial tear down video on youtube. I cloned the hard drive to an ssd and swapped it.

SkimpyDaveK's Channel - YouTube

 

I did a total teardown on Saturday. Also for those reading, you "technically" are breaking the warranty. If you screw up and its noticeable, your f'ed if you need that part replaced. So unless you know what you are doing, wait until your warranty expires.

Motherboard:

Not much to report other than the motherboard was revision 1.0 built in Jan 2011. Which is weird since I ordered mine in july. I noticed late July people were getting motherboards with firmware a03, which hasn't been posted yet. So I'm wondering if a new revision of the motherboard came out that only works with the ao3, hence why not available.

Polished heatsink surfaces and used Diamomd IC. It seems to be helping as I'm getting about 2-4 idling difference. Haven't tested GPU under full load yet.

Only other noticeable then to mention, the Intel cpu had no markings, and they used silicon glue on the 4 corners where it attached to the motherboard. Hmm, me thinks the bga solder method alone can fail.



Screen:

FWIW don't take apart the screen. The one video I found made it seem straight forward to pop the casing. Well they must have changed it since it was for 1.0, because I broke a few of the retaining studs (not enough to make a difference thankfully). The screens surrounding foam was DOUBLE SIDED ** on the upper portion, so I had to carefully peel it off the actual LCD itself. In fact I was worried I cracked the screen as I had to pull so hard in a few places.

Then, finding a place in it for a third antennae was hard because either side have two large reflectors behind the screen for the 2 wires. I just said f it and stuck it untop of the whites reflector. My theory being that the third antenna's end was a plastic sheet with metal on one side. So I stuck the plastic backing between them. Seems to work. Though I cant say my range has increased much at all.

Finally, attempting to put the screen back together without flint and smear marks? PITA. Spent almost 40 minutes assembling it and then disassembling as new dust entered or missed a smudge.

If you want a third antennae? Just mount it under the keyboard. Sure it wont be as effective, but the difference I'm noticing is negligible in the screen versus 2. Anyone know a free program that can measure each antenna's signal percentage?