Compilation of Tweaks for New Users/Fresh Windows Installations Before Using Your M11x R1

Hi fellow M11x R1 owners!

I've spent the last few days toying around with my new M11x R1 and browsing these forums and there are a lot of gold nuggets spread throughout the threads. My intention here is to list the things I've changed to get my laptop to a point where I feel it's working the best it can. Contributions to this thread are welcome and encouraged, in case I missed anything lifechanging.

Below is a list of tweaks ordered from most important to least (subjective to my opinions).

1. Enable Overclock mode in BIOS to go from 1.3 GHz to 1.73 GHz. This can be accomplished by pressing F2 during M11x boot up and switching overclock mode to enable. Also I was very confused about whether you get the advertised 1.73 GHz since the famed CPU-z reports 1.6 GHz for the M11x. There's a tool that measures your CPU speed using an algorithm that should give you an accurate reading http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/CPU-Tweak/CPU-TrueSpeed.shtml As I understand it, CPU-z fails to recognize that the clock multiplier is set at 6.5 and falsely reports 6. In short, your M11x overclocked is running at 1.73GHz and not 1.6GHz.
Edit: I stand corrected. M11x OC'd is 1.6GHz. http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...1-multiplier-stays-6-so-cpu-only-1-6-a-2.html


2. Install Nautis's 260.99 Drivers http://forum.notebookreview.com/6852688-post1.html.
Grab the Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider and the watermark remover from this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/6852688-post1.html
After installing the drivers you'll need to sign them, instructions here http://forum.notebookreview.com/6981216-post222.html
Installing these drivers over stock drivers accomplishes two important things. First you get better gaming performance, and second switching from Nvidia to Intel graphics no longer requires you to put your computer to sleep to actually disable the discrete graphics, it's performed immediately resulting in better battery life and less hassle.

3. Download BTmeter from this and extract it in your windows start up folder. This lets you disable battery charging with the FN+F2 keystroke. If you plan on using your M11x plugged in AC power for a long period of time it's recommended to discharge the battery to approximately 50% and disable charging to preserve its life. Get it here http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/518585-fn-f2-dsable-battery-charging-works.html

4. BatteryBar! This free application shows you dis/charge rate, battery wear, and a more accurate reading than the windows battery meter. A must have in my opinion. http://osirisdevelopment.com/BatteryBar/

5. Your M11x has customizable LED lights, so change your windows log in background to match it! I used this tool http://tweaks.com/software/tweakslogon/
Link to official wallpapers download.

 

hey thanks for this guide. btw i wanted to ask you if you went with the intel 2020 package or 2226 for gpu driver. i previously installed 2226 driver with 260.99 but it gave me this error message about GfxUi.exe when i switched my gpu from performance to saving power using fn+f6. did you ever get this?

 

I got this with RigelKent's drivers but Nautis's drivers have worked flawlessly for me.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-new-m11x-owners-prospective-m11x-buyers.html

 

Extremely useful thread I haven't encountered until now. Why isn't this stickied by a mod?

 

Because we try to limit the #of stickies to 3-4. Its already linked here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-general-information-read-before-posting.html

Which is a sticky in the main alienware forum and one everyone is expected to review at least once

 

so if your overclock the R1 in bios mode does that mean it's always in the dedicated graphics?

or can you still hit FN+F6 to switch back and forth?

 

Overclocking in BIOS raises the CPU speed independent of graphics. There is another options that lets you toggle between switchable and discreet.

 

Would like to correct the above. The BIOS OC mode simply changes the BCLK from 200 to 266Mhz, effectively doing the same as a BSEL pinmod. The problem there is that the Intel chipset detects that overclock and applies it's anti-overclocking feature - sets the lowest VID (0.9V) and divider (x6).

This has been confirmed in the http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...m11x-r1-ics-only-sorry-slg-not-supported.html thread. PLL and voltage regulator pinmods are used there to get a 1.9-2.1Ghz SU4100/SU7300 M11xR1 overclock.

 

So you're saying that the CPU is running at a mere 1.6GHz and not 1.73GHz as advertised by Alienware/Dell?

 

You sound surprised. Unclewebb removed all doubt... or at least 'we' thought so.

The standard M11xR1 runs at 1.6Ghz OC'd

 

That's exactly what he's saying.