M11xR1 Troubleshooting Thread

It seems as though there are a few of us that are having problems achieving a stable overclock. Let see if we can get this problem figured out.
Post your Config:

• Windows version:
• Processor:
• Amount of memory:
• HDD:
• What power state (saver, balanced, or performance)?:

I think this will help us to get started, by seeing if it is in any relation to our configurations.

 

• Windows version: Windows 7 Home Pre, 64-bit
• Processor: U7300
• Amount of memory: 4 GB
• HDD: 320 GB
• What power state (saver, balanced, or performance)?: Performance

Also, I have noticed when in OC, I consistently get a bsod within 60 seconds after I log on.

 

We need to know if your GPU is on discrete or integrated. Does it BSOD on both? Best option is to call in and claim it is always giving you BSOD, don't mention overclocking, and get them to fix it.

I just wanted to add, I think in almost every case of BSOD it is because Alienware undervolts the CPU by .1 when you enable overclocking, to reduce heat and save power, but apparently some SU7300's can't run at 1.6 on .9 volts.

 

Yeah another joins the list! Mine being picked up anyway in the morning. Got me refund, never ever getting anything off dell again. They have the worst service I've ever come across..

Also though its ether a voltage power problem, mine worked fine on internal on oc but when I switched to discrete it crashed as it uses more power or just you processor isn't capable to oc that much, most can some can't though shame.

If you want to return it though don't talk about overclocking, they say we don't support (utter ) evern though its an option it should be supported. Just say it keeps crashing not happy with the performance. You will have to pay the £20 (here in the UK) to send it back unless you want to complain till your dead

 

Good luck to you H0M3bReW3r! I feel for you I guess its time for you to pop over to the sony z forums huh?

 

how come some people have not experienced any problems when overclocking like chewietobacca on his review he overclocked cpu and gpu?

 

Because some chips can handle it, I can OC mine just fine, but all chips are not equal.

 

Not all CPU's are the same. Some CPU's will be able to run and others not. If you dive into overclocking, then youll see its really the luck of the draw how far you can push your CPU or GPU

 

Because, like Yoda said, *some* chips cannot handle it. So far, that means 2 members of the forum are having issues. everyone else that got one is either ok, or not OCing.

 

Homebrew, what was your config.

@ all, Can we keep this thread more geared towards trouble shooting, and not as much chit chat. thanks

 

Does it matter what power profile the M11x was running on?

I never had a problem with it overclocked, but my power profile was on Balanced. I don't think it matters, because it was plugged to power anyway.

I'll check it as soon as I get home though.

 

Honestly without the ability to control your vCore, OCing to stability is near impossible with some CPUs.

 

Another question is does it crash when plugged in? I have come across some interesting hidden differences in behavior between the laptop being plugged in and not, even if settings are the same.

 

It is sad to me that you are dissapointed that-

A. Your Dell came 2 weeks ahead of the EDD when we all ordered
B. You are sending your Alienware laptop back because you are having issues relating to OC'ing.

For everyone else, you are flirting with disaster. You are taking a complex chip and forcing it to do something that it was not designed to do. End of sentence. I have been an Electronic Technician in the Computer Repair field for 10 years now, I have never seen an overclock that was worthwhile- either in the short term or the long term.

It is not like 300 mhz is the difference between getting 6 FPS in BC2 and 30+ FPS, I for one will not be overclocking my unit.

 

You do realize Dell's advertised 3dmark scores are for the OC'd CPU and not possible at stock and that the OC is a Dell created feature on this machine?


EDIT: Sorry for the further derail, steveninspokane

 

Going to say now, no. If using the BIOS option to OC, then its not flirting with disaster. This is a designed function and incorporated into the system. It is perfectly fine to use however results will vary due to each chip being different. This is a given.

 

Does switching back and forth damage the chip or reduce the chip's life?

Is it a good idea to OC the chip for good?

 

Where is the proof that the system was actually overclocked? Just because people are overclocking to get those scores does not mean the test system was overclocked.

Batboy - The BIOS permitting an overclock does not mean it is a good idea. I know of several production PCs that allow changing advanced CPU settings in the BIOS.

apt2l - Intel Designed these chips to run at 1.3 ghz, it is not a good idea to OC, it is not idea to OC for good.

 

I'm not going to argue with you unknown - this is not a thread to discuss proof of OCing, if OCing is supported by Dell (we have a thread and an official answer on that), and this is certainly not a thread to discuss OCing pros and cons. Get back on topic folks.

 

I just tried to swap out my hard drive with a hitachi 500 gig 7200 rpm drive. I made 2 partitions with the hitachi 500 gig drive, one 150 gig and the other 350 gig. I made a clone of the stock hard drive on the 150 gig partition. However when I boot it says:
Check Cable Connection!
PXE-m0F: Exiting PXE ROM
Invalid partition table.

Anybody who knows what I did wrong?

 

Did you check cable connection? Not to be funny.

 

Cable connection is fine, I deleted the empty partition and now its giving me: bootmgr is missing
Cntrl Alt Delete to restart

 

You need to make the 150 GB partition active. Also, Win 7 has an interesting partition structure - you probably have to clone the drive first (using specialized software) then create the secondary partition afterwards.

 

So we have nothing as of yet? only Homebrew and I have had this problem as of yet?

 

It seems as though my UP key doesn't work and sometimes my space bar is a little finicky as well.

Who do I call for this? Will Dell just send me a keyboard to replace?

EDIT: H is gone now too and so is my BinaryFX key...man...

 

lol how did you type H if you h key doesnt work?

 

desktop...

 

im an idiot

 

Just call Dell and have them send you a replacement keyboard and have them send a technician to your home to replace it. It is covered and doable.

 

Am I allowed to replace it by myself? I'm not home a lot and I don't really have the time to wait for a tech to come by. I've fixed plenty of laptops before so I doubt it will be difficult at all.

 

It might void the warranty that way. Either way, best bet is to call Dell, tell them the problem, and get something going since you just got it and have a problem already.

 

for some reason cpu-z is reading my ram running at 400 instead of 800 or 1066when i overclocked, is it because it isnt under full load?

 

Yeah I emailed Team Black Hawk about it already. Will give them a call tomorrow morning.

 

You can request they dispatch the parts directly to you. Be aware, if they agree to this, the rep will most likely advise you that any damage as a result of you installing the keyboard will not be covered. IMO, its better to have the on-site tech deal with it. The on-site tech can be dispatched to your place of employment as well.

When I had my XPS M1710 I had to have the GPU replaced as it had went south. The tech was dispatched to my office since I could not take the time off to meet with him at home. I plopped the tech down at an empty desk and let him do his thing. 20 minutes later my system was up and running again.

 

Thanks BatBoy. Since I was going to break the laptop down to get the PLL and reapply TIM anyway I might as well make this a learning experience. Of course everything comes at a risk so I'll just deal with it IF it happens.

 

When I am on the Intel GFX and WiFi off windows estimates only 4.5 hours of battery...brightness all the way down with ms word open... that doesn't seem right.... and yes I am on power saver mode

EDIT: well i don't know what did it but now it says 6 hours 20 minutes with 85% battery left, much better!

 

It takes a bit for it to update the status. At least that's what I've noticed.

 

Nuke was telling me a bit about the "stuck at 1.6GHz" issue. For those of you who are seeing this, which app(s) are you using to confirm clock rate?

 

Well I run Everest on my desktop and it has it at 1.73 but I validate using CPU-Z and it has it at 1.6. I don't understand the "stuck" part. Like can't OC to 1.73 right?

 

Which version of CPU-Z? From what Nuke was saying, the freq will not exceed 1.6 at all.

Can you try with this version and see if it reports the same as everest? Also what about right clicking on the System Properties window (Control Panel\System) - does it also report the same or different?

Finally, can you compare using HWiNFO32 download here: http://www.hwinfo.sk/beta/hw32_341_605.zip

Thanks.

 

@BatBoy

The CPU-Z you recommended still read it as 1.6GHz.
System properties lists it as 1.73GHz.
HWiNFO32 has it at 1.599GHz

 

Ok - well, that is interesting. I am thinking this might not be a hardware issue but more a software issue with the apps being used to monitor clock rates. With new CPUs, the monitoring app has to be updated to support it - like any other app receives compatibility/stability updates.

Thoughts?

 

Honestly I have no clue either. The only other processor I've ever owned besides the Su7300 was the E8400 in my rig. If what you said is true, I'd think system properties would be the most accurate followed by Everest since it cost money lol. Hopefully Dell will say something soon since we need our battery charge disable/enable feature fixed.

On a side note: I've never dealt with Dell CS before, if I told them about my keyboard problem how much time do you think I'll spend troubleshooting with the tech and what are my chances of getting parts sent minus a tech lol? Oh yeah Black hawk does technical support too no?

Thanks

 

I can understand the premise about cpu's not being the same, but Asus has shipped hundreds of thousands of UL models that clock the SU7300 to 1.73ghz as standard and you rarely see posts about this being a problem. The problem is likely some of the chips are not friendly to the .1 volt difference and there is an operational threshold problem due to this. I almost 100% guarantee that is what the problem is.

Dell probably has two options. Fix the voltage issue or stop allowing OC in the bios. The latter could be the kiss of death for sales growth of the device. Most gamers will avoid it with no OC option, since most knows the Asus device clock as standard. Dell would look lame.


How about the fan? Some are saying the fan gets annoying and some say nothing about it. How does it sound in a quiet room, say with someone who does not want to hear the fan noise when laying next to you?

 

One more time:

The SU7300 is a VERY mature chip that has an "unusually" high ceiling and Asus (amongst others) has shipped hundreds- of -thousands of this chipset over-clocked as standard at 1.73ghz.

The chip is not the problem and people are respectfully delusional if they think the extra clock does not matter. It does a LOT for all but a handful of gaming apps. 23% more for 1.6ghz and 33% for 1.73ghz- who is kidding who?

 

There was mention that the firmware on these is the same one that was being run on the preproduction units. What I heard is that Dell couldn't get the updated firmware finalized in time, but that they'll be an A02 revision out that will fix this issue and allow it to properly clock to 1.73ghz. Hopefully it also allows speedstep. I believe it's also supposed to fix the FN-F2 battery on/off issue.

 

Guys need help, where do you check what type of ram you have in windows? so 1066 etc

 

How hard is it to install the bios update / firmware update? I have never had to do that to my desktop or laptop in the past.

 

Ok, so if it is a software issue, then which one is it?

 

Some chips cannot run on the underclocked voltage when overclocked as they need more power