M11xR1 Troubleshooting Thread

this gap people are talking about, I have one maybe 1mm from top of E2E screen and plastic lid. Looks like it's normal though... I dunno lol

 

has anyone had any luck getting cuda to work, and got the cpu to offload processing to the gpu

 

yeah^ any1 please test the CUDA .. i am buying this just for my raytracing course as my old 1400 cant handle Optix ..

@steveninspokane try to keep a poll on this thread with how many guys faced some problems with m11x so that we can get rough idea.

 

do u have a number to reach?

 

my comp just shut down for the second time today =(

 

and it will not boot back up. seems like its dead.

 

Technical Support - Like any other issue/problem, you have to call technical support and get a case started. If you are in the US,

Home and Home Office Technical Support
1-877-293-1197 24/7

Deaf, Hearing Impaired, or Speech Impaired Support
1-877-DELLTTY Mon - Fri 8 AM to 4:30 PM

If this is an EPP Purchase, go through your EPP Login page and then the Support page. Look for the 'Contact Support' link.

Warranty Info and Terms of Sale can be found here:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~section=010

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~section=012

 

Thanks so much currently on hold with technical support. i'm thinking this thing is totally dead.

 

Whenever I used to overclock my old desktop sometimes ram would hold me back. when you overclock the cpu it inadvertently overclocks memory and various other things. If you push ram to far past spec it will BSOD.

So what I would do is try overclocking with just 1 stick of ram in. see if its stable. if it is you need a new second stick of ram because its holding you back. if it fails the test again. Swap that out for the other stick and also try that stick just by itself for the same reason. it only takes 1 bad stick to make the whole thing fail

ideally I would ask you guys to try running 1 stick of ram ddr 3 so-dimm 1066 by itself. then test stability again to rule out the ram without question.

 

***
Here is FIX for the 8-12% CPU usage at idle (WMIPrvSE.exe):
***

NOTE: This also fixed the annoying fan issue. The CPU doesn't have to work as hard at idle so now it's nice and cool!


This is an issue with the AlienFX tray icon!


1. Right-click the AlienFX tray icon and select "Exit"

2. Wait about 2 minutes, your CPU usage with return to normal at idle...

NOTE: This will not stop the AlienFX lighting. You can still configure the AlienFX lighting by launching the Command Center, but it will re-launch the AlienFX tray icon (which can be disabled again by the steps above.)


If this works let me know and I will post instructions on how to disable the AlienFX at startup using the Registry and MSCONFIG. Also some people are using CCleaner to disable unwanted items.


* Please excuse any inaccuracies in the exact wording of the fix, I am posting this from work and don't have the computer in front of me to get the exact details, but I will fix them when I get home later!

Also, the Dell online backup was using a LOT of system memory, since I don't plan on using the service, I uninstalled and got lots of memory back!

 

update: so they believe its a the motherboard. so they'll be sending a tech here with a new motherboard. i figured they woulda gave me a whole new laptop. but with the shortages i dont even think thats possible.

 

yep this brought down my cpu usage, and made the fan quieter. what a useless app.
2 birds with one stone nicely done brain.

 

So my two day old m11x is already dead. The laptop shut off once today while just browsing the web and would not turn on for about 15minutes. when i finally got it back on i decided to play some warcraft 3 and it shut off 3 minutes into the game and would not turn back on. i called tech support and they are sending over a new motherboard. This totally blows. =(. very tempted to just return the thing.

 

Has anyone else noticed that the 335m doesn't actually turn off when you switch from it to integrated graphics? Got curious when I noticed estimated battery life wasn't shooting back up for 5-6 hours when switching from the 335m to integrated, and sure enough, GPUZ reports clock speeds and everything for the 335m even though the nvidia tray icon thinks it's using the Intel graphics (which, to its credit, is true,) whereas if I reboot the computer on integrated, the 335m doesn't show up in GPUZ at all.

Annoying, obviously, as this kills the whole "good battery life" thing without a restart.

 

The Dell online backup was using a LOT of system memory and CPU cycles.

Since I don't plan on using the service, I uninstalled it and got lots of memory and performance back!

 

Truthfully, I have never been a big fan of that Dell app (DataSafe). It was a system resource hog on other systems and I am guessing from the posts, still is.

 

I love my m11x but have three things to point out.

1, I have a really tiny gap on the right hand part of my screen between the upper bezel and the edge to edge plastic. It's probably not even a whole mm, but it's not there on the left.

2, something clicks when the system is shaken a bit. It doesn't take much, just repositioning it or typing with it when it's not anchored on a flat surface. Is this a bad hinge?

3, the keyboard wasn't clicked in securely on all edges. The right hand part was popped out from the clips that hold it in. Wasn't very obvious but since I work with computers all day it seemed off. This was easily fixed but kinda has me worried about the overall build quality.

 

Freaking awesome. Disabled all the useless stuff at startup using CCleaner and I'm sitting at 0% cpu usage.

 

yeah quitting Alien FX fixed up cpu problem and fan issue. What a crap program

 

In regards to the CC and its modules, I suggest leaving Fusion alone. Disabling it will muck with your keyboard shortcut to switch over to integrated graphics.

 

On C2D systems, you don't actually overclock the CPU, you overclock the bus speed. Overclocking the bus speed affects all components connected to the system bus. Although, while other components may be affected (not necessary to go into with the level of OC on the M11x), the CPU and RAM are really the only components that benefit from an overclock.

In the case of the M11x, when the OC option is enabled, it raises the system bus from 200MHz to 266MHz. As the system is quad pumped, this runs the FSB at 800MHz (standard mode) and 1066MHz (OC mode). The RAM in the M11x is rated to run at 1066MHz, so there should be absolutely zero issues running this RAM in standard or OC mode.

So in the case of the M11x, the RAM will never be pushed past it's specification (assuming standard configuration). If you feel the RAM might be the cause of a BSOD in the M11x, then it won't be due to pushing it past it's specification, it'll be due to the fact that it's simply "bad" RAM.

 

I'm trying to figure out my fans.. I disabled the AlienFX CC from the task manager, although I have GFWL in background d/l a game, not much else, still bouncing around CPU usgae 11% and fans on =(

 

exit dell data back up too.

 

double check to see if you're not downloading any updates from Microsoft as well. I've probably downloaded close to 1GB today alone with all the updates it automatically pulled between Win7/Visual Studio/Office/etc.

 

well - I take that back - I've done a full re-install..

 

yeah I uninstalled that dell data thing awhile back. I did exit out GFWL to see and my CPU dropped but fan kept going. Oh well, I think that fan is a battery hog though.

 

I just got my computer today and I cannot connect to my wireless router. I have a 2wire 2701hg-b. When I go to connect the only option is PPPoe. Do any of you know any solutions?

 

same issue reported for my unit. but it's on the both sides instead of just the right.

 

i think thats just how the case is designed i dont think its a fault

 

I apologize for not being as active as I'd like in this thread. I would like to post some solutions on the first post, I am not sure if there has been any solutions as of yet to any of the problems we have encountered, like the OC issue. If there has, can and when we get more, can someone PM them to me so that I can add them to first post. Thanks a lot.

 

I got the gap too on the edge, that's on top of the fan issue which could be actually resolved now

 

Can anyone take a picture of the "the gap?" Or is it something noticeable because you can see circuit board or something behind it? I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't show up on mine and can you also request to have the screen serviced / replaced if there is such a gap?

 

I just noticed this tonight actually.

 

Looks identical. There is really no reason why colors should be washed out or text wouldn't be as sharp, it's using the same lcd. It is however becomes brighter when running with 335.

 

Ok I noted that when the 335 is active the fan is also active with it all the time. Now with all these little tweaks im managing to keep it quiet for the most park. Now I dont wanna sound like im getting paranoid or anything but does anyone else with the 500 gb 7200 rpm hard drive hear and feel almost fan like spinning from the the lower right side of the laptop where right palm rest is. If I pick it up I can hear it properly too. Im assuming this is normal jus wanted to confirm

 

Save for you and Homebrewer.. I haven't seen any other BSOD posts - has anyone else?

 

I don't get BSOD, but I do get reboots every 15-30 mins when overclock is enabled.

 

This pc might be good for some but not for me cause within 24 hours my system crashed and now I'm having hell getting ahold of anyone at dell that can help me. I've been on the phone for over 2 hours today and have been transferred 10 times or more. Supposed to receive a replacement HDD a day or 2 after but now it won't be sent till sometime next week. I can't deal with the bad service and no help so I'm just sending it back for a refund.

 

What do I do to get a refund because everyone I mention that to I get transferred and after about half hour it just hangs up.

 

Guys, can you summary up all defects that happened with more then one user?

- as i understand, whe have 2 users who have gap in the loop
- more than one user have bsod when cpu is overclocked

other issues are because of bad software management?

 

Alienware m11x - Cosmic Black | SU7300 | 4 gigs Ram 1066Mhz | GeForce 335m | 500gb 7200rpm HDD all that good stuff and now I'm waiting to use it cause on the first day it powered down and came back with windows error recovery. Nothing since but black screen when starting windows normally. Biggest mistake I've made for awhile money down the drain.

 

That's disappointing. Does this happen randomly or only when the CPU is stressed? While a lot of people have reported no issues during OC mode, it is worrying that a few owners have had issues at such an early stage of production. The way AW have configured the overclock (in particular the voltage), I wouldn't be surprised at all if this turns out to be a serious problem. Have you contacted support about it?

 

I am not sure if this was brought up in another thread but I am having some issue with the HDMI. I am not able to display at 1080P when I connect the M11x to my HDTV but I can with my sony. Any idea?

Update: nvm I figured it out =p

 

yeah i got that you have to disable something to get the actual bsod screen to show. can't remember a summary screen or something but that is exactly what my issue was

 

I have a problem with my M11x!

When I am on the intel chipset i can output 1920x1080 resolution on an external display but when i stwiched to the Nvidia card I can't get more than 1600x1200

Any idea?

 

D: .. 1080p <1200p ...
1600x1200 is pretty high, no?

 

Does anyone have issue with the fan not throttling down? Basically I would be doing something intensive when the fan ramps up and then when I let it idle, the fan will not stop until I put the computer to sleep and bring it back up?

 

That's right. In Windows, if a system failure occurs, it automatically restarts. To prevent this, have a look at the following guide.

How To Disable the Automatic Restart on System Failure in Windows 7

 

Yep don't understand trying to change drivers

 

I can do 1920x1080 perfectly fine connected by HDMI.
My monitor is Dell ST2210.
I cannot see anything reasons unless your monitor is incapable to have the resolution.
If you are positive about the capability of your monitor, monitor's driver may solve your problem.