*OFFICIAL* M11xR1 Owners Lounge - Part 4

Actually it was on the Alienware M11x spec sheet when you were configuring a build. They recently changed it to simply read 'overclockable.'

 

I just wanted to point out how disappointed I am in even the SU7300 Core 2 Duo CULV.

In 2006, I got a steal on a Core Duo Acer notebook with an ATI X1500. I installed Battlefield 2 and found that, though the game ran great for a notebook, the system would absolutely CHOKE on the intro and title FMV. The unoptimized HD video was simply too much for it to decode in real time without assistance.

This experience has been a total throw-back. I launched Ghostbusters and was treated to a skippy lag-fest with audio a few seconds out of sync by the end of it. The same thing happened with Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and Crysis, but even worse. Overclocking only minimized it in the few I retested. There was still enough skipping to annoy you even though the audio never fell out of sync by more than half a second.

Whatever you do though, do not hibernate and then enable/disable the overclosk and resume. Your game will be far slower than either mode! CPU usage is likely to hover around half on both cores even before launching.

I remember using a utility to do something similar on my ABIT BP6 (440BX, dual s370 board). I would use a utility to overclock the 333MHz CeleronA CPUs in Windows 2000 and it would throw everything way off. For example, I could launch ZSNES with the CPUs at 550MHz (those were the days when overclocking REALLY paid off)and the games would go WAY too fast! I had to set it in the BIOS and do a full restart to avoid that.

 

Wow just got mine in today and enjoying it to no end. Essentially this is serving the purpose of both a portable game system (little brother to my big brother gaming laptop). So far I have had no trouble with the games I have tried and/or currently playing.

I am also using this for business (tech sales) and it should work great.

So far the games I have played/tried with no issues...

Crysis
Left 4 Dead2
Borderlands
Sacred 2

 

Just noticed BB website advertises that it comes with an express card slot, lol, claim false advertising.

The real thing dell did right on this one was install a minimal amount of crap.

anyways, 2 months for me now and going strong, no real issues

 

I ran CPU true speed and it showed 1733 with the overclocked 7300 processor.

For those of you with the screen gap, what did Dell do to correct it? My M11X has abit of gap but I am not sure if I want to deal with the BS of getting it fixed or leaving it as is?

Will Dell replace the screen for 1 bad pixel? Should I even bother with it?

Spiff

 

The alienware policy on dead pixels states they will replace it if there is one dead pixel in the center of the screen or two or more on the outer perimeter. If its really bugging you, call them regardless just to see what they might be able to do for you. I know that one dead pixel isn't a huge deal, but I am the type of person who would fixate on it everytime I turned the system on!

 

Gap didnt bug me but then it did. Haha.

I went through 2 replacement order. 3rd M11x that just got to me yesterday has no screen gap problems.

 

But no bluetooth on that one from BB

 

I know you can switch between the GPU and IGP on the M11x so whats the big deal of NVIDIA Optimus then?

 

Huge thread. Anyone post pics of this "gap?" Link?

Programs blocking the switch, for one.

 

Got an SKU/UPC number for us, bud? My magnetic motorcycle tank bag started tearing at the seems earlier today and I was a little iffy about carrying a notebook with an HDD in it anyway (I will still stich it back together). This sounds like something I can wear under my roomy motorcycle jacket. I was all set to order that 80GB Dane-Elec/Intel X-18 but I already have 200GB of games installed. XD I wasn't concerned about the lack of TRIM support because by the time I needed it I'd be ready to upgrade to a larger SSD and send that to a netbook that only takes 1.8" drives and runs XP (doesn't support TRIM anyway).

Edit: OK, I'm still reading this huge thread but I found it. Thanks!

I especially like this part:

Since when has 12" ever been considered a "large laptop?!"

I intend to use both depending on the game type, but arcade-style fighting games deserve either real DIY arcade controls* or an N64 Adaptoid (six face buttons; excellent D-pad; API for direct I/O without axis translation).

*the only way I know of to get the slender "bat-shaped" stick as opposed to the Japanese-style ball or the "fat-bats" unauthentic makers use

 

New Asus u30 has a 310m. New MBP 13 has a 320m.

 

NEITHER will fit in my tank bag.

 

The thread that you are looking for: " M11x Gap on LCD screen" currently on page 12 for alienware laptop forums. has picts and what you should do.

 

so that means the M11x will game better than a MBP 15" (It has similar specs to the Vaio Z)

 

Thanks. Rep'd.

 

Use a different program. Everest Shows 1.73 om mine.

 

Quick questions regarding Binary GFX...

How do you tell which graphics chip the m11x is using?

And does the m11x boot into the last chip you were using when you shut it down or does it always come up on the Intel chip? (I guess I can test this last question with two or three boot-ups, but I was hoping someone already knows...Windows Experience is always telling me that I have new hardware...I'm guessing it's from switching the graphics chip...)

Right now for the first question, I right click on the desktop and if it has 'Graphics Options' and/or 'Graphics Properties' then I know it's the Intel...if it has 'Nvidia Control Panel' then I know it's the other...Is there a more elegant way? I may be hiding an icon/notification that I need to re-enable...(I'm a big fan of clean desktops)...

And initially, steam.exe was blocking me from going back and forth...now, it doesn't...hmmm...(or maybe I'm not going back and forth...)

When you press Fn+F6, how long do you have that overlay window with the big boxes that say something like 'More Battery Life' on the left and 'More Power' on the right?

I read 50 or so of the pages in this thread and didn't find the answer and searched on 'F6' and got nothing...read the manual (a first for me) and nothing there either...

 

a: It boots up to the previous chip you were on. I would swap then reboot to use the igp when I'm at lectures.

B: you should see the nvidia chevrons in your taskbar. One chev means igp, two means GT335.

C: If you swapped to the steam beta UI, then it won't bug you about steam any longer.

D: Yes I get that overlay with the chevrons in the boxes.

 

i went there again today, but i called to make sure availibility. so i got one one of 2 they have in stock. did a visual inspection at the counter made sure no gap issue.

 

Anyone else have it where when you hit fn+alien fx the lights will flash once then turn off... then do the same thing when you turn them back on?

The going dark option in the menu doesnt make the lights flash like that.

 

It's a tray icon that looks like a boomerang. If you haven't learned to recognize the difference yet, hover over it and wait for the message to appear. If you click it it will appear under the pop-up form with all your hidden notification icons. I had to swear at it a few times before I realized that you were only supposed to hover.

It does this when Steam is downloading or updating.

 

I noticed steam blocked it until I upgraded to the beta UI update

 

That explains that mystery, too...I had read on here that you couldn't switch graphic chips with Steam running and I had even got the warning...I did not install the Beta GUI, but last night, it allowed me to switch with Steam running...however, I was not downloading...

Thanks for the Binary GFX tip...I emptied out my tray with the exception of wireless and volume...I'll 'unhide' whatever one I hid that will give me graphic chip status...

 

Where is this gap issue at on the laptop? Any pics?

 

Bottom right of te screen the plastic will lift up from the screen a little bit.

 

Has anyone tried to overclock to 2ghz or near it?

 

Thank you, I do not have that issue

 

Yup. "Initially," a typical Steam user is downloading something, thus, we all get the same first impression. I wondered about it for a little while myself. Testing confirmed my suspicion.

Some people report that it pops out after around 40 lid open/close cycles, so keep an eye on it. Here is a thread all about it:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=463747

Oh, and "mohawk" only has one W... unless you have a forceful enough presence to make me believe it doesn't!

 

The only overclock capability is a single BIOS option to enable overclock, and that's a preset frequency which can't currently be changed.

 

CZroe, thank you, I stand corrected

 

Anyone received this email after ordering and got the problem resolved? I call the number listed but then a recording comes up saying this number is invalid please call a different number. I call that second number and end up getting transfered back and forth between reps, never being able to get my order sorted out. Here's the email:

Thank you for choosing Dell. Your online order has come through our system. Unfortunately at the moment we can not process your order and your current status of your order is HOLD. You will have to get in contacted with our Dell Financial Service at 1-866-447-3355. As soon as you have contact them, please reply to this email in order to continue with your order. If we do not receive any notice from you within 3 business days, your order will have to be cancelled. Thank you for being a Dell Customer,Dell Employee and Education Personal Purchase Programs

 

Think thats a sign they can't get your credit card to give them $$$ Call customer support and see what you can do from there.

 

Sooo i've had my m11x for like 2 days now. Excellent device! But a few problems from my side, and i kinda need your advice.

- I've had a few screen issues, stripes through the screen for merely a second, i do have to say this was with the new hybrid drivers installed!
- A complete hangup while switching from nvidia to intel graphics card, again with the mod hybrid drivers installed, it didn't freeze instant about 5 a 10 secs after i switched. (Just to give additional information, this didn't ever happened on the stock dell drivers, i'm running these now again.)
- My keyboard! I noticed my H key is a bit, well how can i say this it sinked a bit into the board from the left, no problem at all, its hardly noticable! But when i close my screen! And re open it, i see the layout from the keyboard in my screen on the left side. Anyone else with this problem? And anyone else that thinks this can damage the screen overtime?

Furthermore my lap runs great, only had one complete freeze, with the dox drivers installed! I think it were the drivers but i know for sure in a couple of days testing ofcourse. The OC function works properly so far, no strange bsod's, screen is perfect no screen gap issue aswell. Even my fan is great because it doesn't switch or trottle strangely! And i'm just totally in love with this device!

 

My m11x finally arrived! This is a huge event for me. I haven't had a gaming computer in over 2 years. However, I do have a lot of games that have been sitting around waiting for the day when I could play them. With all the weekly sales on Steam, Impulse, Direct2Drive, etc. I've been slowly accumulating quite the library. And now that I have my m11x I've almost installed all of them. Only a couple more games to install and every game I own but could never play will be installed. Puts me at 30 games. Thank goodness I got the 500GB drive.

So far everything has run smashingly. The only times I've had problems was when I forgot to switch to the dedicated video card or ran it on batteries with a low power profile by accident. As easy as it is to switch between graphic modes, I do wish we had optimus on this first version of the m11x. It would certainly be more convienant.

The only problem I have is the keyboard is a bit cramped which in turns cramps up my hands. After changing key bindings and upgrading my mouse to a better "gaming" mouse things are better. I have big hands and there just isn't enough keyboard space for my liking. Though I knew that going in.

I was able to overclock the cpu without any blue screen issues so far as well.

It is great having a "notebook" that works just as good for doing presentations at work as it does playing Bad Company 2.

 

Wow, I'm totally confused on this whole overclocking (Trying to understand it, by looking through the forum posts) from 1.3Ghz to 1.73Ghz (or 1.6Ghz for some people I think). I got my M11x yesterday and I want to overclock the CPU through the bios. I think my options are 800 which is what it is currently at and I think 1066 which the overclock option. Will choosing the 1066 option overclock it from 1.3 to 1.73? Is there anything else I need to do to allow the computer to run if I overclock it (I heard about some BSOD issues or volt shortage/something like that)? The computer (if it isn't faulty) should be able to run this overclock stably because I saw some people with some problems and what not. Also if I read correctly just doing the CPU overclock from 1.3 to 1.73 is covered by the warranty.
Sorry for all the questions, this is my first ever gaming laptop and I'm totally new to all of this. Just learned some stuff from reading other posts but that's about it.
Thanks!

 

the issue is when you place your screen vertically and look at the screen from the side(90degree), if you notice edge of screen has plastic part poping up then you have a gap issue.

 

how come i dont have that. mine only show OVERCLOCK: ENABLE/DISABLE

 

That is where you set your over clock, OVERCLOCK: ENABLE/DISABLE
I think the other settings have tyo do with memory speed, but I am not sure.
Just Enable Overclock, save, reboot and your done

 

Sweet, so there is nothing else I have to do other than Enable, save, and reboot. And this should OC it to 1.73Ghz. And given I don't have a faulty computer, it should be able to handle this without any problems, right? Also as I mentioned above, I assume this doesn't void the Alienware warranty?
-Thanks!

 

Yes, that's all you need to do, and no it will not void your warrenty, they advertise the SU 7300 as "Over Clockable"

 

Flynnaz,
Thanks for the response/information. I'll be overclocking my m11x when I get home.

 

Yes, 800/1066 are memory bus speeds. The CPU can only use 800, so there is supposedly no benefit to increasing memory bandwidth. However, the nForce and nForce 2 integrated GPUs would use the added bandwidth for themselves. I wonder if the Intel GPUs do something similar.

 

I had a black screen twice with the default drivers. Once when resuming from Hibernate and once when switching graphics. I fixed one or both with another Hibernate cycle. I may have fixed one by switching graphics back and forth again, but I can't recall for sure.

 

I have a feeling my replacement will be canceled as well. If i dont find out something soon im just going to demand a refund and get one from my local best buy. I bought a alienware in 05 before the buyout. Dell must have kept all the old employees.

 

you guys i was going to get my system replaced as well.. but then i was told that they couldnt replace my system... they then told me that they were going to send a technician to my house to replace/fix the problem my system has (they changed the MOBO and CPU) they came the very next day after i called..

 

They wouldn't give me the in home service option. I think it was because i had just recieved it. I will give dell this, I was a little upset they dont offer rebates or anything when you purchase. But at least they dont offer a mail in rebate that they never intend to send like pre dell alienware. I told myself i would never buy from them again. Then dell bought them. I cant knock dell yet. It's just eerri similar in the support area. Even the hold music is the same from 05

 

well they were able to replace my MOBO and CPU the very next day i called... i did have the laptop since Feb though.. they assked my why i didnt OC when i got it and i told them because i wasnt planning too... but the tech support guy wasnt a jerk and sent a technician the next day!

 

Glad to hear they got you taken care of. When they sent a tech out for the desktop im pretty sure he had never worked on an alienware before. But it all worked out. They did charge my debit card untill i returned the failed part back within 10 days. $70.00 for 2 blue neon lights. Did you have to return your bad parts or did the tech take them?

 

tech took them... i was lucky enough to get a guy who knew what he was doing.. he himself was a owner of the m11x.. i wasnt charged any fee... they said it was all covered by the warranty..