*OFFICIAL* M11xR1 Owners Lounge - Part 4

how loud is the fan really on this machine

 

i got m11x, 15 and 17 manual service ... anyone need it?

 

Since the last bios release, the fans are no longer either off or running at full blast, resulting in less noise and the system being cooler.

 

Speak for yourself. With new BIOS my fan is always on, on full blast.

 

Eeee? It never goes off with new bios? Crap...

 

so don't go for the new bios?

if you did install it, could you undo it? (sorry n00b question haha)

 

you can undo it. In the bios program there is an option that you have to un-select that says (disable older versions) or something like that. I am keeping the new bios so far. Cooler cpu is better.

BW,

StevenX

 

Yeah I undid it. And yea it was cooler by few degrees - since the fan was always on, on max. It seems the experiences are different. I can confirm to you (I flashed twice) and both times fan just wouldn't shut up... I found it annoying. I'm not bothered though, the temps are very low anyway.

 

Fan is on more often but its at a low setting so far for me. I don't mind that myself so I will be keeping it for now. Cooler laptop is always good and I am not having this loud behemoth fan problem people are having.

 

Sorry to bug you guys again but I am still not sure if the m11x will do bitlocker which I require to vpn into work. I'll put Ultimate on with my work license...Dell sales support said it does but I do not trust them.

So if you have a moment, can you look in your device manager for the Trusted Platform Module like in the picture below? I'd like to get confirmation from both CPU types as I know the SU4100 doesn't do VT but the SU7300 does.





This is preventing me from using my EPP discount, and getting:

Lunar Shadow
SU7300
4GB RAM
250GB HDD (I'll replace with my 128GB SSD)
Bluetooth
Gobi AT&T Wireless
for:
$973.70

 

how did I not know a bios update was available... hmm I almost feel like I'd rather have no fan on as often than cooler cpu. What are cpu temps? I'm at 38C usually on integrated.

Are you guys talking about dedicated or integrated when fan is on a lot? Does the fan turn off in integrated? B/c I like that..

 

Similar - depends on the ambient temp quite a bit too. During the winter when it was snowing like hell here, my idle temp on IGP was somewhere 26-32. Now it's low 40ies. This is OC'd. Some guy claims it's possible that with A03 fan is on whenever CPU is above 35 C. That would explain why it's always on, on mine. I think that's a pretty stupid fan setup.

@mbob,

I don't have anything like that in Device Manager. In fact I am willing to bet Dell rep - lied. The feature you are looking for "sounds" like something that could be available on business-type laptops. Here I mean something along the lines Dell Latitude, HP Elitebook. I didn't get what this has to do with virtualization?

 

Thanks again. It has nothing to do with virtualization but I was curious if one chip may have the tpm and the other didn't like vt.

I just read I could possibly do bitlocker still and put the key on usb (blah). Although I wonder if the m11x sd card is enabled as a USB drive for booting and such. If it is I could use that with the key for bitlocker and ready boost. Oh yeah, it sticks out of the case. Blah

 

Guys, few weeks ago I saw discussion that after switching to intel, nvidia still goes on and eating battery, as a proof some dude used power meter to check how much watt is going away. And as solution he proposed to go into standby mode, this from his words will turn off nvidia completely.

I’ve got an update on this. And it’s really simple:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/zdMb-gF8.png

And I checked this using BatteryCare application. After is switch from intel to nvidia, I’ve got power consumption “-20W” and I also see nvidia in gpu-z and device manager. After some time power consumption goes down to “-13” and nvidia is gone from both of this utilities.

So my conclusion, there is no problem with shutting down discrete graphics.

Beat me if i'm wrong

 

TPM modules are only found in "enterprise" machines - you won't find one in a consumer laptop like the M11X.

Having said that, BitLocker can still be authenticated with a PIN number or a USB key - it doesn't have to use TPM (but your workplace may only support the TPM authentication).

You need to direct these questions to your I.T. team at your workplace - they and only they can tell you your options.

Also note that BitLocker is a system to encrypt the data on your Hard Drive, and a VPN is a remote connection to a network - they aren't related !

 

Hello,

Just applied the A03 bios update, and I'm also experiencing my fan being on all the time. This is with core temps at 29-30 degrees.

I don't mind the fan being on while gaming but this is too loud for me when just surfing the web so I'll be rolling back to the previous version.

 

Aww crap, panic time.

I can't seem to roll back the bios. I must have overwritten my bak file so now I can't use it to restore. Ok so I went and got the old bios from the Dell site but now when I try to flash to the old version I get this error message:

No battery presented or battery gasguage lower then 10%! Please insert Battery or charge the battery, then try again!! Incorrect function. Error code:1

This is with the battery at 100% and plugged in.

help guys this loud fan is really starting to me off.

Thanks

 

Did you get a resource disk? It might be on there. I woudln't know since dell neglected to send me a resource disk and instead sent my two windows 7 disks

Try this. Came up with a quick google search.
http://www.downloadatoz.com/driver/item_alienware-m11x-notebook-bios-a01.html

 

Thanks for the reply. I haven't tried the bios in that link but I do have an update on the A03 bios fan problem.

Here's the curious thing. The fans are now quiet for the A03 bios on about the 5 re-boot. This is with core temps at 36 and hdd at 34. I'm not sure if it's the re-boots or because I made a couple of changes in the bios concerning the battery. I disabled battery charge and the one that warns you if you use an incorrect a/c adapter. I changed these options to try to fix my previous bios update problem and I haven't changed them to back to default yet.

Maybe one of you that updated to A03 can see if the above is true for you as well.

 

I should have added some more details now that you say that. Our VPN solution is cutting edge and uses Network Access Protection to create rules that are required for log in. Bitlocker is one of those rules.

I agree that tpm seems to be an enterprise feature but most laptops today have the feature.

Anyone know if you can boot off the SD-CARD? If you can then the SD is treated as a USB drive.

 

did A03 and yesterday after applying it the fan was on in integrated cooling the CPU to 30C, I didn't like the fan just being on blowing cold air. Anyway, now today, the fan isn't on all the time, only when above 38C on integrated and the CPU stays like 1-2C cooler on idle than on A01. So far, very happy with it.

 

will i be able to emulate ps2 games on the m11x? is the processor powerful enough? the current processor i have is the amd semphron 2800+ 1.99ghz is the processor in the m11x better then this? plz and thanks

 

Yea, I'd say its better, but youd have to get someone to try, thats the best method I guess

Just stopping in here, my m11x just came in, 320GB HDD, 4G Ram, 7300, and BT enabled. Got the nice little DVD drive and all I can say is WOW!!

Before this bad boy, the N10J was the best gaming netbook, and I must say, this blows that little lappy out of the water! Playing FarCry2 on mostly high/very high, CnC games all maxed, trying L4D2 now but damn, nice little unit this is

Trying to get the rest of my steam games on here shortly since I bought this to play Stalker CoP mainly, but some others are good now that I have a netbook that can play them all

Just saying hey, and to anyone thinking of buying it, do it. Save the 100$ on the CPU if you dont need VM's, but as I use them for test purposes ( [H]ardcore folder for team 33, and this netbook folds too yay!! ) I had to get it

Other than that, I'll be back later with more news, but +1 props for that optimization thread, its nice to not have to google all the things I normally do on a lappy, nice to have it all in one spot


EDIT
And it would seem that Ive filled out my registration so fast I left my email addy in my account name, wow, super noob move there lol, is there a mod that frequents this part of the forum to maybe help me un-noob my ?

 

Vaulter, welcome. Glad to here your enjoying it. You can probably get an admin to delet your account and create a new one.

 

soooo jealous

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on saving the video bios from the 335M? I tried NVFlash 5.88 and the EEPROM is not recognized. I'd like to try and see how the 335M responds to increased voltages.

 

i think it might help someone ...

M11X Service Manual:

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

i got the 15 and 17 too

 

How is the performance of the WLAN card on M11x's (a/b/g/n 2x2 MIMO Wireless)?

 

Still enjoying my M11x. The first defective one and the replacement.

Except for the first one having the screen gap problem and the keyboard being installed crooked which Dell did a unit swap on and the problems encountered during that process ( A education into the wonderfull logic of megacorp Dell) this is still a fun computer.

I am more than satisfied with this little computer. Whenever a laptop comes out in the market people always say that if it had this or that feature or if the battery lasted longer or maybe if the unit was lighter then it would be the perfect laptop. when compareing this to my Asus 17" beast and the netbook that was light, long on battery but very gutless, the M11x Performs as a great genral- purpose laptop.

 

I have the Dell card, have not really noted any diffrance between it and other cards in other computers that I have owned.

 

who can post some high resolution pics on m11x inside stuff? only saw some small 1024x768...

 

Excellent - thanks for this

 

Well after my initial disappointment with the fan noise of the A03 update. I find it's better than the old bios and I will be sticking with it. The fan is no longer at full blast all the time so that's good. It doesn't always switch back to off when I'd like it to but I found that I can sometimes trigger it to turn off just by toggling the grfx card. Anyway for those of you that may be hesitant to upgrade I say go for it, I think you'll have a better experience overall.

 

I just bought this beast!

Alienware M11x Cosmic Black
SU4100
4gb Ram
250GB 7200rpm HDD
899$

Coupon - CBC67RMDJCZ7MT
50$ off anything over 499$

Coupon -?8CN$RJ?W5TQ0C
Free shipping

Coupon - 17% off Employee's Discount

FINAL PRICE...

774.33$

:]

went with the SU4100 because everyone said that the 7300 is not worth the extra 100$.
it comes on 6-8-2010.
CANT WAIT!

i do have a few questions. are there anymore issues with OC?
and does anyone have any issues with the plastic hinges?

these are pretty much the only two issues that i have seen with this laptop!

 

Question for people using external monitors - I've never had DisplayPort before so I'm not very familiar with it. I'm looking at this cable here

For only $8.59 each when QTY 50+ purchased - DisplayPort Male to DVI Male 28AWG Cable (Gold Plated Connectors) - 6ft | DisplayPort to DVI Cables

and the NOTE caught my attention. Can the DisplayPort on the M11x pass a DVI signal through the DP jack??

 

Soooo my 3rd replacement unit arrived. Everything is fixed.

But now i can't OC! I'm so pissed now. Its going back refund and buying something else!

 

My build's almost identical to yours, and had I've problems clockerovering no. I mean no problems overclocking. Aside from a slight bout of dyslexia and warm palms from the m11x's integrated warp core. lol kidding aside, I love it. It's a great machine.

 

Do you guys use any laptop coolers when just normally surfing the web on your lap etc?

Last night I used my (day 1 new) m11x on my lap just watching some trailers on GameTrailers.com and the thing heats up but not to some unbearable heat but it was pretty warm. Any suggestions? This was on no OC CPU and integrated graphics.

 

hey thanks for the feedback. i was afraid that i wouldnt beable to overclock since some people had BSOD issues. i guess if i have any with mine i'll just call dell and have them replace it.

 

Mine does the same thing when I have it on my lap. Its because your left leg is covering up the fan intake.

Edit: one of these would help you out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXntNcyt6I

 

Update on my BSOD on OC here in the UK.

I sent an email to Dell customer services early this week. I received nothing at all. No email. No phonecall. I called tech support again (to inform them that A03 made zero difference and to ask (beg?) for a repair once again.

Same old story. The option is not supported at the moment. Only 'experts' should play with BIOS settings. Blah Blah Blah.
Whilst I was on the phone I mentioned my other problem which is annoying popping noises though the headphones when browsing and gaming. He got me to run the diagnostics (the memory one reported an error on the firist run - even @ 1.3) and I ran it again and it worked fine. Since then I have run it a few more times and not had a single error. Strange...

Another thing that has irritated me this week... The UK magazine PC Pro have a review on their website. If you read the review, it implies that their review machine was already overclocked when sent to them! Have a read - see if you agree with me.

If I am correct, then Dell/AW are vetting and sending out OCable machines for review - and even have the audacity to OC the machines beforehand... in an attempt to get the most favourable review possible. Meanwhile us (the poor punters) are being seriously mislead....

Anyway rant over. I would really appreciate some info on this problem. If anyone from Dell or AW reads this, PLEASE give us an idea of what is going on.

 

here's mine with invisible defender skin on it . Video was simply testing my phone's camera but i used the m11x as a model I tried showing SC II but bnet was down. Also, the new multi-touch driver for the touchpad is awesome

YouTube - N900 video Test - m11x

 

And so I picked up this little gem for my M11X:

The ASUS External Blu-Ray/DVDrw Combo drive, so now I have an awesome entertainment setup while I'm temporarily assigned to Keesler AFB, MS.

 

Which Touch Pad Driver are you using? That is sweet how you tap the pad and a menu pops up.

 

its called scrybe. if you google scrybe you should find the website. but you can get the multitouch stuff with just the synaptics drivers.

 

how is the battery life on this baby?

 

Thank you, I found it

 

I love scrybe. Tap the Menu, do an " N" gesture, NBR Alienware forum loads, tap again do an "@" and my email loads, tap again, and do a "K" and my bank loads all in a matter of sec. I just can't get it working on my Inspiron 1720 which is a bummer, but I'm giving it to my brother. Scrybe will be on my M17x though.

Scrybe really does work well with the M11x touchpad. The M11x touchpad is a lot better then the touchpad I had on the M17x R1. Havn't seen any issues yet. Smooth and easy.

 

I can feel the pain. I think the best is just to learn from our "mistakes". In this case, you should probably consider not doing business with Alienware/Dell again. Their support heavily depends on where you are located, and which rep you talk to. If you are outside the U.S, you'll likely get screwed over. In Asia, they aren't even going to know about the OC feature, let alone have it repaired/replaced.

 

totally agreed. I love scrybe it's so awesome. I don't think I ever click on a shortcut or bookmarks anymore LOL