*OFFICIAL* M11xR1 Owners Lounge - Part 4

Ive watched a full 1080p trailers on youtube and it is very speedy, slight buffering but if you give it a ten second head start or so it shouldnt catch up. (this has more to do with internet speed anyways) I dont really work too much with powerpoint but that shouldnt cause you any problems and I leave multiple firefox windows and do other things while they are open with 0 slowdown. I cant imagine youd be disappointed with the speed and if you do find that it isnt multitasking at the level you want it to you can always upgrade to 8 gb of ram down the road. If you feel like you will be doing such intense multitasking (music, hi res videos, HUGE image files, IE, powerpoint and want to be able to do these things simultaneously than you may want to save up some more money for an i5 or an i7.

I dont want to guarantee you anything because Id hate you to order and then be disappointed but think of it this way...if you get it, and it doesnt perform as you like, you have ninety days to return for a refund.

 

I've had my laptop for a couple weeks and am loving it. I've played COD4 on an external dvd drive and just recently installed Far Cry 2 Fortune's edition on it via Amazon and they both run well.

I've been trying to figure out if BFBC2 is worth buying via download and haven't found any conclusive evidence that it would or wouldn't be a worthwhile investment. People have been vague about how well it runs on an R1.

Should I buy or skip this game?

I'm sure it's been discussed hundreds of times, so I apologize for another BFBC2 post. Thanks.

 

Just to check if anyone encounters the same issue like i did. Getting laggy play for flash games in facebook even with 335m on.

 

It runs smooth as butter on my R1 hooked up to an external 19'' screen. On the 11'' screen it runs just as well. Not sure about the Vietnam expansion tho.

 

i've updated my Nviadia graphic card,version 267.76.But i dont know why i switch to intel graphic the nvidia control panel still be in the right click?
Any suggestion?

and i think something wrong with Wmi Provider host, cpu always high load >15%,at 1300MHz clock

 

78 process is a LOT!!

Did you download the Nvidia driver from nvidia.com??
If so, you won't have any switching when using an M11xR1 notebook.

Graphics switching on an M11xR1 can only be done with a Dell hybrid driver set or a known hybrid driver set which supports switching.

 

Figure out the Nvidia optimus problem.
Yes,78 proccess is lot,but in past cpu idle always low at 793 MHz,about 42~43C.3 days ago update few drivers and cpu always high!!!

 

Oh God!! found it!
idont know why when i started wmi performance adapter everything is alright.
XOXOXO...

 

You know how the M11xR3 has a USB 3.0 I/O card on the right hand side of the M11xR3.

I wonder if it'd be possible to seat the M11xR3 USB 3.0 I/O card into an M11xR1.

It's not like SB has native USB 3.0 support or anything, so with USB 3.0 any old motherboard should be able to support it. The USB 3.0 output is 900mA though compared to 500mA for USB 2.0.

I haven't even looked at the service manual in detail to see if it's even physically possible.

Just a thought.

 

You mean the audio/USB daughter board? That's a good idea actually. Let's wait for an R3 teardown to see if the new board can fit with the old motherboards. For now, we should check if the R1 and R2 daughter boards are the same.

 

Yerp. That's the one, the I/O daughter card with audio/USB.

M11xR1 I/O Board

M11xR3 I/O Board

Pretty sure the M11xR1 and M11xR2 I/O daughter board is the same, as they provide identical functionality, with identical port placement.

If you squint one eye, the two cards in the M11xR1/M11xR3 service manuals look the same, but that could just be a cut and paste in the service manual.

Pity the didn't stick a digital audio port on the card too.

 

Hi guys I've Won a m11x over the internet and Im a happy owner now, I play games like TF2, CSS, L4d2, and so on all games have run decently just BFBC2 online games lags a little when in 32 men servers, everything else excellent
=D

ill be checking this forums, and wait for dell to OC to i.73 (dont want to pinmod something new) lols

 

Hey I'm new here but I've been reading around for a few days. I think this may fix your BC2 problem.

 

Hey guys. I have a little problem maybe you guys have seen before. I swapped my m11xr1 pc8500 ram with pc 1033 from my xps 15 and my wei score for the pc went from 4.6 to 2.8? I found that strange as Ive heard others do the higher ram swap,everything worked fine just the real low pc score. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

Hey, I'm interested in this laptop but not sure if this is right for me. I want a laptop that can play games and I know this laptop can do this. My main concerns are the programs will be running on this. I will be using Microsoft Office, Adobe Master Suite CS5, Solidworks/AutoCAD, 3DS Studio Max, and Autodesk Maya. I know Office will work and Adobe will start up reasonably fast, but
not sure about 3DS Max or Maya. Which processor should I go for, the i5 or i7?

Also, can the LED keyboards be turned off?
I'm not too concerned about the small screen size. Thanks

 

I'm not sure about the programs but yes, all lights can be turned off.

 

All lights except the alienware head in the back because that's lit by the LED backlight I believe.

 

I'm no expert, but perhaps the newer RAM has a lower frequency than your m11x.

Thanks to the other 2 who responded. Still hoping for someone to answer my other question.

 

If you want the R1, you won't get the i5 or i7 chip. It's C2D only.

 

maybe you installed wrong the memories, well the r1 is just c2d in usa in europe are some other models, r2 has i5andi7 as well as r3 has i5andi7

I've been using photoshop in m11x r1 c2d and its fine, cuda cores do some work =D

 

the one I want is currently on the Dell website, which I think is R3. I think I'll opt for the i5 processor because its cheaper. Just hope it can run Maya/3DS Max reasonably well.
Does anyone know the Windows Rating for the i5?

 

Thanks guys for the replys on my memory issue.I have the right ram timings I just found it odd that I had a lower score/(update)/ I reset the Index and did a little tweaking and now It's fine?! I don't worry about wei scores I just thought it was odd that my pc score dropped after adding higher speed ram.Any way I have 8gb 1333 and a nice new ssd and my M11x is very happy and so am I.Happy gaming guys.

 

I don't think youll have any problems running programs your asking about with an m11xr3,The only thing is the I7 has some advantage on programs that use its extra features,otherwise the I5 is a nice cpu.Either way Im sure you'll love your new M11x Its a sweet laptop,I have an m11, an m17 and a m14 and I can honestly say I have little to no problems and I know alienware designs are love em or hate em,I happen to be the latter.Good luck. Oh by the way there are a few reviews on exactly what your getting at pc world,notebook check and a few others I dont know the pc score but I know they said it was faster than most people need and it ate up everything they threw at it,and that was with the I5.

 

So um, the thread title says this is for the M11x R1, but do people who own the R3 discuss their machines here as well? Just curious as my R3 is on the wayyyy

 

I have to say, this is, hands down, the best system I've ever had. I traded my M9750 beast of years past for this prime pinmodded example, and I love it. It runs Mw2 at only slightly lower FPS than my M9750 on battery, no OC! Looove it. I'm hoping to get 2.0GHz on the CPU with SetIGP, since that is what stops this from getting there. Modded BIOs and what not, and I'm in love.

 

Its a awesome PC. enjoy!

Good luck with getting 2.0ghz

 

Has anyone successfully replaced their I/O in the R1 with the R3's I/O (Audio/USB3.0)?

 

Hello all,
I've been getting about 15-20 FPS for Dragon Age: Origins and around 17 FPS for Bad Company 2. Ive been thinking about trying to overclock the system in bios. I was just wondering what everyone's opinion on overclocking is. Thanks. Also what are the latest Nvidia drivers? I thinking about just going to discrete so I can get better performance.

 

I'm also interested in this mod - it looks to be fairly easy...

 

Overclocking is easy and simple on both the R1 and R2. On the R1, just enable Overclock mode. On R2, raise the FSB on level at a time until it won't boot, and put on Throttlestop.

 

I know how to overclock. I'm just not sure if I want to. I've been reading posts on different forums, youtube comments, ect. to see whether overclocking is stable. It seems like the majority of people get the BSoD. I do have the latest version of Bios, so does that make it more stable?

 

You will get a BSOD if it is an unstable OC, but that dosen't damage your computer. As long as its stable, there are no drawbacks barring a neglible drop in battery life.

 

Should overclocking through the bios (to 1.73ghz) be stable? Alienware wouldn't of put it there unless it was stable, right?

 

It's not guaranteed, nor is the functionality warrantied. It's a little bonus added to the computer.

 

Well with that in mind I just can't make up my mind about whether I want to do it or not. I want the added performance but without the risk. Does anyone know how much of a performance increase the latest Nvidia drivers give?

 

No idea. I run the latest switchable. Doing so dosen't void your warranty, but only maybe 5% of R1's cannot get to the factory 1.6GHz. (The actual OC) I'd say, do it. Theres s very littel risk. What is it that you don't likie about it?

 

It's not that I don't like overclocking. I've just never done it and don't know what to expect. Many people on the internet make it seem like it's a big risk. I would like to get better FPS from BC2 and DA:O without updating the Nvidia drivers. I really don't want to lose the ability to switch to save battery.

 

you will still be able to switch GPUs with overclocking enabled on the R1. It's only updating drivers on the R1 that causes the mess... this is the one real place where Optimus shines - Optimus systems can simply grab the latest nVidia and Intel drivers seperately, no need for community modded drivers or official Dell made drivers.

EDIT: I always thought overclocking the R1 disabled SpeedStep, resulting in poorer battery life. I never OC'd my R1 unit before I sold it off, so I don't know much in that respect.

 

I got the R1 unit. So I'm facing 4-5 hour battery life (which is still good by my standards) with better performance or lesser performance with 7 hours of battery (that seems like forever compared to my last laptop). Do you know if 258.96 is the latest version of drivers from Nvidia (for the R1)?

 

The latest drivers are 275.68, I believe. It does NOT disable speed step. I'm OC'd on mine now.

 

well switch to save battery life is very nice I think all laptops should get this type of drivers cuz they are very nice to save energy and heat

my m11x r1 is OCed with BIOS to 1.6 (actual cpuz verified) and I left SPEEDSTEP on, though the other day I switched it off hoping to reach actual 1.73 but nothing, so I turned it back ON

I cant tell the battery life with SpeedStep off but On and GFX disabled gives me around 7 hours with 7200 HDD

 

What is speedstep? Are there any problems with enabling/disabling this feature? And how do I enable/disable this feature?

 

I can't find that version. I can only find 270.61

 

its intel tecnology to improve battery life "adjust processor voltage and core frequency, which can result in decreased average power consumption and decreased average heat production."

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology - How To Document
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology Demo

its on my m11x BIOS, just press f2 when booting and speedstep is ENABLED

 

I'll definitely turn that on (if it's not already turned on) when I get a chance. That video was extremely helpful on explaining Speedstep. Thanks!

Also, I know if I install drive version 270.61 I won't be able to switch between GFX. But what would if I upgrade to the drivers on the official Dell site? Will it add performance but not at the cost of losing the ability to switch GFX? Beta driver & 263.08

 

The overclock in the bios is guarnteed by Dell and is safe. I have overclocked my cpu to 1.6 and also overclocked my GPU to get a 6700 3dmark o6.

 

quick question:
The m11x R3 comes with the slim charger right? If not, is it a simple task of asking the sales rep to switch it from the fat charger for free?

 

The 275.63 drivers are beta. The latest switchable are 263.08, from Dell. The OC is easy, warrantied, and offers better performance. No problem.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was reading on another thread on this site that version 263.08 is causing many problems for users. Should I update the drivers or stay at the stock drivers?

 

I'm using 263.08 right now, no issues. Best drivers yet. I'm sure that 275.63 are better,though.