Pimp my M11x!! Top-5 things to do straight after delivery

My new M11xR2 arrives in a couple of days. I'd like to know what this community recommends as the first few things a new buyer should do to it, in order to ensure a smooth and optimal ride and minimize future headaches. I don't care about generic common sense suggestions like "install AV software" and "update windows", I'm interested in suggestions specific to the M11x (which BIOS should be upgraded to? should any BIOS revisions be avoided and why? stock, or updated, or custom video drivers? any hidden pre-installed crapware that should be removed? recommended modifications to BIOS settings?) Stuff like that.

I thought organizing it into a TOP 5 list would make it easy for me (and others) to read. So bring it!

 

Well, upgrade to the newest bios is recommended. Check dell.com for newest drivers. Only other tip I got, is to get a spare power-adapter. Since you have bought the m11x, I guess you are bringing it around quite a bit. And therefor it is a timesaver to have one in your "backpack" and one at home.

 

1st (if all in one bit) run some benchmarks & games to make sure it works.
Then load the latest bios & drivers and repeat.

I say this because it's best to get any problems sorted before you start building your stuff on it. If you do have any problems it's esier to identify if it's anything you did and best to strip it back and replicate before ringing Dell (imo).

Check this thread, bit dated now but you get the idea.

 

You should update to the latest version of command center if your laptop doesn't already have it since the newest version supposedly deals with some sort of leak increasing your battery life by half an hour.

Be sure to test your overclock.

At least for the R1, there wasn't a ton of bloatware. Pretty much the only thing I uninstalled was dell's datasafe software AFTER i backed up the harddrive. However, that was concerning an R1 issue, where part of dell datasafe (toaster.exe) was preventing manual graphic switching.

 

Buy Momentus XT 500GB unless you have SSD already!

 

Easy question!

1) Read thread about whether or not to do a fresh install of Windows http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/510688-m11x-do-i-need-do-fresh-install.html
2) Read about video drivers options http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/510346-modded-optimus-drivers-collection-r2.html
3) Read optimization thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/497228-r2-optimization-thread.html
4) Read battery life thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ry-life-what-you-getting-how-make-better.html
5) Read gaming thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/462632-m11xr1-r2-gaming-discussion-thread.html

Pretty much every question anyone might ask are answered in those threads.

 

I second this one. I got my Momentus XT a week ago and I am loving it. It really sped up the OS and boot times.

 

This is a really interesting suggestion. Like most people I didn't go with the SSD because of cost.

Have you noticed a difference in battery usage with the momentus? Anandtech's review showed power usage higher both at idle and load, and in a battery test Toms Hardware saw a drop from 7 hours to 6 hours in their test system. I'm curious whether m11x owners have had a similar experience.

Not sure a 20% drop in battery life is something I'd be willing to cope with.

 

I had the stock 160GB 5400RPM drive in my system for about a month and have had the XT for about 5 weeks. In my experience there's very little if any difference in battery life. I'm still averaging 6 hours every day depending on my usage.

 

I can third the recommendation for the Momentus XT. Been using it for about five things and I must say it is unbelievably fast compared to the stock 160gb hd that mine came with.

 

I'm still a little lost by this statement. I don't use Alienware command center (disabled it from services and msconfig startup). Does this mean I'm losing out on battery performance, or performance in general?

 

Been taking a closer look at the Momentus XT and I've decided to go with it. Can anyone recommend good cloning software?? I suppose I could do a fresh install instead.

 

acronis true image

 

I am sure there are free options, but I already owned Acronis True Image Home 2009 so I used that.

I tried to hook up both the old and the new HDs using a USB docking station with 2 SATA ports on my desktop PC and it would not work. Then I hooked the 2 drives directly to my desktop PC motherboard and ran the 1:1 clone software (so my 250 GB old drive copied to 250 GB of the new drive). Then I installed the new drive in the notebook and booted up the M11xR2. It worked perfectly, no problems.

I then used Win 7 to expand the main partition of the drive to fill the rest of the unpartitioned space of the Momentus drive without any problems. I probably could have had the Acronis software do this (there is an option) but after having some problems with the docking station, I went back to basics. to play it safe.

Acronis works, but I hear there are free solutions out there as well. I am sure other will post about them

Stain

 

Acronis True Image all the way.. Its the best out there BAR NONE

 

Come join us in the Momentus XT Club And Acronis True Image is a great product.

 

Best investement i did in my m11x for the money... my Momemtus XT kicks

 

You won't regret it.

I just fresh installed when I got the drive even though I had acronis.

I just wanted to give it a fresh start x).

It's a good idea to have about 100 gig extra partition so you can store all your downloaded files, but don't make the mistake of having a small size partition for OS partition. I made a mistake of making 3 partitions in the past, making OS partition 80gigs, 100 gig for sofware, 100 for downloaded stuff and even with no programs installed on the OS partition, it filled up fast in time, and OS updates.

I suggest 2 partition on the drive-100 gig for downloaded stuff, and rest for OS/programs/games etc.

 

I don't think it was ever stated exactly what the command center update actually did to improve battery life. However, I would guess that since you do not use command center at all, then the leak should not affect you.

 

I just returned my Momentus XT 500gb. I don't know about the others experience with this drive but for me there was too much vibration and heat coming from this drive (compared to stock Hitachi). So much so that it would make my hand/finger tips go numb after a while.

I decided to go with a Kingston SSDNow V+ 128gb which I found on sale for 199 cad.

 

Is this an M11XR1? Have you applied the A05 bios to your system? This will change the different stages when the fan turns on and off to cool the system.

 

I have an R1 with the latest bios. The excessive heat I'm sure is related to the vibration, that being said the drive that I got might have just been a lemon.

Either way I liked the extra room that the hybrid drive gave me but a pure ssd is the way to go. You do have to sacrifice space if you want to keep it affordable but now the fans only really come on when gaming or watching hd movies.

 

Heat and vibration? I have no clue what you are taking about. Perhaps you had a dud? Sorry to hear your experience w/ it.

 

What are the implications to the warranty if swapping out parts like the HD?

 

Shouldn't be a problem at all. It's just that when you have to return it for a replacement, you should keep the old HD.

 

Link there were you found an SSD for 199 cad NOW PLEASE

 

HDD and RAM are considered self-serviceable parts for Alienware laptops.

 

I just checked canadacomputers.com and the special is gone. I usually go to that store or pccyber.com

I'm sure they will go on special again as they have to move older stock for new models. The model I got was SNV425-S2/128GB and it's now cheapest at pccyber for $261 cad.

 

Acronis True Image 2010 Trial; the 2011 trial does not have cloning as an option

 

Same here i found the Kingston SSDNow V Series SSD at Frys for $199

 

I used seagate's diskwizard (developed by Acronis). It's free and was easy to use to go from a 250gb hitachi to the 500gb momentus xt.

here's the link for the download:
DiscWizard | Seagate

 

Get a decent mouse.. I just received my Alienware TACTX mouse and it's great! Going from Razer Deathadder to this mouse.

BW, stevenx

 

That's another question I wanted to ask. Been using a VX Nano for ages, but it needs replacing, especially because of the massive dongle. Any good wireless, small, gaming mice? I've been out of the loop since 2008.

 

love the logitech anywhere mouse, got it for $38 off of amazon

 

I like the razer orochi mouse. It's a gaming grade bluetooth/wired mouse that's about the same size as your vx nano.