*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M15x Owners Lounge - Part 4

So, tech comes this morning and refuses to replace the motherboard. Apparently his experience has been that the AlienFX problem is software-related, so he tells me just to reinstall 7 and get the newest drivers from Dell.

Did all that, still doesn't work. I'm very close to being done with this company. Is it too much to ask that everything on my computer works within a month?

 

you should have told him to call his supervisor. His task is not to troubleshoot but to replace the motherboard. you should call alienware and complain about this. Tell them that you had to take a day off from your job etc. and maybe they will get some freebies for ya.

Boy, he was lucky not to have tried to pull that crap on me.

 

I'm on hold with Alienware now. I'm pissed beyond belief. I told him that a bunch of people have had this problem and had the motherboard replaced with good results but apparently that wasn't enough for him. Then again, he said he doesn't know much about Win7 because he still runs XP...

EDIT: Alienware refused to do anything. They said they would just end up sending another motherboard out. God help me if I have to deal with this tech again...

Does anybody have any contacts that might help me get this resolved? I don't want this useless pos showing up at my apartment again.

 

I think at this point it is time for you to escalate your case - see this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...placement-systems-warranty-repair-issues.html

 

yeah sinistas, if it was me i would ask for a replacement instead of getting it fixed, since it pretty much new. tell them you do not want to keep a unit that doesn't function right out of the box. since you have the case logged with tech support, this time just call customer support normally they will gave you a replacement if you are still within the returning period.

geez where is everyone, so bored.

 

I'm here...

 

We're here to entertain inap!

So off topic but it sounds like my house is under attack. So it finally decided to rain...

 

hahaha thanks, so any update on when your 5850 are coming, can't wait to see what that can do.

yeah raining here too, i decided to do a few benches today since it was cooler, got my best scores so far. trying to break that 10k mark for the gpu but so far only getting aroung 9.5k. man i guess it time to start making that custom cooler.

 

Today I asked the question the DELL_Chris about Replacement stock and he said there was no ETA available. But last week Bill messaged me saying he believes they are in transit from china and can be available within the week (no guarantees obviously).

I was dealing with a battery issue today and had the rep look into stock availability but he came back with nothing, (and managed to tell me its DDR3) all in the same sentence. So *sigh* on that one.

Hopefully its available soon. Chris also commented on the fact that the existing GTX 260 Heatsink won't be compatible with the 5850 but to what extent I do not know. Maybe someone here can shed some light on that.

Lastly I have a question for you guys. I went into the AlienFX command center and was attempting to play around with advanced settings. When I click on the add application button an error message pops up with information like this :

System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException etc... shows up

Then Command center crashes.

I recently reinstalled the command center (as was directed by a tech rep) but this is the first time i've tried to go into advanced theme settings.

Any ideas.

 

try reinstall the cc under repair. also too many conflicting report about gddr3 and gddr5on the 5850, so confused.

 

Thanks guys, I did a combination of using the Unresolved Issues form AND asking for a replacement. It's been 3 weeks from the order date - I don't think I'm out of line. I should add that I used no profane language and kept my tone cool

 

So I'm less than 24 hours in to my first Alienware experience ever, and I have quite a few questions. I have no problems reading into links, as long as I know I'm going to find some kind of answer...

Here's what I have:
GT240m u.u;
Core i5-540m
4GB RAM
Win 7 Home Premium
...aaaaand I'm pretty sure that nothing else is relevant.

Here are my questions so far:
1. HDMI will not output properly. Images flicker and do not fit to my TV (I think overscanning is the appropriate term--the desktop is too big for the TV). I have a 32" 1080P LG LCD television, 60hz. This happens in both extended display only and duplicate displays.

2. When I have cash to upgrade the graphics card, what do I need to know about the type of card to get, and where the crap can I find them for sale? I've seen like 1 card on eBay, and haven't had any luck anywhere else.

3. Can someone please explain stealth mode to me? I mean I know it throttles down the CPU, but why on earth can you not toggle it while on battery? Does this happen automatically on certain battery profiles? I don't know why you would ever want to run in stealth mode while on power...

And I have a few other questions, but I need to finish reading manuals and tutorials before I bother you all >.> Anyway, this is a pretty sweet looking board, I'm looking forward to learning and getting to know some of you. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

yeah i hope they take care of you, a replacement system is not out of line at all. everyone deserves a perfect laptop out of the box.

 

1. i don't connect to tv that much, but 1080p should be no problem, try going to nvidia control panel and set the resolution you want.

2. you will need mxm type b cards, confirmed working cards are the 240m, 260,280m and ati 5870. 5850 will work also.

3. stealth mode does not work in battery mode because the laptop is already down clocking itself to save power.

hope this helps.

 

2 and 3 were exactly what I was looking for, thanks! I would still like to know where to buy them, however.

No luck messing with Nvidia on #1. Everyone I know with Nvidia cards has the same HDMI problem, which I don't understand...

 

haven't outputted with hdmi in a long time, and know i just upgrade to an ati card so i can't really help. try the main forum, should have many similar cases.
also depend on what cards you are looking for, baby hemi is selling the ati 5870 right now and those are the best cards at the moment.

 

Hi Hitokiri. Dell has confirmed that the 5850 card is the GDDR 5 card here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...mobility-hd-5870-m15x-m17x-2.html#post6233271

 

Hmm, for some reason I feel like I'm being ignored on this site but I will continue to post incase someone else may have this problem. I called Dell today and since the Diagnostic Test is somehow attached to the motherboard they are replacing my motherboard. Makes me wonder what else may not be working correctly with the motherboard's they are using. Anyway, had a good experience with tech support as I have for the last 20 years. If the test does not work when they replace it I will go from there. My daughter has the same machine as I do so this makes two of us with the same problem. Maybe dell does need to update the firmware.

 

sorry pickles thought your issue was resolved with the motherboard replacement. the diagnostics not working properly has been a known issues for awhile and most people will have that issue, i haven't had the chance to run it yet, but on my older one it hang at the color bars too.

 

Lol, ya i saw that I was more commenting on fact that even to till today reps are still saying that the card is GDDR3 instead of 5 which we all know it to be at this point.

I just hope stock comes in sooner. I hate waiting

 

Hi Pickles,
Sorry for ignoring you. That's definitely not what we want here. I somehow missed your problem. I understand that it's the fact that diagnostics test does not work, is that correct? I will give it a try and let you know what happens. I've read several posts about problems with the tool though, so maybe there's just no fix for it yet.

 

Sorry, I misunderstood!
I was on the phone with dell support today and totally forget to ask about it (just to see what they would say in Panama). Maybe I'll give 'em a call tomorrow just for the heck of it.

I know what you mean about the waiting. I had to wait 7 weeks because graphic cards were out of stock at the time. Good luck, man!

 

Thank you but there better be a fix for it. This test is there for a reason and should work. Please do run the test from the system. Mine hangs up at the color check screen when it asks you to enter y/n. I have to manually shut the pc down. Trust me, I know more than I sound like and this will be fixed or I shall get a new machine replacement.

 

Hi Pickles,

I'm probably not the best one to test it right now as I currently have a problem with the CD/DVD-drive. The test runs fine, meaning past the colour bars but runs into trouble once it tries to determine the problem with my drive. Sorry that I can't help you any further. But at least you know that it can run past the colour bars.
And I agree with you, everything on your expensive system should work!

 

the diagnostic problem is related to your mother board, only a motherboard replacement will solve this issue, so far i have found no fix for this, sorry pickles.

 

Yes, this is the same thing I said. My mother board is getting replaced. Makes me wonder about what other problems this mother board may be causing.

 

For me it was fixed by a setting on the TV to adjust the scan area.

 

Thanks Harry. It will all be worked out one way or another.

 

Some brain food for everyone with a Windows based computer:
KHOBE – 8.0 earthquake for Windows desktop security software - www.matousec.com

 

I hope it does, Pickels. For you as well as your daughter.
And hopefully it doesn't take too long.

 

Sorry for so many posts but I have a question: If the diagnostic test is attached to the motherboard what else is attached to it? I have been told that the only way for Dell to correct this problem is to provide a firmware update to the mother board.

 

Can't help you with that one, Pickels. I have absolutely no idea.

 

So it looks like Sleey0's gonna keep his M15x? I guess we can all thank Harry [rolls eyes]
Btw harry, have you talked with a rep/tech about your problem?

 

Dude where you've been soccer. Was bored all day ended up doing some benches hahaha.

 

Hi Thierry,

Yeah, I spoke to a rep. He agreed it was a hardware problem and assigned a tech. I got a callback from Dell about an hour later to confirm the information I had given the rep. Should be done in a couple of days (as I live on an island the piece first has to be sent here).
Did your tech show up today?

 

My typical day; I wake up, I'm tired as hell.. I take a cold shower, eat a breakfast and run to school.
4:15; done with school, I do homework until 5:15, and then go to work.
11:15pm, come back from home, lurk around the forum until I fall asleep on my keyboard.
Repeat

Good thing I dont get to work again before friday!
I'm currently looking for a usb Hub by the way, what do you guys think about Rosewill?

Sounds good!
The tech didnt call today, I hope he'll come tomorrow

 

Well, aren't you a nice guy Inap! First you tell me to "just wack it a few times", and I finally do so you tell me "I'm doing it wrong"! I broke my DVD drive, for God's sake!

Sorry, I'm bored too. I think I'll call it a night.

 

Wow, great scores you got there Inap O_O
Thinking about what should be my next major investment on my M15x, I'm considering buying two 22" monitor and hook them on my laptop, or I'd get the 5870m..
What'd'ya think?

 

Good to hear you got a few days off!
I didn't call the tech directly as this is a warranty case. The drive probably comes in tomorrow so the day after it should be fixed.
I'll let you guys know.

I'm off to bed now. Talk to you guys tomorrow.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep tight!

 

Harry - you scored 7200 or 7002 in 3dmark06? Man, I had no idea the m11x was that close to the m15x base. I score 6952, no issue, fully playable, no overheat.

Is the i7 quad or duo?

BW,

StevenX

 

hahaha harry, sorry for all the bad advice. good night bro.

i will always recommend a performance boost, i nevered really understood why people get multi screens for a laptop, if you have all that room for screen then get a desktop. hahah but don't listen to me at this time of night.

 

Yeah I guess, though the 260M is plenty enough for me atm..! Plus a multi-screen setup would look !
Idunno

 

Harry has the i7 720QM (so its a quad core).
His scores might be that low since he has the 240m graphic card, most people with the 260m get more than 10000 on 3dmark06.

 

More importantly, I have never run 3DMark06. I ran Vantage. (I don't really know if that is so much different though). If I had run 3DMark I would have PM'ed you the results as promised Steven. Unfortunately it takes too long to download with my internet.
As soon as I have chance to download it I will run it.
BTW - Top of the morning Thierry!!

 

Harry - Sorry. That vantage score is greater than the m11x by far then. I need to run vantage when I get access to an external monitor... come to think of it.. I can run it plugged into the lcd sony... Maybe this week some time.

Best Wishes,

StevenX

 

Hehe, good morning Harry,
Leaving for school in the minute, I'll try to connect from my Zune later today!
Oh and by the way, I was this

 

Ha ha ha! Looks great, Thierry!
Have a good day at school, mate!

Good luck with the Vantage score, Steven. I hope you kick my butt!

 

I am sure this has been asked but I am unable to locate the information I require.

Short version: Is it possible to order a new Alienware name plate?

 

Harry - I was really wanting to compare the gt240 to the gt335. Some folks said before they thought the 240 was a bit faster. FPS Benches either show them almost equal, the 240 being faster for dx9 games and the 335 faster for dx10. I DOUBT seriously I am going to beat any Vantage scores against an I7. I am a realistic person... Hope all is well on the island... BW, StevenX

 

AAargh

I bricked my GPU because I changed the board ID to a quadro3700m... Called dell yesterday, told them I'd overclocked it using NSU so they came and replaced the GPU today and it's back up and running woohoooo.. I know they can just reflash the Bios on the bricked MXM back to a proper one, so no harm done!

Also tomorrow I'm receiving a 200GB OCZ Vertex2 Sandforce drive.. Can't wait to see what 250+MB/s does for the M15x experience