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

Just got confirmation that my M15X is now in 'ship' status.

 

First tests of 940XM, 840QM AND 740QM. http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests...re-i7-740qm-840qm-940xm-prozessoren-nkmo-1171

 

Doesn't seem much about 5% i think it said. Anyways for Gaming that probably results in a nil effect or close to it.

 

except in GTA IV lol

 

That's my interpretation. But it is nice that the 840QM now gives the same performance as a stock 920XM without the exorbitant cost of an extreme processor. Can't overclock the 840QM, but still . . ., particularly since o/cing the 920 unfortunately provides relatively little practical benefit in most configurations. It's like a free upgrade from an 820QM to a 920XM.

 

wow nice find rev, looks like i'll be sticking to the 920 for a little longer. the gains aren't as much as i hope for with the x40 series.

 

Same here, but I never imagined we would be able justify an upgrade to a 940XM. Nice to know we're really not missing much.

 

Even in GTA4 there is not much difference between the 920xm and 820QM since the game is only using rough 33% of the CPU as it is ... I enjoyed my 920 when i had it but the 820 runs marginally cooler and uses less power so overall it to me was the best of bunch... Now if your benchmarking thats a different story ...

 

I agree. The 920XM is/was fun to play with, but having done that, I'd be just as happy with an 820/840.

 

well thats a 10 watt difference it would be definitely cooler.

also getting my touch panel replaced cause the tech bent it and im gonna replace it myself. also moving next week.

@harrythefish how do i change my address with dell for tech support going from us to canada.

 

Also just noticed that dell has put the desktop themes up for download on the drivers page.

 

You mean the AlienGUIse theme thingy thats been shipping on new machines. Epic.

Is the breed theme any good??

 

Just noticed that they also have the A06 BIOS and new version of CC there. Any change log out there?

 

yes it is. just testing it right now you need to allow it through the firewall and in the start menu right click the mycolors and have it run as administrator. i like this theme better than the plain aero one but one the first restart took awhile to load but im thinking it was having the admin issue i just mentioned.

there is a thread on it already for CC. also new touchpad drivers are to be released soon.

 

Mandrake is selling his 920XM for 500$ + I7 720QM
Boy, If only I had that money...
Bragging rights, I'd have them

 

Yes that is a good deal for sure ...

 

Wow... After waiting almost a week for a replacement motherboard i FINALLY got a tech to come in and replace it....

Only to have it be a Refurbished Doa...

I called and was asking for a replacement (since this isn't the first time they had a tech come in to replace a part) and the supervisor went and told me that "They just can't do that". At least my laptop actually turned on and i was able to use it before the tech replaced the mobo but now it won't even turn on.

They said i'd have to ship it in and wait about over a week for them to fix it...


So now i'm stuck without a laptop for who knows how long...


Should i take this to the BBB or something? I really don't want to deal with this laptop in particular and would just like an entirely new replacement. I use this laptop everyday as it's my main computer so i REALLY need something done about this.

Was i talking to the wrong person? Anyone have any advice / numbers in particular that i should be calling?

I'm really feeling down considering how much i loved this laptop...


I'm currently posting this on my brother's laptop since mine just turned into a $2600 paperweight.

 

I've been through 4 replacements in the last 6 months. Believe me, they have serious QC issues in their manufacturing lines. I've made service calls (even the repair tech who came to my place has made service calls on my behalf) to request replacement parts and they would send totally diff parts

for e.g. - I've requested a M15X keyboard and they would send a M17x KB, I'd request a WD HDD and they would send me a toshiba HDD.

My best advice, call them repeatedly and talk to diff people. You will eventually reach a "customer resolution expert". These are the right people who can get things moving and make sure that you get your money's worth.

Hope this helps.

 

Is there a particular number i should call? I end up calling tech support and then they want to run me through loops of trouble shooting =/

I know it's theit job but seriously...

I know what's wrong and i'm telling you what parts need to be replaced but still insist on trouble shooting stupid crap.

 

Dell has the new touchpad drivers up test it out downloading it now

 

Lets hope it fixed the problem...

 

well ive downloaded one thing thats different the touchpad automatically shuts off with my mouse plugged in(nice feature for once). also the sensitivity is better but still not like my old dell laptops touch pad smoothness. they are on to something but still need more tuning. get it right eventually alienware motto

 

I recently experienced the incompetence of the techs they use first-hand...earlier today as a matter of fact...

I had my gpu fan replaced, but I think I knew more about getting into the system than he did. I was worried even before he got the bottom panel off...as he couldn't figure out how to remove the battery! Not kidding!! I literally had to walk him through removing the media/power button panel, along with the keyboard (for which I already did earlier while trying to diagnose the source of the weird sounds I was experiencing from behind the keyboard). And it only gets worse...

On top of all the other problems I've been experiencing...just to add insult-to-injury...he nearly ruined my screen!! After removing the screws on the keyboard and taking off the media panel...rather than completely disconnecting both from the cables, he left them both inside and CLOSED THE LID ON TOP OF THEM, before turning back over to start replacing the fan!!!! Luckily for me, I turned around and caught him before he could do too much damage to the screen...I gave him the black cloth sleeve to place inside while he worked on the bottom half! Idiot!! After doing some checking tonight, I have two dents in the glass panel in the top-middle part of the screen...and about an inch long scratch down near the alienware logo!!! :sigh:

I didn't have time to call tech support again tonight, but they'll be getting an ear-full from me tomorrow morning. Based on others experiences here...do you guys think I should have them replace the screen ASAP?? I'm even hesitant to do that...as that means they'll send another tech out (I'll pray it's not the same one!)

This is completely unacceptable customer service...sure it's convenient, in-home service, but I'd rather have to drive it 400 miles to someone who knows what he's doing...or ship it off for two weeks than have another idiot screw with my $2000 investment!!

I'm still under the 21 day return policy...and I'm seriously considering having them send me an all new system.

 

dude its not glass fyi its plastic very shiny plastic and just hassle them enough you'll have a screen on its way to you brand new. good luck.

also opt to do the replacement yourself. your allowed to do that i'm replacing my touch panel myself instead of the tech which saves having the odd tech coming to my home. i know more about the thing than he could ever lol

 

Even if Dell tech says you can't replace a certain part yourself, you can always intercept the part from the onsite tech. Just give the company a call and have them add a note to the tech that you will just be swapping the old part with the new part. Most onsite techs wont care since they get paid either way.

 

An all new system would be a smart move!

 

Everytime I look at this site another motherboard has been replaced. I was lucky when I had mine replaced but my daugther is on her third replacement computer because of this. There should be a poll on this imo. Yeah, as far as replacing parts yourself this may be good for some but I refuse to do this. I paid good money for this machine along with the warranty so I expect to get what I paid for.

 

My mistake, I meant to say shiny plastic, not glass...though it certainly has the look and feel of real glass.

Spoke to the rep this morning, they're sending a new Screen Panel out today. They gave me the option to contact the local Unisys vendor and replace myself...which per the suggestions here, I may opt for that. Replacing the keyboard was cake, but after watching the M15x teardown video...looks like the screen replacement is a bit more involved.

I would have just gone with a full system replacement, but after selling off my old dell, I can't really afford to be without a computer for more than a few days, as I use this for work.

I will say this, to any prospective buyers or new owners...UPGRADE THE WARRANTY ASAP!! The system is very solid, performance-wise, but the QC problems exist and you can't underestimate the peach-of-mind the warranty provides.

 

the screen is connected to a lot of the many components in the system surprisingly but you need to be able to remove the touch panel, touchpad panel, the keyboard, and the screen assembly. after that just be careful when taking the screen off as its very fragile. also when the tech is stuck at just getting the touch panel off take over the whole thing cause hell end up busting something if you don't say anything.

 

thats what i did, i called the tech and let him know i would change the screen myself, and he was more than happy too. actually the screen isn't that bad to replace, i was in and out in about 15 mins.

 

Hey someone wanted to buy my gtx 260m and install it into his M860tu. Is that going to work? Also I don't have that metal X clip on the gtx 260m because I use for my 5870. Can he still use it with his existing card?

 

if the laptop can support the mxm 3 type b card then it should work, he can probably reuse his mounting plate from his old card but just supply him with the 5870 mounting plate. btw how much are you selling it for?

 

i'm saling it for 300.

 

wow sweet!, i'm using my 260 at the moment, killed my 5870 with a bad flash, hopefully will get it back up a running.

 

yea that suck. Hope you get it up and running soon. I'm planning to switch my ati 5870 for nvidia 285m so i can play 3d. Inap you think ati coming soming like 3d vision?

 

ati does support 3d but through 3rd party apps and hardware. 3d not really worth the effort in a laptop imho. but thats just me, have fun stroking out on 3d,lol.

 

I uninstalled the IDT audio drivers I had, switched to th Windows Default HD audio drivers, then installed the latest IDT audio drivers from the dell website and it has left a great impression on me.

The audio crackling and glitches do not appear for me, and I can hear the extra nuance in certain tracks (only thing that has changed is the drivers). For instance, on default settings before, the voice in Linkin Park's 'Numb' would overpower the instruments in the chorus, and now, I can hear the hi-hat taps whilst Chester is singing.

It's probably just me paying more attention, but it does sound good. Now, I have nothing to complain about (besides the random crashes that still happen!)

 

Boy that shucks dude! Hope you'll get it back to work! :S

Oh and by the way I'm finaly done with school! Partyy!

 

I hear your pain... fortunately both my tech support guys are great. They know me so well now (after almost 15 service calls in last 6 months). I even have their personal cell numbers. One guy actually offered to buy gadgets and components for me from dells site using his employee discount (believe me that discount is fat)

I guess it's your luck. My advice, if you are under the 21 day warranty, go for a replacement and make sure that they don't send you a refurb one

 

Hi Tuenkamen,

Didn't you have to fill out your address when you registered on the site?
Anyway, according to the Dell tech I spoke a while ago, the location doesn't matter, your warranty is valid worldwide, even if it's a one-year basic warranty (that's what I have).

 

Man, Inap! When did that happen?

By the way, it never ceases to amaze me how bad these highly paid US Dell techs are! How come that the lowly paid South- and Central American techs seem to be perfectly capable and those money making pricks are useless?
Next time anyone needs to call Dell call this number: 0800-1002513
That's the number I have to call when I have a problem with one of my machines and up till now I have only had to deal with competent people (I know, the US tech they'll send you is still as incompetent, but at least you'll have to deal with someone who knows what he's talking about before that).

 

yeah happened friday night i think was messing around trying new bios for the card, and now it won't post. oh well trying to see if i can flash it back later tonite. if not it looks like i will have to get a new card, but maybe in a month or so, can't afford it right now, fixing wifes car and bill time,lol.

yeah dell tech is real hit and miss. my tech was the worst, he bricked my first system. and then they actually sent the same guy again after i needed new keyboard and screen, can you believe that,lol.

 

Isn't it great that they don't seem to learn? How can they send the same tech who already screwed up a system? I thihnk the way of working is simply very different in the States. The tech here will not work on anything but Dell systems and he refuses to work outside of Dell, so calling him is useless if it's something that can't be done through Dell. So I guess they're full time paid by Dell here and I have a feeling that the US techs simply do it "on the side".

@Thierry: How much are you short for grabbing Mandrake's deal?

 

i think he is short about $699,lol. mandrake already picked up a 720.

 

Well, in that case he'll have to save up a bit more first!

 

man harry your an awesome dude!!! willing to help out anybody. are you gaving out loans, may need your help,lol.

 

Nah, no loans Inap. I'd rather give money, so I don't have to worry whether I get it back or not, bro! It's just money, I don't need that much of it to be happy!

 

hahahh man you are toooooo awesome.

 

Ha ha ha! It's all about perspective I guess. When I moved here I was just a kid. I started working as a teacher making a sound $10 a week, which wasn't much, of course, but it was enough to live on. 2 months later I heard the girl that was living in the apartment below mine had died of dehydration. She did not have enough money to buy water to drink or aspirin to lower the fever. She was 19. That kind of made me think about the tiness of money.

On topic, can I put a 285 card in my M15x and how would it perform? I can pick one up for around $300 which is twice as cheap as the 5870. Is it worth it, bro?

 

Hehe. yeah Inap is right! I thought of the 400$ + 720QM as a great deal, but now that he picked up a 720QM, thats definatly out of my reach!
Thanks for offering dude!
And now I'm spending all my money in liquor and beer since I have three huge party in four day this week!
Oh well, gotta enjoy life and forget about money for a little!

@Harry: Yeah a 285m will work just right!
It wont perform as good as the 5870s do, but its more than twice as good as your current 240m!