After the GPU Downclocking... Do we have a CPU one? A call to M15x owners.

Are you sure that's right? I've always heard that it's bad to leave the laptop plugged in without it's battery. You can't exactly "overcharge" a lithium-ion battery- I don't really see the danger.

 

According to NBR's tutorial on li-ion batteries, keeping them in does still cause damage (e.g. keeping them hot lessens their life). I keep them out, but I probably am not getting much by doing it (might as well though).

 

lithium ion batteries should be charged as frequently as possible. it isnt really good to keep them completely drain before recharging it. you should completely discharge it every 30 cycles or so to keep the battery meter accurate. Nickel Cadium batteries are the ones that need to be fully discharged before recharging again.

 

romandel make sure its at a full load. Cause if it isn't then theres no problem its just speed step

 

Roman del castillo... You have to follow the steps on 1st post of this thread and stress your CPU. That's the only way you are going to find out whether you have downclock. Appart from that, your CPU will not always work at max speed. It will underclock itself if it's not being used fully to save energy.

So, could you do the tests indicated in page 1 and also, can you tell us which processor do you have? (and if you can post some pics, that would be really helpful).

 

Just updated the 1st post with a list of people that have done the CPU stress test.

I have to say that for the extreme processor things do not really look very good. For the others, it doesn't look too bad, although I'm a bit suspicious.

Nevertheless, I think this is a problem that will affect us all. This is poor design, construction and implementation. This can be put down to bad cooling system in a system that would require much more than this. As I already said when the problems started arising with the GPU, these problems just came up because AW didn't bother building this laptop decently. It's not even more or less... it's not even half OK... this laptop is, from beginning to end, from top to bottom, a hymn to the poorest construction ever accomplished by man. M15x definitely beats new records... The machine with more flaws ever built by a biped.

And no, I do not own the laptop yet, I haven't tested it myself. But by now, whoever has followed the M15x story, read about it, etc etc... knows exactly well that what I say is nothing short from complete truth.

Really really bad, that's all I can say... and thinking I'm waiting for one!

 

Let us know how yours turns out when it arrives

 

I will... but it's not even about my laptop. I will have a T9300, so probably I won't have this same problem. But it's just that what's happening is really criminal and people should not sit down and do nothing. As I said, there are people that paid a lot for those extreme processors (not to mention the rest of the laptop which is not cheap at all)... for what? To receive a CPU that downclocks because AW didn't bother to check whether their laptops could handle the most powerful GPU and CPUs in the world? Isn't this shocking?
Enough with corporative power... The power should be on the side of the costumers. What happened to the old motto "The costumer is always right!"?

Anyway... rant off.

Please people, if you can spend 1 hour doing a stress test to the CPU, it would really help us all a lot.


Thank you in advance,
M.

 

Hey guys,

I received my baby almost 2 weeks ago. I haven't had much time to play yet, been working on the road.

I saw this thread and I had to check it out on my system.

After 2 hours I am happy to report that my T9300 doesn't downclock. The max temp = 80c after 2 hours of Orthos, RMClock, CPUz, and Thermofan.

00:10:15



00:31:52


02:05:05


Final- 02:05:22 -17 seconds after killing Orthos:


I'm working on a full review, should be up sometime next week...I want to go thru this notebook pretty good before I publish =)

K.Shub

 

If this is how you truly feel, than why on earth haven't you cancelled your order? The build quality is not going to change any time soon, if at all. If its such a poor design and all the other things you claim it is, not to mention how bad you say AW is, its a wonder your order is still in place. It truly makes no sense for you to rant and rave at how bad a laptop it is and to still have your order.

 

You're right, but it would be tought to get the word out. I had an idea though. Let's (meaning more than just me) all send some emails to popular gadget blogs like Engadget and Gizmodo with links to the alienware forum here at NotebookReview and ask them to make the issues with the m15x more public. Maybe some publicity will get alienware to jump onto the issues.

 

@Kshub- First of all, I'm very happy your laptop does not share the same problem. (added your laptop to the list on post 1)
I think it's becoming obvious that only the extreme processors have this same problem.

@Frag- Moving on... You are right. I shouldn't really let myself steam off like that.
I wanted the M15x way before it came out. Once it came out, I returned my XPS M1530 to get the M15x. I've been following on a daily basis (this is since February) the AW forum. I've read through thousands of threads, I've laughed, I've been upset, infuriated, frustrated... As I'm very persistent, I decided to order the M15x after the GPU problem was solved (for the 2nd time). Now this... What can I say? I still want the laptop and, as I said, I'm confident I won't even have this problem.
But someone that followed all the story can't be indiferent to it... that's why I'm upset. It's been lots of people that I got to "know" by reading their posts here that have been abused, lied and treated badly by AW. So yes, this really upsets me and drives me mad. But still... you are right, I should keep my frustrations to myself at this point. And Still... I'm not cancelling.

 

@JWest
That was done quite a few times already (sending emails to engadget). I think at this point that might not be the best. Let's hear from more people and see how this develops. Anyway, if someone decides to do something more drastic, it should be the owners with the extreme processor (with our support, of course).

I think the extreme processors have a problem... and this is for sure due to a bad cooling solution implemented on the M15x. The other processors do not seem to show the same problem (although the bad cooling system is exactly the same), maybe just because they don't run so hot.

 

Well that's exactly it. The cooling system is identical for all but the problem only truly manifests in the X9000 since it runs so much faster. There is the potential for it to happen to anyone though (which is why there are those T9300 owners saying they have it) but it appears only the X9000 is consistently able to drive the temperatures high enough.

 

And now we ask... why did they disable the OC capability of the extreme processor? I guess that in light of these results, it all makes perfect sense. They know they have a bad cooling system...
Selling an extreme processor? What does it have of extreme? Only the name, because the capability that extreme processors have of being overclocked was removed. Let's think for some minutes... why?

 

It's not only the x9000s that are being affected, no?

 

Downclocking
Newfiejudd (X9000)
tacomenace21 (x9000)
crizzler (T9300)
Pervay (x9000)
roman del castillo (not sure about CPU or Downclocking yet)
kaak (x9000)

No Downclocking
Impressive (T9300)
Rexibaby987 (T9300)
GRB (2.6GHz)
Demonofrazgriz (T9300)
Evilwill32 (X9000)
Kshub (T9300)

Only one non-extreme processor has been reported to be defective... so far.

 

They better have this issue fixed by the time black skullcap comes out. I want that before I'm off to college.

 

I downclock as well Milcs, you missed me. QQ. Running an X7900.

 

thank you kshub for taking the time to test.

 

@Taco, my pleasure. I really hope everyone gets their notebook straightened out! I'd love to help anyway I can =)

I'm working on my review right now...should have it finished sometime after the weekend. So far I love my notebook...very happy

 

@Lessaj- corrected that. Sorry for missing you! I did think you had the problem, but wasn't sure.

@Kshub- That makes me very happy. For you and... for future owners (like me).

There's in fact two users that recently got the laptops that are saying wonders. You and Dhong. That has to be good. Let's see...

Now regarding the CPU. We could really use eveyone's help. Let's give the owners of problematic CPUs a hand. Come on... it takes less than one hour.

 

Did you really talk to Roswell?

Or just sales?

because you didn't talk to Roswell.

You only ordered an m15x, you don't have one, that's why you weren't transferred to tech support.

So, don't lie.

 

It's strange, that I'm currently the only T9300 user with reported real downclocking! Tho I dont think it was as bad as with the extremes it was a periodically downclock nevertheless: 10s normal speed then bout 1s freq lowered and that after ~30-40 minutes of full load. Makes me think I got a real big fat badass lemon with my unit... I mean other T9300 have so much better temps!

Another thing I noticed was that after about an our of _idling_ the cpu fan was constantly blowing@4000upm even in stealth mode (what was one of the things pissing me off, because thats nowhere silent! :/ ). Maybe another sign, that my cooling system was badly assembled?

 

i think you just had bad luck an recieved a faulty system. i think you could try asking for a new system if you dont hate alienware enough yet.

 

The cpu downclocking is just one point of many to me, the m15x in its current state is not able to satisfy me... Its not that I hate alienware, shure I had some extra bad luck with mine, but IMO I simply don't get enough for my money and I'm not willing to accept this just under the badge of extreme gaming performance! TBH I don't want an m15x anymore, I figured its not the system I'm comfortable with spending so much money.

 

Well I am sending for a completly new system. If this one takes long or Comes busted, it's RMA for a full refund. I thik I have been more then understanding with AW so far. And they haev been easy to deal with aswell.

 

I also find it wierd that with so many DC'ing CPU's, and still nothing from any Aw representative.

Steve we coud use some input and/or suggestions.

 

NO downclocking for me with a T9300. Temp never goes above 64 degrees. (ran for 2 hours)

N

 

PS In case anybody cares - I'm thrilled with my m15x. I use all day long for work and then play games in the evening. This thing is on more than its off.

I have grown very accustomed to the touchpad - so much so that when I use my wife's 1520, it feels funny.

N

 

Good morning,

We have been following this thread closely and would appreciate it greatly if the customers experiencing the downclocking issue would please send an e-mail to our m15x address. [email protected]

 

Thanks for that Steve.
I do think that AW should be aware there were far too many mistakes made on the conception of this laptops, but it's always good to have Alienware representatives trying to work your mistakes out with your costumers.

 

Thanks Steve for taking teh time to read our post, and helping us through these issues.

Nice to see someone is paying attention to us, the customers.

 

I would really be thankful, if we could have some more tests done. I don't want to get too tiring always asking the same, but this is really important. We need to let everyone know what's the truth regarding the CPU downclocking in order to help owners, buyers and AW. It's important and it's in everyone's interest to spend some time with this.
Maybe you can consider it's not important, but if there's a poor cooling solution AW should acknowledge it as we will ALL be affected by it (one way or another).

Hope to see some more people testing their own lappies. As soon as I'll receive mine I will post full tests of mine.

Thank you very much,
M.

 

same here. i hope it's just a BIOS thing like with the GPU problem(s).

 

Just a small correction on that statement whizzo... This is not a BIOS problem.
This is a problem with the cooling system. It's simply not effective enough. They came up with a solution on the Bios level, but just to increase the fans speed (hopefully this won't reduce life time of the system by too much).

 

quick question.
having a very low score of 3559 using 3Dmark06 would this be down to downclocking. original reading 3 weeks ago was over 9698

 

I would say it's a fried GPU or you don't get out of stealth mode.

 

oh great, i just hope they check it out.
stealth mode is not lit on screen but another thing i noticed was there was no icon in the task bar to show if i was running 8800 or on board.

 

If you ask me, I think you just dont have a clue how to use it!!!
They will sort it out and, hopefully, you'll be completely happy once it's returned. Good luck neighbour...

 

Well, that little blue icon only appears for a split second after boot and often doesn't show its little message (indicating what mode you're in). Only the integrated graphics has that Intel icon which stays there all the time when you're using integrated mode.

 

cheeky bugger

cheers, so that defanately means im running the 8800.
thanks for the info

 

This is how you know your using integrated.

 

haha 7 hours? insane!

 

yeah that with the SB battery and everything turned off.

 

cheers taco but ive never seen that icon before even after pressing stealth.
im using my fuji and that icon shows all the time as its using on board graphs.

 

And that's exactly why you don't see it after you turn on stealth mode -- stealth mode doesn't change to integrated graphics. Only BinaryGFX (which requires a computer restart) will switch to integrated graphics

 

well thats only when your running integrated graphics. The only way I know of to see if your on stealth is to a press the stealth button till it turn it off. B look in AlienFusion and it will say on the left side "running stealth mode"

 

that icon isnt suppose to come up when you are in stealth mode.... its only for the integrated card.

 

a photo-finish for three of us with the same response