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

You have my full support on anything we need to do. I have been without a working system since Febuary. I have all my emails and phone calls documented. There is no excuse for this anymore. It's plainly obvious this system was rushed to market.

 

I second that, if I can help with anything (images, experience) I gladly will!

 

Started a similar thread on
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread216799.html

Trying to keep both Sites accurate with downclocking issues.

Milcs could I get you to update your thread here, and we should be updated on both. Thanks.

So far it seems this is more prominent with the Extreme processors.

 

Wasn`t there a BIOS update that should`ve fixed that permanently ?
And about the CPU downclocking, you might force it to run as desired with RMClock...

 

the GPU downclocking issue should be fixed permanently with that BIOS update, that's correct

 

Yes the GPU downclcoking has been fixed. Much like the Updated BIOS needed for the sager system to allow instalation of alternate drivers. But the GPU issue with 8800M GTX has been corrected with the BIOS X32RC1. The CPU issue I doubt can be fixed with a BIOS issue. If all they do is turn up the fan speed, it will be one hell of a noisy beast.

 

I stressed out my CPU last night with RMClock and Orthos. Max temps were 62C with no downclocking. I have the T8100 2.4Ghz Penryn processor.

If you are sending it in for repairs in the US, the warranty covers EVERYTHING.

However, if you get an upgrade, then you will have to pay for the price of the upgrade as well as the labor, but not for shipping costs.

 

Thank you for testing dhoang. Ok so what who do you guys think we should contact today if AW does not give us a response?

 

@newfie- The thread is now updated with all the info I could gather. I think I'm not missing anyone.

@taco- It's really a call for you extreme CPU owners. But as someone mentioned, this won't be solved with a Bios update, as the fan on the CPU is ALWAYS on when you are stressing it, running really fast. It simply is not capable of preventing the slow but constant rise in the CPU temperature.
I think AW should commit themselves to design new ventilation systems and get them installed in ALL the laptops they already sold (and, obviously, future ones).

The thing is... this laptop really runs hot. I turn on the laptop and not doing anything, the CPU will increase constantly until the fans turn on and pushes the temps down... and this is a cycle that repeats itself. This machine must be producing so much heat inside that it's just unbelievable. Appart from that... I still think it's amazing.

 

Thanks Milcs. Appreciate it.

 

well I wouldn't care if the fan ran fast when pushing the CPU that wouldn't bother me one bit I would just like know that something is being done. What good is it to have the fastest chip when a lower speed chip can handle the load much better. We'll see how it turns out Thanks to milcs for helping us with this thread even though he isn't having any issues.

 

Taco. I emailed Roswell and CI teams and have asked for an updated included all the info and link from this site. So let's see what happens. If not we all know our next logical step.

 

You're welcome guys.
It's true that this doesn't affect me directly now, but no one can tell whether it won't. For what really matters, be it a Extreme Processor or a slower processor, a 8800GTX or a 8700GT, the cooling design is poor and badly put together. This is, in fact, a problem that affect us all. We can't only think about the stress tests we run now, we have to think in the long run. What's going to happen to all our laptops 1 year after very intensive use?

Anyway... Good luck guys.

 

Thanks NEWFIE just let us know.

 

Well it's Monday and nothing so far, but I'll wait until Newfie gets a response (or until tomorrow, since that's plenty of time TO respond).

 

yeah I was waiting till the end of the day if anyone has any e-mail info for news sites let me know just so I can get ready

 

Well I got a response from RW support. Gentlemen said they never recieved my email. So I sent it agian. Made the mistake of using my corporate mail account. And the gentlemen that emailed me said that he read the thread. And that was how he relieazed they didn't recieve my email. Surely they were aware of this since Alienware-Steve posted in this thread. I think last monday if I am not mistaken.
With that said I guess now they are fully aware of the situation. I never did recieve a reply from the Critical issues rep.

Gentlemen that contacted me was:

Ronny Infante

Roswell Support Group

Phone: 1.866.Roswell x6046

[email protected]

Sorry guys guess they never recieved my emails. But they know now.

 

Ronny is the "supervisor" at Roswell. Yeah they have told me they know about it but at the same time we haven't heard anything yet. Looks like we should start typing up our draft.

 

Agreed. I am getting tired of having my money sitting in thier hands with nothing in return.

I am thinking I might just cancle this order and move on. First I need to make sure they are going to reimburse me for paying for my own shipping on the RMA. I am tired of fighting for something I paid for. THey always read here but they sure don't do much about it. Quite frankly I am tired of this BS.

Ok I will start writing my draft. Suggest we all start actually.

 

Go ahead, if you write one and post it here, I'll copy + paste it and send it to engadget.

 

I'll do it as well...
Add the poor build quality, screens shacking like crazy, they forgetting to make the kensington lock work, etc etc...
I'll sign under the line.

 

Here is what I have pieced together. Really quick Draft as I am still off shore working. I am trying to be as professional as possible. Please leave comments and we can polish the final draft.

Dear Engadget,

I recently purchased an Alienware Area51-M15x. And have come to discover with the aid of several notebookreview.com members, that CPU’s are now begin to show signs of down clocking. The forums members are aware of Intel Speed Step, and we can confirm that this is not the culprit.

Upon stressing our system using Prime 95 and/or Orthos, and monitoring temps with CoreTemp and ThermoFan. We have discovered by using CPU-z and RMclcok that CPU’s are down clocking. Most systems would reach 93-95C and drop core speeds and multipliers; this usually would occur withing 20 minutes of testing. Members of the Notebookreview.com forums have had several discussions on what can be causing this. We have pieced together several different CPU configurations and have discovered this issue is mostly apparent in the Premium Extreme processors. Intel X900 and X7900.

Here is the link to the forum site where we have been asking other users to stress their systems and leave their results.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248848


We would graciously request your help in releasing this information to other Area51-M15x owners who are not currently forum members, and maybe unaware of this situation. Any and all help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely
Notebookreview.com Members.

 

I think it's good but makes it a very personal email... Maybe you could try and make it a more "community" email.
More... "Upon stressing our system using Prime 95 and/or Orthos, and monitoring temps with CoreTemp and ThermoFan. We have discovered by using CPU-z and RMclcok that CPU’s are down clocking" I think there's something wrong with that sentence... But I'm not the native speaker.

Well done. Poolish it up a bit and you have quite something.
One more word Newfie... I think this laptop is still great. I know that experience is staining you experience, but be patient (I know you've been quite a lot already)... I'm sure time will repay you well.

 

well i runed the test for 41 minutes and no change ... apparently no downclocking issue here ...
T9300, CPU never passed 75 degrees

 

thank you iulixxi for running the test.

 

No problem , glad I cold be at help ...

Alienware name still not lighting lol

 

Milcs I agree fully with you. This system would perfectly fill a need I have. If I could just recieve a working system. It just seems I am continously dissapointed with promises and false hopes. Not to mention delay after delay.

 

Dear Engadget,

I recently purchased an Alienware Area51-M15x. And have come to discover with the aid of several notebookreview.com members, that CPU’s are now begining to show signs of down clocking. The forum members are aware of Intel Speed Step, and we can confirm that this is not the culprit.

Upon stressing system using a combination of Prime 95 or Orthos. Some owners have discovered that CPU’s are down clocking. Most systems would reach 93-95C and drop core speeds along with multipliers; this usually occurs within 20 minutes of stress testing. Members of the Notebookreview.com forums have had several discussions on what can be causing this. We have pieced together several different CPU configurations, and have discovered this issue is mostly apparent in the Premium Extreme processors. Intel X9000 and X7900.

Here is the link to the forum thread where we have been asking other users to stress their systems and post their results.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248848

As you are aware, there has been several issues with this system. Since your last post regarding the Down Clocking GPU. Since then several other issues have come to the surface. With little to no reply, from Alienware for current owners.

Many forums members have been reporting wobbly screens that have become too much for some users. And system were quickly RMA’d. We would also like to bring to your attention the failure of a Kensington lock to function correctly with the M15x. This as you can understand is a serious issue amongst forum members.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=251140

We would graciously request your help in releasing this information to other Area51-M15x owners who are not currently forum members, and maybe unaware of this situation. Any and all help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely
Members of Notebookreview.com.


Updated with your suggestions Milcs.
Thank you for testing Iulixxi.

 

Here's mine please edit any way you would like. (I know there are some errors so please fix if you see them)


Dear Engadget,

I know that you guys have written stories before about the Alienware M15X which where really good and have had great results. I write to you in response to a new issue that has been discovered. I myself and others over at notebookreview.com have discovered that a lot of the extreme processors that were included in the M15X are overheating and downclocking. This similar to the issue with the GPU overheating. We have ran many tests and come to the conclusion that this is a widespread issue and not just a case of one or two people. If you look at this thread ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=248848) you will see that we've ran all kinds of tests and have seen that our extreme processor will reach 93c within a matter of minutes of a full load then it will begin to downclock. Alienware advertises the X9000 as the fastest mobilie processor, well for owners of the M15X this is not the case for the simple fact that what good is a cpu if it can not handle a full load? We only ask that you guys please help us reach those who do not read our forums so that they can be warned of this issue. The only response that we've recieved from Alienware is "we know about the issue and we are currently working on it." Thats pretty much all we've heard and we let time pass by but we haven't had any progress. Thank you for your time please feel free to drop by and ask any question that might be on your mind.

EDIT: Dang NEW I like yours better I say lets use yours as our draft.

 

very nice man. Since you did it this time I'll throw some rep your way. I would have done it buy I don't own the system so I would feel a little... i duno...

 

Thanks Stone I wanted to make it clear that this whole situation isn't cool for the simple fact that their "best" cpu option is turning out to be the worst.

 

Mmm funny it works like that. I know this may sound strange, but if AW flew all of us somewhere and we all met in a conference room, I bet we could design one hell of a 15" laptop with MUCH better cooling and a proper 200 point inspection

 

How ever we want to proceed guys. I just think we need to keep it professional and polite.

 

Stone your a genius.
LMAO..

Can you image the beast we would offspring LMAO.

 

Doesn't AW browse these forums? They should hear this out.

 

Would be the NEW best 15.4" notebook in the world.

 

Lol I'm not kidding . We would seriously test the **** out of that thing for a good week straight to make sure that it works 100% before it was shipped out. It would be wicked.

 

I think the email should definately be professional... I think Newfie's is great, puts the finger in all the points and it's formal enough.
Anyway, I think between Newfie's and Taco's, there's enough material to make them look our way.

 

@milcs - It was actually Newfie + Taco who wrote them. I only wrote one for the GPU back in the day.

 

Well I just sent it in. Soon have to call it a night. 5am comes fast out here.

 

I know... made a mistake! Edited it...

 

well I haven't sent anything in yet I waiting to see what you guys thought.

 

its good and to the point. the only problem i see with yours is that you spelled write with "wright"

 

Yeah, exiled is right. Just send it and let's see what happens.

 

ok just sent it

 

did you fix the spelling error

 

yeah sure did thank you

 

So... any news so far?

 

I haven't got anything but of course I just sent it last night.

 

Nothing on my end. Hey did you guys check out that post from a guy who said his speaker died and he is seening deformation on the lower part of the Screen housing? Pretty wierd.

Heading over to the MAc forums. Gonna take a read around there. I am actually thinking the updated MBP 17"(if there ever will be such a thing)might be my next purchase. And just update my desktop system with a new case PSU and 2 new GTX 280 when they hit the shelf.