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

TMRL I would seriously wait for the M860TU. It's looking like a decent system.

 

Wow that guy is a retard. Also, I agree with the BBB decision. If you need another soul, I can as well, being Canadian.

 

Here is the m860TU http://www.pcmicroworks.com/edge.htm and I can configure a quad core with the 9800m gtx (Yes the 9800) for about the same price most of you aliens paid for the t9300

 

Here is the m860TU http://www.pcmicroworks.com/edge.htm and I can configure a quad core with the 9800m gtx (Yes the 9800) for about the same price most of you aliens paid for the t9300

 

Damm its sexy..

Kind of a pain a theres so many to choose from - Once I make my mind up on one I see another I like, think I'll flip a coin.

 

nobody knows when the 9800M gtx will be released and how much it will cost; therefore those prices and configurations are pure speculation. So it's senseless to compare it to the m15x. I think the m860tu will be very interesting and it's quite reasonable to wait for its release. BUT price/specification-comparisons are worthless unless the notebooks are really available and get sold.


saint

 

PCMW is not like eurocom who posts wild speculative stuff. Once PCMW and eventually Sager says it, it is basically confirmed.

 

let's hope so

 

Well I think on monday I will be canceling my M15x. I was hoping it would be here by June first. Jsut recieved and Email about the Screens being on back order. Adn my system hasn't even gone into production yet. So I think I will get my refund and give the M860TU a try. It will probably be availible in a couple of months.

**Edit**

Just canceled my order. After everything I have been through, waiting on parts is not something I am willing to do. I will still be filing a complaint with the BBB in canada. I treuly hope you guys get what you paid for. But I am not willing to gamble with 4k.

Cheers everyone.

 

It sounds like you did the right thing and I can't blame you. I'll be waiting for my 2nd unit to come in which is being delayed also because of parts. I'm still willing to give it a shot in the hope that most of the bugs can get worked out by AW but it's definitely frustrating. Good luck with the new laptop.

 

Thanks Groove. I need something now. And AW have had my money long enough, so I will move onto something else and never look back.

This was my first experience with Alienware and I am pretty confident in saying it will be my last. Sad thing is I know alot of guys at work were looking at my system and tryig to deceide what do buy. They are all international Engineers(working 35 and 35 day rotations) and 4k on a laptop is something they were all comfortable paying. Espeically since most of us are using 17 Dell M1710 or M90's with the T7600G processors. Too bad for AW I am sure I could have sold another 4-5 laptops.

 

Unless I'm missing something special about the problem, even with power saving options disabled, every CPU downclocks when all of its' power isn't needed. Even my desktop's Q6600 does (it never downclocks when gaming, though).

 

ummm you should of read more of the thread.... the processor downclocks when its being stressed. when the processor was getting stressed the temps kept climbing until it eventually downclocked. this is like what the 8800 used to do.

 

this isn't Speedstep (downclocking in idle mode) but thermal throttling to prevent the CPU from frying under heavy load

 

What kind of test is it best to run on Prime95 for this stress test?

Blend/ In-place large FFTs / Small FFTs ?

I'll do it later on and see if I get any downclocking.

 

Ok so I ran Prime95 on the first opin- Small FFT no RAM testing and this is what I got:

After 30 minutes, downclock at 91-92C. Now the cycle keeps repeating.



I have the T9300 processor.

 

Well I would say that is serious Downclocking with a T9300. And still nothing in response from AW.

I am afraid to say it but I bet there could be hundreds more M15x that have this problem. That is why I canceled my M15x order. Adn I bet you won't hear any comments from AW regarding this issue what so ever.

 

For the people who think this issue is not a problem. I will say this. Your stupidy is not a crime so your free to go. THAT A FACT.

What people want to hear is. I payed for a High product that runs fast mean and reliable. Not Slow, hot and unreliable.

Be a squeaky Wheel You will get the Oil. I know I force Alienware to fix my laptop. I had Stupid noobs go it a minor problem you can deal with it. For that noob who seid it. You deal with it I will not. I payed for a laptop that works not a hot pocket or a laptop that had faults.

Use knowlage as power and get your Facts. Like Intel, GPU companys and Mirosoft company and Artic Silver Company. Talk to all the companys.

Here a fact if one company see a problem and they see alot of the same problem from one company. They will stop selling to them. They dont want to be part of the problem. They want the money and reliabilty.

 

Thanks for your testing, finally another t9300 with confirmed real downclocking! I'm not the only one anymore

 

O dear that's worrying - so you're saying that others with T9300 apart from you and me, crizzler are not experiencing downclocking at 92C? Or that their CPU doesn't get that hot?

I've also noticed now that leaving my computer idle, I get 1 second downclocks from 2.49 to 1.25 and then it's back again. Is this normal for an idling computer?

 

that is normal for an idling computer. you are not using the processor so the processor slows down to generate less heat. it will jump back up when you use it again.

 

That and to save battery I thought. But the thing is that in my Command Center -> Fusion I have it set so when it's plugged in, the Minimum Processor State is still 100% so shouldn't that prevent the 1 second downclocking?

The other thing is that this just happens randomly when it's actually idle on the desktop and not when I use it again.
Probably nothing serious but thought I'd mention it as it seems like an abnormal behaviour, taking into account the power settings.

P.S. The above only happens when on High Performance. When on Power Saver, the processor stays at 0.83GHz when idle and then it jumps up to 1.25GHz when I start using it again - Now that same principle should apply to High Performance as well, I thought.

It just seems that when on High Performance it just doesn't take into account the Power Settings under Command Center. And I just confirmed that by changing the maximum processor state under High Performance to 50% and yet it still goes up to 100%.

Can someone else change some values in their Command Center and use RMark to see if it has affected anything?

 

That does indeed not sound like speed step downclocking while idle but I'm not shure what else this could be, sorry What temps do you have during idle and does this downclocking reduce them?

And yes, every other T9300 tested here did not have such high temperatures or downclocking, thought it was a special problem with mine i.e. caused by a badly mounted heatsink...

 

your cpu will always downclock when not in use even if you have it set to 100% in the command center.

 

Just updated the 1st post with crystak's info. Sorry to hear that...
I'm now on Bios X32RC1... and even if it does fix the GPU problem, I think it creates a new one. I've been stress testing my CPU with Orthos and/or Prime95 and the CPU temps just go very high. I'm sure I'll hit the downclocking temp at any time as it's at 90C now.
I'll post a pic when it does...

 

Ok, I couldn't get it to downclock yet... but I can see it's just there waiting to happen. I'm sure that this is related with the new bios, as I didn't have this excessive heating before the update.

Here are some pics before the new bios:



Here's one after the new bios upgrade:


Notice the big difference in the CPU temps.
Oh well... I guess this is it for me.
Tomorrow I will be writting CS and asking for a refund. I'm quite sad, but I don't really see any other solution.

 

you were 1c away from downclocking. Just so I understand your cpu is hotter after the update? Sorry to hear that milcs hopefully you can find a machine you are happy with.

 

that's very weird. sounds like the CPU downclocking is now happening to you milcs.

maybe it is software dependent? maybe the X32 bios is causing CPU downclocking?

 

Well... Technically I didn't have Downclocking yet.
I do think it has to do with the new Bios. And also the tests done. Using Orthos "Small FFTs - Stress CPU" is the better way to push your CPU to the limit.
But I do think this is far too hot and I do think this has to do with the new Bios.

 

That's interesting. When I conducted the tests I was already on the new BIOS. To be honest, I don't know what else it could do as even though the fans are almost at max speed, the CPU keeps getting warmer when laptop is on a flat surface with all the air vents free.

How long did yours take to reach 92C, milcs?

 

Around 45min-1hour.
But as you say, the fans are running as fast as they can. There is nothing else that can be done regarding cooling it down...
What a poor excuse for a laptop the M15x turned out to be.

 

did anyone try running the test using a notebook cooler yet. i know back in the day when we had our x30 bios or xforgot the number when we were using notebook coolers the notebook would downclock. i wonder if a notebook cooler would finally help the laptop.

 

I feel your pain Milcs.

But on the bright side look at the competition coming. Alienware better due something fast.

The FACT that AW refuses to admit to anything and continually refuses to release any info, should be telling us they know there are issues and they are hoping people here will just go away. We started this thread A long long time ago, and not one official post or update on teh status if this has been made.

AW have made a complete mess of the M15x. And Alienware will never again get any of my buisiness. And anyone else I can talk out of it. I hope the new Sager/Clevo performs ounstandingly, and maybe some one at AW should buy one just to reverse engineer it.

AW you should be completely ashamed of yoruselves, you owe us PAying customers and explanation. With a long overdue appology. To all M15x owners I would be skeptical of a company that ignores it's customers the way they haev ignored us here. My complaint with the BBB will be filed. I am just glad I am awaiting my refund, but I feel terribly sorry for all you guys who have decided to stick it out. AW should be showing you guys some serious gratitude.

 

I just find it hard to believe that they have not yet responded to us. Besides the normal we are working on the issue

 

What someone needs to do is post a youtube video with all the complaints and issues that we've been having to work on. Guaranteed that would get some attention.

 

Hey Groove never though of that at all. Still find it hard that not one notebook magaize or even engadget bothered to pick up on the m15x issues. I guess AW's purse is pretty deep in advertising.

 

Yup, this is when I wished I owned one of the popular news websites more than anything .

 

Hell yeah.
Maybe then we would get an honest answer. I wonder how many system would be affected with this DC'ing and not even know it.

I bet the numbers would be Scary, just going by what we have found here.

 

Well I got a reply from TG Daily. They will be looking into this info.

Hopefully now they will start applying some pressure.

Too late for some of us. But hopefully the ones that are left will get some type of response now from AW.

 

thanks NEWFIE I guess i'm going to other media sources.

 

I emailed just about everyone I can think of. TG were really quick to get back to me about it though. Maybe want to give them and Email and give him your story aswell Taco. Will PM you the email addy.

 

What the hell! Here I am writing a letter to Alienware and thinking that I better conduct the CPU stress test again to confirm the downclocking problem and this is what happens:

And then 5 seconds later it does it again at 85C. It's also only been running for 5 minutes.

 

That's nothing... note the frequency and voltage do not change (which happens when it downclocks).

 

yeah, that just looks like you maybe switched to another window for a second and the CPU speedstep'd down. this is not actual downclocking (well, it is downclocking, but this is correct operation).

 

Ok then, great - not that much to worry about then. This second time I did still get the whole downclock cycle at 92C so there does indeed seem to be a problem. This time it took about 50-60 minutes to get there though. I guess it was colder in the room as it was raining outside.

 

Sad news...
The downclock problem exists, its there waiting to be untapped and I could bet that, similar to the GPU its an universal problem.

What happens with my CPU is pretty much the same as everyone else's problems. So, when I stress my CPU with Orthos (Small FFTs - Stress CPU), the CPUs temp slowly raise. Slowly really means slowly (for me). It took me a little bit less than 2 hours for the CPU to reach the temp of 92C at which people have been experiencing the downclock... Even if my laptop doesn't have it very often, it does have it. Here's that pic:



Most of the time it looks like this (borderline to the downclocking temperature):



So here's my conclusion:
CPU downclock exists and its real. If you choose not to give it too much attention, that's your choice on closing your eyes and deciding you do not want to see it.
Why does this problem exists? Similarly to the GPU, it comes down to one reason only... Probably the worst cooling solution ever invented for a laptop.
As someone already mentioned, this won't ever be solved with a Bios upgrade. The fan is constantly ON at FULL speed and simply it's not capable of maintaining the CPU temp at an acceptable temperature.
Another word of advise... even if you won't see your CPU downclocking very often (only saw it once so far), the temperature the CPU is working at full load (92C) is too dangerous for hardware stability. More, my laptop is only 2 weeks old and it's bound to get dust on vents and warm up more.

So, this is a PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL M15x laptops with the new x32RC1 Bios (and not only extreme processors).

To end up my long post...
I can only recommend that, if you are thinking on buying an M15x at the present time, hold on buying it. I can bet that this is a generalized problem and you will only be getting yourself into lots of trouble.
So please, do yourself and everyone a favor... DO NOT BUY the M15x now.

 

Updated the first post with my info.
Again, I've to stress that I only got that after 2 hours of CPU stressing. The downclock happens very rarely but the CPU temp stays at 92C constantly, which I think it's just too much.

 

Anybody have any good news yet?

 

Have you guys tried changing the voltage on the cpu with rmclock? I found this thread talking about the same issue on the dell forums with m1730 users who are experiencing major downclocks with the x9000 cpu when overclocking it. They are solving some of the throttling issues by slightly lowering the voltage on the cpu with RMclock and adding it to the startup folder. I was curious if that might be a fix for us also. I plan on trying it when my 2nd system arrives.

 

I'll try it later today thanks for the tip!