Alienware M15X First Impressions (Taking Picture/Video Requests)

Im previously known as "arammid" on this forum. Was my temporary username, because I didn't think I would stick around, just had some quick questions for the community, but now it looks like I'll be sticking around, great community so I registered a name I use at many other forums.

Ok So anyways, My M15x Arrived Yesterday (Was supposed to get an m17x but decided to go with the m15x. I see many users wanting to know how the new M15x Laptop owners are feeling, and if anything change, so let me give you my little review. Feel free to request any pictures or videos you may want.

Shipping/Packaging

The order was placed on June 10th. Arrived at my doorstep in Ontario, Canada on June 18th. 8 Days from ordering, to having it in hands. You can tell I'm very pleased with this.

The shipping that was used was Fedex International Express and the tracking is very accurate. Package was not damaged, beat up, crumpled in any corner or anything.

Everything inside was packaged very nicely with lots of protection to make sure your laptop gets to you in one peice, with no damage.

Overall I'm very pleased with the whole ordering and shipping process.

First Impressions

So my first impressions. Well I take it out, and there are no visible scratches anywhere. Paint looks great, very glossy and shiny, everything great, just how its supposed to be.

So I've read alot about the creaking, and was kinda scared to open it, but as I open it, it goes up nice and smoothly. Yes of course I do hear very minimal creaking however, this is only when you start to either open or close the laptop. When it is closed, and you push up to open, you hear a little creak, as well as when its fully open and you start to close it, theres that little creak you hear, to get the movement going, after that it is pretty silent and very smooth.

I've used it for about 6-8 hours so far, installing my programs and just randomly browsing the internet and so forth. I've experienced no errors what so ever, and the operating system was very nicely prepared for the user.

Speakers/Camera

I've heard previous users complaining about both of these. Now the speakers, they are decent, not the greatest, but to be honest, they are far better then the other laptops that I have heard.

Camera isn't very bad quality as well. I've heard alot of the problems with it being blurry and all, but this one is pretty sharp and is able to focus pretty well, ALTHOUGH it does take some time to focus itself, about a second or two, and theres that blur inbetween. I'll take some pictures from different distances later on.

First Problem

Well the first problem I've experienced, as many of you already know from a previous thread was with the keyboard. I was pretty angered about it as well, seeing this is a brand new $5,000 dollar laptop, you don't expect something like this to just happen. I was normally typing on the keyboard, entering a website address, and bam as I click the letter " o " the button falls off. I look at it, and the little tiny bracket on the back of it (Top right one) is completely off and doesn't exist, its completely broken off. I then gently click each keyboard key, and after clicking each one, (Very Gently, no hard taps, simple clicks) the start button, as well as the right arrow key both fall off. That is 3 keys out of the whole keyboard that were cracked. Unbelievable. I called Alienware support, and they have agreed to send me an entire keyboard, and I am to return my old one when the new one arrives, in a package and label they are providing me with. So yeah, Im pretty sad I have to go through this, but what can you do.

Screen construction

One thing that really dissapoints me is the construction of the screen. Well technically not the screen, but the black plastic that goes aroudn it. It is very cheap in my opinion. Very cheap! When the M15x is closed and you open it using the little indent in the middle with your thumb and pointing finger, you put alot of stress on the plastic and it pushes it down quite a biut. This is exactly where the camera is incase your confused what I'm talking about. It's only a matter of time untill this cracks on some of us. I've completely refrained from opening my M15x like this now and hold it at the sides with both hands, gently opening it.

That black surrounding plastic peice should really be held to the case alot more steadily especially near the middle top of the screen. Then again, I don't think they could've reinforced it that much because of those pipelights on the outside lid. Maybe this is why the M17x doesnt have those pipe lights around the screen, because they finally constructed the plastic closer to the case and had to get rid of them. Oh well, guess us M15x users have to use the sides to open our laptops, atleast I willl

Heat

One thing I've noticed is there is alot of heat in the bottom right hand corner of the laptop as well as the right vent gets pretty darn hot during heavy use. Normal use it still gets hot but not as much. I hope it doesnt burn and crack the bottom right of my screen like other users have reported.

Keyboard Flex

Keyboard is very stiff. Every is great except like everyone else has reported, the bottom right has some flex. The closer to the bottom right of the keyboard you get, the louder the clicks get, no matter how gently you click. Especially comparing the right arrow key, to any letter. Its pretty loud ....

Lights

There is no light bleeding and the light does not go through the black plastic around the screen. It is only seen in the pipes around it.

Keyboard Lag

Yes there is very minimal keyboard lag when pressing a key very fast. For example if I press the letter " l " many times quickly, it pauses sometimes for less then a second, and i miss a letter or two.

Couple Tests

Normal Usage GPU Tempratures - Computer on for 2 hours, about 5 minutes after playing GRID (Racing game with amazing graphics) for a good hour and a half
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7594/75633592mm1.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7849/98104342bh5.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3196/94980984tw6.jpg

Right after running 3D MARK 06
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7728/36091899fw9.jpg
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9739/75833356xc0.jpg

Stressing computer with maximum 3D MARK 06 Settings
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3262/21ef6.jpg
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3818/18295568kn0.jpg

Ran Orthos || BLEND STRESS CPU AND RAM || - Got error after 4 minutes and a couple seconds.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8674/51804018ge3.jpg

Ran Orthos (This time different test) || SMALL FFTs STRESS CPU || - No errors. Downclocking is visible here.
7 Minutes - http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/4019/30081829yi4.jpg
10 Minutes - http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6975/46556561zv1.jpg
16 Minutes - http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8105/18708572th6.jpg
20 Minutes - http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3714/50100528tw7.jpg

Ran Orthos || BLEND STRESS CPU AND RAM || Once Again. No errors this time.
Just Started - http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6888/91332254et9.jpg
4 Minutes - http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5357/21494182rw0.jpg
8 Minutes - http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6933/31495033tb3.jpg
15 Minutes - End no Errors. - http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/1453/39097808fn7.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
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Not really sure what else to list, feel free to ask questions, request pictures, or request videos. I'll get on them as soon as I can

 

great review. Show us some pics or video. Congrats on your purchase

 

Hope you will have only positive experiences from now on.
One more thing... Screen wobbliness? Try and move your laptop around and see whether you have it.
More... I never saw light bleeding from the black plastic around the screen. The light bleeds from the lateral plastics (gray) surrounding the screen frame.

 

Same with Milcs, I hope that your lappy works out well for you
Tests, benchmarks, worldwide survey, etc. would be greatly appreciated if you have time to do so.

 

Well, if you wouldn't mind posting your impressions on this thread (so that we can compact all information from new users on one place), that would be great.
Here's the thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=262373

 

Dont have the camera on me at home right now but as soon as i get it im taking some pics.

Im ready to run some 3d mark 06 and check some tempratures right now. Anyone recommend any programs for tempratures...Not sure what to use...

Also what settings do i run 3d mark 06 at?

 

download Rivatuner to check temperatures.

 

Use Rivatuner for GPU temperatures and run 3dmark06 at default settings.

 

I'm just curious, if I download RivaTuner now, is it set up for the 8800M? Back in my day we still had to edit the ini files to get it to recognize the 8800

 

It's set up...
And you should always use some sort of monitoring software. That's really rule number one when it comes to these high end gaming notebooks.

 

When I get one, you'll have to advise me on what programs I need Milcs. Should they be running in the background the whole time the M15x is on, or just when gaming?

 

you only need to have them running when you play games or do some other task that needs alot of resources. when your computer is idle theres not really a point in having those programs on.

 

I have to disagree. My monitoring programs are on from the moment the computer is on.
One day, my laptop was on idle and stealth mode and GPU temps managed to hit 107ºC (while downclocked because of the stealth mode).
It's just an inteligent measure that will save you problems in the future.
I will help you when you get yours Cat... but there are very good guides around (Gabe's, if my memory doesn't fail me and Eleron have guides that everyone should read).

 

Alright I got riva tuner and am monitoring tempratures. Thanks for the help guys.
Im downloading 3d Mark 06 as we speak.
What is a good program to monitor CPU temratures now?

 

RMclock and HWMonitor

 

or thermofan c:\porgram files\keyboard manager\thermofan.exe

 

This is my GPU temps right now.
Im downloading 3d Mark 06. Computer has been on for about 2 hours, and did some gaming "GRID" Racing game with some nice grapics for about 30 minutes about an hour ago.

 

Good? Bad? Normal?
Also are those the most up to date drivers, or am I using the wrong ones. There must be something better then 167.55 out...right?

 

all good so far

 

My idle temp was 67-69C. When playing Crysis it went up to 100ºC.
So I can't say your idle temp looks amazingly good, but if the temps while playing are OK, then I guess it's ok.
Obviously, you will need to play something serious (like Crysis) to properly put your GPU under stress.

 

Another picture at idle...just downloading 3d Mark 06 and browsing around.
Is Thermofan an okay program to use to monitor my CPU Tempratures...or are those two you mentioned better.

 

Post your temps under load please

 

Use RivaTuner, HWmonitor, RMclock and Thermofan.
Thermofan is good for the fans and the CPU temp. RMclock gives you CPU clocks and voltage, HWmonitor will give you temps of all yoru laptops' components and Rivatuner will give you GPU's temps and clocks.

 

Kind of confused on how to use this RMClock.
I understand all the other programs, but this one... ?
What is the main thing to watch for, and is this looking good.
Im idle still downloading couple things, and browsing web...

 

Well... that will show you the clocks (on the top), voltage and temps of the CPU cores.
Make sure you go to Settings tab and under processor select mobile processor.
The clocks are working fine. It's up and down as expected (speedsteping). If you put the CPU under stress the clocks will stay high at 2.5GHz.

 

HERE I AM RIGHT AFTER RUNNING 3D MARK 06

 

Not bad, 52C on the CPU right after 3DMark, I guess that cooling fix did to the BIOS did the trick. That makes me feel a bit more secure about how the X9000 will be in my M17x when it comes.

 

3D MARK SCORE

 

Question why does it say i have 3072 MEM

When my system came with:

4Gb Ram
+
1Gb Turbo Cache

Which is what it says below...4Gb...Yet not in 3D Mark 06



Doesn't say 4Gb in DXDIAG either...

 

Ok... lets go by parts:

3dMark06- It looks OK. Not the greatest score, but OKAY.

Memory- Even though you have 4GB of RAM, your system won't detect the full ammount of RAM installed due to a limitation of VISTA OS 32bit.

Temperatures- Look fine for a synthetic test. Should really put your hands on Crysis though to clear your mind (and ours as well ).

CPU- CPU temps have not much to do with 3dMark06 as this won't stress the CPU for a long period of time. If you want to stress the CPU you should use Orthos and run the small FTTs test for a couple of hours.

Bios updates- Bios updates were not designed to tackle any heating problem. No bios update prevents CPU overheating and downclocking of extreme processors. This problem will exist in the majority of the M15x with extreme processors.

 

Ok so what do I do next...?
Crysis? Damn gotta go out and buy the game lol....Will do it soon, heck maybe even tomorrow.

Will take some pictures and videos soon of the case and creaking and such.

 

Now enjoy it...
Play whatever you can with it. It plays amazingly... I'm really missing my M15x. It gamed really wonderfully... and heat up as much as it gamed!

Oh... and always monitor it. Make it your habit.

 

Lucky for you it's selling for $20 or so right now. Well, they had 30 copies at my local game store all new at that price last week.

 

Those idle temps seem a little high to me. Mine idles around.... 62ish.

 

Ok So I ran a little more intense test. Havent got a chance to go buy crysis yet, but instead I got the Professional version of 3D Mark 06 so I can play around with the options.

Here are the settings I chose, to stress the computer as much as I can with 3D mark 06. I think I selected the highest



I also selected all the tests so the computer was running all this for about a good 15 minutes.

Here are all my tempratures and everything, immediately seconds after the test completed.



To be honest I'm pretty pleased so far with my m15x.

 

Cool, that's impressive, although your temps look good, you might be better running the tests for an hour or more to fully test your system, apart from that your system appears to be a good one.

Congratulations

OB

 

If you can I think you should post on this sticky on notebookreview alienware.

Worldwide m15x Forum Survey http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=260275&page=2

I think if we can try to keep all the basic info on like quality and build and such it will give a better understanding of Alienware. So new people can look and go. This laptop has so many good and so many bad. So it give the basic of the quality of the laptop.

 

Andrewkm,

If you want some useful info take a look at the thread i just created, you might fins it very useful?

Notebook Health Guides

OB

 

If you want to stress your GPU you have to use programs like ATItools or Furmark. These synthetic tests fail however to put the 8800GTX under a "real life" stress. You can only conclude on what temperatures your GPU can be pushed to by playing demanding games. Crysis, Bioshock, Stalker (this was, for me, the one that gave me higher temperatures) will be a good way to determine what temp your GPU will work at under stress. Oh... and you have to play at least for couple of hours.

 

I dont think everyone play the same games as you. If you know of a 30 day trail for the games you are listing your not going to give a good test. Not everyone going to want to buy a game they might not like to stress there systems.

We need stress test programs that are FREE.

 

Atol...
I'm not suggesting him to buy anything.
I'm just saying that if he wants to see how far the GPU will go to under "real life" stress, he will have to play a game like the ones I describe above.
If you go and play solitaire and puzzle bubble or super mario because you really like them... Then you won't really have any answer to whether or not your GPU has an overheating problem.
Clear?

 

Hey Milcs, I was actually planning on buying the games you mentioned (and I am looking forward to Far Cry 2 and the new Colonial Marines one when they come out). I was so excited when I was the physics of Far Cry 2 video that's on You Tube that shows you the real time plant growth and sun moving and stuff. Looks amazing. You can be sure that I will be playing the games you need to get answers as to the stress the CPU and GPU come under. As much as I prefer gaming on consoles (Playstation-biased here), you can't beat the feel of them on a PC. I do tend to get hand-on-mouse strain though that hurts my wrist. And that's with a wrist rest.

So... how come Stalker really tested your M15x? I didn't think that would tax a comp more than Crysis would.

 

damn, alienware sells 32bit vista... sigh

 

I don't really have an answer for you there... Both stressed it quite a bit, but Stalker did drive it up faster. Don't know why.

Thanks for your willingness to clear things out. Your a genious!

 

One question though... can all this stressing the components by real (games) and artificial means (benchmarking programs) actually do damage and decrease the life of the components? I'd like to test the maximum the machine can do, but I wouldn't want to harm it in any way. Not for the amount we pay for the AW name.

And Gaz333... most people who game or like their editing programs should stick with the 32bit for now, as a lot of software is still not fully supporting 64bit as I understand it. Programs like Adobe Photoshop are still only able to run properly on 32bit I have heard. Somebody feel free to correct me here if this is no longer the case. :S

 

Well... obviously if you don't switch on the computer it will probably never get damaged. But then again, if you can't run games on it in order not to "stress" it, then what's the point on getting this laptop in the first place?
None of these tests will harm your hardware if the hardware is in perfect conditions.

 

I agree, milcs. You've paid a good sum of money for a computer that has been designed for gaming. It should be able to play the highest-end games without cooking itself. And it's better, IMO, to test whether it can or not NOW during your 1yr. warranty or 30 day refund period, than find it out later. It would be aweful to have a problem that was never uncovered because the system wasn't sufficiently stressed, only to manifest itself down the road when it's too late to have it fixed under warranty.

 

Sorry everyone, was very busy and couldnt update the thread. Its now 2am Saturday and I dont feel like sleeping so im doing a couple tests.

First Problem!

I RAN Orthos CPU/RAM Stress test, and here is what I got.



CPU Tempratures rose to 89 Degrees Celcius MAX.

I Also got that error at around four minutes. While I recieved the error, my SCROLL LOCK kept going on and off constantly. IT is in the top right corner of the laptop, maybe it got very hot? Not sure but anyways as soon as I turned the program off the scroll lock problem stopped.

Going to try running the test again, not sure what is wrong.

Here is a copy of the SPLOG File.

Code:

Type: Blend - stress CPU and RAM Min: 8 Max: 4096 InPlace: No Mem: 1791 Time: 15
CPU: 2800MHz FSB: 200MHz [200MHz x 14.0 est.]
22/06/2008 2:38 AM 
Launching 2 threads...
2:Using CPU #1
2:Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
2:Press Stop to end this test.
1:Using CPU #0
2:Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024K FFT length.
1:Beginning a continuous self-test to check your computer.
1:Press Stop to end this test.
1:Test 1, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922945 using 1024K FFT length.
2:Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024K FFT length.
1:Test 2, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19922943 using 1024K FFT length.
2:Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using 1024K FFT length.
1:Test 3, 4000 Lucas-Lehmer iterations of M19374367 using 1024K FFT length.
2:FATAL ERROR: Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4
2:Hardware failure detected, consult stress.txt file.
2:Torture Test ran 4 minutes 44 seconds - 1 errors, 0 warnings.
2:Execution halted.

1:Torture Test ran 4 minutes 44 seconds - 0 errors, 0 warnings.
1:Execution halted.

 

Friar_Tuck I think with any Game machine like this laptop. It best to get a 2 or 3 year warrintee. It might cost alot. But it could save you in the long run.

 

Well... you have the extreme processor. As it's been discussed, all the extreme processors will downclock. As it was also said before, this is not a matter of being lucky... The cooling solution is not enough to keep the CPU at low temperatures. The CPU warms up independently of the fan being on at max speed. With the extreme processor, this is much more obvious.

Now... I've never seen anyone reporting that kind of error with Orthos. I would repeat the test but selecting only "Small FTTs- Stress CPU". Then monitor again what happens. Try and read the "stress.txt" file that it mentions when the test is stopped.

I'm sorry for you... but this is something that you can't really go around. People have come up with homemade solutions (Taco to be more precise), but I strongly believe this just shows how bad the cooling solutions implemented on the M15x are. They just become more obvious with the Extreme Processors.