Alienware M17X Is It Really All Powerfull

I have the maxxed out version with 4gb ram, 1TB HDD, Quad Extreme QX9300, 1200p screen / Silver. One of the first to take delivery in the UK back in June.

Been reading all the threads here since I bought mine arnd three mths ago. Been accepted for & requesting a full refund now for over 2 mths now. The machine is useless!!!, you guys have also proved this to me, dim screen, no proper overclockability, poor performance and poor FPS in games. My old Toshiba Qosmio is twice as bright, not as good resolutions yes, over two years old but can run everything including Crysis Warhead at 1440x900 as good as the Alienware M17X! on only on a onboard single GPU!.

All Bios, Drivers & Software updates and tweaks to date - Useless no difference, what is there to OC.... nothing, vain attempts and no real results. Tried and used everything, stealth mode, full power mode, hybrid, non hybrid, forced 280M in SLi, Overclocking, Power management settings, Nvidia tweaks and settings, rivatuner, cpu z, gpu z, furmark, 3d mark vantage, unigine demos, and many many more. Spent more time respawning, playing with settings and tweaking than being able to use the machine. The QX9300 should easily go to 3.2Ghz and beyond to 3.5Ghz with eeeeeeeeeaaaase. All and most of the above also carried out with Tech Support on the phone testing exactly the same machine spec at their end and they also could not get any real performance, well over 50 hrs wasted on the phone.

Alienware / Dell have fully acknowledged to me that there are issues and problems that at this moment in time they have still not found resolve for (have emails to prove it) thus they should not have sold these units to anyone, we are all testers at our own costs for them. They are still fine tuning, tweaking the final design. Mine is going back, going from a poor P6k-7K 3D Mark score to a P60+K score with my new system ordered today. The M17X does not have the title "All Powerful", never did, never will, by the time they crack the issues in their dreams, New GPU's, i7's in the laptop platforms and windows 7 is going to be here and past and open jaws remaining.

Waste of money, time and effort for the most expensive desktop led lightshow on earth in my opinion per my experience.

I was trying desperately to get on to you tube and show what this machine should have been capable of, still cant find anyone that can show it doing anything properly apart from lit keyboards here or there and average to normal Crysis play, no wow factor the M17X is not doing anything better than a Sager, Clevo, Rock, Maingear to name a few including its own predecessor the M17. I wanted to triple monitor via Matrox triplehead2go and really push this machine to the max, it cant handle anything heavy.

Guys it might look nice.....I am getting real, it doesnt work properly at least my one doesnt and most appear to be saying or suggesting the same.....whether you do realise or not is irregardless, Dell / Alienware certainly do know, it is not working as it should be. I am also not the only one, check out the Dell Community forum website, Gaming and Alienware!

I have not got it in for them, just being honest and truthfull with my experience to date, I wouldnt have bought the flagship model for £3.5k, if anything couldnt wait to get it and start showing off...but have seriously lost heart and faith in them for now.

Just my pennies worth, not here to annoy anyone, still seeking all true power, hopefully the next system will deliver.

Regards & Peace - Keep pushing for what its worth & thanks to all your posts.
Freestylaruk

 

I need the cliff notes for this one.

 

I think your mistaken, but just for kicks, what is your 3d06 score? there might be something wrong with your computer.

Also, Are you playing with it plug in, a dumb question yes, but you would be surprized.

Also, What are your power settings at, balanced? low? high?

 

What is your bases for this statement? You're talking about a 40% increase in CPU freq at 3.5. Why should it be able to OC by 40% with ease?

 

Besides, Laptops are better off left not over clocked, its already a super fast processor.

 

also rememeber not all games fully support SLI, and the fact that rendering at 1900 by 1200 is much more gpu intenseive then 1440 by 900

 

I think there is something major wrong with the machine I was sent, the most I have got under 3D Mark Vantage is P63xx, I have already had two GPU 280Ms changed out and HDDs changed as they were knocking. With regards my comments on the QX9300 intel themselves have managed to OC to 3.7Ghz with ease, thus in the manner and hype it was sold to me, I was told by AW rep that 3.2-3.5Ghz for this machine was easy to achieve. Like I said not here to annoy anyone or challenge anyone....i cant the darn machine isnt capable of challenging anything......lol

 

I have not been trying to push max res.....believe it or not been trying most tests under 1280x800 or just above.....?

 

I have over 20 lappies, including tablets, 50+inch screens, i mean major setups and no troubles ever with any of the past machines or the desktops when ocing etc......this machine has really annoyed the hell out of me and wasted alot of precious time........

 

maybe just a defective mobo or something that hasn't been replaced yet?

 

Take a look at my scores for what it can achieve and then point me to a laptop performing better.

I'm sure intel can OC the qx9300 to 3.7 with ease but without a special setup that is not happening.

BTW, my system lives at 3.2Ghz and I've OC'ed and benchmarked up to 3.35Ghz.

 

No need to post on this the guy is a run and go everywhere posting the same damm comments. doubtfull anything is treu about it and most likely due to past purchases with alienware. Ive read some people being pist because they just ordered a area51 m17x but is that a reason not to bring new laptops out. To not upset somebody off that bought one a mont before? Alienware sells laptops to make profet like anyone else. sorry to make such long post lol...

My m17x runs everything fast as hell. when i login my system is ready before i can even establisch a wireless connection. when i browse through my files it like it has a mind of its own and opens things up before i click them. gaming? Not one single problem and the cooling is unseen, cant even begin to explain how good it is. so in my eyes its all powerfull

 

For me it boils down to heat.....that old enemy of alienwares.....I dont think most people realise but the motherboard in mine for example is constant 67C at idle no load and way past into the mid 70's if not more under load even at low res....military grade motherboards are designed to operate from -21 to 70Celcius what makes the AW better than military grade....? anyhow its going back for good after 3 months of nothing but headache, i just got sent a bad apple....am going for an i7 platform now, going through the new sys tomorrow to finalize and hope AW make true on the promise of full refund.

 

Thats what I am trying to say, I have keenly been watching your threads and I am not joking thought I was doing something wrong, done all the settings under the sun my friend, I cant touch your scores with a maxxed out machine and any overclocking on mine results in freezes or BSOD.. I double, triple and quad checked everything....its a bad one for sure....i have read and re-read and re-re-re read these forums and followed everything incase I had missed something, I actually had picked up on most of you guys and your findings way before and worked out stealth/full power mode conflicts, power management settings to full, etc etc etc forcing dual 280M's only from bios long before Tech Support pointed these things out to me.............

 

I have no need to claim or boast anything can send you pics of five lappies infront of me right now including the NEW alienware M17X yes M17X in silver...I am not p....ed ....infact quite the opposite and impressed with quick response here.....thought I would post here to see what the response would be........

 

Yes my point so why go all over the internet and say it is not all powerfull because we can clearly say its just a bad one. even when you say like it could be just mine the overall feel you give people is that its all bull and a toshiba is better which is not true at all but glad to see your responding for once, maybe because people didnt respond fast enough you didnt come back

 

Oh I get it now, AW is releasing something new and you want it instead of what you have already, that makes sense.

 

If you got a lemon that's one thing but you are generalizing in your comments.

 

By the way Mandrake, I managed to get my friends AW M17X also maxxed similar spec to mine in silver too which was OC to 2.910Ghz, couldnt push it anymore and the max that one could do was GPU P13369 & CPU P11817...mine couldnt even push past the 2.53Ghz and stay stable......hence loss of faith after seeing people like you hitting those marks.... I always respond...i am not lying and by the way I am no FAN of Toshiba....it has only been mentioned since I have two of them being the past work horses thats all...dont get me wrong if they gave me trouble I would say the same.....by the way I have only posted on Dell Website not everywhere from what I can remember

 

So far I have only come across the couple of guys here managing to break the 3Ghz barrier......no one else hence my reason to think all of them are poor performers......I mean can you blame me, when you yoursleves have taken that QX9300 out and out it into an old M17 and broken 3Ghz under OC whereas the M17X cant.......

 

yes i found you at dell, you tube and and somewhere else. and here lol but nevermind i was slightly wrong

 

Only generalized where it deserves it....Mandrake seriously i think you are one of two guys I know that have a what could be said a working Alienware M17X....at least I hope to think you think that too, hence to you it would appear my comments are generalized where as most I speak to have the same issues as myself, poor performance for alot of money........

 

I might have got a little concerned at someone falling for hype on youtube actually from what i remember just warning him or her to be careful along the way....but nothing drastic I have given credit where its due, such as the decent chaps at tech support and the design team at AW....i still like the looks and lights but she wont do much more than that...

 

i think most of the m17x owners are happy with their laptops because they don't have a defective one like you. and for the allpowerfull we all know that is just a name that don't means is the best laptop in the world

 

Here is a OCCT test i did, check temps please.

 

Anyhow I have seen as most of you may have what a QX9300 can do, in my machine its lame and more so with the added problems of heat, the GPU problems etc and since all the friends who have gone and bought one too are in similar probs cant blame me for thinking these are all a little off somehow whereas those I know with the ugly Sagers, Clevos, Rocks and Maingears are not complaining....

 

Those temps under heavy load are hovering around 67C LOLOL mine hovers at idle, no sidebar, No HDD activity at 67-69C........similarly so does a friends. Had a tech friend check mine out he said it may be due to heatsink pads used and not proper compounds but he didnt want to go into the machine incase of warranty issues and my problems to date.

 

yes and i was OCed to 3.4 GHZ if i use my NZXT it stays at 50°

 

Unless the system was a true lemon I would bet I can get any M17x performing within 10% of mine.

 

I tell ya what.....I am just like you guys can usually get things up and running with the effort and usually quite quickly this is a first for me.....oh and by the way, I was complaining to AW within the first few days of having the machine LOL so no i wasnt aware of anything else they might be conjuring up LOL, infact I challenged them if they can OC mine to work past the 3GHz ill keep it LOLOL....i know mine wont do it be it on multipliers or unlinked modes.......evetually a BSOD will occur either overnight or suddenly out of the blue even at idle no load. My friends is tending to do the same things.

 

Mandrake I would love to take you up on that within 10% claim on my machine LOLOL i really would....... remember I said I have read all or most posts here......tonight was a last attempt to see how people out there feel about this machine to guage if it is really me, the machine or what etc....thats all

 

Its getting late, dont want anyone to think, i'm running off or wont reply, but will be checking in again, got lots to do, better finish off and get some shuteye and onto another day........you know what....I am happy I joined here today......been a silent observer for a while now. Good response even at this time of night (UK). Impressed. 5 stars to you all, even the sarcy ones.

 

Stick around.

 

To me the OP is just annoying. Basically he is saying: I just bought a Ferrari, I am returning it because my old dodge neon can go faster simply on the basis that the Ferrari he got had a major issue with the engine.

Yes, I agree AW should check their PC before sending them out but don't b$@#! out on the BY FAR BEST and MOST POWERFUL laptop EVER MADE.

 

Just too tempted not to get back in before hiittin the pillows when I saw a couple more posts LOLOL....I will be sticking around Mandrake, if I am of any use, but I am a busy guy, however I am sure I can help a little here and there when I have the time ;-).

I did say I wasnt here to annoy anyone, dont have time for unfriendly manner or args, I am not saying i just bought a Ferrari and I am bailing out and returning it because there is a major issue with the engine, I am saying I bought a Ferrari, the engine has been tested, parts changed, tested again and for three months I have not been able to take it for a simple drive only starting her up tweaks for hours and shut downs or crashes, still in the garage and I have been dying to floor that pedal to the metal with some testosterone behind that right foot lol....so what I am saying is after three months of it, understandably and showing some serious due patience and silence since it was a new concept etc I have given up, because I am simply in need of a Ferrari that works, not a test bed sitting in the garage anymore. If any of my cars had done that they would have been back with the dealer within the first few days until working proper.

My main uses and reasons are, I have a serious workload that demands serious power, at times I can be working on 4-5 PC's multi screens on each at the same time!!, and yes a bit of a gamer too when I am not working hard, part of a Consultancy, Project Management, Architechtural, Major Infrastructure Refurb/Building Projects & Budgets and also like to meddle with stocks and shares etc etc hope u guys r getting the pic.....u have to have the right tools to crack the money making, but so far in three months I have not used the brand new, what I thought of as the NEW MEAN MACHINE in anyway whatsoever for any purpose.

If for example I had Mandrakes machine (He must be feeling smug now) , would I really be here typing away...........I think not.... for me its having the tools to get the job done be it work or gaming, that matters most and beating the other at his game most importantly in work related stuff and delivering, I sadly grew up in too much of a competitive world so just laying it out as it is for me.

I was still looking for that wonder fix, with several tech visits right up into the 7-8th week of owning the machine, how many of you guys would be calm, polite after 7-8 weeks of owning an M17X, reluctantly leaving it at home everyday only to put it on, when u get home and each time end the couple hr session not getting anywhere with any proper stable OC, continuous poor performance in any demanding app such as live stock feeds, or video editing or gaming or anything demanding such as pert gant charting or major calcs for project management purposes etc.

I think I have been pretty polite, considerate to Alienware, it so happens yesterday was a funny day where the last tech visits report was mis-interpreted and really wound me up when they refused an agreed refund because they thought the tech reported back my system as performing at 89FPS in Crysis and Microsoft FSX LOLOL when he actually had reported 8 to 9FPS average with most times it hanging around 3 to 5FPS.

Deep down I was all for a working M17X, loved the design, may still revert a little later but for me the only way to start again proper is fresh and get rid of dead wood i.e. the one sent to me for now.....I am too unsure about replacement at this point in time (gradual loss of faith), since Tech Support told me there are many many owners with issues and problems whilst I also now agree there may be alot that are happy too after todays little venture onto this forum here.

Hopefully I make a little more sense and apologies for my sudden out of the blue appearance in my manner onto the forum, which I am sure rattled a few cages....... tends to be a bad habit of mine, but also a good flaw at the same time if you know what I mean...........

By the way just realised earlier when I was discussing temps with evilgenius under Prime results the CPU was different to mine hence I can understand the lower temps on the results shown and also the 3.4Ghz OC on a T9600, I would have been happy with a 3.2Ghz OC on my QX9300, possibly over the moon.

Catch u guys later..........

 

Frankly, If you need serious processing power, build your own i7 desktop rig, its cheaper, much faster, and more overclockable, with cheaper expansion. Put it simply, the processing power, and multimedia experience, not to forget comfort of a desktop system cannot be rivalled by laptops; for e.g: i7 920 + a single GTX 275+ 24' LCF is certain to blow that M17xout of water, at a fraction of the cost. If you don't need to move it often, merely leaving it at home, why honestly did you purchase it?

Beside, if the screen is dim - why not do something about it, e.g. but an external monitor? M17x is designed with portable gaming in mind - If you just keep it at home, you might as well get a desktop, which is by far better, in all areas that do not require mobility. Beside, if you had overclocking experience before, then you'd know any sort of it could affect the stability - not to mention this is a laptop, you aren't going to yield the same OC'ing gain as a PC, nor as Intel.

It's one thing to spend £XXXX on hardware that could only depreciate in value; if you do so, at least do some research before blowing away £3.5k, on hardware that's rapidly going out of date; and it's really quite something comeletely different if you buy something that doesn't suit the purpose. Its just a damn waste.

 

You try to use "hence" too much and when you use it you dont pause. So I don't like your posts. That and they are grand generalizations. Sorry for your lemon.

 

Ignoring your issues with overclocking, this almost sounds like a stealth-mode issue. The temps you're quoting and the FPS you're getting sound like it's using the 9400M instead of the 280M SLI. The 9400M runs very hot compared to the 280Ms, and playing sames like Crysis in high res would definitely produce those low FPS.

I know you're stated earlier you've switched between stealth modes (discrete, integrated etc...), just that I'm not getting the poor performance you're getting and I have a much lower speced CPU and it's not overclocked. Yeesh, during the Aion beta (another Cry-engine game, I know it isn't as intensive as Crysis) with over 100 players on screen around the citadel with everything maxed at 1920-1200 I was averaging 100fps (jumping between 90 - 120).

Like some of the others are saying, something is either configured wrong on your machine or its a dub.

Right now It's around 26C in this room (have the air-con on heating), and the GPUs are idling at 32C, CPU 34C. For yours to be idling at 70C either your machines a dub, you're running it in an oven or you've blocked the vents (dusts, cramped space etc...).

You've also got to understand, the reason quite a few are skeptical of your claims is some of your postings seem a bit nonsical. i.e. you said you run 4-5 multi-screen systems and require lots of power due to reason you quoted which could all run on a single i7 with multi-GPU / screen config. You use sweeping generalisation and change facts throughout your posts. i.e. from one friend who had it, to everyone I know who has it.

This is probably the preeminent forum for notebook users on the web, yet we have not seen any trend towards hinting at a failed design with the M17x. There has been the occasional dud, and some buggy software issues but that's about it. The current concern (and is an issue with many laptops) is the DPC latency which really only impacts sound recording. It hasn't impacted me at all with movie/audio playback.

 

WOW!!

A clauss sighting!! I am in shock

lol

 

Quicklite - I have to visit several client offices, have varying satelite offices, trust me life revolves around laptops these days for me, mini projectors, portable batt operated photo quality printers and usb scanners, got too many lappies already, the M17X was to take over the task of several, was the idea and mobile BIG plus. I dont buy to waste money or time I really need the stuff.......trust me I do .....seriously I do, not sure where I would be trying to crunch 6 million formulas and linked calcs at times that take 15 minutes or so to complete in a clients office getting ready for a major presentation or delivery of something etc.

For a desktop you must have heard my phonecalls over the past week LOL, working and waiting a finish around early Oct for ;-) a Coolermaster Cosmos S, Core i7 975 Quad Extreme OC 4.2Ghz+ under testing hopefully 4.5-6Ghz stable, On an Asus Rampage 2 Extreme Mobo + soundcard, With Dual GTX 295's in SLi, 12GB Corsair Dominator Ram, Tough Power 1200W Power Supply, Swifttech Watercooling, 5 x 1TB 7200Rpm HDD, 1 x 300GB 10000Rpm Raptor, Intel 250GB SSD, Bray DVD & Normal DVD both RW, NZXT Sentry Fan Controller and a few more addons for another new Desktop should hit top ranking on the vantage scores so I have been told.

BUT.....I need a power laptop that can do heavy things where ever I am, not just for gaming, gaming is like 10-20% usage. Like I said had I been sent one like Mandrakes.....boy that would have been magic...but no matter I can wait, will keep watching and waiting looks like a few more months this time round and keep pushing the old Acers, Qosmios and Portege's to the max, at times I have to go to offices with two or three laptops on me and the other stuff, ask my shoulders lol however I reckon now it is better to wait until Win7 rolls out and possibly go for an i7 portable plat. but not flying in headfirst this time, going to give it a few months to ensure a working machine is out there that can do the job before I purchase......who knows maybe an Alienware again but I say that with real caution if you know what I mean, got my eye on a few others but since its that time of the year and AW let them selves down putting me back in the market by no choice of my own, I might as well see what the new stuff is all about.

Can you blame me..........

 

Holy god, I have been trying to follow this thread but OP please condense what you say or like earlier stated give us the spark notes version, my head spins every time you post.

It has been said already you have a lemon and if you honestly own every piece of tech like you stated then you know what an Alienware is and how technology is not perfect. The fact of the matter is that with all the happy m17x owners here especially in the AW section don't expect sympathy if you make generalizations particularly comparing AW to a Toshiba.

 

:confused2:

lilyang, agreed. ..


Get a Clevo 9280 then... i7 in laptop. Guarantee to be fast.. and send the M17x to me.

 

Wait till late October, put Radeon 5000 series cards in, then you might top the vantage scores

 

Lilyang & Quicklite.....thanks for the advice lol

Again looks like couple of rattled cages lol guys I dont think you know what a QX9300 is actually capable of and what the hardware in the Alienware M17X is truly capable of, Yes I own "ALL THAT GEAR" and much MORE.....guess what!!! you hit the nail on the head, in your own words you state "You know what Alienware is like" and that Alienware "technology isnt perfect" LOLOL boy oh boy I couldnt make it clearer myself.

It appears I was right in my posts on the Dell website, some have not got a clue and think they really have a super dooper system and claim to be happy........If you really knew and have seen and observed what top Extreme CPUs and even dual 280M GPU's i.e. shrunk versions of the GTX9800+ cards can do, You would think twice before you make wild statements. If your head spins, reading my posts.......DONT READ THEM or maybe its that dim M17X screen lolol........I can tend to have that affect on some around me too, they cant handle the truth including Alienware.

Anyhow enough wit picking......my number crunching is done for tonight, late morning start tomorrow......keep enjoying your jast barely M17X's guys. Get real I would have kept mine with pride and joy if the hardware could do what it is designed for....it appears on most including your own ones dont perform but since your happy I have no problem with that, so you shouldnt have a problem with mine because I am not happy with the overhype and overkill sell.

They are not worth what people like us paid for them and are being beaten by the Sagers and Clevos hence why you also advised me to buy one.....ill buy when I am ready like I did with the M17X, refund is due shortly and Ill move on things move on.........I only came to this forum not to genralize but to get that final convincing that I needed that indeed most people really dont know there hardware yet.

Got respect for the few here that do and have been following posts for months way before I bought my M17X, helped me make the decision to purchase and believe it or not also helped make the decision to go for the full refund buy your own admission go back and read all the threads and posts here....most are not achieving full potential and struggling despite having removed and tested hardware in other platforms......

Need I say more.........

Peace
Freestylaruk

 

Kracs

Radeon 5000........hummm will go check out the specs........thanks for the tip bro.

Freestylaruk

 

Go to sleep now man... and quit taking those drugs, they are vewwy bad for you....

 

Ha haaa,

Work is my drugs lolol and makin bread....... late morning is the best cure for a late night as always. As long as I get this stuff finished tonight I got an easy day tomorrow.....end of the week.

Freestylaruk

 

http://pchardwareblips.dailyradar.com/story/video-ati-radeon-eyefinity-eyes-on-featuring-left-4/

 

Usually specification and complexity of an issue are mind blowing but here the generalizations you make are mind blowing....Suggesting that most users here have underperforming M17x's is ridiculous, there are more then just a "few" M17x users with a QX9300 with 3.0GHZ stable if you've truly been reading the forums long enough. Second is what Clevos/Sagers are beating the M17x? The limited BIOS is putting the Clevo M980u in THIRD place behind the Asus W90 and the M17x, who has set itself pretty far in benchmarking terms from anyone else...Also about generalizing how the M17x has heating issues is ridiculous too, we've had like maybe one or two complaints about overheating, one of which resolved. IDK if your going to get a refund go for it, the Sagers/Clevos out right now arent going to offer a better solution, however for sure the new mobile i7's coupled with the 5k ATI series cards will be for sure a great new solution to buy into WHEN it happens, seems like ATI shelved the DDR5 4870's and theres no telling how long the mobile 5k series will take to flood the retail market.

 

There was a poll on here a month or so ago along the lines of

Who here is happy with there M17x and would recommend to a friend.

Last time I looked it was
28 Yes
2 Undecided
1 No

Enough said I think.

The other thing is every time someone comes in here with some big story on how crap there machine is, it is a maxed out as if to say "This thing cost me 6k and it sucks".

Nobody with stock machines tends to have these big dramas?
Maybe because it is a better "story" when it's maxed out and a dud?