Alienware m15x General Information - Post m15x questions here!

Yes, I think i saw a pic of it, I'm not sure.

 

Yes 80gb for files, and your right its about 114gb on my 250gb drive now. I ended up getting the 200gb 7200 rpm for the laptop and the 320 5400rpm smartbay for anything I want to put on there. Although Im having a hard time explaining it to her. It says delayed on the smart bay but she is saying its not additional. I said its says none as one of the options in the config. Im probably driving her crazy explaining to her that Ill order it later if its delayed. She said I cant order the extra batteries with it either, I have to have an alienware to get the 'parts' so who knows what is going on.

 

http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498271/

http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498269/


According to those images at the NYC Exhibit on November 19th, the Ripley does come in a black case. Hopefully that will remain true soon enough!

 

lol either ask for another sales rep or speak 5 times more slowly using the most simple vocabulary terms. I guess there is some cunfosuion between what "additional" and "delayed" means. lol!

 

Bum Bum Bum *drum rolls please*

So MrWater....I'm going to ask you a question, but I think you already know what I'm going to ask...mwuahaha!

Is that a yes? yes? YES?!

(and if the answer is yes, we hope that you won't leave your fellow NoteBookReview members in the darkness while being distracted by your beloved)

EDIT: oops I just triple posted again. Sorry!

 

http://www.alienware.com/intro_pages/m17x_m15x.aspx
go to alienware sneak peak event gallery first picture on the closest table there seems to be a black alienware, perhaps to far away to tell between ripley and skullcap design tho, img 9 also has a better view. Personally I believe this is a black ripley design

 

it has also sidelights!, right? to be honest, I don't like it very much

 

LOL! I just called Alienware Sales and asked this guy why they don't have the skullcap and black case yet....He was completely confused (he said there is only ripley nothing else) he went and talked to someone else and came back with the information that we already know (skullcap in black is coming blah blah).

I asked him WHY it's not available and he said the material being used is different on the Skullcap. (that's what he said at least - accept/reject that information as you please).

Then I asked him when it's coming out and he said "we are unable to disclose that information." So when I asked him "so you know when it's coming out, you're just not allowed to tell me?" And he hesitantly managed to say "well...you know...for marketing purposes...(blah blah blah).." haha!

It's against their company policy to disclose the date. They totally have a date. I told him that many people are antsy and are considering not buying the laptop anymore because the extra configuration is not available (lol) and then he was like "All I can say is, sir, that it is coming soon... You can wait."

(I tried asking him within 1 week? 2 weeks? but he said couldnt yes to anything)....maybe I should have asked him "is it not coming in 1 week?" so he could say "no" lol. I told him i need the laptop by mid feb and he still said he couldn't say anything.

(I clearly have nothing better to do because I'm sitting anxiously on this laptop so I thought I'd write out my "experiences" here....)

ugh. This sucks. But if he said "soon. you can wait." in such an optimistic tone like he was dying to tell me the date yet couldn't....I don't know...maybe next 2 weeks tops? Maybe next week...next week is the end of January...

According to a sales rep, both Ripley and Skullcap have side-lighting. Although it seems as if you'd never be able to tell that it has side-lighting if you turn them off using the alien command center.

 

Question: in the configuration it has Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting and you choose a color. Does that mean the color you choose is permanent? I thought you would be able to change that through the software.

 

thats the same question i have...on their 2699 config it gives you options for the FX color...and furthermore can someone tell me exactly where all the lights are located??

 

Yes, you will still be able to change the color with the command center software. You simply choose the color that you want the system to boot up with the first time you turn it on out of the box. ("further adding to alienware's personalization...")

for a picture of where the lights are:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498297/
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498287/
http://www.alienware.com/product_de...Code=PC-LT-AREA51M15X-AI1&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT
(for the last link, click on the pictures under the "Take Control With Command Center" section)

 

aha!!!! thanks a lot Coolarj10!!! thats where the side lights are then....cool

 

what can I say? I don't even know when the m15x will be available here in europe!!

 

Just an update to my story (if anyone remembers from like 20 pages back), I called yesterday and had the extra batteries removed and now the laptop has moved into phase 5. Since the batteries were supposed to arrive on Friday into inventory, I've saved about 1-2 days by cancelling them (so, whether or not this was worth the effort for me is debatable; depends on how accurate the 5-business-days-to-ship statement is).

Anyone who got the $2699 model get theirs yet? Or, if not, what phase are you in

 

Mabe I misunderstood the lady I talked to, but I thought she told me February 25th for the battery, so I removed that to speed up getting the system. Maybe she did say January. Shoot....Whatever, if all is well with the system, I'll order the battery later.

N

 

It was this Friday (jan 25th).

Anyway, I too will eventually reorder the extra batteries

 

Shoot. for two days, I would have waited. They'll probably charge double to get the batteries later.

N

 

Yeah, I think all in all I may have done it differently as well (if I could have called on Monday like I wanted to I would've gotten three days which would be "more" worth it I think). However, I'd really love it if the computer could come before next Friday (because I'm off on a trip and need to do some work) so those couple days could be all the difference (but it'll still be a stretch). If I didn't have that constraint then I would've definitely waited.

 

I am in Phase 6 right now. Shipping will be 30-31st..
Can't wait..

 

The wait sucks..... get it on the UK site ALREADY

I am going with EVERYTHIING ON MAX .... 6K + .... he he! It is a company thing! YIIIHHH YII HA HAAAAAHHH!

Looking forward in hearing if the display is crap like the DELL m1730..... and the 3dmark06 score with the X7900 and 8800M GTX.

 

Your not happy with the M1730 screen. I was dissapointed with all my XPS screens. Everyone seemed washed and dull. Next to a sony they looked embaressing.

 

The M1730's screen has one of the highest contrast ratios (1000:1), colors (I think 16.9 million), and responce rates (7ms) than any other notebooks. Is it really that bad in person?

 

Back-light leak A LOT and BSOD - it is embaressing - my second m1730 is going back in the morning ... refund ALREADY!

All the SLI issues, crappy display, performance in games etc etc etc. - really stupid of DELL not to test the product a little more before releasing it.

The result has been a LOT of returned M1730's - just take a look at the m1730 owners forum - it's raining BEASTs @ DELL. So sad....

PS. Sorry for my english - "I'm Scandinavian - everything is what it is".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRJiRxCnDSY (fast forward 50 sec)

 

So glad I waited for this M15x.. Just want it already lol.. Only another weeks till it's in my hands.

 

MIne is going to ship the 18th. Lead time is definetly growing... And i dont get batteries, she wouldnt let me. I dont understand how 1 person gets batteries and another cant until 'I own an alienware'.. Anyway,, here is my final config. and Ill upgrade the ram to 4g
AREA-51® M15X SYSTEM

Display: 15.4" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p)
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Fuchsia
Video/Graphics Card: 512MB Nvidia® GeForce™ Go 8800M GTX
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 X7900 2.8GHz – Extreme Edition (4MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 1024MB
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Ultimate
System Drive: 200GB 7200RPM (16MB Cache)
Smart Bay: 320GB 5400RPM (8MB Cache) Smart Bay
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW) w/ LightScribe Technology - View Demo
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Keyboard Options: AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Port Adapters: HDMI to DVI-D Adapter

 

Man, why'd you go with the 2.8GHz Extreme processor? In Crysis, according to Gamespot, there was no framerate difference between the desktop 1.6GHz processor and the 2.8GHz Extreme processor, so I doubt you'll see any noticable difference in gaming. I'd lower the processor if I were you to save a few hundred, the Extreme processor isn't worth the price.

 

I was debating about what processor to get too. I ended up getting the 2.6 ghz because while its slower, its also $400 cheaper.

 

I think the 2.4GHz delivers the best bang for the buck. If the 2.6GHz was only $100 more I'd go for it, but I don't think it's worth $250 more.

 

Its for vray and 3ds max. The bigger the chip the better...

 

I hear you. You've got one beast of a notebook coming your way! Are you using it for gaming, too or are you buying it just for 3D rendering?

 

Its for work But I might try some games... what is good. I havent played any games since the PS2 I got when I broke my leg...lol

 

I whent with the X7900 aswell. Hopefully it will be overclockable to 3.2 or even 3.4 only time will tell.

 

would overclocking help mine with 3d max? Is that bad for the chip? Does it overheat?

 

Well alot of people using teh X7900 in the XPS M1730 are quite comfortable with running it at 3.2 ghz. So I guess it would be best to try small overclocks at a time and see what works best heat to performance.

Also we haevn't been able to determine if it is even overclockable in the Bios yet. So only time will tell.

 

The processor that will give you the most 'bang for your buck' is the third one down in Intel's lineup. At current that is the 2.2GHz T7500, but the T7700 is not that bad of a deal at all. The T7800 on the other hand is not a good deal and the X7900 is a rip-off considering the performance gain, but those are the two fastest mobile CPUs at present (unless you count the 45nm Penryns).

Regarding the XPS M1730's screen - our review unit had the best 17" WUXGA screen I had ever seen. Excellent contrast, even lighting, and superb brightness.

 

What does "Extreme Edition" actually mean?

 

I read somewhere in here that the 1440 resolution is better for gaming. I was just curious why that is? Or why it is better than the 1920 screen set to a lower resolution when gaming?

I am hoping to order one of these in the next day or two, and I am still wavering on a few of the components.

 

It has unlocked multipliers, so you can overclock it.

 

Well a native resolution will practically always look better than any non-native resolution, so even though you could run at lower resolutions on the 1920, it just won't look at good as running at 1440 since that's that screen's native resolution.

 

The 1440 resolution will have a better framerate (I've read 3-5 fps more, don't know how accurate that is).

The problem with lowering the resolution of the 1920 is that screens look MUCH better at their native resolution. They can do others, but it looks kind of like someone just smacked you in the head (blurry).

 

Understood, thanks.

 

Does anyone else find it curious that the free upgrade on alienware's site ends tomorrow, the day before it will have been two weeks since the m15x was first available? possibly they are planning to release the full specs for the m15x? or even better, the m17x? I have a hunch they have something planned for this friday.

 

WC2810 the extreme edition is basically a unlocked multilier on the CPU.
Giving the ability to overclock.

 

If you lower the resolution, doesn't the screen itself also get smaller (so a big part of the edges of your LCD are black)?
On my brother's HP dv2130 laptop (Vista Home Premium - native 1280 x ???? resolution), changing the resolution will resize it on the screen, but on my dad's Dell Latitude (w/ XP SP2 - native 1650 x ???? resolution), when I manually lower it to 1440 x 900 it actually blacks out a huge part of the LCD so the screen itself is smaller.

 

And one other question about the screens, what is the deal with 720p vs. 1200p and does that have anything to do with the number 1080p that gets thrown around when looking at flatscreen HD TVs?

I thought I also saw someone here say something about how on a screen smaller than 42", you just don't notice the difference. Was that in reference to the 720p or the 1440X900?

 

Yes, no point in having more than 720p on a 15.4" screen; that's my personal opinion though...

 

Very interesting point....I would be ECSTATIC if that happens! We will have to have a celebration! haha!

well, the sales rep did say they are coming "soon. you can wait." We need to call them up and pretend like we already know the date is within next week...see what their response is.

 

hehe. I just called Alienware up and was like "Can I preorder the black case skullcap right now before it ocmes out next week?"

The guy had a confused tone as if it was for sure not coming out next week....

I don't get it. He said the most accurate way of checking was through the newsletter/online, and that in his experience it probably will be the first weeks of February, and not January. UGH.

I wish Alienware would just release the damn thing already!

Does anyone here have relatives that work in high up places at Alienware??

And what happened to MrWater?! DID YOU GET YOUR LAPTOP TODAY!? OMG!

 

He's been hanging out over in the official m15x owner's thread

 

Oh yeah... Everyone over to: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=211399&page=1