Alienware m15x General Information - Post m15x questions here!

I want the full AlienFX just for the backlighting of the keyboard.. I don't really care about flashing lights and all that, but a lit keyboard could prove useful.

 

Not very much because usually 1337 gamers already know keyboard layout by heart, and usually game without any light near them.

But well maybe you do game in dark, just that you don't know your keyboard layout.. yet.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of last-minute late-night essays, but it could help with gaming too.

 

so in regards to the ripley being released towards the end of march. I ended up contacting alienware via email and this is the reply they sent me for my 2 questions:

Regarding your question, student and military discounts are not combinable, customers must choose between one discount or the other.

At this time, I have no exact information as to when the black version of the Area-51 m15x will be available other than it will be released during the next few weeks.

I personally hope that by a few weeks it wouldnt mean end of march and I am going to presume it doesn't. So hopefully this brings more optimism back, I still have to get on top of saving for this thing.. sigh.

 

is it possible to order a empty smart bay and how much do they charge ???

 

If you guys want to configure a m15x from the $1500 starting price, here's the link.
http://www.alienware.com/Configurat...?SysCode=PC-LT-AREA51M15X&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

Guess what? $2k will get you:

15.4" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p) with Clearview Technology
Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800M GTX
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 1.8GHz
1GB RAM
120GB 5400rpm HD

Upgrade the RAM and HD yourself so you'll save a few hundred dollars and you'll have one hell of a system at a reasonable price. Also, the backlit keyboard is only $40 more and the 8800M GTX is a $500 upgrade.

 

Aria, would this work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145157

and also, if i get the 1 GB version, would you suggest removing it and adding the new memory? or keeping the 1x512 in? Or does it not matter?

 

That particular one should work just fine, because as far as I know compatibility issues with Corsair memory are very rare.
Regarding your second question, well it doesn’t matter if you have a 1GB stick plus a 512MB, however in order to have dual channel RAM you need to have two matching sticks which normally come in pairs in the same pack as they are tested by the manufacturer to make sure they work in dual channel. But then again dual channel setup has shown a marginal performance gain in real life, so it’s not a must.
Anyway while you’re at it go with the 2GB version if you want dual channel, if not, get a single 2GB stick and add it to one of the 512MB sticks already in there for a total of 2.5GB which is ideal for Windows; I strongly recommend a minimum of 2GB of RAM especially if you’re planning to go with Vista. :smile:

 

Is there any point to getting this laptop with a 7500 chip and the 8600 or 8700 graphics card?

 

That's what I thought as well, but I came across this on the Alienware site (click on "More Info" on the "Memory" heading in the configurator):

 

Thanx for the info guys... ill probably get the 2x1gb pair and remove the single 1x512 it comes with...

looking at the preconfig thread, looks like I save (net) over $100 on this alone!

This forum rocks... in addition to the RAM, I also found out about the Visa (saving another $200) warranty! Looks like my perfect config is coming in well under $2500, even w/ the 8800! Cant wait!

 

Niiiiiceee!!! Thanks dude! Yeah I guess that config also saves me about $185 off my configuration on the 2699 model (assuming I'm forced to get 2GB RAM on the 2699, and get 1GB RAM on the 1499 model)
from $3528 (including Alien Respawn) it goes to $3343 (including Alien Respawn). Nice!!!

-1440 x 900 720p screen
-1GB RAM
-8800m GTX
-X7900 2.8 GHZ processor
-200 GB 7200rpm
-no smartbay
-7.1 integrated High Def. Audio
-Illuminated Keyboard

thanks for getting that link to us!! Did you just try different links to see if it would work?

 

Hey

Quick question - what's the main difference between the 1440 x 900 and 1920 x 1200 screen resolutions? Is the high-definition on the 1920 noticeably better? And which is more commonly found on notebooks? Thanks

 

You're right JeremyR, intel are now including Intel Flex Memory in their P965 chipsets which allows for asymmetric dual channel setup as opposed to only symmetric in the past. I didn't know they already did it, though there was talk of this technology some time ago but I totally forgot about it. :smile:

 

normal notebooks will usually have 1440x900 resolution. 1920 is usually for high end media or gaming notebooks. for video watching there is no noticeable difference, but on games it might be, if your GPU can support that high of a resolution.

 

15.4" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p) with Clearview Technology

512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800M GTX

Intel® Core™ 2 X7900 2.8GHz – Extreme Edition (4MB Cache 800MHz FSB)

4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB

Intel® Turbo Memory (1GB) – Accelerate Data Transfer Speed

Windows Vista® Home Premium

200GB 7200RPM (16MB Cache)

8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW) w/ LightScribe Technology

Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound

AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard

AlienRespawn v2.0 Recovery DVD – Windows Vista® Edition

1 year warenty.

With taxes and deliviry it comes to $4,047.08 .... is it worht it ????

after i've read some posts i came to the conclusion that ...

1. 3 year warenty is useless , it's not an accsedintal warenty.
2. Blue ray is **** .. ( iagree with that 1)
3. 1920 x 1200 isn't gonna make a huge diffrence ....

i also have some Qs ...

1.is there a huge diffrence between the 2.4 & 2.8 ghz proseccores?? (thinkin about how it will preform the future)?

2.will i be bale to buy some smartbay stuff in the future?? or do i have to get them now???

.................

Any cupons will be helpful ... thxxxxxxxxxxxxx

.............

Can some 1 let me use thier University email? ........ thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x100

 

The word you're looking for is 'fraud'

 

what ... i swaer im a good dude ...

 

well this is a good config but personnally I think you should not upgrade the ram directly with alienware but buy it somewhere else and upgrade it yourself.
that way you'll surely save some money.. cuz I dont know for you but 4 000 $ is a lot.

 

how much will i save ???? because all i'll do is take it to best buy & let them do it for me ...

....

 

Best Buy guy? No I am more willing to let Alienware did it if I want someone else does it for me. But really, I have done it myself and would only allow myself to do anything with my baby.

 

read topic ..

thx.....

 

does it include openin up the laptop ??? also can u plez answer some of the questions i have in my post in the prevouis page .... thx

 

You mean specific smart bay stuff from Alienware or do you mean something like a HDD from some third party to toss in your M15x?

 

I am pretty sure you can

But I have no clue where

I am looking forward to buying the smartbay battery but I am not sure I will buy it when buying the m15x which could probably turn out stupid

 

Q: When I buy a 17" Alienware (like M9750, M17x) do I get the second HDD bay when I buy it with a single HDD? If no, where can I buy it separately?

 

Hmmm looks like AW just changed something. It's now more customizable

http://www.alienware.com/configurator_pages/area-51_m15x_ai1.aspx?Syscode=PC-LT-AREA51M15X-AI1&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

 

Yes, but it won't void the warrenty if that's what you're worried about and it's very easy to do :wink:

 

sweet new configs but i still want a black laptop... grrr... and skullcap im sick of this frikkin ripley ****

 

Oh yeah, options for 8600 and 8700 and unlit keyboard; but would you really not pay $50 for the backlit keyboard? For me there are only two reasons to buy this notebook: 8800GTX and backlit keyboard. :yes:

EDIT: And yes, no black chassis yet, so a rather pointless update.

 

I don't profess to be all knowing in the area of smart bays but I'm not aware of another notebook with the same option/technology to be able to easily swap in and out extra HDD's and batteries. If that's the case, its unlikely there will be 3rd party vendors. You'll have to get it from Alienware and I'd be shocked if you could not buy the smart bay hdd's and/or batteries separately after buying the m15x or m17x. That's part of the hook of the option, to be able to change between the optical drive, an HDD and the extra battery as your needs change. With that said, I don't think we know of anyone who has tried it yet since there's only one system in the wild for users of this forum.

 

Jeez!, I dont know what to do, I'm tired of waitinggg!.... I almost set my order for the silver one in the morning but I chopped my hands just to not do that! but I think I will not resis for more than one week!....

 

yes! its very easy and it doesnt void warranty.

 

ehh....Hopefully they will release it within a week, but I'm not sure because the sales reps told me otherwise...although that "otherwise" information could jsut be to shut us anxious potential-customers up!

So dont make yourselves any promises about getting hte ripley if the skullcap doesnt come out in a week...

In fact I was thinking the same thing to myself, but then I saw these 2 images again, and re-fell in love with the black case, making it woth the wait:

http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498264/
and
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-alienwares-area-51-m15x-and-m17x-laptops-2/498263/

 

I guess Alienware caught the m15x configurator page leak that started at $1503...maybe they even planned for that who knows...

Trying to reach that page takes you back to the home page now!

 

NO......Amendment 2248 to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 which was debated over the last few weeks on the Senate floor prohibits the purchase of all SmartBay peripherals after 30 days of the purchase of the original system...I'm sure a black market will flourish if the amendment passes into law...until then, I would send an e-mail to your Senator...

And yes...I'm being a smart*ss...I already talked to an Alienware sales rep (again, take that with a grain of salt) and he said that batteries, optical drives, and HDDs could be purchased at a later time...I imagine eBay will be ripe with them within 6 months...

It would NOT be the case...I have a 5-year old Toshiba with that super-advanced technology...they called it 'StyleBay'...my 15" Toshiba has a dedicated HDD...dedicated optical drive (currently, DL burner)...and a StyleBay...I bought two of the plastic cases along with the required HDD caddies, and then I have two 2.5 80 GB drives in the caddies inside the plastic cartridge-like cases that I swap in and out constantly depending on whether I want to watch movies off the StyleBay drive or play games (I even have a fancy piece of masking tape on the plastic case...one labelled 'Games' and one labelled, guess what, 'Movies'...helps me find which one I need really quickly)...Toshiba initially wanted around $300 for a 60 GB drive...the tray and caddy cost me about $30 off eBay and whatever the going rate was when I purchased the 80 GB drives...

I also have a StyleBay battery which I rarely ever use that I purchased off eBay...

But nevertheless, you are correct about 3rd party (at least in the case of Toshiba)...I believe StyleBay was proprietary so only Toshiba made the plastic case and cheap metal caddy...however, you could buy the plastic cases and put whatever HDD you had lying around in them...battery was specifically Toshiba, but they were available on their website long after the 5205 was no longer availabe...

I have never owned an Alienware so I only have the sales reps' word to go on...I will buy a battery later...I will buy the BluRay reader (maybe burner if media prices come down) later...and I will buy a battery later...still a bit irritating that they couldn't manage the internal HDD, optical drive AND a SmartBay...life is so full of compromises...so if purchasing later is impossible, I'll be shocked right along side you...

 

when i made my purchase, the rep told me that the smart bay battery will be available feb. 21st. if you order your m15x with this option, it will deplay your ship date. just wait and order it later.

 

What's the deal with the touchpad? Is it just flat with no edges? Is that weird? Can you scroll on it? How big is it? Anyone know?

 

Don't know how big it is, but I DO know that you can scroll on it because I read the instruction manual for the m15x available on Alienware's support+downloads page for drivers.

From the videos and whatnot of the m15x at CES, it seems that the touchpad has no edges, and is integrated into the laptop's casing so the only way to distinguish where the touchpad ends is through the lights that surround it. Also I think Alienware will give some sort of transparent film that you stick over the touchpad for better traction - that will also let you feel where the touchpad ends I suppose.

Don't know the dimensions of the touchpad, though.

 

when applying for a student discount , can i give them the head masters gmail account???


thx ....

 

ARIA

I notice your based in London from your avatar.
Please tell me how you ordered one of these babys as im desperate to get one but Alienware dont offer them in uk yet.

 

manu4, Alienware will more than likely want to verify YOUR status as a student...

 

so a gmail will work ???

 

No, it will have to be a ".edu" account. I recently acquired my eligibility for the discount and know they asked for an ".edu" email account.

 

This is my first Alienware, how fast does it move through the phases typically if all goes well?

I ordered mine last night around 7pm pacific time and already the website says its in stage 5 (assembly). I'm not complaining, but that seems really quick.

*update* Its only been 15 hours since I ordered it and it says stage 6 now.

 

really, Im waiting for my business lease to go through and Im freaking out because the leadtime looks so long.

 

thats faster than mine. order a week ago today and mine has been in stage 6 since friday.

 

You need to provide a .edu e-mail address. That is what it took for me to get the discount.

They send you a reply to the account to verify.

Hope this helps.

 

Hey guys I'm about to pull the trigger on the m15x but i have a quick question. I don't do a lot of heavy gaming so i chose not to go with the 8800.(plus that will push your order back by 21 days) I was wondering is it worth the $150 to get the 8700 GT or should I just stick with the 8600 to save a few dollars?

 

I haven't yet! But if the UK site takes too long, I'll get my auntie in the US to buy me one.