Area-51 m15x Update from Alienware

now, my "cancellation agent" just called me back and told me that they are "working on a new BIOS but do not know when it will actually be released". that doesn't really contradict anything said here but it certainly moves my expectations away from checking my mail constantly.

 

Personally, I think what Frank says carries *a lot* more weight than a CS rep.

Just my $0.02.

N

 

He could just be an Internet bot. He gave a generic reply, yet nothing happened. Boring Alienware, boring.

 

Fan noise (or speaker quality for that matter) doesn't really bother me as I use headphones anytime I play games, watch movies, dvds, tv shows, etc.

 

well, i don't have a bios update in my inbox yet either, so until i see one, VP Frank is wrong and CA Eddie is right

 

Yeah my inbox is empty too. lol.. So I really don't know who to believe.

All I know is the parts that were suppose to sent over 10 days ago are MIA and nobody at AW knows anything about it lol..

What can I say Just CLASSIC...

 

I thought he said they were going to continue to test it before releasing it? Then again I guess it's only right that people interested in Alienware hardware form a conspiracy theory and scream the sky is falling at the slightest hiccup every 4 seconds

Cheers for keeping us in the loop Frank.

 

oooh eekie, i'm just having fun with the situation pitting Eddie the CS guy vs Frank the VP. Frank didn't give any timeframes at all, so i don't have any expectations other than "soon".

i'm truly grateful for Frank's consistent updates, it shows they are serious in addressing this. I'd be happier if it were fixed already, or had never been a problem, but thats what i get for succumbing to the pretty lights. ooh shiny!

 

Haha they're not. This is the first time that I have seen AW really step up to the plate about something. I'm hoping we can continue to see more support like this in the future as opposed to the hell I had to go through with my M5550.

 

Wow this is getting annoying anyone ever have problems with the volume key moving around by itself? occasionally it keepts turning bright like if i where to have my finger over it and at times if I am listening to music it will actually mess with the volume... Anyone got a clue wuts going on :S or maybe I can disable?

 

is it the classic way for AW to treat a consumer?
i m not annoyed by waiting
i m pissed cause they even didnt reply to my last 3 emails, seems they dont even care
and good luck with ur m17x, when it is out, it definitely wil be the pc monster^^

 

Thank you very much Frank! It's nice to see that Alienware does indeed have great customer support. Thanks again in advance!

 

I do not own this notebook and have not read much about the problems. However, I have a general understanding of what has been going on. I want to commend Alienware for working on a solution and also responding in a good manner here in our forums. I hope the issue is solved for customer's sake and also for Alienware's image.

 

Personally I think that is why they are solving it this time. They have a lot of rep. on stake and good rep means better business. I swear AW should give the job of keeping everyone up to date to me. May as well since I'm on here so much, I could write out everything that is happening lol.

 

amen...

STONE FOR AW NBR REP!!!! rofl

 

Well, after having the thermal module replaced it did'nt fix the issue as I expected. I did call technical support and they did say that it is a driver issue with Nvidia and they should have a fix out within the next week (BIOS). He also said to email the same address as Frank said with your problems and Alienware will respond when they have this issue resolved. When I mentioned sending it in for service he did say that it is not a hardware issue. Now that is GOOD news. Standing by!!!!

 

too bad i mailed mine in for reapair. mine is in texas now for no reason.

 

Hopefully you get it back soon bud.

 

I got told exactly the same thing down here in Oz. Asked if it were a driver issue relating to the fans when getting hot, and the rep said yes. So they should be working on a driver/patch/BIOS update, and it should all work perfectly! Hopefully then we can enjoy the 8800GTX's, and the design shouldn't hinder our game playing!

 

Well right now my GPU downclocks all the time. Even with my cooler under it. So for what ever reason now it seems like it is happening more frequently now. So hopefully this fix will come out soon.

Here are some Screen Captures
http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpudownclock5dp7.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpudownclock4yq7.jpg

 

How about we see if Frank can deliver and if he does earn his stripes, maybe he can be ordained in the church of NBR as our chief liason, after everyone else of course lol

Seriosly we could ask him to become our direct connection with Alienware, sort of like 7 of 9 was in Star Trek Voyager?

OB

 

Yeah, this is probably what I'm most angry about too (well, not really angry, just kinda unfortunate). I sent it in only maybe three days before Frank posted here; if only I waited

 

Same here, it's down clocking all the time. It does not even have to be hot???

 

am i the only one here who has m15x and Zalman nc-2000? i'd like to compare the results

 

I have a zalman nc 1000 and mine downclock radomly from 82-85c. Strange thing mine never hit 90c. This is done with cooler running at full speed. At first i thought the cooler make no diff - actually it does. I try playing w/o one for 2 hrs and man it went up and down like 6-7 times. Put on a cooler at full blast and i only had 2-3 times DC.

I really hope they update their bios, increase fan speed whatever. if not I am going to tear out the back cover, put a custom size aluminum cube between the GPU and my cooler and let conduction take care of it. This heat issue is really getting in my way.

Worst case scenario I will weld the GPU permanently to zalman cooler and post pictures to all major websites "The new M15x - possibly the fastest and heaviest laptop in the world"

 

i have the nc2000 as well, what do you want to compare?

 

ok back to topic. let me know what test u wanna run with the zalman cooler? i be glad to help

 

I'm not a bot . Updates are being deployed as I type this.

Everyone, thank you for your support and patience.

 

Awful nice for a bot, isn't he?

In any case, thank you for your support and patience, especially considering the less-than-enthusiastic welcome you got. Even though there are business reasons for your actions, it's been a pleasure seeing your posts here so far.

 

...but then a bot WOULD say that wouldn't it!

Cheers for sticking around though Frank(.exe)

 

Thanks Frank,

Awaiting my email regading my system..

 

LOL!

@ Frank - Thanks!

 

Thanks for the update Frank, I have an agent on the phone with me walking me through the BIOS update.

 

On the phone now.

 

I still haven't recieved anything yet..

 

BIOS update is done, version x29b P3. Off the bat, I notice idle temps are a little higher than they used to be (60-62 deg C vs 55-57 deg C). Running 3dmark06, I have noticed the GPU fan seems to kick into another "gear" and it gets pretty loud (more than it used to). According to Rivatuner monitoring, it reached 87 deg C during 3DM06, and that's when the fan kicks in high motor. No downclocking yet...will try ATI Tool next.

 

@new - You have to call up tech support and have them install the BIOS with you. Try that man. Oh and btw it is going to be great if the BIOS update doesn't fix it

 

Ok my bios just finished installing. Testing with ATI tool as I type.

P.S. You just have to call to get the beta bios e-mailed to you.

 

exactly how did those with the new BIOS receive them? I have not gotten anything in email, that was the original stated deployment path...

edit: sheesh, thank you both for being telepathic

 

Thus far my tests have been positive. It hasn't gone over 86 unless I lift the book from the front (which instantly causes it to soar). I'm just letting it scan for artifacts for a few minutes before I go to work, getting it nice and hot. While scanning for atrifacts it seems to be hovering around 78-79 mostly.

 

LMAO ha ha ha thanks guys. Will call them right away..

 

Pre-BIOS, when I ran ATI Tool, the temps slowly climbed until it hit 90 deg C, where the GPU downclocked.

Post-BIOS, ATI Tool verified for me what 3DM06 did, that 87 deg C seems to be the point where the fan kicks it into ultra high gear. The fan does the job, lowering temps to the 79 deg mark where it seems to stay (with the fan still in high gear).

So the BIOS seems to work. Only issue is the higher idle temps....not sure why that is.

 

Alright, last post from me for a while. I told it to Find Max Mem, and I have set it to take 15 minutes per heat phase. It went up to 86 and then the fant kicked in to 5400 RPM and then about .... 30 seconds laster or so, it's down to 81. I will try to do more conclusive tests when I come home, but so far, it's looking like this has done the trick.

P.S. Staying at 81 for a while, hell, it even hit 80 for a few seconds. Rock on.

 

ok so with the new BIOS the m15x's major problem has been fixed... thats great for the owners so now it needs to come in black with skullcap... Im happy that they have managed to fix the problem now i can put this laptop back on the buy list.

Gratz all m15x owners and thanks Frank for the consistent posts about AW's progress.

 

Hey 2 people doesn't mean it is fixed. Better give it some time and see how things go for a bit lol..

Now If I can just get my CPU downclocking fixed.

Ok My BIOS email is on it's way. I was blown away. Some one from AW just phoned me directly to let me know it was ready. Nice touch.

And thanks AW for the call.

 

so it works i guess. i have not recived it yet. i got a call from AW yesterday but could not talk. i was told i would be called back today. but i suppose the update is worthless to me until i get the laptop back from fedex which is going to be a while!

 

I have not received anything via email yet, so I tried calling tech suport and after being put on hold a few times and asking her about the BIOS or BETA BIOS, she said that they will contact me when it is ready as it is not ready yet. Hopefully it will be soon!

 

gophins134, did you write to that [email protected] email that Frank posted? They're working off of that list.

 

can someone upload the bios? to let thoose of us who know to flash bios do it ourselves.

 

Thanks Frank, AW seems to finally being able to fix it.

Ok, so now I assume that this beta version of BIOS (x29b P3) will be installed in all new systems you ship? And how will we be able to download the new version of it?

Another question everyone else? How do I check my version of bios? (just for the future when I get my system)