Just got my m17x yesterday - Couple questions.

So I got my m17x yesterday. Have to say I'm impressed by the AlienFX and the overall look/feel of the computer, but it stops at that.

I know I have to be doing something wrong. I can't even run Halo:CE on max settings without lag, and I'm getting 120-80 fps (and occasional drops to sub-60) in non-major cities on WoW with "good" settings. I simply don't understand WHY this is happening. I have a feeling Halo:CE may simply have a problem, as it tells me I don't have enough RAM to run the game when I open it. WoW is a different story though. I range from 170-250 on my destktop with high+ settings, which is old (8gb RAM and 9800gtx SLI.) Are the cards simply that much better? Or is the extra 4gb of RAM (which I was told by numerous people was NOT needed) making the difference. I know the human eye can't see more than 62fps, but when there are DROPS to sub-60, resulting in very significant lag, that is not ok.

I am not very experienced with computers, so please SOMEONE tell me what I am doing wrong, so I don't regret this $3,900 investment.

 

30fps is video... 45 is fluid so I'm confused on what your problem is first of all... secondly have you installed the new video drivers? the stock ones are crap...

And no the ram isn't making a difference, and no the cards aren't that much better... your desktop cards are the virtual equivelant of the 280m's in the M17x

 

Are you running in stealth mode?

 

How do I check? Excuse me being terrible @ computers.

 

If you right click your desktop, choose personal settings, and click display settings, you should see the current video card your using. If it's the 9400, you can just hit F7 or the stealth key to switch.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

[FN] + [F7] .

Gabe, whenever I click the stealth button it just says "low power mode is already enabled", even when I have "High performance" selected under power options..any idea why? Don't mean to thread jack OP, just don't want to create a new thread for this.

 

i don't think he is getting that kind of FPS on the 9400 m


It is normal

 

Hi airplaneman,
You must have booted the laptop on the battery. It will default to the 9400. Select stealth mode a second time and it will have you restart to change to your 260s.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

I don't see how you could complain about 80-120FPS? LCD screens don't refresh beyond 60 Hz (that would be 60 FPS), so what's the problem? The dips below 60 would be noticable, but not terrible. I'm happy getting 40FPS in UT3 on my macbook pro.

 

If the 9800GTX is the equivalent of the 280M, I don't see why I'd be getting any lag whatsoever. I didn't pay for 280s to get lag.

Something doesn't have to be "terrible" for me to want to change it. "Bad" is enough for me to wonder why I spent $3900 to get lag on a game that can run on my friend's computer that was made around 2001.

Anyone have any idea about the Halo:CE issue?

 

are you on battery ?

 

60 - 100 fps do a LOT of difference in how the game feels and BTW some new LCD's go up to 120hz.

 

Actually the 280M's are equivalent to about an 8800 GTS/maybe GTX (sadly). NVIDIA's really screwing us over in the mobile department.

 

Do you have proof of this? Becuase I have heard it is equivelant of the 9800GTX desktops which yes are also 8800's but higher clocks and more powerful

 

But remember that due the newer manufacturing process it overclock way better than a 8800GTS .

 

Indeed I do.

 

To tell you the truth I trust Notebookcheck more, http://www.notebookcheck.net/Nvidia-GeForce-GTX-280M-Review.14565.0.html

they are much more thorough... we don't even know what version of the 280m Tom's hardware was using... 2.1 MXM, or 3.0b

And all he did was state the hard data.. no actual testing was performed

 

Ah, thanks. Good link. Still, I don't understand why NVIDIA built the 280M on a completely different architecture than the desktop 280.

 

Well maybe the n00b shouldn't have spent almost $4,000 on a computer when he can't even do something as simple as toggle between Stealth and Dedicated mode.

Try enabling V-Sync and triple buffering in nVidia Control Panel.

 

Hi thread-starter,

I too dont have much experience in computing and I also spent an equivalent amount on my M17, you need to read up more on it and try and learn more about these machines....Try searching the archives of this forum using the search function...for example just type; M17X stealth mode
Its a long journey that everyone must take but its worth it in the end.
Although comments like the one above dont help you cant stop it.
Make sure you have the latest graphics drivers and check the settings for example...enabling settings like v-sync and triple buffering may just rectify the situation...trial and error.

Good luck pal and congratulations on your purchase.

 

The GTX 280m is the exact same core (well not EXACT same, but same architecture) as GTS250/9800 GTX+. It is a G92b core (with all 128 SP enabled). Just lower clocked and voltage to reduce power usage. The b denotes that they are 55nm offerings.

Tom's Hardware was not correct in their comparison, the 8800 GTS 512mb model is a 65nm G92 which is also shared in the 8800GT/9800GTX (non +). Although only the 8800 GTS 512 and 9800 GTX have the full 128 SP enabled. Others are all 112. For equivalent to mobile parts it is as follows:

8800 GT (112 SP) = 9800m GTX both 65 nm
9600 GSO (96 SP) = 8800m GTX = 9800m GT all 65 nm
9800 GTX+ = GTS 250 (128 SP) = GTX280m all 55nm
9800 GT (112 SP) = GTX 260m both 55 nm

Hope this clears that debate up for some people. It agitates me seeing people make incorrect comparisons between the models.

And don't expect gt200 based mobile chips until 40nm or 32nm are popular for graphics cards as its architecture is just too hot and power hungry for a notebook application - by this time I expect a newer architecture will be adopted anyway.

 

No way, butters. Notebookcheck is sometimes way off.

Tom's is a VERY good, non-biased source for news and reviews. I know a couple of the editors and they are really knowledgeable.

 

Either way the mobile 280's are old and recycled. They do not deserve the 2xx moniker and definitely NOT the GTX. Maybe 250 GTS or something....

I know they are good cards in mobile-gpu land but the naming schemes have gotten a little out of control, IMO.

 

i agree 100% with you on the naming Sleey0