M15x broken recieved on 4/11/08 CSR not much of help/temp 106 c degrees

Alright guys I got my M15x last friday, and as soon as I got it I downloaded RivaTuner and 3dmark06 and installed crysis and cod4. Now with 3dmark06, my temp reached 106 degrees C till the fans started to kick in and videocard downclocked. My system never goes below 90 degees C. I was so upset that I spend $4200 on my system so I called AW for a refund today and told me I had to pay a 15% restocking fee. So I decided to have tech support help me, and basically they just monitored my system from their end, saw it go to 107 degrees C !!!!! And basically told me thy had no idea why it temperatures went so high and why it was still downclocking. Furthermore, they told me they couldn't do nothing about the 15% resticking fee, they said it still apllied to my system. I'm frustrated and will NEVER buy from alienware again.

X9000
4 gigs of ram
8800 gtx
200 gig hd

 

so sorry to hear that gabenaeel
that totally sucks.

im sure there must be a way around having to pay the 15% fee as its a faulty system.

have a read of this http://www.badsoftware.com/alienwaresucks/
it might give you some ideas of what to do next.

 

if you have a dangerous computer that is over 100 degrees celcius, that is obviously over the max temp that is safe for the computer and graphics card - try calling roswell or the critical something team.

@gavenaeel - didn't you read all of the heat/downclocking reviews here before you bought it? You have to be willing to risk something like that - i'm sure if you're within 30 days they are required by law to give you a refund with no 15%

 

They're not required by law to do anything. The 15% restocking fee is clearly stipulated in the return policy.

However, even though I normally take the companies side, I personally believe Alienware to be grossly negligent in its design of the m15x. I believe that they forced the laptop out to the market prematurely, that they did it out of greed in order to capture more market share before their competitors had a chance.

I believe that it's extremely asinine to be selling or worse, continue selling a 15" laptop that clearly cannot handle what it was designed to do. That there's clear negligence of basic engineering principles by making these machines with overpowered internals.

Thus, for the sake of customer service, Alienware needs to take these machines back. They need to stop selling these machines until a better cooling system is designed. And consumers need to stop purchasing these machines until these issues are fixed, and not with a temporary measure such as a BIOS update or driver fix, but instead a change in the hardware in order to make the chassis more compatible with the internals.

 

If it is defective they can't charge you.

@lithus - alienware can't just take the m15x off the market because of some early problems - if they did that, a lot of potential buyers would not come back. They are trying their best to make bios updates and fix things themselves.

 

Man..this sucks.

You should send it in and have them fix it for you.

 

This is clearly a very bad situation. I totally agree on the selling a defective system and charging 15%. Man that is a whole new business altogether. That would mean they still keep their systems and earn another 15% (like $500) and we can do nothing about it cause it stated in their policy.

And it really sadden me each day as I log in here and see some newly proud owners fell into this trap. I kinda of felt sad that these kids hard earned money are being juice out in these tactics.

EDIT : I deleted this portion cause I bet I cant sleep after posting that.

Pls take away the 15% for defective system.

 

I don't think that AW intentionally tries to screw people up. It's just that they didn't do enough testing before releasing these in the first place.

So, we, the consumers, end up on the bad end of the bargain as guinea pigs.

 

Yeah too bad. NOthing much can be done at least I read in other thread that they have Identify the problem. I am seeing some light to this.

Phew..

 

@ Lithus
Wise words... That's exactly what they should do. No buts, no "Oh we are looking into it!". They should take action now and not sell defective components to their costumers. The fact that they continue selling this laptop (as it is) has only one word to describe it... criminal. And then they say they will keep 15% of it's value if it's defective... That's called THEFT.

@Rexibaby
I think you should always take with extra care, everything is said by Alienware. They did say much, they did nothing but disrespecting their clients.

 

Even if it is stated in their policy about the 15% restocking fee, it is a flawed policy open to a class-action lawsuit. To be sold a defective unit you wish to return only to have the restocking fee applied to it should be fairly easy to argue by any lawyer.

Alienware simply cannot be allowed to profit from returned DEFECTIVE laptops.

 

100 degrees plus is outside the tollerance of the parts they used for the M15X. Its defective. They cant charge you money on this. I am pretty sure that you only have to say the word "lawyer" to their CS and they will give in. Maybe you know someone who could write for you a "reminder" for AW saying somting like: "Furtheron I will represent my client xxx in all dealings with your company"... Nothing more and they will move...

Paendrag

 

@Lithus - I totally agree with what you are saying. In fact I have been trying to say that all along.

@Everyone - I was talking to my brother about this since he is a lawyer. He said that if someone went through with a class action suit it could be an actual case that would have a fair chance. The same applied with the 360 except I guess when MS extended their warranty to 3 years no one really pushed forward at that point. Think about it.

 

I would pull out the "no lemon law" on them

 

The no lemon law gives them 3 chances to fix it.

 

well then thats what i'd try. thanx 4 clearing that up.

 

That would take approximately 3 months, in which case your return policy has expired, and you're without a laptop for the said amount of time.

 

@Taco - Here is the site if you want to read more about it. http://www.computerlemonlaw.com/

@Lithus - Reality is a kick in the ass isn't it. Having to go through 3 months just to get a restocking fee waived...

 

thanx stone i was looking for something like that

 

I agree that the 15% restocking fee even on defective items is ridiculous; that is one of the main complaints I see about Alienware in general.

 

@alienware- If this original poster is telling the truth, read my tag line. I BUY laptops. If I see something good, I'll find a way to sell what I got and get the better laptop. Notice, you don't see the M15x? You lost a easy buyer. And as long as I see crap like this, I'll pass my thoughts on AW to anybody looking for a new laptop.
15% restocking fee... Originally that was used to stop potential returns of impulse buyers. But if someone really has any real gripe, that should be waived. Another thing I can't see is where I'M paying for shipping back to you on a known issue. And needing to do that a few times if the problem is not fixed. Just so I can say don't charge me the 15% because its really broken. If I got this wrong, please tell me. I'll take back my words.

 

gabenaeel,

I'm sorry to hear your system has been so problematic out of the box. It's strange that the tech told you there was nothing he can do for you. Did he suggest sending an email to [email protected]? Please send me your account number; I will see if there is anything I can do to help you out. [email protected].

 

I think it would be nice if NBR would take an official position regarding all the M15x issue. In fact, when you type "M15x Review" in Google, NBR's review comes up as one of the first, mentioning the M15x is the best laptop men ever created (forgive me my slight exhageration on the choice of words). So many problems, so many complaints... this is not a single, isolated problem. It's a generalized and really big mistake... It's pure dark humour, on it's more sadistic form (a joke told by AW, a very poor script writter).
NBR should be aware people are being driven into buy a defective product, due to their review on the M15x. It would be good if NBR could put some effort into writting an article discussing all the know problems and trying to rectify the excessively positive review done on such a poor quality product.

 

Milcs,
Well stated. After my M15X experience, will look long and hard before i buy another Alienware product.

 

I agree 100% milcs! Actually, this Alienware page is what led me to the NBR review:

http://www.alienware.com/product_de...Code=PC-LT-AREA51M15X-AI1&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

I think it might help also if there was an update done to the review to reflect this problem. I read it after the problem started, but only found out through other sites....

 

chaz said the prob was 100% fixed....

clearly he didnt look at it enugh... or was convinced by AW reps other wize..

very disappointed.. i could have wasted ALOT of money like this poor fellow

goodbye NBR

 

Its kind of weird and confusing now for new buyers. When they google m15x review they will see NBR's review (which is all good). And when they go further to check user review (discussion board) they will be shock by the huge difference. That is why there is a lot of new thread here asking "is the m15x problem solved". I have seen this a few times already.

 

I've had a similiar issue with a M9750. I recieved it, the disc drive didn't work. I fixed that, then the northbridge crapped and wouldn't allow SLI. I returned mine, was charged 15% restock and all the shipping/handling for a defective unit. So, I made a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Problem solved. I got a full refund and an apology through the BBB from some CSR Manager. Took about 3 months to resolve, but it worked. Might work for you guys too.

 

@everybody- NOT NBR fault. Many of the reviews here is done my normal people. Most reviews would be from someone who had good use of the laptop. If not, it wouldn't be a review but a post in the forum trying to figure out what to do about their issue.

I don't believe they (NBR) would outright post a lying review for ratings. Many moderators have posted what they thought about what is going on. But as a whole, I don't think NBR needs to pick and choose on how they stand as a webpage.

@gabenaeel- I know you just started posting yesterday, but I hope you'll post what you do with AW now that AW-steve offered to help.

 

@all- Obviously this has nothing to do with NBR, and obviously anyone that is mentally healthy and balanced, would not point any finger at them. NBR's purpose is to... well, do reviews on notebooks (I guess you can easily guess that from the tittle) and now and then write some articles regarding what's happening on the tech world (besides hosting these wonderful forums).

NBR did a review on the M15x. I'm not questioning it's complete honesty, impartiality and objectiveness. What should be questioned is what should be the moral posture of NBR knowing they did write a review that, as it all seems to point to, it's wrong. NBR is showing their faces on AW webpage and taking responsability on helping AW on their propaganda. NBR is helping AW to sell a product that is simply, not up to what's advertised. Obvious conclusion... NBR is an involuntary cumplice to AW M15x's mess up.
I think it would be on NBR's own interest, to make sure they won't be signing on the same line as AW on the M15x annouced fiasco.
If NBR has the objective of helping people decide what laptops to get... the same is true in this case. I think it would be wrong for NBR to stand up to it's review (and the publicity boost this is for AW), when they know perfectly well about ALL THE GENERALIZED problems the M15x has.
Just that...

 

I still don't think NBR should do anything about their review. IF their review had NONE of the issues (just saying.) then I see nothing wrong. I see alot of reviews on new cars. Yet every car I got had something wrong with it that was never covered in the reviews. Just remember, its a review on ONE laptop. Not a quality control review of every otehr laptop off the line.

 

dont you have 30 days till the restocking fee can be applied, thats what i was once told by them when i was thinking of getting a lappy...especially a defective one

 

Chaz said that "downclocking issues where a thing of the past"

he really should change the review... its hard to tell what % the issues are... i know.. but we are talking 10+ people with new systems and lots with old that are still overheating with bios update

 

Well, my guess is that the review-unit which was delivered for testing to Chaz has gone through the "real" 200point check system. AW would be stupid to send an average unit. So if Chaz couldnt find any flaws during testing, he can nothing do but to do a positive statement on the nb.

He had the downclocking issue as well, but obviously he was one out of eight whose dc-prob got fixed. For whatever reasons.

And yes, this website is also about business. I think when you get a review-unit and destroy its name completly with a negative review you`ll likely never get a review unit again from that company. But maybe I am speculating too much on this and make a mistake by naming NBR beeing not "neutral". Its just a thought anyway.

But i see also a moral problem here. Indeed the review could lead people to buy an m15x blindly without considering any problems that might be attached to the product. I think NBR wouldn`t make mistake if it would state the obvious. The m15x is NOT flawless/ without (partly serious) issues.
On the other hand you can always come and visit this Forum for further information, which is initself a "passive" contibution from NBR. They could easily delete overcritical statements...

Btw I did comment in a similar way the official NBR review...

Paendrag

 

The sentence everyone has an issue with is this:

Personally, I would change it to "It was a simple yet effective fix which should reduce the frequency of problems associated with overheating and downclocking." Or leave out the sentence altogether.

 

I agree. At the moment he wrote this words it seemed that the issue had been solved but now I would update it as most people still have serious overheating/downclocking problems.