M17x Purchasers- has ANYONE's order gone past phase 4?

Pffffffffff hard drives.... reading the fine print....

 

still a factor in 3dmark, aren't they?

 

Humm...The site still says phase 8 but my m17x was picked up by FedEx today at 5? Anyways, I should have it by Friday!

 

Not that I know of for 3DMark06, in default settings. But I may be wrong. Either way, they're gonna be in a RAID 0 so it's gonna be fast.

 

they don't? okay then. still a probably win for the sager. btw, isn't like the RAM (or was it FSB) on the sager 800mhz instead of 667mhz?

 

Yeah, Alienware sells (for some reason) 667Mhz RAM... and then charge you an arm and a leg for it.

 

yeah but the chipset doesn't support more does it?

 

No, the chipset doesn't support higher than 667MHz. The D901C has a different chipset than the m17x and the m1730 which supports higher speed of RAM. I agree that Alienware charges a lot more for the RAM than other companies do.

 

I tracked my package with FedEx and it will be delivered tomorrow before noon. But when I check it on my order status on Alienware website it says that I am on phase 1. Funny

 

Just recieved my m17x today!! said on fedex site it went out 645am. been waiting for it since 7am til 2pm!! finally!

Still tunning everything right now. i see most of you all will also be getting yours soon.

now just need to work on the overclocking of cpu and vid card!


Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme X9000 2.8 GHz
Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8800M GTX SLI
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz
250GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache)
Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Reader
Windows Vista Home Premium

 

Cool! looking forward to see some pictures from you bebarhood!


@davehsia

Can you post some pictures please?

 

I just got my 3rd "payment recieved" email now. I'm beginning to wonder if they're ever going to build my machine or if they just wanted to steal my $6K...

 

Benchies!! And congrats too!

 

Picture....Picture....

 

Congratulations....i'm only a little envious lol

Can't have one yet cos the Uk seems unimportant...

Please can you do a boot speed timing, fully maxed out it should be fast....?

OB

 

Okay! FINALLY reached phase 5! Thank God! Mine will be shipping out next week! I'll keep you guys updated. Whew...

 

I got my M17x yesterday and have only had a few hours to play / examine it. A mroe detailed review will follow next week but I want to get some info out for anyone interested.

I had an M15x and had to send it back in for repairs, more details in next weeks review, so I have been apprehensive about the M17x. Let me assure you all the bugs I had on my M15x have been addressed.
Issues I had with my M15x

• Squeeky lid opening and shutting
• Scratch on outside of case (on arrival, only cosmetic)
• Wabbly keyboard and keyboard flex
• Broken Ctrl key
• Display went bad after 5 days

The M17 is a gorgeous beast. I only have one gripe from this being a perfect notebook... The touch controls are non responsive. I had heard of others with the M15x having this issue but my M15x did not suffer from this bug... My M17 does.

Buttons that work instantly when touched:

• Bluetooth
• Stealth Mode

Buttons that work sometime:

• Power Button
• Alien F/X

Buttons that work if all the planets are in alignment and I sacrifice a small woodland creature:

• Wireless networking

I habitually turn off Wireless networking on laptops when I am not using it. I don't dare accidentally touch this on for fear that it will never turn back on. The power button has to be massaged and rocked and then pressed... HARD. Only after a small "CLICK" does it power up.

The Alien F/X is no biggie if it was the only touch button not working I likely would not even complain. But it's just one MORE button not working.

The other issue I had was with Sins of a Solar Empire. It had a flickering display once the game loaded. I thought that all games would look this way and that I again got a lemon. Once SLI was disabled it runs amazingly well. Maxed out graphics and massive fleet battles and this thing just humms.

I'm installing Adobe CS3 nw to try and get some work done, then I'm installing Rainbow 6: Vegas 2 to stress test it a little more.

I'm going to work with tech support on the touch controls to see if there are any suggestions. Cross your fingers that it's an easy fix. I am.

 

Cool, nice and precise Jason, Like it.

I've heard that the touch buttons could be temperature sensitive, or heat sensetive but, they work after a short delay...?

Well, that's the theory, i hope the solution is a simple one for you mate.

OB

 

I had exactly the same problem with video flickering with warcraft 3 the frozen throne. and once SLI is disabled, it runs perfectly. But its pain in the ass when u want to play other games, youd have to restart the computer everytime you apply new SLI setting.. Hopefully nvidia will do a patch for this..

About the buttons being not very sensitive, this is what ive found - the the power button, i think you have to press it on the top tip of the alien head, until u hear a tiny click. and other touch buttons, you need to put your fingers on it and hold it down for 1-2 secs lightly then it should work.

 

*sigh*... new email today....

Following is on back order: 1- M17X PRIMARY 230W AC ADAPTER-ACCESS ......................... Expected Date: 8/2/2008

C'mon - backorder from 7/19 to 8/02 for a power adapter?

Getting closer to calling CS and saying no thanks...

 

I have an extra one

 

My M17X: more to follow...
Ordered 5/12/2008
Phase 2: 5/14/2008
Pahse 3: 7/10/2008
Phase 4: Skipped
Phase 5: 7/8/2008
Phase 6 7/14/2008
Phase 7: 7/14/2008 11:34am EST
Phase 8:
Phase 9:

Specs:Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8700M GT – SLI Enabled
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology – Black
Includes AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design!
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Aqua
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9500 2.6GHz (6MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 1024MB
Operating System: Windows Vista® Ultimate
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Internal Digital/Analog (ATSC) MiniCard TV Tuner with Express Card Media Center Remote Control

System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 128GB (64GB x 2) Solid State Drive
Smart Bay: 500GB 5,400RPM (8MB Cache) Smart Bay
Optical Drives : 2x Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Burner (BD-R, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
Mobile Bags: Alienware® Odyssey Backpack

 

well i ordered my m17x on the 9th of July. and well it rose up the phase game ranks pretty quick im in phase 8 atm 1 more to go and it ships out i CANT WAIT!!!

here are the specs on my m17x

Area-51® m17x :

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8700M GT – SLI
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology – Black
Includes Non-Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design!
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Red
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 2.4GHz (3MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Internal Digital/Analog (ATSC) MiniCard TV Tuner with Express Card Media Center Remote Control
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 500GB (250GB x 2) 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
Optical Drive: 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW) w/ LightScribe
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound

 

YAY and my laptop just got shipped loving it cant wait till this saturday gonna have it all to myself ill make the unboxing and mini review of the m17x by this saturday or sunday

 

Hey guys! My laptop FINALLY shipped! YES!!! It should be here tomorrow sometime. I can't wait! I'll fill you all in on the details once it arrives. I maxed out the configuration (Except I got a single non raid hdd at 7200rpm 250gb so I could get the turbo memory.)

 

nice congrats can't wait to hear about it. You'll help me through the pain of waiting till the weekend to get mine well hope you enjoy and take loads of pics and a unboxing would be nice

 

Anyone know if the 17x has the wobble\creaking problem of the lid like the m15x did?

 

My M17x has a solid display with no wobble, no creak...

I've gotten used to the touch buttons. They should be called PRESS HARD FOR TWO SECONDS buttons. But they do work.

The lighting colors are not as closely matched between zones as they are on the M15x. The white is a light blue around the touch pad, the light blue is a dark blue, etc. But RED looks the same in all the zones.

More to come with more playtime on the machine.

 

Well, I was slightly off on the shipping time. I was told by AW that they upgraded me to overnight when it's actually appearing to be 2nd day. So I'll get it in the morning. I can see from the tracking that its here in my hometown. Talk
about a brutal final waiting period. lol

Unboxing photos and review to come.

 

AW doesnt have a overnight option because most of their items are too big for it. but its good to hear its almost there mine will be here later on today i cant wait

 

How it the Temp on your laptop Jason-Alaska. I was able to force both cpus to run at 100% and it only gets 60c. GPUs around 65c. But the cooling on this laptop is killer.

 

wow those are REALLY good temps i cant wait for mine now its looking good. the only difference is you have the 8600 rather than the 8700 which i have i wanna how the temps are on the 8800 gtx though those are the real trouble makers

 

Before people go flaming the M17X I think they need to sit down and listen. I ran games that stressed cpus and Gpus and this laptop cool. I also use a laptop cooler and I feel I dont need one The laptop cooler is a nexus laptop cooler and it cool to the touch. The way the heatsinks and fan are setup on this laptop the keyboard slightly warm but not hot like most laptops from 15.4 inch or bigger.

My Old 17 inch Clevo is hotter then this laptop.

 

So apart from being cool when running, which is great. What are the bad points that you have found so far Atol?

OB

 

You also have to understand that you have 2 8600M GTs, not 2 8800M GTXs with bigger power draw.

 

Just to clear things up the temps on the m17x go up to 87 deg C (rarely touch 89) when playing COD4. The laptop remains silent even under full load.

 

But you have understand eleron911 The M17X is setup differnt then the M15X So the Temps are Lower. Look at iElSayed setup while playing COD4.

Go on Alienware Support type in M15X and M17X then look at the installing the gpus.


The M15X The heat pipping and Fan is on the bottem. Then look at the M17X the heat Pipping and Fan is facing up. Which helps alot on cooling also helps keep the keyboard cool.

 

Ok... I have refrained from making an account on here for a long time, but I have finally been driven to the point where I had to. Alienware is driving me nuts.. And I know I'm not the only one but hear me out. I ordered my laptop 5/05/08 and I am still in phase 2!!!! I have talked to CS and they told me the phase isn't really the phase you are in and they promised me my oder had been processed and was awaiting parts.. that was about a month and a half ago.. Yet still, phase 2! I orderd with the titanium account thingy and I realize that might take more time.. but come on.. I already pretty much have enough money saved up by now to just pay the whole damn thing off.. Why do they advertise it if they are just going to put your order behind everyone else and forget about you? It also really frustrates me to see others getting their systems before me when they placed their orders after me.. Mainly some dude named Ivan who has a video on youtube.com of his m17x with all the parts I was told were on back order (The dual 8800's, and illuminated keyboard). He says he had to get on them a bit to get it finally. Makes me wonder... Does the bigger prick get his computer before people that orderd before him? Thats whack! I recently wrote them an e-mail explaining all this and asked what the hell was going on and all I got back was an email saying "We are sorry, back ordered parts, Call next week to check status." So for all of you pissed about being in phase 4... Just remember.. It could be worse... Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Some of my specs.
2.6 dual processor
dual 8800 SLI
2 GB ram
Vista =(
illuminated keyboard

 

Have played Crysis and COD4 on my M17X with 2.8 cpu and dual 8800gtx cards in SLI and have no problem with overheating or excessively loud fans even when they speed up. GPU temps do not exceed mid 80C's and CPU stays in the 60C's. Do use Zalman cooler sometimes but does not seem to make much difference. Cooling is much better than the M15X i had. Plus the 3 fans, and more space must make a difference.

 

Use Rightmark, Riva Tuner and HWmonitor to check on temps

 

I would just get on them, I also did the financing and I'm already in phase 6.
It's been just a week now since I've placed my order and it's not that far out from yours. Good Luck to you.

 

Hey guys, i'm now in phase 4, was there yesterday morning (Uk time) and am still there now... how long do you think this phase will last?

OB

 

I was actually surprised to be jumped into phase 6 so fast. I don't know what the average wait on phase 4 is....so hopefully you're out of it by tommorow or friday.

 

Thanks, i'm hoping i won't have to wait toooo long...

I must admit i'm not normally known for being patient so.... (",)

So, Phase 6: (Production Phase 2 - Integration)
This stage includes the installation of the operating system, drivers and any applications that are specific to the system you ordered. Our Alienware Integration Technician will also install any demos, benchmark utilities, and burn-in software necessary to correctly monitor your system’s performance. These functions are performed by AlienFactory, a proprietary software designed by Alienware for our valued customers. This is also the first stage of the Alienware 200-Point Quality Control Process, you're being checked eh?

OB

 

Yeah , though I thought the checking part would take the longest. I'm on Phase 8 as of this morning now :O.

 

Nice, you excited yet... I'm still in phase 4.... Seems like forever lol

OB

 

Too excited. I have to stop refreshing the order status page and get ready for work already

 

Lol

I ues opera for my borwser, it has an auto page refresh function, the status page is set to every 30 sec's lol

Mind you it's only been a week for you so... I ordered mine last Friday 18th...

OB

 

haha yea i use opera too i remember those days so painful i totally know how you feel

 

Yay! was shipped tonight!!!