New Poll (Manually by me) M15x Owners Post if your downclocking/heat issues has been fixed or NOT fixed

Ok the best way to conduct a new poll is to do it manually so we know who actually has and doesn't have a M15x. So post if its fix or not fix and I will keep track and update the numbers. This is for systems with 8800 gtx nvidia gpu.

Also can you list the date you ordered your system, thanks



# of people who had the problem fixed: 4

-alienware/user
-toprpm
-Searsypoo
-ioaniro

# of people who still has the problem: 20

-MAG13
-Mysterio (2/18/08)
-shima (1/31/2008)
-Nyceis (3/28/08)
-Sogarth 2/22/08
-rexibaby987
-mr_fro2000 1/29/08
-Scrog 1/28/08 (had two repairs and still downclocking)
-newfiejudd
-choey 3/28/08
-tanamerra
-kitir
-fusioncon
-Lessaj7
-daveh98
-Jayonhavok
-mr_fro2000
-GRB
-bbb_yaoxiang (4/11/08)
-gabenaeel (4/11/08) (Temperatures reached 107C degrees)



EDIT: NEW BIOS IS OUT, WILL POST UPDATE ON THIS POLL SOON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

not fixed here

 

Damn we are off to a bad start already Mag lol I believe this poll will be a lot more accurate since we pretty much know who has/had a M15x.

 

Purchased 2/18/08. Received 3/28/08. Returned for refund 4/10/08.

System never downclocked, but always suffered from 100*C+ GPU temps. Had latest BIOS installed at factory.

 

Purchased 1/31/2008, received 02/06/2008.

Bios used: X30

System has resumed downclocking post-bios update:

 

The count so far is accurate and off to a bad start. I also remember someone that recieved their system on 2/29/08 and had downclocking issues

 

so you refunded with out getting a repair? did they charge you? mine is 100% fine.

 

alienware/user please post when you ordered the sysetem, your the first to post that it got fixed hopefully we get a better ratio.

 

Mine is fine as well. Received 3/28/08. Like Mysterio, mine gets to 100 degrees (according to Riva), but never downclocks, and honestly, does not feel any hotter than normal, so I'm not sure how accurate that reading is. I figure if the system burns out, thats what the warranty is for.

N

 

Ny I rememer you posting your system was alright and had no problems, but that heat isn't normal and might be too high, Sagers 9262/1730 and the 5793 sagers at max gaming hits 70C-75C and doesn't even hit 80C.

So people, should we count Ny's system as fixed or not fixed at 100C temperature. Keep in mind the post states downclocking AND temperature.

 

After waiting 39 days to receive our system and stressing to AW that we did not want our system rushed (downclocking and/or overheating would be unacceptable), it arrived with the scratch on the lid and 100*C+ GPU temps. We'd now have to deal with sending the unit back and forth for repairs. After paying $4000, we didn't feel we should have to play the roll of prototype testers.

If the unit arrived without the scratch and functioned as advertised, we would have been ecstatic to keep it. Remember, there's a reason we ordered it in the first place: we thought we would receive the only available 15.4" gaming laptop with the 8800M GTX GPU. Instead, we received a scratched oven.

EDIT: I don't believe they intend to charge us the restocking fee, but I'm not certain.

 

100*C exceeds the maximum temp spec for the chip, so that's a fail.

 

100 deg C is not a normal operating temp for the graphic card.

 

True but better fix it now than fix it when you got all your data on it and you need the laptop for some deadline .

 

Ok will post Ny system as defective, bad bad ratio atm looks like I just might get a 1730

 

I think a poll like this will not be representative either. Most users that got the m15x working visit the forum less frequent so unless you want to extend your enquiry for 1-2 weeks you will be stuck with bad comments.

 

I totally disagree, lots of owners of the M15x visit the forums daily not just becuase they have a problem with their notebook but for other reasons. All the owners are still pretty active and this poll is definatly better and more accurate than the other. From reading countless threads, it seems that there isn't really anyone without a problem, most are experiancing the problems or realizing only now that they do such as Shima and Ny.

What you can do for me ioaniro is browse around the forums and count how much people had the problems fix and you'll find that not very many. The old poll is outdated and not accurate, from my searches, almost everyone is still experiancing the problem, only ones that I can remember so far is chaz and alienware/user. Another issue is also not with downclocking but the high temperature, and we are counting that as defective since other gaming systems don't even hit the 80'sC as listed above.I could be wrong but this is based on my personal reserach.


So far its 1 for fixed and 4 for NOT fixed

 

Date ordered: 2/22/08
BIOS: x29, x30 (both tested)
Not fixed; FurMark still causes downclocking.

 

Since i received it. i wasn't downclocking. but temp was reaching 93 easy. but after x30. max temp i reach 87 and no downclock so far. my rivatuner always on. i play like 5 hours a day.

 

firstn20/mag13/shima

Please send me your account info, hopefully one of our CIT agents can help you solve your specific issues. ([email protected])

Mysterio,

I assure you we will not charge a restocking fee due to your unfortunate experience. As long as you return all the items ordered, you will get a full refund.

I hope more people see this thread. This is a very popular forum and its hard to keep track of which customers are experiencing problems. I Hope we get you all sorted soon.

 

Count me in. mine is bad. Getting a replacement soon.
Date Ordered: 2/6/2008
Bios: updated x29b and x30, both downclock.
Action: Replacement set on the way.


Steve,

This is a very very good news for me. Finally no re-stocking fees for bad system. I guess u guys are working very hard at AW. Really unfortunate to have seen engadget part 3. I am sure AW will get around this soon. Cheers to AW and to steve.

 

Thanks for the reply Steve but I am already getting a replacement soon (hope this one won't have the same problems after 2 weeks)

 

Thanks for the confirmation, Steve. We truly wanted the system to look/perform as advertised, since my girlfriend is an avid traveler and gaming is my main hobby (has been since I was a kid). The m15x would have served both our hobbies.

 

please edit your post top rpm and rexi and put in the dates of when your ordered it so we can see if theres been any improvement since new bios or improvement in the 200 point checks. updated list

 

I think I was one of the 1st people to get the system w/ the 8800:

Ordered: Jan 29th
Received: Feb 5th (not bad!)

x29 bios still downclocks w/ Crysis when rear is propped up .5 inch.
downclocks in all scenarios w/ furmark test.

i've said it before, but i don't think furmark is a fair test. even at the highest fan speeds, the lappy cannot dissipate heat fast enough... temps continue to climb even beyond the bios-fixed fan acceleration. If the GPU doesn't downclock, you will have a ruined lappy (ie it SHOULD downclock in these cases).

I don't think there will ever be real-world gaming that causes this kind of CONSTANT stress.

 

Ordered: Jan 28
Received: Mar 12
First repair visit: Mar 19-Mar 27
2nd repair visit: April 9- ??


x29 and x30 bios with downclocking still happening.(COD4 causes machine to downclock after a few hours)

This is also my second time for sending the laptop in for repairs( Will be looking into replacement).

Scrog-

 

System Returned issued never resolved. Fighting for a full refund.

 

Thanks for the reply guys, everytime I call AW they inform me that the people who are experiancing problems are a RARE case, but I know this isn't true hence is making me not to order my system. AW sales department counts too much on the people who doesn't notice these defects and who isn't literate with notebooks. I can assure you that if I didn't come to NBR, I would prolly NEVER notice any problems with my dell 1530, yet alone a gaming system like AW.

Also I e-mailed you Alienware-Steve asking you if the average gpu temp of the AW m15x (84c-87c-90C) is a NORMAL or SAFE temperature for a system like that. Comparing it with high end gaming systems with sli, these SLI systems (dell 1730, Sager 9262, M570RU (non sli)) is around 65C-75C when gaming and never reaches 80'sC + yet alone 90C +.

Can you please answer my question steve, need an offical answer from AW themselves.

 

But to be fair to AW that temp is while running FurMark, which seems to be a bit more challenging for the video card than most games. I have not had a chance to really try out gaming yet - next week I have some time off and will finally have a chance to get to my games. Briefly running Crysis a couple of days ago I was holding steady at 93 or so. I'm perfectly OK with my system (old drivers aside)

N

PS - We need new drivers! We need new drivers! We need new drivers!

 

yeah but you compare this with other gaming systems that stays at 65C-75C, doesn't look safe to me, thts why I ened a response from Alienware-Steve, if 87c-90c is normal than I would feel a little better. And those temps for other systems are from benchmarks and realtime gaming. You can search my post, I confirmed this on the sager and dell forums.

Alienware-Steve would apprecaite a response tyvm

 

My unit was sent to me on 28/3 (received on 3/4) with x30 BIOS already loaded.

My system downclocks with heavy load in games. Temperature never goes above 95C, the fan kicks in at full blash at around 88-92C but downclocking also happens which in combination brings the temperature down and the cycle begins.

 

But comparing a 15" to a 17" is not truly fair either - a 17" has a lot more room for extra cooling to keep it down. My guess is the m15x is designed to run right to the limits of the card.

I would still like to get an official reply as well.

N

 

80c is ok. The higher/faster you get, the higher the temps will be. I've seen my 8've seen my Asus G1s it 82c while gaming.

But lets keep this area clean for users reporting in to be added to the list.

 

Greetings to all from Hong Kong. Here as part of Asia business trip. Received a replacement M15x last week with the Bios update. 2.8 CPU, 8800 GPU again. No cracks, scratches, dents or appearance related defects. However i have had a chance to play a few games while in the hotel or at the airport:
1. Right palmrest still gets quite hot even when fans kick in at high speed.
2. Still down clocks even after fans kick in at high speed.
3. Down clocks at different temps regardless of fan speed.
4. Temps go to mid 90's drop to low 80's when fans kick in. Playing Crysis and sometimes game freezes.
5. Touch controls only work sometimes.

Bottom line is that the replacement is only a $4000.00 M15x that is marginally better than my original.

 

Well I understand that the 17" systems has more space than the m15x but it also is jampacked with all of its components with the extra gpu, fans and bigger chipset. The 17" sli systems has more fans BUT it does generate more heat then the m15x because of the extra card + overclocking feature but its temperatures is stil between 65c-75c and hardly or never reaches 80c+.

I am not an expert in this matter, but I just want to know from notebook experts here if a inconsistent temp of 80c-90c+ is normal and won't harm the notebook. And also a question for you guys, do you feel comfortable having a notebook you paid $4000+ for having this type of high temperature?

Hope alienware-steve gives me an offical response and also whoever is an expert with this

So far 11 defective units and only 3 working units. Someone PM'ed me saying I should take out chaz from the manual poll, but I feel that he is a professional tester when it comes to a laptop, and that m15x he tested counts as a "working" system. If anyone disagrees then just pm me and i will remove him.

 

I think we need a word in from tacomenace21 and Packer445 who say in this thread that the m15x seems to be performing as well as they'd expected..

Oh and I disagree that all users who purchase the m15x are still on/visit the forum regularly.. 1 big example - Dionysus, Mr. Father of the Year himself who got TWO m15xs for his girls.. No word from him ever since he posted tht video on Youtube.. Not that we blame him
Who know's what's their situation ? (Rhetoric question)

Just a thought..

Edit: Good to hear from you tanamerra.. Sorry about your current condition tho

 

Dionysus got two m15x BUT both of them with 8700GT not a 8800gtx,same as Tacomenace21 so since this poll is about the downclocking/heat issues ofc does not have anyth with them... We talking about 8800 gtx users this is the hole thing, if we were interest in another card ofc some of us we could save us some money and go with another company.

 

well in my opinion the GPU must not reach temperatures that high - even with tools like ATItool etc. I agree that these test are very hard and that the GPU is stressed much more than in games but usually a graphic card has to cope with that. All other cards do and you don't know if the next game with extreme graphic might not stress the GPU stronger than actual games. So if the card is overheating during the fur-tests it's not performing as it should be / as it is advertised. The m15x is sold as a pure gaming notebook and therefore it should be able to perform normal during heavy load.


saint

 

Lets not forget that some heat /underclock issues discovered by owners days or weeks after gaming with the bios update..
What i believe is that Chaz's review was accurate in the few days he used the notebook after the bios update for the review and was working properly,but imo chaz's experience cant be in a poll were actually owners working the laptop under real life conditions and using it for every day use..

 

Rexi you have a weird core clock. Your GPU looks some kind of over-clocked. Your core clock is 553 Mhz while everyone is 540 Mhz.
Are you using stock drivers?

 

Dear firstn20...
First of all, congrats on another very nice iniciative to clear out all that it's going on! I think it's obvious there are LOTS of people out there that still have the downclocking problem, and it would be really irresponsible if people would just lay their arms down and not do anything about it!
It's really funny to see how most of the happy people actually don't have the 8800GTX... I think that just adds another point to all this issue!
Keep on the good work... I have to say that I would rather see any company go bankrupt than any single individual lose $4000 on a system they bought being lied to!

 

I was making a point with Dionysus as an example of those users who get the m15x and don't come back often enough to take part in this poll - Not saying we need his input..
My mistake in mentioning Tacomenance though..

 

Can any notebook expert comment on the inconsistent high temp of 84c-86c-90c of the M15x? I had mix feedback around the sager/dell forums. Some said its normal and most says its too high. Chaz? Andrew? any expert?

Thanks

 

come on owners, post !

 

It's hard to put things together. Most of the people don't really seem to have the energy to participate (or care), unless this problem affects them directly (meaning, people notice a problem like the downclocking).
Anyway... Here is another owner with problems (received laptop yesterday from the UK).

I don't really know if you should consider him as a "downclocker" as the problem is not really well described!

I think your effort is really great and I hope you won't lose the momentum. Give it some time to hear from the happy owners (which, looking at your present numbers, sound like a minority).

 

Hi,

I'm one of them...

Here I have to repeat myself, I posted that words in the another thread, and found this. So...

I decided to came here, cause I had same downclock issues on my M15x. Never played hard, so never recognised problem, but after reading forum "downclockers" decided to check my m15x.
After FurMark run, with stock original bios, in one minute graphic card started periodically downclock (few second of down, then up for minute, and again, and again). After change to v30.... huh. Run one hour of FurMark and temp was stable and any downclock. After this, in second hour... IT STARTED DOWNCLOCK, but different way, one second down peaks in random times. So, I think, x30 is not final solution.

I have some idea, so maybe AW-Steve can check this :

I found around internet, Clevo with 8800gtx does have similar problems with downclocking, and with permanent downclock by occasion of drivers change (other than stock). But Clevo has introduced new VBIOS for graphic cards. Please, check if our m15x problem is nvidia card inside maybe ?! I hope v30 bios plus some improvements in vbios can help...

cheers

Kitir

PS. I'm trying to solve problems and I'm an optimist. That was in case of "flex keyboard". And lastly I found solution for "lazy" or "slipless" touchpad. I'll post in the new thread.

 

There is much MUCH MUCH more people with the problem. in the alienware M15x owners lounge alone and update from alienware thread has COUNLTESS of people who have the problem. They just haven't checked this thread yet, and I feel its not fair to post for them. So hopefully they will see this post and participate. Thanks for all your feedback guys.

I was going to order my M15x today regardless of the problems because I thought maybe the new systems have the problems fixed. But after your post Milcs about a guy in the UK who JUST got it yesterday, I think I'm going to wait

 

I hear that the Clevo/Sager model is having the same downclocking problem. Is that right? If it is, then, it can't only be Alienware's fault.

 

The Sager guys were having a downclocking issue related to changing drivers; as the M15X does, but we have two downclocking issues related to 1) heat and 2) drivers.

Sagers are now fixed with a new BIOS that allows you to install newer drivers without the downclock occurring.

 

I have no idea is that true or only rumour. I bet it is something similar, but somebody has to confirm.
Anyway, cooperation AW with nvidia to solve overheating is most obvious way for me, this really could finish this awful story.

K.