*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M15x Owner's Lounge, *Part 2*

Thanks Roxy - I knew it was something beyond a standard Windows sidebar gadget.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158138

 

Apologies then, but having used an M6400 for the last two years and typing this from an M4400, I would have been happy to purchase another if the Precision class had been refreshed with the PM55 architecture already. A little unclear about the webcam/wifi argument though, since every Precision I've owned came with these anyway (how about disable-in-BIOS?).

 

Webcams can be hijacked, we work in areas that require a Secret or sometimes a Top Secret Security Clearance. Therefore Webcams are a no-no, also we are required to physically remove Wifi cards from all laptops. We use M90, M6300, and M6400 laptops. I support a program called Command Post Of the Future ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Post_of_the_Future) for the 18th Airborne Corps. The software is very graphically intensive (and it is not a video game, weird), so the Precision does a great job, I can tell you after supporting CPOF in Iraq for a year, that the M15X would suck at the job, it is too fragile for the job.

Also you said you have been using the 6400 for 2 years? Weird, they just came out a few months ago.
http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/...refid=workstation-precision-m6400&cs=04&s=bsd
Maybe you have it confused with another laptop? The M6300 came out last summer.

 

Hi Guys,

Does someone seen this bag from Logitech. Does it fit well to our M15X?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Logitech-Kineti...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9b92d2a7

By the way, my Bluetooth card was installed last week since I also reported this
problem.

Hi Roxy!
Nice video from youtube. Keep it up!

 

I can totally appreciate passion in ones job and interests, and this is certainly a passionate debate you two are having. Perhaps though it's better off being held in a different thread?

 

Proud to have people like you working on this stuff! Most of my work isn't graphic intense (finite element calculations or calculations on large supply networks that parallelize nicely across 4 cores or a GPU), but I can see how the m15x wouldn't fit the bill there.

And yeah, you're right on the m6400 - it's a 6300, though I got it in the first few months of 2008, so maybe we're talking about different models?

And as a poster said below, I think we're both treating this like a pissing match for no reason, so I'm happy to stand down.

 

Sweet Vids, Roxy

Can you tell me please what tools or gadgets you are using to display the clock and calendar so nicely? Thank you!

OK, sorted it out from your previous answers. Rainlendar

 

I win!!!!!

 

Woohoo. Finally... I picked up both laptops from my local (3hr round trip) UK UPS depot this morning. Both unpacked and they look great. I really wanted two different colors (one for wife and I) as I originally ordered, but oh well.

I also received the Dell DisplayPort to HDMI cable so I'll try that shortly. To be honest I had thought about just sending back both machines after all the hassle I have had, but now they are installed and running I am really pleased with the look and performance so I'll keep them.

I guess I need to upgrade the BIOS and video drivers. The versions and links are lost in the various threads we have. I wonder if its worth having a sticky thread for useful update info for Windows 7 and Vista drivers.

On a separate note I registered my Windows 7 upgrade coupon online. I was expecting to have to pay delivery costs, but it looks like thats not the case. I should receive the upgrade disks next week.

 

My Lappy's in the boxing stage after taking what seemed like forever in the build stage. Hopefully it does not get stuck in a timewarp =)

 

I think mine was in boxing for about 3 business days, so fingers crossed for you.

 

Thanks froogle... seems Dell took their time with my lappy and will probably not ship it early.

 

I'm expecting worse.
I tried to order an M15x but the Dutch Dell person at the other side let me configure the M15x with Dual GTX280M... But couldn't quote a price... He also did not know what an SSD was (esesday?). I would be called back. So tomorrow the saga continues.

 

dude, you cant config the m15x to have dual 280's cos its not big enough, they aren't even selling them with single 280, you have to do it yourself....

 

where do i buy the alienware backpack in UK? it isnt there in the dell uk website...

 

Thanks I did not see that section. I am about to call the sales rep now and tell him I want my BT!

 

I think this posters point for NOT ordering was because this customer service guy was ignorant and did not know about his own products!

 

Indeed. I knew the Dual 280M could not be fitted to the M15x. It would probably melt. Shamefully enough the same dell customer service guy did not even knew about SSD's. It's a shame that such a big cooperation where i will shell down EUR 2600,- is so ignorent.
Tommorow another try with another guy

 

nah, the m15x CAN handle the 280m, but you have to get it from a source such as ebay (from an m17x which has been disemboweled) but the DUAL 280m just wouldnt fit, you'd have to take out the processor and HDD to fit it.

 

Arent there power restraints with the M15x compared to the M17?? I just wonder because I feel like Alienware would have offered the 280 if it was indeed a safe option.

 

There's no power constraints with the M15x. What people have been spreading as fact is just based on a PDF released by Dell discussing the MXM 3.0b graphics card falling in the range of 35W-65W. That most likely refers to it being within stealth mode spec rather than a limitation of the port itself. In another words, don't listen to people that are saying the M15x has power constraints. The 280 probably wasn't offered because it doesn't operate within the 65W limit during stealth mode due to the extra shaders and higher clocks. Sleey0 proved that the card works fine in the M15x.

 

Hello all! After about a year of visiting this forum, I finally decided to register and join. Some of the coments, suggestions have been very helpful for me in the past and am grateful.

I was reading up on the M15x owners thread and saw that maybe I can return the favor and help peeps out. I have owned the M15x now for about 2 1/2 weeks and thinks its pretty sweet, although a little big for a 15 incher def. bigger than the previous m15x.

Anyways, I have been running a GTX 280m in this bad boy since day one. I got one from a friend that had an extra one from his previous machine, which was one of the Eurocom models I think the D900F or something.

I can confirm it runs it. I originally configured this M15x with the GT 240m so I cant really compare with the GTX 260m. I can confirm that this machine hits about 76 degrees when gaming for about 5 hours Fallout 3. It idles at around 50 degrees. I dunno if that hot, warm, cool for you guys but thats what I get under Windows 7 and running HW Monitor.

I can also confirm that Windows 7 runs warmer than Vista not sure why. Anyone else noticed this?

One more thing I haven't been able to get all NVIDIA drivers to work with the GTX 280m on this machine I found that the latest drivers on laptopvideo2go do work however, but somehow they disabled my brightness control. Otherwise they do work fine. Anyone else run into this problem? I'm thinking these issues may be due to the BIOS on M15x and GTX 280m conflicting? Dunno not an expert. Any thoughts suggestions would be great. Any questions for me I would be glad to help out how I can. Almost forgot anyone know how to take a screenshot of screen in Windows 7 so I can post proof of my temps and GTX 280m in system properties in case peeps don't believe me. Thanks ahead of time.

 

Oh just one more thing, about what Joker said about power restriction. I think he/she is right. I read somewhere in Notebookcheck that both the GTX 260m and 280m have a tdp of 75 watts. So if that's true than peeps with the GTX 260m are running into power restrictions. Judging by posts everyone is happy with the performance so I doubt there's issues there. I dunno if anyone can confirm or deny this. I was nervous about installing the 280m first cuz some peeps would say that the M15x limits graphics power to 65 watts, but so far its worked fine with the exceptions i previously noted. Oh and about the temps I am not using a laptop cooler, should I? Thanks again.

 

lol so now the next big question, is Joker a he or she?

 

Haha well for my gfs sake I better be a he.

 

Sorry Joker I didn't mean anything by saying he/she. I was just always taught to not assume anything and when addressing someone online you don't know to write he/she so you cover your bases. My bad.

 

Getting back to the GTX 280 in the M15x I can also confirm that the GT 240m's heatsink is compatible with the GTX 280m card. The area where the thermal pads are fits the GTX 280m to a tee.

The only problem I had fitting the card were screws of the 240m heat sink would not fit. So I swapped the metal backing of the 280m with that of the 240m. This may not be a problem if you get the 280m card for m17x.

 

I wonder if the 260m back plate and screws are identical to the 280.

 

I made the mistake of jumping the gun when my bud passed down his 280m to me and ordered the 260m heatsink from Dell, thinking it would be different from the 240m heatsink. But turns out it is "universal" wasted 40 some bucks on it. The screws and backing are identical to my 240m heatsink, it's identical.

I would like to know if anyone has tried the 4870 in the M15x. I was thinking of buying one and trying it. but since I ended up with a 280m, all of a suddent $400-500 or however much it costs seems like a waste. Especially since folks say its GDDR3 and about the same performance as the 280m.

Joker, you thinking of getting the M15x?

 

He's already getting one for his gf

 

How much did it cost to order the 280m heatsink? The 4870 won't give any additional performance so I would stick to the 280m unless you just want to experiment--in that case sell it to me cheap My gf has a M15x on order so I'll be using it as well when it gets here. I might order my own if I like it.

 

Is your girl a gamer?

 

Hahaha, again sorry about the he/she comment, I thought I was being respectful that way. My first day on the forum and I made myself look like an a**.

 

I turned her into an fps player by mistake. She saw me playing frontlines fuel of war (sniping) and thought it looked interesting. I let her play a few times and she got addicted lol. But the truth is she wanted to order an AW because she likes Dell's warranty service and for the price, the AW was cheaper than a Clevo/Sager.

 

redback: congratulations! your story will cheer everyone as yours was easily the worst ordering delay going and all of us are pleased that your laptops finally arrived and have turned out to be worth all the hassle.
caliryhda: good series of posts and don't worry, we all take turns being the a** of the day! You'll fit right in!

 

Well, when I called Dell CS support for the heatsink, I asked for the 260m heatsink. I already knew that the 260m and 280m were nearly identical physically so I was pretty sure I would be good to go with the 260m heatsink. But like I said, when it arrived I found out it was identical to the 240m heatsink. I think it cost me like $47 bucks. It arrived with the screws, thermal pads, etc.

So for anyone planning on getting the 280m for the M15x just order the base 240m and use the heatsink that comes with it.

If the 4870 vs. the 280m is a wash then I'll prob. just stick with the 280m.

 

ok so I am intrigued and with the M15 want to start game playing, Frontlines Fuel of War --why not? Go to log in and the very first screen asks me to choose my country: no Canada, guess we're just not a global military player let alone threat to anyone! Oh the joys of being Canadian.

 

Haha..well the game is based on a future war between the Western Alliance and Russia. Play on the 21st SS server, they modified the game a bit to make snipers a 1 shot kill vs 2 shots.

 

So I'm a bit confused so if you could clarify: the 260m heatsink fits the 280m but the back plate does not right? If that's the case, then an M17x 280m is pretty much needed since a Clevo 280m may have a different backplate.

 

In the good ending, the Russians win.

 

Haha thats awesome! yay more female alienware owners ~

Oh btw guys, I got my bt card



Now I'd have to figure out how to install it. Maybe I'll record a video of myself installing the bt card later today for the lulz.

 

Sorry if I was confusing. The 280m I have came from a Eurocom machine. They use different heatsinks, and the screws and card metal backing also happen to be different. But the heatsink that comes in the M15x with the 240m and 260m are one in the same, therefore, the screws, backing are also the same.

So what I did I just swapped the backing of the 240m with the 280m GTX. I didn't even use the heatsink I ordered from Dell. A 280m GTX from a M17x is not needed necessarily, you could just remove the backing from either the 240m or 260m that would come with your M15x and put it on your 280m from Clevo, Dell or whomever.

 

Thanks for the heads up! So u should b getting urs today...majorly envious! Which build did u end up ordering?

 

Got it, thanks for elaborating! If I can get a good deal on a 280m I might get one.

 

Do it! The more vids the better.

Haha, you need to grab a copy and join me.

 

I just rocked COD:MW2 on my M15X, I cannot imagine ever needing a desktop gaming rig ever again....

 

btw I have an extra 9 cell battery, is anyone interested in it??

 

PM Sent,