*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M15x Owners Lounge, *Part 3*

I have a couple of questions regarding the stealth mode and the control-centre software:

Can anyone give a technical description of stealth mode? Does it force the GPU into Low Power 3D mode?

Does it cap the CPU somehow? I normally use tools like RMCLOCK for this or just use the power profiles in windows (power saver caps the CPU in low power modes for the most part and High performance keeps it at 100% for the most part)..

 

Anyone notice that the white lighting system is actually more pinkish in hue or is it just me?

Edit - Uploaded a pic. See attached image. I've actually noticed that the white colors differ b/w my keyboard and other areas. Could it be because they replaced my keyboard? BTW the keyboard appears more white than the pinkish hue of the rest of the areas.

 

Finished playing Mirrors Edge and got really good temps.

45 degrees for CPU and 52 for GPU.

My touchpad still sucks though, anyone knows how to fix it?

 

Yeah... just get an external mouse. . Unfortunately the touchpad sucks in all the new alienware series. You can get slightly better performance after uninstalling the synaptics driver and reverting to the default windows driver.

On a side note.. Who codes for these error messages in the command center/OSD utility. Take a look at the screen shot.... lol

 

What's the point in stealth mode if it doesn't work on battery power?

 

Is it possible to throw another hard drive in this thing? to maybe have 2.. i have an extra one laying around the house,might as well put it to use

 

no one knows!
worse still there's no way to over-ride or de-activate it.

Would like that option and a software over-ride for the wireless switch too. The OSD is not reliable enough.

 

Definitely worth taking a look at the suggestions for improving recognition rate in the FAQ below. Yes, it's is for FastAccess (Dell's version of AlienSense), but the underlying technology is the same and the reco rate tips still apply quite well. Good discussion on "security" as well.

http://www.sensiblevision.com/v/dell/faq.pdf

FYI - in this case the system actually "learns". When you log in manually with your face visible (be sure the blue "Alien Head" outline is around it), it acquires additional measurements to improve it's recognition performance in that environment in the future.

The question of "security" is actually pretty complex/nuanced. AlienSense will actually make a mistaken recognition (false positive) no more often and in most cases far less often than a fingerprint sensor. It keeps the rate of false negatives (failure to recognize an authorized user...not so much a "security" concern, but more of a question of convenience) down with the learning algorithm mentioned above.

What it really brings to the table that a fingerprint just can't is the ability to track for the presence of the user AFTER login (and to lock the desktop automatically when the user moves away). For the vast majority of people, the biggest security threat - not to mention the easiest one to take advantage of - is a desktop that's simply been left unattended. Something like AlienSense with "Continuous Security" mode is a good way to address that half of the equation.

 

I heard that most facial recognition can be bypassed by using a photo. Has anyone tried this on the Alienware app?

Also, how much CPU does the |continuous| recognition use? Seems a bit overkill to me.. I'd rather just lock the PC with a hotkey when I leave it.. (on my fingerprint reader it's ctrl+fngr to do so).

 

And a good way to slow down productivity by tenfold lol

 

yes aliensense can be bypassed by using a photo, i really don't recommend using it at all, because it is a resource hog. and using it is hit and miss, depending on lighting.

dang j got to it first again, lol also did you try that account yet?

 

So the M15x is my first laptop. Is it better to use laptop coolers (with fans) or laptop cooling pads (no fans)? Is it really necessary? Also is there 1 that fits the large size of the alienware M15x?

 

yeah there are a couple of really nice cooler like the zalman nc2000 or the crlo lx. but the M15x is a cooling beast, after hours of gaming i get 65-67 degrees. so a cooler isn't really needed, only when oc'ing then you need one. a cooling pad would be nice if you use it on bed or something without a flat surface.

 

Okay, thanks *sigh*

I'm thinking I'll order the M17x once it's available with the Radeon 5870 (or an Nvidia card), or possibly an Asus G73jh-A1 if it ends up being offered first (or possibly a Macbook Pro if Apple does a HUGE upgrade :-D )

 

Cant find the "crlo lx" on google which is that?

 

the issue isn't reported on all systems. but whatever system you decide to get good luck.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tion&AID=10446076&PID=3640576&SID=skim525X832

 

Have you uninstalled the dell driver and let windows 7 install the generic driver?

 

draws less power out of your wall.....which means lower utilities and better for mother nature.

 

i have 4gb ddr3 and window 7 professional 64bit.

 

is your system seeing all 4gb of memory. 4gb is more than enough to run any game. look in task manager to see if any of your programs is eating up the ram.

 

in task manager it says that its only using 1.64 GB (just doing normal stuff like i Tunes and internet). it sees all 4 gb as well

 

hmmmm strange. try
turn off
unplug
take out battery
press power button for 10-20 sec
put back and test the game again.

 

Rawr!
i bought COD MW2 2 days ago, man its running like a breeze, I have it maxed and I can still get over 80fps!
I can even run both MW2 and L4D2 without any lag whatsoever 8D

 

that great to see, thanks for info. are you running any of the throttle fixes or non?

 

thanks it seemed to have worked. but havent played for long so i dont know if its compleatly fixed or not. if not i will PM you. thanks for the help!

 

glad it worked out. its a good thing to remember to do when your system is buggy.

 

would anyone like to test out their alienfx, a forum member is working on a winamp plugin to work with alien fx. if yes pm me your email.

thanks

 

1 Vote for InappropriateName_3 for Moderator

Great work mate, keep it up Can't rep you again so will again when I spread some love around

I was a mod on IPMART-FORUM for a year or so, and I loved it. Nice to see quality and care from a non mod here!!!

 

Does anyone know about the Bios Performance option for Ram Mhz?

Why is there a 1600MHz option if the cpu doesn't support it? Or can we use 1600MHz ram in there in future?

I was also curious about the 32nm Arrandale CPUs - can we upgrade to this later on?

 

Waiting for the M11x

 

Unless you have money to burn, I wouldn't hold my breath for a great Apple upgrade. La about whstst time I looked, it would cost at least $1000 more to match M15x performance in an Apple - the "Steve Jobs tax" - OTOH, you won't have to think about what hardware will work with it - Steve will sell it to you.
In any case, you shouldn't take any of us too seriously - you need to try the machines and make up your own mind about what best meets your needs.

Good luch,

Joe

 

My Alienware M15x Disassembled.

G
U
T
T
E
D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t86I5CTstkc

 

Is there any software which monitors the fan speed for alienware m15x...

 

hahah, thanks for the compliment. i don't think i can cut it as a mod. but thanks. really i don't know that much. i'm just really good at using google
and don't worry about repping me, i don't really care about that stuff.

as for the ram, yes i see that option, but haven't seen anyone using 1600 ram, so i guess it could work but will see no performance increase from it.
i don't know what chipset they will use, but i'm guessing it will be a new one since the arrandale will have an on board igp.

 

nice video, how long did it take you to pull everything apart?

try speed fan
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/SpeedFan.shtml

also i don't recommend changing fan speeds. hey white wizard i can't find you in steam to add to friends list.

 

hey guy putting this out there again, a forum member named ingrater is working on a alienfx winamp plugin for M15x and other systems. if you guy would like to help out, run a few test, it will make the process much faster. if you would like to chip in, pm me and i will send you the testing file. thanks

 

I may be doing something wrong but I cant discern if my stealth mode is enabled or disabled. When I press the button it just shows the stealth mode logo on screen but doesnt say enabled or disabled. Also I dont see any apparent changes when I press the button. Am I doing something wrong?

 

once you press stealth button the icon will show. bright icon means on, dim icon means off. also same for touch pad button, bright is on, dim is off. it kinda hard to tell in a bright room.

 

My Alienware M15x Disassembled.

G
U
T
T
E
D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t86I5CTstkc

 

Really, all biometrics are not secure. Biometrics is an inherently flawed security idea because it is far to easy to get the need information. You show your face to the world all the time and your fingerprints are everywhere.

i.e.

The facial recognition is vary week. The laptop only has 1 camera so it can not tell depth. All you have to do is hold a 100% scale photo of the persons face up to the camera and it will unlock the system.
An Attacker could get the perfect photo by using Flash or Java to take control of your web-cam and take a photo of you with that. Such as get on your LAN and ether do DNS spoofing, ARP poisoning, TCP injection, or simply running a rogue AP then redirect you to a website with the exploit hosted off of the attacker laptop. Or email you a link that will direct you to the exploit.... There are loads of ways to do it. Even if the laptop had 2 camera to get depth. The attacker could make a sculpture of you.

The fingerprint reader is even simpler to bypass. Your fingerprints are all over you laptop. An attacker could get the perfect fingerprint off of the top edge of your laptop screen... you know where you pull down the lid to close it.
All you need is crushed up pencil lead and scotch tape.


Google "Bypassing biometrics" you will see it is not secure at all. You are far better off using a long Pass Phrase. Must be longer then 8 characters because you can run every posable combination of 8 characters in only a few hr's. Preferably 13 characters or longer with letters, #, ~Symbols, Sp ac es.

Hell that is a super secure pass phrase... "with letters, #, ~Symbols, Sp ac es."

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Really though, cracking your login is the vary last thing I would try to get into your Window system. There are FAR easer ways to get administrative access to a Windows box.

 

So I confirmed stealth mode off then I went to update to newest nvidia driver, I also ran furmark benchmark test but I did not crash (max temp got to 70c.. Is that normal?) . I still crash with sims 3 and it just happened with opening and closing a different game also... Anything else I can do?

 

- OpenOffice -
http://www.openoffice.org/

- Avidemux -
Avidemux to convert avi to a Video DVD.
http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/download.html

Here is a HowTo walk through.
http://mulder.dummwiedeutsch.de/etc/adm_wink/avi2dvd.htm

Both are OpenSource and Free.

 

The touchpad is Fantastic! I love it. It must be at lest 1600dbi.

It is the Windows Drivers that suck. The synaptic driver in Linux works vary well. For real. I was just doing some photo editing last week and I found the tochpad to be far more accurate then my 1600dbi Gigabyte mouse.



But ya in Windows the tochpad is not good at all.

However, Glen you need to go into the Device Manager. Then click on the "input" section find the touchpad. Then click "properties" Then Uninstall the driver. Then It will reboot. Windows will then download and install a better driver automatically. then Windows has to reboot agin.... Then it will work WAY WAY better then the driver that is installed on the laptop when you first get it.

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I have NO "creak" or "click" when opening or closing the laptop.

I have NO looseness anywhere on the screen edges.

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BUT it seems I have my first problem to get fixed.

When the screen is all Black. The top edge has a sun burst whiteness to it. There is also a whitish blotch in the middle of the screen. There is also like two vertical lines down the center of the screen that also look white.

The whiteness is not Extreme. But it is there and looks messed up. I don't at all remember it being there before.... I did bang the laptop against the door frame the other day... that could have caused it.


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I just set all the AlenFX to White and ya the keyboard is sold white. But the touchpad, media touch sensors, Alienware logo and head are all not sold white.

I think it looks like it is just that the white LEDs are reflecting off of the colored LEDs that are right next to the white ones.

 

Yeah, I mean right now Apple maxes out on a Core 2 duo with a 32-core Geforce 9600 GT...for more than Dell and Asus sell quad i7s with 112 core parts...

Still, the Reality Distortion Field hits me a bit every time they announce a new product, so it's not totally outside the realm of possibility I'll consider them if the update comes fast (while I'm waiting on Dell and Asus...)

Would help if Apple *FINALLY* supported Blu Ray. Geez, they're FOUR YEARS late so far...

 

Ya the MacBook Pro has an integrated graphics card.

 

Has anyone fitted a 280M to their m15x?

 

Yes. I remember someone on the forums tried and it worked but with slightly higher temps...

 

Nope, i had no throttling issues at all! 8D

 

You are absolutely correct that any and all security measures can be bypassed with enough time, effort, and physical access to the machine. The goal of security - including biometrics - therefore, must not be absolute security because there is no such thing, but instead to carefully think about the most likely threats to a given machine and data set in a given environment. Then select tools that best address those threats while none-the-less leaving the machine easy enough to use on a day to day basis. For sure, it's a careful balancing act (just as it is when selecting security for your house or car).

In the case of FastAccess/AlienSense, from a purely secrity perspective, it's designed to address what is the most common and easily exploited threat to most people - an open desktop. It tracks the user's face in real time and can automatically secure logins to website as well as the desktop itself when they move away.

It's worth noting again that standard - even "full scale" - photos will NOT allow access. There are typically significant enough differences between that photo and how a person really looks when at the computer looking through the webcam that it will not match. What you say about photos taken through the web cam itself is both true and widely publicized by Sensible Vision itself.

If this type of attack is anticipated and of real concern, simply enable "Face + Password" which every now and again prompts for a few characters of the password in addition to the face. With a strong password (important with or without biometrics!), this eliminates the issue of photo access altogether while still gaining the benefits of automatic locking.

It's also worth noting the security value of convenience itself. Most people do NOT use strong passwords - which you're right is VERY important - simply because they're difficult to type. With AlienSense, the user will be recognized most of the time making a strong password more practical for most people by reducing the number of times that it must be typed.