*OFFICIAL* "All Powerful" M17x-R2 Edition Owners Lounge!

Anyone know if we can somehow force Photoshop CS4 to use the 4870 GPUs? It's under Edit>Preferences>Performance.

It's grayed out. Adobe lists the 4850 as compatible for GPU use but not the 4870.

 

BIOS fix due this week...right ?

 

5150Joker said it would be two weeks and that two weeks is coming up. It wasn't for sure but I really hope so

 

i want to put money that that bios has another bug inside that dell missed but yet EVERYONE ELSE sees it.

 

I haven't noticed any major bugs w/the updated bios. It still can occassionally flicker if the system is pushed too hard (e.g. both cards are heavily OC'd + CPU OC of 5% in an intense game) but for 99% of people, it will be a complete fix.

 

I think that occasional flicker might disappear with HD58XX due to low power requirement.

 

While i agree it should not be there

 

its a speacial feature to make games harder.

right dell?

 

is it really so complicated to just allocate power properly in a laptop?!?!?!

first the M17, then the R1, and now the R2 all have issues with this

 

While I am not defending Dell on this issue with the BIOS (it was a big miss on their part), show me something like BIOS code that is 100% bug free ?

Just sayin

 

i'm just saying they should get something wworking. all top end laptops cant be plagued with so much problems.

 

Guys,

Keep in mind Alienware does not and never has supported overclocking the video cards... If you're doing that and getting flickering it is somewhat to be expected.

However, if your cards are stock and you just OC the processor, it should work correctly. The power budget on the M17xR2 is extremely tight.

 

that is why I always turn off all alienfx led's and lower the screen brightness all the way down for benching, let all the juice those parts can muster be available to them

also turn off wireless, nic, bluetooth, etc

 

it happens with stock gpu as well with the 920.

 

The flickering occurs to all owners with XF 4870's and 920XM's (both stock, or OC'd) and to some with the 820QM. It's not an issue caused by OCing. It's an issue caused by, well, Dell.

With that said, I'm still in this because Joker said the Bios fixed his laptop 100%.

 

Well, in light of "They should get something working" I for one have had NO issues at all with my system, no flickering in the games I play, no dead pixles

So, I guess they "got something working"

Like I said I am not defending their BIOS screw up....but lets be realistic, they isolated and fixed the issue in less than 2 weeks......give credit where credit is due.

Yea I know, people here also helped with that.

 

Dondadah88,

Not after the bios revision that Joker's testing. That revision fixes the issue with stock graphics and the Extreme processor (overclocked through bios).

Joker, if I'm incorrect please let me know.

 

so when does everyone else get to enjoy this new bios?

 

I give credit to the educated consumer to do the job that apparently Dellienware's QA apparently didn't.

In all fairness, I suspect their QA does a reasonable job. The problem is that sometimes there is a change beyond their direct control or one that just falls under the radar. I am less concerned with a BIOS fix problem for a "new" system than by far problems with lining up supplies for orders. This almost reminded me of the problems Apple had when the iPhone GS came out.

 

You're correct in that assumption. At normal video card clocks in xfire + 920xm (even with the bios 5% OC) the system does not flicker/throttle. Therefore it is working as designed by Alienware/Dell. If users are going to exceed design specification by overclocking and they encounter flickering and/or throttling, then it's not a design issue at all. In this case, I only experienced very brief flickering when I had both cards OC'd + 5% bios OC with all fx lighting on + full panel brightness. That probably pushed the system near it's power limit. That's why I said for 99% of consumers, this bios fixes everything.

 

Joker, Alienware should let a few of use have an unlocked bios so that we can bench the hell out of these and allow them to use that for marketing numbers. That way everyone wins

 

Awesome. Managed to get an Alienware tech that knew some stuff. He had me reset my BIOS(AKA Take out the little battery for a minute) System can boot up again! Bought a new Wireless router and now my downloads are no longer 15kbps! Guess the Ultimate N isn't compatable with old linksys wireless-B routers.

Anyway, At least its nice to have something good to watch youtube with.

 

Well, I liked the M15x so much I've ordered one of these babies to replace it. Please let me know what you think about my specs, I plan to upgrade the cpu down the road (In about a year or less). Do you guys think it'll hold up for now?

-- System Color --
-- Lunar Silver - Anodized Aluminum
-- [224-8108]
-----------------------
-- Processor --
-- Intel® Core™ i5 520M 2.4GHz (2.93GHz Turbo Mode, 3MB Cache)
-- [317-3654]
-----------------------
-- Memory --
-- 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
-- [317-3660]
-----------------------
-- Power Adapters --
-- 240 watt Adapter
-- [330-7841]
-----------------------
-- Display Panels --
-- 17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
-- [320-8856]
-----------------------
-- Video Card --
-- Dual 1GB ATI Radeon™ Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX™
-- [320-8858]
-----------------------
-- Hard Drive --
-- 250GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD
-- [342-0666]

 

you got RGB LED and 4870x2, those are the only 2 that matter, the rest you can do yourself

 

damn them still no update. 2/2 order date. delayed to 2/26. -.-

 

Still waiting on my ETA, lol.

 

Haha, yeah man I had very little room for upgrades so I figured I may as well go for the two most important things.

 

So does anyone know what the stealth setting actually does on R2? It obviously doesn't disable the graphics cards since the PM55 doesn't support integrated graphics. It doesn't appear to do much else other than prompt you whether you want to enable/disable.

On a related note, is there a way to customize what the stealth button does (e.g. turn off alienfx, switch windows power settings, dim display, disable xfire, etc?)

 

From what I've read about the M15x, it throttles down the GPU.

 

It throttles back the cpu and the gpu.

 

It should also set the OS power settings all to power saving mode right?

 

Nope.
/10char

 

Odd question

Just noticed this last night gamming. Now, normally, the little alienface/power button stays un-lighted...dont know if its supposed to or, but whatever. But last night gamming, the little alien face/power button turned a yellowish color and started blinking, almost like it was showing HD access, but was a yellowish color.

I had the system plugged in and temp levels were normal (I use core temp to watch cpu temps and used gpuz to watch gpu temps - cores were ariound 120 F and gpu's were around 65 [I assume F, because C would be damm hot]

Anyway, any ideas about the yellowish color of the little alien face...what means etc ? I assume Yellow is a warning of some type...

 

Usually the blinking alienhead on the power button means your battery is charging. Did you have it on battery for any length of time before you plugged it in?

Normally the button is always lit up for me, but now lately I noticed it is off sometimes but then comes on again later without me doing anything. The same goes for the alienhead on the lid since the two are linked. I wonder if this has to do with the updated Command Center Dell had on it's driver page. I downloaded and installed it a couple days ago when I saw it on there. But, when I went to look at the drivers page today the updated Command Center is no longer there. Maybe they found a problem with the new Command Center and took it off the site?

EDIT: Just saw this post on the Command Center. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=461136
I guess I will go back to the original one until they get a better fix for it.

 

I've had that happen too, usually for a minute or two. I think it does that when charging the battery--don't know why it would need to charge the battery when on AC power for an extended period.

 

Yeah, it happens here to. But all I do is Fn+F2 to disable the battery charging once it is 100%. I actually like it as it reminds me to do this and it helps extend the battery life. Anyway, if you do this you should still let it drain once a week or once every 2 weeks at least to keep it in "shape."

 

Thanks for all the replies.....that is just odd, why would it charge the battery, the battery was at 100%, I mean it was plugged in a good 4 hrs before I started gamming..

odd.....verry odd.

 

Yeah it is, as this didn't happen with the R1. Again, that is assuming it is charging the battery and is not a bug in the software (which could very well be since Alienware software is not really bug-free, just look at the new Command Center).

 

Well, just FYI, this JUST started after installing the new command center.....just read the thtread on the command center....goin back now to old one.

 

The battery probably discharges a little over time and hits a threshold discharge that causes the system to start charging to bring it from 99.999% charged to 100%.

 

OK, is there a battery calibration feature on this thing somewhere ?

 

So anything wrong with the R2? The M15x's throttling apparently hasn't been fixed. I'd much rather either have a Geforce GTX 280/260/360 or a Radeon 5870 than a 4870, but I guess it's still getting driver support next month, so I guess I could consider this system too...

Not sure how or if you can tell if you get the LED backlit screen and they didn't accidentally include a CCFL one

 

It's a good question. I suppose if you hadn't seen the CCFL before getting the RGB it will be a little more difficult as you wouldn't know how bad the CCFL was before, but rest assured, it is night and day.

You could kinda verify by the auto-dimming of the CCFL with dark images. Although I am unsure if the R2 with CCFL has this problem? (A problem that is supposed to be a feature...)

 

Hmm, anyone having an issue with the M17x-R2 waking up from sleep? Just recently mine started to only show a black screen after waking up from having the lid closed. Usually the cursor is visible and I can move it around, but the screen never stops being black. I can move the cursor off the screen on either side, almost like it thinks I have a multiple monitor setup (which I don't).

Anyone else seen something like this? Or have any suggestions as to what it could be?

 

You still haven't settled on a system?? Well at this point keep waiting, CeBit is around the corner and the 5870m refreshes are going to be released.

 

please enlighten me to what cebit is is it like an expo?
(nvm i googled it)

 

Okay, so this does NOT throttle like the M15x? Joker's happy with it?

I'm not a fan of crossfire/SLI, but for $270 more that doesn't sound like a terrible deal. Will getting a system with two GPUs break compatibility with ATi's upcoming regular driver releases? I *NEED* stock ATi drivers because I need Blu Ray, and Blu Ray is 100x more important to me than having a second GPU that may kinda sorta work in some games some of the time.

And...sorry, I'm paranoid about this...is there any sure fire way I'd know I got the LED and not CCFL screen?

How does the 4870 compare with a Geforce 280 or Radeon 5870?

 

No, the M15x *STILL* hasn't been fixed. The Asus G51j and now jx have major BSOD issues that may or may not be being addressed. The G73jh-a1 isn't actually available until March. The G72 I guess works and would be an option, but I sort of hate paying as much as I would for the G73 (and now it sounds like a lot of G73s have failing GPUs and keyboard lag).

Soooooo yeah :-/ I'm still shopping.

 

I'm using the 10.3 beta's right now and they work great for Crossfire. In fact, AMD optimized their latest drivers to work better in crossfire. I'm happy with the system and you will be too as long as you don't opt for a 920xm until they have officially released the latest bios (I have a pre-release of it). The bios fixes a flaw in the system that caused flickering/throttling if a certain power threshold was reached. It was specifically evident on 920xm configurations since they draw the most power. AW captured my system and loaded a new bios on it and now it works fine for the most part but IMO they still need to raise the power limit up slightly more.

Personally if I were in your position, I'd wait on the 5870m release. They consume less power so it would be helpful with this power limitation issue. The M17x with RGB LED, wireless, BT, 920xm and dual graphics cards simply consumes far too much power and regularly (according to my measurements with kill a watt) hits 238-240W which is the limit of the power adapter. With the 5870s, that peak should be lowered by at least 10W if not more.

As for the M15x, if you want a solid system that works, M15x is the way to go. The throttling issue with it is so minor that you'd probably never notice it and if you did, well use throttlestop + rivatuner and you're fine. It doesn't affect your warranty so why not use it?

 

man your really great to have on these forums joker...so knowledgeable +rep So with the i7 820qm you think we're safe on the flickering/throttling front. ? I took the plunge on the 4870's with you and others on this forums advice, only thing ive been worried about is this flickering business. I guess i just gotta worry about the command center now. Not so bad for a pc.