*OFFICIAL* Alienware M11x Owners Lounge - Part 2

There should be guides somewhere. You can vLite Win7. I got an install down to about 10GB. However, whether that stays at 10GB after a few updates I don't know. I got a Vista new install down to about 8GB..but then after running updates it hit 18GB. It's like the updates put all the crap I took off back on.

 

just for your guys's info

as some people asked for 330 's score
on my samsung r480 core i5 with geforce 330 ( no oc)

I connected to a desktop |LCD monitor to try out the vantage.. at 1280*1024

with physx off

3DMark Score
P2416 3DMarks
CPU Score
6820
Graphics Score
1988

with physx on

3DMark Score
P2531 3DMarks
CPU Score
15582
Graphics Score
1979

 

This really show 3dmark Vantage really depend on the gpu especially when physx is on.

 

If am I reading your scores correctly, it shows that your system is slower

 

That's a neat idea, but I don't think I like the idea of switching based on program profiles. If it did it that way I would definitely need a manual override. Seems like a better way to do it is see what kind of percentage the gpu is being used at and switch then. Maybe switch from integrated to discrete when it reaches 95% and from discrete to integrated when it drops to 40% (and sustains those levels for a min or so). Of course those numbers are pulled from thin air but you get the idea.

I wouldn't drive anything else

 

I think I'll get a 16GB SD card and install apps I don't use often on there.

The SSD will get the games and start up apps on it.

Thing is, SD cards are quite expensive though. About $2.5 per GB.
An intel SSD is $3 per GB.

 

yes
in 3dmark vantage is really GPU dependent

just like you can have a desktop with pentium D + a gtx 295

and beat another desktop with core i7 + gtx 280

 

So, your system is more expensive, slower, wider in size, short battery life and you tried to convince it's better the m11x? I am not seeing a single benefit that we should even consider it.

 

And you can see the different between physc on and off doesn't change much different in final score,,

even with physx, it bump up the cpu score more then double..
the final score still only up 100 point..
this really show 3dmark vantage really don't weight cpu power much at all

 

more expensive??? how?
i bought it 1029 canadian dollars
for me to buy a m11x in canada
with su7300
it is 999 dollars already with out adding anything else.


mine is faster in game less gpu dependant.
m11x is faster in gpu dependant game,

bigger screen is always good if the weight is controlled.

i compare them as i did,
their weight is not that much different,
price are the same
and when i play games i always be sitting somewhere with AC plug around,

and i tried 12" gaming L4D/ COD4 just kind of small...


i posted these score knowing it will show mine is slower.. but i don't care , i just want to provide info

 

They are very interesting. Reaffirms for me the the Core iX CPU adds pretty much nothing as far as gaming goes. Vantage is a much more real world test, as almost all modern games are GPU dependent, especially with the invention of CUDA and PhysX, more GPU pipelines provide exponentially more performance than a faster CPU. You tested a CPU that was non-ulv and clocked almost twice as fast as the stock M11X, and it got stomped by almost a 1000 point margin.

Bottom line: The M11X is gonna perform a lot better on all games than any of the iX core notebooks with 330M graphics.

 

This is just my opinion but an owners lounge shouldn't be a place where we compare different computers to the M11x for the sake of "informing others about competition so they can make an informed decision". It's called an owners lounge for a reason; for owners of the M11x. Even if we don't have it yet, it still doesn't mean we are not owners.

I'm just tired of reading through thousands of posts about "hey my computer is better than yours" and "you guys made an awful decision ordering the M11x".

Guys who are doing research on different laptops should use the NBR comparison guild on the front page or create a new trend asking "hey, I'm thinking about this, this, and this; and I'm looking to use it for this, this, and this".

Also, the first subcategory in NBR discussion board is "What laptop should I buy?". All the "hey, my laptop is better than yours" should go in there and more relevant M11x discussions should stay here.

just my opinion...

 

Thanks for posting the scores. I was just curious for reasoning why would anyone get samsung r480 vs m11x.

 

I will not say ALL

Not all game are GPU dependant,
with low res like our notebook res 1366*768

i say we will see when games run at high detail setting system with 335+ slower cpu will be faster then 330

but in med setting , it could be reverse 330 with faster cpu can beat 335 with slow cpu,

 

I will not say ALL

Not all game are GPU dependant,
with low res like our notebook res 1366*768

i say we will see when games run at high detail setting system with 335+ slower cpu will be faster then 330

but in med setting , it could be reverse 330 with faster cpu can beat 335 with slow cpu,



I am also waiting for m11x to be released so we can compare result in more detail

 

I doubt the validity of this claim. There are almost no games that are more CPU dependent, in fact, I can't think of any. There are games like Bad Company 2, but they support PhysX and still require a very hefty GPU, so you aren't gonna see any enhanced performance with those type of games just by having a Core i5 with a much lesser GPU.

Perhaps I am missing some big games, but every game that I can think of is by far more GPU dependent.

 

True especially for games also designed for consoles. Can not stress enough that they leverage mid to upper level GPU's HEAVILY, since they do the same thing with consoles. Why do you think the 360 GPU's fried so much when not enough room to breath?

Main exception is PCSX2 and MAME, since they both use a lot of CPU. PCSX2 does leverage the GPU to some degree, so helps.

 

@YodaGoneMad: I know Supreme Comander is more CPU dependant due to the advanced AI it runs. also I've heard WoW can be CPU dependant on an unbalanced system (which the m11x may or may not be included) and Grand Theft Auto 4 is CPU dependant, but thats due to bad coding and poor optimization more than anything else.... just wanted to point out there are a few games out there that will suffer with a SU7300 over a Ci7um. not many, but there are a couple.

 

WoW is gonna be no problem at all, I used to run it successfully on a 1.6 Ghz Pentium M from like 5 years ago. I doubt Supreme Commander is gonna be tough on the CPU either, it only required a 1.8 Ghz P4, the C2D on the M11X is easily twice as fast (even clocked lower). We already know GTA4 runs fine on the M11X from reviews. And even Mass Effect 2, which says it required a 2 Ghz C2D, ran at amazing FPS on all high on the M11X.

I just don't think we have anything to worry about.

 

The newer WOW update seems to use a lot of GPU, since I noticed a difference when changing GFX cards on same system.

 

BC2 doesn't use physx.

 

Not sure you understand what phsyx is, but phsyx takes some of the workload OFF the cpu and ONTO the GPU. Only nvidia can do this. So even though the CPU more than doubled, its only because the GPU was helping out.

And 3dmark vantage gives a good unerstanding of mondern games, I would rather have a higher score in vantage than 3dmark06

 

Yea, the newer areas are all transitioning into more GPU dependent, and probably the whole game world will go that way with the next expansion when they are remaking everything.

You are correct, my bad, I could have sworn it shows the PhysX thing when you start the game, but can find no mention of it. So perhaps it is one of the few truly CPU dependent games?

 

@YodaGoneMad

I don't doubt one bit that the games I mentioned will run wonderfully on the m11x... thats why I bought it I was merely pointing out that his claim that SOME games are infact CPU dependant is true. you asked for examples and I listed just a few. that is all

 

I hadn't heard that yet; what review is that in??

 

with WoW it depends completly on the card you have. If you have a newer GPU it will use more GPU, if you have an old one it will software(CPU) render some things...

This system will be just fine, i promise. Keep shadows off and you'll probably have everything just about maxed.

 

I think I saw it somewhere in this thread (I think it was actually tested on one of the other laptops using an SU7300 and 330M, but it ran at a fine 30-60 FPS on medium, and the 335M is quite a lot faster), also there was the slide from the Alienware presentation a long time ago that showed GTA4 as 30 FPS at HD resolutions and settings. At the time everyone took the slide with a grain of salt, but there have been many other games like Mass Effect 2 off the slide which have turned out to run just fine, so I think it was accurate.

 

Fellas...I have a 11x in my cart with the 256 SSD.....but im scared to pull the trigger...

I will be playing WOW...thats all i play...and im addicted...
I use it for work...outlook.../excel/powerpoint

Hook up to external 1080p monitor so i can have wow running in windowed mode and still work it outlook and what not...

is this the machine for me?

 

Definitely, but in my opinion you would be better to save the $500 and get the 250 GB 7200 RPM drive. You are not going to see much of a difference playing WoW off of a SSD, and right now their price to performance ratio is pretty low. Plus, the HDD is really easy to replace, and word is SSD prices are going to drop a lot this year. So if later you still wanted an SSD you might get a faster one for a lot cheaper and pop it in yourself.

 

which is why I said "that it is CPU bound on an unbalanced system" in the original mention of WoW. guess I could have fleshed that out a bit huh?

 

that's so wrong. It's already proved that core i5 + GT330M performs better in games than M11x... I have put the tests yesterday, just search for it... compared the R480 with the M11x... M11x lost all of them.

 

Thanks man! i wasn't sure if i actually missed something...
Hopefully we'll see some actual benchmarks on it soon.

 

This was confirmed multiple times hundreds of pages ago.

 

I agree with YodaGoneMad, the m11x will play WoW very well. also I agree that the SSD may not be worth the money if you are already scared. they are really nice to have, but maybe not worth a 50% jump in cost. I agree, get the 250Gb and buy a SSD when you feel comfortable and have taken time to research the best SSD for your budget

 

On a side note: have we resolved the memory clock issue yet? the tech specs and the order confirmation claim 1066MHz and the details page and the customizer claim 800MHz.

I know it was brought up before but I never saw if there was any resolution to this.

 

@robamb2002: clocks to 1066 when you OC

 

stock FSB = 200, with a multiplier of 6.5 = 1.3ghz
Memory = 200 (CPU FSB) x 4 = 800mhz

overlcocked FSB = 266 with a multiplier of 6.5 = 1.73ghz
overclocked memory = 266 (CPU FSB) x 4 = 1066mhz.

Blamo

 

@fscussel: where can I see these results?

 

perfect! that explains it all glad to hear!

 

anyone at home have core 2 duo cpu desktop ?? and GTA4???
can someone under clock it to 1.7ghz and see how well gta 4 will run ???
no matter what video card you have .. can someone try it ?

 

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and may have not read through all those 274 pages. But I've already got enough of those 'who's better' threads.

Let's make a metaphor: just imagine that FERRARI would build a hybrid car and squeeze it in a 'Smart Roadster' form factor. It handles easily your everyday drive and a button away, in 'sport mode', it rivals the muscle cars in the circuit. And all these in a Toyota price range... Ok, it's 1.3 L and has no trunk...
What are you waiting for?

 

Hey guys,

I too am anxiously awaiting delivery of my m11x. I was one of the lucky ones to get stackable coupons. Amazing deal.

Any who, heres the latest from ongoing benchmarking at hardwareheaven... Crysis!

ok... so Crysis Warhead for now... (3mins worth of gameplay per single run because my time is limited)

No OC:
1280x720 Mainstream Avg 25, min 14, max 37
1280x720 Minimum Avg 40, min 22, max 39

OC
1280x720 Mainstream Avg 29, Min 21, max 40
1280x720 Minimum Avg 50, Min 29, max 77

Overall, the best setting was 1280x720 with mainstream and an OC CPU. Some minor detail tweaks would be required to keep it solid above 25fps but overall, hugely impressive for a 11" lapto

Read more: Alienware M11x Notebook Review @ HH - Page 4 http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hh-re...-m11x-notebook-review-hh-4.html#ixzz0f4EOrc72

 

Optimus appears to not be a big deal right now. It's got a software side, which as pointed out, means that kinks will still have to work out... aka driver issues and what not. It'll be nice when it's refined, but it appears a manual switch will be more reliable right now

And sheesh, I think we can finally convince people that 3dMarkVantage is a better indicator of gpu performance

But why are the performance comparisons being done in the owner's lounge??

 

The memory it self is 1066mhz, but by default is down clocked (running at) to 800mhz (the default CPU FSB speed), after the OC everything comes to its place - CPU 1600mhz, memory 1066mhz.

 

Pretty sure it will be 1.73ghz. To get 1600mhz you need a 266 fsb x 6, not sure they wouldnt downclock the multiplier, but anything is possible.

 

Both SU4100 and SU7300 have a multiplier of 6.5 so with a 266 FSB overclocked it cannot be 1600mhz. Not sure why the current reviews on the net say 1.6ghz but they are pre-production samples.
The overclocked CPUs will be 1.729 ghz (6.5 x 266)

 

I kind of like this metaphor. Let's clean it up a bit, though:

Ferrari makes a cheap sedan that it says rivals some of the stock sports cars. It's marketed for consumers that have another fast car but maybe they don't want to drive that one everywhere they go. They'd like to have another car to take to the store or to work but they still want the power of a Ferrari.

It's 210HP turbo'd but can switch down (don't ask me how ) to 150HP if you want to conserve gas. Its turbo'd MPG is ~15/19 but without turbo its MPG is ~24/32. The only downside: it's a two door car. Its price? $12,000 new.

Would you get it?

 

just did it on mine same setting
in mainstream 1280 *720

run in 2 different area

Frames Time (ms) Min Max Avg
3263 98449 22 43 33.14


Frames Time (ms) Min Max Avg
4831 143220 7 49 33.73

 

nooo sir!

 

Given that you don't know where they ran their test, your comparison has no meaning...