*OFFICIAL* M11x Arrival Thread

HH says they used "GeForce Driver 196.21 (Compatibility added by NVIDIA Mobility Modder - http://www.hardwareheaven.com/nvmodtool.php)"

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews.php?reviewid=924&pageid=7

 

I am guessing they are using the 64bit version, but the drivers say for desktops- I see no reference to laptops.

OK- They used a modder file to get them to work.

Anyone try these drivers yet?

 

I just installed 196.34 with modded inf and it installed fine. The switching between discreet and igp is still working

 

are the stock drivers not any good? Should I go ahead and download something from Laptopvideo2go now so I'll be ready for tomorrow's arrival?

 

Original delivery scheduled for 3/10. delivered 2-23

Kingston V+ 128ssd installed after cloning original 320 hd.

 

Just arrived!!! And I got a resource CD too. LOL

 

nice nuke! Congrats man! Hope you enjoy it! Have to post some clean pics too!

 

Mine arrived today as well!!! Won't be able to play any games till the weekend however. And the wireless is downloading Bioshock 1 from Steam through my Linksys WRT54GL with Tomato firmware at at astonishingly fast rate for G speeds... 1.4 to 1.5 MB/s.

 

@Dan = no pics until the Cybershot's battery is recharged. LOL. How do i post thumbnails?

 

Better than stock drivers? I notice the newer drivers have PhysX and Flash 10.1 beta.

UPDATE: Wait a second, you reported problems on another thread....

 

I have an update to the problem that the process WmiPrvSE.exe constantly uses up about 8-12% of the CPU power (I am not the only one having this problem), resulting in regularly running fans even while otherwise idle, reduced battery life and somewhat decreased performance of programs (yes, even games):

I have found out that the AlienFX Editor and the Alienware Command Center (other alienware command programs do not cause this problem aparrantly) is the cause of this problem.

I have verified this by first making sure the WmiPrvSE.exe process is either not running or does not use up CPU (noticably). This can be accomplished by going into services (type Service in windows start, choose the Services entry and hit enter), opening (double-clicking) the service "Windows Management Instrumentation", setting the Startup type as Manual and stopping (click the Stop button) the service.
Then I start either AlienFX Editor or the Command Center. I checked on the process again, and WmiPrvSE.exe now uses 8-12% CPU, even after the alienware programs have been stopped.
The only way I found to fix this is to stop the WMI service, however I do not consider this a real solution since some internet and security(!) services depend on it.

It appears clear to me that the alienware software is buggy concerning this, and has to be corrected.

Please check if you have this problem by starting the Task-Manager, go to the Processes tab and hit the button on the bottom left of the window to show all processes. When you sort by CPU usage descendingly, you will find this process nearly on top of the list (using up some CPU) if you have this problem.

It would be good to verify many others have this problem and to spread the word to have some influence on Dell/Alienware to fix this if it shows that many really do have this problem and the alienware software is the cause.

 

@ Morkleb = This makes sense I will check when I get mine in. That is one HOG of a process. I would prefer command center to be an app that can be used and closed, rather than a resource hog. I do not care about dynamic pretty lights


@nickbarbs = Please update your post here, since you report problems updating the drivers in another thread and this contradicts your impression in this thread that it "works". Thanks

 

at the bottom of the place you type up your post, there is an place called Additional Options and then you hit Mange Attachments and upload whatever you need

 

Or, it has always been that way and not noticed on more powerful chipsets? The water is at the rocks with a SU7300- every cycle counts. NOW I bet everyone wishes it clocked at 1.73ghz!

Still, what if it is a bug? Any AW geeks here?

 

I seriously doubt this is because of processor speed. Problems with this process have been reported for years since Windows XP, caused by various software or printer drivers (in our case it appears to be caused by the alienware software).
Back then much slower CPUs were used.

And come on, this taking up 12% CPU while winamp playing MP3 barely registers (at 1-2% CPU)?

The SU7300 and SU4100 processors are not so slow as you think they may be. Either M11x processor is twice as fast as a Pentium 4 with 3Ghz... They are just slow compared to current top-of-the-line processors using up many times as much energy.

 

The new graphics card drivers work when you install then over the Dell drivers until you reboot your machine, even the hybrid function works. Then when you reboot windows can no longer find the intel drivers which have been fused with the Dell nvidia driver install and it gets all screwy until you go back to the Dell nvidia drivers

 

Someone with HH account should ask them how they got drivers to work -- http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hh-reviews/196228-alienware-m11x-notebook-review-hh-8.html

 

Why is an arrival thread (expecting Pictures and/or Videos) spending pages talking about drivers?

 

Confirmed - I have the same issue - perhaps move this to the Owner's Thread or the "issues" thread?

 

I agree, an issues thread may be in order.

@ some forum admin
Does it make sense to move the entire posts to such a new issues thread, or should we just create one and post again?

 

mine is scheduled for delivery today and i just saw fedex drive right by my house and deliver some box to the neighbors!! now it looked a little small to be the m11x but i couldnt tell from this far away. i check the tracking and it still says on vehicle for delivery. either it hasent updated yet and they accidentally delivered to the neighbors or there are 2 fedex trucks that drive the same route down my street?

 

wow someone is a bit anxious to be stalking the mail man lol. They still have plenty of time so i dont think you should start worrying yet. Ive seen Ups drive right past my house and then the truck comes back like an hr or two later to deliever my package.

 

just looking out my living room window.... not stalking.... really.

 

ok seriously another fedex truck just delivered another package to my neighbors house!!! this time the orange and purple truck. (the first time it was the green and purple).

 

lol go grab you something to eat...watch some tv...and take your mind off of it. It will come soon enough my friend

 

Fedex has several carriers... the fedex home shipping, fedex standard/3day, and fedex priority/overnight... and maybe others... dont worry about it.

 

I got mine earlier this morning =) left a note on the door and he left it while I was out at Best Buy. Love it so far, installing a bunch of stuff before I can benchmark and game. Wanted to check in. I'll have a pic or two sometime in the next few hours hehe after I mess around with this guy

btw, I need to find a disable touchpad when typing.. my mouse is bouncing around cuz I'm hitting it with my palm. The touchpad could move to the right a little bit IMO. BBL guys

 

I just got mine also...weee im closing my office door, and have allready told my secretary not to bother me for a hour. Now to play....

 

Still in Transit in the US.
Got a feeling it will be like that for a while

 

first impression is a beautiful build, i still have not heard the fan yet, instaling MW2 right now, all parts fit perfect, I am glad I got the 320 gb, because 269 is what is left on the hard drive after boot up. I am glad I passed on the neoprene case and picked up the bindwer, this has a nice fabric case with it, im super happy right now yay

 

Welp, here's my first official picture. The M11x with the Kabuto + Orochi. The Kabuto fits perfectly to the m11x for screen protection. This is gonna work out well..

 

Thank you for the pic of your M11x with the Kabuto on it. I have been wanting to know how it will fit.

 

Ok folks - issues are to be discussed HERE:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=462100

Driver q's / discussion can go in the Owner's Lounge.

This constant going OT has to stop.

Thanks.

 

Mine Just arrived Today. ordered 2/23. Few things for those who are concerned...
1. No overclocking problems (no bsod, everything working smoothly)
2. No fan issues whatsoever. it turns off when it's cooled down.
3. No dead pixels.
4. No gaps between the screen.
and borderlands CAN be basically maxed at 30-40 fps everything on max except shadows.

 

Mine arrived:

Status:

1. Fan is nowhere near as loud as the HP2010 and does not seem to be erratic, but seems to kick in sometimes with 335m on- even if not gaming or videos playing.
2. No OC problems
3. No apparent light bleeding on display
4. No pad pixels
5. Solid little device
6. Installing all of my console emulators and MAME now
7. Also installing some THQ games from the $50 for 20 games Steam sale last week
8. Will install Halo, UT and UT 2004 tomorrow Got a Toshiba external drive from Best Buy for $60.

 

I'm glad people are reporting no problems. It's a whiff of fresh air from the bad air of fan problems, Oc problems and screen problems

 

yep, mine arrived Monday, have played with it all week, both at work and at home, and have no major issues to report. Build quality is fantastic, and the only single problem I've had is a wake from sleep issue that is reported to be related to the display driver. So, hopefully a driver update fixes that. Also, this problem is not every time, only intermittent.

Build quality still has me impressed. Great little machine!

EDIT: and thanks for the picture of the Kabuto, just ordered one along with their bluetooth mouse because of how well if fits in your picture ha.... thanks!

 

ok i just finished installing the software. Due to the storm my internet right now is pretty bad so i dont have time to install games right now. I'll share some initial thoughts and a pic.

There are no gaps and the build quality is very good. The laptop has a really nice textured plastic in the inside where you rest your palms on the keyboard. The plastic used is the exact same plastic used on the Antel Twelve Hundred desktop case. The top part of the desktop case is made using the same plastic as the the one found in the inside of the m11x and on the hinge.

There is no screen wobble at all compared to the other laptops. I tried shaking my table as much as i can and there is no screen wobble at all.

The alienhead in the back cannot have its color changed. It can only stay white. The power plug going into the laptop also does not light up unlike the ones in the review unit.

The screen is actually not bad imo. Its very bright and i really like it. Its a real improvement in quality compared to the samsung nc10's screen.

There is no flex anywhere on the keyboard area at all. The only place i could find flex was if i press the s key down hard enough to make it flex. Even then i was purposely looking for it and thats just nitpicking lol. The laptop is definitely very solid.

The hinges make no sound when they are being opening and they open very smoothly.

The fans aren't on all the time for me and they are not too loud at all.

The keyboard does not have any lag at all when typing on it. On the m15x you cannot type double letters like aa bb cc etc without it dropping inputs. The m11x keyboard doesnt lag compared to the m15x. The keyboard is also very nice to type on. Its comparable to my nc10 keyboard which is my favorite keyboard to type on. I like it even more than the Razer Lycosa that i am using on, on my desktop

The touchpad has a really nice texture. Feels like a basketball but a bit smoother and the wait the mouse buttons feel when they are being clicked feel perfect to me.

pushing on the back of the screen does not cause ripples which is very good.

oc so far has no problems what so ever

fn+ f2 to disable battery does not work yet

I idle at 10 - 15%

the bottom laptop fan lights up but u cant see it in the back of the laptop. its only visible if u lift up the laptop to look at it lol

the alien head power button is not a touch sensitive button but an actual button

The fn f10 - f12 for previous track, play pause and next track does not work for winamp but they work for windows media player

thats all i can think of for now. If there are any questions ask them here and i will post the anwser asap

Im sorry i dont really have a good camera so heres 1 pic. ill share more if people want more tho.

 

cool, thanks.... what's it idle at as far as CPU usage?
and you got it just 2 days after ording, eh?

Edit: Sorry, i see now that you cheated and ordered off ebay. lol.

 

Just got home from Fed Ex with M11x in hand. Took her out and started it up. Looked like a Vista Boot screen then smaller DOS window popped up and 10 mins worth of scripted stuff started happening.
Finally whatever was happening told me it failed and told me to reboot. Rebooted but smallish DOS window just repeats and tells me process failed. This is my first DELL but ? Luckily there is a Windows 7 Restore disk and I'm re-installing now. Me thinks the factory did not preLoad Win7 and I still had Dell Contractor QA software on my drive.

Anyways so far I like the M11x hardware. looks great. Built like a tank compared to my thinner light Acer Timeline 3810T 13.3" SU9400, 500GB HD, 4GB GMA4500MHD 3.5 lb. which is plastic laden but 1 lb less. Still the Timeline gets old when you can't play newer games on the lame Intel graphics.

 

I noticed that the Alien head at the back of the lid DOES NOT have an LED. Instead, it's powered by the brightness of the LCD (like Macs). To prove that, you can lower the Alien head's brightness, by lowering the brightness of the display.

 

SitRep = Fans alright for me, since I have been listening to ambient fan noise since Day 1 of my life, Gets a teeny bit warm when gaming but besides that its as cool as a can of beer fresh out from the Esky. Screen's OK, lid not showing a map capable of identity theft. Heavy but feels solid enough to throw at people with confidence.

Oh and thats a last gen Vaio TT sitting next to it, which runs hot even when doing... Well nothing. Lurving my "Awesome"

 

that would explain alot. Its a pretty innovative way to light up the alienhead imo lol

 

yeah I figured the alienware head was lit up by backlight since that's how the MB is like and hence the white and not being able to change it.

 

Has any1 received their M11x in the UK? delivery for me says the 5/3/10 for you Yanks that would be 3/5/10

 

Mine should be arriving shortly as it is out for delivery!
Canadian Order, Ontario. Order date was 2/8.
Only took 2 days to ship! With standard shipping.
I will post pics a little later as I am at work.

 

Whats the size of the Vaio TT sitting next to M11x?

I am planning to go to Best Buy to check out few netbooks so I can get a judgement of how big is M11x.

 

put 2 xbox games next to each other and you will have the width and close to the length. You are only going to probably be 2 cm off on the length. Then stack those 2 xbox games on top of each other and you have the height

 

Just got mine before lunch.
Awesome little machine!

Just for fun I went to System Requirements Lab and ran it on a few games.

Funny thing is that it failed on a lot. I know that SRL isn't that reliable, but it didn't detect the video card(yes it was enabled), and failed on the processor.

Obviously I have seen it run ME2 and MW2 so I know it can run them well.

 

Mine just arrived an hour ago, have a show to play in a city 2 hours away haha. Made the GF drive, have it tethered to my cellphone(WiFi sharing, free tethering haha). The laptop is very sturdy and the lighting is wicked. Been using it for over an hour so far and it isn't getting very hot. The screen is very bright and I had no issues seeing it even in sunlight with moving objects(Reflection isn't to bad).

Ordered on Feb 3, and am from Nova Scotia, Canada.