Request: New M15x Checklist

Hey guys,

I've just ordered my m15x and after seeing all the problems listed on this forum I thought it would be great if we can construct a checklist of problems to test or look for straight out of the box. This includes benchmarking, stress testing etc. and where to get the relevent programs from. Hopefully this will help a noob like me determine whether or not I need to send my laptop straight back to get it fixed. I think it would be very useful to sticky such a checklist for future buyers, no?

 

From all the responses on the forum, I think that unless you get a good m15x straight from the company without any problems, you're going to have a hard time with Alienware Customer Support. The most major complaints tend to be overheating, the cracking of the casing by the ethernet port and the random crashing of the system/video card. Hope all works out well for you though. It's a nice laptop but I don't think it'd stand up to the test of time.

 

To clarify a little, there is a CPU overheating issue where the CPU slows down when it gets too hot (and why any CPU is apparently vulnerable, your chances of having an issue are very low unless you order the X9000 CPU). Case faults (if you have any) are sporadic and not really localized to any particular area (there was however an initial shipment of m15xes with similar cracks over the ethernet port, but that was months ago). As for this 'random crashing' I have no idea what you're referring to.

Also, Alienware CS is very good for the most part, however the problem is more that even if they do replace parts/etc for you, many of the above problems are systemic (i.e. CS can get you a million new m15xes but they'll all still have the potential CPU overheating issue because that's just how they're made)

 

Here is an info thread I put together.

It's probaly not what you are looking for but, it's a good place to learn of the past M15x issues. And what too look out for.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3323720#post3323720

And welcome to the forum Raps.

 

get Chaz to sticky that newfie

 

I will try that.

Hopefully it will help out some new users. Great thing about this forum, is you actually feel like a community member.

 

yea customer service isnt bad. i talked to roswell and i think they are very good. they were able to solve my problem quickly and helped fix my machine. My new part should be coming in tomorrow and i can finally play games on the m15x instead of my terrible desktop.

 

What are you talking about? Customer service is bad and borderlining on horrible. I understand that they try their best for the customer not to make an unnecessary shipment back to them and waste money in the process but the customer service apparently does not get the idea when a part has gone through and the customer knows that it has gone through, that they still want to go ahead with troubleshooting. AND the customer keeps telling them that it's not going to work because he/she knows the part has malfunctioned. Worse yet, the 15% restock fee is absolutely rip-off. It's their machine, it came with their problems. Why do we have to pay to put back their problems on the shelf?

 

I can't say I've had that Yoruichi. In fact, AW tech support is very smart like that and if you provide enough relevant evidence they will realize that a particular problem requires a new part, or needs the computer to be sent it, and won't try to waste your time with useless troubleshooting. As opposed to Dell, who always advises you to reformat the hard drive as a first step