Some more annoying questions!

Hello all.
Have just recieved my M17x and the manul is a bit thin!
Very pleased to have found this site and have trawled through it but I'm still unsure if a few things. Any help would be much appreciated.

I have basically upgraded everything, I have the SLI 280M's, the higher screen res, the Q9300, the faster raid drives, 6 gig of memory and other stuff I can't think of at the moment.

Although I think the machine is fantastic I am not getting the sort of scores in 3d mark vantage that I am reading about on here. Think I need to do some tweaking.

I was told by Alienware themselves to disable the onboard graphics and then install the latest graphics drivers. I disabled the Gforce 9400m in device manager but then it will not allow me to install any graphics drivers. In fact, even without disabling anything I can't upgrade my drivers to 1.30, Nvidia just says I don't have any compatible hardware. Even trying to re-install the 1.73's it still gives me the same message, I had to do a System Restore to get them back.
I have seen some reference to disabling graphics in the BIOS but I don't really want to try that without being in possesion of all the facts!

Well, I think this is enough for a first post, although I do have even more annoying questions!

Thanks.

A quick edit to say:
I have read through the driver thread but going through the whole think at once just leaves me entirely confused!

 

sounds like you have uninstalled/disabled the motherboard drivers.
if this happens again use the resource CD and install the motherboard drivers or "nvidia" as that's all it says when you autorun.
there should be 4 drivers when you select "nvidia", install all of them. (minus the display drivers if you wanna use the updated ones)

it also sounds like tech support gave you some bull info.
i think what they ment is to uninstall the display driver ONLY!! and install the ones from dells website.

remember you have 3 graphics cards on your laptop, the 2 x 280m's and the geforce 9400.
the 9400 is welded to your motherboard so don't uninstall this driver only the 280m ones.

or you could always use system restore ??

am confused about the 1.30 drivers though


thank you thank you remember here
<---you can give me a rep point as i hate being a virgin (looks like a set of scales)

 

Just uninstall or wipe the old video drivers then install the latest one.... I don't have my M17x yet so someone can confirm this, but I don't see the need to disable anything.

 

Sorry a b, I meant 1.90 drivers.

I think |I already tried what you suggest but I've already got pretty confused so I'll ru n through it again.

Also, when I'm plugged in, running on full boost power and with SLI, if I press the stealth button it asks me if I want to use stealth power. However, whe I unplug, but still want full power, the stealth button informs me I've switched to low power so I don't need stealth. But I;m still showing full power boost. Which setting am I missing? As soon as I unplug I can't run a game without it chugging and freezing.

I don't want it to switch to low power when I unplug!

Edit: All these strange syntax errors are cos I ain't used to a lappy keyboard!

 

ok go to your command centre and select fusion,
when your there you should already be on high performance,
to the right of that is advanced settings, if you go there you can customize all your power options.

if you not sure how to get there on the top right above the number pad select the flying saucer

that should help.

 

What I do to install new GPU Drivers, is Go to the control panel and then select programs and features and then deinstall NVIDIA drivers (select only the video driver uninstall checkbox leave the Chipset drivers remain).

After this the pc want's to restart. (Afterwards you can (If you want to) use driversweeper and CCleaner to clean the rest of the remained driver stuff).

Now you go to control panel and you must see 3 standart VGA adapters. If so install your new 186.82 GPU drivers. And it has to work.

 

a b, tried that. Can't run command center from that little touch button but ran it from programs instead.
I found the settings you referred to and changed it to Max Power next to the battery pic but it's the same, still switches to low power, might require a reboot, I'll try that now.

And The Dutch, tried exactly what you have just described (it's how I've always updated Nvidia drivers on other machines) but it doesn't work, the new drivers (or even the original drivers) won't install, they say I don't have any compatible hardwear. I have to System Restore.

 

Do you see the 3 VGA adapters after the reboot or just one?
If only one is shown, It could be your BIOS is set to integrated only and Hybrid disabled. Just make sure everything is enabled.

 

You need to disable the intergrated gpu in the bios to install the most current drivers

 

I have installed all these drivers with integrated card enabled in the BIOS, with no problems at all...? Used drivers 186.82, 186.81, 186.24, 186.03 and stock.

 

No, the reboot didn't make any difference.

Well, not very happy at the moment.

I upgraded everything possible on this machine, it stands me in 4K sterling and yet it runs slower than it should, I can't upgrade the graphics drivers and I cannot play any game when I'm away from the power supply because it kicks into low power mode regardless of it's settings!

I know, I know. It's probably user error but for that sort of cash I was just expecting a better experience when the thing turned up.

Thanks for everyones suggestions.

 

Imma be honest when you get a super high end gaming machine you make it fast .... It's up to you to tweak it

and reguarding battery it can't supply what you need ..... If you disable hybrid sli and intergrated gpu in bios u will save your self headaches

Now you you can install drivers with hybrid on but not when the 9400m is uninstalled

Restore back to factory then run batboys drivers and you will be ok

 

Second that, invest some time in tweakin the system and you will not be disappointed...

 

Brad has got a point, a $4000 machine should still be performing pretty damn good out of box. Tweaking should only be needed to squeeze extra performance out of the machine, not to get it to a high-performance level. I sure as hell did not have any performance issues on my demanding games when I installed them on my M17x as is right out of the box.

Hell, I've done very little tweaking even now, and I am quite satisfied with how well Far Cry 2, GTA4, and Fallout 3 play at max settings.

 

Moo, just before I mess with the BIOS can you clarify the top comment I have quoted?
Are you saying that this machine isn't capable of playing a high end game if it's unplugged? That would seem to fall into the realms of false advertising and I would probably want my money back.

And sorry to be a pain but if should I disable those 2 settings in the BIOS before I try to upgrade drivers?

Good grief this is a strange business. It seems the more money you spend the more in the dark the manufacturer leaves you.

 

This computer will game as soon as you open it ....

It's not crappy when he got it 10k on the gpus in vantage is great jet because you not as high as mandrake doesn't mean it's crap people like mandrake and myself have records is becuause we spend hours doing this even days

if your not prepared to learn how to actually use your system and undestand it then go get a console .

now highend laptops just don't get the same umph off battery .... My m17 lagged on battery as well.

Dell wasn't shady if you would of asked anyone of us we could of told you it because it's kinda standard knowledge . Now if you were to game on battery with a quad core and ddr3 ram with dual 280's expect a very poor life anyway ....

Don't mean to be a weiner but don't bash Dell for stuff you didn't know

 

It's you choice wether to disable it or not if you run te newest drivers off nvidias website you don't have to

I do it for simplicty sake

 

What did you already do, from the moment it arrived? (what changes did you made?)
(Is your M17x not accidentaly in Stealth mode?)
Are all your BIOS settings right? (did you adjust anything?)
Did you use the new command center? and OSD? (This software can mess things up!)
I do NOT have to disable anything in the BIOS to install drivers, so you do not have to do this aswell. (Given that your System isn't polluted allready).
Did you call DELL?

You gotta be structural to fix problems.

 

System restore to factory settings and run the newest driver from nvidia and problem solved

 

I didn't say it was "crappy".

I have just been back to the AlienWare site and amongst all the trumpeting and superlatives there isn't any mention of this machine performing slower away from the A/C. Now, considering it is touted as the ultimate mobile laptop, i.e. a computer you can take away from the power supply, I would have thought that information would be pretty key.

Perhaps that is something I should have known but I didn't, and they didn't enlighten me.

Now, to return to the problem at hand, and putting aside our disagreement on the merits or otherwise of Dell/Alienwares advertising honesty, I do appreciate the help I'm recieving here. Should I install the drivers after I disable the Hybrid graphics in the BIOS?

Thanks.

EDIT: Just got your other posts, cheers.

 

You don't have to If you do what I said ...


Just to be on the safe side don't .

 

True. And for some people, they have fun constantly tweaking their systems to break new performance barriers. I once did the same. Until I realized I was spending more time tweaking, and little time gaming, which is what I enjoy for fun. That, and 3D art. I only do benchmarks to have a baseline reference to use, should I perceive any decrease in performance.

 

Haven't done anything, tried to upgrade graphics drivers but it wouldn't so I'm still stock.

Nah, it's not in stealth mode plugged in but it drops to low power when I unplug it, this makes it chug and aggravates me!

Haven't touched the BIOS yet.

Haven't installed the new command center yet, thought I'd just start with the G-Drivers and go from there. Tons of info on this site about it but it can be a little confusing.

Yep, I called AlienWare tech support, they gave me 5 suggestions, 3 I'd already done and 2 that didn't work.

I'm trying to be structural dude, I'm trying.

 

You can still be in stealth mode plugged in

are your 280's on ?

Go into divice manager and check

 

Perfect! You'll find the problem.
Try Moo's suggestion, it could be in stealth mode when plugged in.

 

Well you've got to laugh haven't you?

I just upgraded the Graphics drivers, it took forever but finally re-booted and seemed happy. I've checked and the driver version is now showing as 8.16.11...., is that right?

Anyway, I've got a new option for PhysX in the Nvid control panel so I know they are different drivers.

And now to the benchtests.
(Drumroll)

3D Vantage is now giving me a framerate of 0!
Yep, that's 0.

After taking ages to load up the Jane Nash test it just slideshows on 0 FPS, tried it with the PhysX setting on and off as that was the only thing I could see different.
It's on High Power, both cards look fine in Device manager, it's not in stealth mode (if I use the touch button it offers to put it in stealth mode or cancel) and i have the cards set to Boost Performance.

Think I'll go and get drunk.

 

Even just scrolling through web pages is a nightmare now.

Here's something I just noticed:
If I go into command center it shows the icon for being plugged in, it shows it's on high performance but it also clearly says "Running in Stealth Mode" in the left hand panel.

But when I'm back in windows it only gives me the option of turning stealth mode on. Is there another way to check if SM is on without pushing the touch button?

 

I've been hearing about some people receiving their M17x's already set in stealth mode.
As for checking without pressing the button, I don't know of a way, unless its in BIOS, but I am not even sure if those settings mean it is in stealth mode.

 

Right, what a difference a couple of hours can make, I got really drunk and now I don't care that this machine is a piece of...

I'm joking of course.
Uninstalled the Graphics drivers, re-booted a couple of times to make sure it was giving me any dire warnings, re-installed. Tried disabling and enabling the Hybrid thingy in the BIOS then it started flying. Got improved Vantage scores witch seem to equating to about a 10% real terms improvement in my games.

Now I'm happy.

And it looks like all the issues were things I was just missing, which I'm sure won't come as any surprise to the experts here.

I'm hungry, off to eat some humble pie.

Thanks for everybodies assistance. It should be at least a couple of days before I break anything else.