Summary of issues

Hi I am contemplating getting the M15X but there seems to be numerous issues with it, is it safe to assume that if I order the M15X, I run the risk of:

1) Pretty much guaranteed to get downclocking.
2) 'might' have a gap on the side
3) Case might start cracking as some users reported.

Thanks!

 

These two issues seem to be mostly contained, from what I've read; I wouldn't worry much about these. The first, well... yeah. Not much to say there.

 

Yeah, I seem to have been lucky and gotten a laptop without the gap over the ethernet port.

But I'd happily trade it in for one that had the gap, as long as it didn't have the downclocking

 

U have a 25% chance of not getting a Downclock system base on the new statistic here. I know I said that b4 but just cant help saying it again

 

it seems like 16% now with the latest stats LOL. which probably means if i order now I will get it...

But how is this downclocking thing, does it prevent me from gaming properly for hours?

 

Depends on the game, and depends on the mood your computer is in (sometimes the downclocking takes a couple minutes for me, other times there's none for a while)

 

Hi guys thank you for your replies.

So say if I am attending several Lan tournaments this summer (with prizes) this downclocking can actually be a huge disadvantage if I game competitively correct?

I dont wanna lug my expensive Voodoo around but on the other hand, if it keeps downclocking at crucial moments and if I have no way of predicting or by passing this....

This is disastrous no??

 

I'm in the same situation as you, and don't forget the keyboard lag and the non responsive touch controls (when system gets hot it doesn't work). I need a system thats portable enough to carry around college campus, and having a powerful but yet portable system would be awesome. But day after day, I read more negitive things about the systems and I hesitate.

For sure if you order your system, most likely you will have the problem. And there is nothing AW can do about it at the moment. You would either have to keep it being defective or pay $450ish restocking fee + shipping fees and return it.

Bottom line, AW hasn't announce any information on the system defects even after the bios, alienware-frank (who is the top tech support here) vanished and haven't posted anything after the bios was released in which people were still experiancing problems.

So keep what I said in mind and decide for yourself...

 

Hopefully they'll figure out the problem by the summer... but we'll see

What games are you planning to play?

 

I will be playing COD4 and CS Source in tournaments...but a slight glitch can make the difference between a headshot or headshot to myself....

 

Assuming no BIOS comes, I've had downclocking at least once in both of those games, though changing a couple settings would easily make it such that the FPS stays high even during downclocking (e.g. not having 16x AA in CSS like I do, or even 4x AA in COD4)

 

@Kaiserphoenix
Best thing to do at the moment... Hold on buying it. It's on the point of view of the costumer (and also strategical), the best thing to do. Case and cracks are easily fixed. A defective cooling system (or some other Hardware problem due to poor initial design of the laptop) is not.

 

@GRB i see but then that kinda defeats the purpose of buying a high end system if i have to purposely turn off eye candy LOL But i see where you are coming from.

@milcs Thank you for the wise words. I could wait but I could just go for the M1730 which seems like a solid machine, just doesnt look as sexy as the M15X and not to mention it weighs almost a tonne and the high resolution is disadvantageous in itself.

 

Yeah, I would agree with milcs, but I'm just sayin what to do if you REALLY want the m15x...

 

Yeah i really want it....but then i dont wana spend 2000 quid to buy something that doesnt work as it should...

damn maybe i have to get a dell monster

 

Im facing the same delimma. The m15x is the machine I want, but with all its problems I think I'm just going to have to wait and see if the issues get fixed.

 

maybe the situation isn't as bad as it looks. those people with a flawless m15x are highly unlikely to visit online forums.

 

nirvana0001 but the thing is, it seems that practically EVERYONE has the downclocking issue, it isnt like one off but every single unit that leaves the factory seem to have it but most users probably wont notice it unless they monitor it properly...

 

@Kaiserphoenix, first, wow we have the same mbp.
I guess you guys should have a poll on CNN or something lol. that would show a real statistic

 

@nirvana0001 WOW you have a tonne of laptops, may I ask why you need all those???

Our MBP is great, I just cant dispense my MBP, OSX is too good for work.

On the other hand, gaming, I wish the next MBP will be Montevina 3ghz 8800GTX SLI 17inch LOL doubt it, Apple never puts high end graphics in their machines for some reason.

 

imagine I store every laptops I own from now on, and take them up when I am 60 or 70, wouldn't that be awesome? I love my mbp too, but it gets so hot when gaming under bootcamp.

 

@Kaiser - Buying the M15x would be a huge mistake. I actually had a M5550 which also suffered from downclocking and it hurt my gaming to the point that I actually switched to console gaming. I would be playing CS:S fine for a few hours, then my framerates would just drop so bad that I couldn't play anymore so I was forced to drop out of some matches.

Don't go for the M15x, unless you want a reason to switch to console gaming

 

hi Stone825 wow so earlier models also had this issue too?? Why is it just Alienware and not like other manufacturers?? Surely Dell M1730s work wonderfully and could give Alienware a hand in this matter?

I guess after reading all the stuff, noone really knows WHY the downclocking is happening but as sad as it is, I may have to get the Dell...It is a huge monster compared to the foxy M15X...

 

The downclocking issues have been happening since the M5500 since I have known. This means that AW has released 3 generations of downclocking 15" models. The M5500, M5550, and the M15x.

And yes I would recommend you pick up a dell. Having to worry about downclocking is a huge worry that you don't need in a tourny. Also the notebook heats up a ton (Same with all their 15" but not with the 17") right under your palm. This makes my wrist sweat and erodes the paint from the system and makes my hand uncomfortable when I play for extended periods of time.

 

Hi Stone825, congratulations and to the loss of Alienware, you have successfully persuaded me to get a Dell LOL

Seriously I so wanted this laptop!!!

Maybe I could wait for the M17X and see if thats any better?

 

If you are going for something else, what not just get a NP5793 like I did?

 

Yeah i mean the Sager offers nice bang for the buck but the build quality is just not at par with the M1730. The M1730, as ugly as it looks, is built very nicely. The finish is nice and the layout is good as well. Overall of higher quality.

Just that the M15X looks REALLY cool and I could probably use it in the REAL world but the M1730...hmm not sure without getting some odd looks..

 

Are you sure? You should pm Chaz about this.

edit: i found this for you

 

Well the slew of m15xs that have been delievered in the last week or two have all shown no gap above the ethernet port or any cracks..
Regarding the heat on the lower right palm rest, there's a mixed response with some saying it's hot and others sayin it gets warm. You're right hand would most likely be on the mouse if you game (and are not left-handed) so it's up to you.

If it comes down to getting the m15x for it's looks, weight, portability and battery life, I would recommend going for the 8700 GT as a last resort in the case you can't wait & don't like the "ugly" Dell.

Just a few thoughts thrown in with my 2 cents

Edit:

I'd just like to point out that the keyboard lag seems to be isolated to a few (can only point out Callidor)..

And concerning Alienware-Frank - He is actually "VP of Product Development Frank Azor" as mentioned on the AlienNetwork page and must've come to the forum as an AW representative who's word would mean more. To an extent, it did and he pursued the problem with vigour.
His time is either currently spent with what Havok got in an email - Downclocking may be caused by Speedstep - & receiving questions and preparing for the AlienNetwork videocast.