This M17x Just can't be such a POS

A top of the line, holy grail, king of gaming Alienware laptop and it has nothing but constant problems.

I've been working with gaming PCs for over 15 years and I have never seen so many BS problems. I've had problems ranging from Wireless, to Shutters, to sound, to ethernet issues etc. etc.

My old M1730 worked like a charm right up until the 8800GTXs died on me.

If I would have know this M17x was such a chore I would have opped for something else.

I've tried every driver, Win 7 and Vista. Raid HDDs and Single, Ive read through every forum and followed every rule, I'm really at the point to just sell this POS and go back to a Thinkpad.

I apologize for venting but man this POS can't run Solitare without graphic issues.

To think, I thought all my problems would go away when I got this....man was I wrong.

M17x
280SLi
2.8 Core 2 duo
2X200GB Raid 0
4GB ram

 

Gettinng the right graphic driver can really help alot. have you tryed the dox drivers @ http://laptopvideo2go.com ? just google them. i also had the wireless problems but now all is good actually because I bought a N-draft router. no shuttering or sound isseus so that must be just yours then.

 

I can honestly say instead of ranting we could help ;$

I have not had ANY problems which means it's a user error not a design flaw(no offense)

 

Just restore everything back to factory settings and put it on eBay. Then buy any machine you want.

 

^^^^Sounds like a straight up plan!

 

First dibs when he sells it!

 

Don't come on and rant dude, tell us what your specific problems are and we'll help out if we can. Otherwise, Mandrake has already given you the fix you need.

 

I love my M17x such high end machines always require tweaking, that said mine has had virtually no issues in two months..... best piece of technology i've ever own since my Atary 2600

 

Ok fine then Help me:

I took the laptop out of the box with Vista 64 on it. Fired it up and went to play World of Warcraft on it and had insane shuttering problems. The same problems everyone else complains about. I didnt make a big issue about it because I took that drive out and installed win7 32bit while I waited for my win7 64 bit to arrive. When I Installed win7 32 bit I didn't install any extra stuff. Just the drivers. I had same similar issues with sound and video. I didn't sweat it since I had 64 bit OS on the way I would wait to resolve it all then. I get the win7 64bit OS and download all the drivers from Dell along with the 186.82 drivers from laptop2go that everyone seems to like. I didnt install the Ethernet drivers like most suggested and I also used the native win 7 wireless drivers like most suggested. I didnt install Command Center because I wanted to make sure all was working fine first. After I loaded the OS and drivers according to the specific AW process, rebooting in between installs like it say my end result is:

1. My wireless goes from from 108MB to 87MB then to 11MB inside of 3 minutes. I used a N Access Point. The same one I used on my M1730 that worked solid at 144MB. I use to play WoW through my wireless flawlessly. I can't do it through the wireless due to constant disconnects. I took a shot and installed the Dell drivers for win7 64 bit off of their web site and it was even worse. I uninstalled them and I'm back to the same problems.

2. I also have the sound stutter issue people complain of. I used the Dell Sound drivers off of the web site and have tweaked nothing and I have the sound stutter issue.

3. Again constant Video Issues. I've disabled the integrated video as well as Hybrid. I"ve tried the NVIDIA drivers, the Dell drivers, and the Laptop2go drivers. Using driver cleaner in safe mode along with CCleaner inbetween installs. I game on a laptop cooler with 3 modded 120MM fans. The hottest a card gets is 59c. With the Dell drivers off of their web site they currently have the game will play fine for a short period of time and them just lock up. As soon as the graphic really start to kick in it locks.

I used BatBoy suggested for disabling services. I've turned off windows firewall, defender, search indexing, and I dont even have anti virus installed on it yet.

I apologize for venting and I can understand high end laptops need tweaking but my god they should atleast work out of the box.

So if anyone has any suggestion I'm all ears otherwise Matt-Helm I'll drop the 250GB drive back in. Run the factory restore and then drop you a PM.

Any help appreciated.

 

Ok certain routers reject cards I have no issues ever with mine ... Can't help much there

turn off sli in wow it causes issues

and run occt and see if it locks up with dox 182.xx . If it does you may have a bad card ( but I doubt it )

 

direct me to occt please.

 

Don't install the nvidia ethernet drivers, they cause the problems you mentioned. I had this issue too.

I can't fix this issue either, it's pissing me off.

Yeah, I get this too, my computer freezes after a while of using the graphics cards. This pisses me off more than anything.

I have no idea, but I'm beginning to think it's a problem with C2Ds while Quad Cores have no problems. Or maybe not, but I have a C2D 2.8ghz, SLI 260s, etc.

If I cared enough and if it was possible, I'd -rep you for that comment. Just because YOU have not had any errors does not instantly mean it's user error. Look at the m15x 1st gens. A lot of people had zero problems and a few had their hinges cracking. Is that user error and not a design flaw? It doesn't matter that we're talking about hardware rather than software in this instance, you could make the exact same argument and be wrong.

And you know what, Moo? He's not the only one with these problems. There are actually quite a few M17x users with this problem. I install OSs for a hobby, I have a degree in computer science, I've been using Win7 since before the public beta, and I've reinstalled Win7 RTM twice on my M17x and installed it on 3 different other computers which have no problems. I still get audio stuttering and BSODs. I've tried 5 or 6 different graphics drivers, different combinations of the other drivers and still I get problems.

 

Would u all suggest a better build to avoid these issues? I been reading about alot of stutter problems. I am having mine delivered by bestbuy quad dual 260's if i dont open i can return. Costco had a better deal with one 260 and better warranty but I though i would be missing out if i didnt get the dual?

 

^^ First you can always return even if you opened the box. They HAVE TO take it back. They may charge you for restocking fee but I doubt it. No! They wont be likely to do that.
I got mine today. Not using it long enough to tell if theres any problem but so far so good. No audio stutters after BatBoy solution. I played game after solving the audio so I cant tell if it could stutter but games work smoothly like hell.
Best lappy for me so far!

 

Which solution? Stopping a bunch of services?

 

There is a new Bios that should be released soon, or so we were told. I would wait until this bios comes out. I sure all the Win7 problems will be fixed with that. Why dont you use Vista 64 for the time being?

I had all those problems you with Win7 so does everyone else, some can be fixed but others can not. There is a series DCP latency issue with Win7 that cause all the stuttering in audio and video, it is much better in Vista so you should revert back to Vista for now.

And the new graphics drivers from Dell are the best ones so far for me, better than the 180.82

 

good gravy
i have been reading page after page
and cant get a census on who has more problems
dore duo owners or quad core owners
any1 got an opinion on that?

 

I killed some services as BatBoy recommended. Turned AlienSense off too. I dont even have to turn off Hybrid in BIOS. Im using AW Vista 64 and latest nVidia driver. No OC'ed (not yet).
Actually it just works. I dont know. I havent touch deep into anything. I didnt even follow BatBoy instructions carefully (Sorry lol). I just have some stutters in audio playback so I turn off some services and AS and thats it. Maybe Im lucky. I dont know.

 

Its rather quite simple...

If you want to minimize/eliminate the stuttering - then you can review and try the suggestions that I and several other members have posted in the M17x Stutter and M17x Win 7 threads.

If you feel disabling AlienSense (FastAction Facial Recognition service), AlienFusion (Alienware's attempt to meld the OS Power Profile settings into the CommandCenter) and AlienFXController @ startup hinders your machine then that's fine as well and you can leave them enabled. You just will have to wait until AW releases another version.

As for the non-Alienware items, why wouldn't you disable the Windows Search Service (think Drive Indexing)?? Unless you are going to be using CTRL-F in the OS to search for something on your drive (most people know where their docs are), its pointless as all it does is produce unwanted drive activity ( especially when first using a clean install OS).

There is also no reason to have items such as the following load at startup (pointless and not necessary):

ehtray.exe (Windows Media Center)
reader_sl.exe (Adobe Acrobat Reader)
brs.exe (PowerDVD unecessary component)
pdvd8serv.exe (PowerDVD unecessary component)
language.exe (PowerDVD unecessary component)
qttask.exe (Quicktime Task Tray icon)
bttray.exe (Bluetooth Tray icon)

The above listed items are just an example. I actually have them disabled. They serve no purpose - I can easily launch the application if I need it and I don't need a tray icon taking up resources. The PowerDVD items above also have ZERO impact on playback (DVD or BluRay). The Bluetooth tray icon isn't necessary as it can be launched by visiting your Control Panel items.

As Mandrake suggested, the alternative option is to sell the machine.

In the end, its not what others tell you to do to fix the problem, its what you decide is best for you and what you are willing to accept.

I am also going to go on record and post again, I experienced the stuttering issue in Vista with a Core 2 Duo installed. After tweaking things a bit, there is no stuttering - Quad Core or Dual Core.

 

And even after doing all of that, the problem persists...

Here's what I have on startup:

Sidebar (gadgets)
OSD
NvCplDaemon
NVHotkey

That's it. Windows Search is disabled as well, and I still get stuttering. And as you've seen in the other threads, your fix doesn't always work. So... the only way to proceed if audio stuttering and/or BSODing is a huge problem is to actually sell the machine at this point.

 

Whats the chances of this kind of thing happening to my M17x when i get it? ( Just ordered it the other day ) Would AW have fixed most ( Design ) problems by now seems the M17x has been out for quit awhile now?

 

Never said it was a 100% perfect fix. You might consider shutting down the sidebar gadgets. Most are resource hogs as well. Perhaps you should call Dell and have them troubleshoot.

Regardless, I'm sorry you are have had such a rough time with your M17x. Glad to see you have other systems you can fall back on until you decide what to do. In addition to Craigslist and fleabay there is of course the NBR Marketplace.

Best of luck.

 

Yeah I'm going to call Dell monday or wednesday next week most likely. If they can't fix it, it was nice knowing you M17x

I can't keep using a computer in which randomly BSODs and has audio problems.

 

i was fairly dissapointed with my M17x when i first started using it, took a lot of effort to get it running the way i wanted it to, now i love the hell out of it =o

 

I hope I end up feeling this way also.

 

Well, if it causes BSODs, then something is definitely wrong. You should call Dell to fix it ASAP. I've never had a BSOD on my M17x, but it had severe audio and video stutter until I had my mainboard exchanged and the thermal pads replaced with Arctic silver.
Some remained, but after installing the full version of Windows 7 I got and dumping the Command center services and startup applications, all the stuttering is gone completely.

My wireless connection problems have been solved by using the 5.60.18.8 broadcom drivers and setting the Nvidia Ethernet driver's Sleep on disconnect to disabled.

 

I tested mine with a P8700, X9100 and a QX9300. The only issue I saw was stuttering with the QX9300 when my GPUs were OC'ed with high clocks.

 

hope so buddy!

 

KC0r8y's problems seem like it could be a mobo or power issue since it seems to effect all kinds of different items at once and it seems his entire system is relatively unstable. I would talk to Dell and see what they will do, ask them to get a technician out to take a look and explain your symptoms in detail.

 

i also have had alot of problems with my unit and you want to know the fix.
DON'T INSTALL THE CHIPSET DRIVERS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you have win7 then you don't have to worry about alot of the drivers. just the video and the richo sd driver. and your set. if you do install the chipset nvidia drivers. your into a load of hell!!!!!!!

i had stutter. nst would just crap out on my unit. ramdon bsod, stutters and everything. now i did a fresh install and NOTHING.

I'M A VERY HAPPY MAN.

reinstall your os and don't install the chipset and you should be ok. this was tested on win7 not vista.

 

Did you install the sound drivers and which video drivers did you use?

 

man, if it's that easy KCOr8y will be a happy man!

 

I'm praying

 

remember this is in win7

no sound driver no nothing and 186.24 from dell. That's it.

i'm testing vista now.

 

Moving forward, any further 'Stuttering' discussion needs to be posted in the M17x Stuttering thread.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=410440&page=33

Thanks.

 

With all the Windows 7 issues, I am wating until AT LEAST service pack 1 before i upgrade my machine when I get it... I want to enjoy, not work.

 

I have had 2 M17x's (see sig). Both have upgraded to Win7, and the only times I ever got blue screens was when I tried to OC it too high or UV it too low. And yes, I've installed chipset drivers on both...

 

I've never had a BSOD. Choppy Video, Sound Stutter and Terrible Wireless, but never a BSOD

 

idk, i thought it was just assumed that high-end computers require high-end users XD. Therefore there will generally be more maintenance right, most of us enjoy tweaking the system.

 

Reloaded Vista 64 on a single drive, dropped SP2 on it, then installed only the missing drivers via pointing to the driver folder rather then doing in install except for the Wireless card which I had no option and have yet to have an issue.

No stutters, sound chops and the wireless doesn't drop. It actually connects low at first then gets faster over a short period of time.

After I take the kids out for candy tonight I'll have to come home and game on it and see if it holds up.

I used the native sound drivers. I didnt install the Bluetooth at all and I used the 280 drivers right off of the Dell site. I even have hybrid video working fine.

I see a slight hit in load times with the single drive instead of RAID 0, but if it runs fine i'll take the trade off until I get an SSD.

I pulled a 13k 3DMark and a 12K Vantage Score with nothing O/Ced at all.

God I hope this holds up.....To think I was ready to sell this thing.

*Crosses Fingers*

 

run the DPC latency checker and see if the spikes are gone, not sure about a link, is in the first post of the DPC Latency thread though

 

I've been gaming on this thing for like 2 hours now with no issues at all.

THANK GOD!

 

Thats great dude, glad you got it going!

 

So what exactly did you do to accomplish this? I'd hate to do a reinstall of Win7 AGAIN, but if it helps fix my occasional audio stutter, I'm all for it.

 

ive had mine a day now
windows locked up the very first time i have turned it on
it has locked up like 10 times since then if not more
and the latest problem that just started is when i switch to dual graphics mode the scrren goes black except for the mouse cursor.......................losing patience