The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    UK/European m15x owners

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by btgman, Apr 10, 2008.

  1. btgman

    btgman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    227
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Now that customers have started to recieve thier m15xs in Europe is anybody interested in starting a thread to compare them? To keep track of performance and any common issues?

    I received mine last week and have tested it reasonablty thoroughly.
    Specs as follows: T9300, 8800GTX, 2GB RAM, 200GB Harddrive.

    Pros: It performs well and as advertised.
    10000+ in 3Dmark06.
    Crysis at 1440x900 Medium/High settings average 30 fps.
    I have latest x30 BIOS and no downclocking noticed so far

    Cons:
    Build quality is poor:
    Noticeable flex in screen.
    ALIENWARE name doesn't light up
    Very slight crack appearing above microphone jack
    Touch controls stop working after about 30 mins of use
    Nameplate on back is tarnished (must be from heat)

    All in all, I'm am happy with my m15x. It's fast and reliable (I even find Vista to be pretty fast on it) but am pretty dissapointed wit the build quality. I've spoken to Alienware customer service and they have agreed to build and ship me a new one free of charge.
     
  2. ioaniro

    ioaniro Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I will post everyting tomorrow. Can you edit to include system specs, just to have them for the comparison.

    OK, here are the specs:
    Intel T9500 @2.6GHz 2Gb of ram, 8800GTX, 200Gb HDD
    Windows Vista Home Premium (or whatever that's called)
    1440x900 screen.

    I'll update tomorrow with scores and fps.

    Update:

    9533 in 3d mark'06 first run, 10155 on second run.
    Games run really well in high or ultra high at max res.
    No downclock and no overheating so far
    Some building problems and speakers are really lousy (well not really but at max they distort pretty bad). Touch controls don't respond after sleep, took out sleep. Namplate got balck "burnt-like" marks.
    All in all my girlfriend (the real user) is really happy, she can play all the crap at ultra high and she's almost using gloves to play she likes the look and the paint too much to risk a spot lol.
     
  3. btgman

    btgman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    227
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Lol. Good point. Done
     
  4. MiniKissKool

    MiniKissKool Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    @Btgman : Be carefull of your 3DM06 score : if your screen is 1440x900 type, your bench is 1280x720 resolution, and it's not same score with 1280x1024 bench... ;)
     
  5. milcs

    milcs Anti-fanboy

    Reputations:
    247
    Messages:
    2,005
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    btgman... How have you been monitoring the downclocking?
     
  6. btgman

    btgman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    227
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    @MiniKissKool - yeah I'm using the demo version of 3Dmark06 and it uses the default 1280 x 720 (I think). Will check later.

    @Milcs. Playing Crysis, BF2142 and running RivaTuner in background
     
  7. milcs

    milcs Anti-fanboy

    Reputations:
    247
    Messages:
    2,005
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Ok, cool! Test CoD4 as well, if you can...
    And keep monitoring it! I really want to know from all of you guys, to decide whether to buy it now or not!
     
  8. choey

    choey Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Mine in comparison..

    Performance is inconsistent for me obviously due to downclocking.. (I also have the x30 BIOS)
    I got 9979 in my first run, after I installed SP1 i got 9949 (my screen is also 1440x900).
    I don't have Crysis yet.

    Agreed on build quality. Everything seems to flex on this machine!


    No problem for me with the name

    No crack on my chassis but built quality again a bit of a let down.

    I think mine stops working after sleep or hibernation, not exact sure when it stops working but it is very annoying. Are there any manual controls to turn off bluetooth/wirelss etc?

    I haven't looked too closely yet but it seemed okay.

    Has anyone returned their downclocking unit and received a new one? I'm hoping this issue is fixed with updated software/bios/drivers instead. I don't want to return mine yet..
     
  9. milcs

    milcs Anti-fanboy

    Reputations:
    247
    Messages:
    2,005
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Choey, would you mind going and post in the "Let's AW hear OUR voice again" thread the details of your experience?
    How do you get the downclock? Can you reproduce it? Sad to hear that... Hope it will be sorted!
    Cheers all
     
  10. choey

    choey Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'll have a look at that thread again.

    I don't have many games installed at the moment. The one I'm playing at the moment is Armed Assault and downclocking happens everytime.

    I'm going to test now with Team Fortress 2.
     
  11. milcs

    milcs Anti-fanboy

    Reputations:
    247
    Messages:
    2,005
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Cool mattey... Thanks and please, if you do have a time... Put in your little bit of effort to make a change!