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.

    m15X arrived last night

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by jkola, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. jkola

    jkola Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Just received my m15x last night. Man, even though I had seen all the pics and read how cool the thing looked...I was still blown away. I played The witcher for about a half hour and although the right side got a little warm, I never saw any lag. The game flowed so smooth and fast. I know alot of people are using rivatuner to check for downclocking, would Fraps be a good measure to see what is happening in real time? I have never had to worry about this downclocking thing, and to be honest, I don't want to micro manage it. If the games don't lag, I don't wanna freak out about it. On the other hand, 3 grand in and I don't want to compromise on anything.

    I set up a cool black wire looking bench to sit the laptop on when playing. It actually is super comfortable and stable. I did it so the laptop would have open airflow underneath, not pressed on a table. I also ordered a zalman cooler which should give it even more cooling.

    I'll post a mini review in a week or so, but as of right now...I'm happy. With the razor death adder and NF52TE sitting next to it pulsating blue, my chick was getting jealous the way I was staring at the whole set up. And I'm finding myself day dreaming about it. I may need to see a shrink about this.
     
  2. exiled

    exiled -_-

    Reputations:
    115
    Messages:
    1,770
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    if you use the cooler it tilts the laptop which might cause downclocking. you shouldnt use fraps since that will lower game performance.
     
  3. metalviperx

    metalviperx Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Awesome dude, so how long did it take alienware to build it and ship it to you.
     
  4. ioaniro

    ioaniro Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    28
    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you use fraps to monitor the FPS it will not lower anything. Only when recording which wouldn't help in this case anyway. Easiest thing though is to use a program to monitor temps and clocks in the background while you are playing.
     
  5. jkola

    jkola Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    It took about 3 weeks total. I got the 160GB HD, where I think alot of people ordered the 200GB around the same time. The 200GB was on back order, so I think I got pushed to the front. I know some people that ordered the same time are still waiting. I went to Dell.com and ordered the 15" alienware aluminum breifcase cause the thing is so damn cool looking I'm afraid of keeping it out. I'm sure after a scratch or something, I won't care anymore.
     
  6. MAG

    MAG Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    459
    Messages:
    1,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    LOL same as me :D
     
  7. jkola

    jkola Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    if you use the cooler it tilts the laptop which might cause downclocking.

    Is this statement true? Where is the proof in this?
     
  8. GRB

    GRB Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    102
    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    It was -- at least, back in the day. The new BIOS may have fixed that problem, but tilting your laptop did cause downclocking (among other things) back in the day.
     
  9. firstn20

    firstn20 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    26
    Messages:
    520
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So what is the best cooler to get for the M15x? Any good flat ones available? And what does the tilt do anyway? does it regulate the air better? need answer thx!
     
  10. kobe

    kobe Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    374
    Messages:
    2,629
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    You can a use a cooler now. Alienware-Frank said that it's okay. Just don't pick one that can conflict with the m15x's fans. i.e blowing air away from places where air is being sucked in.
     
  11. jkola

    jkola Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I bought the Zalman NC-1000. Got great reviews. I can always mod it so it lays flat...if that's an issue.