stealth mode sucks.....

Despite trying all the combinations of :

Latest Dell Drivers incl nVidia 186.12
BIOS A01
Trying Hybrid On/Off in BIOS
Setting Power Plan to Max Performance
Forcing SLI Boost mode (so 280Ms)
Vista SP-2
DirectX End Run Time update
... the answer...? Was STEALTH mode being stuck!

I still have Hybrid enabled (9400 + 2x280 SLI), so I didn't need to force SLI mode (but you may wish to). The trick for me was (after ensuring the above were all set) toggling the Stealth Mode touch button (top right), and allowing this to toggle until it says FULL POWER. Although I believed I'd tried this before, it seems that it works once the above was done - possibly requiring a reboot.

Seems ludicrously simple in hindsight - aka Read The Flipping Manual .. but seriously, it's not easy to spot as there is no indicator to say this is On or Off per se, and Full Power only seems to kick in, in combination with one or more of the above.

I think the drivers still probably need work, but interestingly this wasn't even obvious to Alienware techs (who know their stuff)cough cough, so they have taken note to try this when troubleshooting similar situations.

Crysis is now running 1600x1200 + Max Detail very fluidly, and 3D Vantage about 10200 (was 10800 in factory test but probably clean config). This was as it should have been!

 

i wonder if this is a issue also some way with the whole auto dimmimg issue

 

Seems ludicrious that u have to remember to push the stealth mode button?

U do realize how bad that sounds

Not ludicrious ........ It's called reading and common sense


I have been nice but this is just to far

 

Stealth mode is good if you need to do basic productivity stuff on batteries....

 

I will admit that while the custom software and setting by AW are unique, they are also buggy as hell (at best).

Only time will tell if they work the kinks out. When I get Win7 I may just leave most of the custom AW stuff off the computer...

 

I do Agee it is buggy sometimes

I install the theme I want then all aw stuff goes bye bye

 

Moo

Does fnkdivas program work without installing command center/alienfx?

If it works stand-alone then I may just forget about all the other AW stuff...

 

i think it sucks that the whole computer depends on it

 

It doesn't.

You can use the system without the AW software. Just won't be able to use some of the controls (stealth mode, cc, etc).

 

do you think it has anything to do with the dimming issue...maybe for chance

 

You can install just alienfx lite and stealth mode IMO = fail since u just use the 9400 ...

 

No as stated before it's the panel it's selF

 

My machine was really stuck in stealth mode! After multiple GPU driver removals/installations it just wouldn't get out. Just kicked Vista off installed it again, let the buggy AW software off because this was causing everything in the first place.
Now it's running fine! Except for the freezing...

 

actually you can turn off the LCD panel dimming off in your power options

 

ok so if the panel was installed in something else ....you know for sure it would do the same

 

Yea .........

 

hate the monitor....HATE IT

what a bunch of crap...i hate the fact that they have done this....

 

just out of being curious ...how have you verified this your self....have you done it with your own eyes.....yourself...

 

No I don't have a 17 inch 16:10 dual lamp laptop their kinda rare

 

The panel detects whats ever on the screen and then dims . People call it auto contrasting as thats really the name for it but its really actually just dimming . Its the panel though for sure and not something OS related for sure because you could install XP or any other OS for that matter and it will do the same darn thing . You wouldnt need to install any of the software either for it to act the way it does.

 

ao has anyone ever contacted the manufacture...to see whats up with that...if there is some way to flash the firmware for it ...

 

No way I kno of ..... Just how it's built

 

I honestly dont believe there is any way to flash an LCD on a laptop. Others may think different but i and Zfactor are pretty certain you cant and Z stating you cant period. There not TVs and theres nothing really controlling the panel like say a Television where theres a whole bunch of electronics dictating how it acts.

 

Well, if the panel itself is able to detect contrast than there is certainly some sort of electronics to control it. Remember that these panels are exclusive to Dell and the M17x (z's samsung rep couldn't even identify the part number). So these aren't typical panels, IMO.

Getting a fix for it is probably impossible, though. AW would have to jump on Samsung to release some sort of update for it.