-->*OFFICIAL: Dell XPS M1730 Owner's Lounge*<--

how bad is it? Is it just stuttering, as when minimizing and restoring windows and such? Mine was doing that before enabling SLI

 

congrats hardtimes i would be really interested in seeing some picks of the screen with a black backround and the advanced audio i thought it was hardware thats a bit missleading

 

just recived another email form dell and it looks like my order has been brought forward fom the EDD of 5th dec to the 21st nov again im not going to hold my breath hope they make good no the new EDD im going mad waiting

 

Sounds about right since mines 28th....

Though right now im thinking over what to do. The laptop is shipped out on the 29th Novemeber, but i just read that the ETA on the 8800M is 19th Novemeber..... add to that, the newly discovered fact that the SoundCard in the DELL is just an emulation/driver package.

I dunno if i should cancle and wait.

 

well you could just wait till you get it have a play for a few days and if you want you can always send it back for a refund if the 8800M comes out im not to happy about the sound card myself but that alone wont put me off

 

crysis demo is out

 

welll its for those who pre-ordered Crysis
The official online release is i think it was 1:00 GMT

 

I just downloaded it off FilePlanet

 

Has anyone tried running games in XP and if so what drivers worked well??

 

Thanks! Just be sure to back up important data, since if one drive fails you're kind of screwed.

Careful wogstaa, if your game is crashing while you're overclocked, you might want to turn the overclocking down. Some performance-intensive games are very unfriendly with overclocking, it often depends on the game.

M1730 is an expensive machine, do you really want to reduce your system lifetime just for a few extra frames?

I remember reading something about EAX being broken in Vista, and there's not really a good work-around. Maybe the software solution is the only way to do it (Note, this could be a different Vista sound issue I'm thinking of).

I'm waiting also, especially after hearing that people are being delayed until December anyway.

 

Finally got Tiger Woods 08 installed and it WAS worth the hassle. Man this thing eats this game up for breakfast. I have it on 1680x1050 with everything to the max and there is no slowdown at all. The only issue is the grass blades are a bit thin (on my old system the blades were a lot thicker).

I also have UT2004, Ureal2 and Fear installed, these also fly with everything maxed. I only have 2 issues, firstly with first person shooters. The WSAD keys need to be pressed firmly to work well. Secondly Oblivion still crashes on exit, don't know why but I think its the NVIDIA drivers.

Lover the M1730 and it was worth the money IMHO.

My final tests will be with my graphic art work. I will be taking this beast in to work on Monday to get Adobe CS3 installed and I will let you know how it handles complex graphic and scripting work.

 

crysis loos amazing will have to get it 2moro even though ill be playing it on my old desktop till the beast turns up

 

just started downloading crysis demo from zamunda.net looks great

 

I've bloody gone over my download limit and i'm capped at 64k. No Crysis demo for me until next month, only a few days

 

Hello all....Great forum! Thanks for all the input! My system ordered 10/6/07 esd 10/28/07 phone status "build" stage as of 10/27/07. I don't think it will ship by Monday 10/29/07. I am not a gamer, but wanted all the bells and whistles for anything that might come up shortly. I have a Dell Inspiron 8100 since 2001 and felt it was time to upgrade. What excited me was the SSD, PhysX processor (again for the future), BluRay HD burner, True 1080P HD screen, video card (with future upgrade), and of course the fast processor. Hopefully, this beast will ship soon!

1 223-3102 Dell XPS M1730, Mobile Intel 2.8GHz,EX, 4MB, 800 FSB Merom
1 310-9525 PERSONALIZATION SHIELD, LCD COLOR WING OPTION,GRAY
1 311-7447 4GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm for XPS M1730
1 320-5788 17 UltraSharp TrueLife Wide screen WUXGA for XPS M1730
1 320-5790 NVIDIA G84 in SLI, for XPS M17
1 341-5809 64GB Solid State Drive and 200GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
1 420-6815 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit Edition English,Inspiron
1 420-7100 Media Direct 3.3
1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal
1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application
1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 412-0946 Dell Travel ExpressCard Remote Control, IR
1 420-7401 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP,XPS M1730
1 420-6995 DELL SUPPORT 3.4,DIM/INSP
1 420-7468 ADOBE ACROBAT READER 8.1 DIM/INSP
1 313-5592 Blu-ray Disc Drive (BD/DVD/CD burner w/double layer BD write capability)
1 420-7404 Dell Exclusive MediaDirect Instant Play Software Application
1 420-6464 Roxio Creator Basic
1 313-5014 Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy
1 430-2582 Intel 4965 WLAN (802.11a/g/n) Mini Card
1 320-5789 Logitech Gaming LCD
1 412-0959 Norton Internet Security 2007 15 Month
1 312-0603 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for XPS M1730
1 312-0604 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery, for XPS M1730
1 412-0148 No Internet Service Provider Requested
1 420-6590 Microsoft Office 2007 Small Business Edition
1 950-7447 4 Year Limited Warranty
1 412-0359 Soft Contracts - Qualxserve
1 902-2483 Warranty Support,3 Year Extended
1 960-8710 Warranty Support,Initial Year
1 988-0318 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year
1 980-7853 Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, 3 Year Extended
1 988-0317 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
1 983-8460 Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
1 464-5099 $70 Promo Dell Gift Card Card Card to arrive 6-8 weeks afterpurchase Redeem before 1 year expiration. dell.com/giftcard
1 412-0358 Soft Contracts - Consumer Complete Care
1 960-9189 CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection, Inspiron, 4 Year
1 988-0689 Bundle LoJack Theft Recovery Service - 4Year
1 313-5587 Dell Wrls 5720 Sprint Mobile Broadband MiniCard (EVDO)
1 430-2655 Dell Wirless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0+EDR)
1 320-6171 AGEIA PhysX Physics Accelerator
1 310-9516 You have chosen a Vista Premium System
1 310-9651 Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme Processor
1 412-0966 TV Tuner and Remote Control Vista Home Premium, English Inspiron
1 420-7091 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
1 420-7285 Datasafe Online 10GB,1 Year Free
1 987-7449 XPS,Datasafe 10GB,1YR(Incl w/price)
1 988-0099 To activate your online backupaccount, go to Start, Programs, DataSafe Online
1 310-5408 Free Recycling Kit

 

Almost forgot! The sales rep split my order and put these items on another order that have an esd of 11/28/07 and they were ordered all together on 10/06/2007, even though the website says it was ordered 10/07/2007. Go figure. I called and the rep said that what is available to ship will ship with the laptop, but I don't know what is making this order so much later than the laptop. I can always go to Best Buy and get the router!

I still haven't decided if I will install the LoJack or not. I am not crazy about "Big Brother" knowing where my "beast" is at all times. lol

1 A0767896 Absolute - Computrace LoJack for Laptops 4 Year
1 A0710431 ExpressCard Media Remote for Bluetooth-enabled Notebook
1 A1139355 PCmover Essentials
1 A0947602 WRT330N Wireless-N Gaming Router, Access Point, Firewall and Gigabit Switch

 

Does anyone know if the TV tuner in these laptops are digital or analog? I really want to take advantage of the HD capabilities.

Thanks!

 

Been reading the forum for a couple of weeks now, good to see a few more Brits on it! I Read Mr Greenfingers post with dread when he got the news of the rescheduling of his order, after that I knew it was inevitabel and this morning I got the dreaded email from Dell. Was so annoyed that I logged on and sent a really shirty email demanding to know in detail what the hold up was or I would cancel my order. Now on just accessing the forum I see that the 8800 is probably going to be released on 19th Nov, a couple of days after my new 'so called' delivery date. I'm beginning to think I would be better off cancelling waitin a month or so and then re-ordering, £2.5K is a lot of cash to spend and then find a month or so later that a much better card is being included in the beast. Does anyone have any snippets of info on when Dell are adding the 8800 to the M1730?

 

Yeah, Dell is a bit misleading on the whole Integrated SB Audigy Advanced HD comment. I've heard people in the states have been getting refunds now.

I have my Audigy Z2 Notepbook PCMCIA card so I will just use this for my music production etc.

 

I'm not sure I was wondering the same thing about the 8800M GTX... and yes it's supposed to be released on Nov 19 so hopefully we can get free upgrades since I ordered mine just this October. The 8800M was originally expected to be released with the M1730, so I think it would be fair to get the upgrade for free, if not at a MUCH cheaper upgrade price.

 

As for the sound card, you could always go out a buy the X-Fi Express Card!

 

This is far and away the best thread on the web regarding this machine - i've been thinking about buying it for a while now, this thread is a goldmine of info - so thanks for that.

So I placed my order this afternoon - estimated delivery 16 NOV.
Gray
2.8 Extreme CPU
4Gb RAM
400GB raid 0

I spoke to the tech guys at DELL re the 8800 and they are having problems with it atm, so I dont expect to see it in the 1730 this side of xmas at least - hence why I ordered today - my 4.5 year old Inspiron 8500 is dying, and I cant wait till Jan.

I also specified an LG panel in my order (thanks to all the notes in this thread), and had the agent place notes on the build saying that if it's built with any other panel it will be returned - so we'll see what comes of that.

 

As the UK seems to be suffering with the longest order times in the whole world (as usual) perhaps it would be useful for Dell to clarify the whole 8800 and upgrade issue, the longer I am forced to wait due to Dell UK's incomptence in sourcing adequate components the longer I am thinking is this worth it? Surely Alienware are going to bring out an 8800 SLI notebook and surely Rock seeing the popularity of the M1730 are also going to do the same. The money is starting to make me think that I could have impulse bought here. Has any M1730 owner downloaded and played the Crysis demo yet? If I see good feedback then perhaps I can put all this negativity down to simply being frustrated at the delay in my order.

 

Blinder, I would take the 16th Nov with a massive pinch of salt. I ordered mine on the 12th Oct for a 31st Oct delivery and just got informed this morning that mine will be delivered by 16th Nov. I am awaiting detailed feedback from Dell on the delay. It might be worthwhile ringing Dell up and letting them know that UK buyers are experiencing long delays and is the estimated delivery that you have been quoted really realistic. I just think it's designed to make you buy and then they spring the delay on you at the last minute! Check out Mr Greenfingers posts I think his wait is outrageous.

 

Cheers for that Doove71, I did see Mr. Greenfingers posts aye, but "hoped it wouldnt happen to me" I suppose...

I agree that the UK people should start chasing Dell for some proper info on a. the delivery schedules and b. the exact timescales for the 8800 upgrade path

I'll give them a call on Monday and see what I can get out of them on both counts - I'm also not keen on a. being hoodwinked on delivery times, and b. taking delivery and seeing the 8800 in the machine a week or two later...I'll post what info I get...

Maybe we should make a mass effort to get in touch with this guy and see what he has to say for himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nIsx9ZwMws

 

Right update on the samsung screen. There is some 'slight' light bleed at the bottom of the monitor but it is symetrical and constant. The colours, image, clarity is second to none... superb and I have no problem with it!

Machine is awesome but time to try some games

 

Once I get a response I will most likely do the same. Dell's estimating is total bull, the website tells you all the different factors that go into making up the date, but when I saw that you had the same estimated delivery date, it was purely down the day that the order was taken. I'm not a Dell hater but it certainly seems that UK customers are being short changed. The Aussies get theirs flown in for goodness sake!

However with all of this going on I still can't help but trawl the net for vids and reports back from M1730 owners, I just want my machine!!!!

 

HardTimesUK do you have the Crysis demo yet? I just downloaded it from Gamespot (took about 2 hrs with the queue) and am about to give it a fly on my XP desktop.

I am eagerly waiting for someone to post some eye witness feedback on the Crysis demo and the M1730, please somebody put me out of my misery!!!

 

Yeah, just installed it now... going to try it and I'll let you know

As for the X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook, £46 from here;

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase26.3&prodID=1399097

 

been bouncing around dells automated and Indian cust care looking for confirmation of 8800m gtx avaliblity, so far no one's talking

 

The first call I made I got lucky on I think LucidBurner, as after that call I got no information either - I have the guys contact details I spoke to - if you want them PM me, but he specifically told me that they are having problems with the 8800 and the M1730 atm (between the gfx and the cpu was what he said) - whether or not that was bull to try and get me to place the order I dont know - I didnt place it that day though. I might give him a call next week as well to see if he has any more info...

 

well im on the phone now and this guys says that dell is offering NO UPGRADE PATH for any of its notebooks, none.

 

What?!! Surely that doesn't mean that they give absolutely NO support when ppl want to upgrade their video cards??

 

If that true then my order will be cancled before the end of Monday.

I (like other people in here) am going to contact DELL about some of these issues. The main ones for me being :-

1. The integrated SB Audigy is a driver package with misleading advertising. I want it off my order, im not paying £25 for drivers. I will buy an X-Fi express card or something instead.

2. My order is not due until the 28th of November, and all these news sites say that DELL and Co are getting the 8800M on the 19th.... If that's true and DELL update their website as my order is being shipped, or just after, are they going to let me return it and pay (if it costs extra... like they give the options of 8700 or 8000M) to get another one with an upgraded Graphics Card or not.

If i dont like the response to any of these questions then im afraid im going to think long and hard and probably cancle my order.

I don't mind new tech coming out after i purchase something (well i do but thats life) but updates arriving at the time of or before my product has even shipped is unacceptable. And if DELL are not going to offer any upgrade or support path then they lost a customer.

 

They have to!! I mean they bloody advertised about it, so how are they not going to! THey'd lose me as well if it doesn't hold!

 

Ok Ive decided to buy it. But before i finalise does it support turbo cache? so I can have more graphics RAM than dedicated?

 

hello to all you new uk posters just a quick update on my order status im now expecting my 1730 on the 27th of nov (what a surprise everyone on the same date or near to it??)
im not holding my breath but if i get let down again there will be hell to pay

although im really dissapointed with the whole dell customer service thing i still cant bring myself to cancle this order because of all the great feedback we are getting big up posters and the thing looks great cant wait to get my mates round turn the lights down and watch as they all drool over the lit keys i am however going to tell them im dissapointed with the performance just because i want to upgrade to the extream cpu really regreting not getting it i want this baby overclocked

i have heard that they will let me keep my machine till they build my new one hope this is true!

im not to botherd about the 8800 cards as im sure there will be an upgrade path and if it dose come out on the 19th nov that still gives me loads of time to send it back or cancle my order and just re order with the new cards

 

iv just sent a email about the advanced audio letting dell know how i feel about it and telling them to get the drivers off my 1730! i want hardware not drivers you can find drivers anywhere and most of the time you can get them free!

 

I'm starting to get more annoyed as time goes on, I too will be asking for the Audigy drivers to be removed from my order, at this rate I don't even know if I am going to go through with the order. Alienware are making an 'announcement' on 19th Nov, no prizes for guessing this is probably a new notebook with an 8800 or even god forbid an 8800 SLI version. I am also going to look for a series of answers to the questions posed here. It all comes down to a hell of a lot of money coming out of my account and I want, no expect to get delivery on the promises Dell have made so far.

 

I LOVE CRYSIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just Thought Id Share LOL

 

i understand where your coming from mate but im just rolling along with it the way i look at it is if anything better comes out before i recive my 1730 ill cancle and just go with whatever comes out untill that happens im leaving my order as it is after all they dont take your cash till you get your order. 8800 with sli oooh now your talking dirty

 

I know exactly what you are saying however I know what will most likely happen Dell US will go ahead with 8800 and an upgrade path, Dell UK will prevaricate for about 4 months, NOT provide an upgrade path and by then I will have had the laptop delivered been blown away by how shiny it is and then curse myself for not having the patience to wait until I see what Alienware are going to spring out of the bag. My worry is that Alienware (a Dell subsidary) have been working on an absolute Monster, Alienware is a natural home to extreme notebooks and as it is effectively Dell with an enthusiats badge on it that this becomes the logical place to have an 8800 machine to market first. I would be interested to see what some of the US contributors think about what seems to be developing.

 

yes any imput would be good as you are rite its alot of cash and i want the best bang for my buck ill phone (dellinware lol) tomoro see what i can find out dont think they will tell me anything but its worth a shot but as i stated befor im sure i wont recive my order till way after the 19th so will see waht alienware have to announce

 

Right, getting annoyed now!

I can't install any video driver from laptopvideo2go without the machine bluescreening on bootup!

Has anyone had the same problems and managed to sort it?

There is a new crysis driver out which apparently is awesome but I can't get it to install!!

 

BLUESCREEN ont good mate not heard or seen anyone with similar hope you get it sorted !!!!!!

 

Anyways i sent an email off to DELL (i will phone if i get no response) so hopefully ill get some information back. I will post in this thread anything useful they have to say in the hopes that it might help someone else out too.

Just a quick post of the message i sent (incase anyone cares xD)..

 

Here's maybe why Dell is selling EAX as a driver: http://www.openal.org/openal_vista.html

Basically, Vista removes support for hardware-accelerated 3D sound, so a software upgrade is necessary. Still, kind of silly to pay $20 for a piece of software.

It also seems that Creative had plans to charge for the software update, see: http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=589

Maybe this is the same software update?

I also have a question. If I have amazing earphones (Shure e4c) and really care about quality-sounding music, does my audio card make a difference?

 

Nice email RobHague will be interested to see what they say if the response gets us nowhere we cud do a universal email and we can all mail it to dell and keep doing till we get an answer lol

 

Here's maybe why Dell is selling EAX as a driver: http://www.openal.org/openal_vista.html

Basically, Vista removes support for hardware-accelerated 3D sound, so a software upgrade is necessary. Still, kind of silly to pay $20 for a piece of software.

It also seems that Creative had plans to charge for the software update, see: http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=589

that just sucks man!!! just another way to get our hard earned cash

 

Well the UK site has no "Help Me Choose" option above the Sound Add-on, so they need to do something about it or im sure more people are going to be complaining if the XPS is as popular as DELL say (and why orders are taking so long).