Dell XPS M1730 Owner's Lounge, *Part 3*

The games are Arkham Asylum, Civ IV Complete Edition, and Guild Wars. Arkham is the only one that pushes the system...

Also I recently ran a demo of Torchlight and one of the older CoDs, which ran completely smooth. No hitching, stuttering, or conspicuous framerate hits.

 

Yes, Arkham Asylum is the only intensive game out of the list, and if you're getting good results with that game, then that is good. A majority of the games are running on the Unreal Engine 3, so that is good.

As for your demos, I wouldn't put too much stock in those games. They're good, no doubt. But the engines are weak. The upper 7-series cards could most likely ace them nicely. What is important is that the new driver doesn't hinder or create glitches with the visuals when it comes to such games.

 

Arkham looks great with the PhysX and all for Batman's cape. My friend has AA for the 360 and it doesn't look nearly as good - noticeably lower FPS and a lame cape! Sure it's just a cape, but you sure spend a lot of time looking at the thing so it's a nice feature.

 

Incidentally, the transition from Vista 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit went smoothly except I can't get the PhysX chip to be recognized. The device manager just says unknown device -> PCI device.

When I try to install the driver from the Dell website, it gives an error... "PhysX Version 909.08.14 is already installed. You must uninstall the existing version before installing PhysX Version 7.06.26. When I uninstall the GPU driver it still doesn't work (same error).

Anyone know how to get this thing recognized?

 

Nevermind, I installed it. Because I am the man.

 

Are you running RAID0 ? Any issue with RAID performance with w7 64bit? Thinking about making the move to w7 soon.

 

Yeah I'm running RAID0 with no problems.

 

Hey Guys - I am getting ready to call Dell for the first time regarding my m1730 having repeated nvlddmkm stopped responding and has recovered errors so much so that the machine just locks up after 3-5 minutes. I was using the Beta driver from dells website and I uninstalled it and let Vista install a driver - it seemed to work ok and I launced WOW and all over the screen there were sparkles then it locked up and I got the nvlddmkm error and an eventual lockup. I have noticed that when it does lock up it gets quiet and it sounds like the fans turn off. It has blue screened a couple times so far. The machine works just fine in safemode and I am fully backed up. I have reinstalled Dells original driver but I am still getting the errors and when the machine finally boots but the mouse is jumpy (little lockups) then it dies after a couple minutes. What I am asking is will Dell have me reinstall when I call or should I just do it on my own first? I have a bad feeling that my cards are no longer functioning.

 

If you've this computer for a while, have you checked if it's cooling fins are clogged? I'ld run the extended diagnostic first before calling dell because usually, they will have you run it anyway, and eventually, restore the computer.
Make sure you have a lot of time and patience when you call because it'll take a while.

 

Indeed. The PhysX add-on is a great feature, and certainly puts the overall product leaps ahead of the consoles. Now this is the kind of porting that I can tolerate.

Same game, same engine, but with scale to take advantage of advanced PC hardware.


72Hundred,
I've been in Raid(0), and run Windows 7 64-bit all the time. Of course, I've got the cheap, glitchy beta, but even then, there's benefits to the OS that vista 32 just did not have to offer.

 

72hundred, I'm using RAID0 with Win 7 64-bit, no problem at all here.

On another note, I'm starting to notice that my blu ray drive cannot read some of the new disks. I'm using Sony Optiarc BC-5500A. The disks that are not playing are The Bourne Ultimatum and Kung Fu Panda, which work on my PS3 just fine.

I remember reading before that most of people here use Panasonic UJ-120.
I'm thinking about getting it myself. Anyone using it running into the same issues?

 

I got the Mat-something UJ-220. Running solid since my first laptop.

Edit: Board censorship won't let me type out the full name of the drive. Ha! Ha! Ha! (Mat-sh. . . you get the idea.)

 

Hehe Thank you for the feedback, Kade.
As far as I know UJ-220 is a Panasonic. And its only difference from the UJ-120 is that it also burns BD disks. So, hopefully UJ-120 won't have any problems neither.
I found one on ebay......it does seem a bit dear.
Also found another one a bit cheaper, but it is Sony OEM. Don't wanna risk it.

 

when i had issues dell sent me out power DVD the software and fixed the issues

 

Thanks for the reply - there is no noticable dirt/dust to be seen when you turn the beast over. I have also run the diagnostics and everything passed. I am getting ready to call them on Thursday when I have lots of time.

 

I have had this problem through a few different windows installations. So, it is very unlikely that this is a software related problem.

 

By looking from the outside, you can't tell if it's clogged or not. Use a flash light to see if it helps with looking. Better yet, get a can of compressed air and blow it out. I use a toothpick to help keep the fan from spinning backward.
If the computer passed diagnostics, back all your personal data up because it sounds like Dell will have you do a restore next.

Edit: just re-read your original post: you may want to go ahead and backup your personal data and do a system restore. It sounds like software problem to me.

 

I just did a dust cleanup. I`m getting better, took me only 40mins this time

 

Really I thought i had mine cleaned out really good from just the aircan and stuff, when the tech came to replace the mobo there was still crap loads of buildup in it.

 

well......

Since my computer is still jacked up, dell is sending me a replacement...oh man fingers crossed its a m17 lol..

I'll know in a few weeks when it gets here

 

Eleron, You know I am lucky I have a husky portable compressor that I use at work and with that I can clean my beast n about 5 minutes without taking it apart like I used to before. LOL!!!

 

Yea I've got compressed air tank at 300 bar which is just an insane pressure. I was thinking of using it but thought it might be too much. Worked a treat on cleaning out the zalman though. Used it with the vacuum cleaner at the other end worked great.

 

I prefer the old fashion way. It`s an intimate bond with the beast lol

 

Hi all, Happy New Year.

Can anyone tell me or if anyone has a picture on where the AGEIA physics accelerator card is in a XPS M1730?

Thanks

 

Sure. The one circled with red.

 

Hi, thank you for that, out of all diagrams and pictures found, not one showed this.

Am i right i saying that all XPS M1730 are fitted with the card and all newer 8700GT Sli cards have intergrated AGEIA physics technology?

Reason i ask, if system does not have one i plan to install, along with 8GB Ram, X7900 CPU and a intel turbo memory module as this can be used with readydrive.

Thank you

 

No problem, I`ve opened the beast so many times, so I took detailed pictures along the way, thought they might come in handy some day.
All 8th series cards have PhysX integrated with the newest drivers, so yes.

 

Hi, so basicly there is physic technology built in the new 8 series cards plus the physic card?

I believe their's a command which could be used to identify what kind of physic card is available?

Any ideas?

 

In the Nvidia Control Panel, you can either activate or deactivate it.

 

Hey Guys,

Last night I was playing a game and all of a sudden my lappy just Hung and I had to do a hard reset and it had an error saying that it shut down due to higher temperatures than it expected. Then when I logged in everything was too bright and green....

So anyway I rang Dell and they reckon I can either wait till February for new Graphics cards or I can get a system replacement of equal or Higher spec. So I said I would be happy to get a replacement as long as it actually is a equal or higher spec and they are gonna email me on Monday with the specs of whichever lappy they are willing to replace it with.

I heard they replace them with the Alienware M17X now? Is that true? If so is there any reason to not go with the Alienware system? I would assume that even the worst Alienware spec would still be better than the XPS M1730 or is that wrong? Any suggestions would be welcome

 

what kind of hoops did they make you jump through before they oked the replacment also check the thread about replacement of the m1730.

 

Well, the XPS 1730 is surpassed in technology by the M17x , true, but I love the XPS more. Not to demean the AW, but it`s too flashy, even more than the XPS.

 

In the original physic software installation, there was a identify to tell weather it was a physic card or graphics card with physic engine.

 

I`m not sure I quite follow you , yes, some apps or games auto detect a *physical* PPU, others just use it via software.
Either way, depending on the usage, it`s not that phenomenal .

 

I too, prefer the XPS. It's just that they use newer superior tech in the M17x. Not to mention, the heating issues of the M1730 are under much better control with the M17x.

As for the specification. Yes, there is one spec with the M17x that'll work and perform slower than you M1730. 8800m GTX SLi will still beat out a single 260m with ease. You want SLi for SLi; Dell will try to force you to take a 260m, but you use their 'equal or better' policy and demand 'SLi for SLi'.

 

yikes, my new rig that i built today just pushed 21k on vantage all stock..

 

Hey everyone, I just found this legendary 3 part thread. I have several issues, let's get started.

I have the M1730 with 2 8800m GTX's. I got it, formatted and put XP on it. I installed World of Warcraft on it and everything worked fine for awhile.

Recently I've reformatted again and put 2 partitions on it. I was going to try Windows 7 and have a good ole XP setup as well. I installed XP and it seemed to be ok. But I haven't been able to get both cards working in Windows 7.
If you google it you'll see, others are having similar issues. (Code 43)

But just tonight I was having a coworker take a look at it and we discovered that SLi doesn't seem to be working in XP either anymore. We updated several drivers (several reinstalls) with no change.

Device manager shows both cards working (in XP) but in the nvidia control panel there is no Sli option at all.

Also, another issue popped up about a month ago. The batter charge light flashes orange 4 times then blue.
I have let the battery die and done a full recharge.

(The warranty is done and I don't want to spend ~$100 on a battery when I never use it)

Anyone have any ideass on either problem?

 

Check in Device Manager if one card shows no driver.
If so, install the driver again.

For more details, you can click on the link in my sig, I should have a full howto update drivers there. It`s over a year ago, but should be more than enough.

 

one of the drivers on my 8700 SLI board vanished into thin air one day....i didn't take notice because i don't always eyeball my installation all year round. it must have happened at some point when i was installing nvidia driver updates. as it turns out i had ubuntu handy on another partition, booting into it and checking the x-server settings, it too had only one GPU listed. also, trying to resurect the other GPU by forcing the driver cause BSOD during boot up....so it was obvious one of the GPUs had failed. i replaced the card recently with an 8800M GTX SLI. while i was doing open-heart i decided to refresh the thermal paste to AS 5 both GPUs and CPU

so far everything's running smooth.....

don't know what i should do with the old card tho....feel bad trashing it because one of the GPUs still works fine and can still use it for gaming....any suggestions ?

 

Well, that card might be good for a 'limp' replacement in case(hopefully not) your 8800Ms mess up. I have my original card(single 8700M) sitting aside just in case that happens with me.

 

Hi, if you cast your mind back to the original version of the physic software there was the standard test application which showed quality difference but also had a option to identify what physic card you have, i.e. a physic card or a graphic card with physic engineer built in.

Has anyone installed Nvidia's latest drivers which if correct will place a folder in all programs called Nvidia and inside there is a physic tool?

As stated before i am planning upgrade my XPS M1730 to have 8GB and a X7900 Extreme CPU. As benchmark result show an extreme preformance boost which contends with the Alienware M17x

 

Hi, it would be handy to keep or put it no ebay and put the money towards another 8800 Sli card or 9800 cards then keep that as the spare?

 

Which is the lowest CPU that can be put in to open up the overclock function on the XPS M1730, i thought it was a T9400?

 

X9000 (and probably X7900 too).

 

why are you not going for the x9000 cpu??

 

So I called Dell and the tech told me almost immediately that I needed to have my card replaced and set up a tech to come out on Thursday which was a nice suprise but then he told me they would need to replace my motherboard as my card was soldered on to it - that seemed strange I did not think the 8800 GTX's were soldered on. Does anyone know if this is the case that they are soldered on?

 

He does not know what he is talking about the cards are not soldered to the motherbard, they are on a daughter board that connects to the motherboard via a connector. So no the motherboard does not need to be replaced.

 

Cool that is what I thought - and they called back and told me the parts were on back order and that I could get a system exchange - but when I asked about doing that they would not tell me what the replacement would be just that it would most likely be a studio 16 xps with comparable parts since they would not tell me what I told them no thanks I will wait for the delayed parts - supposed to be available on the 18th. If they are delayed again I think I may take them up on their offer.....what do you guys think.

 

If you do get a replacement do not accept anything less than a SLI system, they should be giving you a M17x with 280M sli setup and no less, but document and save everything (phone calls, emails etc..)

 

The "I cannot tell you what it will be" line is given to all of us at some point. Accept nothing less than an SLI system as jesse said - m17x and no less!