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

Before you do so, you might want to open your machine up and clean out your fans. I experienced a drastic improvement in temps by cleaning mine out. It's not the easiest job in the world, but if you're comfortable with opening up computers it's worth the time it takes to do it.

 

Yes, a general clean up and once a while check with your GPUs is good and it doesn't harm to learn a skill to know and open your laptop. Clean up your heatsinks, vents and fans. Get some MX2s or ICD7s to for your twin 8800s. Trust me, it'll be good.

Today, marks the 8 month anniversary for my M1730. Reaching the 1 year mark soon. No problems so far with my 8800s.

@ Legendary, 14,350? That is my stock score with my X9000 only OC'ed.

 

Is there a guide for putting MX2/ICD7 on the 8800s?

Thanks you guys.

 

well, it has to go back to repair what they f'ed up and to fix everything else they missed...

because my account is on hold i have no choice.

on a side note, i have called the people who are supposed to be able to tell me what a hold is and why I'm on one and every time they hang up on me. like 20 times now, as soon as i give them my customer number i get cut off. very annoying. i am at my whits end...

anyone know the bbb website i need to go to to file a complaint? and the dell carpet bomb? i am completely screwed here, i have no clue what else to do...

 

what's your specs???

 

Applying it is easy. All you need is a hard card, with a smooth even edge and surface to spread the paste around the core.

To access it, you will need a torx screwdriver to access the PCB of the 8800s. Instructions are on Dell's website. But first you need to remove your palm rest. http://supportapj.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1730/en/sm/index.htm

You'll need to get to this stage to access the GPU:


Then remove the card, Lift it upwards from the board slowly.


Using a machine screwdriver, open the 6 screws securing the fan. Don't forget to remove the black, red and yellow wire as well.


And this is the part where you'll need the torx screwdriver to pry open the spreader.



Pry it open and it should come off. Lift it upwards slowly.


You should see an exposed PCB of the 8800:


Clean the core with ispropyl alcohol slowly with a bud or a q-tip.

Then apply AS5/MX2 or ICD7 paste on it the size of a grain of rice and spread it around with your card.
In this picture I took here, I applied MX2, a non conductive paste.


User LegendaryAK8 also made a similar guide back then:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4702272&postcount=15197

While you're at it, you can try dusting off the fans and heatsinks from dust. When you open it, this your chance to do so. Good luck.

 

If you are in the US.

www.BBB.org ..... Look for Dell Inc. ...... round rock, texas.... www.dell.com

Dell bomb...BCC all of them

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

 

cool, thanks

 

anyone?.....................

 

So, you were able to setup your raid 0 array without issue and installed your OS - is that correct?

If so, then just run the installer for the Intel Matrix Storage Manager. You have to run the installer in order to install the software.

If you are not at the point where you have installed the OS and Windows Setup is having an issue with seeing your drives, then let us know.

 

ok i have installed raid fine. I then go to install vista and before i do it asks if i need to install any drivers? I then plug in my external hdd and it cannot find the installer? I then proceeded to install the os but i wasnt looking at it and for some reason it restarted? Then a black screen appeared about the intel matrix ? I then pressed f1 to boot from the os in the cd rom drive

man i suck at this stuff.

 

The OS needs you to supply the drivers - you will need:

If you are on a 32-bit OS:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=17883&lang=eng

If you are on a 64-bit OS:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=17884&lang=eng

One you have the file, extract it and then copy all of the files to a USB Flash Drive. Once done, run the Vista Installer again. At the prompt, insert your USB Flash drive and select the files.

See this picture for an example of when to supply the drivers.

 

Interesting... your GPU is at stock clocks with that? One thing I do know that might not be in my favor is that I'm not running RAID on my drives. I know that has to amount for at least a slight decrease in performance.

 

that score is high for stocked gpu's.

 

I believe Ernstig's actually broken 15k with an overclocked X9000 and stock-clocked 8800m GTX in SLi.

As for Stig's reply to my warranty comment.

Well, okay, you and I are in the same boat regarding that matter. I may still be a little 'opportunistic'. Thing is that I am getting a decent sum of money back--if I score my refund--this the high price that was paid, and I was glad I'd rather get back the original sum rather than continue playing games with them and have them deliver me an M17x on their terms. This way, I have the money in my hands, and if I want, I could invest only a portion of that money on a slightly used--but much cheaper--M1730.

However, I would still be biting the bullet, because with Dell, it can become a hit or miss situation.

I was recently tasked with finding one of my clients a decent laptop. He's always been a fan of the Sony brand, and his current laptop is Sony. He doesn't want to make a move from brand, but kept an open mind. I told him about the benefits and drawbacks of Dell's current policy and warranty. Did you know what he said? (And this is a very shrewd business man.) "Yes, the warranty sounds nice, but my Sony laptop has not broken down even once in the last four years."

I actually had a come back to the last statement, but then I got thinking about the holistic side of things, and realised that if--as a consumer--you waste more than a dozen working days dealing with engineer calls, and worse yet, the matter doesn't get resolved, then you may have incurred a greater loss in the bigger picture. And yes, this is a direct result of the fact that Dell currently isn't taking as much responsibility in the matter as they should. Fact is that they should provide a prompt service. If Nvidia are creating a problem, then the people boasting about 'Next Business Day' should very well take on the loss and just provide the customers with a better alternative. At the moment, they're being adament about downgrading people until new parts are available. This dishonours their warranty, as they're not providing a solution and neither are they willing to do the further honourable thing by taking a loss upon themselves; afterall, they're the one's harping on about 'Next Business Day'.

So when I recommend this machine, I recommend it as a used item that one shouldn't bank on too much when it comes to quick warranty service or support. Back when I paid heaps for the M1730, I expected a standard. This time, if I get a used machine real cheap, I will keep a similar 'used and cheap' attitude towards the product and handle most of the care elements myself. Where the warranty comes into play, I won't beat too much of a drum about things because I wouldn't be viewing the machine as something that cost me an arm and a leg as it once did in the past.

What I recommend though--already mentioned in my last post--is that people get a properly written, signed, with company letterhead, authorisation letter from the original buyer that you--as second owners are entitled to all warranty claims, including refunds.

 

i got 15828 on stock 3870 crossfire and [email protected].

i got 12638 on overclocked 9800m gtx single and [email protected].

but it seems like the m1730 can break 16,000 on a dual core. mmm i wonder.

 

Anyone know what this is ?

Mine has started doing something else recently, i`m getting a clicking noise that sounds like its coming from the left hand side somewhere followed by a high pitched beeping noise.

Ive no confidence in this laptop, ive backed everything up today, this is as well as my ongoing issue that ive got.

 

Well, I wouldn't hold out for 16k, and it is a static benchmark, so 15k-16k is hardly a real difference.

Thing is that Hikkoo with his 9800m GTX SLi, and X9000 - both over clocked, broke the mid-15k mark. Even Ernstig got a similar score with an overclocked 8800m GTX. I don't think these machines can go beyond 15.5k without a newer CPU, or GPU, neither one is possible.

Sorry about the issue, Stig. I can't quite pin-point the problem.

 

mmmm. i think it can.

stig. maybe it can be your hdd with the clicking noise?

download linux and boot from a cd and see what's up.

 

Maybe with newer drivers? I hope someone as ambitious as yourself manages to break that record. We've got Hikkoo with similar goals and aspirations.

It's just that I've seen these machines hit their limit at 15.5k. You know, even the best dual-cores seem to bottle-neck the true umph and power of the 8800m/9800m GTX in SLi.

But yeah, maybe newer drivers and better optimised approach might break 16k.

 

I don`t think its a hard drive click as i know the noise you mean where the reading heads come to rest, this is more of a click noise that you hear inside an electrical relay. Its only just started happening recently, i`m getting an audible beep noise as well but this isn`t everytime when i hear the click noise, their is no pattern as to when the beep comes.

It could be the hard drive but its not something ive ever heard before with them, this is a recent thing, maybe the Dell engineer didn`t put it back together right when he had a play about last time as the click and beeping noise happened a couple of days after he left.

It wouldn`t suprise me if it was something that the Dell engineer did judging by how he put my M1730 back together, the keyboard isn`t flush and has a big hump on the plastic just under the sapce bar as if the plastic part is resting on something like a wire or similar, the strip at the top where the LCD is looks like a big dipper and its not sitting flush, he didn`t put the poppers back in right as i pressed a few back in but its still not flush and has big dips in it.

I aint taking any parts off off because if Dell are replacing my system (believe it when i see it) they can have it back in the state the engineer left it in.

 

i think it can.


but i have a question. a big one. is there a problem with the thermal design?

i see everyone is stocked on the gpu's. it there a reason why it can't be overclocked or no one wants to do it?

stig
i see what you mean. i would call them if i were you if you don't want to open it your self.

but you can trouble shoot.
disable the one gpu and see what's up. maybe something is in the fans or something. i would have to look at it to see what's up.

 

Stig - run the diagnostics testing upon reboot. F8 or F10, I can't remember which. I wanna' say F8 though...grab a cup o' joe, because if you run the full test on all the hardware, it'll take the better part of an hour or hour and a half. This will tell you what if anything's wrong, and if it's making a clear audible beep, that's a harddrive error.

 

Thanks, i`ll give it a whirl later. It sounds like something to do with the hard drive then as i`m getting the clear audible beep you mention and a clicking sound every so often.

 

SORRY SORRY!!

*Edit:

That should be mobo error. Mother board. Not harddrive. The motherboard is specifically designed to emit a sound (rather annoying, early 90's sounding sound actually) when there is a deficient component.

 

I didn`t see any diagnostic options on either F8 or F10, the only similar thing on F10 is a memory test which is fairly quick to run as i did that for curiosity factor.

 

Dude, the only issue with the thermal design is that it is badly matched with a bad bios. The fans need to kick in earlier, and they don't. Yes, there's also the issue with the G92 core and the bad soldering, but that is what you keep in check by controlling the thermal-cycling.

As for overclocking. Many of us overclock. Magnus' machine is overclocked to 625/1550/950. Mine's currently running at 666 - core, and 1038 memory. Hikkoo's is running at the same. I posted stock scores in your thread, simply to demonstrate just how well the cards perform at stock. Many of us don't overclock because. . . it ain't needed. The GPUs in SLi are plenty strong for practically any game. The only games that give trouble are the CPU intensive ones.

 

ok.. i see what you mean. it's like the whitebook/m17 then. the last gpu fan speed kicks in at 85c. which to me was way to late. i would prefer 70-75c

well i know you don't need to overclock. my single 9800m gtx stock maxed out many games i play on it. i was just wondering if it can be overclocked or dell did something or something like that.

 

God I can't even imagine OCing my GPU's. Would cut the lifetime down to 3 days instead of the seven days I'm used to!

 

Indeed. That's our problem at the moment, the GPU fans kick into full-blast too late. The benefit of the X9000 comes clearly in from the overclock because it forces all fans to run maximum blast all the time. Not the most 'ideal' solution in terms of noise, but hell, the machine stays cool and the GPUs do fine.

As for overclocking, I have done this quite a bit, so in my experience, and through reading other peoples accounts, I can say with confidence that these cards overclock just fine. 666 core and I don't get any artifacts.

. . .and Hankaroon - LAWL!

 

My gpu fans kick in at 75c on the dot, thats on idle/ basic use, under load aka games, they dont get hotter then 70c

 

Terrible.

For these GPUs, fans shouldn't be kicking in full-blast at that high of a thermal reading.

Most x9000 users find that their temperatures don't even exceed the 71c mark if they keep the fans running at maximum.

 

how many fan settings/speeds are there on the xps? are we talking slow/meduim and fast?

 

That is spot on, mine stayed around 67 C when gaming. Its when its idle thats the problem and that is just backwards.

 

Yes. The variance is a thousand and a half RPMs or so between each.

 

**Update: So i have been given a new magic update on the delivery of the 9800sli... well to be more accurate a time period Oct.15 - Nov. 2 some point between there.

I also had my case escalated, this is getting ridiculous since its been 3 weeks already and my schooling isn't stopping just cuz dell is being so stubborn.

 

Guys, I'm seeing alot of good and reasonably priced QS X9000s on ebay. For users with old meroms, T8xx and T9xx users, grab the X9000 today, give your GPUs a treat! It's still not too late to save your GPU! hahaha.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_trkpar..._nkw=X9000&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1

 

Ooh, I knew that "firm date" of 10/15 wouldn't stick. Go figure, that would make it the third backorder call I would've gotten. I guess demanding a system replacement was the better choice, even though I'm gonna have to call them constantly to make sure they don't screw it up.

 

They all look to cost around $410 to me, is that great value for a processor upgrade that could damage the laptop if you do it badly?

 

What do you mean by it could damage badly? No pun intended, unless if you are really clumsy and tend to carelessly break everything and/or skip instructions. I think it's easy to change them if you follow the step by step instructions carefully. It's all on Dell's website. I fail to see how difficult it is to change it.

They're all using socket P Micro-FCPGA pins, and are no different from the T9300 you're using.

I see one for $350.

 

My sentiments exactly.

 

350$ is still much for an 0.9GHz difference. And also the machine makes too much noise when overclocked at 3.2/3.4GHz.

 

not now. but by the end of this year. what are the chances of finding one for under 1000 dollars. 8800m gtx sli/9800m gt sli. with 1920*1200 lcd.

everything else i don't care about. it can have no ram no hdd and a crap cpu but a x9000 is a plus. (i also would like bone white if i can find different covers.)

 

Well in any case, I think $350 isn't cheap. And there is a higher chance of something going wrong than say if you just didn't do it.

 

It says you need a processor removal tool?

Im considering upgradeing in the next 6 months or so

 

The original retail price of the X9000 is $800 for an OEM version. It was once original sold for $1200. All I know is I got mine for $300 and upgraded my T8100 I originally had. I saved $300 than buying it spec'd from Dell itself. Here the prices are skyhigh. I admit, I'm not a US citizen, and therefore it benefits what I do.

I had mine changed from a T8100. It's a QS 174 X9000 chip. Back then it was my first time opening the M1730, and I consider it easy. So far never had any problem for the past 8 months.

Noise is not an issue. I've dealt with even noiser desktops. You'll thank it for keeping your GPUs cool. It's the only way to make your fans blast constantly, as people have been requesting for BIOS hacks or, updates to make the GPU fans kick in when it hits in an earlier temperature. Speaking about BIOS updates, well, not gonna happen I suppose. Seems like BIOS A10 is the latest from Dell.

 

You'll find plenty. Unfortunately, one that WORKS flawlessly is probably another story. If you do get one, make sure you are prepared to bake the graphics cards. And make sure you get the extreme processor so the fans can be on all the time when overclocked.

Honestly, the 1730 was a great laptop that did great things... when it worked. It simply got too hot and the fans were too easily obstructed, even if on top of a laptop cooler. I'd steer clear of it and stick to the M17x.

 

ok. i am getting the new m17x. i don't want to sound like a rich idiot beucase i'm not. but i don't like desktops. i don't like them one bit.

but i want to build a server and a heavy benchmarker (i run benchmarks or play games on either system at the same time) and i wanted a notebook preferably with sli/crossfire and with out alot of problems. without heat issues if i were to leave it to go to work or school and come back and it's fine. and i thought the m1730 would be the perfect candadite.

it has sli. 4 fans. and it seems like it can do the job. but i wanted to know where the performance for it lies. i didn't want to spend no more then 1000-1300 max on that notebook. so that why i wanted to choose it.

 

Understood. As I said, you'll need the extreme processor and overclock it in order to ensure the fans are on 100% of the time which will provide enough cooling to keep the GPU's from melting. This theory has been examined via a poll where people chimed in about their issues. No one w/an OC'ed extreme processor had any issues, whereas people with the "slower" processors had more issues than those with the "mid-fast" range processors.

It looks damn nice though and I really do miss the Logitech gaming LCD it had. That said, the M17x I have now blows it out of the water.

 

That's interesting that you're noticing a significant increase in performance. I thought the M1730 albeit inferior to the M17x wasn't that inferior. What kinda games does it show a significant increase?