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

8GB works in the system. Any 4GB DDR2-667 SoDIMM will work.

 

I have Micron 4x2 sticks that do not work.. They are DDR2 667 CL5, but they freeze the system. I ran memtest on them, one came back with errrors, other is clean, but when i put the clean one alone, it still freezes my system.
This is why i ask. I wanted somebody that has they installed so i can 100% know they work.

I think some sticks require more voltage than others to operate correctly.

 

It's a sign of a faulty RAM; there should not be any errors at all or any crashing. I'm using 2x4GB CL5 G.Skill for years and never ran into problems. DDR2-667 has a standardized voltage at 1.8v to operate regardless of brand or CL type.

EDIT: You could probably RMA it, and get G.Skill or HyperX. Also make sure you're running on BIOS A10.

 

I have tested Mafia 2 on the beast and it runs flawlessly. Though I have PhysX in the game disabled. It is a review copy so I can´t talk about the game yet, but I can at least say it runs smoothly maxed out 4xAA set in Nhancer and PhysX in game disabled at 1920x1200

You can scroll down in this blog, although in swedish you can see at least some screens on my XPS M1730

Petters blogg - Gamereactor Sverige

 

thanks for the recommendations!

 

Wow, hopefully Mafia 2 is not as slow paced as the original, hated the slow movement...

 

More open than original Mafia

 

Should I pull my Physx card out of my laptop or just leave it there? I was thinking of selling it on eBay

 

Question about the UJ220 bluray drive. I notice there are a lot of people using the drive with Win7 (blazer666_uk for one). Has anyone had any success? Since upgradings to Win7x64 I've found burning problems with this drive (power calibration errors).

Also Dell have removed this from their device list for my model?

 

A question Guys, I have a X9000, and 9800M Sli, and I would like to know if there is any program to control Fan Speeds. If I put X9000 to 3,2 Ghz, fans are 100% even in desktop... too noisy, and if I put X9000 to 2,8 Ghz Gpus fans are not fast enought for crysis... reaching 95º and more.
Any solution?

Apart from this, a GTX285M + I5 540 will have a similar performance than my XPS? I have a chance of getting a real good offer.

Thanks and sorry for my english (not english native speaker)

 

I used the UJ220 Bluray drive with Windows 7. I only use Nero10 for burning without issues.
I have no Win7 burning experience.
Nero is my Hero!

 

Let the bios do the work regarding the fan. 95C on demanding games is normal.

 

There is never a known way to control the GPU fans. The closest is i8kfan, but it only controls your CPU and 1 GPU fan; the 2nd GPU fan is useless.

I'd rather take the system noise and keeping it cool and thank it for keeping your components free from heat, thus lasting longer. In fact, I think 95*C is just wee too high; on my M1730 2.8GHz stock I just reach 75*C max playing Crysis for 2 hours.

You should also check your heatsinks and fans for dust, they're a main culprit of heat due to their blockage. You should check and clean them at a recommended time of every 3 - 6 months or so to achieve optimal thermal efficiency.

GTX 285M and an i5 setup is somewhat similar comparing to the M1730, each machine having a trade off; newer i5 CPU compared to Core 2 CPUs, twin 9800M (Is yours GT or GTX?) SLI vs a single GTX 285M. They're no slouch however.

 

Lasts questions guys, that would help me a lot:

1- Do you really know 9800M Sli and X9000 (my xps M1730) Vs single GTX285M and i5 520, in games such as crysis will have a similar performance?

2- And a XPS M1730 with a T7700 and a single 8700M, how long will the battery last? In mine with X9000 and SLI, last almos 1:15 surfing internet, I was guessing that with the other configuration would last about 2 and a half hours. I ask this because I can buy another XPS M1730 as a "Media Player" and second computer at a good price and I wanted to know its posible battery life.

3- Software. I have Vista, I guess Windows 7 64 bits works perfectly well with all accesories of the XPS (Lcd, lights, and so on). Can you directly upgrade from Vista, or you have to format first?
And about overclocking graphic cards, if I run X9000 occed with full fans, what software and clock values are the best? What drivers? I have 9800M Sli

4- Multitouch. I have read many sinaptics touchpads support something similar to multitouch. Does ours supports something like this?

Thank you very much

 

Nah 9800m GTX SLI beats the GTX 285M hand down where SLI really works. I can beat my desktop GTX 260 in some games when SLI is really utilized and that is with my 8800m GTX SLI.

We are talking two 112 SP GPU´s against one 128 SP GPU.

 

No way, that`s a 10C difference to the max thermal threshold...

Anything above 85C is cause for concern.

 

LOL darn, I guess I got too used to my GPU running around 9x too often.

 

Yea, my GPUs only saw 85C when they were really clogged with dust, otherwise, 80-82C is the max.
The CPU, being undervolted, doesn`t even go above 60-62C.

 

Ok, so I went through the process of letting them troubleshoot... we ran diagnostics, during which my m1730 rebooted itself. They immediately approved a parts replacement. I decided to let them try to fix it their way, before I raised a stink. They are sending me 4GB of RAM, two new 320GB HDD's, and a new GPU. I had to send screenshots of my BIOS and device manager to prove that I have 8800 GTS's in SLI, because the original configuration of this machine had 8700's.

I just got confirmation of the Fedex overnight waybill, that the parts were shipped. Included is the K650M PN....

So, hopefully tomorrow, the tech will be out to do the work.

I'll update again when it's finished.

-E.W.

 

WallHalen well then you got a GPU upgrade the K650M is the 9800m GTX SLI. Congratulations, damn I hope my stinking 8800m GTX´s drops dead soon. I don´t want to buy the 9800m GTX SLI since I want to buy the X9000 instead. But it seems my 8800m GTX SLI is dead rock stable

 

I agree Eleron, heck I worry if I see the gpu's on my beast go above 75 which so far has not happened that often .

 

HERE

boromir, couldnt say for cetain what gpu OC values best for ya 9800M GT(?) , each GPU behaves different depending on beast set up + memory specs + version gpu driver(an if install cleanly) + version gpu OC tool + room temp + how clean intenal heatsink fins are + fan behaviour + what ever else = many possibilites. its up to you to experiment find best for beast.
know that increasing GPU clks increase gpu temps. me only oc gpu's for benchys. for gaming always keep J951N default clks an bios set to 3.2ghz undervolted > now with ThrottleStop instead of RM-clk

for OCing gpu's could try Nvidia System Tools version 6.03(xp an vista only), 6.05, 6.06 or EVGA Precision 1.9.4

Remember during installation of NST > check Performance option Box is ticked (Performance option has gpu OC tool).
can untick other two boxes there not needed.

IMPORTANT: Recommend Download GPU-Zto check when changing gpu values.

lol... first time used NSPT didnt know to adjust GPU2, so GPU2 was on default when benching @ begining.
heres a good GUIDE to get idea how to test gpu oc clocks for gaming even though its for a GTX 925

Note:when setting values follow this simple formula :
Core clk value x 2.5 = Shader clk value.

 

You do not get more that 75 playing crysis and without oveclock? Do you use a fan under the computer, or do you put the computer just over the table?

 

Thank you very much, I though that if i was going to have Cpu overclocked with fans all the timea at 100% I could have the GPUs allways overclcoked, because temperatures will be good. Anyway I do not know how do you can manage with fans at 100%, I think it is too much, specially if you are not playing, and restarting and changing BIOS is also anoying, what a pity we cannot manage Fans!!

 

My Dell tech just left. She installed 4 new GB of RAM, left me the two new 320GB HDD's for me to install myself if I want to later, and for the icing on the cake, she installed the new GPU's that they sent.... two 9800M GTX's in SLI.

It's awesome!

Couldn't be more happy.

Hope everyone else gets satisfaction as I have. I called Dell on Monday, and two days later, I've got a laptop that is better than the one I bought.

-E.W.

 

And I'm sitting here with rock solid 8800M GTX's without any issues.
Life isn't fair.

 

Just keep renewing your warranty, it'll eventually happen.

-E.W.

 

I am running the cpu overclocked but undervolted and it reaches 75c with some games like Crysis but doesn't go much higher than that, I am not using any fans just have the laptop propped up on a cooler master Notepal cooling plate but the fans are not connected. The gpu's may go to 72c but not much higher.

 

??????????

 

Fwiw I pulled mine out and it's on eBay now.

 

Can anyone tell me if the VGA socket on the laptop has video in or is it purely video out?

Thanks

 

it's a video out socket

 

to all guys who want to replace rock solid 8800m gtx sli etc.: why don't u just overclock them in order to fry them, therefore you can get them replaced under warranty

 

Ugh. Really?

 

Well I have had my 8800m GTX SLI overclocked since I bought the XPS M1730, they won´t cave in. I have even overvolted them, also my overclock is pretty high Core 640, Shaders 1600 and Mem 950 this is with standard voltage. I know how to edit the bios myself now for the GPU´s in order to overvolt.

However if I overvolt them to 1.05v and overclock of Core 680, Shaders 1700 and Mem 970 then the temp hits 90-93 degrees celsius. But you see they are rock stable and won´t cave in I think I have had luck and got a very good batch that my GPU´s came out of, they overclock like crazy and with success and I can run them overvolted and they are still here with me

 

Hey 7200 since you are the Game mod guru, do you know any settings I can set to run one my old but favorite games Call of Duty 2 to get it to run somewhat smoothly on Win7 x64. I have played around with the games settings myself but just can't get it to run smoothly at all, but it may be cause it is a very out dated game, but it's a fun game for an old timer like me LOL!!!

Thanks!!

 

wow, yeah, ure really lucky then, but what about covering gpu fans holes in addition to the things you've done already. Can't believe it won't help.

 

lol

why dont you just overclock and stress it as much as you can, and in the next few minutes do a hard shutdown, take the GPU out and stick it in the freezer?

report back on whether or not it makes that ice cube cracking noise

 

hey, how have you learned about this vbios? I'm very curious what could potentially be done with the propriety MXM slot if the entire thing was hacked.

 

Well I can at least change the voltage on the GPU´s. I tried with changing the fan speed to and at what degrees they set in but it is sadly controlled by the system bios not the video bios.

Yes I am sure I could make these crack But won´t stick it in the freezer ha ha. I think Crysis itself is a nice stress test considering how hot the GPU´s got when they are overvolted. Sure I could probably run FurMark 24/7 and stress test it like that.

But I think these GPU´s are a keeper

 

@Magnus72
In what month is your M1730 build?
Mine dates from April 2008. I think yours is also assambled in Poland.
It can be my 8800M's came from the same batch as yours. I also clock often @ 640/1600/950 without issues.

 

I'm guessing this is the end of my GPUs, huh?

 

haha, scratch that, my external monitor cable was a little unplugged and it showed weird pixels and colours, checked the image on the onboard screen and it`s fine

still good

 

Shame your GPU didn't die.
If you have still warranty left, you could be lucky to get a K650M GPu card.

 

Being in Europe, I don`t know how much it would take to receive it...though it would be cool, I agree

 

eleron, i can't see the problem with the screenshot
can you explain ? is it the red and green lights ?

 

ernstig I think mine is one of the earliest builds with the 8800m GTX SLI, since I ordered one right away when the 8800m GTX SLI was on their webpage. So probably among the first batches of GPU´s

 

Yes I have burnt many a Blu Ray Disk mostly single layer but I have done a few double layer (both RE and R), I have not used nero though I use AVS suite.

 

How much did you get for it?

 

i started an auction with 21$ starting price + 10$ shipping. So far no bets