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

Given the current state of M1730 system replacement issues (both in the US and abroad) as well as the issues surrounding the GPU replacements (delayed availability, failure rate, etc.), we are creating a new thread specifically for posts of this nature.

The XPS M1730 Owner's Lounge is bogged down with posts which fall into this realm and other owners who are not having issues are having a difficult time sorting through all of the posts.

Going forward, any posts in the XPS M1730 OL relating to these issues will be removed.

Thanks everyone.

*XPS M1730 Problems/Dell Replacement Issues*

 

Magnus,
I also want to confirm the profile-setting for some of these newer games.

I am having trouble using Nhancer. For example, with any driver below 190.38, the Resident Evil 5 benchmark stutters in the second scene.

Got any ideas?

 

A SLI profile... by that you mean using nHancer?
I've seen the tool coming by in this and other threads a few times, but never seen a proper reason to use it.
What is wrong with nVidia's SLI profile for the game and what does nHancer doe that the nVidia driver settings do not?
Or is it the game itself that doesn't support SLI (very well) and nHancer fixes this problem?
I also noticed you are recommending a driver for Windows 7 (in my case) that is from December 2008? Isn't that a very very old driver? Nothing better and better performing has come out since ever? In that case: Yikes, nVidia!

No, I haven't tried either of these drivers.
Do you think that will make a leap in performance compared to the 186.81 from nVidia's website?

 

I can't say there's much wrong with Nvidia's profile, but just look at the facts: Magnus is getting the game to run smoothly on his system, maxed out. Naturally, if I want similar results, I will have to replicate his technique.

 

I downloaded the Logitech GamePanel software, although I am not sure how you configure it for games. All it seems to display is I tunes, A CLock, Windows Sideshow, Performance Monitor, RSS Feeds and a CountDown Timer. Prtty much the same as the last version with a couple of additions. But unless I am missing something how is this a gamer panel? I play COD 4 and it doesn't show any info relating to that.

 

@ Pac Like most gameing gadgets it needs tweaking. I use Sirreal with Fraps and Speedfan (do not adjust your fans just for monitoring). Sweeet!

 

Thanks batboy it has been a while since i read the forum for that very reason.I guess I should knock on wood. my machine has given me no problems what so ever.

 

The game must support (output info to the Logitech display). Basically the designers of the game have to code it to support Logitech's LCD (such as in the G15, G19 keyboards). The Logitech Game Panel in the M1730 is the same as the Logitech G15 lcd.

Without that support, no dice. Its just a clock or you can add to it different plug-ins as Slammin' mentioned. Do a google search for 'Logitech LCD plugins'.

@darkwolf: I wouldn't say a 'leap' in performance, but I have found the 186.82 to be more stable. the last driver I tested using the M1730 was the 190.40 driver which had excellent performance.

 

I think this is what you're looking for: http://g15forums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16

 

Well Nhancer is like a addon to the standard nvidia profiles. It uses the Nvidia profiles, however you can specify more detailed how the SLI profiles should work in Nhancer. That is what I like about it and labour around with it.

For me the Tweakforce 180.84 works great and I have always come back to these drivers and is currently using them. No stutter at all here in Resident Evil 5.

 

I see they sell 9800m GTX GPU´s on Ebay now for around 1100 USD. I am very eager to buy 9800m GTX in SLI though too expensive.

 

Not worth it Magnus. You won't get any real in-game benefits, and those listings are fake. Take a closer look at the model number and the total video memory - it's a 9800m GT.

 

Are these drivers also available for Windows 7?
Perhaps I looked too quickly, but I cannot find these on the Tweakforce download page?

 

Thanks Slammin and BatBoy. I have now installed SirReal, FRAPS and SPeedFan. Excellent stuff. I can now see my FPS in COD4 which is always handy. Not sure if you can integrate SpeedFan with the LCD panel though?

 

Kade yes you are right, those are 9800m GT´s.

 

9 now. Keyboard is on the fritz. Select keys don't work and I had to copy/paste 30% of the characters in this sentence. Grrrrrrrr.

 

Could someone please tell me what GPU I have. I thought I had two 8800 GTX in SLI but the Dell tech is trying to say that I only have one 8800 and the second card is a physics card. When I check the device manager it shows two 8800's. What would be an equal GPU in a new Alienware M17x?

Here are the part numbers and descriptions I have from my M1730 build sheet.

KX954 Module, Card, Graphics, IUPGA5C G92, Scalable Link Interface $800

HU144 Module, Card, Graphics, Physics Processing Unit, 128 MB, Notebook $127

Thanks

 

If we want to get super technical, any m17x gpu is equal to the 8800 since nvidia has just been rebranding their video cards with higher clock speeds. But in any case I believe their sli 260gtx is fine and close enough since there's nothing lesser anyways. If there is a single 260 option, don't go for it.

 

Might be a matter of semantics. It's 1 card but it has 2 GPUs on it that run in SLI mode. Most cards on desktop PCs are 2 single 8800 GPUs but you can buy single cards with two chips on them for desktops also.

 

Just tell Dell that you want another system with Scalable Link Interface since that's in the part description...

 

Sure you can.

Open the text document in Sirreal. it should be c:\programfiles\lcdsirreal\lcdsirreal.txt

Read the instructions. Save a copy of the original (as instructed). Now you can play with dozens of display attributes. It's a humdinger of an app and I'm surprised it doesn't crop up here more often. For those of you who haven't used it give it a go. You'll love it.

As b4 Speedfan is ONLY for monitoring do not try to manage your fans as it will only find 2 not 3.......

Also for what it's worth if you use the Windows Sidebar there is a Speedfan gadget which is sooper dooper.

 

Is there anyone that has had sluggish playback of blu-ray discs with high cpu utilization using either Total Media Theatre 3 or PowerDVD 9 and found a solution ? I tried enabling hardware acceleration in both programs but doesn't seem to work, cpu usage is still high. I have latest Nvidia drivers installed, I have power profile set to high performance. Blu-ray drive is Mat!@#$a UJ-120, CPU x7900, geforce 8700's in sli mode. Currently running Win7 Ultimate x64. thanks

 

Great stuff!

Thanks for the help Slammin

To be honest, SpeedFan doesn't find any fans on my system, so adjusting them would be difficult.

I booted up Call of Duty 4 last night and very single peripheral got a little flame next to it. HDD, GPU and Processor.

Didnt look too good!

 

Guys....I REALLY need your help right now...
Since last night, a really odd problem has been occurring on my m1730... I switch on the computer, I see the Windows 7 boot screen, and everything is fine up till the point when the webcam light flashes and Windows is supposed to start. At this point, the system just freezes, with no activity of any kind indicated, with the screen stuck at the boot screen.

I tried to boot Vista (I have a multiboot system) to see if this was maybe a driver issue, but the exact same thing happened.

I was suspicious that the video card might have something to do with this, so I booted safe mode, uninstalled NVIDIA drivers, and booted with the 'standard vga graphics adapter', which seems to be working just fine.

What is your diagnosis? I've never really let the cards heat up much and there has never been glitching or artifacting with it so I have really no idea whats up!

Dell Support has said they'll be replacing my graphics adapter, but don't know how long its gonna take (parts shortages)... :-(

Help would be appreciated...thanks

 

yup mrhohoha, i have had the same thing happpen this week. It is indeed the graphics card and the wait is indefinite...some people are talking 12 weeks +. People are being offered replacement Alienwares if they make enough fuss

 

Alrighty... I now have a pretty strange question. It's been a couple of weeks since I've blown out my fans, and now my GPU temps seem unusually low. Everything is working just fine and my idle temps were as they were before... around 43-46C. However, my load temps are just unbelievably low... when playing GTA 4 I'm seeing them as low as 54C, and about as high as 65C max. I have checked and SLi is enabled, so is PhysX. I'm just scratching my head here... I know I'm running overclocked, but these temps seem awfully low.

 

@legendary

How hot does it feel to the touch? Maybe the sensors are wrong?

 

Heh... welcome to the M17x club soon...

8800MGTX SLI is experiecing part shortages, but you might have to play the game and wait a few weeks. They'll offer you a system replacement with M17x..

 

My temps are very low under heavy load/gameing. My system is still very new so no dust or crap has got into the fans.

Under heavy load my cpu tends to hover at the 46 mark, while both the gpu's will sit around the 56 to 58 mark. I also have my system slightly higher at the back by 1 or 2 cm's

 

Need a favor from my M1730 buddies... can one of you uninstall your Sigmatel Audio driver using the Programs & Features Control Panel in Vista and then:

1. Reboot
2. Run CCleaner's Registry Module (if you have it installed)
3. Download and run this installer: IDT 92HD73C1 Audio, v6.10.0.6217
4. See if you have Stereo Mix available.

Note: You might be able to get away with just launching the installer without uninstalling your current driver - up to you.

Thanks - much appreciated.

 

I installed just launched installer , where do i check stereo mix at?

 

Right-click on the speaker next to your clock and select Recording Devices. You should see an icon in the list that looks like a PCI-E card and is labeled REC. Playback.

 

no ,just says line in high def audio device not connected.

 

W7 Pro x64 from MSDNAA + 191.56 - works nice but in 3DMark 06 1k pts less than in VHP x32 + 190.40.
Impossible to install XBCD , no sidebar, Dell Quicksek + CapsLock - annoying suprise during playing games, few GBs more HDD space. Not bad but could be better.

 

Well, it was worth a shot. Thanks for trying. Might want to verify the mic array is still working and shows everything correctly. Look to the side of the IDT Control Panel window for the little jack plug icons. Should have all. If you don't, just fall back to the previous driver.

Thanks again for testing!

 

no prob batboy anytime.

 

Just upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit and was wondering what NVidia drivers you guys are liking? Guess my old drivers didn't carry over. Also, anybody gotten SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook to work? Thank you in advance!


Later - Mike


(Edited to add P.S.)

P.S. Who was the guy that had the link to drivers in his signature? I am starting to think that I may need to find/download/reinstall the driver for my express card slot. My SoundBlaster card is not even being recognized when I plug it in - not good :-( Thank you in advance!!!

 

I don't have big choice - I want to have GL 3.2 so 191.56 or sth like that.

No problems - this crap works (but first the drivers from CD must be installed).

 

Weird, for me they don't work at all. They say I don't have a compatible hardware.

 

Sorry, I think you misunderstood what I was asking about the X-Fi Express Card - that was in Windows 7 64 bit. I had it working just fine under Vista 64...


Later - Mike

 

I just figured out today strange behavior with the Battery of my M1730
the M1730 has a age of 16 month.
If I remove the beast from AC Power, it shut down after approx 1 minute. then I plug in the AC Power again an start the beast. The Battery starts charging. and after a couple of minutes it shows 100% capacity. but if I check the battery status, just one green LED appear.
It seams be the case, that the charging does not work anymore. Is this the case, because of a broken battery ?
Anyone had this issue in the past ?
thanx
tom

 

Maybe your wear level has grown to a very high level.
You can use Everest for checking. Wear level can be found at Computer > Power Management section.

 

mine said that also but it still installed and worked weird.

 

Regretfully, you battery is dead, and I can pretty much attest that, since i had the same issue this year. I was lucky that the issue was before the 1st year of warranty , so they replaced the battery. You can to some tests, if you go and talk to Dell Chat, but its a done deal.
You will need a new battery...

Btw, the new IDEA STORM thing for the XPS looks good, 330 points... hopefully it will draw attention...
I also posted that link on several other sights to get more attention.

 

Okay, the wear level is 28% - but it seams the Battery is dead anyway. I called dell, did some tests and its cristal clear now - I need to order a new battery - which is pretty much expensive approx 130 Euro. I never had issues with battery over the last years with other laptops. the quality of the M1730 Battery seams to be very poor in general.

Thanx anyway for your comments.
Good start into the next week.
tom

 

Yea, the 1730 battery aint among the best. You should find cheaper ones on eBay. I dont think even Dell sells them for 130 euros..

 

I just installed Win7 Ultimate x64 too and for now the 190.40 drivers are working fine for me so far, I haven't done any performance tests yet but the drivers are working ok so far.

 

my battery wear level is at 23% and it lasts around 30 min, it is less than a year old....

my gateway fx battery is 2 years old and it has 12% and lasts around 1.5 hours. dell battery's suck and cost a fortune...

 

Cool - those are the ones that I installed. Don't see much talk about drivers here lately. Thank you for your reply...


Later - Mike

 

Hmm anyone has any idea why Dell released so few 9800m GTX GPU´s? Did they have any heat problems?