Dell XPS M1730 Owner's Lounge, Take 2

Well, that depends on what drivers you have, but most notebook drivers now will apply to all of the 7, 8, and 9 series of cards, so removing the video card and sticking another one in won't make a change.

 

Awhile back my 8800s failed on my M1730. Dell replaced it and everything seemed fine until yesterday. I did a cold start and it booted up in 640x480. No nvidia display devices could be found. I did a warm start and it came up again. I suspect I will be part of the M17X club soon.

 

So in my last chat conversation with Dell, I was given an order number but not told anything about the system. When I looked up that order number and entered my zip code, this is what came up. Guess what I get to do when I go home today! Apparently, it's "in production".

Order Description: Precision M6400, Intel Core 2 Duo T9550, 2.66GHz, 1066MHZ, 6M L2 Cache, Dual Core

512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M Mobile Precision M6400 (so not only do I have ONE video card; I now have HALF the video memory to boot)

All Hard Drives Non- RAID for 1 to 2 Hard Drives, Dell Mobile Precision M6400
500GB Hard Drive 9.5MM 7200RPMfor Mobile Precision MX400 (an upgrade in total storage over my 2x200 setup, but not RAID)

 

Refuse that ! If it was a 1gb Quadro FX 3700M then sure (expensive workstation card), but don't take being downgraded to that crap.

The Precision M6400 will take the Quadro FX 3700M. Do idea what it will be like for gaming though, and in truth, unless I was actually using it with CUDA supported apps, I would probably still refuse it and demand a SLi system.

 

Request for an M17x.

 

Would buying two 9800GT off newegg.com work for M1730?
Example:http: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150323
Thanks

 

Nope - that is a desktop card. Your only choice is to order them from Dell (if you can).

 

here`s my latest update

It is now the fourth week i`m without my 8800m repair i phone up every other day just to be told they are still waiting for a replacement . I spoke to a supervisor yesterday who said there was 120 people waiting for a new card and im second on the list (hmmm). He said it would be fixed by the end of the week funny i was told that last week I emailed the via the escalation form several times and never get a reply . tomorrow when i phone i think it`s time to complain who do i ask for? supervisor?

 

Yes, insist on speaking with a manager. Only way you are going to get anywhere. 4 weeks is beyond unacceptable. I would insist on a system replacement.

 

Lame! Dell's prices are expensive.

 

yep, not a cheap card

on another note, got a call from Mohammad and apparently my 1730 has been fixed and is now in the final stages of testing whatever that means... 1.5 months in depot it had better be 100%!!!

so wish me luck, hope i get it before the weekend, not having any laptop is just annoying...

 

But there's no other graphic cards, motherboards etc. to XPS M1730 - you can choose only Dell.

 

Well i did find an Ebay seller selling it for 250 a piece, I don't know if that is cheaper or not. found it on ebay here
Thanks,
Woehrle

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laptop-Graphics-Card-NVIDIA-8800M-GTX-MXM3-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ220456212401QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Video_TV_Cards?hash=item335436d7b1&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

 

Won't work, that's an MXM 3 module, where as Dell use a proprietary system. That would work in Clevo's etc... but won't work in the Dell.

 

That is a bummer, I guess I'll just buy a M17x to save me the trouble.

 

Your card will actually look like this in the M1730. The 2 images show my 8800M GTXes when I took it out for cleaning.
Note the design of the card as opposed to traditional MXM design used in eg. Clevo systems. Note the PCI slot design and the layout of the Cores; it's proprietary.
Alot of people asked if we can fit an MXM into an M1730, you can't. (Someone PMed me just now as well about this) I hope this answers those who are confused about it.

 

Well, I got my order number. They are replacing the system in my signature with a M17x, T9600 2.8Ghz, 4GB Ram, 260m SLI, 250Gb HD and normal DVD writer (the blu-ray was an upgrade I got outside of Dell). I am feeling pretty good about this. It took 4 weeks, lots of refusing lesser offers and plenty of patience. Dell is horrible about returning phone calls from the resolution center so you just have to be persistent. Now the wait......

 

I guess in a sense I've been luckier than you, cueball - I did dell chat today and I'm supposed to get contacted tomorrow regarding system replacement - the person told me they created the order today but it needs to be processed before it's 100% final. It'll be a M17x IF they don't have any 1730's available. Here's hoping!

I've done everything through dell chat and have been pretty happy with the way things are getting handled vs. on the phone. Sure doesn't feel as annoying as using a phone.

 

SomeFormOfHuman nice pics!!! now i know what to look for! Sadly It will take awhile for me to find the cards needed.

 

how do i enter dell chat it says its not available for my xps`s tag? put a different tag in?

 

If you don't have a warranty coverage, you cannot enter the tech support chat.

 

i`ve got 3 years nbd

 

well i just phoned asking them to replace my m1730 and was told they cant offer me a replacement ? gave me the same bull about a worldwide shortage of cards and said i would just have to wait which is totally unacceptable i don't know where this leads me now. I guess i should try again this evening .

 

Did you notice ALienware added dual HD 4870 and single HD 4870 to its M17x configuration this morning?

 

Hi all does anyone know what the latest drivers are for the onboard network card for the M1730 i'm using Windows 7? Having a real problem with latency with World of Warcraft. On my laptop i'm getting 200+ ms compared to my Desktop pc which is getting 35+. So just wondering if there is one. I had the same thing with Vista as well which came with the laptop.

Any help on this would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

i saw that also ,have to wait and see the diff between 280m sli and the crossfire set up.

 

I'm in Love..... http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10358717-1.html M15x laptop with Core i7 =), price check?

 

What's interesting is both the 260 SLI and single 4870 are a 300 USD upgrade from the single 260. Is a single 4870 really able to keep up with dual 260's? Somehow, I don't think this is right.

 

It seems like I am kinda in the same boat as some people here who are waiting for a replacement computer. I am wondering what you think Dell will give me as a replacement computer for my M1730 with the following specs:

- T7700 CPU
- 8700GT SLi
- 4GB RAM
- WUXGA (1920*1200) display
- 250GB HD

So far I have seen people with M17x or Precision M6400 replacements, do you think Dell will do the same for my M1730? What would be an equivalent video card to the 8700GT SLi? Thanks for all your help.

 

I have no clue. I just got a call saying my replacement was approved and I'll get it in about 3-4 business days.

 

That sounds good. After my chat with XPS support, they gave me a dispatch number and said my replacement might take 7-21 days. I am hoping that my order number shows up soon, so that I have a better idea of what I am going to get and when I will get it.

 

That's what they said to me too. I looked up my dispatch # and it said ps2/mouse. Sounds odd, but the rep said they will look for a m1730 for 3 days, if none shows up I'll get an upgrade. Guessing they'll try to replace it with a precision.(ihope not cuz I'll have to bother them again if they do).

 

So my replacement 8700 came in today.... bothers me a bit since there is only 1 GPU fan on it, haven't tried installing it yet as spent the day in classes.

Does the 1 fan mean its only a single card (as i think) or is this some new design for the sli

 

Yes, one card.

 

This is rediculous, not sure what's going on with the CS reps you're talking to but they went through an approval process with me, where I validated and approved the replacement offer.

This underhanded s$%t you guys are having to deal with where they won't even tell you what the replacement is, just stinks of horse manure. Don't put up with this sort of business practice guys, demand same or better.

 

What do you mean approval process? To see if you approve you mean??? I told the guy I wanted a: 1) refund; 2) an M17x. He told me this was 'not possible because Dell is a mother company to Alienware'. I'm continuing to email corporate numbers and gonna' call some tomorrow to get this crap moved along.

 

I learned one lesson from that support.
Call them every day.
Today i called them 4 times to ask whats my customer/ordernumber for my m17x replacement, they give me 4 times diffrent numbers, and some of them told me the system was still in production,....., the last one was finaly correct and the replacement is already shipped ,......if you understand, you really have to call them a lot !!

 

Who knows, since their CS were so inefficient, they might actually have sent you four systems, by mistake...

 

Yes really everything is possible

2 months ago i orderded a bluetoothmodule for my xps m1730 and in one week i received two of these things.

 

bpat, what's the spec of the replacement your getting?

 

Another update on my situation .
Customer relations phoned me yesterday saying that my laptop would be repaired by next Wednesday that's exactly one month since an engi was supposed to arrive at my door . He also promised me if it isn't repaired by then they will replace it with an m17x. But i only got the reps word no written confirmation So now i wait again

 

This is what my "in production" M17x replacement order says (although no estimated dates are given). This replaces the system in my signature.

1 224-5967 Black Metallic
1 310-0173 Airborne Documentation, System Exchanges,Factory Install
1 317-0818 Intel Core2 Duo T9600 2.8GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
1 330-5414 Windows 7 Home Premium UpgradeCoupon, W0, ENG,SPN,FRE,GER JPN
1 420-3251 Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1
1 320-1000 1GB Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M - SLI Enabled (NB10E-GT1)
1 320-8140 17.0in, WUXGA,LCD,ANW,M17X
1 317-0856 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz 2 x 2048MB
1 341-0011 250GB 7,200RPM (xMB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection
1 313-7711 Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
1 430-0628 Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
1 430-3558 Internal 300Mbps Dual-Band a/g/n 2x2 MIMO

Who knows when I will get it though.

 

Alienware M17x : Base Lunar Silver 210-27830
1 Processor : Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300(2.53GHz,1066MHz,12MB L2 Cache)
1 Display : 17in Wide UXGA (1920X1200) - Beyond HD (1200p)
1 Ship Accessory : Dutch Docs
1 Resource DVD : Alienware M17x
1 Memory : 4096MB (2x2048) 1067MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
1 Hard Drive : 500GB (2x250GB) Free Fall Sensor Raid 0 "Stripe"(7200RPM) Dual HDD
1 Optical Drive : DVD+/-RW (DVD, CD read and write) Drive
1 Power Supply : Alienware 240W AC Adapter
1 Power Cord : Euro 250V
1 Battery : Primary 9-cell 85W/HR LI-ION
1 Graphics : SLI Dual 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 280M
1 Wireless : European Dell Wireless 1510 (802.11 n) Half Mini Card
1 Wireless : Europe Dell Bluetooth 370 Card
1 Keyboard : Internal US/International Qwerty Keyboard
1 Operating System : English Genuine Windows Vista SP1 Ultimate (64Bit) including Media
1 Avatar : Alienhead 3D
1 AutoMatic Updates : AutoMatic updates - On
1 Window Style : Window Style - Default
1 Power Plan : Balanced
1 MousePointers : Standard
1 AntiVirus : English McAfee 9.0(3 year subscription)
1 TimeZone : (GMT + 01.00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
1 Name Plate Engraving - Generic
1 Base Warranty - 1 Year Hardware Support, Next Business Day
1 3Yr Premium Warranty Support


orderdate:17/09/09
shipping: 22/09/09

 

But when is seeing the 3dmark06 scores on m17x forums, i think there will be not a big diffrence with our m1730's i mean the m1730 with x9000 and 9800gt or 8800 gtx,.....correct me if i'm wrong

 

My M1730 has been dead since September 7th. They came to replace the motherboard and memory modules. When the tech turned it on, nothing happend. He called in for new LCD panel, bezel,screws, another motherboard and a gpu. 8800m gtx Backlogged till Oct. 5th. I went through the whole fight about replacing my system with m17x. Last night upper management contacted me and noted on my account that if on Oct. 5th the 8800m gtx is not in, I will get a replacement system of equal or better. Not a Studio 16. I hope and wait like many others. He did offer me 8700's but I declined for obvious reasons.
The M1730 was a replacement for my dead M1710. Had this for less than a year..... Died in the same month. Lucky me.
M1730 stats are 2.4ghz core 2 duo, 2 gigs ram, 120gb, dual 8800m gtx 1gb.

 

The 8800GTXs in my M1730 died on me on Monday. I called and they told me I would have to wait until Oct 5th and I accepted that answer. After I few days i figured that it wasn't fair I had to wait and that they need to come up with a better solution. I paid for a complete care warranty and that is what I want. I called them back today and spoke to someone who said I had 2 options: 1. Wait for the 8800s to come in. 2. Get my M1730 swapped out for another one but it would take a month. I then realized this guy was not to bright and I asked to speak to his manager. I explained to his manager I run my buisness off of this system and I have tried everything and I can't get the laptop to run properly. Long story short, he offered me a M17x as a replacement. He said he will call me on Monday to review the spec's of the system with me to make sure we agree on them...I have to admit, once I got the supervisor on the phone it was a very pleasent experience.

For now I wait for the call on Monday.

 

What do you think is a fair replacement for the 8700GT SLi card? Is a GTX 260M good enough, or should I be expecting the SLi version?

Also, do you think the P8600 CPU is a fair replacement for my T7700? Both the processors run at 2.4GHz, with the only different being that the T7700 has 4MB L2 cache, while the P8600 only has 3MB.

THanks!

 

I had 8700M SLI and they had no problem providing 260M SLI for my replacement.... It was not even discussed otherwise once they got off Studio XPS 16 and onto M17x as a replacement....

 

I see that cueball12 got the SLI version of 260M (he had 8700M's too), so I guess you may go for it.
And P8600 is a little better than T7700 (it has Penryn core, 45nm, 1066MHz FSB and only 25 Watt TPD) and it can be also overclocked @ 3GHz (from what I've read on AW forums).