Xi 1546

My 3DMark05 score has somehow dropped a bit. Before I would get 5660 points and now I get 5605 at best.. I thought this laptop should get closer to 5700 and beyond.. There should be nothing interfering with performance since I don't have any unnecessary startups or services loaded. Windows uses now only 115MB of memory. Graphics settings are the same as before. Drives is optimized and defragmented.

Do I really need the Matrix Storage Manager driver (iaStor.sys) if I have the VIA VT6421 SCSI/RAID controller in my system? Can audio or video codecs affect performance? I'm just trying to solve what might be slowing my 3D performance. Even though it's not so many lost points in 3DMark it might affect gaming performance more.

 

I'm not sure why the 3DMark score has gone done. It may be because of codecs, or other programs. I think its also happened, because people upgrade their drivers, an for some weird reason, the score decreases.

 

What I'm sure is that it's not other programs. Like I said there isn't really anything unnecessary loaded to memory, only the Windows essential programs, which are needed ftw. I'm beginning to think it's the new Catalyst 6.8 driver, since what is sure now is that it's at least the cause of Oblivion crashing all the time. Many have already approached ATI in this matter. Hopefully the issue will be fixed in next driver version.

 

It would sounds very stupid, but the problem was lowered volume wheel on right side of NB. I somehow absolutely forgot about it . Great machine. With 2 HHD in RAID0 it's just flying on loading process. It costs its money.

 

Hi....
im thinking to buy this laptop and i saw on some websites in the uk they are selling it (well they are out of stock) with the new intel core 2 duo processor (t7200!). one website said it will be available on the 20th september. going for sub £1100 !

i jus have one question to ask:this laptop says its hdtv ready amd has hdcp support..what exactly does it mean by HDTV ready and HDCP support... im completly lost there...does it mean its high def ready like new tv's? or that it displays high def quality? or that u can connect to a high def tv and display high def quality? like i said im lost ! if someone can explain it to me that would really helpful.

 

so is everyone having problems with cats 6.8. I did. Heres my question: Do you think its because the x1800 is underclocked in the xi1546 or something more sinister?

any takers?

 

Well, I still have the crashing problem with Oblivion if that's in the "problems" you are referring to. I don't have any other problems for now. I know for fact that Oblivion doesn't run well with overclocked cards and causes ctd. I'm not sure if the underclocking could have same effect. I have also tried Cat 6.7 for fixing the crashes with no luck.

When I turned HW acceleration for sounds to none in Dxdiag, I could run Oblivion without crashes, but experienced heavier FPS drops. Of course the game also sounded horrible without acceleration. So the crash problem seems to be more likely Realtek audio codec driver related. I have the latest 1.46 driver. Maby turning off music helps...

By the way 3DMark scores are back up and higher when I uninstalled Cat 6.7, cleaned my registry with RegSupreme, reinstalled Cat 6.8 and optimized registry with NTRegOpt.

 

Does anyone know if there is a low-rez version of this laptop? The Amilo 3438 (which, if I understand right, the Xi 1546 is "based" on) had a bigger brother in 4438. The only difference was the native resolution of the display.

From a performance standpoint, 1920x1200 is useless. So, does this machine exist in a smaller version?

EDIT. Sorry. I found the data sheet, and it clearly states:
AMILO Xi 1546: 17.0” LCD WXGA+ CrystalView, Resolution (physic.): 1440x900
AMILO Xi 1547: 17.0” LCD WUXGA CrystalView, Resolution (physic.): 1920x1200

 

Do anyone know any good coolpads to this laptop?

 

A last I've got Oblivion which tested the NB and set configuration to Ultra High. A lowered resolution from 1440x900 to 1280x800 (this allowed me to turn off AA and increase perf.) and almost maxed out all other sliders and... it runs smoothly as possible. No less then 25 FPS anywhere. Significal performance due to DualCore CPU, RAID and X1800 of course.One more GB of ram and all will be perfect (except heat and a little bit low volume on integrated speakers). For it's money I think it is best to buy between ultra performant notebooks.

How to install ATI original drivers (6.8)? Its for future, 'cause currently I'm using Omega based on 6.7 without any problems.

 

Another question, if i change raid settings in windows in Via Raid tools to raid 0, will it be sotware raid, or real hardware raid? or do i need to do it all just in bios? (dont have much expiriens with RAID)

 

2alexejrm
I saw this software possibility but i don't believe that it would be as performant as hardware. So I've turned on raid in bios with 4KB parameter (somewhere was said it is good for games), inserted WinXP CD and installed it again. Reinstallation of Windows is needed because all data will be lost after you create raid.

 

WTF? You really don't get any lower than 25 FPS anywhere!? I get about average of 15 FPS when i'm in the Great Forest. Sometimes even lower when the game loads something. And of course I have these d*mn crashes. And yes, I'm using 1280x800 without AA or AF, Grasses Off. What driver versions are your other hardware using? I use latest in everything: latest Catalyst 6.8, latest Realtek sound driver v1.46 (from Realtek homepage, not from Fujitsu)...

I haven't even tried the game for a while. It's so frustrating when there's still crashes when you believe you have solved the problem..

 

2ronkotus:
some stuttering is when loading new information, thats why i'd like to have 2 gigs of ram. I didn't have crashes at all before installed video codec pack (some movies didn't want to play, so i had to). After, a had to rename some mpeg2xx.xx to mpeg2xx.xx.old and it stopped crashing (it crashing sometimes but it may be once on 2 days and in situation like: in jump try to enter door ). I'm using omega drivers (latest that was on its website) and all other driver from fujitsu driver disc. All unneeded processes are shutted down. Thats all what i can say about configuration. I hadn't done any tweaking (neither ati drivers, nor game). And its just running no less then 25 fps in common situations (when this part of level loaded). In battles i have somewhere 20 fps when >=3 persons. Just once a had stable 15 fps, and it was if i reloaded battle on arena (it looked like: i had 20-25 fps, died, reloaded, stable 15 fps with enemies or without. But when i leaved arena all become normal, 20-25 fps).

 

Ok. The game actually doesn't need the 2 gigs of ram. You can get rid of the stuttering by editing the .ini file.

I wen't from Cat 6.7 back to Cat 6.8 because they both seem to have same crashing problems, so I believe it's not really Catalyst driver related. It's not codec pack related either because I don't have any installed. I even used the codec removal utility mentioned in Elder Scrolls official forums just to make sure. You use drivers from fujitsu disc so this comes to the fact that one of my latest drivers is not working properly for this laptop when playing Oblivion. Overheating graphics card might also be the case. It sucks that there's no way to get the graphics card temperature in this laptop.. Anyways, now I'm going to try unintalling the Realtek sound driver and install the old Realtek sound driver from fujitsu disc and see how Oblivion works then..

By the way,
jarni, are you using HDR (game setting)? If not, then that may be the case why you get so high FPS. Using HDR instead of Bloom (default) really makes the game look unbelievable, so you should enable it and tune other settings down.

 

Anyone know if Alienware bios will work on that machine and if them have more options in bios settings that can be usefuel?

 

Ive played oblivion a little with my xi1546, i havent had any troubles with crashing or overheating. I ran with the omega 6.7 drivers and had around 20 fps outside. Havent tryed lately, but at the time i played i still had my codec pack installed (K-Lite cant remember version, but fairly new, max 2 month old)
I dont know if any of you guys have updated the bios to 1.15 tho, but that helped me a lot with a general stall error i had, when the lappy were just idleing in windows.

About the alienware bios, i dont know, but ive seen ppl throwing in alienware's bios, so it should be working, dont know tho if there should be done some editing before loading it... But you should be aware that you would break your warranty

 

I finally managed to fix the crashing issue with Oblivion! I installed the new Mobile Catalyst 6.9 and voilà, no more crashing.

 

Why would warranty be break, you could put orriginal bios back before sending it back to service.
By the way i had problems with coumputor crashed to blue screen each 20min when i played ww2online, but when i updated to the lates codecs from realtek homepage to 1.47 it stoped. So if someone have problems with blue screen try that, maybe it will help.

 

Does anybody tried to install an extra hard drive in 1546 ??? I day ago I ordereg another 80gb WD 5400 and I wanted to instal it inside but there was no space for another one ??? Can you give me a picture or whatever and show me how to do it and where to put it

Thanks

 

2Xine: What model of Xi1546 do you have. There are with 1 and 2 HDDs. If you already have 2 HDDs (2x80, 2x100, 2x120) then there is no free space for one more.

 

I have a model with one drive inside but I tought that I can buy an extra one and insert ti inside, I have opened the back of the notebook and there was no space for extra one. And the other quesion is what do I need for the raid software (under TAB button during the botting up the bios). If the model I have is capable for only one HDD so there is no need to have such software on the notebook.

If somebody has a picture or photo of two HDD instaled inside please post it here or send it to me, I would be thankfull.

Greets,
Xine

 

Here you are.

And question to somebody who knows: there is photo of SO-DIMM module which is marked as 1GB 2Rx8 PC4200. And it is just one, but in specification is that there should be 2 modules 512MB each. Is this module two-sided and it means 2x512, or there really is just one module and my notebook isn't working in 2 channel mode?

 

Jarni, it looks like it is in single mode. If there is only one module, then it can't run dual channel, because there is no second module. Don't think its a major downside to having one module, as it makes upgrading much easier, and anyway, dual channel doesn't add a much of a performance boost. Only in certain circumstances, it will be useful.

You can check if your notebook has two or one modules, by downloading CPU-Z of the Internet. It will give you alot of information, and tell you if its running in dual channel. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks Zero. I forgot about cpu-z.

 

Frankly awesome looking lappie in 160GB HD, 2GB Ram and Core 2 Duo form. Saving up for 'something' in this range in general since the Core Duo previously sounded ace. Hoping that in a couple of months time there may be a wicked DX10 version of this floating around!

 

Well, there are a lot better lookin laptops, but the unique design costs a lot. For example take a look at this 17" Sony with almost similar specs.. A real beauty.

 

hey all,
anyone know the go with hd and this notebook. Cause i read somewhere about the mr x1800 having some hd thing? But when you check the dvd drive through Nero it says that the drive cant even read hd-dvd´s?? So you can only watch them from a data file or what?

 

i think x1800 supports hd video output or something like that. Propobly like desktop cards have video in and video out with some adapter or some thing similar. dvd it self is not in hd format.

 

Hi, Anyone know the best driver to use im still using the underclocked stock.I here they do this because of excessive heat, can you notice this if you clock it to what it should be?.

 

what about hd-dvd. I thought that was hd???
And as for the underclocked card, as far as i understand its not the drivers. You just need to use powerstrip or something to clock it back up. I think.....

 

You should check this thread.

 

Thanks it did the trick, I used powerstrip in the end, It added almost 500 pts on the 3Dmark06 score 3147>3642.

 

New bios is out for XI1546, version 1.17. Added support for audio ode ALC885.

 

What does that support for ALC885 actually add. I think my sound driver works now as good as ever so i won't dare to update.

 

Just a question, how can i make my soundcard as 5.1 card throut analog output. I can only choose 2.0 version in the realtek drivers.

 

Zero and anyone who knows:
I checked memory by cpu-z and it really showed that i have only one 1GB module. But where is that second slot? A didn't found it. Did anybody saw it? Any pictures?

 

I'm sorry Jarni, i can't help you with any pictures. However, i think the slot may be underneath the slot that currently has your 1 GB module.

This notebook certainly has two slots, so it must be around the general area of the one thats being used. Hope this helps.

 

The memory slots are located one on top of the other. If you open up the bottom of your computer, you'll see the memory stick, and either on top of, or beneath it, is the other slot. I'm afraid that I can't post any pictures right now, since I am at work, but I will try to do so later! I hope I was not too fuzzy in my description...

 

Thanks. I'll appretiate photos. But, it all only for future. I'm satisfied with it now.
One more question. How about inserting more powerfull Core 2 Duo (Merom) CPU? Performance increase vs. warm issues?

 

Ok!!!!!!!! I have already updated my cpu in my xi1546. I have put a core 2 duo t7200 and everything works fine (it comes boxed with the blue intel core 2 duo sticker to put on the laptop ). 3dmark 03 now makes 12000 points instead os 11000 without any overclocking. The fan sounds as quiet as with the t2400. To make it possible I only updated the bios to the latest version in fjitsu siemens webpage. You have to buy also a tube of silver gel for cpu cooling because when you take the disipation system off it´s recomended to clean the old one. Soo you only have to remove the back case of the laptop, taking of the disipation system with a screw, remove the cpu put the new one. Put a bit of silver gel and puting all back. That was all. Now I´m repared for windows vista 64 bit threads

 

That sounds pretty good Pedro. Nice to see it worked out. It is not easy changing a processor. To be honest, i don't think a big difference will be seen when gaming for example, but SuperPi, 3DMark scores, and also more intensive processor applications will certainly see a good increase.

 

Great info Pedrofan. If it is so easy then it'll have sense to move to C2D in the future (when games will have any optimizations fot multi-core comuting).

 

sweeeeet! how much was the t7200?

 

It cost 304,22 €. I bought it in acuista.com webapage. Everything goes cool, no problem with the proccesor. I notice a good increase in performance on 3dsmax rendering and encoing videos for my ipod, for the rest, everything is the same. If you are not going to render or to make big mathematical threads it is not recommended to upgrade because you will not see any increase in performance. In games, 95% of work is made by the x1800 and the t2400 is a very good proccessor to handle the other 5%. Looking into the future, with windows vista you will be able to run 64 bit programs with the core 2 duo so it will be better. I´m happy with it.

 

Did anybody flashed new VBIOS? I found games started crashing with Omega Drivers based on 6.9 after i flashed it. So i've installed new video drivers from FSC site (seems to be based on 6.10) and it still crashes in Oblivion. I don't have old VBIOS. What can it be? Today i'll try to reinstall game.

 

Well, how is the game working after reinstall?

I haven't flashed the VBIOS because I don't have a need to it. I also have never used Omega drivers because they are propably not as stable as official Mobile Catalyst drivers. Right now I'm using Mobile Catalyst 6.11 driver without the Catalyst Control Center. I use Ati Tray Tools v1.2.6.955 for 3D settings and profiles. I have overclocked my card from stock(core:398, mem:468) to ATI's default MR X1800 clocks (450, 500) with Powerstrip v3.73. Everything works flawlessly.

 

I haven't done it yet. Yestertday I played for some 4 hours and all was fine, but whole the time I was in Arcane University advancing in magic skill, so I wasn't running in the forests and so on. Today I'll try to play with moving somewhere. If all will work fine I'll just OC it, otherwise: delete game --> video drivers --> clean register --> install 6.11 --> install game --> OC.
Do you use OCing all time or just when playing? How is it with battery when OCed.

 

Okay. Yesterday I've OCed vcard to 449:500 and with increased performance got some instabillity: when I moving to some location and there is load screen, after it was loaded I have exactly 8 fps. If I save here, exit to main menu and load then all backs to normal fps. It seems that I'll have to do full reinstallation.
One more interesting thing/bug: I have Magic counter as negative number and now when I have some magic skill increase this number is decreasing by 1 ( -108 + 1 = -107 ). Maybe they wanted to use there unsigned byte value with max of 255, but used there signed byte where 127 + 1 = -128. Another: after selling some potion to some merchant where was money decrease. When i tried to sell one more money decrease to 0 and then to 65535 which is the max of 2 byte unsigned number. When I tried to exit dialog and save money backed to 0. May it be the result of OCing or I just have to reinstall the game?

 

I don't think those are problems related to overclocking. You don't have to reinstall the game every time you update video or any hardware drivers, they should not be related in anyway. If you have bugs in the game they are most certainly because of the game engine. My advice is to get the latest official patch and unofficial patch for Oblivion. They should fix the most bugs and proplems in the game.

Also check my post of the optimal Oblivion game settings for this laptop. If you want to use the same mods that I'm using, you can find their latest versions from various mod sites. First install any texture packs, then other mods. Also be sure to install the Oblivion Mod Manager to correct the load order and edit the bsa's for texture packs to work correcty.

I tried the game at 1440x900 with the same settings after I overclocked. It worked quite well as you can see here. It also was a lot more unstable and there was more stuttering so I reverted back to 1280x768.