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M14X R2 REVIEW! 1. Overview System - I7-3610qm, Nvidia 650mGT 2gb, 6gb ram, 1366x768, 128GB SSD Intel Sata 320, Wifi (standard) The system arrived as ordered, no issues, no dead pixels, and is a mirror image of the older M14xR1. My first order of business was to remove the default 500gb hitachi HDD, and replace it with my brand new intel 320 SSD. Squirt a fresh load of Win7, Drivers, updates and we are off to the races. In essence, the exterior offers no updates from the R1. It has the same "batman" finish as the older model and feels so comfortable and familiar that its hard to think of this as a different machine. The system seems to run much cooler than the R1 and I am going to assume this is due to Ivy Bridge plus the implimentation of the 650mGT. CPU temps rarely hit over 80c and GPU temps usually stay in the low 60s. Note. Max GPU voltage is now 1.0370 2. Improvements 1. CPU - The Ivy bridge I7-3610 is very powerful for a notebook cpu. It easily hits 3.1ghz on all 8 threads during gameplay. Boot times with the SSD are 20 seconds. 2. GPU - Im still running this through its paces, but I am very impressed right now. The performance increases are not necessarily astounding but 5-10 fps increase on most games is a plus and the fact that it runs much more efficiently (even on battery) just provides a much improved portable gaming solution. The coolest feature is the "Turbo" ala Judas Priest. It kicks on automagically and does it while gaming. I have monitored and logged BF3, Diablo 3 and benchmarks and it raises the clocks from (745/1400) to (835/1671). 15 percent increase. Contrary to what we were told, overclocking DOES WORK and the Turbo feature is then added on top of the overclock. 3. Performance on Battery. The GPU clocks regardless of battery profile (max performance or balanced) are set at 405/810. 4. Improved Sata 3 and Raid support. 5. Sound Software Soundblaster Recond 3dI is in my opinion better than the Realtek default software on the R1 as it has better surround support which is a REQUIREMENT on FPS games. 3. Performance (m14xr1 vs m14xr2) Fine print details... R1 I7-2630qm, 555mGT 1.5, 64GB SSD, 1366x768, 4gb Ram, Win7 sp1, Display Driver 295.73, Bios A01. R2 I7-3610qm, 650mGT 2.0, 120gb SSD, 1366x768, 6gb Ram, Win7 sp1, Display Driver 301.34, Bios A02. Scores: 3dmark11 R1 (@800/1080) = 1901 NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor,Alienware M14xR1 score: P1901 3DMarks R2 (@stock plus turbo) =2390 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor,Alienware M14xR2 score: P2390 3DMarks R2 (@oc100/100 plus turbo) = 2586 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor,Alienware M14xR2 score: P2586 3DMarks R1 (Battery custom profile) = 810 (this was the best score I could achieve while being able to still play for about an hour on battery. Clocks at 350/500. R2 (Battery) = 1214 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor,Alienware M14xR2 score: P1214 3DMarks (only 200 points from the stock R1 score of the 555mGT)!!! Game Benchmark: Metro 2033 (Settings 1366x768, Dx11, High, AAA, Tess off, 4xAF, Physx Off, Tessellation Enabled, DOF disabled) Each system was run on Frontlines 3 times to get average. R1 (Stock) Min 10.52 Max 58.90 Average Framerate 29.00 R1 (OC 800/1080) Min 11.18 Max 90.17 Average Framerate 35.67 R2 (Stock plus turbo) Min 12.63 Max 150.88 Average Framerate 42.67 R2 (OC 100/100 plus turbo) Min 11.59 Max 187.86 Average Framerate 46.33 Game Benchmark: Battlefield 3 Recorded with Fraps logging, both systems were tested on the same 52 man server, Team Death Match, Full.. So MAX Chaos-Explosions-Smoke-Particles-Cheez Battlefield 3 settings VANILLA HIGH (no adjustments) 1366x768 default resolution. Config file was used to remove triple buffering and render ahead. This removes most of the (pre processing) and gives you a better idea of performance. Logging was disabled quickly during any (and many) deaths as to add NO FLUFF! R1 (OC 800/1080) Many sessions were recorded. This is just a small sample. Frames: 1048 - Time: 26692ms - Avg: 39.263 - Min: 27 - Max: 49 2012-05-22 14:42:22 - bf3 Frames: 973 - Time: 24742ms - Avg: 39.326 - Min: 30 - Max: 46 2012-05-22 14:43:13 - bf3 Frames: 17 - Time: 437ms - Avg: 38.902 - Min: 38 - Max: 38 2012-05-22 14:43:18 - bf3 Frames: 879 - Time: 21185ms - Avg: 41.492 - Min: 37 - Max: 47 2012-05-22 14:43:56 - bf3 R2 (Stock plus Turbo) 2012-05-22 16:06:18 - bf3 Frames: 732 - Time: 16162ms - Avg: 45.291 - Min: 40 - Max: 55 2012-05-22 16:06:39 - bf3 Frames: 938 - Time: 20359ms - Avg: 46.073 - Min: 41 - Max: 55 2012-05-22 16:07:14 - bf3 Frames: 1061 - Time: 24243ms - Avg: 43.765 - Min: 36 - Max: 48 2012-05-22 16:07:47 - bf3 Frames: 727 - Time: 15927ms - Avg: 45.646 - Min: 37 - Max: 53 R2 (OC 100/100 plus Turbo) 2012-05-22 16:19:49 - bf3 Frames: 57 - Time: 1029ms - Avg: 55.394 - Min: 55 - Max: 56 2012-05-22 16:20:05 - bf3 Frames: 927 - Time: 18939ms - Avg: 48.947 - Min: 41 - Max: 69 2012-05-22 16:21:00 - bf3 Frames: 388 - Time: 7894ms - Avg: 49.151 - Min: 47 - Max: 52 2012-05-22 16:21:30 - bf3 Frames: 463 - Time: 9501ms - Avg: 48.732 - Min: 44 - Max: 55 Battlefield 3: Gaming on Battery Played for 40 minutes, BF3 Medium Settings. CPU settings 70 percent. FPS was from 30-45 and smooth. After 40 minutes of continous TDM play, battery showed 56 percent with 59 minutes left of power. Its really impressive how much power this notebook has on battery. Game Benchmark: Diablo 3 Its really not worth posting figures as either system pegs this game at 100 FPS. I did notice something strange that the R1 seems to handle the High shadows better than the R2. I believe this is probably driver related and should not be an issue in the future. 4. Closing: I believe the R in the R2 is for Refinements not Revision. Its the refinements that really make this M14xR2 the superior of the two models. Better Sound, GPU and true Sata 3 support are worth the 500 bucks this is probably going to cost after selling the R1. I think you will be able to game on battery but when using the nvidia card Im going to bet you can only play for an hour or so before the warnings start to pop. i haven't had time to test the HD4000 so thats the next item of business this week. Please let me know if I can answer any of your questions. I will only have the R1 for another week or so before its sold on Ebay so I am happy to answer the questions that I can. I HAVEN'T TORN THE NEW MACHINE APART YET AND PROBABLY WONT FOR THE FIRST MONTH... I want to let it settle in first before I repaste with IC Diamond. GPU temps at the moment after 40 minutes of BF3 are 60c with turbo and 61-62c with 100 mhz overclock plus turbo. Thanks! update 3dmark11 2679 score overclocked 135/200 NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor,Alienware M14xR2 score: P2679 3DMarks

NVIDIA Geforce 301.42 WHQL Changelog: Download: Desktop / Mobile (Win7/64bit)

I use ICD or MX-4 and for the money its not worth it but if you find a deal I just picked up some Prolimatech PK-1 and its as good as the other pastes too. IC can scratch your die the GPU chip itself... when removing it if done in any sort of abrasive manner even traditional removal method of wiping it off. the following threads have good info on repasting and various pastes. http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/29-%5Bphotoguide%5D-cleaning-replacing-thermal-compunds-gpu-cpu-m17x-r2.html#post52 http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/815-innovation-cooling-ic-diamond-giveaway-survey.html http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/1677-thermal-paste-dell-hd-6970m.html http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/1488-tuniq-tx-4-thermal-paste.html http://forum.techinferno.com/frontpage-news/912-innovation-cooling-%96-diamond-24-carat-thermal-compound-review.html http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m14x/1186-changing-thermal-compound-what-decrease-temperature-can-i-expect.html http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/913-ic-diamond-24-survey-results.html

Mnnnnn...strange...anyway the URL from the pic http://forum.techinferno.com/attachments/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/779d1305744732-17052011-007-.jpg try to open the pic and let me know...You need to unplug the fan cable and the headsink

Well i don't understand them sometimes but the job gets done, once their 24 hours was up i called and got the "we have no record of that conversation sir" so i calmly explained that was going to happen and that they would be reported for this, im not asking for free parts or a new system just the disks that SHOULD have come with my system. I explained that had previously happened and when she asked if i would like her to look into the problem i said no thanks and ended the call. The next day i went to my friends to grab a copy of his reinstall media and when i got back.......BAM i had a delivery and wouldn't you know it was my recovery disks, a mouse mat AND a money off voucher for the alienware suite (0_0) must have really spooked someone high up to have been sent a goody bad for a problem that apparently "doesn't exist" Looks like i can finally start rebuilding my baby's brain in all honesty she was due a fresh install anyway Thanks for all you help in this guys especially the tips on how to handle it all mw86, you guys should be on the alienware payroll

Yeal! exactly!!

Every post I read from svl7 is encrusted with wisdom...I hate to think where we'd be without him

About $565 with heatsink, so it should be less without. But I'm not sure whether the backplate is included when you don't get the heatsink as well.

And I'm a little frustrated when I put hours and hours of work in figuring out how to over- and undervolt the card and people don't even seem to notice this... The vbios can be modified, and seriously, it can't be that hard to find the thread. http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/1736-amd-7970m-modified-vbios.html Hope this helps.

@draiken From my (short) experience with the 720QM, those temps are a pretty high. I threw everything I could at mine before my 920XM arrived and I don't think I ever saw it break 75C. A repaste will definitely help your GPUs. Mine hit 110C when I first received my R2 (which I assume is the reason the guy was selling it) but after a repasting I sit around 75C, OC'd and playing BF3. No laptop cooler, just propping up the back of the laptop.

I also posted this over in NBR: Sorry to interrupt here, I have begun to adjust some settings with ThrotteStop, mainly using this guide for reference, yet I am confused as to the max TDP/TDC or wattage that can be safely applied. I assume that 100-120 W would be about as most you would want to go and not have thermal shut downs yet in ThrottleStop under TPL/Power Limits the default is currently at 300 W (Power Package Limit). Now, I believe this is because I have made some recommended changes via the modified A05 BIOS a while back that unlocked the long limit duration among other things, but should I turn this down? Thanks in advance.

Teardown guide: Alienware M14x Disassembly/Teardown and Upgrade Guide! This guide is very specific and easy to follow. I only came out with 4 spare screws! But thats just because i was excited to put it back together. Anyway, it is a long guide so i reccomend you glnce over it for five or so minutes to make sure your properly prepared. As for temps after the repaste im getting an average of about 75*c with throttlestop and a GPU overclock. But you seem to be getting higher temps than i was so i would guess you might hit the 80* mark with turbo and an overclock, but i cant back that up. For optimal results youl want to prop the back of the notebook up on something for better airflow, I can still hit 90*c if i have it on my lap while laying down. As for thermal compound I used arctic silver 5 because i had a tube laying around and it has yet to disapoint me. Hope this helps. repasting is worth its weight in gold PS, if your really in need another 1-2*c you can take off the RAM plate. (little flimsy thing on top of ram)