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    Received my m14x! some questions...

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Sinestra, May 10, 2011.

  1. Sinestra

    Sinestra Newbie

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    Hello, i'm a newbie at what to do during first boot so some advice will be really appreciated.

    I browsed through my computer properties and realised there is only 1696 MB GT 555M graphics when i've ordered 3gb? (yea kinda stupid to get 3gb now that i've read threads over here.) can anyone tell me where to check out the system properties et cetera and things to do for first boot? many thanks in advance :)

    oh yea, do i have to install any driver updates for now? thank you.
     
    Sinestra, May 10, 2011
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  2. Sgt.

    Sgt. Notebook Consultant

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    You'll see a "preparing to run your system for the first time" msg when you start it up for the first time...just follow the instructions on the screen and you are set. Everything will already be installed on your system so you won't have to do anything.
    I highly recommend you to update your windows as soon as you get your system. Then, update your Antivirus as well and in case you are using McAfee for your system, I'd delete it and download Microsoft Security Essentials from Windows site. It is free, works really well and lets your machine load faster than McAffe ever does and it is very light on your resources as well. And update MSE as soon as you install it.

    Then once everything is updated, open up Alien Respawn/Dell Datasafe and create recovery disks of your entire system. This was you'll have back-up of your factory settings in case anything ever goes wrong. You might wanna have Acronis True Image 2011 and back up the image of the system into a external drive or a secondary partion. This way you'll never have to go through installing windows, updating it and installing other s/w's ever again. Just my 2 cents.

    You would also want to register your service tag under your name via Dell's site. This will save you a lot of hassles in case you ever have to call up Dell tech support.

    Finally, you should download Hwininfo32 and use it to monitor your system hardware and it's temperatures. Will come in handy if you game a lot and if you are into overclocking.

    Follow these steps and you are set. Enjoy the system. ;)
     
    Sgt., May 10, 2011
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  3. Sinestra

    Sinestra Newbie

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    done the above mentioned tasks, seems to be working pretty good atm, thanks :)
     
    Sinestra, May 10, 2011
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  4. Sgt.

    Sgt. Notebook Consultant

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    Good to hear that....let me know if you have any questions and giving rep is a nice way of saying thanks around here. Lol ;)
     
    Sgt., May 10, 2011
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  5. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Aren't you at all worried about the video card? I would be worried if it said I only had 1.5gb and ordered the 3gb
     
    Gearsguy, May 10, 2011
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  6. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    I wondered about that too! Mine said 1.5gb as well and I ordered 3....
     
    takeabyte, May 10, 2011
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  7. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Contact support to verify.
     
    BatBoy, May 10, 2011
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  8. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    Will do! Will update with results...
     
    takeabyte, May 10, 2011
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  9. humjaba

    humjaba Notebook Consultant

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    Google and run GPU-Z to confirm your suspicions about the graphics card. Also, you can check your packing slip and receipt (should be in your email) to see what you ordered.
     
    humjaba, May 10, 2011
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  10. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

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    Silly me, dxdiag and CPU-Z reported the Intel graphics, which go up to 1696mb. The NVIDIA Control Panel's System Info shows what it is: Dedicated video memory: 3072 MB DDR3 <3
     
    takeabyte, May 10, 2011
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  11. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Yay, now I can order in peace :3
     
    Gearsguy, May 10, 2011
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  12. Zanpakutou

    Zanpakutou Notebook Consultant

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    Or you can ask them to give a partial refund for the video card (3gb price - 1.5gb price). I've read quite a few mosts and it seems people generally agree a 3gb graphics is quite excessive on a laptop, so it's mostly a waste.

    *Edit, read your last post...Ignore everything I said then :p
     
    Zanpakutou, May 11, 2011
    #12