problems with Backlit(LED), flickering and bass

hey folks, i have noticed 3 issues with this nifty lil piece of awesomeness (m14x)

1st my LED lights( alienware logo,trackpad and keyboard backlight is waaayyy less brighter than my friend's m14x, which he bought a week back), what gives??

2nd while playing sins of the solar empire for 5 hrs straight, i noticed flickering of my screen for abt 4 seconds, 3 times. i cant seem to reproduce the situation now. what do u think might hav happened? shld i call in dell?

3rd i just read that m14x has a subwoofer as well, any idea how i can test it??

thanks ppl i love this forum btw

 

1- on the task bar right click to AlienwareFX logo and uncheck "Dim lightning zones"

2- Download GPU-Z and Core-Temp applications and run them while gaming. After you are done return to these applications and check the highest temp values for each components. If they are unusually hight:90+ for cpu and 75+for gpu (for me atleast) than you have an overheating problem. Use a cooler pad and remove any obstacles below the laptop to increase cooling. If this doesnt help try repasting thermal compound or call dell for help.

3- Open "Realtek HD Audio Manager" you can play the settings with your subwoofer there. The subwoofer is not really strong but it puts M14x above all other laptops without it and makes a difference believe me.

 

Flickering, as far as i can see is due to the refresh rate. most probably it has been set to 40hz by default.
you can fix it

[in case of Intel GPU]

1.right click> Graphics properties
(if you get a window where you have to select mode, select advanced mode and click ok)
2. Display> General Settings>Refresh rate. Set it to 60hz. click apply.

also do the same for Nvidia GPU

[in case of Nvidia GPU]
1) Right click> Nvidia control panel
2) From the left column, select Display> change resolution
3) In the window on right, set the refresh rate to 60hz. Click Apply.

 

Yes, yo ucan test for subwoofer. The subwoofer is directly below the touchpad , on the edge. If you overturn your laptop, you see 3 small slots with grill. thats subwoofer. To test, just play any song with decent bass ( any hip hop song should do). If you feel a slight vibration near that slot, your subwoofer is working just fine .

Word of advice, dont crank the volume all the way up to 100%, you will just blow the sub.

 

hey Thanks on the dimming tip, bt all it cld do was make it dim, it dint brighten it up


i dont think its a problem with framerate, gonna take a stress test now to see the top temps


lol woofer is there, its like it just exists, bass is normal expected more outta klypsch

thanks anyways ppl, help me zero in on the led issues