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    Just Got My R1!!!!

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by deathpulse, May 10, 2011.

  1. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    WOOHOO!!! What a sharp looking laptop :). OK - here is the question... should I keep the "alienware" hard drive (160 GB 5400 RPM) that has all the alienwareified windows on it in my lil R1, OR should I swap the hard drive out for a 500 GB 7200 RPM drive and rebuild windows from scratch? Will I lose some vital tools (the alien command center etc) that allows me to change colors of the laptop? Is it available online?! I AM SOO EXCITED !!!

    :D
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  2. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    get one of the hybrid segate drives if your not going to get an SSD...


    all drivers/programs are available from dell...
     
    whitrzac, May 10, 2011
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  3. BeastRider

    BeastRider Notebook Evangelist

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    Congratulations on getting your M11x R1!! I promise you it's a terrific laptop and will play any game you throw at it at at least medium settings.. :D

    Get a new hard drive and use the Alienware restoration CD that comes with the box, it's actually a Windows 7 installation CD that comes pre-installed with everything that came with the laptop (i.e. drivers,command center,wall papers, etc.) so you shouldn't have to worry about losing anything. :)
     
    BeastRider, May 10, 2011
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  4. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Whitrzac :D. I have the 500 GB just sitting around unused, so I will go with that for now. I have a nice Crucial SSD Raid 0 array in my desktop and I realize SSD's are much faster, but not sure I want to spend that kind of ching for the laptop yet (rather add a 4th 128GB to the array on the desktop).
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  5. Xtrophy

    Xtrophy Notebook Consultant

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    They all said it before I finished typing it!
     
    Xtrophy, May 10, 2011
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  6. BeastRider

    BeastRider Notebook Evangelist

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    BTW, you should get the latest/updated drivers from Dell. Especially video drivers, they add to the performance of the GT335M.

    Cheers. :)
     
    BeastRider, May 10, 2011
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  7. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thansk BeastRider! Only problem I have is transferring the CD to a USB :). I think I'll do a wipe and install a copy of Windows Ultimate 64 on (I have 8gb of RAM). PinMOdding this weekend!
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  8. EthioKnight

    EthioKnight Notebook Enthusiast

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    Congratulations bro!
    Was kinda surprised to see to hear you got the R1 (what with the R3 being the dominating topic recently), but R1s still kick @ss!
    Anyway, I'd recommend you get a larger capacity hard drive (500GB momentus XT was my choice), do a clean install and then download the alienware C.C. from the Dell driver support site.
    There you have it!
    Peace.
     
    EthioKnight, May 10, 2011
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  9. Xtrophy

    Xtrophy Notebook Consultant

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    As he said it can be used on a clean drive (I had never gotten around to trying it, glad I know it now)

    Welcome to the club. I would tell you to grab the latest drivers for everything aside from the 270.61s for video, they seem to be a bit glitchy so step back one for those.

    Feel free to browse around on this site for ways to make your R1 a little more monster, it is always fun to see what you can do with the little machine.

    Again, welcome to the club, have fun and if you have any questions, feel free to ask around.
     
    Xtrophy, May 10, 2011
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  10. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks EVeryone!! I got the R1 because for a shade OVER 600 beans this is one HELL of a deal! I am going to attempt the 2.0 Ghz PinMod this weekend to make it kick even more #$@ :).
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  11. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    do, or do not... there is no try...






    most of the times, you ether get 2ghz or brick your new laptop... :( (like me)
     
    whitrzac, May 10, 2011
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  12. DavyGT

    DavyGT Overclocker

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    Test 1.6Ghz for stability first.
     
    DavyGT, May 10, 2011
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  13. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  14. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    if your just going to use it for pinmoding once/twice its not worth it, but if you solder nearly everyday(like me) the "auto cooldown" feature is heaven...




    FYI, knockoffs/cheaper stations can be had for much less on fleebay... ;)
     
    whitrzac, May 10, 2011
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  15. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well - I do anticipate a fair amount of soldering. I am going to join an NYC electronics club :). I figure the money I saved on going the R1 route will be best spent on a decent quality soldering station... any better models out there?
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  16. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    there are always better models... but the one you picked out is decent for the price... ;)

    this is what I use...
    Brand New QK202D Intelligent LeadFree Soldering Station | eBay
     
    whitrzac, May 10, 2011
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  17. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you for the advice whitrzac! I haven't done soldering in about 17 years, so I am WAAY out of the loop. I researched a bit and came up with Hakko but not sure if there is an "obviously better" rig :).
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  18. jlkyfckkhj

    jlkyfckkhj Notebook Enthusiast

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    I also just purchased an R1 from the Dell Outlet for $475. While I was there, I also purchased an R2 with an i5 for $595. I dropped an 80gb Intel SSD in both and found the R1 to start up faster... Surprised, but I like both.
     
    jlkyfckkhj, May 10, 2011
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  19. Chemware

    Chemware Notebook Geek

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    A suggestion - grab an old motherboard and practice you skills on that before touching your shiny new toy.
     
    Chemware, May 10, 2011
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  20. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    HAHA Chemware - probably very sage advice. I used to have decent soldering skills but it has been AGES (and my eyesight may not be as good) :).
     
    deathpulse, May 10, 2011
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  21. 1Coopgt

    1Coopgt Notebook Consultant

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    Hakko Irons are excellent irons if your going to do a lot of soldering. That Iron is designed to be used in electronic assembly (factories).
     
    1Coopgt, May 10, 2011
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  22. KurtH

    KurtH Notebook Evangelist

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    In reguards to the swaping of the harddrive by any chance did you M11x come with Alien Respawn? If it did make a USB recover stick. I just tested this out on my M11x using the usb stick i made for my M15x and it even rebuilt the recovery partition on the new drive since i had a HD totaly lock up on me.
     
    KurtH, May 11, 2011
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  23. some guy

    some guy Modding Addict

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    some guy, May 11, 2011
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  24. KSSR1211

    KSSR1211 Notebook Evangelist

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    I know this is just a crazy idea.... :rolleyes:

    What if you used it just like it came from the factory? :eek:
     
    KSSR1211, May 11, 2011
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  25. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    whats the fun in that? =P id rather get the best performance i could, and have some fun modding.
     
    ajslay, May 11, 2011
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  26. xtravbx

    xtravbx Notebook Evangelist

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    Have fun w/ the R1.

    I loved mine.
     
    xtravbx, May 12, 2011
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  27. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    NOTHING I own stays "factory" for very long :D
     
    deathpulse, May 13, 2011
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  28. some guy

    some guy Modding Addict

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    +1

    I mod everything i come accross. its a sickness.... :)
     
    some guy, May 13, 2011
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  29. n0¢yph3r

    n0¢yph3r Notebook Consultant

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    These words are so very true. I find though, more than a sickness its that I feel the need to be different, even if I am already different by owning something like my Android phone as opposed to an iPhone, I have to mod it to further to separate myself from other users of the same phone.

    My next project is a bit ambitious, even for me, but being I'm a huge Tron fan, it will be worth it. Just need to find the right LED's. :cool:
     
    n0¢yph3r, May 13, 2011
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  30. some guy

    some guy Modding Addict

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    Uh-oh.... :)

    I want to to a "portal" paint job on my M11x (white and black). but i have yet to find paint that will hold up good enough.
     
    some guy, May 13, 2011
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  31. ajslay

    ajslay Overclocker, PC Builder

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    exactly, thats what i do also, i cant stand having the EXACT same thing someone else has, i want to make every electronic i have different then other people's somehow.
     
    ajslay, May 13, 2011
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  32. whitrzac

    whitrzac The orange end is cold...

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    let me help you with that...

    the site has other similar ones too...

    EMS shipping takes 3 weeks
    cheap shipping taks 6-7 weeks
    HobbyKing Online R/C Hobby Store : Lumifly Thin Strip LED (2pcs/set)
     
    whitrzac, May 13, 2011
    #32
  33. deathpulse

    deathpulse Notebook Enthusiast

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    deathpulse, May 13, 2011
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