M11XR2 Initial Plan for Action

Hey guys, I've been a lurker for awhile and just ordered my M11XR2 based on this forum. Thanks for all the suggestions, help, and feedback!

I'm getting everything together for its arrival, and I want it to be perfect from the get go.

What options/bios/preference adjustments, software upgrades/installs, new drivers, tweaks, and whatever else you can think of would you suggest to put on it right out of the box? Also, would you suggest a certain order for it to be done in?

Thanks again!

 

Quick list of what I end up doing...

OK, I would recommend first ensuring it works fine before you go mad on OCing and installing loads of stuff. That way it is easier to identify any problems.

Also check out this thread on r2-optimization-thread

Pre-arrival: Get USB drive, stick or SD card big enough to put all the software & utils you will use on. Check out the threads on this forum on drivers and optimisation as good sources for what you might need.

1. Physical inspection (is it in one piece )
2. Plug in power and switch on. Either have the network cable in or use wifi also.
3. Once in windows reboot
4. Reboot until windows update is finished.
6. Install drivesweeper, 3DMark06, CPU-Z, HWMonitor, Prime95, FurMark (or similar)
5. Load the latest DELL 257.30 Drivers or whatever is newer (not the NVIDIA ones) - check threads for how to do this (uninstall old one, reboot a few times, boot into safe mode, run drivesweeper, reboot, install new ones)
6. Load the updated Command centre
7. Run the latest DirectX update
8. Only do this step if you are confident to do so. With CPU-Z & HWMonitor running run the following one at a time 3dMark06, Prime95 and FurMark. Don't go mad at this stage just watch the CPU & GPU temps, so 15min each to start with. Extended use is for stability testing and you are on your own with that.
9. Load your favourite high end 3d Game and play it for ages
10. Load your second high end 3d Game and run that for ages
11. In 9 & 10 try on and off battery and different display settings/resolutions
12. You can also try with external monitor in, with CPU-z & HWMonitor off the laptop display and the games on the external display.
13. If you want to OC then do that now and repeat checking steps above with longer Prime95 & FurMark runs to check stability. I would also suggest running your intensive games for a RL check. Also note that OCing may not mean better game performance in some games.
14. If you want you can also try out the NVIDIA 285.96 drivers ( Read this thread and the ones it references)

Assuming all is well and you figure out how to get the GPU to work either restore to factory and build how you want or load up your other gubbins.

 

Excellent list, thanks!

 

Also, I have no idea how I missed that optimization thread in all of my searches. Great link, much appreciated.

 

Very informative "surfxombie"...+1 rep

 

Don't forget to download and run CC cleaner to fix all the broken links and to clear out all the old registry from old drivers and software uninstalled before installing new drivers.

 

Xombie, you're the man.