My M11x R3 Thread

Since coming here I've seen many threads like this one, I apologize if you find these annoying. We're excited, curious and new Alienware owners.

My M11x has finally changed to "shipped" and now I must prepare to welcome my baby and optimize it to the best. I'm also thinking about running a blog on my experience, record gaming performances and unboxing, etc to entertain readers and perhaps let other potential buyers see whether they'll want to purchase it or not.

Anyway I'm planning on upgrading it next year or something as well to 8gb ram (2 slots, 4gb sticks right?), 64-128gb SSD (I don't really need space, I do have a 1tb external hdd as well) and a new wireless card (which I totally know nothing about.)

-I have a 6gb m11x, assuming it's a 4gb stick and a 2gb, I can just replace the 2gb with a 4gb crucial ddr3 1333 stick right?
-The SSD is 2.5in? I'm hoping opening it up and assembling this thing wouldn't be too hard... Can I fit 2 drives in the m11x? My current 320gb HDD and a new SSD?
-Would installing the OS on the SSD be more beneficial to my performance or having it as a drive just for me games?
-Wireless cards.
My current 4-5yr old work laptop has "Broadcom 802.11g network adapter"
HP is offering 802.11b/g/n WLAN
My M11x has Intel Wireless-N WiFi Link 1000
Hoping to buy my own: Intel® Centrino® Advanced–N + WiMAX 6250 and upgrading it myself.

Can anyone give me a simple comparison on the performance/pros of each card so I can get an idea of how my HP match up with my M11x, etc. I been Googling and haven't quite gotten it.

Many thanks, probably use this thread as a little blog of my new baby and stuff.

EDIT 1: Would love some tips on managing my battery, I dislike how the battery is integrated. Scared of burning the battery dry. I read about the trick with going to BIOS and disabling it everytime you boot. How beneficial is this to the health and does it really work?

 

In answer to your questions:

1. 6gb of ram is more than enough at the moment. It will be a 4 and a 2gb chip. You could easily just buy another 4 later. Ram is so cheap though I usually just buy the cheapest ram option from dell and buy an 8gb kit.

2.SSD's can come in 2.5" or 3.5" so be careful when buying. The majority are 2.5" but always check.

3. No there is no room for 2 drives in the m11x. The best option I can give you is to keep the ssd external and get a usb3 external. I even often game from a usb3 external drive with no problems. I also bought a little adapter that holds 2 mini sd cards and use that in my m11x for more internal storage (no good for games though).

4. Yes, install the OS on the SSD! that will give you the biggest benefit. Having it just for games would be a waste. Although games load a bit faster on SSD its night or day difference, an OS on an SSD is a night and day difference

5. I have the intel 1000 and it is terrible. I plan on upgrading it asap. Its easy to do but I don't use wireless much on my m11x. Just pick up a decent card on the bay

 

Thanks a ton for your reply. Still looking for details on the cards.

Do you know if the m11x can only fit the 2.5 or 3.5?

 

Only 2.5".

3.5" is mainly for desktops.

 

you should grab the intel 6300 wifi card, works great and flawlessly at reasonable price and you can install a 3rd antenna afterwards with some hacks.
I personnally wouldn't disable battery as there seems to be more downside to a discharged battery than to a battery that is always fully charged.

 

Will heat be a problem?

I can't wait, only a few more hours until I see my m11x!

 

Some are complaining about heat, others not. You have to test it yourself
It is clear tho that the goo used by dell is far from being of a really good quality

 

Heat?! Yeah dude it's a little hairdrier when that 540m kicks in, my advice, get some decent headphones!

 

i thought he asked about heating issues like un4tural reported and corrected here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/623821-gpu-temps.html

 

What's goo?

 

goo/go͞o/
Noun:

A sticky or slimy substance.
Sickly sentiment.

 

Oh I thought it was something special. Is that the thermal paste I read everywhere about? xd

I got my M11x. That thing is a real beauty...

 

Sorry RipJak i was just messing about, goo is slang for thermal paste. It's the paste that helps transfer heat from your CPU / GPU into it's copper heat sink which dissipates the heat into the air.

Dell use a standard paste which is good but not the best, some others like to re-paste using artic silver which has a much more efficient conductivity, therefore lowering your GPU temperatures when on load.

 

Ya I got the idea, thanks for more clarification. Once again this thing is a real beauty, but I'm probably emotionally biased xD

Love the texture of every bit of this laptop though, even the mousepad that some people have shrug off.

Anyway is it just me or the fan goes on super blow-drier mode when I use the nvidia gpu? I guess that might be a good thing to keep heat out but it startled me at first. xD

 

Yep, the R3 is a pleasure to use, I handle mine like ancient scriptures taking it out and putting it away!

The R3 fan is a sure replacement for a travel hair drier!

 

aww, the fan is really not that loud. my desktop pc fan is louder. it only makes you think its loud when it goes from no volume spinning to its high speed setting and makes people jump. If it had a more graduated speed increase people wouldn't think it was that bad.

 

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong it's totally bearable, the Klipsch speakers in the R3 help drown out the fan noise.

 

Ya it's fine when I game just it startled me initially. But then that's a sign that it's (should be) working.