Windows Experience Index for M11X R1...

Hello, all! I'm running an M11X R1, as the OP title indicates, and I've been having performance slowdowns and generally erratic behavior with my laptop, particularly with my graphics card, overheating, and massive slowdown, despite the fact that I don't use my computer heavily. I've tried all of the suggested optimization and troubleshooting tips, and after shipping in the computer a couple of times to Dell for repair, am going to try to get it replaced. To that end, I'd like to see what others have as their Windows Experience Index scores to talk Dell into it: using an overclocked M11X, I register at 3.2, and I think I remember others noting that they had scores in the ~5 range. I could be wrong, though, and I wanted to check in with the fine folks at the forum before ruining my case of a refund/replacement by saying something stupid and wrong to a Dell rep. In addition, if anyone has advice on getting Dell to replace/refund an order, please let me know: I am under warranty, and have the extra warranty which covers accidental damage and spills. Thanks in advance for the replies!

 

Wow, that's terrible. Mine is 4.6, processor is 4.6, Ram is 5.4. graphics is 6.5, gaming graphics is 6.5 and primary hard disk drive is 5.9. Just in case you didn't know, WEI score is the score of the lowest in the system. I'm sure you know that but some do not.

 

M11xR1 SU7300 OC'd 4GB RAM nVidia 197.72(Dell) OC'd BIOS A01

Processor: 4.6
Memory(RAM): 5.5
Graphics: 6.6
Gaming graphics: 6.6
Primary hard disk: 5.9​

 

Windows experience calculates a different score across 5 categories. They are:

• Processor speed
• Memory (RAM) speed
• Graphics (2D)
• Gaming Graphics (3D)
• Primary Hard Disk speed

Your "Base Score" is determined by the lowest score in those 5 categories. However, the Base Score is a little tougher to calculate on an Alienware M11x, because of the switchable graphics.

Your "low" base score of 3.0 is because your score is based off of your Graphics (2D). If you have an Alienware M11x R1, and run the Windows Experience using the Intel GMA integrated GPU on your computer, then your Graphics 2D/3D scores will be low, and somewhere around 3.0. The reason that TLDoney and DrGoodVibes had much higher scores for Graphics 2D/3D scores on their R1 systems is because they turned on the nVidia 335M GPU before running the benchmark. If you did the same, your scores would be much higher.

If you have an R2 system, then Optimus would automatically switch between the Intel GPU and the nVidia 335M GPU during the appropriate 2D / 3D tests. Your overall Base Score will still be low on R2's, because your Graphics 2D score will be low (since it is running off of the Intel GMA GPU). But that's ok. For gaming purposes, the two scores that are most important (in order) are Gaming Graphics (3D), and then Processor score.

BTW, here is my Windows Experience score. Note that my overall Base Score is very low (3.1) because of the Graphics 2D score. But my machine will still game like a beast, because of the high Gaming Graphics 3D score and the Processor score.

 

I'm on the R2 and I got a 3.3. Apparently it doesn't automatically switch to the discrete card for this particular test.

 

Edit: Ran the test yesterday i got 2.3 for Graphics 2D (desktop performance for windows aeros). Ran it again today and got 3.5 .


processor: 5.8
Ram: 5.8
Graphics: 3.5
Gaming Graphics: 6.5
Primary hard disk: 5.9

 

Yes, it absolutely does switch over to the discrete card.

From my earlier post:
" Your overall Base Score will still be low on R2's, because your Graphics 2D score will be low (since it is running off of the Intel GMA GPU). But that's ok. For gaming purposes, the two scores that are most important (in order) are Gaming Graphics (3D), and then Processor score."

 

r2
Processor: 5.7
Memory(RAM): 5.7
Graphics: 3.6
Gaming graphics: 6.4
Primary hard disk: 5.9

 

r2

 

kankh, where did u get ur Intel drivers from?!

 

Exactly this except I got 3.4 on graphics instead of 3.6, I wonder why.

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Looks like my scores are in the mainstream for my computer type for WEI. What tools could I use to convince Dell that something's wrong with my machine? I consistently end up getting techs that seem to have less technical knowledge of computers than I do, and it's frustrating to have to go through the litany of purification rituals, erm, troubleshooting steps, that I'm forced to go through every time I call in.

 

What seems to be the problem?

And you won't find a way to get around the stupid questions like "Is it plugged in? Did you reboot? Did you do a System Restore?" The techs are trained to ask those questions, and are required to ask those questions. It's part of their job.

 

First thing you need to do is disable overclock and stress different components one at a time. Memory, CPU, GPU, Wifi, HD, etc. and then in combination until you start to narrow down what does and doesn't trigger a lockup/BSOD/whatever.

Also make sure you're using the latest drivers from Dell for the R1. I would imagine that there's a pretty good consensus here about which drivers are best for the R1.

If after a week of testing, normal use, gaming it seems to be stable then go back to overclocking and test individual components again, one at a time until you can narrow down what's causing instability.

 

Lots of BSODs, random shutdowns, lots of overheating: the usual. I'm pretty sure that it's one of the components (probably the graphics card), but my nerd-fu isn't up to par. I'll give stressing different components a shot.

 

Are you overclocking? Or have you overclocked in the past?

Also, what is the temperature in the room where you are using the machine?

 

The only component that I've overclocked in the past was the CPU, and that was done through the BIOS. The temperature is somewhere around 77 degrees, whereas the computer easily surpasses that temperature.