"Official" x460DX Owners Thread

Compare Intel® i3-2310 and i5-2410 (and 2GB of ram)

 

You will be fine with the i3. The only difference is the 200mhz clock speed and the turbo boost and you won't really notice unless you are doing enthusiast benchmarks.

 

That sounds good Wump. Just run 2.1 since it is stable. About the ssd, I believe our motherboard supports Sata 3/6gb base on this screenshot I took on my x460dx. Just need to verify it.

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/alcalite/Benchsc.jpg

 

Here are my M4 benches on the SATA 6 chip. Some of the benches look a bit low.

 

And, here's my WEI

 

Hey Xerloq, how are you getting 6.6 on the graphics score when intel hd 3000 optimus is on that one. Most X460dx users gets betwewen 4.7 to 5.5 on that part and 6.6 on gaming graphics.

 

I don't know. Is it possible I forced the 560 on?

I installed the M4, then intel RST and reran WEI on startup. I just screen capped what I got.

Happy to rerun the index in the AM.

 

It's possible that you probably had the lock on the gt 540m when you ran the WEI since the high 6.6 score is for the gt 540m. Was the orange light turn on when you were doing it?

BTW, I'm thinking about picking up a Crucial M4 64gb myself and I have a few questions for you.

How is your Crucial m4 sata III 6gb speeds feels on booting/restarting/ and overall feel when opening programs and the snappyness?

Did you clone your HDD or installed the factory MSI installation of windows or did you just fresh clean install windows 7 and installed the drivers manually?

I kept reading that the Crucial M4 doesn't come with screws or what not, are they talking about the screws for 2.5" to 3.5" or do I still need to buy xtra screws to replace the OEM HDD on the x460dx?


Thanks Xer and let me know

 

I boot to desktop in about 15 seconds. Clean boot (just windows) was 10 sec.

I did a clean install of win 7 with drivers from MSIs site.

I used the screws from the stock HDD to mount my M4.

 

Kool info +rep to ya.

 

Thank You.

To answer your other questions, the stock HDD went into a caddy w/o screws.

Also, the power light turns orange when I do WEI. It's blue otherwise.

Once I get through my homework for this week, I'll get some gaming benches in, with and w/o optimus.

 

Hey Xer, I just open the bottom case and remove the stock Western Digital HD, there was no screws or whatever. It was just pluggied in and all I had to do was pull it out and push it back in like changing Super Nintendo Cartridges.

Are you sure there are screws that you had to remove on the hdd? All the screws i removed was the screws from the bottom cover.

 

The bottom cover screws hold it all in place so no additional screws needed.

 

So what was the screws he said he removed from the stock HDD to mount the SSD? Did he possibly confused it with the back cover screws because the stock hdd didn't have any screws when I checked.

 

No confusion. There are two screws on the bottom marked HDD that hold the drive in place. Those are the screws I was referring to.

 

Ah that's where we had our confusion. Usually other laptops with their HDD have their own screws and even an aluminum cover on the hdd itself where it is also secured by a few screws after removing the back cover.

But on this laptop, the screw that holds the back cover of the x460dx is also the one that holds the HDD and it doesn't have that aluminum casing that other laptops usually have.

 

Sorry about that. I've been seeing more and more systems with friction type mounts these days. I was impressed that there are at least some screws.

 

I am rather laptop illiterate. Can any of you give me some pointers on where to start with my new x460dx? I created recovery disks with burn recovery, but am wondering what else I should be doing to maximize performance. I'd like to do a clean install of windows but am not really sure how to do it and am a little weary of knowing everything to reinstall afterwards. Thanks for any help.

 

This method is for a clean install. If you simply want to reduce bloarware, follow Wumpus243's suggestion, and simply delete the MSI utilities you don't need. This is preferable for self-proclaimed noobs and computer-illiterate folks.

CLEAN INSTALL BREAKS THE F3 RECOVERY! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

If you still want to continue on the adventure, and enter the world of pure computing, read on. (You proceed at your own risk!)

1. Make sure your personal files are backed up - files, music, photos, games, etc. This process will format the HDD, and everything will be deleted.
   
2. Make sure you have your MSI DVD or that you've downloaded the drivers to a USB drive. (Drivers here: MSI Global | Notebook - X460DX) I'll include links to drivers only below, as that's all I install. I don't use any of the stuff MSI installs on the notebook.
   
3. If you don't have a Win 7 DVD, get one from this NBR thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html. This notebook comes with Windows 7 Home Premium. I don't know if the OEM key will activate - OEM keys sometimes do, sometimes they don't. I have my own retail copies of Windows 7 Ultimate and my own retail keys.

​

If you've removed the ODD, you'll need to install Win 7 from a USB drive.

Here are the clean install instructions. (* I can't take credit. This is from Installing and reinstalling Windows 7)

To install Windows 7 using the Custom option and formatting the hard disk

1. To format your hard disk during Windows 7 installation, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
   
2. Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally, insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, and then shut down your computer.
   
3. Restart your computer.
   
4. Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.
   
5. On the Install Windows page, enter your language and other preferences, and then click Next.
   
6. If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, and you're not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, see Start your computer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
   
7. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Next.
   
8. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
   
9. On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, click Drive options (advanced).
   
   FINAL WARNING! PROCEEDING WITH THIS NEXT STEP WILL BREAK THE F3 RECOVERY OPTION!
   
10. Click the partition that you want to change, click the formatting option you want to perform, and then follow the instructions. Here, you'll want to delete all the partitions on the HDD. You won't be able to get any of them back, and I'm not sure the reinstall discs will work anymore. If you're nervous about this step, buy a separate hard drive to replace the stock HDD, and keep the stock one safe in case you want to go back to the original config. Once you do a clean install, though, I'm sure you won't want to go back,
    
11. When you've finished formatting, click Next.
    
12. Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7, which include naming your computer and setting up an initial user account.

​

Once that is complete, install the following drivers at a bare-minimum. (This is the order I installed them. These are for Windows 7 64bit):

• Intel(R) 6 Series Chipset
• NEC USB 3.0 driver
• Intel Management Engine Interface
• Intel HD Graphics Family_Intel Sandy Bridge
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
• Realtek LAN
• Intel Wireless LAN _crane peak
• Intel Bluetooth + High Speed Adapter_N130/N1030
• Realtek HD Audio

​

Once you've got that, you should be good to go. You'll need to enable the webcam (FN+F6) to install its drivers. Everything works for me using this method.

Anyone else do anything different? Let me know, and I'll update the guide.

 

Yeah it felt really strange and weird in the beginning, I thought MSI forgot to put screws to secure the hdd, even the single fan i thought were missing screws turn out the screw use for the fan is the same screw on the back cover.

 

1. 
   
   Thank you SO MUCH! Quick question - when you say make sure my files are backed up, do you mean creating recovery disks through the BurnRecovery rpogram?
   
   And, the drivers you listed - are they included on the MSI dvd? Should I install everything on the MSI DVD?
   
   Sorry for all the questions.
   
   Thank again

​

 

I mean make sure your personal files - any photos, videos, documents, music, etc. - that you put on the computer are backed up. EVERYTHING will be deleted.

I honestly don't know what's on the MSI DVD. I lost it shortly after receiving the notebook (I think I threw it out). The DVD may include bloatware (non-essential programs) which is what you're trying to avoid, and avoiding bloatware is the whole purpose of the clean install. Research (google, or ask here) any program before you install it to make sure it's absolutely necessary.

The drivers I listed should be on the DVD, but they're most likely more up-to-date versions. You should always check MSI's site for the most recent drivers and use them unless there's a known issue.

And no worries about the questions - that's what the forum is for.

P.S.

One small plug for HTTP://www.ninite.com <-- It's an excellent resource for the basic programs you need on your PC. It's the first thing I install after the drivers and Chrome.

 

I can't speak for Xerloq, but my guess is that he meant that your particular documents were backed up (photos, music, office-type files, scans, browser bookmarks, downloaded files, etc.).

For drivers, they might be on the disc (haven't even looked at that yet, but I bet they are), and they are definitely on the three DVD set you can create, or they will automatically install if you do an 'F3' total system rebuild during bootup, but I recommend downloading them from the URL he posted, as they might be newer than those that shipped with your notebook. If you do the 'F3' or use the 3 DVD set, you're going to get the same crap all over again. You can also download an automated driver discovery and update app from MSi (I keep forgetting what it is called, but it starts with an 'L' and ends in the number 5, and has a predominantly red icon): it will check what's available and list them, although I find it is not quite as up-to-date as going right to the msimobile.com website.

I would install *all* the drivers, *all* firmware, any BIOS updates that get posted (unless the description for the BIOS update sounds like it won't benefit you in any way), and then you should judiciously decide just what utilities and apps you want to add. That's the whole reason for blowing away your provided installation, in that it came with extra crap you don't need. By redoing the installation, you can only install just the stuff you want. If you would reinstall it all anyway, then why bother blowing everything away and rebuilding the exact same configuration?

I suggest trying all the apps and utilities that came with your system first, and then deciding which are good and which are useless to you. If you'd only be removing one app or utility, it's probably easier for you to just uninstall that, but if there's several, you'll have a slightly cleaner system if you did a reinstall and didn't install those unnecessary apps and utils to begin with.

BTW, thanks Xerloq for the superb reference post. It's too soon for me to +rep you again, unfortunately.

 

Last night I managed to finally take off and get into the air with DCS-A10C! However, this session I noticed that it used the NVidia discrete GT540M GPU for the menu/config/launcher portion, but then switched to the Intel HD3000 GPU for the actual main executable. I thought I had fixed that by assigning a GPU to the actual *.exe files (through the Explorer context-flyout), but maybe it's actually random?

Anyone encounter that, or have a workaround?

It was nice, but had some transparent object glitches, and the framerate was much slower than it should have been (obviously). My goal is a high-res texture environment with many AI NPCs (even far away), loads of eye-candy, and a totally fluid framerate!

 

Exactly - the same crap, which is why I do the clean install with drivers only.

FYI and BIG RED WARNING FLAG. The clean install I mentioned will break the F3 restore function as it deletes the hidden partition where the restore files live.

No worries, friend. I'm not in it for the reps. Just happy to help!

 

Updated driver for the 540m:

NVIDIA DRIVERS 280.26 WHQL

 

Anyone knows if CinemaPro 2 is important because I don't even know if I'm using it and if I'm not then i'd rather uninstall it.

 

I haven't used it yet, but if you hit the cinema button according to msi it launches windows media player, activates thx trustudio if its not already, and looks like it bumps up contrast etc:

Actually says, "Cinema Pro Technology offers consumers the finest movie viewing experience."...lol

I'd try it out first, I didn't even realize it was there...Had to dig for it in the S-bar. If it worked with VLC and other media players, it be a little more appealing to me, but i'm not sure that you can change that.

Also, on a side note...I've updated the first post with everything I found useful from recent discussions. If I missed anything let me know.

 

Not certain, but in the 'Notes' section, it states "Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release".

I'm assuming that means it will 'break' switchable graphics (such as with the MSi X460DX). I just mention this so that people installing it understand that they might see some real reductions to their battery life if they install this. However, I'd love to be wrong! And thanks for posting this update - it's hard to stay on top of all the new driver releases, so this is still appreciated.

 

Thanks MStefanko: this just keeps getting better and better!

 

No problem!...And can anyone verify the Nvidia 280.26 WHQL driver breaking optimus? I think you're most likely correct Wumpus, but i'll see if anyone installs it to verify, before I change the link on the main post back to msi driver link.

 

Optimus works fine with those drivers. Hybrid Power is an earlier incarnation of switchable graphics.

 

Didn't even see that when I read the text. Still seems to be working fine for me though. Light stays blue on desktop, orange in most games. Bastion still using my intel hd 3000, I think you just have to make sure you have the proper sandy bridge driver as well.

 

Oh and btw, thanks for all the contributions from everyone in this thread and the other "any news..." thread on the x460. Really helped me with my purchase!

 

double post..

 

This method is for a clean install. If you simply want to reduce bloarware, follow Wumpus243's suggestion, and simply delete the MSI utilities you don't need. This is preferable for self-proclaimed noobs and computer-illiterate folks.

CLEAN INSTALL BREAKS THE F3 RECOVERY! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

If you still want to continue on the adventure, and enter the world of pure computing, read on. (You proceed at your own risk!)

1. Make sure your personal files are backed up - files, music, photos, games, etc. This process will format the HDD, and everything will be deleted.
   
2. Make sure you have your MSI DVD or that you've downloaded the drivers to a USB drive. (Drivers here: MSI Global | Notebook - X460DX) I'll include links to drivers only below, as that's all I install. I don't use any of the stuff MSI installs on the notebook.
   
3. If you don't have a Win 7 DVD, get one from this NBR thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html. This notebook comes with Windows 7 Home Premium. I don't know if the OEM key will activate - OEM keys sometimes do, sometimes they don't. I have my own retail copies of Windows 7 Ultimate and my own retail keys.

​

Just wanted to highlight the bolded part. For anyone who doesnt have a retail copy you can use this program to backup your OEM activation:

http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

Make sure to download ABR with Windows 7 support. Can verify this works with the x460dx as I used this method to clean wipe my laptop.

 

Just got my Crucial M4 SSD to replace the 7200RPM WC HDD on Sata 0/6GB. I have Windows OS + Windows update including SP1 and all MSI drivers and THX utility + Anti Virus and some games on the M4 and boot time is only 18 sec from pressing the power button until desktop is ready.

I know that some of the X460DX users that will be using an SSD will put the stock HDD on the Optical Drive w/ a caddy but that ruins the whole purpose of having a silent no mechanical spinning drive so I decided to keep my ODD and instead, I just bought an HDD Enclosure for $10 bucks to make my stock western digital 500gb an external usb 2.0 one .

 

Awesome! Are you on the 0009 firmware? That gave me a boost in speed. My M4 boot times are slightly faster since upgrading from 0001 and 0002 to 0009.

 

You've got some broken links and improperly closed tags in your post. I've corrected it in the quote above, but you might want to fix your OP.

 

I'm still on 0002 and i was going to update the firmware to 0009 but i found out that i have no blank cd's. What other methods besides burning it on a blank media?

 

Thanks for noticing that, I have fixed the link.

 

I think its cd only. I guess you could try a bootable USB drive, and extract the iso to it using 7zip or something like that, but I don't know if it would work, or hurt anything.

Crucial has a long thread on the update here: http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-S...re-0009-Update-and-Feedback-Thread/td-p/61109

 

Hello,

I am considering ordering the x460dx from newegg.ca with the 6mb RAM configuration seen here:

Newegg.ca - MSI X460DX-006US Notebook Intel Core i5 2410M(2.30GHz) 14" 6GB Memory 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M.

My only question is regarding the screen. I know 1366 x 768 isn't terrible for a 14" screen, but it isn't the greatest either. Looking through the owners thread, I haven't really seen much (positive or negative) about the screen. Does anyone have an opinion either way?

Thanks!

 

As long as you don't mind glossy, which I don't personally. The screen as actually probably better than average. Colors are reproduced accurately. Viewing angle could be better, but doesn't bother me as i'm sitting infront of it and not gathering groups of people around it. Brightness is good. Contrast is pretty average, not bad. Remember the display is actually 13.6" so it gets bumped up into the 14 inch category..So as far as the resolution, it's closer to a 13.3" than it sounds. And i've been really happy with everything including the screen.

 

I got the same config from Newegg. The screen is ok. It's not great but it's far from the worst screen out there. Glossy bugs me, and mine has 1 dead pixel which I hardly notice. I'm hoping someone identifies a higher res replacement.

Despite the annoyances, I love the machine.

 

^^ Thanks for the honest opinions. I'm not sure if I'm better off waiting and spending a bit more on a Samsung Series 7 when it comes out...

 

Since it was due out today, it might be at least worth waiting a week to see what comes of them. Definitely looks like a nice design, and the higher res matte screen was a nice touch. I couldn't justify the extra $300 when I ordered my x460dx. Especailly when you expand your budget, there's a lot of other options as well if you don't mind a little extra weight especially. I think you'll have annoyances with most laptops, especially under a grand. But I think everyone here who has one of the x460dx, more than tolerate the shortcomings and appreciate what it does offer. See what the initial reviews on the samsung 7 series look like, never know it could have heat problems as well as a ton of other issues, just looks great on paper. But I think you'd be pretty happy either way.

 

The screen is nothing to brag about, but the good thing is that it has no inherent flaws. The defect rate is a bit on the high side, so if you get this, check it out within your exchange period, and make sure you're comfortable with the reseller's 'pixel policy' before you buy. This display is fast enough, has decent contrast, brightness is fine, colours are pretty good. I was hoping for something awesome, but no one really has offered anything amazing in this size TN panel for the last couple years. The display will handle design, photos, video and games with no problems, IMHO.

I think this notebook would really kick butt if the display was 900 pixels vertically, was non glare, and had full sRGB or better colour gamut. More brightness would be a plus, but the current brightness is OK. I can't find any references that confirm if you can substitute a totally different make of the same size and connector without any side effects (if anything, I hear more problems than successes, as it seems all single-channel LVDS connectors are not alike, and the manufacturers don't fully disclose their capabilities). I don't think you can even find an IPS screen at this size. As Xerloq says, if someone does find a better replacement, I will probably go for it, but then I'm insanely finicky about image quality. Just realize that some subtle colour differences won't show up: if a photo or video had ever-so-slightly different shades of a yellow-ey green or purplish colour in the original image, it might show up as the same colour on screen, but the chance that such a nuanced difference would affect your retouching or colour balance changes are close to zero. And most similar displays will behave the same way (just maybe with different colours being affected).

The bottom line regarding the screen (to me) is that it's certainly 'good enough' for pretty well anything you throw at it. And to recap my overall opinion, without having seen a real review of the new Samsung, this notebook is the overall best buy for the money right now in the new 'performance thin & light' category. Weigh all the pros and cons: this is a very nice box.

 

Has anyone tried playing the Battlefield 3 beta on the X460DX? I've been playing it for the last couple of days but it can only handle it on low settings, otherwise it gets really choppy. Even on low it gets pretty choppy sometimes. Any suggestions for increasing performance? I'd like to play the game smoothly at least on medium. Do I need to upgrade my RAM?

 

I've been playing it on my x460dx-006US, and it works perfect on high tecture/medium everything else. Of course this is with the laptop plugged in. I've notice it's glitchier when it's not plugged in, but when I plug it in, smooth as butter

Try TrottleLock. You only need 4GB for any game out right now, that's plenty.