Help with drivers for Alienware M11x R1

Red_Machine · Apr 29, 2012, 04:00 PM

Hey guys.

I have an Alienware M11x R1 (as per my sig). It's an awesome machine, but the drivers are getting so out of date that some newer games refuse to run.

It uses a custom switchable graphics solution. There's an Alienware branded applet that at the press of a button, switches from the integrated Intel GMA to the dedicated nVIDIA chip and vice-versa. Because this isn't Optimus, I can't just install the standard nVIDIA drivers otherwise I'll break the switching system and Dell haven't updated them since R263.08.

Before Dell updated them, a guy on the Dell forums came up with a way to rig up the driver package provided by Dell with the updated drivers from nVIDIA, but this does not seem to work with the latest package and it just breaks the switching system still.

Basically, I'm asking if anyone know of or can come up with a way for me to be able to use the latest drivers and still have the switchable graphics. It's starting to get annoying...

Maelstrom · Apr 29, 2012, 04:09 PM

I feel your pain. I am also an R1 owner; however, I just gave up on the switching system, set it to discrete in the BIOS, and updated to the latest drivers. It has been a much more pleasant experience since then.

Red_Machine · Apr 29, 2012, 04:14 PM

But I actually use this as a portable system. Running in discrete mode chops the battery life in half.

stinger608 · Apr 29, 2012, 04:56 PM

Can you switch to the Intel GPU in the bios? If so, you could run that through the bios while your using the laptop as a portable unit running on the battery.
Once you are going to plug it in for gaming purposes you could then switch back to the Nvidia card through the bios.

Red_Machine · Apr 29, 2012, 04:57 PM

No, the only options are Switchable and Discrete. Both make it run in nVIDIA mode if the newer drivers are installed.

Red_Machine · Apr 30, 2012, 10:52 PM

Bump.

scoutingwraith · Apr 30, 2012, 11:02 PM

I am in the same situation as you but I have yet tonencounter a game I'm having problems with. (yet)

Also do you have a link for the latest drivers? All I am getting is below the current ones I have.

Red_Machine · May 1, 2012, 12:23 AM

You just have to go to the Dell site and go to the driver page, then pick the M11x R1. Dell has the latest listed (ignore the beta driver, it's older).

Apr 29, 2012, 04:00 PM	#1
Red_Machine Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marlow, ENGLAND Posts: 1,454 (1.50/day) Thanks: 149 Thanked 279 Times in 226 Posts System Specs	Help with drivers for Alienware M11x R1 Hey guys. I have an Alienware M11x R1 (as per my sig). It's an awesome machine, but the drivers are getting so out of date that some newer games refuse to run. It uses a custom switchable graphics solution. There's an Alienware branded applet that at the press of a button, switches from the integrated Intel GMA to the dedicated nVIDIA chip and vice-versa. Because this isn't Optimus, I can't just install the standard nVIDIA drivers otherwise I'll break the switching system and Dell haven't updated them since R263.08. Before Dell updated them, a guy on the Dell forums came up with a way to rig up the driver package provided by Dell with the updated drivers from nVIDIA, but this does not seem to work with the latest package and it just breaks the switching system still. Basically, I'm asking if anyone know of or can come up with a way for me to be able to use the latest drivers and still have the switchable graphics. It's starting to get annoying... __________________ Alienware M11x R1 Netbook: 1.3GHz Core2 Duo U7300 (OC'd to 1.7GHz) \| 8GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz \| nVIDIA GeForce GT 335M 1GB/Intel GMA 4500MHD Hyrbid Graphics System \| Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB \| Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician \| CompTIA A+ Certified Heatware

System Name:	Chachamaru-III
Processor:	Intel Core i7 3770K (OC'd to 4.5GHz)
Motherboard:	BIOSTAR TZ77XE4 (Intel Z77 Chipset)
Cooling:	Thermaltake CLW0217 Water 2.0 Extreme, case fully populated
Memory:	16GB G.Skill Ares 1600MHz (2x8GB) [10 10-10-10]
Video Card:	Palit GeForce GTX 580 1.5GB
Hard Disk:	128GB Samsung 830 (OS), Seagate Barracuda 3TB RAID1 Array (Storage), Seagate Barracuda 750GB (Steam)
Optical Drive:	LG GGW-H20L DVD±RW/BD-RW/HD DVD-ROM Drive
CRT/LCD Model:	DGM L-2231WD 22" @ 1680x1050, Toshiba Regza 32" @ 1920x1080 & Dell 1708fp 17" @ 1280x1024
Case:	Coolermaster HAF 922
Sound Card:	Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Alienware Edition
PSU:	Silverstone Olympia SST-OP1000 1kW
Software:	Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Apr 29, 2012, 04:09 PM	#2
Maelstrom Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: VA/PA Posts: 500 (0.29/day) Thanks: 139 Thanked 164 Times in 121 Posts System Specs	I feel your pain. I am also an R1 owner; however, I just gave up on the switching system, set it to discrete in the BIOS, and updated to the latest drivers. It has been a much more pleasant experience since then. __________________ Made by PVTCaboose1337

System Name:	Freyja
Processor:	Core i7 3770K
Motherboard:	AsRock Z77 Extreme4
Cooling:	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Memory:	16 GB GSkill Sniper
Video Card:	Diamond Radeon HD 7970
Hard Disk:	Kingston HyperX 240 GB SSD + Seagate 2 TB HD
Optical Drive:	External Rosewill DVD drive
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell U2410
Case:	NZXT Tempest 210
Sound Card:	Asus Xonar Essence STX
PSU:	Seasonic X-Series 750W
Software:	Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit

Apr 29, 2012, 04:14 PM	#3
Red_Machine Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marlow, ENGLAND Posts: 1,454 (1.50/day) Thanks: 149 Thanked 279 Times in 226 Posts System Specs	But I actually use this as a portable system. Running in discrete mode chops the battery life in half. __________________ Alienware M11x R1 Netbook: 1.3GHz Core2 Duo U7300 (OC'd to 1.7GHz) \| 8GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz \| nVIDIA GeForce GT 335M 1GB/Intel GMA 4500MHD Hyrbid Graphics System \| Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB \| Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician \| CompTIA A+ Certified Heatware

Apr 29, 2012, 04:56 PM	#4
stinger608 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 5,488 (3.31/day) Thanks: 7,864 Thanked 2,535 Times in 1,780 Posts System Specs	Can you switch to the Intel GPU in the bios? If so, you could run that through the bios while your using the laptop as a portable unit running on the battery. Once you are going to plug it in for gaming purposes you could then switch back to the Nvidia card through the bios. __________________ #3 Forever A Fan! Just Because I Don't Care Doesn't Mean I Don't Understand My HeatWare Check our team Status on Free-DC

System Name:	Sniper
Processor:	Intel Ivy Bridge i7 3770K
Motherboard:	Biostar TZ77A
Cooling:	total liquid cooling
Memory:	16GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical DDR3 1866
Video Card:	HIS HD7870 Turbo
Hard Disk:	2x Western Digital 300gb VRaptor HLFS Enterprise RAID 0
Optical Drive:	LG Super Multi Blue/Blue Ray burner
CRT/LCD Model:	HannsG HH231 23" & HP W2338H 23"
Case:	Cooler Master Sniper with side window
Sound Card:	On board
PSU:	Seasonic X series 750 watt total modular
Software:	Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

Apr 29, 2012, 04:57 PM	#5
Red_Machine Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marlow, ENGLAND Posts: 1,454 (1.50/day) Thanks: 149 Thanked 279 Times in 226 Posts System Specs	No, the only options are Switchable and Discrete. Both make it run in nVIDIA mode if the newer drivers are installed. __________________ Alienware M11x R1 Netbook: 1.3GHz Core2 Duo U7300 (OC'd to 1.7GHz) \| 8GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz \| nVIDIA GeForce GT 335M 1GB/Intel GMA 4500MHD Hyrbid Graphics System \| Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB \| Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician \| CompTIA A+ Certified Heatware

Apr 30, 2012, 10:52 PM	#6
Red_Machine Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marlow, ENGLAND Posts: 1,454 (1.50/day) Thanks: 149 Thanked 279 Times in 226 Posts System Specs	Bump. __________________ Alienware M11x R1 Netbook: 1.3GHz Core2 Duo U7300 (OC'd to 1.7GHz) \| 8GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz \| nVIDIA GeForce GT 335M 1GB/Intel GMA 4500MHD Hyrbid Graphics System \| Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB \| Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician \| CompTIA A+ Certified Heatware

Apr 30, 2012, 11:02 PM	#7
scoutingwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 220 (0.10/day) Thanks: 35 Thanked 47 Times in 44 Posts System Specs	I am in the same situation as you but I have yet tonencounter a game I'm having problems with. (yet) Also do you have a link for the latest drivers? All I am getting is below the current ones I have. __________________ Sometimes there is a time when you think WTF.....

System Name:	Sentius / Tiberius
Processor:	C2D SU7300 1.73 / C2D 8200 3.2
Motherboard:	Intel GS45 / Gigabyte P35DS3
Cooling:	Internal Fans
Memory:	2x4GB (1333) / 2x4GB (800)
Video Card:	NV GT335 1GB / NV 8800GTS 512MB
Hard Disk:	~8TB All WD
Optical Drive:	None / Sony
CRT/LCD Model:	11.6 WLED / SA550 27" + SAT240HD
Case:	Alienware m11x / Thermaltake S71
Sound Card:	Realtek HD / Realtek Azalia
PSU:	9 cell Battery / Corsair HX750W
Software:	Win 7 x64 HP / Win 7 x64 U

May 1, 2012, 12:23 AM	#8
Red_Machine Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Marlow, ENGLAND Posts: 1,454 (1.50/day) Thanks: 149 Thanked 279 Times in 226 Posts System Specs	You just have to go to the Dell site and go to the driver page, then pick the M11x R1. Dell has the latest listed (ignore the beta driver, it's older). __________________ Alienware M11x R1 Netbook: 1.3GHz Core2 Duo U7300 (OC'd to 1.7GHz) \| 8GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz \| nVIDIA GeForce GT 335M 1GB/Intel GMA 4500MHD Hyrbid Graphics System \| Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB \| Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician \| CompTIA A+ Certified Heatware

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dell to repair broken hinges on Alienware M11x systems globally	stinger608	General Hardware	0	Sep 14, 2011 03:15 AM
Need help: Eyefinity with Alienware	kiss4luna	AMD / ATI	4	Mar 25, 2011 10:29 AM
Alienware M11x Laptop for $$749.00	joytime360	Hot Deals	33	Aug 3, 2010 01:36 AM
Alienware m11x, people's thoughts?	Urbklr	General Hardware	12	Feb 9, 2010 10:14 PM