--->The Official Studio XPS 1340 Owner's Thread<---

I've had several more blue screen errors and lockups. It went as far as windows recovery kicking in and saying that the operating system would not start. A replacement is on the way but not without experiencing the terrible customer service that dell offers. They just about refuse to do anything with the gift card promotion even though I have the email confirming that I should have received it. You'd think it would be a concession at the very least due to the poor service I've had to deal with so far. Even with trying to have the gift card added I was transferred no less than four times to various departments before I just hung up.

 

Hello everyone,
I have been reading this thread along with many reviews on the Studio XPS 1340, and I think I will order one soon. I have a question: is it possible to install a Mini PCI-e SSD in place of the WWAN card on this laptop?
I don’t want to boot from it, just have an extra storage for music and such, maybe even use it for Vista’s ReadyBoost. Would the SSDs that are being sold as upgrades for the ASUS Eee and Dell’s mini work here?
Thanks.

 

whats up with the dell site - they change the specs each day.
So they offer the 9500 Gpu and 9400 GPU - is the 9400+9200 GPU option not available anymore?

 

I tried to poke the 4GB Intel Turbo Memory into mine, it saw it and wanted drivers. That's as far as I've gone with it.

I do know that the MCP79 chipset is supposed to support Nvidia's DriveCache which I understand is much like Turbo Memory. I can't find much info on it or how to enable it or if it requires additional hardware.

 

Dell does this daily it seems....

Market flucuation? lol. The cost of the upcharges when going from one size GPU to another is simply amazing......NOT.


Cin

 

A 9500 is a 9400+9200

...I think

 

I think you are confusing something. Because 9500M GPU = 9400+9200.

 

Just some info for anyone who gets the blue screens and freezes. My first 1340 had this problem and I noticed the hard drive seemed a little noisy, nothing ridiculous but enough to notice. My replacement 1340 has no issues that I've found yet and something that I noticed rite away is that the HDD, (320 GB 7200 RPM) is very quit to the point that I don't notice any sound at all. I'm sure there are other factors involved, but this might be something simple to check if you're having issues.

 

my hdd is super quiet never hear it... drive sounds normal.. does yours wobble when placed on a flat surface?

 

uhhhhhhhh anyone get their webcam to work after a fresh vista install? i installed the drivers but i cant seem to find a way to open the webcam it doesnt show up in scanners and cameras or anything

 

No neither one of mine wobbled. Is yours getting the BSOD's and freezes with the quiet drive?

 

There's no webcam software, just the driver, and no it doesn't appear under cameras but you can make sure the driver's installed properly in Device Manager. Try testing it in a program that can use a webcam like Messenger.

 

Either install any video chat software (Skype, CamFrog, etc.) or use Dell's web cam utility to test your video.

 

yeah 9500 is actually the combination of the two - but they didn't write it anywhere

 

5446; i have been having no bsod since i formatted and installed vista clean

 

i need a new case cover then because mine still wobbles even after cutting the feet.

 

problem with that is.. serial #s and stuff are printed on case cover so its highly unlikely i can get dell to send me one.. anyone willing to part out maybe a broken one? i just need the sheet of metal that covers hd,ram,network card etc

 

could u edit your posts? and stop complaining - u got the notebook for free didnt you? not that I believe that but anyways

 

sorry the edit button isnt working for me when i click it it times out, and yes i did get the notebook free would you like to see the screen shot showing credit back?

edit button works now

ok i just called dell, explained about the bottom plate and what not, they said since they are on backorder @ dell themselves that the part isnt avaiable yet but will be soon! so if anyone takes their case cover off becareful not to snap anything ull be SOL! lucklly mine isnt too bad i sorta jigger-ridged it

 

ugggghhhh!

got my 2nd 1340 today - 3 dead pixels and wobbly feet.

so be it, sending it back and ordering my 3rd 1340.

friggin pathetic quality control....

 

Those with wobbly feet,
Anyone try my rear-cap adjustment fix? http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4529258&postcount=1245
I think this beats the heck out of playing RMA roulette or trying to bend/mangle the main base cover.


This thread needs an FAQ - same issues&questions keep coming up with the answers buried pages back.

 

Yeah, a first post edit with the main issues might be good, and save a lot of posts, making it easier to read the actual thread anyway.

Or people could just use search before they post.

 

My machine freezes and it has an SSD so it is always silent. Seems to be a heat issue with mine.

 

Anyone know how the 9400M/9500M in the SXPS 1340 compares to the 8600M in the XPS 1530?

Also, this might be a silly question, but does anyone know how a GeForce FX 5900 would compare to the 9500M in the SXPS?

 

I will be getting my studio xps 13 in a few days, and was wondering if it is really necessary to fresh install vista, and if this will help with stacsv.exe issue. See link below:
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/notebooks/dell/studio_xps_13/276789

Thanks!

 

Thanks, yeah I have been looking for any info on that feature, without success, as well. So, did you install the drivers for Intel Turbo Memory? Does it work?

 

No, I never installed the drivers. I really needed that for the WWAN card so the TM wasn't going to stay in there anyway.

 

the wobble feet fix didnt work for me, i had to literally shave some rubber off one of the feet bad move now it slides more then usual

 

The issue with stacsv.exe is apparently just an issue with the old audio driver. If you're running the current driver, apparently there is no such problem. I have v6104 of the audio driver and my stacsv64.exe is using 0%. v6104 came pre-installed on my laptop so if your laptop is new you probably don't even need a driver update.

 

Thanks for the info, but will I have to clean install vista still?

 

No, you don't need to do a clean install to update drivers.

 

I just received my 1340 today and thought I'd share a couple random thoughts. It is a nice machine. However, it does wobble and DVD playback is subpar and full of graininess. As I result, I'm having a replacement sent to me.

It does collect a lot of fingerprints, but so do all consumer notebooks these days.

As for heat, it does get hot when in high performance mode. The vent gets too hot to touch comfortably. But when in battery saver mode (just the 9400 running) it's cool and quiet. I don't game on the computer so it won't be an issue for me and the extra power will be there when I need it.

Overall I like it and hopefully the replacement doesn't have the problems this one does.

 

I think, I will be returning mine, and probably get a Vaio Z. I cant stand the issues the SXPS has. I got a blue screen last night and could not boot up for an hour. CD/DVD drive is messed up and extremely extremely loud, wifi is slow when play games online regardless of connection, gets hot hot hot, and is a fingerprint magnet, build quality could be better.

 

I bought a Z too but I'm still deciding. I think the Z is horribly overpriced and it feels like the screen will snap off at any moment. I liked the 1340 as a whole but need something smaller with better battery life. I'm going to decide by Tuesday...eek!

 

I know what you mean. I looked at the Z, and was really tempted, but for $2000, 3GB memory and a slower GPU is too much for me to swallow. I am actually still considering it since my XPS is taking forever to ship.

 

After much reading of this forum - great information - I ordered my SXPS 1340 as below.

I was a little hesitant as the UK Dell Web site was, and still is, advising:

'Please be advised that there is currently an extended delivery time of approximately 3 weeks'

Anyway, looks like it should turn up in less than 10 days.

I ordered a 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB 7200rpm HDD, LED screen with 3 year warranty.

I actually found and used a 10% off coupon along with the current Dell discount. My experience is that Coupons are much rarer, and of lower value, in the UK than the USA.


Fingers are crossed ....

Ordered 15 Feb 09
Estimated delivery date 03 Mar 09
Sent for delivery 19 Feb 09
Courier Delivery scheduled 24 Feb 09


Geoff

 

This is not fair.
Ordered 19 Jan ESD 20 Feb
On 29 Jan Dell changed ESD to 2 March
On 20 Feb Dell changed ESD to 11 March

 

ha.. go visit a bestbuy :O

 

thats what i did

i canceled my sxps 16 order, went to bestbuy and bought a 1340

its awesome

no flaws at all

 

good deal too $999.99+tax plus if u get the geeksquad protection basically a free laptop upgrade every 2-3 years depending on what warranty u bought :O

 

Just finished recording the comparison between Hybrid SLI on/off for Devil May Cry 4.. I'll hopefully have both videos uploaded at some point tonight.

EDIT: First 2 videos are up

http://www.youtube.com/user/pillowshooter

 

thx pillowshot. i've been looking forward to see how it handles gaming and will check out your vids.

 

hmm so basically avg of 15fps more

 

Not bad at all, thanks for posting!

 

aahhh.. i can get the wifi indicator in front to work,i tried reinstalling vista, thinking it was maybe because driver incompatibility with win 7, with it doesn't turn on, are you sure its the 1515 driver that controls that LED? please help

 

I wrote already that it will turn on ONLY when you enable your wireless connection, otherwise it's off, even if the driver is installed.

 

lol @ lexus

just removed my 4gb sd card i had for readyboost and wow what battery difference it made, what battery lifes are people getting on average, give me specs like bright ness and what not. using ready boost or not/etc with my brightness @ 3 and keyboard @ 1, no readyboost, wifi on im getting 3h 25m or so the monitor says

 

hey all, i got the bestbuy model of the dell, im going to be selling it.. is anyone interested? asking $900+ship for it.. retails for $999.99+tax, ive had it maybe 1 week but i already have my eye on something else if so drop me a email.. majooks @ gmail.com

ive done a clean install of vista prem. just some fyi but ill include dell discs shipped w laptop. also throw in a 4gb card that i use for readyboost

 

Thank you, interesting

 

Thats great!! =) But keep in mind that the h & min that's suppose to be left when using your laptop on battery is changed as soon as you do anything else but what your doing when you see how much is left. What i'm saying is that if you where seeing those numbers of remaining battery time while in idle whit the computer, it will decrease only seconds after, say, browsing internet explorer or something els that is an (if only a little) effort for the computer.

//R