1640 Throttling - post here

I'd get another mobo replacement and then if that doesn't solve the problem ask for a replacement

 

"if that doesn't solve the problem ask for a replacement"

Its not a question of if. It won't solve the problem. You can try to get a new mobo and screen, but I would just go for a 1647.

If you are patient you can wait for the 1640 BIOS that addresses throttling. If you want a resolution now they will probably give you a 1647. You have to get your rep to acknowledge that the problem is power throttling, which has only been fixed in the 1645 and 1647. Ask to be exchanged to that model that has fixed throttling.

 

Obviously i knew it wouldn't as per DELLS policy though you have to have three replacements of the same thing before a replacement is offered. Unless your tencnicks

 

Well, they're replacing it with a 1645 or 1647 due to throttling having been fixed on these machines. Waiting to hear which one. I also threw them a bone by extending my warranty 2 additional years. Overall the dell techs I've had have been awesome (although I am good at talking to people) and have been the saving grace for my my machine. So I felt like it was a smart choice all around.

Hope this works out finally, haha!

 

my replacement says in transift as of 5am this morning and being at the san diego sort facility (I live in san diego). Do you think I will get it today? Or will it sit there until monday? Its only 11am and it got there at 5am...?

tenknics

If you read the letter I wrote I think you too would give me a replacement on the spot, haha. Not to toot my own horn, but I am still impressed by how the letter turned out. You guys would probably laugh if you read it..

 

No you won't get it today if they use Purolator in the USA, Dell won't shell out the outrageous amount that it costs to do a Saturday delivery, you're good to go for Monday though. Let us know how it goes.

 

Purolator? Its Fedex Express Overnight..it looks like I will be getting it on monday regardless though..

 

My replacement has been in production for a bit over a week now. I'm going to assume I'm getting an upgrade. One thing for sure is it's most likely going to be built brand new, because if it was refurbished it would have already been here.

I'm not sure what specs I'm going to be getting, but if if it's any less than what I paid for then it's going straight back. I would hope they're tired of playing games with all of us.

 

Yea New alright... mine was new, and the left mouse button is loose like a 2yo laptop.

 

Why is everyone in the dark as to what specs they are getting on their replacement laptop?

I told the guy what I wanted and wouldn't take anything less, and thats what I got.

 

Mines being replaced due to heat which results in CPU throttling in games or anything that heavily utilizes the CPU and increases heat output. I don't know what specs I'm getting either, I'm hoping they send me a totally different model because I have a feeling it's just going to happen again, this computer isn't fit to game on plain and simple. I got an email from a representative that the Dell chat indian told me to reply to if I want to know what I'm getting. I suppose I should try that as logging into my account at dell.com hasn't yielded any results either.

 

Alright,

Can anyone verify what is going on with the 1640' s link at dell's ?? Check Here.

I got a mail from DELL that my post has been deleted! DELL, are we going to go through the same 'feigned ignorance' route all over again?

 

What do you need to know?

Dell put together a product with a power hungry GPU and CPU. They then packaged it with a 90w power adapter. Must have discovered power issues in test units and implemented custom power throttling schemes in their BIOS to cut the power available to the CPU and/or GPU to stay within the limits of the 90w adapter. Instead of fixing the problem they covered it up and saved themselves some cash. The power throttling was hidden for many months as it is fairly tame on the 1640.

Throttling could not be denied when a bigger beefier cousin, 1645, was released with the very power hungry CPU (i7 quad). That unit throttled when you looked at it funny, and users instantly noticed it. Users investigated. Users notified dell. Users would not be denied. Dell concedes there is an issue. Dell agrees to reduce/eliminate throttling in thier BIOS and send out 130w power adapters.

Users of other dell machines now knowing what to look for check for the tell tale signs of throttling in their machines and find it has been a long standing practice in many of DELL's system BIOS.

1640 new bios under development. New adapters or system replacements to 1647 available if you work with service reps.

1645 new bios and 130w adapters.
1647 new bios and 130w adapters.

I don't follow the other DELL products, so there may be throttling and fixes for them as well.

 

Absolutely ridiculous encounters with dell...

The Tech just left after replacing my motherboard, screen (kit) and RAM

- First thing I notice; drivers for video aren't loaded? Seriously, reinstalled ATI to learn that my 4670 was downgraded to a 3670
- Second thing I notice, pixelation all over the monitor different color pixels staying lit when they're not supposed to making the machine absolutely unbearable to use.

Now I have to wait some days to get my replacement parts and a tech scheduled!

They screw this up, I am going back to Lenovo and will not look back.

 

Oh and dust specs behind this one as well... this was a refurbed LCD.

 

Let them have one more chance at getting it right. If they fail, get them to send you a new system.


This is Dell's FLAGSHIP model. This is the model they show people when they want to show off. I understand letting them make it right, but after a certain point you have a right to a working system. If their fixes aren't working, let them know you're not happy and you want a replacement.

Dell has bent over backwards to make stuff right with me. I have been very impressed with their support, but I also have been firm in what I want.

 

I dont understand how you all can go through and say give them one more chance? I refused to let a tech even touch my comp and I end up getting a brand new replacement...Then I read that you guys have all these nightmares with techs scratching the laptop, replacing with the wrong parts (which I read A LOT) etc etc.. Why wait another week or 2 just to get let down again? Start demanding what you want and be more vocal..The more passive you are the more Dell will continue to dissapoint you.

From what I can gather these techs are just on call and aren't really Dell employees. They just come out and do busy work in hopes of pleasing the complaining customer but as this thread conveys, the techs always make things worse..

REFUSE REPLACEMENT PARTS!|


PS these posts are getting off topic and just about replacements..not so much 1640 throttling..can you post your replacement woes here please:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=471228

Its why I made the thread..

 

Mine now says ISS for status after 1 week, does this mean its finally in build production?

 

mine just arrive bout an hour ago

 

Is it sexier than before? haha

 

No that's not what it means, my previous replacement has never had an ISS tag attached to it.

 

Ah you mentioned you had it, thought you knew what it was.

 

Whoa looks like it just changed to ORD

and now all it says is

224-6716 Studio XPS 16 Notebook 00001
310-0173 AIRBORNE DOCUMENTATION, SYSTEM BOARD..., FACT 00001

Oh damn i hope it shows the specs lol

 

Isnt it suppose to show specs on the page that shows the service call info?

 

No it's not, the only page it shows specs is the one where you actually have to type your order number/customer number.

 

Oh so hopefully i should get an email saying the specs with all that info

 

Yes its so clean and pretty looking. I saw the 5 row vent and (I have 4 rows) Then I saw the i7 sticker and went


Just got off the phone with our guy. I told him as expected 6 gigs was a 2 and a 4 gig dimm and it was important to me to have matching dimms. He's sending me another 4 gig in the mail for me to upgrade myself. 8 gigs


He and Dell definitely took care of me..I am really happy with this outcome.

 

He wouldnt even let me get 6 gb and i originally had 4. Wow what the heck hes being nice to you, he hasnt called me back or emailed since monday(last week), and i sent 2 emails, and 1 call. And i had to call today 3 times to force them to finally push the order for the replacememnt because its been pending for 1 week. And he told me it would process that day. They always told me he was not at work, or to busy to call me back, or answer my call. And he wouldnt ever call in the end eitherway.

Oh and is the system installation the same on a replacement or is it anything different? Does the system come packaged like a brand new system would?

Whatever im finally happy to see after a week it change status.

 

nice tenknics, I'm still waiting for my guy to call me, which sure as hell isn't going to happen today. I'm pissed because he said he'd update me on Friday he had the entire day to do so today and didn't get any sort of response. I'm going to write him an email and let him know how I REALLY feel about this situation.

 

Bah now i gotta wait for my order info and email. How long does that usually take after the dell status changes to ORD? Anyone know?

 

depends on who's handling your case. Mine took 3 days after it changed to ORD and then it took another week for it to go from "In production" to "Shipped"

 

Well whenever I have called I've been told he's busy on another call. They've always taken my number and he's always called back that day. He's only initiated the calls prior to the replacement. He never responds to my emails either, he said he gets them though as he read them prior to our conversation today..

He was the one who offered me 5gb originally..I never asked as I was happy with 4..But as I said before I turned it down for the reasons I explained and then he just bumped it to 6 on the hope I'd get 3+3. When I told him 3+3 didnt exist (within dell) he said he wanted to get the order out and expedited before the weekend and if I really wanted he could send me the ram later for a self install. I called today because I received no return packing info for the old laptop and also inquired about the ram. I told him I opened it up and confirmed the dim sizes were 2 and 4 (even though I didn't have to, I just knew )

I just received an email about 20 minutes after my conversation with a UPS packing label to print for my old machine and a tracking # for my 4 gig dimm

Its a brand new machine with sealed software and backup disks.

The best part is my first machine was Vista with a Windows 7 upgrade disc I received months later. So Im going to reinstall my original 1640 back to its beginnings with the Vista disc it came with before I ship it back and keep the extra Windows 7 disc/key (it works as a full install disc) for future use. Also I got an additional free 9cell with the original 1640..So Im obviously sending that back with a 6cell..so now I have an extra 9cell for the new one!!

 

ThrottleStop 2.00 Beta 2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/m5fsqj



I've been busy adding some new features to ThrottleStop for better Core 2 support and now all you guys are trading in for new Core i7/i5 CPUs.

The download above includes some updated documentation that explains the new features.

The highlights include user configurable profiles so you can quickly switch between a Performance profile or a Game or a Battery profile or whatever you want.

There is also a new alarm feature that you can set so when your laptop starts getting too hot you can tell it to switch profiles automatically and perhaps use a lower multiplier on your alarm profile to cool things down.

There is an option to automatically switch between profiles depending on whether you are on AC or battery power.

Another option will let you disable the Bidirectional PROCHOT bit in the CPU which Asus has been using to throttle their G51 laptops.

There is a new Power Saver mode so your CPU will idle down when lightly loaded so you don't have to turn ThrottleStop off when not gaming anymore.

The anti-throttling algorithm has been improved and automatically gets more aggressive when your CPU is being throttled.

Lots of new features. All of the recent testing has been on Core 2 CPUs and on those, TS is working great. If you have any problems on Core i CPUs then just let me know. I haven't tested the new Power Saver feature on a Core i CPU yet. It is designed to lower your multiplier to its minimum at idle like SpeedStep does.

For best results, set your Minimum processor state to 100%, disable C1E and set ThrottleStop up to handle the rest.

 

Just got an call from my tech, he said he cant put an RGBLED as my original configuration, but instead he will give me a faster processor which is the i7 720

But now i wont have an RGBLED

So here is what i got offered.

I just took it because im tired of waiting.

 

DIdn't we just go through all of this the other day?

I was offered that too because the RGBLED is whats important to me. You can't let Dell's problems let you make hasty decisions...Thats why I asked for a i7 620m because it could be configured with an RGBLED..

Werent you doing the same?

Im happy for you if thats what you want...

 

Yea i was doing the same originally. He said they are not available at this time, and that would delay the order for weeks. I dont even know if hes lieing or not, this is so nasty.

 

mystycs: Make sure they ship that new laptop with a 130 watt adapter or get ready for a new set of problems.

 

Are you speaking to our same guy? He told me it would add some time to my build too, but only a few days to a week tops. The replacement was ordered on the 19th and I got it on the 29th, today. So it was within the normal 7-10 business days they advertise even though he said it would be delayed...

So you don't mind you're getting downgraded to a 15.6 WLED? Man after using this RGBLED for 7 months, you've had yours for 8 right?, I definitely couldnt or wouldnt do it..

The laptops all ship with a 90w adapter still. I asked for a 130w ahead of time and it was overnighted last week before I got the replacement.

 

demand the faster cpu and the 5730 graphics chipset.

 

I still have an 130w that he originally sent me so its all good. Im going to sell this laptop the second i get it. So i really dont mind im getting an Asus g51jx

 

hahah oh ya...but you can sell it for more if you get an i7 620m/ 16" rgbled... The build he originally offered me was what you got (720qm) and its around $1700 and change. The build I got was configured to be around $2400+ ($2700+ before epp discount )

 

Yea but i also got a 3 year accidental care damage warranty and all that crap ect. So i might be able to add an extrta 200 or so to that. Im looking to sell it for at least 1800 to 1900 and im more than happy.

 

Yea the $1700 price is after discount too, even for you. You should get $1850+++ ..Dont settle for less

And speaking of warranty..I checked on mine. Typed in my old service tag number. warranty expired. typed in the service tag of new 1647, it's all there transferred perfectly and automatically. Nice Dell!

I called financing to extend the promotion of no interest for 2 months because I told them I had a non-functioning laptop that ended up getting replaced. They said they couldn't do anything to change the promotion hahah had to try..

 

Yea im putting it up on ebay the second i get it. Starting at 1800. I should definetly get something its got an awesome warranty. And most on ebay dont have bluray for that price.

 

Get $1900-$2000!!

 

You think i should put it starting bid at 1900? Or buy it now? Think i would actually get a purchase?

 

Oh and since you guys already got your packages just curious.

Just curious How big is the Studio XPS 16 package and about how much does it weigh if you remember? Like dimension wise if you know.

 

Hey guys,

I've also been having throttling issues with my 1640. I always thought it had something to do with the heating, cause I always noticed that it only occurred when the core temps went above 65C. I recently contacted customer support who have offered to replace my motherboard. From what I've read here, I'm not sure it is going to work. What do you guys think should be my next step?

Also, I found this thread. Maybe there is some hope, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

The weight is on the box..got it right here for you:

w: 13 lbs
depth: 5 inch
length: 19 inches
height: 17 inches

Why do you ask? for shipping costs purposes?


Btw I decided Im not turning on my new laptop until Wednesday when I get the other dimm. Really excited for 8 gigs

 

The 1640 series will continue to throttle until Dell releases an updated bios and gives you a more appropriate 130 watt adapter. The 90 watt adapter is not adequate for many of these computers depending on what CPU, GPU and screen you have.