===> The Official Studio XPS 1640 + ATi 4670 GPU Owner's Thread<===

Woot!
I just came back today to find my SXPS 16 at my house! Opened it up, thing is an absolute stunner. I'll post pictures later.

 

Perfect. Thanks.

 

Gratz, Im getting mine tommorow! Could you tell me if the the processor is good. My current processor is 2ghz intel celron single core. Would the studio i am buying be quite faster?
Thanks

 

are you asking whether a C2D 2.4 ghz processor is faster than a single core 2ghz processor?

 

Heh, yes, yes it will be faster.

I haven't connected it to the internet yet, i'm just removing tons of bloatware..I was going to do a clean vista install but I figure I'm putting Win7 on this pretty soon, so i'm just cleaning it out hardcore, so I don't have to deal with the drivers in a clean install just yet.

It was fast when it started, after cleaning it it is super fast.

 

Thought at first that I was just going ride out the Dell install like you but eventually it bugged me and I did a clean install. Don't regret doing it at all, time well spent even with the Dell Driver/Utility disc getting stuck in the ROM Drive.

 

Well I managed to get everything clean to a point, literally removed everything except the cam software and drivers. Disabled a bunch of windows services and now it's zipping along.

But I do seriously plan on putting Win7 on as soon as it ships. I'm happy now.

 

what are your impressions of the screen?

 

Very bright, vivid, blows away my old truelife display by a mile. Viewing angles are solid as well. Can't comment on it's performance in sunlight just yet.

I haven't watched a lot on it yet, so its hard to comment on whether the reds are oversaturated just yet..i'll report back on that. If they are, you can obviously tweak them. But as of now the screen looks great. Definitely better than MBP displays.

my only concern right now is the heat..most of the laptop is pretty cool. The touchpad area is warm from light use. It's not uncomfortable, but i think under gaming it can get uncomfortable. Then again, during gaming I'd be using an external mouse.

I'll probably pick up a cooler for gaming.

 

Hey guys,
I posted awhile ago on page 81 or so about how my RGBLED screen had a problem straight out of the box. To those of you who asked, I ordered the laptop straight from dell.com. The computer is new and not from the outlet.

Firstly, let me say that the RGBLED screen was amazing, besides for the green blob discoloration at the bottom left ;0. The colors are spectacular and it's amazing how big of a difference there is between my m1730's screen and the studio 16 RGBLED screen. I definitely suggest the RGBLED screen to anyone interested in getting the notebook. Furthermore, the notebook in general is absolutely amazing. It's thing, sleek, and looks amazing. The keyboard feels great, the lighting is amazing, and the laptop did not get very hot while installing games / playing games.

I called dell about the screen a day after the notebook was delivered. I told them I wanted a refund and they had UPS pick up the notebook yesterday. They let me reorder the notebook with a 2.4 ghz processor and free overnight shipping for less than what i paid for the 2.0 ghz processor configuration. They are also moving me to the front of the production line which is amazing... I am very happy with Dell's service thus far. I should have my new 2.4 ghz, 4670 1gb ati, 500gb 7200 rpm hd studio xps 16 coming next week.

Just to let people know - When my notebook first came.. the screen has a discoloration straight out of the box at the bottom left near the windows start button on your desktop. It looked like a half inch some what transparent green blob on the screen. It was extremely annoying; this was not the only issue I had with my notebook. The notebook had a bend in the aluminum lining by the wifi button..... it looked horrible.

If anyone has problems like this straight out of the box..... contact dell... get a refund and order a new notebook. They will surely move you to the front of the production line and give you free overnight shipping if you talk to the right people.

 

The screen is what separates this machine from the pack, it's that good. That's why Joker and I (and others) are not going to accept less than perfect. If your screen is less than perfect send it back.

Brad: Dell tells everybody that about expediting your replacement...

 

I'm about to buy the Studio XPS 16 via the Dutch Dell site, but I'm a bit worried about the screen. The upgrade to a RGBLED screen is too expensive (€310) so I want to pick the general HD WLED screen.

The only thing that concerns me is the fact that this is a 15.6" screen. I'm afraid that this will cause ugly borders, as the casing is made for a 16" screen. Can anyone who owns a SXPS 16 with a 15.6" screen comment on this? A picture would be even better and greatly appreciated.

Besides this I think the SXPS 16 is a really good laptop for the money it costs. Currently, the following config would only cost €870:

P8600 @ 2.40ghz
4GB
320GB 7200rpm
ATI 4670
HD WLED 15.6"

 

Sorry if my question sounded dumb. Also would my config be able to play free to play mmo rpgs, like cabal, rappelz , etc. Could it run guild wars ? I want to know because im only worried about the cpu im getting, will it be too slow for these modern games? Again sorry if this is a noob question. D:
Thanks

 

jgouth: It should be able to run all of those at the highest settings.

 

the system you are getting will be able to run crysis on decent settings, so yes it will be able to run free mmo rpgs.

 

Hey all,

Ran my windows experience score for the first time today. My total score was a 5.3, held down by the P8600 processor. The next hold back was a GPU at either 5.6 or 5.7 (can't remember). Everything else was 5.9.

Just curious....is 5.3 an appropriate score for the P8600 processor? I kinda expected higher

Joe

 

Those games should play great. I'm currently running Conan and Lord of the Rings at 1920x1080 with graphics set on the high end and they both run beautifully and look fantastic. The 4670 mobility is a nice little GPU.

 

Dell has a 256GB SSD Drive on their website for $480.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?cs=19&c=us&l=en&sku=341-8981

I really wanted a SSD drive for my XPS 1640, but ended up with at 500GB 7200 rpm.

Several web sites claim this is a rebranded Corsair CMFSSD-256GBG2D, as found here:

http://www.corsair.com/products/ssd_performance/default.aspx

However, the Dell specs don't match the Corsair specs (SATA I vs. SATA II, etc). Anyone actually have this Dell drive? This is quite a deal if this Dell drive really is the Corsair.

At the same time, I'm in no hurry, and wonder if I should just wait for the Intel 320GB SSD.

Thanks

 

Kellhus, I have been contemplating the same thing! the RGB screen is £250 more than the 15.6" 1080p screen but does that missing .4" look stupid?

BTW I have the LG LED 1080p screen on my syudio 1555 and it is stunning but I havent compared it to the RGB screen

 

Just wanted to add one thing: can anyone else with a P8600 test their processor?

 

With a P8700 I get 5.4, so that should be about right.

 

T9550 rates a 5.5.

 

Hey guys! I just got my 1640 with the t9800 processor and the 4670 gpu. I didn't make any unboxing videos or anything, I was way to excited to grab the camera! Haha. Just wanted to post up here that I love it and the heat really isn't that big of a deal, if anything just grab a mouse and use it instead of the trackpad so your hands don't rest on that section, and you'll never even notice the heat!

 

Check it out carefully there are no issues.
Good luck with it!

 

Currently, they are using the Samsung PM800. The sales rep told me over the phone that the switch between the Samsung and the "Dell" SSD depending on which ones are available at build time. I'm very, VERY happy with my PM800. I was planning on getting the P128, but when the Dell upgrade for a SSD of twice the size was cheaper and covered under that pretty little 4yr warranty, well, it was a no-brainer. Before it arrived, I read an article saying that the cost of NAND chips sky rocketed, making SSD's more expensives... hehe...then an article about Intel getting ~twice the use out of the NAND chips, making them cheaper...

 

Do you happen to have the Dell part numbers for your SSD from your build? Dell isn't offering the SSD option right now, so I can't look it up.

Thanks.

 

I get 5.3 with my P8600.

 

Here are a few pics of mine. I just received this replacement today.

 

Wow they really covered that with the stickers.

All mine has is the Centrino 2 sticker, and the Vista sticker. I like it minimal.

 

I was thinking the same thing. All those stickers just kill the look of the laptop.`

 

In reality they do come off...

 

Yeah but it's just extra work for the person + that residual glue can be annoying to remove.

 

What is the part number for that remote. I want one

 

It is DP/N ONU853

 

Ok this has probably been answered 50 times, but how's the heat management with the new GPU? Are temps the same, better or worse than the previous generation of Studio XPS 16s?

Sorry for annoying everyone lol

 

I think, that earlier in this thread, it was mentioned that ir ran cooler than the 3670.

 

how did u get a remote? i didnt see that option anywhere.

 

341-8982 1 256GB Dell High Performance Solid State Hard Drive, 2.5MM

It looks like Dell swaps between rebranding the PM800 and whichever other drive they have sold.

As for those stickers, crikey. They'd have to pay me for advertising all of that crap. I peeled off the two stickers that were on my SXPS, and the adhesive DID NOT come up with them. I tried to be careful, but it happened anyway. I'm going to try and get it off with some WD-40.

 

Try Goo-Gone... my best friend. Citrus rather than petroleum based.

 

I have recieved my laptop!! Im typing on it right now! This laptop is AWESOME! Waaay faster then my old comp. Man but it does get hot D:. Gonna invest in a zalman 2000 since it has good reviews for this laptop.

 

I was planning on getting this system. Especially now that it comes with a matte finish option rather than the high gloss black, but after looking through the thread, it seems there are quite a few issues.

Really I don't think I could stand the dust getting under the cover, especially since im so paranoid with my laptop. Plus I don't know if I would want to continuously go through the trouble of removing the dust. It also seems the heat problem hasn't been fixed yet.

*sigh* I guess i'll wait till the next refresh by Dell to see if any improvements are made. Also saves me from upgrading from vista to Windows 7 if I buy it now, wasn't really an issue to begin with but oh well...

 

Where can i buy this remote ?

 

Hopefully we can get an answer on this from someone

 

ALL high performance laptops through off heat, it's the nature of the beast.
Go read any manufacturers forum where high performance machines are discussed. Going to game a lot you should get a cooler. Regular use it's no hotter than most others.

Want to sit in bed with it on your lap writing emails and surfing get a netbook.

 

I don't see a Matte option, only no leather. They are both listed as Obsidian.

 

why does my t9800 cpu reach 100% so quickly, causing slowdown?

 

I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but I'm far too lazy to look through this thread. What drivers have people been using for the 4670 and getting good results with? Also where do you get them at?

 

You can look in the task manager and actually see what is hogging the CPU usage. It was the IDT sound driver doing it to mine all the time. I deleted it, let Win 7 find it's own and it sounded fine and never did it again.

 

i dont think the Studio gets to warm. mine works just perfect, (no cooling pad, just straight on the table).
even after 30min hardcore playing Bioshock i have good temp
(to avoid heat, dont choose a super fast CPU, (besides, you dont need more then ~2.0ghz core 2 duo on a laptop.....just a tip

 

Judging from this thread(and the previous Studio XPS thread), seems the "heat thing" depends on certain gonfigurations as well as the "hit & miss" of certain models on Dell's parts.