===> The Official Studio XPS 1640 Owner's Thread<===

Whenever I hit the CAPS LOCK key when gaming, the game minimises to the deskop...this is VERY annoying. Is there any way to disable this?

 

That's why when I reformatted I didn't install Quickset. I'm not sure if it's able to be toggled.

 

Yeah, on my Asus I kept that kind of software to a minimum too when I did a fresh install. I installed one thing, 'cause it gives me my hardware Wifi and Bluetooth toggle buttons (not sure if there's any other way to shut off the radio) and does screen brightness type controls, but left off everything else. 3 of my hardware buttons don't do anything, but they weren't anything I needed anyway. I can't even remember what they were SUPPOSED to do.

Thankfully other than that one piece of software, everything else is just plain vanilla Windows and Nvidia software

 

I suspected this was the cause...does the CD eject button still work without Quickset?


I guess the only thing you lose is the on-screen display of the volume etc...

 

I had no problems without it. I've seen others say they have, but it worked fine for me with Vista and Win 7, both of the 64 bit variety.

 

I have the Intel WiFi 5100. If I order the 5300 card would I need a 3rd antenna or are those other ones sitting around in the laptop actually the thrid one?
Thanks!

 

When I first got my 1640 I installed windows 7 immediately from a disc, after it was installed and on the desktop I could not eject the disc using the button . Thought it was broken or something, but after I installed Quickset it worked perfectly.

 

The 3rd antenna is installed already - just not connected to the 5100.

N

 

i have the 5300, it comes automatic if you buy the TV-Tuner card (really nice Wifi card)
5100 comes with default i guess, (not maybe the best Wifi card).

i guess the 3rd antenna already is there.

 

Hey SpotDog14, regarding your post of BSOD...
My missus had same problem within a day or two of getting ours out of the box clp of wks ago. REALLY p!$$ing me off. She congratulatb me on a GREAT PURCHASE (not) on her behalf. Might go for an hour, or only a minute, with no probs and then, out of the blue (hehe), it would restart with the BSOD. Long sroty short, seems a vista update is the problem.
The fix: Download and install sp2 from Microsoft.
Procedure:
1. Backup any pics, clips, docs etc that you have on the XPS ie ones you put there and want to keep, not the ones that are part of your installed software
2. Shut down the XPS and then Restart while tapping the F8 key until you get to the advanced boot options
3. Select Repair Computer
4. On next screen accept the default us keyboard layout
5. On next screen, select windows user with admin rights from the list of users and key the password if prompted
6. From the System Recovery options select Dell Factory Image Restore. This will restore the XPS to a state it was in when you first took it out of the box.
7. When windows starts for the first time, follow and respond to all the prompts, make sure disable automatic updates.
8. Download and install the SP2 from Microsoft.
9. Re-enable the updates

Another problem was that the keyboard had a tendency to miss characters when typing docs, e-mails and stuff. We were told that Skype causes issues with the keyboard. We did not reinstall Skype after the rebuild and so far everything has run perfectly.

Hope this helps y'all

 

Thanks for the reply.

After formatting I see now that I might have been able to solve the problem by reinstalling SP2, but oh well. She now dual boots Vista and Ubuntu and shes happy.

 

about heat......i run this applications together.

¤ full scan with nod32
¤ memory & cache Benchmarktest (stress test)
¤ defrag my Harddrive

temp:-------------------------------------------perfect (normal) temp on my SXPS 16. (BIOS A10). the Palmrest feels just great

 

KSMB... your the second or third person i see on here runing BIOS A10. did your 1640 ship with it or where are you guys getting it from. Dell drivers n download is only showing A08.

 

I had 3 delivered on the 17th, one of them was not working good so I got a replacement order on the 18th which got delivered on the 26th of August. This last one has bios A10 the others are still on A08. So I am guessing if you ordered a bit before or just after the 18th you will get a 1640 with bios A10. Still weird its not up for download yet..

 

So im looking into getting an XPS16 now, here's the cofig I chose, do you guys think its a worth it system to own?

i plan on doing audio editing work and gaming and editing photography on CS4

Obsidian Black with leather Accent
T9600 Core2 Duo
16" RGB LED w/2.0MP cam
4GB ram
500GB 7200 RPM
Intel 5300 wifi
Ati 4670 1GB
4x BluRay burner
Hi Def 2.0 audio
6 cell battery
Vista 64bit ultimate
24month security
no office
2 year warranty

comes out to $1773.75 before ship and tax with the current 25% off



and lastly I see some people get it and reformat it immediately to avoid some issues, should i do this? if so I will need to reinstall current version drivers etc, can i easily get these from Dell? or do they come preloaded on a partition?

I see some people are instantly changing the CPU chipset and GPU paste to AS5 as well.

any help would be appreciated so i can get it and doa few steps so it runs clean and good from the start.

 

nice. i scored 5051 in 1280x800 (pro edition) and 4507 in 1280x1024,(basic edition),

(thats ~200 points better then previous 3dmark06 scores)..............guess it matters because i installed SP2 and A10 BIOS. (P8700 CPU gives also really nice power & scores)

 

Just ordered my new laptop and i gotta say im pretty happy. Ive payed around 1417 for this.

XPS 1640, Intel Core 2 Duo P8800 (2.66GHz/1066MHz FSB/3M L2 Cache)
Obsidian Black High Gloss Finish with Leather
4GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz 2 Dimm forXPS 1640
16.0 inch Wide Screen 16:9 1080p FullHD RGBLED LCD W/2.0 MP
ATI Mobility RADEON M96XT - 1GB
500GB 7200RPM Free Fall SensorSeagate Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card
8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.2
Intel 5100 Wireless-N (1x2) Half Mini-Card
McAfee Sapphire MUI, 24-Month
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)

 

Hi OSS(Office of Strategic Services )
Yes, you should reinstall your operating system/reformat.
Dell will include your Windows Vista Ultimate x64 OS disc and a disc with the all the drivers.

Hope you like your new lappy

It is a good idea to replace the thermal paste.
Here is a guide that shows how to, even though it is for the sxps 1340, it can still work for the 1640
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=412389

 

This has been requested before, but I don't think it has been answered yet.

Could someone who owns a Merlot Red and/or Arctic White studio xps 1640/1340 please post some pictures of it-please.

Also if anyone owns a studio xps 1640/1340 in Obsidian Black HIGH GLOSS finish(not leather accent), please post pictures of it, I'm really curious what it looks like.

I and other NBR members would really appreciate some of these pictures.

Thanks

 

I Was just wanting to know if warranty support has replaced anyones sxps with the 3670 to one with the 4670?

 

It's not going to happen cause they replace like for like systems

 

Hey guys, would it be ok if I made a small questionaire in another thread. I need to collect data for my coursework, my final project will be a laptop cooler so I thought these forums would be rather suited. This isn't in any way for market research, it's just that I need some figures to work with (and also as a component of my written work as I need to get information from at least five different sources).

I'll try and make it as brief as quick as possible, is there another sub forum that would be more appropriate though? I want to get a whole range of laptop owners, not just dell owners so I can see the full spectrum. I would have asked in the accessories forum but that gets very little attention so I think it would get few, if any replies

 

Does the 4670 fix any of the heat issues?

 

Did you end up doing this???

Cin...

 

A simple search shows that they didn't.

 

Ummm Yeah...thanks so much for pointing that out..!

And, your simple search is wrong ...because I see he did:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=417589

 

Nvm, apparently CCC doesn't start with full privileges even though it needs them.

 

....Bump ....

 

This isn't a For Sale thread... no bumps needed

 

Any news of the A10 bios yet?

 

i got a problem with my creative x-fi mb software, im using windows 7 build 7201 64bit.

the problem is the creative software cannot detect my hardware. anyone facing the ossue before?? pls help.. thanks

 

When you become a moderator then you can tell people not to post stuff.
Thank you!

 

I hear ya

 

Yep having the same issue.

Might be worth posting here:

http://forums.creative.com/t5/Sound-Blaster/Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-MB-software/td-p/532437

 

Anyone have any recommendations for a backpack for this? I'll be headed to my first command soon and I'll need to be packing a lot of stuff, including this. I was thinking of getting a 15.4" bag, but I remember that it was a close fit with my old bag with roughly the same dimensions. Also, is there a way to get the little dust jacket thing that came with it? I seem to have misplaced it somewhere.

 

Hi guys, I have read something that made me feel a little anxious about the sxps 16 I ordered a couple of weeks ago and which is on its way home.
Since the system is on its way i was able to get the service tag number, I have noticed that the display's description says:

"8G51N Assembly, Liquid Crystal Display, 16, Full High Definition, Low Cost, 1640"

I ordered the RGDLED display and I read a post from someone else who was asking if this part number (8G51N) is referring to the actual RGB display or if it is a regular full hd lcd display. My doubts arised when I read the reply from another user:

well, definitely not like mine
"J934G Assembly, Liquid Crystal Display, 16, Full High Definition, RED/GREEN/BLUE..., Black"

What should I do, I do not want to call dell yet because for sure the person I will be speaking to won't be able to assist me in this matter.

What do you guys think? Could they have changed the part number (and I am just having a nervous breakdown triggered by the waiting anxiety?) or has dell (will not be the first time for what I have read) made a mistake in assembling my system?

Thank you very much!

 

CIN 1

HCW 0


Now back to XPS 1640 talk

 

My screen is listed as - 15.6 inch Wide Screen 16:9 1080p FHD WLED LCD and the part number is TPY64. So you are probably getting the RGB like you ordered.

 

Who are you replying to?

 

Noted. lulz.

He is probably referring to the OP's quote above his here, I attached!

Cin...

 

Just thought I would post this here also.

Also has anyone seen the Merlot Red back? They are now offering that or the Alpine White instead of the Black with leather.

 

Yes I've seen the Merlot one with leather, I just bought one for the wife. Her's arrived a few days ago. I must say it's quite nice and the wife likes it very much. I ordered a black one with no leather, which is being delivered tomorrow. My old ASUS G2P will be donated to my wife's school.

 

Thank you Tahitisand

 

FWIW, a Dell tech came today to replace the MB in a clients 1640 (odd graphics problem), and the MB came with A10 BIOS and a CD. I was very excited that the CD might have the A10 BIOS updater, as I was anxious to share with all! But, alas, the CD only has A06. So, my client now has A10, but I'm stuck with, what, A08? Bleh!

 

For anyone with a 1080p screen, how does the screen look at lower, non-native resolutions? What resolutions are available?

Thinking of getting one, but since it's not exactly a gaming powerhouse I'm assuming that some of the stuff I may play would require a drop in resolution to boost fps.

 

The A10 has been released it's on Dell's site.

 

The option down from 1080p in games is 720 to fit the 16:9 and in some games it looks just fine, but I find it MUCH sharper and better looking in 1080p. So I find that I'd prefer to go at native resolution and turn down other graphics options, just to get the sharper look and higher res. This is from Aion, WoW and Team Fortress 2 all running at 1080p looking much better than 720. TF2 looked the best at 720p though, it wasn't bad but prefer 1080

 

Credit to 5150Joker:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?393493

Scroll to "How do I check which monitor I have"

 

Two questions concerning XPS 16 and Windows 7:

1) Will using Win7 improve the heat issues?

2) When I use the free Dell Win7-Upgrade, will the initial bloatware be gone?

Thanks!

 

Woah, seems like one can't order the XPS 16 with a 9-cell battery anymore (west europe) ;( I was just about to order, damn.

edit: Same for Dell US...