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

thanks, can't get into the software page smartsource.dell

 

a cooler would work very well with the laptop. as i tried not blocking the vent at all (on my laptop not blocking intake/outtake) and it was suprisingly cool on average cpu- 31degrees and gpu-41degrees which is the coolest laptop on the inside i had (m1530 was like 45/55-60 and FW was 40/50).

this also made the bttom not hot either.

so if you had a cooler, it would work great but i cba to waste money.
the intake on the bottom of the laptop is over a large area and im guess which even near a hard surface it cant take in as much fresh air.

i think temps are way better then people make them out to be.

 

I ordered a 1640 from the Dell Outlet, which arrived with problems. I got no image on the display the first few times I booted it; it finally came on and allowed my to get through the vista setup; but after a couple more boots it went out again. It hasn't come on again. I've been able to hook it up to a TV and get an image there, but it's kind of spotty. When I boot it I see images on the TV for a few seconds here and there and then it goes black. But I've noticed that sometimes if I close and reopen the laptop I can get an image and the TV that stays on and allows to log on etc. I've talked with tech support and they're sending someone out next week to replace the video card and potentially the lcd (I have the rgb display).

My question to the group is: should I be concerned that even if the tech is able get it running properly now that I might likely have more problems down the road with this machine. Since I just got it, I still have time to return it. Any concerns you'd have or comments about what you do if you were in my situation would be much appreciated. I just don't have much knowledge about laptops and whether this is likely an isolated problem that can be easily fixed, or whether it's a sign that I'll likely have problems down the road with this machine.

Thanks.

 

my keyboard is being replaced by a tech next week as my keyboard goes in when i type.
does putting a new keyboard in include going near the motherboard and parts? or is it just removing the keyboard from the top and placeing a newone in?

 

I don't know if it's been mentioned already, but has the A06 new BIOS update helped the heating/cooling of the XPS 16 as it did the XPS 13?

 

The fan spins up more so yes it does cool it more. But someone on here recently said a Dell tech told them not to use it to avoid issues like BSOD's. Probably should call up dell and double check to see if they have any issues associated with this bios in their database or if it was a tech just dreaming up things.

 

ive been using the A06 bios for acouple of weeks and havent had one BSOD, it also seems to have lowered the temp by afew degrees.

 

im surprised to hear dell would actuall send a techy to replace a keyboard, i remembered a few years ago, when i told dell rep i didnt know how to replace a keyboard by myself, dell rep flatout told me dell never sent technicain to repair parts if thats user replacable.
dell rep just gave me a service manual link and promised a "tool" to open the computer up which never arrived.

 

A tech replaced mine and did a half job. My media bar is raised and my vent cap isnt sitting right

 

i deleted the dell dock, and now i cant bring up that IDT sound software thing as i cant find the shortcut, anyone know where?

 

What did peopple get on 3dmark06, with no overclocking and at 1280x1024?

I got 4456 and a cpu score of 2122
both are averages for the cpu/gpu. while the 9600m gt gets around 5000 so i guess its worse the a 9600m gt quite a bit.

 

On what resolution was the 9600M GT benchmarked?

The performance of 3670 on 1640 should sit between the DDR2 and GDDR3 version of 9600M GT.

 

Control Panel.

 

3670=4400
9600M GT=4000
8700M GT=4400
9800M GTS=8800

all at default res 1280x1024

ATI 3670 is as good as 8700m gt used in xps m1730, its a very good gpu.

 

Ordered a refurb Tuesday, received it Thursday. Pretty quick. Got this,

T9400 2.53
4 Gb memory
Rgb screen
500Gb @ 5400
Blu-ray
and the rest of the standards

$1,169 and everything works! No heat problem with Bluetooth disconnected. I use a logitech mouse with a receiver in the usb. Digging on this Forum! Thanks for all the info.

 

thats interesting because i got 4948 on 3dmark06 at default settings (1280x1024), and i havent done anything to the system except install ATI CCC 9.2

 

mtness,

ATI CCC 9.2 is from where? ATI website? Care to share the link? Thanks.

 

I don't know about 9.2, but here is 9.4, it's what I use with Windows 7 and it's Vista compatible.

http://support.amd.com/us/psearch/P...ows+Vista+-+64-Bit+Edition&keywords=&items=20

*edit - Links help

 

Hi N20D5OH,

So that works perfectly for you even though that URL you posted is specifically labeled "Graphics Cards - Desktop"?

Thanks.

 

iv got 9.4 as far as i know and i get 4400

3dmark06 doesnt work too well on ati 3XXX gpus as it does on nvidia 8XXX/9XXX and ati 4XXX performs better. (thats all compared to games)

 

Return policy..is that for both dell.com and dell outlet?

I just ordered the 1640 from dell.com on 4/19 and EDD is 5/13. About 3 hrs after ordering, I changed my mind and wanted to swap the 500gb 7200rpm for a 256gb SSD.

I was told the computer was already in production stage, and that no changes could be made. I asked if I could order a second system, and return the 1st when it arrived, and was told I would be charged a $270 restocking fee.

I haven't seen anything on this thread about those who returning it had a restocking fee...does anyone have any info on this?

Thanks!

 

Here are the Mobility Radeon drivers I use for my Windows 7.

x86: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-32.aspx

x64: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-64.aspx

I dunno if it will work with Vista. Could try it out.

 

My bad, long night of drinking and a long day at work, here it is for Win 7 64.

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-64.aspx

Here is for Vista 64

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx?p=vista64/common-vista64

And Vista 32.

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx?p=vista32/common-vista32

 

Nevermind, found it on dell website, 15% restocking unless defected. I actually called trying to cancel and they refunded me $100 not to

 

Ok, new to this forum, have almost gotten through the 1640 thread
Thanks everyone for all the useful information!!

Placed my order on 4/19, estimated deliver date is 5/13.

Here's the specs, total of $1,803 shipped.

* Intel Core 2 Duo T9800(2.93GHz/1066Mhz FSB/6M L2 Cache) Centrino 2
* 4GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz
* 16.0 inch Wide Screen 16:9 1080p FullHD RGBLED LCD W/2.0 MP
* ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 - 512MB
* 500GB 7200RPM Free Fall SensorSeagate Hard Drive
* Vista with SP1 Home Premium Edition 64-bit
* 8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive
* Intel WiFi Link 5300 802.11AGN
* 370 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
* Facial Recognition Sensible Vision
* 9 Cell Battery
* 3 Year Limited Warranty


Am going to see where things are with SSD in about 6 months before upgrading. Can manual upgrade the RAM and Blu-Ray later if needed.

Anyone else with the 2.93GHZ that can give any reviews?

Excited, but hoping that it doesn't come with all the issues that have been covered in thread!!!

 

Tell them it's got a heat issue and no laptop is meant to run at such a hideously high temperature.

 

Ha! Yeah, well right now I'm on a XPS M1210 2.0GHZ 4GB RAM that runs 70c as a norm

I use 18kFANGUI to monitor and change the fan settings.
Hopefully that will work with the 1640 too!!

Almost thinking about ordering the HP HDX16T and comparing with the 1640 side by side...

 

does everyone have their display resolution on 1920x1080?

dell should seriously have offered a 1600x900

 

You can change the size of the text and leave the desktop the same size.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4779796#post4779796

adding my review to the official thread

 

yeh, changeing the DPI right?
its worse then changeing the resolution and distortes everything

 

Guess you should have just bought the 720p screen then.

 

you dont change dpi setting on a hd screen.
go change the font option in ur browser.
for ie, u go to internet option and turn on acesibility.
firefox choose a minimum font size.

 

Bingo!!!

 

thts just like zooming in.

i can still read it and il put up with it.

 

who needs apple cinama display when you have got dell rgb led"

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

By highflyingbull at 2009-04-25

 

Funny, that was one of the early deciding factors in me choosing this laptop and screen.

But then again my eyes are good, Windows 7 also makes everything bigger too.

 

Windows 7 > Vista

 

Thats for sure. I dual Booted it with vista on my m1330 and i never used vista again lol

 

Windows 7 Ultimate 7100 RC > Windows 7 64 - 7057 - Home

 

If I was dual booted I would switch to it, but I just don't feel like formatting again. It is much different then the older releases?

 

Not much different on the surface, just subtilties. But it is a RC version. Oh and you will be formatting one day soon when the beta is dead.
You could always do the ini trick and upgrade over it. Although I like clean installs all the way.

Should be publicly available May 5th with new keys I think, although old 7000 keys do work.

 

I plan on buying it as soon as it's available. Maybe I'll give it a whirl then.

 

and heres the link to ATI catalyst 9.2 vista64
http://downloads.guru3d.com/ATI-Catalyst-9.2-Vista-64-bit-WHQL-download-2192.html

i dont feel the need to update to v9.4 im getting amazing performance from my system.

 

Hey Mt,

I'm using 9.4 that I modded with Mobility Modder. They perform great. What I am wanting to do is overclock the graphics a little; but using AMD Gpu Clock tool, I can't access them.

Can you get into your clock settings and successfully change them with the 9.2 Catalyst? If so, let me know and I'll go download them pronto.

Cheers