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

If you want to do some continuous monitoring, I recommend Everest. It shoes some icons in your task bar with the temps... Really useful! Got it via torrent.

 

Why is that? Is McAfee like Norton and uses what seems like 90% of system resources?

 

I used to like Symantec's corporate version. We've got a site license for that-but it got HORRIBLE with version 11. I understand now why people abhor the consumer version so much, if it's half as bad as the modern corporate version is. Amongst many other serious issues, it wrecks my ability to use Netware, by running this horrible (and redundant) firewall that I can't get turned off. It's like the firewall BUILT IN to Windows is already better in every possible way...I don't know what they're thinking.

 

I have used AVG for about a year now on my Desktop. Nothing seems to have slipped by it, or atleast I haven't been warned of anything. It's either doing its job too well, or not doing anything at all. Perhaps I'll just go back with it on my XPS 16.

 

norton internet security 2009 is better than symantec corp edition, its faster and reliable and use as little resource as corp edition.
i used symantec corp edition x32 for the last 2 years, just changed to nis2009 recently.

 

Im not sure about the HOW part of it; i just know ive had consistent and predictable issues with Handbrake and Intel WiFi on 2 different laptops over a 1 yr period.

I've checked out the heat issue (with temp monitors), and i dont think it is it; i used to set up a queue and run a torrent client at the same time.. i would place it in a well ventilated place, but, the WiFi still kicks out while the temps were not unusual (since it was well ventilated).

It also crashes the Vista WiFi client (the network icon in the taskbar that you use to connect) such that i cant access it (clicking on it does nothing).

 

Did you get the latest firmware?

"Improves drive eject performance and prevents eject failure when pressing eject button from occuring."

 

Huh. That is really weird! Maybe something about the wifi driver and CPU usage? I don't know what to think :-/

Well, I haven't noticed that with Ethernet at least when I'm encoding shows from my Tivo for my iPod. Hopefully it's not doing anything nefarious!

 

I tried searching, without any conclusive results.

So does the 1640 have 2 finger scrolling by default? If I were to install Windows 7/Reformat Vista, what does it take to get 2 finger scrolling active again?

 

Do you mean like pinching and the like? If so you need the Synaptics software.

 

There's one finger scrolling, vertical on the right side and horizontal bottom. Then there's one finger magnification/minimization on left for web zooming, then 2 fingered pinching as well for images. Then there's auto scrolling with gestures. Other stuff I'm sure, all part of synaptics.
Always install proper drivers for everything, nothing is good enough by 'default' unless you only read email and browse news pages.

 

You need to install the dell version for it work properly. I installed the latest driver from the synaptic website and it does not do the pinching and other extras.

 

It does come with eathernet standard...it just doesn't appear that way (so the CS rep told me). I ordered mine through the Employee Purchase website, and when I placed my order I noticed in my summary that I did not have an ethernet card listed. So I called and eventually was passed to the correct (and english speaking) rep that confirmed that all SXPS 16's come standard with an ethernet card (which is why they took it off the options list).

 

I agree. I used the corp edition for almost 5 years now and then I changed to NIS 2009 trial and it was extremely faster and offered much more support.

When the Windows 7 beta came out, I started using the trail Kaspersky and I must say that I have also been very impressed. It is not nearly as intrusive as NIS and it is just as fast if not faster. Plus, it managed to get a nasty trojan that was on a friends laptop when Norton was unable to do so. That sealed the deal for me and now I have it on all of my systems.

 

Has anyone managed to get Mac OS X running on the SXPS 1640? If so, please let me know about how I should go about it.
Thanks

 

Why would you want it? Just kidding...... If it can be done, someone here will know how. These guys are very helpful!!!

 

Well, I've been using Windows all my life and I'm pretty good at it. A fellow geek here suggested that Macs on x86 aren't too bad. (Macs aren't available here for sale)
So I thought I might as well try it out. Branching out into different fields isn't always a bad thing

 

I installed AVG first thing on my SXPS16, and it is working great.

 

has anyone else had this weird problem with the power adapter?

the plastic end part with the blue light separates and always had to be pushed back in. it always charges, but i feel like over time this could easily damage the wires inside.

 

Pictures of the red 1640:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/17/crimson-red-dell-xps-16-in-the-wild/

 

Two issues I'm having:

1. The power adapter has twice now stopped charging the battery. I noticed the blue ring light was not lit, and the battery was not charging. The adapter was fully inserted into the laptop. Reinserting the plug in the laptop did not help. I had to unplug the adapter from the wall then plug it in again in order to get it to work. Anyone else experience this? Does it indicate a defective power brick?

2. Not really an issue, but an annoyance. The rubber feet are uneven, giving the laptop a wobbly motion when it sits on a flat table. Anyone have a good suggestion of how to even out the feet?

 

1. i had the same problem. mine was overheating. it only happened when i was gaming, and the only way to restore power was to unplug it for a few minutes (from the wall) then plug it back in

2. havent had that problem at all

 

i had that happen on my old computer with the adapter. it did it more and more frequently until it died. cut to the chase now and order a new one, it will be there in less than a week and its free under warranty. also, in the same phone call have them mail you a new set of rubber stoppers. else try trimming the tall one with a razor blade.

 

Can one of you nice 1640 owners send me the wallpaper of the leaves? I had reformat my machine and lost that wallpaper afterwards... Its basically a dark background and it has faint images of leaves on it. I would really appreciate it. I cant seem to find it on the web anywhere..

Send to [email protected]

Thanks again!!

 

Hey guys, I've been reading this thread the last few days and got up to page 100 when I realized how massive it was and then decided to skip ahead I've got a refurb XPS 1640 on the way along with an extra 9 cell battery I ordered through Dell EPP ($86 shipped) Specs:

G560F 1 Base,Notebook,Core Penryn P8600,XPS-1640
HW426 1 Module,Adapter,Alternating Current,Delta - Ac Adapt,90W 3P,World Wide
Y003C 1 Module,Battery,Primary,56WHR 6C,Panasonic
P916C 1 Module,Dual In-line Memory Module,4GB,1067MHZ,DDR3,2X2G
D113N 1 Module,Hard Drive,500GB,Free Fall Sensor,7.2K,SGT-HOLL
R248D 1 Module,Dvd+/-rw And Bd-rom M1640,Sony Nec Optiarc Inc.
G019C 1 Module,Card,Network,5300 Inspiron
W108D 1 Module,Liquid Crystal Display 16,Red/green/blue,W/OTVTNR 1640
F977H 1 Module,Card,Network,370 Foxconn,Consumer Notebook Dell Americas Organization


The cost was $1193 shipped so I'm very pleased with the price (esp since it's the 1920x1080 RGB LED display). Can't wait till it gets here! I used to have an M1710 but I gave that to my sister when I went to med school and I got an HP tablet to use (huge mistake).

P.S. Don't ever by an HP laptop, they're trash. I bought the HP TX2000z a year ago and the first month the HDD died and about 3 days ago the entire laptop fried on me (conveniently after the warranty ended). The keyboard was also flimsy (2 buttons popped off) and the screen was defective with the screen cursor moving to the bottom right corner for no reason. I had about 6 other friends in med school with HP's and they all had issues (dead motherboards, dead HDD, dead wireless etc).

 

Is this the one you're talking about ?

 

This happens to me as well. And I predicted this would become a problem in the near future and sure enough over the weekend, one of the wires in there has snapped and my power adaptor is useless now. Called up dell as soon as it happened and they are sending out a new adaptor tomorrow.

by the way. Has anyone updated their ATI Mobility Graphic Driver? Version: 8.603.1.0000, A07

The page where is lists the fixes and enhancements does not make much sense to me.

 

Woo hoo my order has changed from "in production" to shipped!!!

it's almost here! i can't wait.

*bites fingers off*

 

Mine shipped this morning too! Hopefully we'll have our laptops by Thursday or Friday the latest.

 

There is a new bios version for the studio xps 1640 with "support new configuration with Gfx ATI Mobility Radeon?HD 4670"


http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=313333

 

I'll have to take your word for it.

So I'm assuming that they're going to start coming out with the 4670 in Europe first. With the blowout of the 1730 and the gaming machines being phased into AW, I'm not surprised, although I'll be surprised if it happens this soon.

 

Interesting, I wonder if these will be shipping soon? If they're the same price as the current Studio XPS, I could always return mine and get this new one I suppose.

Edit: Here is the link to the US bios: http://support.dell.com/support/dow...-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=313333

Notes: Fixes and Enhancements
Support new PWM panel.
support new configuration with Gfx ATI Mobility Radeon?HD 4670.

Looks like the new version is imminent across all territories. Soon as my XPS 1640 gets here I'm going to setup a return and wait on this new version. I was looking at graphics benchmarks for the HD4670 vs HD3670 and the performance is 2:1 in most cases:

Mobility 3670 performance and specs: http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-3670.9595.0.html
Mobility 4670 performance and specs: http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4670.13881.0.html

 

wooow! this seems to be awesome! finally they put this card to this stuff. XPS 16 was already nice, the only thing i wish it would be better in that was the GPU, and now it will be one of the best cards available too, a brand new one.
now i only wish, that it will replace the 3670 config so it won't cost extra price (at least not too much), and that it will be available in/before june when i'm going to buy it

 

damn.. we had to have this news on the same day my laptop ships .


has anybody done any sort of return with dell before that has an idea of how it would work out?

or.. on that note...

you think there would be any way to pay extra in order to get this card? id be fine with paying extra.

 

I'm on the phone with returns right now trying to setup a return before the item gets here. I'm hoping I can refuse delivery and let it go back to Dell so I can avoid having to pay like $40 in shipping fees + restocking. I'll update and post what they say. You should definitely return the order though. The HD4670 destroys the 3670 in performance (about 2:1) so it's definitely worth waiting a few weeks for this new XPS 16 to debut.


Edit: Ok I lucked out after calling 3 times and got a hold of an American CSR. She setup a case number for me and said as soon as the laptop arrives, to call back and give them the case number and they'd send out some UPS labels so I can send the laptop back to them. Make sure you don't open it else they will probably hit you with a 15% restocking fee. If you get Indian reps that try to tell you they can't do anything, just hang up on them and keep trying until you get a hold of an American.

 

k man, thanks. will be waiting for ur input .

 

Does anyone has any ideas what the difference in battery time would be with the new GPU? And how about the warmth problems? Does the new GPU produces more heat?

 

meh, im probably screwed, since Im in puerto rico and dell latinamerica is either panama, uruguay or some other place.

did you explain that you were going to wait for the other card to be available or did you just say you wanted to return it?

 

I told her that since my system was refurb, I decided I wanted to return it and purchase a new system instead. I didn't mention I wanted to wait for the new XPS or anything like that. In your case, you could probably tell them you decided to place an order for a desktop dell system instead since you need the extra power or something. Just make sure you tell them you plan to reorder from Dell.

 

Do you think anyone would be able to answer your question properly?

 

Yes, because this card is already on the market and some people know maybe more about the power consumption.

 

"AMD published a current consumtion of about 28-30 Watt for the HD 4670."
it seems to be similar to 3670's consumption.
a review of laptop equipped with this card:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-MSI-EX625-Notebook.16060.0.html

"The laptop case warms up less than the Compal KHLB2 (with ATI's MR HD 4650). After three hours of testing at 21°C surrounding temperature, the values for the area around the palm rest reached 37°C, and almost 40°C at the bottom of the case. The next test carried out at 23°C surrounding temperature indicated the spots to be warmer (2-3 degrees), with the maximum value of the laptop's bottom side remaining unchanged.

The graphics card reached the value of about 80°C under load, while the main processor heated up to about 70°C."

 

Not that I need an upgraded video card right now but maybe in the future there will be a need. With that said, does anyone know if this video card/mobo will be a direct drop in and if so any ideas on cost?

 

I wouldn't count on it being a direct drop in. Dell usually makes changes to the motherboard layout when they revise a system for a new card. They might change the placement and/or size of the heat sink for the revision. Hopefully for those of you that have the 3670, they do make it as simple as a motherboard replacement though I can't imagine that being cheap.

 

I've had my laptop since late March/early April. I should assume there is no way I can upgrade to the new GPU when it's released for the 1640, right?

 

Nope, it was confirmed a few pages back, it's soldered to the MOBO. The only way to change it is to change the MOBO.

 

Like mentioned above, the only way you would be able to is if they make the motherboard the same specs/size as the current one with the only change being the radeon card. If they do that, then you could purchase a new motherboard from Dell spare parts (if they allow it). I remember a few years ago when the XPS 2 was released, they had a 7800 GTX mobile with the initial release and then later released a 7950 gtx. The problem was that Dell spare parts would not authorize sale of the newer video card to customers no matter what--the only way to get them was to have a system that actually had the video card and it needed replacement. Hopefully they aren't as strict about it this time around if it turns out the motherboard can be easily swapped.

 

Have you guys seen this new Intel commercial? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLPHrCQr2I&feature=related It's hilarious!

 

That is pretty funny lol.

As for the PC im really not sure what im gonna do yet. Ive been without a pc for 2 months and am in desperate need of one. I don't know how Dell Latinamerica would deal with my situation, i guess I'll find out but if they do charge the restocking fee, that would be wasted money... and then ... who knows how long id have to wait till the new video card would be available for Puerto Rico...

Not sure yet.. still evaluating my options. grrr so excited this morning about it being shipped and now just confused =p

 

Yes I returned mine. Told them that it got uncomfortably hot while using. There were no further questions. They refunded the full price of the laptop.