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

This is a really stupid question, I know but I have to ask it.

When in sleep mode, the SXPS 16 flashes the power and side hinge lights on and off. That bugs the hell out of me. I'd like to be able to put the computer to sleep over the night instead of shutting down every time but I don't want it flashing in an otherwise dark room, it just keeps me awake.

Has anyone disabled these via software? I'd rather not pluck out the individual bulbs from the case but the point of sleep mode is for the comp to basically be 'on' but in a very low power state, not giving a light show.

The blue light ring on the power cord also is a waste but some heat shrink tubing can cover it up. Other than that, I love the computer.

Anyone?.....Bueller?

 

im pretty sure you can just unplug the hinge light ribbon from the motherboard. its probably next to the lcd cable connection. but in order to get to it youd need to remove the keyboard, which is a lot of screws.

 

My SXPS arrived a few days ago and I was thrilled, but when I immediatly tried to connect to wifi, I found that I was unable to. The problem was that my computer didn't even recognize that a card was there. Eventually I was able to reinstall drivers to get it to work, but now it won't work...What is the deal?? My computer only sees the LAN and there is absolutly no WLAN, I have tried to reinstall drivers with no luck...HELP!!!!

 

18.4 inches? Are you kidding me? I sometimes think of the 1640 as big, 18.4 is just too much!

That also happened to me once... I just covered the lights with some dirty underwear... After that once, I just putted the computer to hibernate instead of to sleep... And it raises an important question: do you guys know what the difference is? (Hibernation X Sleep mode)


Changing the subject, one problem that I've been having is regarding the dell touchpad driver... Every time I restart the computer, it also set my touchpad settings to default. Is there a way to correct it? Maybe a hack or some registry alteration. I'm running windows 7, and that is clearly the problem since I didn't have this before, but still. Any of you use win7 and dont have this issue? Thanks in advance.

 

so then how do you like it, should I get this laptop or the Sony that I listed?

 

nope. nono

 

Guys,am going to use this one for vmware and router simulation......

My questions are:
1)I am planning for 64bit OS,are the 32bit applications cmpatible with 64bit OS?

2)Is it worth waiting for ati 4000 series gpu?Am not into gaming much,though I would like to run few NFS games and grid at med settings,the question is does 4000 series gpu generates less heat?

3)Is RGBLED screen worth witjout Bluray ROM?

Please help me to decide.

 

Try the hibernate function instead of the sleep modus. It will cost a bit more time to power up then, but the hinge lights won't flash and you will save a lot of power! If hibernate is not available in your start menu try the following:

"Click Start button, then type Cmd in the Start Search box.
In the search results list, right click on “Cmd” and click on Run as Administrator item on contextual menu.
In the command prompt window, type the following command:
powercfg -h on" (from mydigitallife.info)

Good luck

TO Brazilianguy: When using hybernate Windows will write all his memory to the harddisk and then shut down. When powering up the computer the memory will be reloaded from the harddisk and you can continue your work. With sleep modus the computer doesn't shut down but will go to a low energy consuming mode. It will keep your work in the memory, but this uses a bit power.

 

Hi guys, I would like your opinion on the SXPS16. Currently I have an SXPS13 and love it, but my wife that has an old Latitude D420 would like to be able to play games on her laptop instead of having to go down to the basement to use the gaming rig.

I am thinking about getting her one for xmas (I know a long time away, but I am planning ahead) so she can play Sims3 on it. How do you think the gaming performance is going to be?

I think the hardest part will be getting use to the 16 inch screen going from her 12.1.

 

Unfortunately, i don't game. But 99% of my programs work in the 64 bit windows. Also, YES it is worth getting the RGBLED 1080p screen, because the 720p really sucks, it isn't much better than the old 1280x800 screens. I sent mine back and got the 1080p. It is really worth it, and I don't watch bluray, just everyday computing, pictures, and internet look better with it.

Honestly, Dell screwed up.... or people are suckered by the "HD" label, but they shouldn't offer a 720p on the 16, they should... at the least offer 900 and 1080, the 720 just doesn't cut it.

 

Should i get this lapop with the RGB screen

Intel® Core™2 Duo T9550(2.66GHz/1066MHz FSB/6M L2Cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium x64 Edition
4GB 1067MHz DDR3 SDRAM
ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670-512MB
Edge-to-edge Glossy 16 inch Full HD RGB-LED LCD display (1080p)
500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive



or this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834117886


Does the Studio xps 16 really get really HOT where your palms sit or just when you play intense games?

 

I just checked the SONY specs... It's got the 9600GT which is equivalent to the 3670. The processor and hd can be the same. That would give a total around $1,634 for the SXPS. The SONY RAM is slower (DDR2 800MHz), and that's a plus to the 1640 (DDR3 1067MHz).
Personally, I would never buy a 18.3'' laptop. I never saw one, but I know its huge! And a computer big like that tends to look ugly too...
I have the 1080p screen on my sxps and its beautiful... There are some reviews saying that the colors are unbalanced, but if you're not a professional, you will hardly notice it.
The sxps also comes with backlight keyboard, which for me is a big plus! Helps in dark places and also look really good!!
I think you should go for the 1640, but wait for the new video board (4670). It promises a much better video performance with the same power consumption... I also recommend a notebook cooler, because the system really fell hot! Gamming with the ZM-NC2000 on, not at all! You can try undervolting it too, can really help.
There's been a lot of discussion of why it gets so hot but IMO, despite all that's been said, heat is the price for such a powerful and slim machine.

Tks a lot, man! That's really it! I read that hibernating ultimately can cause some kind of file fragmentation... Is that so?

 

hey everyone
uhh does anyone know when the new sxps 16 comes out cause i've been putting my purchase for a laptop on hold, and i just can't wait any longer if its more than 2 months time away, also will the new version have a better cooling system

 

What do you mean "the new SXPS 16"? The red colored one you mean?

 

Just bought my xps studio 16 and it's great, i had a zepto 1642 gamer previously it was good too but after 4 years of loyal service i drowned it
This laptop is amazing the system looks great and after hearing about the graphics card being a bit sucky and the news of a new GPU model being relised in the future i was a bit hesitent and considered cancelling my order.

recived it > loaded crysis on it > played it > and it was awsome

Im not easily impressed by stuff like this but i am amazed by how good it is.

only down side is that it gets rather hot but so did the zepto!

I was just wondering if anyone could help me with a link on how to upgrade from 4GB to 8GB ram?

thanks

 

the one with the updated graphics card and stuff

 

nobody knows if or when an update to the sxps 16 is coming... Right now it is all just speculation based on a bios update that added compatibility for the ATI mobility Radeon 4670. It could mean a an sxps with a 4670 is coming soon... it could also mean absolutely nothing.

 

My guess is after the 25% sale (June 4th), but like everyone else said, it is all speculation.....

 

What 25% sale?

 

www.dell.com

 

Not quite.
Laptop GPU's are more difficult to replace, but it is possible, and it is better than throwing the laptop away. And the GPU's can be purchased from e-bay, that is where i got the price of the GPU from. BTY, here is a list of (proven)upgradable laptops. -
http://www.mxm-upgrade.com/Table.html

I guess, what i'm looking for is a desktop replacement laptop. And I really do like the XPS 16, but i just don't want to be left without a laptop after the GPU dies on me after two years. Also, i don't think that paying another $200 for an extra year of warranty is good deal.
BTY, do you know of any good laptop coolers(not the fan's, they are useless), GPU/CPU coolers...

 

Zalman NC-2000 is the cooler of choice.

 

i have never seen any aftermarket laptop CPU or GPU coolers, if that is what you mean. if you mean a cooling pad, then N20 is right about the NC-2000 being the cooler of choice

 

really? why would dell release a new bios version for a laptop only to support a hardware which won't ever available for it? imho it's much more, than specification, it's pretty sure, it will be available. only question is: when?

btw for sxps 16, there's only 20% off..

"Buy More, Save More! 20% off this XPS system!

Special Offer - Expires: Thursday, July 09, 2009"

 

i thought it ends the 4th?

 

In the US it does, not sure about other countries...

 

i copied this info right from the us site while customization, however i also just saw the june 4 date too, now i don't know what's the real date..

 

Good news, upgrading from 4 Gb to 8Gb is simple, just unscrew the back plate, and you will see two SIMM sockets. Just check specs, and replace as needs be.

Full instructions here: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/sxl16/en/sm/memory.htm#wp1180190

 

I decided to undertake undervolting tonight (in progress) and while I wait for a test to complete, I decided to check the temps of my desktop comp.

The vid card is relatively the same (8800 GTX at 61c), but the rest of the computer is much much different.

The CPU (AMD 4200) is not really much of a shock, I have 5 fans running in my desktop box so being at 30c is not a huge shocker. What really surprises and concerns me is the temps of my harddrives.

I have 3 HDs, and all of them are running below 25c. My 1TB drive is running at 18c!!!! How in gods name can they be so cool yet the XPS 1640 runs at over 40c ALL THE TIME!

I am starting to think that its the harddrive that is causing the palm wrest under my left hand to headup, not the CPU or GPU (although I'm sure they contribute).

I will try undervolting, but I assume this will have no effect on the harddrive temps. What can I do to make it run cooler?

 

has anybody checked to see if the regular studio, the one that already has the 4xxx ATI cards uses the same BIOS as the studio XPS? maybe that is the only reason for all the speculation

 

After taking apart my 1640, it looks to me like the southbridge is the culprit for the heat....

 

That uses a 4500 series GPU which is a far cry from the 4670. The GPU in the studio 15 is weaker than the 3670, don't be fooled by it's name.

 

southbridge?

 

Check it out for yourself (ie take off the bottom panel).

Also, google is your friend if you want to learn about chipsets

 

So thats causing most of the heat, not the CPU/etc?

 

In the touch pad area, yeah.

Of course when the system is stressed, it is a combination of things (cpu, gpu, ram, etc).

 

Thank you. That brought back my hibernate function. I forgot about that and it's exactly what I needed.

Edit: +rep for Jeroentje91

 

My SXPS 16 has recently begun beeping. It stops after a while and everything seems normal. Could it be that my HDD is failing?

 

No prob Don't forget the +rep

 

Could be.

When is it beeping? and how often? More info would help.

What beeps mean...

 

Well, Dell updated its laptop section to include 3 new Alienware laptops in the XPS section, it took out the XPS17 from the XPS section (although you can still find it by clicking "gaming laptops") and they moved the two Studio XPS machines including the SXPS16 to the Studio section.

A lot of people were speculating that this would be when the new 4670 would start to be implemented in the XPS16 but it looks like this isn't the case as the 3670 is still the only option. I hope that they upgrade the system soon though as I don't want to wait that long (and Sony is upgrading their VAIO FW 16.4" series with a 1GB ATI 4650 which is basically the same as the 4670 just clocked a little bit lower).

 

I wouldn't expect anything new for the SXPS 16 until after the 25% sale is over.

 

Well, IMHO, I think the (re)organization of the XPS line sucks. Personally, the XPS M1330 and M1530 are old, tired units, and do not (actually, never have) deliver the high performance or looks that define XPS. They should have a 30% off sale of those units, get rid of them, and have the SXPS 13 & 16 take their place in the XPS column.

Alienware...only the M15x even really looks good. The M17 is an ugly black box, and the M17x looks like it's targeted to "silver-spooned" 13 year olds with it's gawdy red lighting all over the place.

 

I keep reading comments about this 25% off sale, but I don't see it anywhere. Got a link or a coupon code???

 

There's no coupon code needed: http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_xpsnb_deal?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs It's actually 20% for the XPS16 and 25% for the XPS13.

 

I completely agree, especially about the Alienware line. Those laptops are some of the ugliest I've ever seen and I'd never want to be seen with one in public. Seems they are targeting the living in your mother's basement demographic with those designs. The Dell XPS 2 and M1710 started off somewhat over the top with the lights but they could be turned off. After that the designs just got more and more tacky. The ideal laptop would be one that looked exactly like the SXPS 16 but with a 17.3" RGB LED display, top end nvidia GPU and SSD drive.

 

*sigh* after Nvidia's terrible history with mobile Gpus (see the 8xxxm series and some 9xxxm and the problems many dell, sony, hp owners have with year old laptops that are now paperweights, mine included) i don't understand why so many people stand behind it. Yes, they may have very powerful cards, but what good is it if my pc will be useless in less than a year? My experience with nvidia has been so bad in the present and in the past. I just don't get it.

 

I think the problems nVidia had with dying GPU's has been pretty much resolved by now. My HP tablet is one of those with a failed motherboard (probably the GPU, I never bothered to test it) so I know what you mean. There's no denying that their GPU's offer the top performance though so as long as they've ironed out the issues they had before, they are the best choice. ATi is also a great alternative (my last ATi card was the X1900 XTX), anything is better than an integrated Intel.

BTW did you end up returning your laptop? I'm hoping this revised one shows up soon after the June 4th sale ends. I like using this HP DV7 in the interim but the build quality and LCD leave a lot to be desired.

 

Ahhh...looking at those, it's not really 25% off...only SXPS 13 is 25%. The SXPS 16 is 20%, and only that configuration.

I've typically found that "deals" like that from Dell basically start with an overpriced base system and then discount it. All too often I see systems with large discounts and HIGH list prices, only to find there is really nothing in the system to substantiate the high list price.

 

Has anyone played the Sims 3 on this machine? Like I said in a prior post, I am debating on getting one from the outlet for my wife to play games on, and $799 for a scratch and dent is a great deal, I was just wondering about the graphics performance.