Dell XPS 14 L401x Thread

Agreed. $83 shipped is the best I could find. The screen came in on time and I'll be replacing it this weekend.

 

@TRF-Inferno and @bill71 and anyone else who changed the screen, did you follow the procedures outlined in Dell's site: Documentation ?

The steps seem to indicate that you need to pretty much remove everything (Remove the display assembly). I'm not sure why you would need to remove everything?
@TRF-Inferno: I think you said in one of your earlier posts that if you have someone to help it might be easier and you don't have to go through those steps. I do have someone to help me.
@bill71: I think you mentioned to just pop the bezel off and replace the screen. Is that right?

Thanks!!

 

Yea, that happened to me yesterday when I had my fiancee's parents' printer attached. Once I disconnected it and rebooted, it got past POST fine. Then I tried hooking my iPhone to the same port, and it also got past POST. I wonder if the printer attached to other ports or different devices to the same port would lock it up again.

 

Yeah, my computer is booting up fine. No problems there. Just many errors and issues when syncing my iphone with my XPS 14. Anyone else here have an iPhone and their XPS has intel core i5 M460? Is your phone syncing fine? Just wondering if maybe iTunes or my iPhone doesn't like this particular processor.

Thanks for any replies.
Hope everyone is enjoying their laptop,
I'm loving mine besides this syncing issue with my iPhone!

 

Do you have switchable graphics? It could be the controller detecting that you are either on batteries or not doing anything graphic-intensive and switching the high-performance GPU off. I've seen the exact same thing on an hp laptop.

 

I'll add to the above, when it switched to the low-power Intel graphics, the ATI GPU disappeared from the device manager, just like yours is doing.

 

Hey TRF, how did you get an Intel SSD? Did that ship with your laptop or did you install yourself? Does it require any special cables or brackets to swap out an HDD for an SSD?

 

See bill71's post (# 129) on this thread.

 

I followed the Dell's instructions when I did it, but it is really unnecessary, and bill71's post further proves that just taking off the LCD bezel is the way to go. Removing all that stuff as the documentation instructed is really wasting your time.

I've got it plugged in, and even tried running 3D games to see if it will kick in. No dice. If I can't get it to show back up again by Sunday, I'm going to have a nice chat with Dell on Monday.

It's my own drive. It's a direct-fit, no special equipment or tools required.

 

I just ordered the XP 14 L401x. I just read that there is no vga port on it. Is there a way to hook an external monitor up to it?

 

Thanks!! I will try it tomorrow and report back.

 

There is a Mini DisplayPort and HDMI output. You could use an adapter to convert those to VGA.
For example something like this:
For only $15.12 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter | Mini DisplayPort to HDMI / DVI / VGA Adapters

 

Thanks for the quick response. One more question, is there some sort of adapter that allows me to hook up to external monitors to the Dell XPS 14?

 

Okay, I figured out the missing nVidia GPU problem. For those that find themselves in the same situation, you need to clear the CMOS. This seems to happen only after updating the BIOS, but I'll see if it occurs from anything else.

- Shut down laptop.
- Unplug the laptop from AC adapter.
- Remove battery from laptop.
- Press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds.
- Re-insert battery, plug the laptop back on the AC adapter, and turn it back on. When Windows boots up, you should see the nVidia GPU return.

For some reason when the BIOS gets updated, it fails to properly turn on/off the nVidia GPU. After clearing out the CMOS, I haven't had it disappear at all. Dell, please give us the option to select discrete graphics or integrated graphics in the BIOS!

 

I'm guessing that this laptop takes a 2.5" drive, not 1.8"?
Does it matter if the drive is 7mm or 9.5mm thick?

 

Thanks for the info. That's great you got this figured out. However, you are asking for Dell to give the option to select one or the other in the BIOS. You can actually select which GPU to use all the time in the NVIDIA settings.

At least I think this is what you mean...

Also, I was wondering if there is any way to enable or disable C-State in the BIOS. I am trying to enable it, but I cannot find it anywhere in the BIOS settings?

 

Hi,
I just ordered the XP 14 L401x. I want use both Intel SSD 80G and 500G HDD, does anyone know what HDD bay (replace optical drive) i can use?
Tks.

 

Anyone know if this will work with the power connector?

LC90 - Right Angle 90 Degree Connector Converter for Dell and HP Laptop Power Adapters

It's a 90 degree connector.

 

I have a 64gb SSD I will use. When I get my XPS 14 next week I'll see if I can figure out which one.

 

why so many videos in YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. about eh L501x and so few of the L401x

 

15" is more popular.

 

Ok, I've had my XPS 14 for 4 days now. Its pretty awesome I must say. The keyboard is great! Its so different than my Inspiron E1505, its soft and quiet when typing. So don't worry about being a nosy typer. I also like how the laptop runs a lot cooler than my E1505, the old laptop would run around 40-50C, the new xps runs anywhere from 35-40C. Also, the battery is GREAT! Messing with the power saving settings I legit had 6-7hour battery life on the 6cell battery. I took a test the other day running internet and powerpoint and the battery life monitor said 6hours 17 minutes the entire time. So for that fact I am extremely happy.

Now, the screen... Yes, it is 'grainy', I haven't heard what Dell will do yet from you guys in replacing the screen with another better one. I'm seriously considering replacing it with that LG one. The 1366x768 resolution is not bad at all, going from 1680x1050 on the 15" to this new resolution was not much of a change, however, the viewing angles are bad and the black color is not the best. I totally agree with the contrast being terrible but you can easily fix that in the intel settings on the gamma and contrast. I get great brightness at 0 brightness setting, Contrast: 40, Gamma: 1.0. That seems to be the best setting for the current monitor.
Oh, the speakers, WOW! You'll be blown away by how good they are! So clear and even good bass for laptop speakers. They can get SO loud as well.

I've updated my bios and done all the windows updates and installed all my programs with no problems. Granted I don't have an Ipad or Iphone. The back USB on the left side does seem to be very tight fitting when plugging something else in though. Other than that, it a great buy! I cant believe the battery life. I can be in my 55minute class and the battery won't even go down 10%. I'm very happy with it. We'll see about the new monitor, I might buy it over Christmas break. Still not sure if its worth it or not.

 

It was time to replace my aging MacBook Black (13" dual core) with something I could edit photos/hd video with. Not interested in supporting Apple anymore with their $50.00 custom cables for everything, and a snobby attitude with customers... but I digress. I purchased XPS L401x pretty much loaded. The invoice was just shy of $2,500.00.
8gb RAM
Bluetooth
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M (with television tuner card)
Blue Ray/DVD burner
Backlit keyboard
Core i7 Q840 1.87Ghz
9 cell battery

And, I've ordered the screen to replace the one delivered.

So far, I love it. I really wanted the machine to pack when I travel and be able to do some photo editing away from the office.

 

wow! how did you do it?

i have the XPS 14 with a i3-370M, GT420M and a 6-cell battery

i really want to have mi notebook for about 6 hrs on without having to plug in the AC adapter

(i'm from chile, sorry for my bad english)

 

I have my graphics settings in Intel on maximum battery life. I have my minimum processor state at 0%, maximum at 75% (which is still way faster than my T7200 Core 2 Duo), screen brightness at 60% which is plenty bright, harddrive turns off after 3 minutes, all other setting are for maximum battery life. Every once and awhile it'll drop to say 4hours but then after a minute it'll go back upto 6 or something.

All you xps14 owners, do you guys feel the harddrive running? Since the HD is right by your left palm rest, for some reason I feel some vibration when its running...I wonder if thats normal? I never felt that with my old Inspiron.

Edit: I'm working in class and I have internet and word running. Battery life is on 79% and it says 5hours 39 minutes. So yea...

 

Really considering one of these. Kinda hesitant when I've heard bad things about the screen since one of my uses would require a decent screen to do photo and 3d work. How bad is the screen really?

And would anyone be willing to try out Octane: http://www.octanerender.com and see how well the demo runs?

 

Question is if you are willing to spend an additional ~$90 for the replacement screen and have the ability to change it out? (Ok, 2 questions)

 

Excellent point. I think if it wasn't adequate I would. But are they readily available? I'm assuming ebay. Mostly curious how well it runs Octane since that is one of the primary uses I'd have.

 

Well its a 720p screen, you know going into it what resolution you'll get with that. Here's whats bad about it, the viewing angles from left to right are just fine. Whats bad is the viewing angle from top to bottom. When you look above the screen, so your looking down at it, the color is very very light. Basically you'll get to a point looking down at the screen where all you see is bright light and nothing, but you have to be like right over the screen. If you open the lid too much and the screen is facing above you, so basically your looking up at it, the colors are too dark. But theres certainly no problem looking at the screen from the sides. The contrast is pretty bad when you first get it but you can set it just fine.

Also, if anyone was wondering, the benzel is matte finish.

 

I bought two. Mainly cause I'm one picky ... and won't accept any dead/stuck pixels. If they both look good, I'll be glad to sell the extra one..

Give me a link to Octane and I'll try to run it if I can when I get mine.

 

Hey, just found out I'm gonna be getting sent one of these to replace my dying m1330. Does anyone know if you get a machine without the backlit keyboard, if you can add it on later? I have a feeling they're not going to give me a fully loaded one and the main thing I want is the backlit keyboard.

 

Hi guys. I have an alienware m11x r2 with the i7. I am about to return it back to dell because of a bad hinge. I am considering an xps 14. How is the xps when it comnes to gaming? Also what config do you recomend? I7 or I5?
Thaks and sorry for the intrusion.

 

I was in the same boat with the M1330 replacement after 10 repairs. The xps 14 i got came with backlit keyboard. Insist on it, especially after dealing with the M1330.

 

I edit/process anywhere from 500-1500 photos a week using Adobe Lightroom. I had the L401x replace a M1330 that was repaired 10 times. I got a spare M1330 from work during the 22-day wait for the L401x.

As much as the M1330 is unreliable, I am using it for work because the L401x screen is practically unusable for accurate photo editing due to bad contrast/color/grain/viewing angles. Never thought I'd fall in love with the M1330 after two-years of breakdowns but the screen on the L401x is especially bad for sharpening/noise reduction because it introduces a mesh pattern in the shadows and highlights. I'm using the iPad(gorgeous screen), 24 inch Dell monitor, and m1330. Their screens look 21st century. The 401x looks like it was made in the 18th century.

I will only use it connected to the 24" monitor at home.

 

does the new screen go any dimmer than the original? If so I'd be interested by that alone

 

Does the xps 14 comes with a back keyboardlit or only the 15 does? And wher can I get the i3 version amd how the battery life? Thanks

 

I had to specifically order the backlit keyboard on mine. I nearly missed it in the checkout and went back over the order again to make sure I had everything I wanted.

New screen installed - careful guys - I broke the cheap plastic bezel they warn you about breaking here under "removing the bezel" due to its fragility. Oh well, I don't really care that much about looks anyway, and I'm sure a replacement bezel is only $50.00 or so... The screen is sweet. A lot better for editing photos. I need my 2x cheaters though at the 1600 resolution

Edit to add: when replacing the screen using the "shortcut method" of just removing the bezel and taking the screen out, just be cautious about lifting the inside of the bezel up to release the tension on the snaps near the hinges on the screen evenly - a bit near this corner, a bit towards the center, a bit more towards the center... the bezel has plastic tabs that "snap" into a set of plastic retainers on the screen assembly. I get a bit impatient with plastic, so I cracked mine.

 

So the screen is really bad compared to the M1330, Dell is replacing my M1330 with the XPS 14 anyone had success in getting Dell to put in a good screen?

 

To all, like myself, who want to replace the DVD drive with a hard drive and keep the bezel of the XPS 14. Not going to happen just yet. It is a 9.5mm drive, and here is what newmodeus.com had to say:

You could of course put in a 9.5mm caddy but it would look like crap.

N

 

I just received my brand new XPS 14 and I cant get the touchpad scroll to work. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the driver (from Dell and directly from Synaptics) but no luck.

Thanks in advance.

 

have you tried enabling it in the mouse settings? it was disabled by default for me

 

Good point!!!

I was sure that I had enabled it but it wasn't.

Thanks!

 

My pleasure, check out the circular scrolling thing, its amazing, way better than simple side scrolling

 

Anyone try to hackintosh their XPS 14? Looked around but haven't managed to find much.

 

Well, I got frustrated with this, so I came up with a solution. Kind of a hack job, but it gets the job done - I have my 80GB SSD in a secondary slot, and the XPS 14 still looks great - thanks to electrical tape!

Check it out - a 9.5mm, no face plate drive from newmodeus.com with the XPS14's optical drive face plate attached to it with several pieces of ordinary electrical tape. Fits in the ODD bay and its sturdy, not going anywhere

http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=259

N

 

Can you give the link, part number or something to narrow down the selection at newmodeus.com?


Good job though!

 

So sorry, will update original post:

Optical Bay HDD Caddy to replace Slot-Loading Optical,9.5,SATA [OBHD9-SATA-SATA-NF] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

 

I asked dell to replace the screen: it was so bad, i thought it was defective. after some research here, I had to call off the Dell tech guy from replacing the screen after he told me he had a AU OPTRONICS panel(stock part) and not LG or other better brand. Dell support says they don't have any other panels in their system.

 

Do you think Dell can knock off some of the cost for the unbearable screen? I had an M1330 and that was much better than the current XPS 14 I received yesterday. I'm think I'll be looking into the LG screen.

Is that the best replacement for the XPS 14? Nothing better than that LG right?

 

Got mine 30 minutes ago and replaced the screen already. NICE!!

Anyone re-install Windows 7 and get all the functionality back?

Meaning is all the drivers and software available? I will be replacing the HD with a SSD so I will be doing it anyway and I can just fall back to the HD if I can't find something..