Dell XPS 15 (9550) list of hardware and software problems

3 GB/s is normal in this notebook for that SATA port. For full speed you need to use the NVMe port.

Plenty of posts here how to change from RAID to AHCI. You have to disable RAID (the SSD cache) in the Intel tool first, then boot into safe mode to change to AHCI.

 

> Changing brightness via Fn-F11/ F12 causes DPC interruptions between 4 ms and 16 ms

No change in Bios 1.20.13.

 

sorry i need to clarify a bit, it sometimes shows 3gb/s, sometimes shows 6gb/s.

 

which tool you are referring? i cannot seem to find it in the intel rapid storage technology app.

 

Update: thanks to Techland's advice, i got the ahci mode working. Now, my SATA speed is still 3gb/s(SATA 2). According to the Samsung magician software i have tested speed way over SATA 2. http://i.imgur.com/nL9caWE.png
Also now its telling me that i could enable SATA 3. http://i.imgur.com/LIyRxgr.png

 

The Samsung Magician software seems to measure cached data. Use AS SSD or anything else and you will see about 240 MB/s equaling SATA II. You might also notice that sometimes you only get SATA (I), I am still trying to find out why and when this is triggered.

 

Okay, but i also observed same result from the IRST(intel rapid storage technology, thats where i got my SATA link speed). It once says the speed is 6gb/s and now its 3gb/s.

 

Could you be more specific? I`ve just registered here.
Dell told me unless they create a specific Wi Fi Driver for Win 7 they can`t help me so far..

 

Not really as I don't have windows 7 as it isn't supported but if you look in this forum a couple of people have attempted it. You may need to buy the intel wireless card though. http://forum.notebookreview.com/forums/dell-xps-and-studio-xps.1049/

 

It will scale back when idle to save power, does it come back up if you do a heavy copy action?

 

GoNz0 -- Is there a way to lock in 6 Gb/s? I run some virtual instruments real-time so am always trying to recover a few milliseconds and trying to remove jitter (unpredictable response times).

My engineering buddy recommended a ram drive but the audio database is >32GB unfortunately.

 

Update 2: So i reopen the laptop and repluged the battery and my 2.5 ssd. The link speed is now back to 6gb/s, and so far haven't fall back to 3gb/s. i will definitely try GoNz0's advice once its back to 3gb/s and post the result here.

Also, my AHCI seems to be unstable. i keep getting BSODs with the error code memory_management. So i have changed back to RAID. If anyone knows how this is happening please let me know. Thanks.

 

I run AHCI with a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB drive and AHCI and no BSOD for months

Maybe consider a clean install of Windows?

1. GonZ0 made a bloatware free ISO which is the link at his signature; he also has a thread that guides you through the install process. That looks easy and pain free:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ean-install-guide-custom-iso-download.789769/

2. If you are proficient at clean installs or like pain (I am the latter and this took a lot of time) you can do your own clean install (via techbench not the media creation tool). A few but not all steps & tips:

- Before the install I checked BIOS for these key settings: UEFI, legacy disabled, secure boot, AHCI (see GonZ0's guide above for details). You don't change those settings after the install. I think this is how you set up for GonZ0's ISO but just read the thread.

- During the install process, just after killing all the extra partitions, I manually cleaned the drive at command window and got some challenging error messages. I have a few posts on how I stumbled upon a fix, but it takes a few tries so this is not for the faint of heart. It was difficult and time consuming so something is wrong. But after that roadblock everything works great

- I did not install Intel RST or Dell crapware

- Only programs on my computer are one piano software program, AISO4ALL, ThrottleStop, HWMonitor

- I think I have no issues besides crackling sound when adjusting brightness with f11/f12 key

 

Running the high performance power management profile should be enough? otherwise dig through it's advanced settings?

 

I have problem with my XPS 9550 FHD. Looks like after last BIOS update mine battery only charges to 60 percent and then it stops. Power manager shows that cable is connected and everything seems fine except fact that battery is stuck at 60 percent. I tried changing battery modes from standard to adaptive or express charge but it doesn't matter which option I choose I can not charge it more than 60 percent. Is it only me or any one else having similar problem?

 

Roll back the BIOS to the one you were on before and see if it charges.

 

Thanks man.

 

Okay, thanks for all the replies!

 

Same issue after updating BIOS 1.2.13. 1.1.15 or 1.1.19 can solve this problem.

I just realized this issue a few hours ago, and therefore I'm wondering whether it is common. My battery has been fully charged for a long time and yesterday I spent it below 60%. Thus I happened to find the battery icon in the taskbar saying "plug in, not charging" even it was far from full.

 

The most interesting information is missing. Open the IRST app, select your SSD, click on Advanced or Extended , and report the transfer rate shown there. I get 1.5 or 3 GB/s, with no explanation so far why. My current theory is that it drops to 1.5 after waking up from sleep. Once it is at 1.5 it wil stay there until a reboot (even that not always helps). This is with a Crucial MX 100 512 GB.

The rate shown in that app is easy to predict as Windows boot will be noticably slowed down with 1.5 compared to 3. Of course coming back from sleep it is not easy to notice.

I suspect this to be another BIOS problem, and might change to a Samsung 950/951 just to get rid of this problem.

 

After the Intel XTU debacle and it's obvious problems with the 9550, I am trying to avoid Intel RST.

I "think" my SSD works fine without RST. Is there a different (non-intel) program which can measure "active" transfer rate?

With respect to your working theory, you will see a lot of posts at NBR from the winter relating to lousy CrystalDiskMark results. They were sometimes degraded after waking. It took some time to get the 950s working reasonably. I think some of the newer BIOS' helped.

 

I never had problems with the RST app, neither on my W7 desktop nor my now W10 notebook. I find it usefull on the desktop as it helps with plug&play support with external hard drives. On the 9550 it might be unneccessary, though. But I doubt that other drivers would solve my SATA mode problem.

Performance can easily be tested with AS SSD. It will show around 120 MB in mode 1.5 GB/s, 240 MB in mode 3 GB/s and more than 400 MB if mode SATA 3, 6 GB/s, is currently active. You don't even need the test to run through, I stop it usually after a few seconds as the numbers and the current state are clear already after the very first result.

 

Sorry for formatting. Below are AS SSD scores (read and write, respectively, 1GB) on Samsung EVO 850 m.2 250GB about 70% full (I have a FHD i5 6300HQ with 8GB RAM):

A. It was on all day and slept a few times; no other programs running

Seq-----------506, 470
4k 31,74-----32, 74
4k 64Thrd---327, 214
Acc time-----0.131ms, 0.049ms
Score --------409, 335
Score2 -------963

B. Restarted; no other programs running

Seq-----------501, 457
4k 31,74-----30, 73
4k 64Thrd---328, 201
Acc time-----0.123ms, 0.049ms
Score -------- 408, 320
Score2 -------946

Are these reasonable scores or is something amiss?

 

These values (you need only the first two) prove that your SSD is using SATA III / 6 GB/s mode. The sequential values are capped with lower modes, as I wrote. Still you confused me. In your earlier post you did not mention the 'm2'. You are using the SSD on the port that is known to work. A normal SSD has to use the port where the hard drive is attached. And that seems to make a difference.

 

Does anybody use Realtek USB Ethernet adapter with the laptop? How is your experience since last BIOS update? I have had no disconnect since Tuesday yet. I know it is early, but would like to know, if it still happens.

 

Apologies for the confusion Techland. The m.2 and normal 850 Evo are similar, but different drives. And these run on different ports.

I also have a 850 EVO 250GB "normal" drive in the old HDD port so will test that later today.

 

That would be nice, as it could point out the problem cause - Dell or Crucial, in my case.

 

I'm facing the same issue and I tried a lot to get around, w/o success yet. And we are not allone as you can read here : https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/4zka9r/xps_15_9550_bios_1213_battery_plugged_in_not/

 

I personally don't use Intel RST driver because I get better m.2 SSD ( sm 951) speeds without it.


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I "upgraded" to 1.2.13 yesterday and I have the same charging issue now. Went back to 1.2.10 and it's still there. Guess 1.1.19 fixes it, but I don't have time to mess around with the laptop this morning before a test.

 

you want 1.2.0 not 1.2.10. you can get it form the link in my sig.

 

It seems that so far the only solution to the battery stuck at 60% issue is to downgrade to 1.1.19 or any earlier version.

I'm very curious about why the update of 1.2.13 ruins the charging configuration in BIOS version newer than 1.1.19. 1.2.10 should work well but actually not when downgrade from 1.2.13 to 1.2.10. Very strange and annoying.

 

I did try going to 1.2.0 from 1.2.10 and still had the charging issue. 1.1.19 has fixed that. I may try to step back up to 1.2.10 or 1.2.0 after I get some free time. I didn't have charging issues with either prior to going to 1.2.12.

 

Can you upload 1.1.19? i cant find it

 

There's a 1.1.15 on reddit which worked for me at the meantime.


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Just for the Record, the following time lapsed video shows that the charging stop at 60%



Down grade to 1.1.19 fix the charging issue temporary, but then you might have again connectivity problems, in case you use a Dell Dockingstation Thunderbolt TB15.


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I once mentioned that I had a wobbly screen. Finally had the time today to check for it...

Found the culprit: The three small screws on the screen got loose.

 

I`ve installed Windows 7 on my Dell 9550
But Wi Fi doesn`t work there..
Dell support told me the didn`t test t on Win 7..

WHere is possible to find a proper working driver for wi fi?

Thanks.

 

Sure,
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B-8WtGQ_zS6PeVRjeVF2MHdDb0E has all of them. You can also use the link in GonZo's signature as well.

 

Dell tends to consolidate historic BIOS and drivers at above site

 

So I went back to 1.2.0 from 1.1.19 and the charging issue has returned. Looks like I'll be on 1.1.19 until they fix it. What sucks is that with 1.1.19 I have the long reboot issue.

 

Very irritating.

I remember when I upgraded my (then new) MacBook Pro from Leopard to Snow Leopard in 2008 it killed the 6 month-old battery. Without the battery, the second core was idled so the computer ran very slow. That was a very common problem for which Apple just replaced my battery.

I think I will just stay on 1.2.10 for now and avoid even more beta testing pain...

 

Yeah do NOT upgrade to 1.2.13. I regret doing so - everything was great until I did. One thing that really ticks me off is that I can't just email dell support now, it wants me to run some stupid diagnostic utility that I sure don't want to install. Tomorrow after my test I am going to call them and give them an ear full.

 

Did you install the samsung ahci driver?

 

Yeah I run the NVMe driver while in AHCI mode with my 950pro. I could uninstall it, but I notice lag at random times if I don't have the driver installed.

 

Since I have very little software and few files on my 9550, and have already done a bunch of installs, I didn't care about installing the Dell diagnostic crapware then simply doing another clean install.

What is problematic is the fact that BIOS 1.2.13 seems to make some fundamental changes to the system that can not be "unseen" by 1.2.00. I wonder if that is just a visible setting in the BIOS screen or if it is something under the hood.

At least the flash forwards and backward did not brick your laptop. I have bricked the old Dell Axim running WMobile a few times and that is scary. . .

 

Its been a few years since I posted here but I have my hear set on this lap top. (Light, Plays games and doesn't look like a fisher price toy). Are the issues so bad that purchase should be avoided all together? I gotta make a purchase within a few days.

 

I really like my 9550 and have only had a couple of issues with it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, but some people seem to have more issues than I.

 

OK cool. Thanks.

 

I like my 9550 a lot. The FHD screen is a pleasure, the form factor and carbon fibre are nice, the keyboard and mouse work great (keyboard has limited travel that some complain about but I quite like). It took me a few weeks to set up for optimal performance but if you are willing to do this work, it performs very well for size.

If you are good with PCs or want to learn a bit about setup, I would recommend the 9550. There are plenty of helpful posts and knowledgeable people at NBR ready to help. If you are looking for a turnkey laptop, I don't think any exist, but the 9550 would not be at the top of my list.

Numerous 9550 problems were documented in late 2015 and early 2016; most have been resolved with updated drivers and BIOS. You should spend a few hours reading the (RECENT) NBR forums now to see what types of bugs some are experiencing. Note the sample likely is skewed as posters tend to be owners of troubled systems.

- At a minimum, you will need to pick the correct BIOS and drivers, which will require some research (For example, the latest BIOS release this month is a mess but I am on the penultimate version and it is fine)

- For optimal performance, you will also need to do a clean install of Windows 10, repaste the CPU, replace the defective VRAM thermal pads for 1 or 2 chips. These are optional but does give you a "free" boost in performance

- I undervolted the CPU using Eason's guide; took less than a day of testing and made a big difference in thermals

After all the tweaking, I think my 9550 performs fantastically well for an ultra thin laptop in a 14" form factor. The graphics card is not a strong point and some have upgraded their wireless cards.