Dell XPS 15 (Skylake) 9550 Owner's Lounge

Enter your service tag or let the Dell System Utility analyse your machine - that way you should only get to see the drivers specific to your hardware. I usually go and pre-download them on another machine first as it makes for a faster rebuild and I use the latest version as thats *meant* to to fix any issues with the older driver.

I know what you mean though, and it can get a bit confusing unless you are used to doing this.

 

When I used the service tag, I didn't see the system management software that lets you change fan profiles, etc. Is that not compatible with all xps 15s?

 

Download from the xps13. Is the same thing

 

Suffering from that as well. Most often while using Firefox, Excel or Adobe Media Encoder (all of these were set up to utilize Nvidia). It seems dynamic switching from Intel to Nvidia or vice-versa is broken.

 

I've suffered this quiete a lot the past days, luckily not today after reinstalling the video drivers. I saw an error in the application log referring to IGFXHK.EXE. Did you see the same error? after that it happened twice with an error referring to side-by-side. None since then. Had this weeks ago also, actually since I got it. Very annoying as I use it very intensively.

 

that would figure, RST would have got a tad confused

 

You can also do the below for easier and quicker when you're using it on full screen.

From full screen, drag the firefox window to switch from full screen to window mode then drag back up to the top of your screen to gto full screen without releasing the left click.

This crazy bug really got me worried for my graphics card

Did you try disabling the quick access feature?

 

For those who have PM951 SSD, are you able to use SSD utility programs like Samsung's Magician? I tried to install Samsung's Magician on mine and it didn't recognize PM951 as Samsung brand SSD so a lot of the functionalities were not available. What other SSD utility software are you using with your PM951?

 

It's the 1080p display. I even notice it a little with the second lowest screen brightness.

 

I have i7, 4k, 16g version since last xmas.

First, I'm not very tech savvy here, but trying to find solution here.
I have been having flash/shockwave issue with this laptop.
Everytime start up my laptop (from powered off state), I will loose sound (the lock window sound won't come on), and YouTube, and any website that has flash? related (embeded flash ad/barner and such) won't work.

Chrome will give me shockwave crush error everytime and chrome itself will simply hang, not use-able.

I will be able to surf simple browsing on firefox instead, but YouTube video won't play and will give me "if playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.".

Which, every single time when this happen, I have to restart my laptop to make it work.

Funny thing is, when it works, then it works well, no issue playing any flash contents nor youtube videos.

I turn off my laptop every night, so every morning i basically need to power on, and if there is no lunlock sound comes on, (which is almost every time), then I restart my device to get it work.

I have gone to device manager to update system update, and intel HD graphic update, and they are both latest version. (system firmware is x.15 not 19).
and I have tried to re-installed flash player many times, and still the same.

I also google around for solution but no luck, and now trying on this forum and see if anyone know the fix/solution?

Thanks!

 

Of course not, it is for retail SSD's only not OEM

 

Known fix for this: switch off fast boot in power options. If you've installed Flash manually, uninstall it and just use Chrome's or Edge's inbuilt versions.

 

PM951 works with their NVMe driver...

 

There have been reports of people noticing the PWM lighting on the 1920x1080 display and it not being a defect.

 

According to notebookcheck, the FHD uses PWM to adjust lighting. The UDH does not.

 

That was not the question.

 

Can you please provide the link to the software? Any benefit of using it?


Sent from my iPhone 7 using Tapatalk

 

My upgraded replacement (#4) arrived today. Pleased to say the manufacturung fault that had the identical 2 marks under the glass that laptops 2&3 shared have been resolved and initial inspection reveals a good panel. Samsung 16gb ram modules and a new Toshiba 1tb SSD that isn't far off my 950 pro speed wise!
(Specs in Spoiler)

Spoiler

Form Factor 2.5-type 7.0 mmH M.2 Type 2280
(Single side)

M.2 Type 2280
(Double side)

Model Name Non-SED
Model

THNSN5xxxGCJ7 (128/256/512 GB)
THNSN51T02CJ7 (1024 GB)

THNSN5xxxGPU7 THNSN51T02DU7
Connector Type SATA Express M.2 M M.2 M
Capacity 128/256/512/1024 GB 128/256/512 GB 1024 GB
Performance[6] Sequential Read (Max.): 2400 MiB/s[7] {2516 MB/s}
Sequential Write (Max.): 1500 MiB/s {1572 MB/s}

Interface PCI Express Base Specification Revision 3.1 (PCIe)
Maximum Speed 16 GT/s[8] (PCIe Gen3x2 Lane) 32 GT/s (PCIe Gen3x4 Lane)
Command NVM Express Revision 1.1b (NVMe)
Size L 100.0 mm 80.00 mm 80.00 mm
W 69.85 mm 22.00 mm 22.00 mm
H 7.00 mm 2.15mm 3.50mm

 

This this one you are looking for AndriyM?

As for any benefit - it may allow you to tweak your machine if there is anything you want to change to your preference (like the fans). I don't use it so not really much help there sorry!

 

FYI the Dell Thunderbolt Dock TB15 is finally available and in stock at several retailers in Belgium, both the 180W and 240W versions.
As far as I know this is the first time I see them in stock in Europe.
Getting mine tomorrow from Dell's preferred business partner in Belgium.

 

What's the current status of TB15 though? It was bugged as hell on launch, right? Is it fixed?

 

Unfortunately, those didn't work.

The reason why I manually installed flash, was because Chrome's inbuilt version kept crushing...

I did uninstall flash and check chrome's inbuilt version after your comment to double check. It doing the same thing, when it's working, it works. But then hangs/crush shockwave after I boot up my laptop from power off state (will work fine if I restart again).

 

Odd, it worked for others, sorry I can't help you more.

 

No worry, and thank you for your advise.

As long as I don't mind restart again after boot up, it works just fine (it's just annoying).

Only if I'm tech savvy like most ppl here, I'd do the clean install windows and such, but I'm just too afraid I will mess it up. I can't even figure out this flash issue anyhow... >_<

 

Is it hard to get them to send you a replacement? I'm guessing not if this is your 4th one....Also are these replacement refurbished or brand new?

Are you saying that now the 1TB PCIe SSD is Toshiba instead of PM951, which has comparable performance to Samsung 950 pro? What do you get on CrystalDiskMark with this drive?

 

I just got my version with 1TB PCIe SSD today. Its model number is
NVMe____THNSN51T02DU7_NV5 which seems to be Toshiba.
CrystalDiskMark(no changes done in BIOS, default drivers):

 

Wow! SeqQ32T1 numbers look to be way better than PM951! What is your start up time in task manager? Fastest I've seen it with PM951 1TB was ~9 sec but I've seen it as high as 20 sec.

 

11.5 seconds here.

 

Ok. 10 to 14 seconds is what I see typically so seems real world # is similar. Either way I wish they had shipped mine with these faster SSD. Congratz on your new system and welcome to the forum!

 

The startup time you're talking about isn't of SSD

 

I got writes at 1400+ earlier but I am going to wipe it later and stick fresh windows 10 on, I was in AHCI mode as well.

 

That actually makes sense as surely BIOS time is only the amount of settings it has to process to complete regardless of the HDD - especially as its stored on the motherboard? I.E. my Windows 10 setup using a 2.5" simple SATA drive was consistently 7.2 to 7.3 seconds with the M.2 disabled using only Sata 0+1 enabled.

 

Thanks for the clarification. It looks like that time is " amount of time it took to load the BIOS". It seems like this time should be something it would be more consistent but why do I see such wide range of times for this? I've seen anything from 9 to 20 seconds.

 

i just got my XPS 15 today, and I want to do a clean install of windows 10. I know there have been posts in this thread that detail how to do that, but I can't find any of them by searching. Can anyone quote the post or help me out with this?

 

@Sealed This may be what you are looking for.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...er-m-2-nvme-ssd-upgrade.787420/#post-10194595

 

yeah, that's it, thanks!

Also, does anyone know if there's a cheap way to get a longer charging cable? Not another AC adapter, just the three pronged cord that plugs into it.

 

Finally tried this today. It was worth a shot, but doesn't help.

I still need to try disabling X-Fi MB3 to see if that's a problem. Totally disabling Waves (I thought they might be interfering) produced no change.

 

sorry for another question, but does the hinge ever get easier to open? I love the machine so far, and I've had no issues with it (other than a small delay from sleep to wake up, which idk if that's normal or not), but it's kind of hard to open since the hinge is so stiff and there's no grip cutout.

 

If there was a way to loosen it a little bit without compromising the case that would be a great mod.

 

I would not recommend the TB15 for at least another 2 months. As of right now the drivers, and hence the dock itself, are still not stable. I just sent mine back because it simply did not work. It is not a problem with the dock itself but the drivers. Suggest you go look through the Dell forums before you make a decision.

 

Mine's the same way. I'm not sure if there is any way to loosen that up but if there is I think I would be interested in knowing that as well. It's like trying to open an oyster or clam.

 

was your BIOS set to RAID or AHCI? Just curious

I got my 9550 i5, replacement and stuck my 950 Pro in there.. I'm booting about 12seconds, but i've seen 7-9 seconds on my previous 9550.

I might even re-image the machine but so far, i dont have any issues with this new one.
Im also awaiting a new type-c ethernet.usb adapter from amazon

 

Interesting. What issues were you having? I have been using TB15 basically since it was released and have not had any issues since I updated the ASMedia USB driver the day I received it. I have also updated other firmware and driver that Dell released since too but main issue with TB15 had been addressed when I updated the ASMedia USB driver to version 1.16.32.1.

 

I would agree that the initial batch of TB15's released around Jan. 29 and very quickly taken off the website by Dell around Feb 2-3 ("sold our"- but I doubt that) did not have stable firmware and drivers - I received mine on Feb 1 and sent it back the next day but there have been several revisions of the drivers, firmware and a new BIOS revision since then so I ordered a second TB15 that was received on Monday and so far things have been quite stable with 2 hard drives, Ethernet and 4K monitor hooked up. I preloaded with all the new drivers as of Feb 19 - perhaps the second batch of docks have different firmware but all I can say is mine works without problems so far.

 

@planetweckesser Are you noticing low level hum from the XPS 15 fan when it's plugged into the TB15? It doesn't bother me a lot but difference in sound from when you unplug is noticeable.

 

so a couple issues I've noticed with my machine:

-there is minor backlight bleed on the lower edge of the screen, primarily in the bottom left corner. I only see it when I see the dell logo screen when rebooting, so it's not a big deal
-the aluminum and carbon fiber are ever so slightly unaligned on the front edge. i don't really care about this since i'm not constantly touching it, so it's a minor thing.
-the fan stays on when I plug the AC adapter in. Kind of annoying, I know some others experience this, and I really want to fix it lol.
-The red tint is there, but only at extreme angles, and so far I've only seen it on the dell logo screen again, when rebooting
-there seems to be a very hot spot right next to where my left shift key is. kind of uncomfortable because i tend to keep my hand there when lying down typing. only very hot when the whole machine is heated up though.

another thing is, I did a clean install of windows 10, updated my bios, and reinstalled all necessary drivers, but may battery life calculator keeps giving me different estimates every time i check it, ranging from 4 hours to 8 hours (i was at 99%)

idk how much of this is normal stuff. should I be concerned about anything? The only things that really bother me are the battery and the fan thing. I have the i7/16/512/FHD model. I don't really want to go through the hassle of getting a replacement unit, but for a machine this expensive I do expect very high quality, do idk.


Also, to the others who quoted my hinge post, I'm not sure if there's a way to loosen it at all, or if it will loosen with use, but I'll look out for anything online about it.

 

Hi guys! So i'm back with mines problems.

About very often BSOD and error 0x00000663 and restart. I've noticed that this happens only on battery - when i'm pluged AC in - no such problem. So maybe it's with video card? On Battery maybe it's intel? But i have latest drivers (i think - can anybody post what is the last / working version?) Where in configuration/options i can check options with switching from nvidia to intel?

And another question is - in old notebook's if i work on AC i was taking battery of the pc to not ruin battery - so in this model when battery is fully charged - all energy goes thru battery or no? How its work?

Still waiting and not reinstalling my windows - having on pc nothing installed only skype and few small apps - but windows files is more than 40GB...

Have a nice day for everyone

 

I had it most of the time with Chrome and Excel, but not sure which apps caused. Seemed random. I've not had it since I removed the video drivers and installed from the Dell site. Couldn't yet install the Intel drivers, but as it works fine now and no time to investigate I'm leaving it for now. Dell also responded and confirmed a driver issue, advised to remove the driver and install either a previous version or get from the Intel site. Would be good if they bring out an updated driver as this is not a thing suffered by one or two people. Although the issue exist still more than happy with the XPS 15

 

Hmm expected that Now how to resolve? Any suggestions? Intel is mentioning options on the left side of the management console, but having that option...

 

So I got my XPS 15! But I can't boot off my recovery USB to restore my reflect disk image. I disabled secure boot, but it's a UEFI bios and it should be loading...