Dell XPS 15 (Skylake) 9550 Owner's Lounge

I went from 8gb to 20 gb then 32 gb.

I noticed performance gain immediately at 20 gb and none at 32 gb

In short

 

Yeah, that's right. I forgot about that. The Dell part number is 3XYT5.

 

False mine is uhd and hdd small battery

 

If you call you can have any configuration you can imagine.
Even online it is possible to get UHD with HDD and "small" battery.

 

While that is true, be aware that their are several configurations for which the only option is the small battery. So if you want/need the large capacity battery you are limited as to which configurations you can get.

 

Is the mouse software really this bare-bones? I'm running the clean install and have updated everything from Dell.com's support tool.

No config/gesture options? Really? I would love swipe with two fingers to go back in a browser. Seems that's puzzingly not available (nor are any real config settings). I also checked the Win10 native mouse settings...don't see anything outside of generic Windows settings. Coming from a Thinkpad, I'm used to seeing an additional tab in mouse settings specific to the computer's mouse pad (i.e. ThinkPad Ultranav settings, etc). Is the hardware in the XPS a Synaptics, Alps or something else? Are there drivers for it that Dell isn't pulling down?

Am I missing something?

http://imgur.com/Yq7bWUr

 

The trackpad is a Microsoft-branded Synaptics trackpad. The configuration settings are in the "Mouse and Touchpad Settings" section of the Settings app. It is possible to install Synaptics drivers, but I've done it and to be honest I wouldn't recommend it.

 

Guys, I just got my Dell XPS 15" 9550 like an hour ago. I want to create recovery discs for the laptop before I format everything ... How do I create the recovery discs ? I don't see any Dell specific option/tool pre-installed that I can use for this ..

 

I don't think you can, Dell offer a ISO download but I made my own, it's in my sig.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, however I normally prefer to install everything manually on my own.

I had 3 questions to ask:

1) If I use the Dell supplied Windows image, will it do a factory reset for the laptop ?
2) How can I get the Windows key that my Dell laptop comes with (I can use it when doing a clean install) ?
3) Is there a tutorial here which guides you through doing a manual bloat-free Windows 10 installation from scratch ? For stuff like which drivers/software to install and what to skip, etc. ?

Thanks.

 

1, no idea
2, you don't need to its windows 10
3, someone's done a how to guide., have a flick through the forum.

 

As a matter of course you should go to the Dell website and drill down to the page where there is an automated way to order a free recovery usb stick. If it doesn't work, like mine didn't, call them and they will send it. That will be your bottom line disaster escape plan. As to a guide, you will save yourself a lot of aggravation if you just motor to a guide GoNz0 created that includes a way to download a custom, bloat free set of iso's to do exactly what you probably need. Here is the link again: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ean-install-guide-custom-iso-download.789769/

 

Or tap the Windows key and then enter "Create a recovery drive" into the search bar. Click on "Create a recovery drive (control panel)" and follow the prompts. Be sure to click the 'Back up system files to the recovery drive' checkbox if it's not already enabled. And have an 8+ GB USB drive ready (16GB preferable).

 

Thanks guys, however I think I'll still need the key of my factory Windows 10 installation. When doing a clean install from boot, Windows does ask for a key, so I need something to put there.

Thanks for sharing that info, I didn't know about that. I'll try to look that up on my own shortly but if you come across the exact link, gimme a holla.

 

You shouldn't need to provide a key. Have you tried clicking Continue without entering anything?

 

Under the key entry box press you have an option to skip key entry. afaik my ISO doesn't ask if you pick the correct install.

 

I guess that since your ISO doesn't have the education edition in it (for which I have a key), for now I'm going to manually install the drivers after a windows clean install ... So the windows key issue not a problem anymore ... I was looking at Dell's website for drivers and I have a few questions:

1) It seems that some driver names are duplicated under multiple categories. For example, the Thunderbolt Controller Driver exists under both Chipset and Docks/Stands categories, and they both seem to be different files. Same can be said for Thunderbolt Firmware update. Do I them all, or only one of the two ? Another example: there are two different Dell Wireless 1830 WiFi Drivers (under Modem/Communications and Network).

2) For Thunderbolt stuff, there's Thunderbolt Controller Driver and there's Thunderbolt Firmware update. Do I need both or just the latter ?

3) Are there any drivers on Dell's website which I DON'T need to install (only talking about drivers here) ?

4) Are there any software/applications on Dell's website which I SHOULD install (e.g. Premier Color, Bluetooth application) ?

5) Besides Dell's website, would I need to download drivers from anywhere else ?

Sorry for all these questions .. Just want to setup my new XPS

 

Quick question, should I download the nVidia drivers from Dell's site or directly from nVidia ?

Dell's nVidia drivers are from 26 Nov 2015, while NVidia's are from late last month, however the former's size is bigger by like 75 MB.

 

New BIOS arrived!

 

But the system utility says its "downgrade" and you cant update it

 

1, take note of filenames and don't duplicate, if you use the update page with your service tag it should slim things down a bit. Windows update drags the majority of files down so start with wifi and leave it along for half an hour while it does it's thing, and leftovers in the device manager can normally be sorted by right clicking and update.
2, Firmwares a one off and you may as well do that before any reinstall of the OS as it will never be needed again, it is like a 2nd BIOS if that helps.

3, have a read of my custom ISO thread as it explains what I used (click my sig)

4, Premier colour

5, Manually install "Intel HD530" beta drivers via the device manager, they will install fine on a fresh install but if you already have dell drivers on it will give a mismatch error, Dells drivers are out of date so use >THESE<

And get the latest nvidia drivers, they work well now.

Nvidia, They have everything you need but you can custom install and leave 3D drivers out should you wish.

 

Quite a big update with a fix for fan speeds when using the dock. Anyone got a dock to confirm this?

Bios updated fine for me.

 

Flash takes quite a while. No Speed shift.

 

I did have a 10% hope of seeing Speed Shift but I doubt Dell will add it now.

 

Now that many of you have Dock Station can anyone test if f.lux works on second display if Thunberbolt cable is used (I know it won't with USB cable).

 

Well, i did an update, it seems that they moved the treshold for PHC temp from 60 to 70°C, to keep the fan quiet when connected to dock. So yeah, that fixes that, the system is quieter in idle. I'd still prolly recommend to get a nice notepad cooler with adjustable fan speed, just to keep the air flowing around this thing, atleast while you have it docked. So you can count that one as scratched, me happy.

 

to do:

SST
eGPU

 

Hi, I'm using PremierColor. Have you met with the problem that every time when it started with the system, it reduced the brightness to a very low value? I set the brightness to 50% in the program, did some other adjustments and saved it as a default profile. Every time it kicks in with the system start, it changes the brightness to 17% or something similar. I need to re-apply the profile to change it back to 50%.

 

Yup. So I uninstalled the annoying POS.

 

Been fine for me after I set a custom 17% profile, have you reinstalled it?

 

Will be useful if anyone that suffer Black Screen issue with 1.19 can report his experience with this new BIOS.

 

Which black screen issue? The one on reboot? If so my issue went away.

 

any news if dell will support the eGpu/Razer core?

 

Exactly the same for me, it was changing my brightness up and down like a crazy thing. I miss it like a hole in the head. Complete POS.

But that apart, after 3 weeks or so with my XPS my overall opinion is very positive! Find the lid a little annoying - won't open with one hand, and no lip underneath to help either. 3rd world problem I know, and still a beautiful capable machine imo.

 

sudden black screen using the notebook, and no way out but force shutdown

 

Yes, are they any news?

 

Oh weird, have you tried video drivers directly from intel and nVidia?

 

I can confirm that the new BIOS update fixes ssd performance issues after sleep.

 

I had these after updating to 1.1.19 but installing the latest beta from Intel fixed it

 

Sweet! Is AHCI still the best for performance though?

 

I'm still using raid. Once I uninstalled the Intel rapid storage software (kept the driver), everything is working flawlessly with no BSODs

 

Same on my side, no more performances problem on RAID, performances are very consistent across benchmarks, so I'll stay on raid

 

Do you have the link to the latest beta from Intel please?

Thanks

 

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do.../downloadmirror.intel.com/25848/eng/win64.zip

You will have to manually install this using the device manager, if you don't know how https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/how-to-update-drivers-after-upgrading-to-windows-10/

 

Guys is RAID working better (performance-wise) than AHCI now? (assuming you just have ONE SSD and nothing else)

 

er, if won't be better or worse looking at previous benchmarks. AHCI should be used in any case unless you have a cache drive.

 

What are the chances of getting a eGPU like a Razer Core working with this laptop?
Do you guys think it will be plug and play or would you need some sort of software/Bios update from Dell?

 

SpeedShift? Doesn't exist. Have a look at the Intel site. None of their processors, and especially the ones used in the 9550, have SpeedShift. They are listed with 'Enhanced SpeedStep' instead. Makes you wonder. Seems like Intel used this name only at the start of the marketing campaign, then quickly removed it everywhere.

Makes me also wonder if we have SpeedShift already and just don't know...

 

It's not speedstep, it's a technology that removes the software barrier to cpu power management. The XPS 13 enabled it in a recent BIOS update. The 15 didn't get it.

 

I see. Then hope is not lost...