Dell XPS 15 (Skylake) 9550 Owner's Lounge

The battery is under the touchpad... You might have Dell explore that issue for safety

 

Thanks, for you suggestion i'll do so. I've seen reports about swollen batteries but what really confuses me is that the touchpad recovers the original position so the battery should recover the original size.

 

Heat expands it so it sounds quite normal for a failing battery.

 

I still have 32gb of ram in the for sale section that I would rather see a member get before it ends up on eBay..

 

You were righr, the battery was defective and has been replaced.

Absolutely happy with Dell Customer Service. In 24h a technician has come to my place and replaced the battery without any cost.

 

There are two threads on the official Dell site requesting that Dell enable SpeedShift in BIOS. Dell monitors that site periodically so some noise might help.

SpeedShift requires a simple toggle by Dell. And has been 100% supported by Intel and M$ for the past 18 months. These guys are so damned lazy...

Please post there to get some traction:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/20007733
XPS 9560 Speed Shift - when will Dell enable via BIOS update?
XPS 9550 Speed Shift - when will Dell enable via BIOS update?

 

Some new updates at Dell support... Anybody tested?

Dell Command | Power Manager
Fixes
- Not Applicable
Enhancements
- Added indication for Non-Dell battery
- Added USB type-C alerts
- Updated Group Policy Templates
Version 2.2.0, A00
Release date 10 Mar 2017
Last Updated 11 Mar 2017
(Particularly USB-C chargers and powerbanks?)

ASIX USB to Serial / Parallel Port Driver
Fixes
- Fix issue that system BT may not work after resuming from hibernation.
Enhancements
- Not applicable.
Version 2.0.2.0, A03
Category Docks/Stands
Release date 13 Mar 2017
Last Updated 13 Mar 2017
What is this actually???

 

More updates...

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=02RN8
Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver and Management Console
Fixes
- Fix Windows 10 RS1 DPC Watch Dog Timeout system stability issue.
Enhancements
- Not Applicable.
Version 15.2.10.1044, A05
Release date 15 Mar 2017
Last Updated 15 Mar 2017
(Maybe this fixes some BSOD for those of you using RAID?)

Also the drivers for TB16 and WD15 docks have been "updated", eventhough at least some show the same version numbers???
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/dell-thunderbolt-dock-tb16/drivers
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/dell-dock-wd15/drivers

 

I had some battery issue after upgrading my RAM to 16GB GSkill and SSD to 960 Evo 500GB (fresh Windows 10 Pro installed and drivers from Dell website),
the battery drops to 1% after recovering from sleep even in bios it says 1% left,
randomly freezes when using Chrome and Visual Studio,
I already tested BIOS 1.2.19 and 1.2.18 but same result

 

Random freezing is probably due to Dells intel video drivers, Battery will no doubt be the laptop not really going to sleep.

 

Hey guys question about my dell xps 9550. I have had this for quite some time already.


Specs are


i5-6300 hq cpu @ 2.30 ghz
8gb ram
windows 10 pro


I have a 250gb samsung ssd


This laptop is by far the fastest computer i ever used. One issue i have with this laptop though is it does seem to lag when i open up a ton of chrome tabs. I probably have like 50 tabs at once etc. Most of the time its not that much. I looked at my ram in task manager and most of the time, its using at least 75 percent ram. As of now it shows using 6.2/7.9 ram so about 78 percent ram. Of course when i close all these tabs, then im using less than 40 percent ram. Is this normal?


Should i add more ram to this laptop? Also can someone tell me if i have 1 stick of 8gb on this laptop or do i have 2 sticks of 4gb ram? Im pretty sure its 1 stick of 8gb but just want to be sure.


So if i add ram, best to add 1 stick of 8gb right? Or would 1 stick of 4gb be enough? I mean its already fast but the issue is when i open too much chrome tabs and leave them and open more, well it does lag a bit. So if i have 12gb ram or 16gb ram, does that mean i won't have any of these lags? Would adding more ram mean the current amount of ram being used would increase? Or would it stay the same? Thats assuming my ram now is 12gb or 16gb.


Also is it pretty easy to open this computer up and then put the stick of ram in? Or its complicated for this laptop. Are there ppl that use this laptop and 8gb is more than enough etc?

 

I upgraded from 8GB RAM to 32GB RAM - which helps sometimes.

Two sticks of RAM, get another kit with two sticks. A 16GB kit is good (2x8).

A simple process - many videos on YouTube.

 

What Textbook said really but you can look in the BIOS and it will tell you how many sticks are installed. You could also use something like Aida64 to get the exact stick model number if you have one stick and buy another matching one off eBay, you will save a fair bit of money that way.

Otherwise virtually any twin pack of DDR4 will work in this laptop but as I did you can pickup a paid of modules off eBay called clean pulls that are straight out a new(ish) laptop and basically cheap OEM RAM, I got quite a deal on a 32gb kit Friday

Chrome likes RAM, lots of it. If you have that many tabs open it will use all your ram and start abusing the page file for more to give the system some free ram if needed, this is when things head south speed wise.

You should consider a 32gb kit if you can afford it if not 16.

 

Anybody having issues with the TPM?
There are two updates at the Dell site

Dell TPM 1.2 Firmware Update Utility
This package provides Dell TPM 1.2 Update Firmware and is supported on Dell Latitude/OptiPlex/Precision/XPS series running the following Operating Systems: Windows 7-64bit, Windows 8.1-64bit & Windows 10-64bit
Fixes & Enhancements: Initial Release
Version 5.81.1.0, 5.81.1.0
Release date 22 Mar 2017, Last Updated 22 Mar 2017
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=M1XW4

Dell TPM 2.0 Firmware Update Utility (64 bits), Nuvoton TPM, version 1.3.2.8_V1
This package provides Dell TPM 2.0 Update Firmware and is supported on Dell Latitude/OptiPlex/Precision/XPS series running the following Operating Systems: Windows 7-64bit, Windows 8.1-64bit & Windows 10-64bit
Fixes
- Fixed issue which TPM may become unavailable under Windows because of slow response on start up
- Fixed issue which TPM may become unavailable under Windows after upgrade from version 1.3.0.1 to 1.3.1.0
- Fixed issue which TPM may become unavailable under Windows intermittently in a very rare case, under stress test
Enhancements
- Compatibility improvement for Windows 10 Creators Update
Version 1.3.2.8, A02
Release date 24 Mar 2017, Last Updated 24 Mar 2017
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=RF87D

 

I just got a XPS 9550 version. But i noticed that when i turn of the keyboard backlight i get a high pitch noise on the top left of the keyboard. When i turn the keyboard on full brightness its gone.

Also when the keyboard backlight time out kicks in the sound is audible. When i move with my touchpad and the light goes back on it is gone.

Is this normal or can i fix it?

 

I decided to format my 9550 earlier today and now Window 10 is again NOT detecting my PM951 1tb nvme ssd. I remember I had this problem last time too and then I found some very specific drivers which Windows 10 installer worked with.

Can someone kindly link me to those drivers again through which Windows 10 installer will again detect my PM951 ssd ?

Thanks!

 

You want these https://1drv.ms/u/s!ArTAP9qwiGB0hfl2oUKrwd40B-ALTA

 

In the other thread ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/trying-ahci-mode-xps-15-9550.785081/page-12), isn't it suggested by you to use Samsung NVMe drivers v2.0 ?

 

You asked what drivers to see the drive in the install environment, you need intel storage drivers for that. and as for Samsung it depends if you have issues with 2.1, I don't

 

Thanks for the reply. I don't get something though. Why are two sets of drivers needed to install the same ssd ? Or did you mean to say during during Windows 10 install, I can use the Intel storage drivers to 'see' the drive, and then once Windows 10 is installed, I should install Samsung 2.1 or 2.0 drivers ?

 

Yes m8. If you can't see the drive during install you do the bit where it asks for drivers then point to the intel storage drivers and it will detect the drive and allow the install.

 

And then once Windows is installed, I install the Samsung NVMe 2.1 (or 2.0) drivers, right ?

 

Yes

 

Thanks buddy !

 

New BIOS was released today with following changelog:

Dell XPS 15 9550 1.2.21 System BIOS
1. SUT will show incorrect massage after run DG_Readinesstool_v2.0.ps1 on Enterprise OS
2. Clear TPM Option greyed out in BIOS
3. Enable Attempt Legacy Boot" cannot be enabled in BIOS
4. USB LAN and Audio of IE dock still working after disable Dell Docks and Ext. USB

 

This looks like one BIOS update I don't want-it appears to lock down my XPS?

 

Worked without a problem on mine. I was on 18 before, and did not notice any improvements so far, though.

 

Agreed why are they locking options out?

 

They're fixes not changes. There are some words missing:

Fixes & Enhancements
Fix:
1. SUT will show incorrect massage after run DG_Readinesstool_v2.0.ps1 on Enterprise OS
2. Clear TPM Option greyed out in BIOS
3. Enable Attempt Legacy Boot" cannot be enabled in BIOS
4. USB LAN and Audio of IE dock still working after disable Dell Docks and Ext. USB

 

Is anyone else able to connect to their XPS using anRDP client?
Remote desktop is turned on but I cant connect to it from my ipad. ( I can connect to all other PC's in the house)
The XPS is pingable from the ipad, not sure what else to try!

 

Do you have Win10 Pro?

 

I guess not! Didn't even think to check, all my other PC's just upgraded from win7 to win10

 

Thanks for clearing that up! I'll apply the BIOS update now.

 

Disappointing once again. Included NVM firmware is still 16, with the Apple USB-C to TB adapter not working. Makes me wonder if the hardware is so incompatible that it will stay on 16 forever...

 

I've been playing today with the 9550, a Dell 45W AC charger I got for travel, and a watt-meter.

The good news is that the 45W charger works, and even charges the battery slowly during light use (consumption 15-20W), although the system tray icon says "plugged in, not charging".

The bad news is that the laptop is quite downthrottled, which doesn't change even with a maxed power profile. Downthrottled more than on battery. But in odd ways.

The CPU starts at a low clock, but after a while of load with Prime95, the clock slowly rises, reaching the max 3.1GHz (quickly with a power plan unrestricted on battery - "on battery" values seem to apply despite the wee charger being plugged in). While sucking some power from the battery, because Prime95 on regular AC power eats about 70W.

Trying Heaven, the GPU is lazy, 3FPS with 4K, which is less than the ca 7FPS on battery (54Wh), 15FPS on 130W. So the 45W adapter and the battery don't seem to join their powers. Heaven also eats about 80W on the regular 130W AC charger. I don't care so much for games on the road, but any idea how to convince it otherwise anyway?

Another observation is that the WD15 with the 180W AC charger does feed 130W to the 9550, which is more than the USB-C PD standard limit 100W. Prime95 + Furmark max the 130W, Prime95 + Heaven about 120W, while Furmark alone is around 110W (ran just a few seconds so PL throttling doesn't apply).

Edit: CPU i7, underclocked -150 -150 -100 mV

 

> but any idea how to convince it otherwise anyway?

I mean, in the Advanced settings of Power options, there is:
- Intel graphics settings / Intel graphics power plan
- Processor power management / Max processor state, System cooling policy... (on battery / plugged in)
where I have changed the "on battery" values to those from "plugged in" successfully.

But I don't see anything like this related to the NVidia GPU?
I didn't find anything regarding the "on battery" performance in the NVidia control panel either. Or I've missed something?
I did find power options in the Intel HD graphics control panel, but I don't see any effect in Heaven, likely they don't affect NVidia GPU performance.

 

Switching is set by the nvidia control panel

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

Where? I see general preferences and program-dependent preferences, nothing battery related?

 

No setting for battery, just for programs.
Sorry, I was scanning posts and didn't read it all.

 

Googling a bit it appears to be Battery boost in NVidia Experience, which I don't have installed.
Though I'm not sure if this is it, because it supposedly defaults limit to 30fps, while I'm seeing much less fps (at 4K).

 

Can someone tell me how do I even install barebones Samsung NVMe drivers on Windows 10 ? The ones that come without an installer ?

I have a PM951 1TB SSD installed in my XPS 9550. Currently Windows 10 is using the default Microsoft 6/21/2006 drivers, and for some reason I experience random freezes. When I try to update the driver to Samsung NVMe driver v2.0, I get a message saying "the best drivers are already installed"

What do I do ?

 

extract the bare driver, open device manager & expand storage controllers, right click and properties on the Microsoft NVMe driver, click driver > update driver > Browse > let me pick > have disk > locate said driver and install it.
If it argues click the option to ignore what windows says (can't remember exactly)

 

Under "Storage Controllers", I see these two entries: "Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller" and "Standard NVM Express Controller". For which one should I update the driver based on your instructions ?

 

The nvme one.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

Had terrible crashes with the dell-provided p530 intel graphics driver version 4590. Anyone else see issues? Upgrading to latest Intel driver solved it.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

The 4590 is good for the 9560, it was buggy for me until I cleaned out the drivers with DDU, so far I see a lot of complaints for the 9550 owners using it though.

 

Tried out the new Windows 10 Creator's Update hoping it would finally solve my bluetooth issues. No matter what I have done, I have never been able to get any of my bluetooth headphones to connect consistently. The new Creator's Update just made it worse, so I rolled it back.

 

Guys, is it possible to replace only the display cable in the XPS 15 9550 (1080p)? I have a flickering issue when moving the screen lid and sometimes 2/3 of the screen is black. I really think that the issue is the display cable. I already checked the connection to the motherboard and its ok, so now I would like to check the back of the LCD panel, but its kinda impossible to remove this screen bezel to get access. I dont see the teardown guide for the display part anywhere.

I am trying to not buy the whole screen part.

I dont have the warranty anymore, its an used laptop.

Thank you!

 

You can freely download the service manual from Dell I doubt anyone would make a teardown as it isn't needed (the 9560 is identical if you can't download the pdf any more).
Remove the screen and slide the antenna cover to the right to remove this gives access to the display cable, best to google the manual so you know what you are doing. I am unsure if you can remove the cable though, I never looked into it.

 

Anyone know which key combination on a XPS 9550 keyboard toggles full screen on and off when using VM's in Hyper-V?

Thanks.