Dell XPS 15 L501 Thread

I am in the UK and thinking of configuring a XPS 15, do all the models in the UK of the XPS 15 (including the base configuration for £529) come with the JBL speakers and subwoofer?

Also, if I am primarily going to be using it to watch films and media content (mkv, youtube, flash based sites), is it better for me not to opt for the i5 and go for the i3 with 3GB ram?

 

If you just check out the configurations, you'll see that every configuration has JBL speakers built in. It belongs to the model.

And well if you have the money for it, I'd always go with the i5. But for your working purposes, i3 would suffice.

 

I've been going through several pages of this thread trying to find info on the difference in performance between the i5 460m and 560m and have not come across any.

Can anyone please tell me what kind of performance difference there is between the two? It would be much appreciated.

 

The ICC Profile for XPS15/L501 is available via notebookcheck.

http://www.notebookcheck.com/uploads/tx_nbc2/dell_xps15_fhd_wled_spyder3.icm

 

I would really like to get the XPS 15 with the 1080p display but there are a couple of items that are of concern.

1. It sounds like a lot of people are having heat issues

2. The XPS line seems poorly designed. Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you can't access anything from the bottom except maybe the ram. No access to the hard drive, cooling fan, cpu, graphics card, wireless card..etc
I always like to clean the fan about twice a year and if you have to tear the whole thing down to do so...well that a poor design imo...plus it puts all the heat against the palmrest/keyboard.

I'm currently using an Asus that has a good layout with everything easily accessible...



The laptop I had before the Asus was a HP with the same design as the xps dell line, with everything buried underneath, and it had constant heat issues....I had to send it in for repair 3 times before they finally replace the cooling system and it only lasted me 2 years before it died...so you can see why I'm paranoid about these issues.

I guess if your okay with tearing the whole thing apart to clean the cooling fan and ports, this wouldn't bother you much...but for me, it would too much hassle and a potential deal breaker.

 

Yes it is behind the left side of the screen. Why didn't they put in on with the lights for battery charging and wifi.

 

Not quite. Yes, you do have to tear the entire laptop down, including removal of the display, no it's not as difficult as it sounds. The heat issue is a Q.C. problem, not everyone is having the issue. The CPU/GPU and heatsync are located on the bottom of the MB if i remember correctly. yes it is a pita to do an HDD upgrade because it is not "user" replaceable by Dell's standards, however it is accessible, you just have to do more than remove a plate to get to it.

I had an old compaq R4000 that you had to remove the keyboard on to get to the second ram stick, and I've seen other designs that were worse (like some of the old macbooks where you had to tear it down to get to the HDD). It's not fun but doable with a couple hours of time, the hardest part is removing the palm rest in that you have to be careful not to scratch it during removal. I used my MCSA card to do it without scratches.

 

When you say the HDD is not "user" replaceable, does that mean replacing it would void the warranty? I ordered the XPS with the assumption that the HDD would be replaceable, but after reading the service manual I realized how difficult it actually is, and I don't mind going through the extra trouble to replace it as its something I imagine I wouldn't have to do more than once or twice, but if it voids my warranty thats a whole different story. Overall from what I have been reading the laptop seems to be a good solid performer and good value for money, but I am a bit disappointed with the accessibility of the internal parts.

 

Well while everyone's on the topic of replacing stuff, I just ordered my XPS 15 on friday I got the 1080 screen, but I held off on the Blue-ray w/r .

* This will be the first dell I've ever purchased, is their design going to make it difficult to replace the optical drive in the future?

(I was just planning on waiting til the prices came down a bit more before I got into blue ray)


*Also in the opinions of those who know better than me (ie... probably you) with an overclock can the 420m be comparable to the ati 5650?

I was seriously torn between the xps15 and the dv6tse, I really enjoy gaming, but I also wanted something with a decent battery life. The xps finally won out because of the sweet screen. But I almost feel like I may have shot myself in the foot for gaming performance. Also for those that have the laptop already, is optimus really helping, I keep hearing people, even reviewers stating it's not doing a whole lot. While I see people raving about the 5650 switching.

*If its not that great, is that something that could be fixed with a driver update?

 

I have the exact same thoughts as your with respect to the swapping of the blu ray later on. I hope its easy. I was also considering the HP DV6TSE, I am not a gamer, but I need mine for programming and design stuff, but the reason I eventually decided to get the XPS over the HP is from reading the forums there, I found a lot of people were unhappy with the screen quality and the trackpad seems to be a bit buggy and defect rate on the HPs seemed a bit higher and I am not in the US so its not easy for me to return laptops, so that scared me off.

Also I like to multi-task a lot and usually have lots of tabs and windows open and I am constantly switching between stuff, so I need all the screen real estate I can get. I currently use a monitor with a 1050 p resolution and as an experiment I set the resolution to 768p to see if I could work with it, but it was nightmare for me, although lots of people are okay with resolution.

I hope some update to the drivers later on can fix the little issue I have been seeing with optimus in terms of the flash video flickering and the fact that it doesnt really seem to do much to improve the battery life.

Probably if the envy 14 was still available with the 900p screen I would take a chance on that for the nice balance between power, size and battery life, but I don't think I would be able to function with a 768p screen.

 

Thats why i ordered mine to the Uk then i will pick it up when i go back at christmas. I am in Peru at the moment and when i used their site it came to almost twice the price as UK. From that point of view the £20 upgrade to 1080 in Peru really doesn,t matter. I just hope when mine comes all will be fine with the hardware after that i forgo the warranty and pay very cheap labour to tech experts here to fix anything.

 

Same for me, I am ordering mine from the US and will transfer the warranty to Dell Latin America when I get it. Plus that way I can get a backlit keyboard as well which is not currently available in Dell Latin America.

 

How do you go about transfering a Warranty? got any links to the information?

 

Here you go

Let me google that for you

 

haha thanks first time i have seen that,guess i was being a bit lazy and how often have i said to people "did your mum not teach you to google before you speak" lol

 

I have a refurbished low-spec dv6tse, which I will be returning later this week. My XPS 15 is due to arrive this week also. I rejected the dv6t because of the touchpad, which is problematic even after making adjustments, and unhappiness with the row of extra keys on the left side of the keyboard. It also had a physical assembly defect. I also really wanted the R+GBLED FHD screen of the XPS 15. dv6tse pricing was very good, with the coupons HP has available regularly.

Now I'm waiting to see if I am disappointed in anything about the XPS 15!

Any laptop is full of compromises. It's all a matter of deciding which compromises are acceptable and which are too painful to bear.

I can't help with gaming questions though, as I don't do gaming.

 

I have been closely following XPS 15 forums and really tempted to buy the FHD for my XPS15 (India)
I would be watching movies,videos,surfing and also I like playing games but I donot play graphic intensive/recent games.I am a medium to light gamer like NFS most wanted,carbon half life left for dead(most of them are 2008/2009 games )
But I don’t understand what u guys are talking “playing games at native resolutions”.
Can I play my games in good settings(FHD settings)Please suggest whether FHD is worth it..??

 

The games you mentioned can be played in FHD.

Native resolution of FHD is 1080p or 1080 x 1920

& trust me FHD is worth buying. It's really sweet

 

Agree. It's worth it abhishek2807, for your purposes!

 

I have just received my XPS 15 in India with an FHD and GT 420M. From what I have found the card doesnt have that much in it to play heavier games at FHD. But they run fine at HD (720p). I have tried Crysis Warhead at High (Gamer) settings at 720p at .. runs perfectly. NFS MW doesnt support widescreen resolutions so it runs with black panels on the sides but it runs fine at high settings.

Gaming or no gaming, i think the FHD is definitely worth it.. you have to see it to believe it. I think almost everyone in this thread who has seen this screen is vouching for it and that says something.

 

Just now got the laptop
typing from it
Its easy to type and the keys are pretty comfy
Need to do other tests now
Initial impressions are really good

 

Well I ordered mine without FHD. Am I going to be totally disappointed? Can I connect an FHD independent monitor to my XPS 15?

I ordered mine yesterday from Tennessee, USA. They are building it I guess.


Craig

 

No you're not going to be totally disappointed but the standard panels aren't good. It depends what you are used to and what you expect from a good laptop...
Maybe you can connect a independent monitor to your XPS but you'll lose the warranty by doing so.

 

Does anyone know where it is assembled? For Europe, DELL used to do it in Ireland.

 

For Europe in Shanghai.

 

I may be wrong, but I think he may be speaking about an external computer monitor via HDMI or something like that, if thats the case then that won't void the warranty, if he is speaking about replacing the display with another display then yup that would void the warranty.

 

I was asking about using an external computer monitor. I was worried since the unit does not have a VGA port.

Right now I'm using a Toshiba Satellite P205 T2130 with a 17 inch display. Is the dell display worse than my Satellite? (this Toshiba Satellite features a large, bright 17-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1440 x 900)

More on my present display. I was hoping for a better display, but maybe not.

Screen, Video & Audio
This Toshiba Satellite has a 17-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 256 MB of shared video memory. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.


Thanks all,
Craig

 

I ordered an FHD screen but I have not received it as yet, so i really cannot tell you much about it nor have I seen the regular 720p screen.

The link below has some discussions with the Pointus Navigator who has the regular screen and says its a good screen, as well as some discussions further down on if its worth the upgrade price to the 1080p screen. He might have some more useful info on the subject for you.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/533544-dell-xps-15-l501-owners-lounge-38.html

 

Thanks Spawn!

 

Interesting. I found this: (I wonder if XPS 15 uses IPS Panels)

Re: HD WLED Glossy display vs. 720p WLED display
It's very confusing. From what I figured out using google is that studio laptops use IPS Panels. However I'm not sure of this & you could try to ask this by calling dell. Ask in a negative manner. For example, call them & say: dell studio uses TN Panel right?
If you ask a direct question, they may be tempted to reply in a way that is beneficial for their company.

Just in case you don't know, IPS (in plane switching) panels are used in high end displays. they are capable of displaying 8 bit per channel or 24bit true colour. The normal monitors that we see around us are TN (twisted nematic) panels. They are capable of displaying 6bit per channel i.e. 18bit colour. That's the reason IPS panels are expensive.
__________________
The dumbest things you've heard related to computers!!! - Page 32 - Digit Technology Discussion Forum - Tech Discussion Forums in India

human body in html: Human Body in HTML [Geek Fun] | Tech Dreams

 

So whats the verdict on the 435m? is it better of slower than the 5730?

 

and even more info:

Laptop with decent display for photo editting
I understand that most laptop displays are 6 bit TN panels and therefore are not suitable for applications requiring high color fidelity.

I'm just a normal uni student who likes photography so I'll be content if the display has acceptable color accuracy for photo editing. (I plan to get a Datacolor Spyder 3 Express for simple calibration)

I've done a brief research and so far this is what I found:

8 bit RGB LED display: Dell Precision M6500, Alienware M17X (These are far too expensive!)
6 bit RGB LED display: Discontinued
B+RG LED display: The new Dell XPS 15

So in summary the cheapest laptop I found with what seems to be a decent display is the new Dell XPS 15... So I was wondering is there anything cheaper that has a decent FHD screen?

So, does only the FHD screen have the B+RG LED display.

 

Yes, that is why only that option actually has B+RG written beside it in the configuration page on Dell's site.
If it isn't written there on Dell's site, it ain't there.

 

Ah, OK... I'm getting edumacated.. thanks sprtnbsblplya, I appreciate the learning.... ; )


Craig

 

OK, this will be the last post on the 1366x768. Well... you guys (and gals) made me worried. I just spent $1000 on a laptop computer and I would like a nice display with it!

I saw this review. For me, this will put my questions to bed until I receive my machine.. LOL


-Craig


The Dell XPS 15 is built for play as well as work, and an essential part of any entertainment laptop is the screen. A widescreen 15.6-inch display is in place here and is definitely a highlight.Although the XPS 15's 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution is nothing special, and doesn't make the most of high-definition films, we found contrast levels were superb with truly black blacks. Colours are also realistically reproduced which brings photographs and video to life.The true widescreen aspect ratio is what we expect of mid- to high-end laptops these days, perfect not just for watching films, but for working on documents side-by-side also. The XPS 15's display is bright enough to make working late a more comfortable experience, but the reflective Super-TFT coating is a pain in bright conditions and means fiddling with your accounts or watching DVDs should be conducted indoors.

 

Believe it or not, Dell has no idea what battery goes in the XPS 15, since it's so new. Could be months before they start to stock them. Could someone check your battery (preferably a 6 cell) and see what part number is on it? Hopefully it will be interchangeable with what Dell already stocks. Thanks!

 

Hi what is average battery life for xps 15 with i5-460...nvidia 420..720p display...backlit keyboard..
For 6 and 9 cell battery...under normal usage...internet...music..office work etc....(NOT gaming)

I m computer grad. Main usage areas I guess....office stuffs...media...internet...coding..
Is 1080p required?? I m not much into HD movies or Gaming..its worth 120$..

 

Thank you for that info.

It's much apppreciated.

I've been asking this question on another thread,
but no FHD B+RG LED screen owner is willing to answer it.

Based on benchmarks/reviews of the GT420M/GT435M on other websites,
1366x768 is the proper resolution for those GPU's capabilities.

So, I definitely agree with your review.

How is the screen quality when you downscaled to 720P to play games?
Is the screen pixelated/blurry? Or is the screen still sharp
at the 1366x768 resolution?

I'm on the fence on which screen to configure, (720P) or (1080P),
before I purchase an XPS 15. Knowing the FHD B+RG LED screen's
downscaled quality at 1366x768 is the deciding factor for me.

 

He won't lose warranty by connecting an external monitor.

 

Any response to this question?

I'm interested too ...

 

I believe it does not, I dont think any mobile chipsets support this

 

For displayport and hdmi connections what resolutions are supported
specifically can the displayport drive these Dell monitors ?

u2711 (2560x1440)
u3011 (2560x1600)
​

genercially displayport supports 2560x1600 but maybe firmware on laptop
imposes lower restriction.
[dell generic info on displayport Information on the DisplayPort? Digital Display Interface | Dell
]
Cheers, Paul

 

I think why this question has gone unanswered for such a long time is because its hard to answer. How good is the scaling is a personal perception but I will try give my views.

Most of you probably know this but for the sake of clarity - If a screen is not functioning at its native resolution i think technically the next best scaling will be at exactly half the resolution i.e. w/2 x h/2 coz in that case 2 screen pixels will map to 1 content pixel. In any resolution in between there can not be any direct mapping and there will be sharing of content pixels in between screen pixels and thus what we see as blurring. So at 1366x768 you can not ever get a very sharp screen from a FHD display. But considering the high density of the pixels in the FHD screen that blur seems to be not that prominent to me (again personal perception). This blur will thus happen not just in gaming but everywhere when the display is running at a non-native resolution.

In whatever little gaming I have done till now I have found the 1366x768 or 720p resolutions to be very comfortable. I am not an extreme gamer so for my purposes it serves more than well. But I would say that dont just judge completely on resolution. I think its not just the FHD which sets it apart but its color reproduction and some other things. I think I read in anandtech review that it covers 98% of AdobeRGB color gamut, which means that it can produce colors which other screens (with less gamut coverage) just cant. have a look here
Dell XPS L501x: An Excellent Mainstream Notebook - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News
And its not just numbers. i think you can easily feel the difference visually.

So i cant give a verdict on scaling but I would say that if FHD comes under your budget then i think its worth it.

 

^ totally agree!

and just to add to these comments, I have been playing COD BO, MOH 2010 and BFBC2 at 1280x720 and the scaling has been much better than my previous Envy 15 1080p, Envy 14 900p radiance or sxps 1640 1080p panels

 

Hey all the XPS owners out there!
i have decided on buying a dell xps 15 L501X with this config in India:
XPS L501X
Intel® Core? i7-740QM Processor (1.73GHz, 4Core/8Threads, turbo boost up to 2.93Ghz, 6M
cache)
15.6 FHD (1920x1080) B+RGLED display with TrueLife?
Anodized Aluminium LCD Back Cover (WLAN)
4GB (2GBx2) 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
Tray Load Blu-ray BD-ROM / DVD + /-RW Combo Drive
Intel Wireless Driver(6200/6300)
2GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 435M graphics with Bluetooth
Waves MaxxAudio V3.0 audio enhancements software
Intel WiFi Link 6200 (802.11a/g/n) Half Mini-card
Dell? Backlit Keyboard with Touchpad (English)
Genuine Windows(R) 7 Home Premium 64bit (English)
McAfee(R) Security Center - 30 Days Trial Version
1-year XPS Premier Service with 1-year CompleteCover

My budget is 70k INR(thats around $1500).
i am a moderate gamer and i want it mainly for games like NFS shift, COD black ops and crysis, far cry 2 stuff. can i pay these games with medium-high resolution with this config?
please suggest if this config will suffice. should i go for a 6 GB or 8 GB RAM upgrade?
how much difference will it make if i choose core i7 840 QM processor which is costing around 27k INR (around $600) more?

PS: i would appreciate it if any of you notebook geeks could advice.

 

Your config looks pretty good. I think you can play all those games at medium resolution with high or ultra high settings depending on the game.

For RAM - Unless you multitask with heavy applications or do a lot of 3D modelling or Video encoding work i think 4GB RAM is enough for all current heavy applications. I doubt you will be playing COD with a Photoshop session open in the background. As the apps/games get heavier you an always add more RAM later.

i7 840 QM - Not an processor expert but I dont think the performance difference is worth the price difference considering there are hardly any applications in market which can exploit the 4 cores and are optimised for parallel processing.

 

Thanks aman. yeah i wont be doing a lot of multi-tasking. and about the processor,i too think the price difference is not worth it.

 

Yeah, dell charge stupid amounts for cpu/ram upgrades. There is hardly any real world difference between the 740 and 840 and you can upgrade the ram yourself in the future if you want 6/8gb and save a fortune

 

I ordered mine with the lowest ram and hard drive. 4 GB ram and 500GB HD .
I had 2 4gb DDR3 Kingston Ram chips waiting for when my XPS arrived and did the swap even before booting it up for the first time. Cost me approx $100 for the 2 4GB ram sticks .. and I have the 2 - 2GB it came with for another use.. or to sell on ebay or something.
Like Ninja says Dell likes to charge a silly amount for upgrades like this.

If I need more space in the future I will swap out the drive, but for now 500GB is adequate

M

 

My XPS15 just arrived. Time to do some comparisons.