Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x - Owners Lounge

Got my XPS 15 on the 19th of this month and I will say that I have been enjoying the experience. I personally found it hard to move away from my old main laptop (XPS 1640) due to the screen being just a bit better and the form/appreance definately superior to the XPS 15.

But I am getting used to it. The machine is fast, quiet (never notice the fan) and sturdy. I have not encountered any heating issues. I play StarCraft II, EVE, Crysis, Call of Duty and other games and have had no problems so far. I have not monitored the temps but have put the laptop on my lap from time to time and I did not feel uncomfortable.

I have been extremely impressed with the battery life. I have not tested it directly, but on the 9 cell battery it just seems to go as long as I need.

These are just my general impressions, will get to more direct testing at a later date.

 

start linking important threads in the OP. like the how to disassemble thread.

 

just curious,

can u play SC2 multiplayer, on high or at least medium settings in 1920x1280?

it probably performs better with a lower resolution... have u found any resolutions where the graphics are almost as sharp (ie. less graininess?)

 

Hey is the top lid and bottom of the laptop really made of aluminum? feels like plastic to me but everywhere else says otherwise such as pcmag

 

I just realized that my left mouse button on the touchpad is a little loose and rattles a bit when I click it. The right mouse button is perfect. Does anybody else have a similar problem with either mouse button and do you know if it's easy to adjust them if you take apart the palm rest?

 

I will give it a try when I get home from work. I brought the Laptop to work but I don't have a non-work internet connection here.

The top of the lid is Aluminum but the bottom of the laptop is plastic.

My touch pad buttons are working as intended, not loose but not loudly clicking either.

 

Did anyone have a chance to check the B+RGLED panel make and model? I'd really appreciate it

 

Device manager reports it as AUO17ED, which suggests it's the same as in the L501x. Is that what you're after?

 

Yes, exactly - the AUO17ED aka B156HW01 V.7, if I'm not mistaken. Thanks once again

 

Have done so, with what links/threads I can find and answers to questions i've seen come up. Is the NoSlow5oh repaste the disassemble thread or is there another?

 

Can you guys check this out. At least let it play for three minutes or so and let me know if you are getting....I can't tell if its fuzziness from the speakers or rattling from the innards of the laptop. From about 80%-100% volume I get it.

YouTube - Beethoven "Moonlight" Sonata op 27 # 2 Mov 3 Valentina Lisitsa

 

The top is described as metalloid aluminium, but I have no idea what that means. Feels kind of aluminiumy. By the bottom, maybe they mean the touchpad / palmrest area? That part is definitely plastic on the inside, not sure what the outside is. The case is basically plastic.

 

Hi, do you guys also have the vibrations on the left of the palmrest, where the HDD is located? I think it's annoying.. Or is this normal?

 

2730 gt525m 3dmark06 ~7000. About right?

 

SO, I just got my XPS 15 yesterday. I was using it today, then suddenly it turns off by itself. The power cord's adapter went out. I tried a different outlet, and the blue light on the power cord went back on. I then plugged it back into the XPS and the light went out. It won't turn on at all. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

 

Not normal. Call dell.

 

Ordered mine on the 15th at night, picked it up from the post office this morning. Super fast service, immediate virus.

 

d2danny sounds like your motherboard fried, call delll and make sure they give you a new part. AND MONEY OFF FOR YOUR INCONVIENCE SERIOUSLY!

 

I Have the ST9500420AS HDD in my new dell xps L502x. I read some things about the vibration of this specific HDD. What HDD do you guys have? WD? Are you feeling vibrations?

 

hey guys,
ive been having slow internet connections and such but the weird thing is when i do a speed test i get 18 down and 1.5 up just as my isp advertises but when i go to youtube or just load a webpge its extremely slow.
any suggestions?
i have the intel 6230 and a dlink dir 655 (with other b/g devices on it too)

 

I did a little research and decided on this cooler: Amazon.com: Thermaltake Massive23 LX Laptop Notebook Cooler Oversized 230mm Blue LED Fan USB CLN0015: Electronics
It's the Thermaltake Massive 23 LX. Looking at the bottom of the computer, I think this cooler's single, large fan will work well, and it's not too expensive.

I ordered my L502 on 22 Feb, and am still waiting for it. Apparently LoJack, which used to be an option, was causing problems, and they had to work those out before they would build the unit.

Is there anybody out there with LoJack? And have you noticed any problems because of it?

 

You should consider the Targus HD3 Gaming Chill Mat. 60 bucks at Best Buy or 40 on Amazon. I got it the day i got my XPS 15. It fits the computer perfectly, has 3 speed adjustable fans that are placed just right for the XPS 15 and are very quiet . It cools the computer so well at high speeds that if you place it on your lap your legs get super cold. Build quality is great ( think i read they have industrial fans ) and looks good. Maybe not as cool as the Thermaltake with the led lights. =). will post up temp

 

Picture is worth a thousand words. http://www.targus.com/us/productdet...rms=&navlevel1=products&cp=&bannertxt=Cooling for Laptops

 

Hey d2daanny!

this sounds a bit like what happened to my acer laptop which i still have waiting for the xps 15.

I think you should try disconnecting the ac adapter for a few minutes, might be overloaded.

also try resetting the power by disconnecting ac adapter, take out battery, hold down power button for 45 sec, plug back in and try again.

in my case the ac adapter was broken, so either try another one or check if the end of the ac adapter outputs the correct voltage with a multimeter.

i ended up opening up the laptop and checking for short circuits from the ac plug and forward, so you could try that too, then again you still have a warranty

good luck! i hope it works!

 

Apparently d2daanny posted his problem on the other L502X thread too and it's been resolved there - MB failure, will be replaced by Dell.

 

The 6230 is hit or miss, the 2.4 sucks. I have the same problem as you, same router as you, dell replaced the card. Still sucks, I pulled it out and installed a 6200. Problems gone. Until I can get a dual band router or better drivers, it will have to stay the way it is. Sorry I ordered the 6230, POS IMO.

 

Woohoo...mine's shipped after 14 days in production. Thing is, it's gone from China to Germany to Kazakstan! (Destination is UK). Does anyone else from the UK know what full path it takes and hence how long? I'm excited!....

 

Seems like it varies - mine went China to Netherlands to Hackney to me. I have seen people track them to Germany and Kazakhstan first. For me the 4 days from being with the courier to being here was bang on.

 

So I did a test with SC2 last night. Native resolution, high details, ran well.
Ran a couple 2v2 on different maps. This of course is why I got the i7 2820QM processor, it performs very well with alot of units on the field. (the physics for each unit is typically calculated in the CPU)

Heat was not an issue, didn't have the laptop on my lap but the only hot spot was the vent at the side. The palm rest was not hot to the touch.

In one of the games I told my opponents I was testing my system so they both zerg rushed me. I am pretty sure that the system didn't dip below 30fps. Something I know my old laptop could never do. Needless to say, I am very happy.

 

Doesn't sound bad to me - nothing that'd i'd say is a buzzing part of the case or anything muffled - sounds pretty bright. Not sure whether you're looking for a golden ears type answer though

 

We said already that Dell doesn't provide additional antenna cables for WWAN, unless the card is ordered with the laptop. But can any L502X owner take a look under the bottom cover and actually confirm it has only WLAN antennas and no WWAN ones (black/gray and white/gray)? Unless of course you have a WWAN card - in that case don't bother Thanks!

 

I can confirm. No extra ant. wires.

 

Got it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

I ordered mine on the 17th March, slightly customised to 1080p screen, 6230 with BlueTooth, and a few other bits and bobs. Dispatched 24th March via Incheon, Korea and Koeln, Germany - for expected delivery on the 28th. I suspect had it not been a weekend it might have been here tomorrow (26th) which considering the 8th April predicted delivery is amazing. Very impressed so far. I'm guessing they send the laptops out on whichever is the most efficient upcoming route, be it Korea, Kazahkstan, Holland or Germany. As long as it gets here I don't care that much!

Having followed the L501X owners lounge I will report back on arrival. Shame I have to take a whole day off to receive it!

 

The Intel 6300 and antenna wires are available at Amazon, Amazon.com: Laptop Notebook Wifi Bluetooth WWAN/EVDO/HSDPA Broadband Internal Antenna: Electronics

 

Nice find, Rick 64D! I've just found a reseller for these wires in my country

 

Can anyone point me to the driver which allows multitouch on the the l502x touchpad? It isn't the touchpad driver on the dell website, unless something else wen't wrong that I don't understand...

 

oops, cant delete

 

I had a question. Which HDD do you have in your XPS15? Someone also has the ST9500420AS? How are the vibrations?

 

I have been listening to pandora for a few hours now and it seems like I get the vibrations mostly on piano music, because it has complex chords with a lot of bass I guess. IDK. Almost all other music sounds great...Coheed, Floyd, Mutemath, tons of other stuff that was coming up. All sounded great but as soon is this one piano song came up....it starting the horrible vibrating/rattling/fuzziness again. It was this song by Ryan Stewart called released. YouTube - Released (Susan's Song) - A Ryan Stewart Original ??????????????

This youtube of it isn't the best quality but it demonstrates what I am talking about anyway. Even the studio version that popped up on pandora was doing the same thing.

 

The driver disk that came with my XPS 15 didn't include the drivers for the touchpad. I went to the dell support site and downloaded the touchpad drivers from there. After that multi-touch was activated. (two finger zoom in/out, two finger scroll...etc)

not sure why the drivers were not on the disk. Love the touch pad, very responsive and customizable.

 

Dell XPS L502X review - Expert Reviews 19th March 2011

"This is the best laptop you can buy."

This changes everything...haha

 

Is anyone having any problems with your dell xps 15 recognizing the Nvidia GeForce GT540M Graphics Card? I did the free edition of FutureBenchmark but it only sees the Intel Graphics Card that comes with the dell xps. even with my games as well and the HWMonitor. Any ideas?

 

Yes - turn it on! Right click on the home screen - NVidia Control Panel - Manage 3D settings - Program Settings -

Select program from list or add one manually.
Select High-Performance NVidia Processor.

Apply. Done. That should do it. Let us know how u get on.

 

Here are some pictures of Batman Arkham not working...

 

Cool, let me try that. thanks

 

ONLY problem is you can not use 2 button middle mouse button.

 

Hmm your right. Never used that feature before so I guess thats why I missed it. You could try getting drivers from the Synaptics site directly. Worth a try.

 

is there a way to turn off bluetooth?

 

Anybody have issues with the wireless networks that the L502x can see? I have a Lenovo W510 sitting right next to my L502x, and also a Vostro 1510.

The Lenovo sees 6 wireless networks (2 of them are in my house, both full bars).

The Vostro sees 4-5 wireless networks. 1 of my networks are 4/5 bars, the other one 5/5 bars.

My L502x shows 1 wireless network, 3/5 bars, and that is from the wireless router that is literally 3 feet away. It sees no other networks. If I move more than 20 feet, or a wall away, I can no longer connect.

I plan on contacting dell support tomorrow for this, but if anybody has encountered this, your advice would be helpful. I have already tried both Intel.com drivers and the ones on the support.dell.com website.