Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x - Owners Lounge

spent 1/2 an hr trying to shove a hdd caddy into the optical bay...then realized they sent me the wrong one. there is a black tab stopping the caddy from sliding in

other then that, awesome laptop!

 

it happens all the time. I even looked inside the high performance power plan and made sure wifi was at maximum.
just read somewhere to turn off wireless n mode...now i get 10 mbps dl and 4 ul... by turning off n, i get better speed...what is this i dont even

 

Dell needs to get a fix out for this issue,I know of the workaround,I.e (turn off N)They even sent some owners a usb adapter and told them they're working on a fix soon.This has been on the Dell forums for months.I don't have that issue but I hope they get you going soon.By the way the time wasted with Dell tech's is an unfortunate common occurrence.

 

That's kinda why I asked for help here first. Anyway, now that my wifi speed isn't ridiculously slow, I gotta say I freaking love this laptop. I got it refurb so i had to sacrifice the 9 cell in favor of a better deal, but otherwise the thing lightning fast, handles any program with gusto, and can competently handle pretty much any game on lowered settings. (for anyone planning on buying, get the 1080p screen, you will love it).

 

anyone calibrate their 1080p screen? or is it unnecessary and fine out of the box?

 

I just bought a l502x from the outlet. I really wanted the 9-cell battery but the one I found was a good deal and only had a 6-cell, so I settled for that. Is there any way I could get them to upgrade it to a 9-cell and pay the difference?

 

Dell upgraded my 6 cell to a 9 cell for free yesterday. I have had the XPS 15 for bout two weeks. I love the 9 cell, it lasts forever

 

How? (10char)

 

Is anyone getting slight tearing when the it goes from welcome screen to the desktop? My screen is the 1080p b+rgled model it also tears when I turn off the display

 

My SXPS does that every once in awhile but I haven't seen it happen on my XPS.

 

I get the impression the 1366x768 screen is bad so does anyone know how the GT540M manages playing Witcher 2 at 1080p?

 

You play in 1366x768 or 1280x720, ON the 1920x1080 display.

Note that the sheer differences in quality between the 1366x768 and 1920x1080 displays more than make up for any minimal amount of blur associated with running in a lower resolution. Games look better running in non-native-res on the 1920x1080 display than they look running in native-res on the 1366x768 display.

 

I finally sold my xps l501x and ordered a l502x with the specs mentioned below. btw is there anyone that plays mw2 multiplayer here? playing at 1080p with shadows off and specular map off how is the performance?

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz

6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory

15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080) and Skype-Certified 2.0MP HD Webcam

NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus

 

Has anyone figured out how to connect the "Mini Display Port" to analog VGA connections (e.g. a projector)? I have a "Mini Display Port"->VGA adapter (this one - Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter - Apple Store (U.S.)), but it doesn't work with an analog projector via VGA connection.

I verified that the projector's VGA connection is functioning with another laptop and I also verified that my "Mini Display Port"->VGA adapter in my XPS L502x works on a newer monitor's VGA connection (this monitor also has DVI and HDMI connections which I did not use in this test).

It just doesn't work with analog projectors via VGA connection. Help!!!

This is a real pain because everywhere I travel, the only connections people have in their conference rooms is to VGA projectors.

 

What brand and model is the other laptop that you used to test the adapter?

 

The other laptop (a Dell Vostro 1500) had a builtin VGA connector, so it just worked. Let's call this "Test #1 to verify that the projector and projector's VGA connection work".

Test #2 was the test to make sure the "Mini Display Port" in my L502x plus my "Mini Display Port"->VGA adapter work. This I verified because they connect fine to the VGA connection on the monitor at my desk.

But the part where I am stumped is why doesn't the "Mini Display Port" + adapter + projector work?

 

I posted before, you need an active adapter to covert digital signal to analog signal which is very costly.

So, you basically attached a vga cable between the Vostro and the projector.

You might need a different active adapter, as it could be the you have is not working.
Try testing your adapter on a different laptop with a mini displayport that isn't Apple to see it if it works.

Note: I never seen an Apple branded displayport adapter to work with a non-Apple product as source.

 

This question has been asked several times, but I never saw anyone say they succeeded: On the "My Dell Downloads" link from the first post, I hang forever with "Examining your computer, please wait ...".

If I go to the Dell Drivers & Downloads page and have it scan for my service tag, it succeeds and the tag matches the one on the sticker on the bottom of my XPS-15. I don't find a link to the "My Dell Downloads" page from there, however, so I see no way to enter pre-scanned.

My system was purchased from the Outlet, if that makes any difference.

So did anybody have the same problem as me and ultimately solved it?

 

Hey all,

I got a call from my local carrier, they said I will get my laptop tomorrow between 9am-1pm, hopefully this 3rd replacement won't have any issues for sometime.

 

Hello
Can You create for me profile with brightness set to 120?
Thank You.

 

How do you disable the zoom in zoom out function on the touch pad? Keep doing it by accident on desktop and all my icons keep getting rearranged - Annoying - thanks

 

Start - Search for Mouse - Last Tab Synaptic Settings

Bonus: Download this mod for way better two finger scrolling. Besure to disable two finger scrolling in the same settings before running the mod below.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...oll-two-finger-scrolling-done-right-more.html

 

Thanks for your help - does the mod for two finger scrolling work for Dell as looks to be for HP? maybe wrong

 

It works for Synaptic based touchpads (found on 90% of all modern laptops)

 

I don't understand why they changed from the single finger scroll form the edge of the mouse pad to the double fingered scrolling which I find a lot more annoying! However I only recently found out that there is a setting where you can change it back to "normal" Oh happy days!

 

Anyone care to comment on the battery life with a six cell? Would it be suitable for school?

 

Anyone could do me a favor and listen carefully to your power brick? Mine produces a very fine noise, like a watch ticking (as a matter of fact at first I thought it was my wrist watch). The ticking only comes when the brick is attached to the laptop. Dell sent me a replacement next day, but the new power brick does the same. I hate asking them for another replacement if not necessary. Can you check your power bricks and let me know? Thanks!

 

i just got my motherboard swapped out and my fan is constantly spinning do i do? ive upgrade bios. put bios at default settings and thats all i can think of.

 

Will this be easy to un-install if I don't like it? I'd be really psyched to have the two finger scrolling not suck, but I'm not sure if I can live without pinch-to-zoom (or with even worse pinch-to-zoom, which apparently doesn't work great with the mod.) Thanks for posting this, though, I'm pretty interested to try it.

 

Just an EXE file. Don't use it if you don't want. No one is forcing you. It is not a new driver installation, and nothing is difficult to uninstall.

 

Did I sound ungrateful? Didn't mean to. I'm just a noob and don't want to do something that would be complicated to un-do. Thanks for the link, I'm psyched to try it.

To mazyarjr re: the power brick-- mine is totally silent, but I've got the large one that goes with the 9 cell battery.

 

My Apple adapter connecting to VGA definitely works on my monitor, using VGA. So the adapter works fine and the Mini-Display port + adapter is definitely capable of working.

Today I did another test and was able to connect through Mini-Display port + adapter to the VGA connector of a newer projector.

My hunch now is that if the projector or monitor is new enough to take as input a digital signal, then it is somehow works. I don't know the following:

1) Does the Mini Display Port output a digital or analog signal?
2) Are newer projectors/monitors capable of receiving a digital signal on their VGA inputs?

If the answer to #1 is "digital" and the answer to #2 is Yes, then that explains this behavior. And it means that there is no way for this laptop to display to an analog-only projector without an active conversion adapter as you say. That is my working hunch.

It does work, both on my monitor and on the newer projector described above.

 

I have a similar problem with the gap too. Simplest way to reproduce the problem is by locking the computer (windows key + L) or when I shut down MSN Messenger.

Any ideas?

 

Mine does the same thing. I don't really hear it unless I've got the power brick sitting right next to me.

 

I don't hear any noices coming from the power brick (connected or otherwise).

 

An update on the power adapter. Mine is completely silent now, the ticking is gone. Nothing has changed, I'm still running on wall power like I was before. It may have something to do with the quality of power coming through the outlet, and that may vary from time to time. I've also read someone saying that it only happened using certain power outlets in their home and not others.

 

Yes, the mini display port on the xps is digital only.

-----

You managed to attach a Mini display adapter on a Dell Vostro 1500

pc (source) -> m-DP adapter -> VGA monitor (output)

 

Hey, thanks for the update, and also, thank you jjgajria for checking it. Much appreciated and repped!
Dell offered me to send the laptop back to them for a check but I can't afford to part with my laptop with all the work I have, so I guess I'll just have an eye on the power brick and see how it goes...

 

Picked up a refurb while Dell outlet was having a sale.

The XPS 15 was the laptop I've wanted for several months but it wasn't in my budget. I couldn't pass up this deal, should arrive late this week or early next. It's a modest machine but I have modest needs. I may do some upgrades down the road, but we'll see.

Intel Core i3-2310M processor (2.10 GHz)
Windows 7 Home Premium
XPS L502X
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
4 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB graphics
15.6 in HD WLED TL (1366x768)
6 Cell Primary Battery
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
Internal Backlit Keyboard - English
Hardware Upgrade 125V Power Cord
130W A/C Adapter, 3P
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Operating System DVD
Microsoft Office Starter


One question: Why would they put ECC memory in this machine?

 

Unless that was $500, it wasn't worth it.

 

the i3's really aren't that great, they can't overclock themselves when needed. If you just want it for websurfing it would be ok though.

and the screen isn't FHD. Its what makes the XPS 15 stand out from other notebooks. If it weren't for the FHD I would have gone with another model or even brand personally.

I didn't even know you could put ECC in these, don't they have different pins than ddr3 sodims? maybe a typo?

nevermind. still 204 pin, I guess just fully buffered isn't compatible. Interesting.

 

The i3 is fine for most things, usually you won't notice a performance disadvantage with the 2310M,

though the FHD screen is important for three reasons:
- The B+RGLED FHD screen is very good quality
- The 1920x1080 resolution of the FHD screen lets you fit a lot more onscreen (makes a big difference)
- The 1366x768 LCD Dell uses for the stock screen in the XPS 15 is the AUO B156XW02 and it's one of the worst quality screens available. It's worse than most budget-class laptop screens.

 

Gotta love the hate

Just b/c it's my first post doesn't mean I'm a noob.

I'd love to have the FHD screen but it simply wasn't in my budget. The i3 is a fully capable cpu and gets a bad rap. As far as spending over $500, I'd like to see some links where I can get the same specs for that price with NBD 1 year service. Until then, talk is just talk.

BTW I spent $549 for the laptop.

A great welcome to the forum

Quote:
If you paid any more than $500 for that laptop, it's not worth it. All your configuration is, is basically a low-end budget class laptop with better speakers and a GPU, and that's it.
That describes my needs perfectly (note: "modest" in OP).

Any explanation for the ECC memory or just a typo?

 

double post

 

I'm pretty sure it's a typo.

ECC isn't cheap.

 

You don't know what type of panels Dell is CURRENTLY using. We know there was another better panel being used, and for all you know that could be the main panel being used now.

Also, I can't say for sure since I've never seen that 1366x768 AUO screen in person (have you?), but I have a feeling the quality is not as bad as you're making it out to be. It's an exaggeration that has just grown and spread around here, mostly by people who have never even seen the screen themselves.

As for the resolution, yeah it can be nice to have all those pixels, but there are drawbacks as well to cramming that many pixels on a relatively small laptop screen. Windows is really not meant for such a high res screen, and many casual users don't need the high res screen and I think might actually prefer the lower res and not having to deal with the quirks of Windows scaling to fix the tiny text.

I'm just saying, let's not go dissing people and trying to make them out as stupid because they decide to save some money and go with the standard screen. It's still a nice laptop when you consider the prices you can get these for in the Outlet. $550 for a nicely built laptop with discrete graphics, backlit keyboard, and fantastic speakers. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

I have seen it in person, and thought it was considerably worse than other screens. There are also a few pictures of it: Link
It is highly likely they are still using the same screen, because everyone who's received the 1366x768 screen lately on these forums has had this particular screen model number show up when they ran HWInfo.

Regarding the resolution, 1366x768 is rather low for a 15-inch screen if you consider that it's the same resolution used in 11-inch, 12-inch, and 13-inch laptops. A lot of people don't need Windows DPI scaling anyway if they've already used a smaller laptop with the 1366x768 resolution. 1920x1080 in 15.6" makes text only a hair smaller than 1366x768 in 11.6" like the Macbook Air's screen.

"Casual users" actually benefit more from the high res screen than they benefit from anything else because the screen resolution turns out to be the only thing that really affects their usage. Having space to fit side-by-side windows greatly improves multitasking, but having a faster CPU and/or more RAM won't make a difference at all.

I'm not saying $550 is a bad price for that configuration, I'm just saying the 1366x768 screen in the XPS 15 is worse quality than many other 1366x768 screens, and that the poor quality of the screen is a reason I often recommend looking at other laptops if the FHD screen isn't within the budget.

Also notice how most of the people who make claims that low-res screens aren't all that bad are people with fewer than 100 posts.

 

Preach

cant wait to get my refurb.
i7 2630qm
GT 540m
500 gb
4 gb ram
720p screen :/ again i think its poorness has been over exaggerated tho.
€620

 

I rang up Dell Tuesday and asked about the backlit keyboard and the wireless dongle with built in bluetooth. They arranged an engineer to come and fit it for me yesterday and best part is - for free! I love the backlit keyboard its mint. Gonna try and get an i7 cpu upgrade out of them next lol

 

I bought a L502x with the 720p screen from the outlet 2 months ago. I thought I was one of those people who really didn't care about screen resolution. I mean, some people will scoff if a 32 inch TV isn't LED, local dimming 1080i. There are tech-nerds who disparage anything that isn't the newest and best (you didn't get the quad-core?! Your machine sucks!)

Turns out, I'm in agreement with Edit1754 and the other dedicated evangelists for the 1080p screen. I didn't like the 720 screen a bit. And this was before I found this forum. I ended up sending it back and getting the one I have now, and I'm incredibly happy I did.