Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x - Owners Lounge

Yeah, my Sony Vaio only had like 6% after over a year

Will I need to send my whole laptop back or just the battery?

When I got it, I used it straight away but kept it plugged in for like 24 hours (says that's okay in the manual, to use while doing the initial 12 hour charge)

 

Call them and they will tell you what to do, but I am sure they will only ask for the battery or send a tech to your house.

 

Do you know that this is abnormal? Battery testing tools are often inaccurate. Even if accurate, do you know that 4% is unexpected?

 

Somehow A09 bios disappeared. Don't tell me there is something wrong with it...

 

on a 30 hour old laptop? it should be

 

But, do you even know what that 4% means, how it is measured. This may be within normal tolerances.

I'll be interested to hear what Dell says, so please post their response.

 

lol I hope nothing cuz I already installed it xD

 

First thing, he spammed his specs all over the place because he wasn't sure if posting in the forum specifc to L502x would be seen/read by as many pros/techs as the general XPS 15 forum and only realised he couldn't delete his first post after he'd already made the 2ns post...
If he could just go to the Dell download page and download them in any order then why does he keep reading pages where Dell says to make sure you download the drivers in correct order? eg.
1)
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...l=en&s=gen&cs=
2)
http://support.dell.com/support/topi..._install_order
And he would be just adding loads of bloatware if he downloaded everything for the L502x.
Also he didn't require assistance to originally set up because when he ordered the laptop he didn't intend to swap out the HDD for an SSD.

 

oh s h 1 t !

I hope also there will be nothing wrong with that bios, I also installed them and even relased modded versions of it.

crossing fingers...

 

Yes I saw it a week ago, however I wasn't sure if it was accurate/reliable or not as I found it on a public message board and the installation order listed is different to the orders listed on the official Dell website which they stress is important to follow:
1)
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...l=en&s=gen&cs=
2)
http://support.dell.com/support/topi..._install_order

 

lol, well if someone has some information about what happened let us all to know.

 

Running A09 bios here, no problems so far, but I haven't been playing any games lately. It does seem that while running on battery the fan does not kick on at all, where before I noticed it even when cooling method was set to passive in power saving settings.

 

I have the A09 BIOS also, and the fan is still running at a slower, quiet rate. Although right now, I have five applications open (Outlook, a Chess game, Foxit Reader, Skype, and Chrome), and I have my computer set to High Performance mode with everything cranked up when the computer is plugged in.

I actually do not mind when the fan is running because it appears that my computer generates a lot of heat anyway. This is because if I put my hand in front of the vent on the left side, hot air is being blown out, so the fan is definitely doing its job.

 

Thank you for the color profile.

 

A09 update is back to the downloads list.

 

Anybody know the optimum sound setup? I get the sneaking suspiscion that using default realtek settings doesn't utilize the subwoofer really well. When I switch to 5.1 sound, waves audio decides not to work but I can isolate the subwoofer. Any thoughts?

 

I did stereo, but selected full range speakers, I'm hoping the speakers and sub have a properly working crossover, but that might be asking too much.

 

For those of you with the 540M, what are your 3dmark 06 scores looking like? I had 9600 before my reinstall of windows. I tried searching, but all I got was results for the intel 540m... haha

 

What does that mean? In my Waves MaxxAudio control panel, there is no setting for "full range speakers".

 

In windows control panel, under sound, where it has the playback tab, click on speakers, then click configure. It then brings up Speaker setup and asks you to chose your configuration, check stereo, then hit the next button. Then it says full-range speakers, I chose front left and right. I have no idea if this is right or not, I'm hoping that the sub gets audio from the left and right output and allowing it to be full range should get more bass, I don't know for sure. Try it out and let me know what you think.

 

That's the default set-up on my system.

 

My L502x has the basic NVIDIA 525 GPU. The system came with a booklet on how to setup NVIDIA 3D TV, to send 3D output via HDMI to a 3D television.

Is that supported on my system, or is that booklet just included with all systems even if that hardware option was not included?

 

3D is supported by the 525m, I do believe.

 

Bomber, go to page 74 of this thread (plus or minus a couple pages). You will see the correct order of drivers to install. It also includes which stuff to consider as optional to increase performance/speed. However, I suspect you've already done the install at the time of my post here.

The sequence is specific to help a few items integrate with other items. For instance, if you install Dell Quickset at the very beginning it will look for Bluetooth, Wireless, and NIC card settings so it can display in its GUI. If they are not installed Quickset senses a problem and trips error messages.

I glanced through your list. I doubt anyone will create a custom driver list for you to install because you copied/pasted a build sheet, most stuff has little to do with drivers or software (rather lazy of ya dude). If you want speed I suggest leaving off most of the Dell applications. After you follow the driver guide on page 74 you can install anything you want after that - in any order you want. Good luck.

 

HI All,

Nvidia Driver (540m): I've done all the updates from the Dell Support section since April 2011 and haven't noticed much change in my Nvidia Driver per Device Manager. It reads:

Nvidia Geoforce GT 540M
Driver Date: 4-21-2011
Driver Version: 8.17.12.6830 (Equivalent to Nvidia direct driver version 268.30)

You can get the actual driver version from - Right click Desktop>Nvidia CP>Help>System Info. So the 260's Nvidia drivers are very old. Nividia is way past this, even past the 270's, and now on version 285.62. Does it make sense to upgrade to drivers directly from Nvidia site. It appears Dell has walked away from providing any more updates for the Nvidia chipset?

Reading the version upgrades at Nvidia shows they are providing performance enhancements and other features in the new drivers to keep up with the market. Dell is not doing this, which is common, because they focus on the newly released laptop models.

 

last time I formated the drive, I installed both intel graphics and nvidia drivers from intel and nvidia sites instead getting the outdated ones from dell site, running like a charm now ^^

 

Same here, I'm using latest intel and beta Nvidia drivers for Skyrim.

 

Thanks guys. I'm not sure what tethers are created by these custom Dell drivers and the actual chips/software. From what you're telling me, nothing is lost by going to vendor directly.

Can you assign PowerDVD to the Nvidia GPU? I'm only able to use "Integrated Graphics".

 

you can try by adding the powerdvd exe to the nvidia card by using the nvidia control panel.
however the intel graphics should have more than enough power to handle dvds or even blue rays in most cases.

 

I have an XPS15 L502X with core i7-2760qm, 8GB RAM, 750 GB HDD 7200 rpm, Nvidia 1 GB GT525. I bought this system in Sep 2011 and BIOS has been recently updated from AO6 to AO9 last week.

For Nvidia, getting drivers is no problem and there is also no problem in installing. Presently on 285.62 even though Dell is offering 268.30

However, for Intel HD3000, I somehow cannot get to install drivers downloaded from Intel website (even prior to BIOS update) I get the error that it is not for my system and go to the OEM site. Dell's Intel HD drivers are something like 15.2342 which seem to be Feb-Mar 2011.

Can you please provide me the link for this. Further, if it works, is it an upgrade or a clean install (Nvidia drivers have that option of express or custom+clean install).

As to driver order, everyone may have a different priority, but after 7-8 formats and errors if some driver is installed before the other, I find that this works best for me:

Intel Chipset
Intel MEI
Intel RST
Intel HD graphics (enables display to work at native res of 1920*1080)
Renesas USB (enables mice operation)
Realtek Network (at least LAN starts working and so does the net)
Realtek Audio
STM Motion Sensor

After that the order changes interchangeably to Dell Quickset, Synaptics, Quanta Integrate Webcam.

Then all Bluetooth and WiFI etc drivers
Finally, JMB drivers and then Nvidia GPU drivers.

 

@vesudeva



intel drivers download for Intel® Core™ 2ª generation Processors with Intel® HD 3000/2000 graphics


however, if you already installed dell's intel graphic drivers, it probably will not let you to install them, so you will have to unistall dell's intel graphic drivers first, since I did it after a clean install I dont know about the exact procedure when installed old dell drivers first.

however you may have to get into windows fail safe mode & unistall the old dell intel graphic drivers first.

 

I know the download link. Perhaps as you said I got the error only because I was installing the intel download on top of dell's customised version. Will the intel download work if I install it first without bothering about the dell download. Dell's is perhaps customised for HDMI which does not matter for me right now.

As I have a built up system (rebuilt only last week after 2-3 months of an older install), the above solution can only be tried on a new install.

On a built up system, does windows uninstall cleanly the intel hd3000 drivers (dell download 15.2342). As it is, I have an acronis backup, so I can try your solution (uninstall HDgraphics from Dell, and then reinstall Intel HD 15.2509 dated Sep 2011).

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Just to give a confirmation for everyone, I tried uninstalling the Dell Intel graphics driver, and then installing the driver from the Intel site, and it worked without any problems. One important thing to note, however, is that while uninstalling the driver, the screen goes blank, so you have to hard restart the computer.

 

It should of been a graceful reboot after uninstalling the Dell Intel driver set.

--------------------------------------------------------------
To fully update on the fly of the Intel graphic driver:
All you need to do was the uninstall the existing Nvidia driver set.
Please reboot if asked.
Run the Intel driver installer.
Please reboot if asked.
Run the Nvidia driver installer.
Please reboot if asked.

Note: There are workarounds without the need to remove the Nvidia set.
These workaround are a bit more risky.

 

I'm just wondering after reading the last 3 pages, is it worth installing the driver version 15.x.x over the dell's 8.x.x? (intel drivers)

Like what do you gain?

 

There were reports in the L702x thread that some folks found that the Intel 3000 GPU drivers caused screen blinking, or something like that, whereas the drivers from Dell did not. It would be worth checking to see if such issues might apply to the L502x.

 

Yesterday, I tried uninstalling the Intel 15.2342 Dell and the screen went blank. Could not come back. So I recovered the system with Acronis boot cd.

Then on a fresh install of win 7 x64 ultimate, I did not install Dell ones, but installed the Intel 15.2509 drivers and they installed without a hitch and no after effects.

I think if one installs the Dell graphics drivers for both Intel and Nvidia, it is quite hard to upgrade. This is not a problem for say RST (where I am using 10.8.0.1003). If one wants the latest drivers, the best way would be install them without installing Dell drivers. Dell perhaps inserts some OEM customisation which is useful for Realtek Audio but perhaps not for graphics.

Another thing is that Nvidia drivers cannot be installed before Intel HD graphics.

 

I received my new XPS 15 this week and pretty pleased with it, although had to update most of the new drivers from manufacturers websites (NVidia, Realtek, Intel Rapid storage dirver). I have noticed that the fans are on pretty much all the time I'm doing something, is that normal?

 

"had to" is overstating it. I'm sure you could have used the laptop quite well without updating all those drivers.

 

Hello Rogo,
I noticed your drivers installation order guide for the L502x hasn't been updated for 6 months, I've done a complete Windows/drivers install (January 2012) and have found almost half of your list can be updated, I've listed the updated drivers under your link :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/7415385-post736.html

2) R292797
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

5) R317222
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

8) R272839 (the one you listed is OK but for Australia I need this one)
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

9) R311294 *THIS IS NOT LISTED UNDER L502X DRIVERS BUT DELL SAID THEY ARE GOING TO FIX/LIST IT....
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

10) R305946
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

14) 686FH
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

16) 0PDK
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

17) R308016
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

Hello,

For an L502x with a single SSD and Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive to I even need to install "R292318 System Utilities: ST Microelectronics DE351DL Motion Sensor" ?

Also with a single SSD do I need to install ?
6. R296901 Serial ATA: (Optional) Intel Rapid Storage Technology, v.10.1.2.1004, A01 (10 MB) This is a software based RAID controller for multiple drives.

Thanks

 

It would not hurt to install both.

 

Does anyone know if this right angled power adapter fits the L502X?

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

 

you dont need raid and i dont think you need that motion sensor on an SSD but you might get an unknown device in device manager.

 

From the picture I think it does since he tested it on an inspiron model and it worked. All dell adapters are the same

 

does anyone know where to buy the touch screen version of the displays for this model i seen someone on this forum this week that said they had a touch screen model and just wanted to know if anyone had any links to any of these screens thanks

 

any way to make the screen even less bright than on the lowest setting? (some sort of program which acts like a filter over your screen maybe)

 

Try this program: F.lux: software to make your life better

It is made to reduce the temperature of the light during night time hours but I guess you can set it to darker all the time.

 

hi folks,

I'm wondering what's the maximum number of monitors the L502x can support?

I currently have a SXPS 1645 (in my signature), which is supposed to be getting a new motherboard. Dell Tech Support is looking around to find a replacement motherboard, but so far I've not heard word back from them. The Tech Support agent did say that if they could not find a suitable motherboard, that they may give me a replacement model L502x.

Right now, I have 3 screens setup across 4 monitors:

1. built-in LCD panel (1920x1080)
2. a single monitor off the HDMI->DVI (1920x1080) mirroring the built-in LCD
3. Eyefinity over the DisplayPort (DP-> DVI 1600x1200)
4. Eyefinity over DisplayPort (DP-> DVI 1600x1200)

My physical layout is such: 1-3-4-2

This is possible because of ATi's Eyefinity. Now I know that nVidia has the "Surround Technology", but that seemingly requires a GTX500 card, and even then must be in SLI.

Has anybody with the GT540m been able to use the displayport to output mulitple monitors? I'm hoping that I can at least have the built-in LCD and also drive two screens off the DP, even if it is in extended mode... or is this just hopeful thinking?

Thanks!

 

If you are referring to monitors that are all displaying the same thing, you can technically have an unlimited number. Just get one or more HDMI splitter from Monoprice, and then you are good to go. That is what my church recently did when we bought a TV to put on the back wall of our auditorium so that the worship band can see the song lyrics that the congregation can see on the main projection screen.

If you are referring to how many monitors you can extend your desktop on, I think you can do a total of three (the built-in monitor, the HDMI output, and the mini-Displayport output), but I have not actually tried this, so I don't know for sure. I know that the HDMI output uses the NVIDIA graphics exclusively, and the mini-Displayport uses the Intel graphics exclusively, so I am not sure whether both graphics cards can run simulatenously.