Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x - Owners Lounge

Cool. Thanks for the info.

I'm collecting all needed drivers to do a clean install of Win7. Do you think it's better to use the .exe package? Does it do anything other than install the drivers?

Do you confirm that Intel Rapid Storage Technology creates the Device Manager entry "Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller"?

 

You're welcome.

Up to you, the .exe package has a control utility that does pretty much nothing unless you use RAID so i prefer installing with just the driver, the procedure to use the f6 files is a little more complicated. See: Driver Install - Device Manager - Windows 7 Forums.

For laptops, yes, on my desktop it is listed as this: Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller.

 

That Driver Install - Device Manager - Windows 7 Forums tutorial is about updating drivers. In my case, it will be clean install, and according to that previous poster's post the entry "Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller" won't even exist until this is installed. So, how to install the driver without an entry to update?

 

Here's the readme:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/21852/eng/readme.txt

Quote:
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology is designed to provide
functionality for the following Storage Controllers:

AHCI Controllers:
- Intel(R) 7 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel(R) Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller

Even more direct

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...rodId=2101&lang=eng&OSVersion= &DownloadType=

Download and install iata_enu.exe (3rd Option)

I just updated to 11.6.0.1030 as well from 11.2.0.1006

Dell currently provides 10.1.2.1004 I think

 

If IRST isn't already installed, update the AHCI driver under IDE ATA/ATAPI controller. I don't remember how it is called, but the hardware the driver points to is the same so it'll work.

 

[SUB][/SUB]Thank you both. That's excellent information! I really appreciate it!

 

Can anyone help please? would very much appreciate it.
There are a few versions and some of the ebay ones look dodgy plus can't seem to find the cable for it.
Pixel deprived!
Im in Aus. btw

 

Not quite sure:

I've got the AUO B156HW01 without the V.7

Are you looking for a replacement? Or do you just need a cable?

Anyway, I think this is the site most people have previously referred to
Dell XPS 15 L502X replacement Laptop LCD Screen from $59.99 Brand-new screens (never used).

It's a US site btw, but it has worldwide shipping

 

Basically i had no choice when i got the laptop as it already came with 720p screen but the better one. Whilst its not bad I would prefer the 1080p version dell had as upgrade option, since I've heard so much good about them.
I would obviously need the cable as well and probably prefer glossy since it's hardly ever out in sun.
Have you or anyone else done this that can advise me on the procedure etc?
Thanks for the response btw

 

You might want to check out this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/554402-dell-xps-l501x-lcd-display-swap.html (l501x is basically the same as the l502x)

And I haven't replaced my screen so I'm murky on the exact details, but it seems that the correct cable is crucial, you might need to order that form Dell.

You could also send this guy a message and he might help you out:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=460263

Feel free to ask again if you come to a dead end.

 

Got an odd question. I have the L502X, works great. I had tried a Hybrid SSD/Hard Drive but it died so I had to put in a new hard drive and reinstall everything. It went fine, but I have one issue I can't solve. When typing the mouse point seems to "randomly" jump around the page so I can't type a full paragraph without it randomly jumping to another spot on the page. I thought I was hitting the touchpad, but I turned that off, no change, not sure what I am doing or if I am hitting some other random key that is making me jump around the page. Anyone had anything similar or any ideas?

 

To get ready for a clean install., I from Dell I downloaded drivers for:

Intel Management Engine Interface, and
Intel Driver Huron River (HM67)

I also read on Intel site about "Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility", which Intel advises to run first after installing Windows but before other devices are installed. Dell's downloads site doesn't offer it, and Intel's auto-detection (that offered updates for my WiFi and Intel graphics) didn't offer it. It seems you just have to know it exists.
Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility — Do I need the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility?

Intel's note about it says:

Should I use "Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility"?
Would it be instead of the two Intel drivers I listed above?

 

Here is the latest version of the Chipset drivers, it will work for any C2D and above so it'll work for any core i laptop: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...hipset+Software+Installation+Utility&lang=eng

 

Thanks for the reply!

Is that Intel Chipset Device Software instead of these drivers I downloaded from Dell's site?:

Intel Management Engine Interface, and
Intel Driver Huron River (HM67)

Or, do I install the Intel Chipset Device Software first, but also install the two listed above?

 

That is the chipset, you don't need to install that one if you install the one from Intel.

IMEI is something you'll want to install too, as far as i know the latest version of MEI is old enough that the Dell one will be the most recent.

 

Why do they have two separate downloads that do the same thing of updating the chipset?

Also, what do you use for Renesas USB 3.0?
Dell downloads has a driver from 18 months ago.
There appears to be newer drivers on a third-party French language download site RENESAS/NEC Drivers & Firmwares
They are more recent than those on Dell downloads, but it's odd that they aren't found on any other sites such as an English download site or even on the manufacturer's own site.
Did you find more recent drivers, or do use the Renesas driver from Dell's site?

 

The chipset and MEI are two different components, if you install the chipset driver, but not the MEI driver, you will get an unknown device in your device manager.

 

Right. I meant these two:

Intel Chipset Device Software
Intel Driver Huron River (HM67)

You mentioned that I don't need the second one if I install the first. So, why do they have both? What's the point?

 

Hold on, let me check their website, will edit accordingly.

I see only one driver for the chipset on Dell's website, if Dell has both on their website, could you point me to where the second one is located? Use of that driver or the driver downloaded directly from the Intel website are both acceptable, however, they apply to the same device, so there is only need to install one.

 

Intel Chipset Device Software is from Intel's site (link you provided)


Intel Driver Huron River (HM67) is on Dell's download site:
Drivers and Downloads | Dell [Canada]

The one on the Intel site is considerably newer. The one on Dell is from 18 months ago.

 

Laptop manufacturers always provide a version of the drivers for the laptop on their website for when people need it, they however rarely bother putting new versions on their website and stick with the versions that originally came with the laptop or those that were updated shortly after release.

Intel on the other hand makes every driver release available to both the manufacturers and the consumers meaning that the newer versions end up on Intel's website, but not on Dell's because Dell doesn't bother putting the new version there.

If you look at Intel's website: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...=Intel®+Chipset+Software+Installation+Utility, you'll see the previous version 9.2.0.1030 (the version on Dell's website) also available for download.

EDIT: It's the same thing for the video driver, Dell has the nvidia drivers from a while back on their website, but you can grab the latest version directly from nVidia's website.

 

Makes sense.

I've collected, I think, all the drivers I'll need. But, is this the right way to do it?


I read this:

Intel Chipset Device Software utility only contains updated .inf files Windows uses to identify the associated Intel hardware on your system. Windows 7 normally can identify and install the correct drivers for most standard Intel hardware that was current at the time of the Windows 7 installation media creation by Microsoft. The Intel Chipset update utility will identify the Intel hardware on your system and update Windows with the correct current .inf files so that any Intel hardware is properly recognized by Windows.

Intel Chipset Device Software utility normally should be run directly after a new installation of Windows, before any further Intel driver updates are applied. (It is even required/recommended to be run on systems before Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers can be installed.) After you run this application, reboot your system, run Windows update to see if Windows identifies any additional drivers to download, install them if it does, reboot again, then check device manager to see if you have any Intel devices that need drivers installed before running any Intel driver files from Dell. You may find you do not have to install any Intel driver files manually.


Does that make sense? Do I really just install/run Intel Chipset Device Software utility, reboot, and Windows would do the rest?

Or, do I do it the old-fashioned way, installing each of the drivers that I've collected?

 

I usually install the chipset driver and then go at it old school.

 

That's what I've been preparing for, although it would be cool if Windows can do the rest once the Intel Chipset Device Software is installed.

Do you know about the Renasas USB 3.0 drivers, as I described in my earlier post?

 

You can try the version at station-drivers, make sure everything is working properly. If it is, great, if it's not, uninstall and install the Dell version.

Windows update might find a driver or two, but not all of them. With Vista and prior, i made it a rule never to install drivers through windows update (bad experiences) so i never really tried with 7.

 

My past experience was similar. I also found that drivers offered by Windows Update often weren't as current or as appropriate as those obtained direct from the component manufacturer or computer OEM.

Thanks.

I think I have what I need now, some from manufacturers' sites and some from Dell. If I post a list, do you think you'd notice if I were missing anything important?

 

I would notice anything that isn't Dell specific, if Dell has some specific drivers for things like media buttons and Fn keys, i won't know what those are. I'd notice for an Asus notebook, but since the M6700 i have on order (currently in production) is my first Dell...

 

Here's what I've collected. The order may not make sense to you, as it's the order on Dell's download site (even thought I got some from other sources).


Dell-Application - Quickset. This enables some special hardware keys and other features on the laptop.

Audio
Realtek ALC665 Audio Driver 6.0.1.6312, A04. From Dell site.

Chipset
Renesas USB3.0 Host Controller Driver, 2.1.27.0, A03. From Dell site.

Chipset
Intel Management Engine Interface. in Device Manager under System Devices, driver 7.0.0.1144. From Dell site.

Intel Chipset Device Software, infinst_autol.exe, version: 9.3.0.1019, from Intel.
(This is instead of Intel Driver Huron River (HM67) from Dell site.)

JMicron-Driver JMB389 Card Reader.
Dell site has version 1.00.55.00, A01.
JMicron's site has what appear to be later drivers ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/CardReader/Windows/ this one appears to be later version JMB38X_WinDrv_R1.00.72.04 _WHQL.zip, which I downloaded.

Input
Dell ASSY,PLMRST,PLSTC,IMR,SLVR1110, for Synaptics TouchPad. 15.2.6.0, A00. From Dell site.

Input
Quanta-Driver. Quanta H.264 integrate webcam, driver 1.0.1404.1005. From Dell site.


------
Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiFi Connection available version 15.2.0, (although details page says 15.1.1). Intel page says it includes software and drivers. From Intel.

Dell site offers two separate downloads:
Dell-Driver - Dell Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230, 14.3.0.6, A06.
Dell-Application - Dell Intel PROSet/Wireless BT Software, Intel Centrino Wireless-N1030, 6230 Bluetooth v3.0 + HS (64 bit), 1.0.81.20601, A03.
The combined package from Intel is newer, so I hope it replaces both of these separate Dell items.
------


Network
Realtek RTL8111EL, Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver 7.061. From Realtek site.
Realtek
Realtek offers either a drivers download for manual install or an auto installer. Not sure which is better to use.


Serial ATA
Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.6.0.1030. From Intel.
Intel offers a drivers package or an installer package.


ST Microelectronics-Driver, ST Microelectronics FFS (DE351DL Motion Sensor) Driver, version 1.00.00.15, A01. From Dell site.
This is for ST Micro Accelerometer for FreeFall Data Protection.


Video
Intel Wireless Display Connection Manager, 3.1.29.0. (Intel WiDi). From Intel site.

Video
nVidia GeForce GT 525M, GeForce R304 Driver v. 306.2. From nVidia site.

Video
Intel HD Graphics 3000, 15.26.12.64.2761 (8.15.10.2761). From Intel site.


facap, FastAccess Video Capture, provider Sensible Vision. This is facial recognition. I downloaded software installer from Dell site, which I assume also installs the drivers that appear in Device Manager.


in Device Manager under Sound is this entry:
Intel Display Audio. Driver 6.14.0.3074.
I'm not sure about this, if I need to obtain this somewhere, since I will be installing Realtek audio.
I don't know if both are needed. Or, is it part of WiDi Wireless Display or part of something else so it doesn't need to be located and installed separately?

 

Seems to me like you got everything covered. The Intel HD3000 audio is likely included in the display driver, i'd say it is for the audio out via HDMI if i had to take a guess.

facap is something that seems optional to me, if you don't want facial recognition, don't install. Once you're done with your drivers, check for any unknown device in the device manager just to be sure you got everything.

 

which dell site you got it on ... cuz i downloaded the trial from of face cap to test on win 8 need the version dell issues ...

 

Anyone try the new nVidia drivers? I haven't tested them in-game yet, but my Windows Experience scores for Aero and 3d graphics did drop two tenths of a point =(

 

I'm using the WHQL version 306.23, and so far it's stable (duh).

I haven't noticed a particular increase in FPS in games, but in some games I think I've seen a more stable Vsync ceiling. For example, in Ghost Recon Online I would often see FPS around 48 (75% of the time) and it would fluctuate between that and 60fps. Now, with the new driver, I'm mostly sitting at 52fps and higher. I only hit 45-50fps when there's smoke from a grenade or the shimmer of some of the in-game devices. Maybe it's coincidence, or maybe it's a performance increase, kind of hard to tell with that subjective observation!

 

Counterpoint to many, I'm now "thrilled" with this computer - wireless is 15mb/s download and 5mb/s upload and computer-to-computer is ~110mb/s which closely matches my desktop performance. The antenna also closely matches my 2011 XPS17 in terms of seeing neighbor networks near-and-far so no issues I can identify. The computer is 3 weeks old.

Some notes I hope help:

1. Added my own 256gb mSata drive and did a ground-up re-install. I followed instructions on the bottom of page 122 on this thread for installation.

Then focused on updating Intel wireless and Realtek wired drivers. PCMark score is 4375 and Windows Experience (in order top to bottom) is 7.5, 7.8, 6.7, 6.7, 7.9. Obviously the graphics card is the limitation and the NVidia driver is 306.23.
2. For the N-6235, I'm running Intel 15.3.0.16 drivers dated 8/22/2012. I spoke to excellent Dell service tech who suggested I turn-off N-band. A known deficiency is that this card is B/G or N (rather than B/G/N). So, for stability, he recommended this option. I'm getting full Internet speed so I've take his suggestion.
3. AO9 bios is running well. Battery life is fine. My mistake was not to measure before updating so I can't comment on that.
4. Next up is 16gb of Corsair Vengence RAM (I run Adobe CS6 so need all of the fast RAM I can get). At this point, I see no reason to switch out the hard drive for a 512gb SSD although I know that would extend battery life even further. If I'm going to be working extensively on battery, I transfer a folder to the mSata and keep all work on it so the HDD doesn't spin up.
5. The "small" trackpad buttons have taken getting used to since I have long fingers and coming from an XPS17 but that is minor quibble. I also miss the matte screen for working outdoors but I knew that going in and this works well for my extensive photo-editing and occassional work in Adobe Premiere.

Hope this helps - I know there's been a lot of complaints but "knock on wood" I'm couldn't be happier and can whole heartedly recommend this system - especially with an updated large mSata drive.

 

If I remember correctly (I was looking into this around April this year), this version of the TouchPad software if awful for multi-touch. I got a newer version from Synaptics website (16.0.2.0) - it works waaay better, the only downside is that you can't disable the touch pad (Fn+F3) - the light goes on but it still works.

My suggestion is that, if you use an external mouse but type a lot, then use the Dell A00 driver so you can disable the touch pad. However, if you like me use the touch pad a lot, then I'd suggest looking for the updated driver. Made me stop pulling my hair out!

There's an old thread around here somewhere, if you can't find the driver let me know and I'll upload it.

 

post a link to the msata installation because i asked on this thread an was told the l502x ... does not support msata drives

 

Might hold you to that!
Thank you I will send him a message, hope he doesn't mind
I'm just having a read trough the suggested thread it's longish so will take a while.
I appreciate all the help so far.

 

Hey Toronto,
On page 74 of this thread you will find the correct order to install drivers for the L502X.

I've found mixing and matching drivers from Dell & manufacturers sites has caused some problems. For instance, using the audio drivers from the Realtek website caused the sound app to crash when using an external display and external speakers (right side audio ports). Whenever you open WavesMaxx it would crash. Using the Dell version of these drivers never causes this problem.

We stopped installing the Intel Wireless Display because it requires the HD adapters which still has a bit of sluggishness on action scenes. Unless you have these adapters, or plan on buying them, there's no sense having these processes running in the background. There's nothing better than an HDMI cable.

Hope that helps. Also, I have a new L502X laptop cooler for sale for anyone interested.

 

HI All,

I just wanted to provide an update on one more benefit of having Sandy Bridge technology in the L502X. I recently installed the Kingston 1866MHz Genesis HyperX memory (KHX1866C11S3P1K2/8G) in my I7-2620M duo core laptop. I had 8GB of stock memory from Dell which is pretty good Samsung memory (PC3-10600 DDR 1333MHZ CL9).

I wasn't sure if the HyperX would work because some have stated is only works with I5 and I7 quad core...and locked at a max of 1333MHz. Well I found that is not true. I simply popped the cover off, replaced the sticks, powered up and was back in business. No settings to mess with, no hassles.

The new memory is clearly running at 1863MHz. This memory is rated at CL11 rating which dropped the WEI memory score from 7.7 down to 7.6, which is no bid deal. I have noticed a descent difference for the $65/8GB.

 

Dell ASSY,PLMRST,PLSTC,IMR,SLVR1110, for Synaptics TouchPad. 15.2.6.0, A00. From Dell site.

Thanks. I recally a user posting that there's at least one other downside to the driver you installed. He posted that after typing, he couldn't instantly use the touchpad. After typing the touchpad would have a delay of more than a second before it would accept input again. That, and some other issue, caused him to uninstall that driver and return to using the Dell driver.

 

Oh! I've never noticed that before but yes now that I've tried it, it does do that... Hmm...

 

Does anyone use this laptop with an external monitor on a regular basis? I've started to about a month ago, and I've found some interesting quirks with my machine. If I boot with the external plugged in, some applications will default to using the GPU along with the connection (such as Norton 360, and Adobe Flash/Google Chrome). Also, the webcam doesn't seem to work if there's an external monitor plugged in before the camera's enabled. Has anyone else noticed any of this?

Edit: Also regarding the touchpad drivers, the only drivers I can find are 15.2.20 Drivers | Synaptics, should I be looking elsewhere for 16.x.x drivers?

 

Rogo, thanks for a good guide!

A few questions:

For nVIDIA Video driver, you say 'Do "Custom Install", Uncheck HD Audio'. Why uncheck HD Audio?

Your sequence differs from most other tutorials.
e.g. you install Intel Huron River (HM67) third, but everywhere else (including Dell's own recommended procedure) says to install the chipset first. Any reason for your difference?

You wrote:
"We stopped installing the Intel Wireless Display because it requires the HD adapters which still has a bit of sluggishness on action scenes. Unless you have these adapters, or plan on buying them, there's no sense having these processes running in the background. There's nothing better than an HDMI cable."

Can you please explain? What HD adapters are you referring to?

 

HD Audio drivers are installed with the Realtek drivers. These are the core drivers for the entire audio system and for the WaveMaxx app. They are designed to work in conjunction with Microsoft. Without Nvidia HD the "Sound Card" settings are neat and clean - Realtek Hi Definition Audio is listed as should be. Installing Nvidia HD will try to replace certain Realtek HD drivers...why complicate things? Realtek is the HD audio provider for DELL, stick with that.

The documented Dell driver install procedure is 8 years old or something like that. It's for a basic system (CPU, LAN, Audio, Graphics, etc). The "System Utilities" and "CPU" drivers typically come before "Chipset" drivers. This allows those utilities to monitor changes, such as chipset drivers, check for incompatibility. It just so happens that System Utility is just a drop sensor, the 2nd driver is a silly widget we never install. These could really be installed at any time during a fresh install. The order helps prevent error messages and problems with driver installation. Dell Quickset is also placed in a specific order to prevent errors messages.

You should Google Intel Wireless Display. It broadcasts a wireless video signal from your PC- but what picks up that signal and converts if for the TV?. These are the WiDi SD or HD adapters that are a "required" part of Intel Wireless Display system. The Netgear Push2TV are the most popular. Even if your TV has built in wireless, the Intel WiDi system is something completely different. Every TV that uses WiDi must use the box. They push out a numeric code at the beginning which must be matched to the TV to insure the right signal goes to the correct TV. It might be much better now, but mid last year they were just rolling out HD adapters that still had issues. Like I said, nothing beats an HDMI cable.

 

The HD audio drivers from the nVidia card are for the HDMI sound output, pretty sure they are included in the realtek drivers though.

 

Good, thanks.

It's not just Dell. Virtually every other guide I've read says the chipset should be the first driver installed.

So, in this case in your list there actually isn't anything installed that would monitor changes, just the freefall sensor driver and the useless Turbo Boost Software. It seems that really the chipset could be installed first.

Right, I knew about WiDi. I wasn't sure that's what you meant by HD adapters. Yeah, there certainly were issues with them. I understand the newer Netgear, and some others, are much better. But, as you say an HDMI cable is a more direct, simple and reliable route.

 

That is because the chipset drivers are for the Platform Controller Hub (in the case of Core i CPUs) which is responsible for PCI-E lanes (other than those of the GPU), SATA ports, USB ports and so on. Of course, Windows has a basic driver for that, but if there is one driver installation you don't want to go wrong it's that given how critical the PCH is, the thing is responsible for managing every bit of data that goes between peripherals and the CPU after all (even the third party controllers have to go though the PCH at some point to communicate with the CPU).

 

You're confirming that I should first install Intel Chipset Device Software (infinst_autol.exe). Thanks.

 

I usually install it first, i did install it after a few others drivers in the past without any problems either.

Also, for the record, in the Dell reimage guide for the Latitude and Precision series (which was revised in July 2012), chipset is the first driver recommended for installation.

 

Realtek drivers cover all audio, SD or HD, for all ports, including HDMI, mic, and (S/P DIF) on the L502X. We use HDMI everyday pushing the audio through that cable or the side jacks. With Realtek we can bypass audio from the HDMI port to right side audio ports - as seen below. This allows us to run external speakers directly, instead of powering external speakers from TV/Monitor audio jacks.

In fact, the Realtek drivers are so stable they automatically transfer HDMI audio when they detect a plug is jacked into one or both of the side ports on the L502X. We ran into issues after installing Nvidia HD audio drivers, which was an oversight during on install. We immediately figured out the problem and went back to original configuration Realtek is for audio, Nvidia is only for Graphics.

Installing Nvidia audio drivers is similar to installing the optional SoundBlaster X-Fi when the laptop already comes with WaveMaxx. They both do basically the same thing. One was designed for the Dell XPS, the other is a generic aftermarket product that will try to replace functions already provided by an existing apllication. So why do it?

A new Dell L502x comes with Realtek audio drivers, not Realtek and Nvidia audio.

 

In Device Manager, under Sound, I also have this entry:

Intel Display Audio. Driver 6.14.0.3074.

What is this? Is it part of WiDi Wireless Display? It's a different driver version than Intel Wireless Display Connection Manager, and I see no specific download for Intel Display Audio on the Dell downloads site.