Dell XPS L512X Review "Almost Perfect"

i totally understand, i am working on getting this narrowed down as well, stay tuned.

 

Downlinx, is the mechanical drive 9.5 mm or 7 mm?

 

Newegg.com - Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500423AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive
this is the hard drive, it is a 9.5mm

 

If you ask me downgrading from L502x sound is a big NO for me. Why would they not use Skullcandy for this model as well. A big bummer. And what happened to dedicated subwoofer. HP Envy it is for me.

 

It is, thank you. This means any SSD will do.

 

yep, preferably go with a crucial m4 512mb, they are around $350 on amazon.com right now, haha

 

It seems there has been reliability issues with the m4 lately on recent reviews. I will probably stick to the samsung 470 I have spare. Throw the OS on the 830 32gb drive, and use the 256 sammy for programs.

 

na, i have 2 of them in my home pc now, in raid 0 and never an issue.

btw
ok guys, from research it is some variant of the B156HW03 from AUO, i know i have been searching for 350nit but dell may have contracted them to build this for them, i do not know. but i am pretty certain it is the B156HW03(unknown version)
AUO - TFT-LCD

 

I googled that model, it looks like theres several revisions, one has 250 nits brightness. You'd think they'd make the models cut and dry

Also, I'd get the 512 gb drive, but the price went back up to 400

 

usually UAO makes them to order for companies, they do have a standard v0 which is 300nit.

 

@Downlinx, I've a dumb question: is there a key/button to switch off the display like in the previous L502X? I'd like to be able to do it without closing the monitor.

 

yes there is. it is fn+F1

 

Isn't it to pass to a 2nd screen?

 

actually you get 4 options.
dual copy screen, pass to, extended, and off.
I have not looked into the options of it yet to see if you can turn some options off.

 

I’m really disappointed with the LCD panel that Dell choose
Only 60% gamut?

Btw, I will wait for actual measured numbers (brightness, contrast ratio, black value, gamut) and review from notebookcheck or anandtech before I decide to buy this laptop or not.

So far this high quality LG screen in this review is one of the best 15.6” WLED panels in the market (72% gamut, more than 350 nits, more than 700:1 contrast ratio).

The LCD panel behind the Gorilla glass should be a non-glossy type and logically this LG panel is the better choice for L521x (price! ).

 

Great! Now, if I manage to get a darn backlit keyboard and a blu-ray I could be sold

 

From what we've been told by Bill, there's no "not backlit" keyboards in Dell's part list...

Every new L521x have a backlit keyboard

 

I highly doubt that this display would be the one being used. I have seen two friends' ASUS G51 and G53 laptops that have this display, and it's the only 15.6" 1920x1080 display I've ever seen that has an abysmal contrast ratio and particularly narrow viewing angles. Based on photos from the review thread, I am almost certain this is not the display being used.

 

if you refer to my quote on page six, a few of us have come to conclusion it is a variant of the B156HW03 by AUO

 

Hi downlinx,

I have a question concerning the hdd. How difficult is it to Open the bottom and to switch the hdd by a SSD? Do you Need a Special Tool Open it? And will every SSD like the Samsung 830 Series will fit in?

Thx

 

yes the samsund 830 will fit into the chassis. you will need a torx toolkit and a philips screwdriver to open the back. it is straight forward and very easy.

 

These are the only 2 things holding me back from ordering in the UK also. If the 2nd highest config in UK had bluray + backlit, I'd be sold straight away.

 

Bill said every model in every single region has a backlit keyboard. He said he personally arrange refunds if that's not true.

 

That's exactly my option too! I can't believe they're still offering 5400 rpm HDD in 2012 June

I've read that post too, and he turned me a little more optimist, but unfortunately he lives and works in US, not in Italy, and until I don't get a written confirmation from italian Dell's representatives I won't buy anything...Besides one italian member in another forum has ordered it, so I'll wait what he tells me too

 

ALL XPS come with backlit keyboard by default, confimed by Dell Rep Bill on these very forums. He said if it did not come with one, he would personally guarantee to get me one and not charge any restocking fees! As to blu-ray watch this space, I am waiting for a call back tonight.

 

This laptop looks sick!

 

Said it in the other thread, can you post a GPU-Z screenshot? Would be much appreciated your review is awesome!

What difficulty/act was diablo III run in?

 

Thx. So I'll buy the configuration with 750Gb HDD+ 32 Gb Msata and will have a look how fast the system will be with the cache. Does anyone have experience with a SSD-cache? As far as I understand it, the system and often used programs are saved on the ssd and so the system can boot and start programs very fast. Further if i save data, it will first be saved on the ssd and then the ssd will write it on the HDD. Is this right?

 

techPowerUp GPU-Z Validation 642re
here is the gpu-z validation for you

 

Does this Dell XPS L521X supports Battery charging disable function via Dell QuickSet.
BY pressing Fn+F3[one with the battery symbol]

 

that i do not know, i will check on that and get back with you.

 

@downlinx ,you said in your review that it was heavy , how heavy is it compared to Non Retina Macbook Pro15 ?

 

Did you get anywhere with this mate?

 

i dont know, i have never dirtied my hands with a MBP

 

LOL I think it's well written in the specs

 

Please..
This is one of the reason going for DELL

 

"- The whole touchpad moved down when you push the left and right buttons and it is hard to move the mouse when you are clicking near the bottom middle while having a finger near it for moving the mouse."

Thats a deal breaker for me, damn ! Would they stop making integrated trackpad, its a huge failure, Apple is the only one manage it make work flawlessly however. But i hate MAC what to do

 

Well when you press the button combination you get a box that pulls up with 3 tabs



there are your options bud

alastiar, this is now changed, the touchpad is near perfect. i have little to no issues with the touchpad right now. they released a new driver and the the touchpad is very nice to use.

 

Really? I have a habit of resting my thumb on the left clicker or more like a traditional thumbs user, I'm afraid it would send wrong signal and confuse the mouse like what I have done with Sony vaio S and other laptops. Would it be possible to create a dead zone in that area but clickable?

 

Same here. I always have my index finger on the left button.

 

well you both have a bad habit that nees to break, or you can turn gestures off.

 

Good idea. I really don't find gestures super useful. I find myself doing them by accident more often than anything

 

Of course I turn all the gesture off, not even scrolling or pin to zoom, that stuff is annoying, but still try to highlight a text using clicker button and mouse, that would be harder than you thought, which it shouldnt

 

Thank You Very much,
This is the Information I required.
The New feature is dell reminding the user to disable charging I guess.
Lets see how it works out.

But There is no Quick Set for Linux

 

One the new synaptics driver which I use on Studio 1435, there is a feature called Scrybe.
It is used for extended gestures, Some time when I use touch pad , A video pops up telling me how to use gestures which i felt really annoying.

Is this same with dell new gesture touch pad driver?
Yes it will be if its official Syanptics Driver...
Does it have a Fn+ ?? or any other Short Cut to disable Touch Pad?

 

Do we know how big is the ODD? I'd like to upgrade to a blu-ray burner with slot load..

 

5.25" (133.35mm)

 

Thank you!

 

I think he meant height, as all ODD are 5.25''

 

yes, I didn't realize it
To replace ODD is it enough to choose one with the same dimensions? Or are there other requirements for compatibility?

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