Dell XPS M1730 Owner's Lounge, *Part 3*

It's a mix. nVidia's cards are good but seem to break too easily. Add to that the fact that Dell set the BIOS to turn on the fans at too high a temperature, and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

I wonder, doesnt anybody have a clue to modify that BIOS ? NOBODY?

 

Doubt so. I don't see any BIOS expert around here. And even if they are, I don't think they would want to do that either.

That's why I got the X9000. OC it to 3.4GHz, give your GPU a cooling and relaxing treat, today! hehe.

BTW for no reason I'm suddenly seeing alot of QS 174 X9000s popping on ebay lately as cheap as $350. Slightly expensive, but hey, it' still better than $499 the last time I saw.

 

My 1730, on idle, hit temps of between 60 & 75 C with a cooler running. I would have to play a video or something in order for the fans to start moving once more and the temps to come down to around 50-56, also the vents underneath the machine are not sufficient and when a cooler is used I would notice that heat pockets inside the machine would form, hot around the touchpad.

 

Hi guys--first post here on the forum. I'll give you once guess what got me to register and make a post here...

If you guess the lovely "code 43" on dual 8800m GTXs you're a winner!

So I have a top end m1730 XPS that I got last April and it was working beautifully with the exception of a shorted power source that needed to be replaced.

I usually have my laptop displaying on my (no longer made) ultra-high quality Viewsonic P220f CRT and have it connected with the standard DVI -> VGA converter. I normally just plug it in, and it works great. Unplug and it revents back to the LCD. Well, I did that today and all of a sudden it no longer works. Joy of joys.

After trying to reinstall factory drivers from CD and then from Dell's website, and then the latest nVidia drivers, I called their support who wasted hours of my time doing the exact same thing I did. Even had me try a system restore point which of course did nothing.

They wanted me to do a full reinstall and wipe my drive but I told them I have crucial biz files on there I need access to and a lot of software installed that I no longer have discs for *cough*pirated CS3 and Office '07' *cough* and frankly don't want to go through the hassle of finding legit torrents for again.

The "supervisor" I ended up speaking with tried to claim that he knew it was a software issue since he had 15 years of tech experience and didn't want to send out the cards with a tech to try the hardware fix. I was firm though as I am positive that it is the hardware issue that everybody here seems to be having. Add to this the fact that I have the flu and it is midnight and I just about lost it when the rep kept interrupting me while I explained my legit business reasons for needing the hardware fix attempted before the full wipe.

I flat out asked if there would be any delay on shipping the parts to the tech since a lot of people have been claiming that there is a huge backorder on the cards (as recent as today) and he said it would be delivered to the tech in 3-5 business days maximum and there was no such issue. We'll see if that's the case come next Wednesday.

I'm not holding my breath, but I'm certainly not willing to go through the massive headache of a full system wipe before they try new cards for what they should have listed in their files as a know issue with this model and card series.

Anybody know of any definitive tests to see whether the one or both cards are fried? I'm not afraid to open my machine but don't even know what to look for or if I'd be able to actually see anything if its a fried GPU...

 

ok, so dell is still refusing to give me a replacement laptop... after it spent 2 months at depot and-

1.) my 8800gtx was replaced with a 8700 pile of junk and the one i got apparently is defective because one is very hot (200 degrees sometimes)and causing restarts
2.) my lcd screen has bad pixels on both sides and terrible light leakage. my old one was perfect so i dont know why depot replaced it
3.) audio jack has static (this was one of the things that i sent it in for)
4.) card reader doesn't work anymore. this is a new one (seance i got it back from depot) as i use it constantly for my cameras memory stick and it always worked in the past...
5.) the lid is scratched (depot damage)
6.) the lcd bezel is cracked (depot damage)
7.) palm rest is scratched (depot damage)
8.) the top bezel is bent and the tab is broken (depot damage)
9.) insert key on the keyboard is broken (depot damage)
10.) the play/ pause button has peeled and is unpainted now(this was one of the things that i sent it in for)
11.) battery doesn't hold a charge(this was one of the things that i sent it in for)

so by my count depot fixed one thing i sent it in for in 2 months and damaged, stole or ignored 11 other things...

and they want me to send it back in to depot... they say the tech wont be able to fix everything and depot will thoroughly inspect and repair everything. they "guarantee" it will be fixed this time within 3 days... what a load of crap


already filed a bb complaint and contacted the attorney general... but it didn't help yet...

beyond frustrated

 

just say you did a reinstall of vista, dell always thinks this is the first step

i personally have a backup hd i use and reformat it when i seem to have hardware issues. if the issue remains you know it is hardware... a spare 100gig hd is pretty cheap and it makes life so much easier

 

This might be a little unrelated, but I'm going to throw it out here anyway.

Clean your fans and heat sinks regularly. I don't mean blow a can of compressed air into the vents... I mean open your M1730 up and clean it out well.

I got a wild hair to do that just now(yeah, it's the witching hour where I'm at and I have work in six hours, but I'm an impulsive insomniac ), and was shocked. I was having some major temp spikes in Crysis and GTA4(up to 95C at one point!) and was wondering what the heck was going on. I found scads of dust bunnies, and my CPU fan was halfway clogged with 'lint.' I also cleaned out my NC2000 cooler as well, and found a similar situation.

I'm going to try Crysis real quick before I finally turn in, and give a better report on temps in the morning. Still, for anyone who thinks of it, pull apart and clean out your system. All that crud in mine couldn't have been good.

Edit: I just tested out Crysis, and the changes in my temps were dramatic. Wheras before I was running in the 80-85C range, I was running in the 68-74C range now. I am impressed and relieved. I don't like opening this sucker up that often, but that convinced me that I should do it more often.

 

I don't wanna use my warranty because I can't stay without PC more than one week.
As for the speaker, maybe you're right. Right now, my left speaker doesn't work at all, no matter what volume I set. But if I leave it for few hours, it will work for a few minutes and then it dies again. In the time when it works, I use it at low volume (~25% from Windows) and doesn't make that distorsion sound, but it just dies few minutes later. It could be the amplifier. M1730 has two speakers on the left side, it's almost imposible to die both in the same time.

 

I am with you on that. The last failure, they ask me to send to a depot for deeper analysis, 7-10days I said no, so they sent a tech with speakers that didn't fix it and he ordered the mb which fixed it. I am especially going to resist any depot repair after seeing the wodstock pics. My laptop looks brand new, I even wax it on occasion and would probably have a nervous breakdown if my laptop was returned in that condition.

 

cpu 1 and 2 run at a maximum of 53 and 60, the gpu's hit a maximum of 75 when on idle. This is of course before the fans start. Once they do the temps come crashing down. Im running tf2 on the highest resolution and with all the recommened advanced options. Iv played that for 2 hours straight today. Gpu's ran around the 58-60 mark constant, and cpu's in there early 30,s constantly. Very impressive results. Iv also raised the rear of the laptop by about 1/2 cm's on the orginal feet. Im not takeing any risks with this system. Only had it a month. I think i will crack the mother open every 6 months to give a full clean. Espicaly after seeing what lint/dust build up did to my last m1710

 

Woodstock,
It surprises me that Dell won't provide a replacement for your system since you did send it into the depot for service. After I sent my original system into the depot and it came back worse, I just requested a replacement. Dell said since I had done what they asked and requested a new functional pc, that they would do a system exchange.
I wouldn't settle for that crap. That's horrible.

 

Dell need to have continuity in policy and service, as well as being a damn sight more open with their customers regarding the whole GPU replacement issues.

In an update to my situation, I have heard nothing back from my escalation e-mail sent Monday night. I'll give them until tomorrow and then up the anti a couple of notches more.

 

Update on my situation in the uk . Was on the phone hour and a half to them today . upshot is no refund. no replacement. Said i had turned down a replacement which i did (8700`s anyone ) they even asked me to stop calling them . Will have to wait for a repair of which there is no time factor and there are 170 people waitng (i think they just make a number up).
Time to put pen to paper for me .

here`s the address for UK folk if anyone needs it.

Dell Customer Complaints,
Dell Products,
Cherrywood Industrial Park,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18,
Ireland

 

it is retarded, but my account is on "hold" whatever that means? haven't been able to contact anyone who can explain it or help me clear it...

 

I recently recieved a phone call from Dell regarding the replacement for my M1730, the spec is in my signature.

Originally i was told that they had no M1730`s in my spec, a week later i was told that they had found an M1730 with the exact spec as mine, yesterday i got a phone call from Dell to say they have no M1730`s in my spec.

The person that rang me yesterday to say they had no M1730`s in my spec said that a manager will call me again to discuss my replacement further.

The saga continues, he will probably ring and tell me that they have found an M1730 in my spec then the day after they will ring and say they havn`t got an M1730 in my spec ...... Ahhhh the quality aftercare, you can`t beat it lol, this has been dragging on for well over a month now.

 

dell has perfected the run around...

 

Hi guys! new here! I have had my XPS 1730 since October 2008. I have the 8800M GTX Sli cards that died about 8 weeks ago. Fortunately I was just in warranty.

What fun I had with the tech guys at the Indian call centre. Fortunately after some harsh words from myself and some diagnostics. The tech guy agreed to replace the card and the LCD.

I couldn't believe my luck when I got a call the next day to tell me an engineer would be with me in two days to replace the card and LCD. Well as expected, that was short lived and I received another call the day before the engineer was due to tell me he wouldn't be coming after all as they couldn't get the gpu.

Since then I had have many frustrating phone calls with the tech guys and eventually complaints but to no avail. The short answer was the gpu was unavailable.

I have waited approximately 8 weeks for the parts to become available but can say that yesterday and engineer from Unisys came to fix my machine. So far so good, well with the exception of the short cut keys no longer working, e.g the keyboard illumination keys etc wich is actually what brought me to this site. I was searching for a solution and lo and behold I came across this thread. I honestly cannot believe so many people are experiencing the problem.

I wonder. Is it worth extending the warranty on the machine in the event that this may happen again?

My experience with Dell is far from good. I originally ordered this machine in September 2007, was given a delivery date which was subsequently put back, then put back again, then again. I eventually bought a Sony Vaio. Last year, I gave Dell another chance with the XPS and received the machine almost immediately.

I have since tried to order a server and had similar problems. Given a delivery date which was put back again and again. Once more I cancelled.

Being the IT manager for a large fuel company, I can safely say I won't be using Dell again and hopefully others will do the same.

The service and support is attrocious.

Anyhow, does anybody know how I can get the keyboard illumination working again?

 

Wood,


Look back at thread 2 and send an email explaining your concerns and disgust for the situation (email bomb) You have every right to get a replacement of equal specs or better under the warranty guidelines. I sent one and had a coorporate rep calling me within 8 hours informing me he would make sure that my issue got resolved.

 

It's very possible you just need to reseat the keyboard into the palm rest, making sure the touchpoints are touching. There is the cord for the power, and then there is the cord for the keys input that goes TOWARDS you as you push the keyboard in, if you are looking down at it. Make sure not to force anything, and just slide it easily. My keyboard wouldn't turn on last week and I took it out and reseated it and fixed it. If that doesn't help, then in fact your lights have broke.

 

i have done that but my account is on hold i guess so even though they cant fix my machine or get any gpu's but the 8700 i cant get a replacement... i have called the people who can tell me what the hold thing is all about but so far i have only been hung up on... yeah, no more dell's for me ever. i hate dell now, they are ridiculous

 

Latest update on my situation:

I went ahead and gave Dell a call this afternoon with the service request number they provided me regarding a system exchange. After being transferred the standard 5-6 times, I eventually got to someone moderately helpful. He went ahead and processed the exchange, he told me it would take 21 days max. Initially he said that they would attempt to send me a replacement with the exact or better parts. When I told him that I thought that my CPU wasn't even offered any longer and that the entire reason this was taking so long was because of the GPU unavailability, he assured me that if the parts weren't as good or better that they would upgrade the machine entirely, although the words "M17x" weren't mentioned. Oh, and he said he would call be back with updates so I wouldn't have to call back so much. I'm not holding my breath though, as I've never ever been called back by a representative.

 

That means you'll most likely be offered a xps studio 16.

 

And I'll most certainly refuse that crap, lol. From what he said though, they would try to match my system exactly or with better parts. Which I don't see happening...

 

Another thing to keep in mind: Their concept of 'better', is hardly ever 'better'. When they're upgrading you, they will be very explicit and conscious about celebrating the mertis of their 'deed'. When they downgrade you, they plead ignorance; ". . .huh! XPS 16 isn't a downgrade! It's pretty!" Granted, some people don't know laptop-techno-crap as well as others, and so they may not have a firm idea of what's better and what is inferior. Regardless of this fact, it is downright baffling when a Dell tech insists that a 9800m GT is an 'upgrade' to the 8800m GTX with an Ageia PhysX P.P.U.

I kid you not, the aforementioned excuse was used against me when the tech assigned to my system-replacement tried to put a positive spin on a case where I was taking on some serious downgrades.

All in all, it is always wise to avoid reading too much into what these people 'say'. Get an actual written/e-mailed specification confirmation, and then use that against them if they back down from the agreement.

To Wodstock,
I really do hope for your case. Around a month earlier, I felt that Bpat had it the worst, but now I think I'd probably rate you at the top, followed by Hankaroon, and then trailed by some of us UK-residents. The good news being that Bpat's case got resolved in a great way, and it's best to hope that this might be a sign of similar things coming your way.

 

Lets see, my Vid cards are great, my problems, Keyboard wearing through the keys (I got clear keys where A,W,S, and D are), and a dead memory card reader (bent pins) due for MB replacement. Putting it off for as long as I can before it goes in to Depot for god knows how long... and hearing Wodstocks horror story I am really apprehensive....

 

Hey everyone...

i made a thread on benchmarks with the m1730. all is welcomed. i'm considering into buying one in some up coming months, so i wanted to see how the m1730 stands....
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=423882

 

you came to the wrong place

the 1730 is a huge steaming pile if crap, do not buy one

 

really. it looks like a good notebook. i wanted to get a used cheap one.

what happened to yours why you say that.

 

Quite a few people are having some very huge problems with GPU failures and extremely shoddy service on Dell's part regarding the M1730. I'm one of a fortunate few who haven't had any issues with their machine thus far... but I will admit I don't use mine constantly. M1730s with the X9000 processor and overclocked seem to have considerably lessened failure rates, due to the fact the fans are forced to full blast when you overclock it.

If you are looking at a secondhand M1730, I'd highly recommend just hunkering down, saving up, and getting something like an M17x... as long as you get ATI cards with it.

Personally, I won't ever touch another Nvidia product again.

 

Then show me a gaminig laptop without any problems .
And maybe ATI GPU are free of problems too ?
I don't thing so . I'm one of the happy users of M1730 , and in my country this machine has a good opinion .
How much of M1730 Dell laptops sold ?
I think that tens of thousands .
How many are here , at the world's largest forum for disgruntled customers? Several .
And that is enough to say that the M1730 is a bad laptop? -with all my respect for your knowledge - I do not think so .
On the occasion I would like to say goodbye to you this statement . I finish reading this thread because the atmosphere here is like a cemetery .
All the best to all of you.
pit

 

Hola

I'm new to this, but recently with my replacement m1730, the Creative Audio Center as an extension of the Sigmatel HD audio Codec, has begun to fail. Every time I wish to alter the bass settings, the program stops working. The equalizer settings aren't even shown as an option now, where they would have been on the previous system system. Can anyone help?

 

I am sure there are many happy M1730, BUT I'm sorry Consi, that is no excuse for Dell to treat customers with contempt when they do have something go wrong with their machine.

There wouldn't be a forum like this, if Dell actually resolved all issues in a professional and courteous manner.

As far as my update goes - 2 weeks, and Dell have still to get back to me...I've not heard anything from them.

 

The beast is a great laptop but dells handling of the situation sucks . Im having to go out and buy a new pc because it`s now six weeks since mine has been dead. No good having a great laptop if you cant use it

 

please can someone help!

I have two Hitachi Travelstar k7320gb hard drives.

One I purchased some time ago and I installed Vista and is currently in use. The other I purchased just recently and I have installed it e.g screwed it in BUT KTRON told to me via pm to install both of them as RAID 0 (via pm on my other account on here), but i forgot the log in details and username/email address, sorry for multi accounting.

So how do I install RAID 0??? I have a Dell XPS M1730.

Thank you in advance.

 

Ifti posted a youtube video on this. See:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6g2ZQwKMYI

 

you sir are awesome

 

ok, Ive just watched the video. Where do I get raid drivers from for Vista?

 

Do you have an Intel Turbo Memory Card installed?

If you do have one, then you need this:
Intel Turbo Memory w/Intel Matrix Storage Manager, v1.10.0.1012, Last Updated: 08/17/2009

If you do not have an Intel Turbo Memory Card installed, use this:
Intel Matrix Storage Manager, v8.9.0.1023, Last Updated: 07/18/2009

 

Thank you for your help thus far.

How would I know which one I have?

 

Check your Start Menu. If you don't have an entry for Intel Turbo Memory, then you don't have one. The card was shipped out initially with the first batch of M1730s then it was made an upgrade option. If you didn't order one, you dont have it. You can also confirm by checking device manager - look under Storage Controllers and see if you have an entry that is listed as 'Intel Turbo Memory Controller'.

 

In the off-chance that you do have turbo memory, you can download a program called Belarc Advisor that will look through your registry and pick up all the details/Serial #'s of installed hardware and quite a bit of software as well (forgot the serial # to your Microsoft Office 2007? It'll cost ya' $10 to get a new key from Microsoft over the phone).

Otherwise follow the Batman's advice.

-------------------------


*Edit: http://dcse.dell.com/ifr/PowerEdge/PE 2500/escalationprocess.htm for those interested in how Dell employees work.

 

cant give any more rep but Leon was a great film and Kelly Brook ftw everytime.

ty again.

 

Thanks for trying to make sense but If you really look at what is being said, us "disgruntled m1730 owners" are complaining about Dell and the refurbished GPU's that keep failing on us. Im not sure about your country but here in the united states Dell has a BBB score of a C on a scale of A-F, so basically when we have issues there is a 50/50 chance of actually getting a resolve.

 

With no respect or insincere sentiment, everyone uses Windows, and it is by far the most criticised operating system, and yet we all use this? What is your point? Hey, it's mainstream and so our only viable option for accessibility.

There are many pacifists that support war. . . maybe there are other dilemmas. Maybe we all don't endorse the idea of humans butchering their own kind, but find it a harsh choice between the devil and thee deep sea. . . seriously, what is your point?

People in autocratic states end up voting in theocracies in the name of 'democracy', and then they suffer at the hands of a state dictated by one religious doctrine. . . what is your point? That people/majority vote is actually 'perfect' and an absolute sign of right and wrong? Surely you know that we're not kindergarten students here, waiting to have our go at Santa's lap. SHEESH!

Moral: Numbers are simply that - numbers.

This 'majority is authority' logic only makes one look like a pompous elitist, and to be frank and honest, you don't want to start off on that foot when making such a point.

The problem in this world is that the ignorant are too loud, and the wise are too humble, and as a result, quiet. Very few of us fall in the middle, this is why I've taken it upon myself to personally contradict such statements.

I don't want to get into which company's GPUs have had longer life span, but Dell's behaviour cannot go without a proper legitimate, non-elitist excuse. They are messing up, and the fact that they set a certain bar, and then messed up, makes them twice as accountable. At the risk of touching a sensitive and political topic, I will take the plunge. . . Look at the Obama administration, for an example - every little muck-up, every little detail is under an almost baffling microscope. People are going ape-sh*t over the Whitehouse pooches! Why? Because this election's been all hype, with media galvanising the masses about promises, great ambitions, and 'change'! And that right there is the darkest thing about media and marketing, because then you have to put your money where your mouth is at the end of the day. So if Dell are being hyped, or once did act, as the paragons of customer relations, then now would be a very appropriate moment for outrage.

Dell's customer relations department in Europe, has some serious answers to give. Ditto for the yankee department, to a lesser extent. Dell as a whole need to also get their bearings and decide what they want to do, and yes, adopt more transparency.

On the note of speaking for the entire nation, Mr. Poland. Please, this isn't gamespot. Don't speak on behalf of the entire country, I am certain there'll be many of your fellow nationals that will disagree with you. How anyone can actually speak so boldly on behalf of a whole country is just. . . wow. Until you don't have an academically published statement that backs what you've assumed and generalised, I won't even take that comment serious. If you really want to talk about samples and real majority opinion about Dell and more specifically, Dell's handling of the XPS M1730, then here's a fact. Fact: On this forum, as an example, for everyone of you, there's like at least a dozen--if not many more--that disagree with you. Now how do you think that reflects on your statistical assumption? Many people buy, and many people are unhappy with certain things. Flashing fake numbers and making them 'sound real' is a cheap parlour-trick employed only by those that are absolutely adament on imposing a point-of-view that cannot be reasonably presented.

As for the real query about someone wanting a new M1730?
I would easily recommend a used XPS M1730, with an X9000, along with the 8800m GTX in SLi and a decent warranty package. Run the machine overclocked, and keep it cool. You will not be dissappointment.

It is important to know that the M1730 is not a bad design, or a bad laptop. I actually like the look and the specs (8800m GTX and up), and it will run pretty much any game at high-resolution, so these Clevos, Sagers, Alienwares, mean nothing in my books. Would be nice to have one, but they won't do anything -that much better- than how the beast currently does 'em, provided that it is running nice and cool. So get one, but with the X9000 as Dell are too stupid to fix the problem through a simple BIOS release. Yes, DELL, could've fixed this problem. Shame on DELL, for not taking initiative where Nvidia may have failed. That is what the real 'good guys' do in 'fairytales' when circumstances don't work in their favour. And that is why I am not going to entertain c0ck-eyed notions by a Dell Mark. Yes. A. Dell. Mark.

Note: Make sure that the original party that purchased the machine from Dell, writes an authorisation letter confirming that you're the owner and that you're entitled to all warranty services, including refunds. Acquire this letter at time of purchase as it will solve a lot of problems for you along the way, in case the warranty is called into action.

 

I have office installed and i cant find the product jey. After installing belarc all the office 07 keys found dont work with the office on my comp?

after installing raid and then being asked to install the raid drivers, do i just save the http://go.notebookreview.com/?id=525X832&url=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/17882/eng/IATA89ENU.exe installer and drag it over to my comp via a usb/external hard drive?

 

meh, i have to send in my laptop again... this is just insane...

 

What??? What for?? Is this going to be one of those "it should be complete at the earliest in 21 days, sir, once it's passed stress-testing at our repair depot"?

 

No Dell warranty is decent in my experience, i also thought a 4 year warranty would give me piece of mind but instead its been one big headache. Whats the point of a decent warranty if Dell technicians can`t fix a problem then after that technical support leaves you dangling on a piece of string week after week with loads of failed promises, failing to call you when they say they will, failing to email you when they said they would etc etc. Ive been left with a faulty machine for well over a month now, its laughable to be honest.

Personally i think the warranty is a joke, its supposed to give you piece of mind but in reality thats where your problems start.

As for your point about an X9000 Extreme processor, it won`t be much use when everything around it starts failing and Dell can`t cure the problem but instead they just leave you in limbo with a faulty machine with no light at the end of the tunnel and no sign of things being rectified or a replacement.

I wouldn`t recommend anything Dell to anyone, don`t commit yourself to 4 years of Hell with one of their warranties which is supposed to give you piece of mind, i wish i had never come across them as i`m quite a bit out of pocket due to their engineers not turning up when they were supposed too as i`m self employed and had to take time out of work, also my phone bill has been fairly large recently because of me having to chase up managers that have failed to call back when they said they would.

 

I got a M1730 with 8800M GTX SLI. I've noticed that my tempatures have been going up lately. So I was wondering, since I don't have a warrant on it. I bought it from here. Can't get a warrant since it doesn't have the service tag. Anyway, is it possible that I can replace the video cards myself? is it easy? Has anyone done it?