Dell XPS and Sandy Bridge

when is xps 17 with sb +gt555m coming are you guys sure its feb 1 if 1449 then too expensive

 

Waiting on the XPS 17 + Sandy Bridge before I get my next laptop. Seems like the XPS 17 might offer some nice features over the Asus G73SW (which is my current #1 choice)

 

I am also debating between the XPS17 and the G73SW.

I just can't decide!! Although the G73SW is more powerful, and not having Optimus is not a deal breaker for me.

What "nice features" are offered with the Xps17 besides optimus when compared to the G73?

 

Wow, that Asus is one sexy machine. May have to consider that one as well as the 15/17. Anyone know if the XPS 15 is getting the Sandy Bridge refresh at the same time as the 17? Didn't think so, but maybe someone has seen something I haven't.

 

ASUS G73-SW is basically a no frills gaming laptop. The XPS is a high end consumer laptop, though it can game, it isn't designed 100% for gaming.

 

Yeah it would appear that the GT series cards are pretty poor performers. What frills do you think the Asus is missing and compared to what? Don't see any options on the maxed out Alienware systems that you can't get on a G73 model. Different manufacturer?

 

Interestingly, the XPS 14 is no longer offering i3 or i5 processors on the Dell Home configuration page. They've been missing for 3 days.

The sales rep I spoke with had no idea why they'd be missing, but with February 1st just around the corner, I wonder if they're bracing themselves for Sandy Bridge pre-orders on the XPS 14.

 

And I got an EPP email today talking about a clearance sale which ends Monday morning (the 31st). Looks like it's gonna happen on Tuesday.

 

Yeah I found this odd too. Why would they remove all the i5s? It seems like more people would want them than the power hungry i7s....

On a side note, do all XPS 14s come w/ a backlit keyboard? Because I saw no option to include one and in the description it just says "standard english keyboard"

 

Ktulu85- I was in the same boat as you looking at the Asus 73SW or the XPS17 w/Sandybridge. However, I am now going to get the Alienware M17x R3 3D. Although I am not a true gamer, I want the fastest CPU/GPU for the money. Also, the lighted keyboard is a must for me and no laptop comes close to the AW M17. Here is a good reference post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/550559-m17xr3-first-impression.html
Basic 3D Configuration ($1699 USD) consists of the following:

Alienware M17x R3
Processor:
Intel® Core™ i7 2630QM 2.0GHz (2.8GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache) I72630Q 1 [317-6602] 2
Operating System:
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit AW7HP6E 1 [420-9691][420-9956][421-0092][421-1400] 11
Memory:
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz (2DIMMS) 4G2D 1 [317-6116] 3
Video Card:
1.5GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M N460M 1 [320-1938] 6
Hard Drive:
320GB 7,200RPM HDD 320G 1 [342-2218] 8
Display Panel:
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 120Hz WLED w/ NVIDIA 3D Vision Bundle WFHD3DB 1 [320-1932] 5
Wireless:
Wireless 802.11 g/n DW1501 1 [430-4019] 19
Optical Drives:
Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) DVDRWRX 1 [318-0395][421-4541] 16
Sound:
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio IHD51 1 [318-0424] 17
System Color:
Alienware M17x, Soft Touch Stealth Black VBLK 1 [225-0536] 1
Factory Installed Games:
Steam and Portal™ Factory Installed STEAM 1 [421-1360] 73
AlienFX:
Quasar Blue BLU 1 [313-8792][421-4655] 10
A/C Adapter:
Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter 240W 1 [331-1347] 4
Service:
1 Year Basic Plan S1OS 1 [421-1721][939-0320][939-0340][950-3337][950-9797][994-3730] 29
Security Software:
McAfee® Security Center – 30-Day Trial MC1230D 1 [410-9452] 25
Automatic Updates:
Automatic Updates: On AUTOON 1 [330-6348] 20
Standard Nameplate Trigger:
Standard Nameplate SPLATE 1 [331-1349] 748

 

Don't all 3 brands we are currently discussing have a backlit keyboard? Sure, you can change the colours on the alienware, but I am assuming they all do the job equally well ...

 

only 2 more days lets see if anything leaks

 

I feel ya...

 

It might be delayed until spring. Intel had problems with their chipsets. It might be a good idea to not buy until later this summer. Let them get the kinks out first.

Chipset Design Errors to Hit Intel Margins (INTC) - 24/7 Wall St.

http://www.apple.com/2011/01/31/intel-sandy-bridge-hitch-may-delay-new-imac-and-macbook-pro-release/

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sandy-bridge-sata-error-sata-3,12112.html

 

*sigh*...the waiting just never ends, does it? Oh well. I'm not changing my vow to get a computer by the end of February. If it has to be an L501x, then that's what it'll be. I'm through waiting.

Disappointed in Intel, though...

 

man...that is some very bad news for the people waiting for L502X and L702X....Intel totally screwed up this one

 

Yes you are correct. However, the Asus G73SW is a "backlit" keyboard and the keys are not lit themselves. Moreover, the AW M17's key characters are lit seperately along with the backlighting. The color changing option is not as important as the ability to type in the dark it's just a nice perk.

 

very upsetting

 

It may not affect notebooks as badly as everyone is thinking...We'll see in the coming days.

 

Indeed the problem is not that bad. Only the sata-300 products are affected. But if you're Dell, it's cheaper not to release the renewed xps 17 with Sandy Bridge yet and wait instead of releasing and replacing afterwards the motherboards by sending technicians. Okay, some will say there's possible image damage by waiting, but I believe this will be limited. After all, the competition (HP, Acer, Asus,...) is also affected. It's an Intel, not Dell problem after all.

If we may believe the press releases from Intel, we might expect SB to be available end of February. So I wouldn't hope there's going to be a release in the coming days...

Another thought: If Dell would indeed release faulty SB-chipsets, promising a free repair in the future. They risk more: high pressure on administration (processing replacement requests), impatient consumers complaining (maybe writing bad publicity on the internet),.. While the competition waited and in the end don't have the additional pressure and waste of resources because of the needed replacements. If I was Dell (or another laptop manufacturer) I would wait and inform my clients as much as possible when they might expect first deliveries.

 

The SandyBridge flaw is in their Desktop processors not in mobile processors (Engadget).

 

wrong. The Source of Intel's Cougar Point SATA Bug - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

 

The big issue for Dell is now they doomed themselves by emptying old stock and now they have nothing to replace it. The nice thing about Dell is customization, and there are hardly any choices left on the original XPSes.

 

If you have a notebook system with only two SATA ports however, the scenario is a little less clear. Notebooks don’t have tons of storage bays and thus they don’t always use all of the ports a chipset offers. If a notebook design only uses ports 0 & 1 off the chipset (the unaffected ports), then the end user would never encounter an issue and the notebook may not even be recalled. In fact, if there are notebook designs currently in the pipeline that only use ports 0 & 1 they may not be delayed by today’s announcement. This is the only source of hope if you’re looking for an unaffected release schedule for your dual-core SNB notebook.
Final Words


Which boils down to: do the new Alienwares / XPS's use the port 2? Are you feeling lucky?

Edit: given the XPS ships with x2 HD cradles, then you'll need to recall them.

x1 HD + x1 Optical drive = both your functioning 6 ports used. So no extra HD!

 

Depends on their contracts with Intel. But I don't think it will be such a huge issue. A lot of Dell laptops (Inspiron for example) still use the 1st generation processors and no plans where released yet to upgrade them to SB. Nice thing about processors is that they are sort of standardized. Thus the stock of the Inspirons can be shared with the XPS stock temporarily...

Still, there will be a limitation of choice, like you say. Probably the big markets will get priority (mostly the US, than the EU, than Asia and the rest).

Just my thought.

 

Don't forget the external eSATA port.

 

Already I cannot find any XPS with i7 on the Dutch, Belgium or German sites of Dell.

Begs the question:
what would currently be the best alternative to an XPS notebook?

 

damn you intel....
another delay..........

 

I found something very interesting in Eric G. blog.This link is for customise your L702x??? The Dell Online Store: Build Your System You cant find it on the Dell site.Very strange

 

Wow, that is one pricey laptop! Configured it the way I would want--$3200!

Awesome link, though, thanks.

 

xaxaxaxaxax.My config step to 2000 $$.What's put in yours??

 

xaxaxaxaxaxa.My config step on 2000$$ Whats put in yours ???

 

This is rubbish.

Dell use a centralised European distribution method;

La boutique en ligne Dell: créez votre propre système


There's it in French. Oh, and I notice that the price in EUROS is lower than the price in UK POUNDS. Given the exchange is 1.2:1, I feel aggrieved.




On reflection, turns out I'm not - Euro version is offered with the lower configs that the UK store no longer carries. Ouch at the price.


Oh...

Der Dell Online-Shop: Stellen Sie Ihr eigenes System zusammen


Same site, German version. You'll notice the language tags above are about the only difference - and yes, I did reach there straight via dell.de just by searching for XPS, and clicking on the 701x.

/panic over

 

You are right, the i7 is still available on the 17''. Now try looking for an 15'' with i7, they are not offered.

Der Dell Online-Shop: Stellen Sie Ihr eigenes System zusammen
La boutique en ligne Dell: créez votre propre système

Anyway: Dell, Gigabyte and MSI pull products in wake of Sandy Bridge chipset flaw, HP faces delays

 

As I just posted on the L701x thread.
Be careful building laptops that are not on the main page of the Dell website or using the Customise button as I just managed to build an i7 that cost £400 more than what I paid for mine and who knows when it may arrive or if it will get cancelled after waiting a month.

I heard a few people on previous threads paid more money than me for the same laptop probably because they used links and did not get the full discounts so be warned and double check by phone or e-mail before taking the plunge or at least check here what the price should be.

 

<Moved to ontopic thread, apologies>

 

Dell XPS 14 has been completely pulled from the Dell site. Upgrade imminent?

 

Well... a smart marketing move would be to use all the current Sandy Bridge chips in systems that can only have 2 SATA connections - which to my mind would be the smaller notebooks / units.

Whether or not this is feasible is another thing - but it'd turn a disaster into a bonus [i.e. Intel covers the chips on the models with >2 SATA's, your smaller units get a powerful user desired boost at no real cost]

I doubt that will happen though.

 

eSata should not be affected as they usually have a dedicated controller ie. a Jmicron chip.

So Cat is right, theoretically the 67 chipset boards will be fine using just the two 6GB sata ports, Will we see these boards springing up in low end machines....... I seriously doubt it.

I reckon the the guys in Santa Clara will be playing a big game of frisbee the motherboard into the skip.

MM

 

Which is a huge shame (plus - they'll get sent to China or India for landfill / stripping, the USA + Europe loves dumping its tech waste in other countries, due to the toxic nature of it)

It'd almost be worth sourcing these, building small rigs & selling them on as a supplier - here's hoping some of the little fish realise this, and start a recycling craze.

 

That's not true at all. Optical drive and eSata usually run off the last 2 chipset controllers (4 & 5). Why would an MB manufacturer or OEM be interested in paying for a separate controller for e-sata?

If you have an affected laptop, run Intel Rapid Storage Technology tool to see which device is sitting on which port.

 

To all people postponing their desire for the Sandy Bridge laptops, I'm afraid you will have to wait a very long time.

I found some info on the Sager/Clevo section of the NBR-forum ( link):

It seems that for Dell the situation will not be that different.
Looks like AMD really has a chance to catch up with their new Bulldozer platform (the sources I've found speculate this would be around march-april 2011). But remember, the Bulldozer is a completely new platform, so it could also have his early development issues..

I do hope for Intel they've got enough clarksfield/arrandale chipsets in stock to keep going until april. But I doubt that.. Intel might have reacted in a positive way PR-wise (consistent story, lots of details, quick respond,solution offered,...), but technically this is a disaster. I hope most production of the 1st generation chipsets can be increased temporarily. Still, can't think it's that easy to "restart" such a chip factory.

 

wrong thread

 

If the boards still have any value, why hasn't Intel announced, as part of their detailed press-release, that they would be accepting the defective boards back and an after-market fix was available ? I wouldn't be surprised if the public just got the "prettier" explanation of the defect(s) and there's more to it.

 

Intel have released a detailed description of the problem and have set aside $700 million to rectify it.

I am sure anyone with the affected chipset will have their motherboards replaced if they so desire.

I applaud Intel for coming clean and taking this one on the chin, don't think there is any conspiracy here.

MM

 

Just wanted to update everyone on the SB debacle: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20030936-1.html

 

That should clear up alot of questions or concerns.
And if Dell offers to replace the old one when the proper one comes out, then i wouldn't mind getting the old board.

Thanks!

 

I agree. Especially since it's not guaranteed you will ever have the issue before you replace the motherboard.

 

My thoughts exactly, they said it would degrade over time and so on...
But if they replace it when the fixed one comes out then it'll probably only be a month or two before you get the proper board. And if you aren't even gonna be using the messed up bit, then i see no harm.

 

Intel to start shipping remedied Cougar Point chipsets on February 14th -- Engadget

So what does this mean for availability dates for us?

And how long after the US release do you think we'll get it over here in the UK?