Dell XPS and Sandy Bridge

Has there been any update on the status of the XPS 14? I'm surprised I havent seen any thread about it being pulled from Dell.com

 

Latest update from India,

Both the dell xps 14(L401x) and 15(L501x) are no longer available on the website. I have talked to a rep and he says 15 is only available with i7. Did not know about 14.

The l701x has never been launched in india, so nothing on that.

I think dell is running short on processors to get into these notebooks. They must cleared out all the old stocks to prepare for the new sandy bridge processors, as pointed out earlier by other users.

I myself ordered an XPS 15 with i7-740 last week. I am in a dilemma now..I hope my laptop won't be outdated even before it reaches me!

 

me still waiting for 702x (don't want to be in dilemma)... hope they bring it out quickly...

 

Intel will be shipping out the new processors in a week or two, which means manufacturers will have them shortly after that.

We got the word where I work today.

 

That's awesome to hear, February passed quite quickly, another week would be about right according to their planned date to start shipping SB with the fixed boards. Can't wait.

BTW: where do you work?

 

Wow, that's good to hear. So what does this mean for when end-users can expect to be able to order the XPS models with SB processors? Or is that still an open question at this point?

 

That sounds about right, since I know the beta/test units of the L702x are being sent to testers at the end of feb, once they get the chips. So if you figure a 4 or 6 week testing cycle, plus a week or 2 to ramp up some production. Might give an availability date of the first part of May?

 

Well i have contacted Dell before and tried to get them to spill some info on the dates and finally i got something, but it shocked me quite a bit. Have a look...


Question: Intel will be resuming shipment of the processors w/ the fixed chipset soon. How long till it will be available?

Dell: Hi.

Me: Hi

Dell: We still don't have any official confirmation from Intel regarding the Shipment of Sandy Bridge Processors.

Me: can you give me time frame of when they would be coming?

Dell: We really don't have an update and I cannot confirm a Wrong time frame.

Me: Well if you are wrong, there is nothing i can do, but would you have any info? I will not hold it to you. I just want an idea of what is expected as of now. I do know it might and probably will change in the future.

(long pause)

Dell: It might take approximately 3 months, but we can't guarantee.

Me: oh, is that expected for UK? or global

Dell: It's globally.

Me: right, Thank You.

Me: Bye

Dell: Thank you for contacting Dell Sales Chat and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. Have a wonderful Day ahead.


That just put a pin in all my hopes and dreams.

 

If it's going to take 3 months, I'm just going to get the HP dv6 when it comes out in late March...

 

How does SB equivalent of clarksfield(say, an I7 Q740M) compare in price? And would it be possible to change (again, say an I7 Q740M) to SB equivalent without changing other parts?

 

I would suggest to everyone, if you are looking to buy a laptop because you need one but were waiting for Sandy Bridge, just buy what you can now. There is a long wait ahead.

But like me, buying a XPS 15 right now wouldn't be an upgrade, just a new laptop. So i got no choice but to wait. And unfortunately, i got my heart set on the XPS 15, so I wouldn't be happy with any other at this time.

 

No, its a different chipset. You'd have to get a whole new motherboard. Even then, they might make small changes to the chassis that would make it hard, if not impossible, to install the board in the old chassis.

This is really depressing news. I'm in a similar boat as you, ans04. I've got an XPS m1530 that is starting to show its age, and all the news about the efficiency and speed of Sandy Bridge has me salivating for it.

 

Well, i tried to get some info again so that my previous info could be confirmed but no dice. They aren't saying anything, i guess i just got lucky with that guy. Maybe the rest of you guys could keep trying occasionally to get some info to confirm mine or hopefully debunk it.

 

Lots of people actually think/believe the new Sandu Bridges will be available towards the end of Feb (oh wait, it is the end of Feb) and March. Of course, even misguided Dell agents/reps said March. I still think it could be May.

So far, we saw the XPS 17 (moot in some discussions since many countries don't get the 17) with Sandy Bridge, and Alienware 17 (which countries do get) as well. Why XPS 17 would come before XPS 15, we don't know. Looks like XPS 15 was poised for release, but even before the Intel announcement, there was absolutely no news of the XPS 15 - news of it usually comes well ahead (just look back to the first time the XPS 15 was leaked/unofficially announced, and when it was released). We don't know how long it took Intel to come up with the courage to admit the fault anyway - they could've planned it to be late so it would look like the fix was fast, but now they claim they'll continue to sell the flawed product as long as it isn't misused?

 

I had XPS M1530 before which i bought 3 years ago (sent to my home for home use) .... and now once i get new laptop , i am not gonna be able to change for at least 3~4 years.. so that's why i want to go with SB... though current i7 are very strong but SB gonna help in long run.... and also screen on current XPS 17 is also one factor making me want L702x. currently i am left with this old hp dv2411 borrowed from a friend

 

I remember that time I was so sure I wanted the new XPS 15s (when the news was leaked last year), and it took ages (many months) for them to be released - when they were, they disappointed heavily (GT 435M, GT 420M?).

You find yourself in the same situation. I also had no laptop at the time (was using 5/6 year old laptop last year, then got a new one, returned new one in August, waited to buy XPS). Damn, XPS has its goods and bads when compared to Studio XPS (for a person looking only at Dell). It has no blocked vent (+), but it has a hot Nvidia GPU (-, even though no "throttling" so far, or am I wrong?). It has a metal body (+), but it some ways it looks ugly (-). It is newer with the potential for upgrades (+, in terms of GPU, since the CPU upgrade is certain), but it lacks the media/extra great things the Studio XPS had (-, this includes slot loading drive, some touch media keys, and some may say RGBLED).

If you don't buy now, do you want to wait up till May? March is not far away, but I still think it is too soon. Last time Dell said Sept/Oct, it ended up being what Nov/Dec or something.

 

And now, the XPS 17 has been pulled from the Dell US website. In addition to this, the L702X is now listed as a selectable option under the Drivers and Downloads section of the Dell Support page.

 

Chat told me the XPS 17 was a discontinued end of life product and that *DELL* hadn't yet told them what was replacing it. Wait, I thought I was chatting *with* DELL.

Keep in mind this was the same chat that told me XPS 17 and one DIMM slot, then four ,then two. And that 8GB RAM would be installed in one chip, then four then two, and couldn't explain why the extra 4GB chip costs $100 to be installed so they might not be the best informed. Frustrated...

 

Well, here's the scoop on the new L702x.. Tester's aren't even getting their machines for another week or 2. So it's gonna be a little while yet. If the test cycle goes 4 or 6 weeks there's gonna be a production run up after that, so I'm thinking beginning to mid may.

What I don't yet know about the actual test machines being sent out are the specs or if they're only testing a specific configuration. I also haven't seen anything mentioning the actual goal of the test. I'm speculating that it's a full blown hardware/software test, but I suppose it could only be testing the software and drivers shipping with the unit and the hardware is already finished.

It's a long shot, but maybe they already have certain configs set to ship and just need to test some specific configuration. I'm betting this is the test of the entire model line though.

I'm only posting what I know so far, I imagine I will know a *lot* more in the next couple weeks.

 

Chris, they are quite clueless about stuff.
that's why I'm kinda sceptical about the 3 months time a Dell rep gave me for the release.
I really do hope its less than the 3 months time he gave me.


path0s, if you don't mind my asking...
where is this info coming from?

 

A tester I wish there was a way to PM on here.. lol

 

User CP, click Send New Message. It seems like it should be easier, though.

 

An easier way to PM is just click the username of whoever you want to message and on their profile, there is a button/link which says 'Send a PM to ____'
Its under the sig in the second column, shouldn't be hard to find.

 

Cool. Guess our ancient IE6 at work just doesn't show it. I see it on my iPhone.

 

21:53:09 Kanya_Jaiswal
Hello Dinko.
21:53:16 Dinko
hello
21:53:31 Kanya_Jaiswal
Intel announced a Stop Ship on its Sandy Bridge (new Core i-series) chipset.
21:53:32 Dinko
how can i order one xps 17 with i 7 processor
21:54:06 Dinko
and the old core I 7
21:54:55 Dinko
is there any chance to order one with old core i 7
21:54:55 Kanya_Jaiswal
Yes , Intel expects to begin initial deliveries of the updated chipsets in late February and expects full volume recovery in April.
21:55:19 Kanya_Jaiswal
I am afraid not.

 

Aha.. The send PM link wasn't there before on either the name or in my user cp. It's there now. Thank you to the mystery genie

 

two important points:

1. stop asking dell chat support for future projections. they are worthless, they have always been worthless, and will continue to be worthless. they basically never have credible information unless it is already public.

2. why would the 702x be headed out for testing now if it was scheduled to be released two weeks ago? having a new chipset shouldn't lead to having to do full system testing all over again, should it?

 

So I got an email from Dell a little bit ago titled: "XPS laptops: premium blend of power & craftsmanship." I'm thinking...wha??? Open it up and click the link...it goes to the Studio and Studio XPS page. NONE of the laptops advertised on this page are available online...you now have to call.

What the heck is going on? Why advertise these things if you can't browse and configure them online? I'm really starting to think Dell is running short on inventory due to the Sandy Bridge fallout and is doing some crazy stuff.

 

I don't know the answer to your question, insideman, but I assure you it is. I will probably have a lot more info towards the end of the month when my buddy gets his machine. He's a local guy who I've known forever, I trust him 100%, and I've seen all the info he has gotten so far.

 

I have been getting the same exact email a very month or so since i got my laptop and gave them my email for this laptop. They're useless, just delete them. It's not a special email promoting a release or new stock or anything.

 

Wow, the options for the Dell XPS on the Dell website are really limited right now. I hope this means new stuff is "right around the corner".

 

Updated SB can't possibly be shipping anytime soon. Intel just started producing the fixed chipsets. Takes week to ship to OEMs. 3 weeks or so to fix defective units. 6 weeks to get them back into channel late April at best

 

Unless they take a chance with the faulty sets already "in production" or already made - Intel said it would allow this to some...

 

Yeah I support this argument too. Late april at best. May or june in india.

Laptop manufacturers who use only 2 sata ports are allowed to continue production I think..and the xps uses more than 2 -
1)HDD
2)ODD
3)e-sata

 

00:05:48 Robin S.
Hello

00:05:56 Alexander Espadero
Hi, Robin!

00:06:23 Robin S.
Hi Alex, I am wondering since the xps 14 and 17 got pulled out, will there be any new models coming soon?

00:08:59 Alexander Espadero
I am glad that you chatted in today, I will be more than happy to help you!

00:09:29 Alexander Espadero
We have been informed by our Marketing team that the new XPS systems will be released early or mid March. The XPS 14 and 17 is out of stock as of this time.

00:10:06 Robin S.
early or mid march? That's awesome, will it include the new and fixed sandy bridge?

00:11:34 Alexander Espadero
Yes, that is correct. It will have the newly updated sandy bridge processors that will not overheat.

---

There you go guys, new models with SB to be released in March.

 

I hope to God that's correct...because that would be so awesome if it were true...

 

There isn't, and never were any problems with the sandy bridge processors. It was only a problem with the chipset that could possibly make transfering speeds slower, no indication of potential overheating.

...makes me kinda doubt this rep's info... but I guess early march isn't bad.

 

Agreed. Overheating was never any sort of issue. With the cpu or bridge. Dell reps don't know squat if it's not on Dell's website. They don't need to know anything more and Dell wouldn't trust them with any sensitive information that could screw up their marketing plans anyway. And everything Dell and other large companies do has a marketing plan behind it. You should see the NDA that Dell's testers have to sign. They're not even allowed to tell anyone they're a tester for Dell.

I'm gonna say it again because it looks like some aren't paying attention. The 17" L702X isnt even going into testers hands until the end of this month. Like the Feb 24-28 range. I know this is 100% true. I've seen it with my own eyes. So if they're selling L702X's in 2 weeks they're going to be selling the same machines they're sending to testers. And that just makes no sense whatsoever heh.

You can choose not to believe me, I know there's a lot of quacks out here in the ether, but I'm not one of them. I've got no reason to be making stuff up. The only reason I'm posting this info is because I don't think it's fair for people to be left in the dark on a real timeframe when they're trying to make a decision to spend several thousand bucks on a new laptop. And Dell isn't giving any straight answers at all. Most likely because they don't know for certain how the beta test is gonna go. Sure, there's like a 98% chance no hardware changes will have to be made but it's not a guaranteed thing. So they choose to remain silent until they know for sure.

So unless it's for entertainment value, asking Dell's reps isn't going to get you anywhere.

 

If the testers would be getting them at the end of this month, i would give it atleast a month of testing. So i think, earliest, April.
And I agree, the Dell reps are clueless

 

The "overheating of Sandy Bridge" could be a misunderstanding of what they were told, or they were told an oversimplified line to tell people. It's technically wrong, but to a non-technical person (like the CS reps) it wouldn't really matter.

Dell is probably under pressure to get the new machine out there, and so is it possible that they are assuming no problems and are using a stepped-up timetable, and are assuming that no new problems will surface and the testing is just a "make sure" measure?

 

Why not just call / chat with Dell again and point that out ? How is it possible that you will be shipping the new Sandy Bridge chipset that soon when it would not have been tested by then ?

 

What sort of meaningful response can you hope to get?

 

I'm sure their phone support personal in india would give you a great answer

 

The same guy told me the same thing last week...


02/08/2011 03:58:46PM Agent (Alexander Espadero): "I am glad that you chatted in today, I will be more than happy to help you!"
02/08/2011 03:59:29PM Agent (Alexander Espadero): "We currently have the XPS 15 system that has Full HD capability 1080p resolution. Would you like to see the link?"
02/08/2011 04:02:06PM Nick: "are there any other options other than that one?"
02/08/2011 04:02:18PM Nick: "it appears that the xps 17 has no such option"
02/08/2011 04:03:51PM Agent (Alexander Espadero): "I understand. As of this time, we only have the XPS 15 laptop that has Full HD option. The XPS 17 only has 900p and there are no upgrade for the screen. However, our marketing team informed us that we will be releasing a new XPS system that has the new 2n"
d generation processor with Full HD early or mid March.
02/08/2011 04:04:55PM Nick: "ok, thanks"

Then just last night another agent said they have no information on new releases...

02/17/2011 03:25:10PM Agent (Cherry B): "Hi Nick. the xps already reached its end of life so we are not offering it anymore"
02/17/2011 03:26:18PM Nick: "when will new xps 17s come out?"
02/17/2011 03:26:52PM Agent (Cherry B): "we still do not have information on that"

I didn't expect an accurate answer, but thought I'd ask anyway for the hell of it.

 

I dunno.. Testing this machine would be a big undertaking for Dell. I dont know how many testers they select for something like this, but you gotta figure at least $2k per machine. I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and the only other reason I can think of that there would be a simultaneous test while coming to market would be to test updated drivers/bios over a long term. I can't think of any benefit at all for them to test the hardware while also selling it.

I was literally just informed while writing this that it appears I was a few days off on the shipping date for the L702X systems to the testers. They went out today from Taiwan. That tells me it's an engineering sample coming directly from the engineers and not from like a US warehouse or anything. To me that means it really is an initial hardware and design test.

In light of that info, I'm sticking by my first assumption that it's gonna be May before the L702X hits the market.

 

you seem very confident and i appreciate the input but there are a few things that just don't logically add up. It was at CES just over a month ago that dell said the 702x would be available Feb 1. What you are saying seems to have little to do with the sandy bridge issues and implies that Dell was completely FOS at CES. Why would they claim to have a lappie coming out in less than a month when they haven't even scheduled testing on any of the hardware?

what would make sense if it was 100% just a test of the new chipset to make sure it didn't cause any problems. but that has to be very different than a from scratch testing of a new model.

 

You realize that the Intel flaw was discovered and reported before Feb. 1 so Dell would have been stupid to release 702x when they would have to delay the delivery date for 3+ weeks? They would have ALOT more angry customers if they had released 702x. Also, on Feb. 1 I doubt they knew the full extent of the flaw so they played it safe. They probably decided to continue selling the non-Sandy bridge systems they had in stock so they wouldn't hurt their profits. Remember, all of this was caused by Intel and not Dell. Dell had no other choice.

 

Well, it's now 18 days past Feb 1, and there's no solid info coming from them at all. As far as your question goes, I have no idea why they would say that.

Even if it was just a test of the new chipset, that really doesn't change the timeframe at all. There's still going to be a likely 4 week test before they ramp up production on the boards. Then it's not like the the bridge chips are socketed and they can just pop the old ones out and drop new ones in either.

What would make 0 sense to me is for Dell to be sending out test units and then start selling them a week later. There'd just be no point to the test. I also don't think they'd need to do a whole beta cycle just to see if the bugfixed bridge chips work like they're supposed to. Meaning that the laptop itself had already been tested months earlier and they're doing this test just to test the bridge. They could do that in house with a couple of boards running automated sata i/o tests.

Ultimately, Dell's motivation is about the only fact I don't know about the test. I'm sure I'll have more info soon though and be able to piece it together a little better.

 

L701x completely gone from dell web.....

 

Probably ran out of stock.