Dell XPS15 R2 (L502) Thread

its looking like it...

 

Edited: It's the Realtek driver under the Network list on the driver's download page below. If the disk doesn't have names, click on the driver hyperlink on the download page and you will see the alphanumeric driver name it is called on the disk.

 

In other thread you say:

Some evidence of this?
Owners can try others temp monitor software?

 

So I was going to ask advice on the following config, but now I'm wondering whether I should wait to see what happens with the reports of overheating with the 2720QM.

In the meantime, how does this look to everyone? Any obvious changes to make? I have twin toddlers at home so I don't think there is any way I can avoid getting the warranty.

Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM processor 2.20 GHz
Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M 1GB
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
3 Year Advanced Service Plan
15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080) and 2.0MP HD Webcam
8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6230 & Bluetooth 3.0
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Backlit Keyboard - English

$1602 Shipped to CA (from Dell EPP)

 

Looks like I'll be just staying with my i5 460M in the meanwhile. Seems like the dual cores do not get anywhere near as hot at the quads for both 1st and 2nd gen Intels. And with the steep initial premium for the L502x, there's even less reason for me to hop on them as I was able to get my L501x w/ B+RG 1080p (not refurbished) for less than $800.

 

I don't know if need, but in follow link you can find all drivers for XPS 15 L502X:

Drivers & Downloads

 

As long as Im not throttling I'm happy

 

The evidence is in my earlier post. The cpu and gpu both are getting hot, but that doesn't mean you have to feel it on the outside. As far as trying another temp software, why? HWmonitor is about the best there is for temps, and any other software that gave different temps would lead me to believe it was wrong. When the most trusted brands in gaming and oc'ing use cpu-z to monitor and oc their rigs, I use it too.

 

Go with the GT 540M. There is always room for upgrades, but the gpu is one of the parts on your list that you don't want to fool with down the road. Everything else can be easily upgraded.

 

What would a reasonable CPU/GPU temperature be? Did the quad-core L501 get this hot?

 

Thanks, that helped. I didn't think to go into the device manager and check. I did have a warning. It was the realtek driver for the ethernet under network on the disk. Thanks for the help. I still have one unknown device though.
ACPI\SMO8800
*SMO8800
Its on the PCI bus. I have downloaded the motion sensor driver. What could it be?

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

Actually I think it is the motion sensor. I don't see the driver for that on the disk so I tried to download it from my dell page but when I try to install it I get some kind of ZIP error....

 

Hi,

I'm thinking about ordering an XPS 15 with i7-2720QM, 8 GB RAM and 2GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M but am concerned about heat and noise.

Could somebody tell me just how loud and hot it gets under

a) normal use (internet and MS office software etc)
b) Heavy Use (Gameing)

Thanks

 

ST Microelectronics DE351DL Free Fall Sensor, it is in many DELL notebook:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/548290-alienware-m15x-smo8800-unkown-device-2.html

 

If you have read the past few pages of the posts, you'll come across frequent reports of extreme heat levels for the 2720QM so far...

 

Yep, that was it. It was on the disk. Thank you very much. I now have no more warnings under device manager! So my Windows reinstall has went smooth, now just have to repaste the CPU and GPU (even though the GPU temps aren't that bad)......

 

Heres mine ordered on 08th March EDD 11th April

XPS L502x : 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz
Display : 15.6" HD WLED True-Life (1366x768) with 2.0 Mega Pixel Integrated Camera
LCD Back Cover : Metalloid Aluminum (WWAN) L501X
Ship Accessory : English Docs
Resource DVD : XPS L502x Diagnostics and Drivers
Memory : 4GB (2X2GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
Hard Drive : 640GB Serial ATA (7200RPM)
Optical Drive : 8x DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
Power Cord : UK 250V
Power Supply : XPS 130W AC Adapter
Battery : Primary 9-cell 90W/HR LI-ION
Graphics : 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M Graphics card
Wireless : Europe Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 (2x2 b/g/n+ Bluetooth Combo Card)
Mobile Broadband : Internal Dell Wireless 5540 built-in 3G/HSDPA for Vodafone SIM not included
Keyboard : Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Keyboard
Operating System : English Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
Software : Microsoft Office 2010 Starter (Word Starter, Excel Starter)
Software : Datasafe Local 2.3 Basic
Software : Windows Live
Software : Dell Stage Software
Software : Dell Support Center 3.0 1
AntiVirus : McAfee SecurityCenter 15 Month Subscription
Standard Service – 1 year of Collect & Return 10 day coverage included with your PC

All in for £737.09.
Cannot wait hope the EDD is not pushed back.

 

The levels of heat might just be Turbo Boost 2.0 working on quads, I remember the difference between them was Turbo Boost 1.0 had a set ceiling on overclocking to keep heat levels low, while Turbo Boost 2.0 has another level above that to show the time it takes to warm up.

Should mean it gets stuff done quicker, just probably gets hotter as well. I don't know how well conventional fan systems will cope with quadcore laptops which overclock all over the place. Just returned a 2.2ghz quad MBP which got pretty hot, pretty quickly, but it was ~80c not in the 90's (fans blasted it down, but were very audible).

 

Make sure you cancel that order asap and reorder with the B+RGLED 1080p screen. Otherwise you'd regret it for the rest of your life as the 720p screen is worse than a screen made in the 1990's.

 

Thanks
I know, I did sort of have a gut feeling about the screen but my previous xps1530 had a 720p screen and I was happy with that. I don't really use it for media so I don't think I will notice that much. What does everyone else think??

 

seconded. The 1080p screen is the ABSOLUTE most important upgrade on the XPS 15. It's the upgrade you should select before anything else. The screen is the most significant part of your computer because it's what affects everything you do, and you'll be absolutely amazed about how nice it is when you look at it for the first time. That's how I was when I looked at my M4400's RGBLED screen which I believe is of similar quality to the XPS 15's B+RGLED.

And hurry up! the $70-off coupon expires today.
http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/cheapster/dell/
(late edit: looks like they just change the code when it expires. coupon still exists)

Also, your M1530 didn't have 720p, it had 1280x800 which is actually a little bit better than 720p in terms of valuable vertical space. I know someone with the same computer and although the resolution is low, the screen is at least much better in terms of contrast and color gamut than the 720p on the XPS 15. (Trust me, I've looked at Inspiron displays, which are the same 720p used in the XPS 15. They ain't pretty.)

EDIT: also, who wants to register on this forum and help me convince this guy to get 1080p
http://www.smwcentral.net/?p=viewthread&t=44936&page=1#p714097

 

If you can afford it, do it. If you can't don't.

The screen isn't meant to be great but if for some reason you want to use multi media stuff you could always HDMI it to a TV so it isn't the end of the world.

 

Is possible that Dell used some thermal isolation on XPS case?
This explain why notebook is not so hot, but internal temp are so high.

Other way is that new Intel processors working at very high temp.
As you can see in follow link, in new Macbook pro, temp are so high that turbo boost doesn't works at all.
Apple MacBook Pro 13in: where’s the Turbo Boost? | PC Pro blog
Intel Turbo Boost is MIA on new 13-inch MacBook Pro? (update: negatory) -- Engadget

 

I would love to help, and i opened the link and all... but that retched background made me press X before i could read a single word. Sorry

 

right, system temp heat. The heat, as in the comfort of the laptop, is fine

 

Can you force the fan on to see if the temps drop?

 

I just got a confirmation from a dell rep that the "standard" non-backlit kb is a traditiona non-chiclet style. Great news if it is true.

Now the only issue is the battery. The 9 cell is standard which poses a major design issue defeating the whole idea of the LAPtop.

How long will the 6 cell battery last if I coud get that one instead? (i7-2630qm) I presume it would be very a very short time indeed.

 

Dell Reps usually say anything to make a sale and they honestly don't have a clue about what they are saying and I'm sure everyone would back me up on this. Although everyone who has gotten their system has got backlit (i think) I'm still 100% sure that the non-backlit is still chiclet. I highly doubt they would make different styled keyboard for backlit and non-backlit.

As for the 9-cell, i read here on the forums that someone had called in and got a 6-cell instead of a 9-cell. The guy was in UK where 9-cell is standard, you can try to call in and do the same but different reps are not always willing to do what other reps will do, luck of the draw i guess. And as there haven't really been any proper thorough battery tests done, 9-cell or 6-cell, can't really say on how battery life will be.

 

Yeah I had this in my mind as I was talking with the rep, carefully choosing my words as to not state my own preference....

The battery is still an issue but mostly on flights and such. But paying for a premium laptop it's annoying to know already when you get the machine that there's such an issue that you can't work around. Decisions...

 

If you have the money, buy both 9 and 6-cell. When you need battery life, use the 9-cell, rest of the time, use a 6-cell. Otherwise if you get the 9-cell, yes it will be uncomfortable on your lap after 15 min of usage, but you can buy a Belkin CushTop, no more than £10 in the UK, dunno about the US though, i personally use a Sam+Sofia Laptop Desk for my SXPS 16 (which has a 9-cell). It does wonders for your lap if you have used the laptop on your lap without it, and it is useful for using on the floor or anywhere else aswell.

 

Hey!

I ordered my XPS15 yesterday and I chose the 525m GPU. How bad is it, compared to the 540? I am not really a hardcore gamer (I play sometimes though), so I thought the update was probably not worth it for my daily laptop usage.

I currently own a C2D T7400 with nVidia 7300GO GPU from 2006 and the game I play runs "smoothly".

Thank you!

 

it'll run many, if not most games fine if you drop the res. i have an xps 14 with a 425m and i could play most current games at a rock-solid 30 fps and medium-high settings.

 

I currently play with my 7300GO in a 22" inches monitor at 1920x1080, everything at minimum. I hope I am able to improve the quality a little bit with the 525m. Any difference in terms of daily usage, like windows smoothness?

 

Oh, and does anybody know anything about Docking Stations for this model?

Thanks

 

There is very little info on the 525m's performance, but if you look at 3DMark11 scores, the 540m scores 33% better.

 

Hey any Canadian buyers out there get their systems yet? If so, what was your order date and your system specs? Overall first impressions?? Thanks

 

Good specs but I opted to loose the 2720QM and just go with the 2630QM. SEE: http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...de-i7-2720qm-i7-2639qm-worth.html#post7227906
...especially now that we're hearing of overheating in the 2720QM, it might just be worth saving 200$ and opting for the lower-end quad. Your call. Not saying I know the 6230 will be cooler - I have no idea actually... (anyone have it yet? or can speculate on this?) but 200$ just seems like a lot for what you get by upgrading. In the states it makes sense to go for the 2720 since it's just an extra 30$ over the base but not so much for us canadians me thinks.
You're the person I've seen here who has the closest looking system to mine; save for the 2720 you went for; they're basically the same.. Let us know what you decide to order!!

 

Will make up my mind in the next day or two. Hoping to learn of some easy fix or explanation of the heat issues first.

 

Something's fishy about these results. I have a very hard time believing a 72mhz clock difference will give you 33% improvement even in synthetic benchmark.

 

They don't make docking stations for consumer lines, get a Latitude or Precision if you require that.
Unless you wanted to go with a USB based version, then you can pretty much order any one you want from any PC retailer.

 

Don't know much about how the 525m will run games, but about your question about daily usage...
This laptop, more specifically the 2nd Gen Core Processors and the NVidia GPU, have Optimus. Judging by your question, i'll assume you don't know what that is. Simply put, Optimus is relatively new tech that essentially uses your GPU only when it is needed, say for games or video/photo editing or maybe even flash. When the GPU is not needed it turns it off and uses integrated graphics, in turn saving battery life and producing less heat. So about running Windows and daily tasks smoother, I would hope so, but this can be better answered by someone with the laptop. I myself have only read and researched about it.

There is no Docking Station available. And what Sprtnbsblplya said.

 

Having a weird problem. I am not gaming not doing anything and my fan is turning on and off and on and off every second or so. Very weird hopefully a new bios comes soon.

 

Same issue with LX501. I doubt they will fix it for the LX502.

 

So, it looks like the price difference between the 2630 and the 2720 is $80 (because of the different configurations and discounts on the Dell US EPP site). I think I may just get the 2630 and change from the 525M to the 540M.

 

Not too fishy. Check out the specifications on the compared systems. The GT425M is underclocked to 475MHz and has only 512MB of VRAM. The three GT540M benchmarks are clocked appropriately and have 1GB or 2GB of VRAM.

Even if it weren't for the underclocking, I can imagine a synthetic benchmark showing a 30% increase in "score" when doubling the available video RAM.

 

Guys, I'm reading about that heat issue with I7 processor. I'm not a gamer and I use laptop mostly for streaming music, downloading staff, regular web surfing with many firefox application open.

Do you think 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M would provide the same amount of heat as I7 processor? I already ordered I7 and should get tomorrow.

Please, be so kind and let me know. Anybody owns I5 sandy bridge and could share with CPU temperatures?

 

Would really be great if anyone who is planning on replacing the thermal paste on an L502X could make a video or short guide for the rest of us. I've never done it before but am interested in trying it this time. Just thinking out loud ...

 

The process should be similar, if not identical, to the L501.

 

Man I really wanna order mine but hearing about these heating issues is making me think twice, my 4 year old gateway fx doesn't go to 90c, I really hope they fix this issue.