Dell XPS15 R2 (L502) Thread

I'm sure the fact that MacBooks don't support using the integrated graphics or switching between integrated/discrete graphics under Windows plays a big part in that difference. Check out the section: Bootcamp Battery Life in Anandtech's review (link below). It states that the 15" and 17" MBP's are stuck using dGPU under Windows.

The MacBook Pro Review (13 & 15-inch): 2011 Brings Sandy Bridge - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

 

I don't think these will ever get down to the L701x's temps. These processors run too fast with too little ventilation for that to happen.

I will say, I can hit under 90*C CPU temps on first run of 3dMark06 right after booting up, but I don't believe that to be as accurate (as far as temps) as reading temps after second or third run. The test is too short to get the cpu and gpu all the way up to temp, especially on the free version settings. This can be proven by looking at my temps as well as FPetersonIII's temps while playing the crysis 2 demo. In order to see the true stressed temps of the cpu and gpu, you need to run them long enough to simulate playing a game for 15+ minutes. Three back to back runs of 3dMark06 still won't get my cpu and gpu as hot as 15 minutes of playing Crysis 2.

 

random question, but to current L502x owners; can you use a standard HDMI cable with this laptop? What I mean to say is; is the HDMI output on the laptop the same as it would be on a blu-ray player for instance... and not like a miniHDMI or something. Gonna purchase one before my XPS 15 is delivered. Thanks!

 

I want to download the 3dmark06 but all the mirrors are exremely slow....any suggestions?

 

Looks like a standard HDMI to me.

 

Prime95 for for 15 minutes
CPU was going between 2.5-2.6 and the fan was going from full to low to off very annoying.

CPU0: 84
CPU1: 88
CPU2: 88
CPU3: 87

 

Yes, I'm near London and ordered mine on the 9th March and the 'in Progress' changed to 'in production last night / early this morning on the 15th. Expected delivery is 31st March, but I reckon it'll arrive around the 21st judging by others experience.

 

So now after I have done the clean windows install I cannot run crysis 2 demo anymore through steam....? I get that first error about the card, but I got that one before and clicked OK and it ran just fine. Now after I click that first error the game starts to load, the screen goes black and the mouse changes to the Crysis style pointer, the I get an error noise and the game exits and the error says something about cannot find/load the cryinput.dll error 188 or something like that, I don't remember exactly. I am downloading it now directly to the desktop, not through steam and am going to see if it works that way.

side note: I downloaded it twice from steam like that, thinking that the first time something just got screwed up in the download, but it happened twice...

 

Thanks FPetersonIII!!!

 

Can you do FurMark test while run prime95 and post a screenshot of Dektop with HWmonitor on focus while running these test run together.
like Macbook pro 15 test

FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net

These test run until you stop, so can satisfy NoSlow5oh too.
This is test used by notebookcheck to check max temps.

(Sorry to my English)

 

Does Furmark work on 64 bit Win7?

 

Can I use the Drivers and Utilites CD that my dell xps 15 came with to install all of the drivers???

 

Yes. But a few other things you have to get from the dell my downloads part of their website. The powerdvd player and the webcam software.

 

The fan is driving me crazy with the constant revving up and down, up and down. Has anyone figured out a way to control the fan yet?? Or do we have to rate for a bios update that will hopefully fix it?

 

Mine should be here tomorrow or Thursday, I hope. Went into production at the end of last week, left China on Saturday and spent today in the Netherlands. That was ordered on the 3rd, re-ordered on the 4th, acknowledged on the 7th, estimated delivery for the 30th.

They told me that the order confirmation mail and visibility on the 'Order Status' page means they've taken the money an all is well. Could be that it's not showing up on your statement yet due to the banks needing to earn interest on your money for a few days ^w taking a while to transfer the cash?

Anyway, seems that things may be happening faster than the estimated dates.

No BL keyboard though

 

Can't attach the image its to big. I uploaded it to my site FURMARK and PRIME95


CPU0: 93
CPU1: 94
CPU2: 94
CPU3: 93
GPU: 90

 

great thanks

 

Just for general interest sakes what sort of scores are people getting on the windows 7 experience index rating?
I know its not great but just wondering as a basline.

 

Such fan behavior has been a known issue since L501X. As far as I'm concerned, it's never been addressed by Dell in any BIOS update, nor has it been worked around by any software. I was hoping it would no longer be the case for the Sandy Bridge revision...

 

Yes, it works.

 

Is the fan suppose to run at full throttle while running prime95 blended? This is the fastest I have ever heard it run.

I have been running it for about 5 minutes now and may max temps are :80, 86, 87, 84. Now they are all sitting down around 76-84 with the fan running full out like it is.

 

It's probably not a bug.

Just like, in CPUs, it's more power-efficient to run at 5% most of the time, jump to 100% for short bursts of required processing and then back to 5%, it's probably more efficient for the fan to idle, max-out in a short burst to cool the system down and then drop back to idle than it is for the fan to stay at ~30% all the time.

 

2720QM
6GB Ram
640GB HDD

WEI: 5.9

 

Thank you, great work.
Temps are very high, but this is not realistic situation, (CPU 100% & GPU 100%)
maybe we need some software to show CPU throttling...

 

With just Prime95 running the Intel utility showed speed bouncing between 2.5 and 2.6. With both prime95 and furmark the speed did not go above 2.2ghz. I did not see the speed drop on the intel tool but not sure if it would report throttling.

 

Prime95 is a stress testing program that will run for 24 hours if you let it. It was designed to check cpu and ram stability over a long period of time for the goal of verifying if a computer is ultimately stable. You need to run it for more than 5 minutes. You won't get to max temps by then, especially on the blended.

 

Great thread !

Pondering which to get of the following:

i5-2410M, GT 525M, 4GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, FHD 1080p display, wireless-N 1000, 6 cell Batt, backlit keyboard. Comes to $989 USD. With the $70 coupon only $919 USD. Not too bad at all

or

same config except with the GT 540m, 6GB RAM, 640 GB HDD and a 9 cell batt
comes to $1089 USD. $1019 USD with the same $70 coupon.

CPU:
I don't expect I'll need more than the i5-2410m... from what I read it's performance lies somewhere between the 1st gen 460m and 560m... that's plenty for what I need it for.

***I'd be really interested in any info concerning heat with the i5's for you i5 owners out there... sounds like the i7's run well but could be a bit cooler... I'm hoping the i5s will be a few degrees chillier.

GPU: Having a GT 540m would be nice but I think I can get by with the 525m which sounds like its performance is similar to the 5650.

***Any info on the GT 525m's performance/heat would be appreciated.

RAM: 4 GB is plenty for me... thats 2 x 2GB sticks I imagine ? The 6 GB option does sound nice... that much easier to upgrade to 8 GB !!!

***I was just looking around online trying to price compatible RAM for a future upgrade... wasn't sure which were compatible... again, any help would be appreciated.

***Since I don't intend on doing a clean install I wanted some of your opinions on what programs/bloatware I would be able to do without and be able to uninstall successfully.

 

Use HWinfo instead HWmonitor this program show CPU Throttling too.

HWiNFO & HWiNFO32 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools

To test max heat in prime 95 use In-place large FFTs or small FFTs

 

cheers, what got the lowest mark? was it the Primary Hard Disk?

 

I ordered the second one (the $899 US) and added the 1080p screen.

 

And furthermore...

Which wireless ???

N 1000 300mbs/150mbs

N 1030 300mbs/150mbs + bluetooth

N 6230 300mbs/300mbs + bluetooth

Pretty much going to be using this at home, just want to have a good solid signal for watching vids on youtube and netflix and the like. I don't "need" bluetooth. ( it would be kinda cool though )

 

CPU: 7.5
Memory: 7.5
Graphics: 5.9
Gaming: 6.7
Primary hdd: 5.9

 

Working with some budgetary constraints now. Any veteran XPS owners care to comment about the likelihood of significant discounts ever showing up (Dell % discount coupon codes, etc)?

 

Should I delete all partitions? And should I keep the recovery and OEM Partition or delete them?

 

You need to state where you are from.

In UK you wont see anything other than 10% and prices wont drop for a long time.

Always worth keeping an eye on Outlet though if money is that tight as sooner or later they will appear.

 

The graphics score seems a bit low. have you got the Nvdia GeForce 540M?
Anyone else run the Windows Experience index?

 

540M with the 1080p screen

 

In the US (California)

 

That is very high, If i'm not mistaken the notebook will shut down if temps reach 100c (cpu), possibly before that.

 

you must consider that is not realist situation every core is at 100% and GPU too.
In the same test, new Macbook pro 15 Throttling and go to 100°.
(image of Macbook pro 15 with i7 2635QM using windows 7 and same test)

 

I deleted all of the partitions, but I suppose it doesn't matter too much either way. Just preference.

 

Same as I do.

 

I scored a 6.7 in the 'Gaming graphics' category. I also have the 540M so I'm not sure where the difference is coming from.

 

Coupon for L502X (in U.S. only maybe )

Coupon Code: 932N$0ZCCHWZB9

$70 off

One sites expiration date was 3/15
Three other sites had the expiration date as 3/31

... hoping it's the latter

 

Can you give me a link to where i can locate them?

 

Say what now!!&?@^%&%

Graphics 5.9

I get that on my M1530 with a GT8600M under Win7 Pro

 

No point in getting worked up about a WEI score, nobody knows how it determines the scores and is quite inconsistent and useless, IMO.

 

Just got my L502x today! I already gave it a fresh install of windows. Does anyone know where I can get the install so that the touch buttons at the top (mobility, user preset, wavves) work properly?

 

If you don't have (or plan to get) a 5Ghz router then go with the 1000/1030. If you don't want bluetooth for sure then 1000 is fine.

 

Thanks loaded ! Yeah, I'm not going to get the 5Ghz router... so 1000 or 1030 (if I feel like splurging for BT) it is. Thanks again for the help.