Dell XPS15 R2 (L502) Thread

Haven't heard and have not received mine yet, but I understood the lid and base to be brushed aluminum, so it makes sense not to paint it.....I could be mistaken though.

 

Also ordered mine on 3/18 (late at night) also with the 7 day shipping, and got it on 3/24! Dell usually ships faster than the 7 day if you select it, but I was very surprised that it got here in less than a week.

One thing - the Fedex site originally had the estimated delivery date as 3/23, but it didn't get to me until 3/24, so try not to get too high expectations

 

They did ship mine via ground service but since it shipped from Chicago (and I am in the suburbs about 20 miles from Chicago) it should only take a day to get here.

 

For those of you in the US (not sure if it works in other countries), if it's getting shipped by FedEx then you can go here https://www.fedex.com/AltRefTracking to track your package by reference. I used my order number as a reference and I am able to see the status of my package before Dell has even updated the order status.

 

I just want to shoot out a warning to everyone - the night my laptop was shipped, I received a fake UPS email with tracking information.. being excited, I didn't notice some giveaways (plurality errors, etc). This email installed a really bad virus that took a lot to get rid of on my old inspiron... so watch out. And the return address was ups.com, so keep your eyes open.
The laptop was at a FedEX facility in NJ, I believe, or a dell warehouse.. so there may be some entrepreneurial shipping employee somewhere in Dells shipping chain...

 

Dell sent a legitimate email when it shipped with the subject "Dell`s Terms and Conditions of Sale" and I logged onto the order status and was able to track it (last night when it actually was shipped). I then received an email today "Dell Order has Shipped" but I already received the laptop before I got that email. So you may want to keep an eye out for the Dell Terms and Conditions email as it seems that you will get that when they ship.

 

In case anyone can use it, got a $25 off Dell Coupon Code, not sure if stacks or not:
$25 off a Dell product on Dell.com*

This is your coupon code:

3Q5KM?DXZF04CW

Thank you for taking our survey!

*$25 off Dell branded products only with minimum purchase of $50. Offer expires 4/3/2011. Single-use Coupon. Coupon cannot be combined with other discounts. Only one coupon may be applied per cart at checkout. Not valid for resellers and/or online auctions. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees may apply. Excludes Dell Ink & Toner, Dell Power Products, Dell Batteries.

 

I ordered mine on the 23rd and estimated delivery right now is April 13th. Does Dell usually get out sooner than estimated?

 

Yup they do, unless there is a serious problem you will get it before the estimated date.

i ordered on the 16, got my order changed on the 17th, my estimated is the 14th April but it was shipped today 26/3.

I can't seem to track the package with UPS does anyone know how long it usually takes until UPS can track it from when it says shipped on the order status page?

Thank alot, i'm so excited =)

 

Hi
I am from Austria , baught xps15 on 18.3.11 estimated shipping 14 April.
Yesterday they have shipped it !
I hope UPS brings it on Monday or Tuesday

 

It would be great if you can run a standard 3DMark06 benchmark with your 525M GT. I want to know how big is the difference to 540M. Thank you (or anyone else).

 

I will oblige. My 525M with 2630qm scored a 7550 in 3dmark06 at default settings.

 

Is anyone having problems reading text on the 1080P screen? I'm so used to 1280x800 on my 15.4 inspiron that 1080p sounds a bit scary. Everyone keeps saying how the 1080p screen is so awesome compared to the 720p screen so I keep going back and forth..please advise.

 

no problem, by default the fonts are scaled to 125% and they are much crisper than the 1280x800 screen could ever do.

 

The FHD screen is unbelievably good...and I came from a pretty good 500:1 contrast 1440x900 screen, so I know what I'm talking about. The screen on my 1520 is awesome, but this stuff tops it all, it eats apple screens for breakfast...Its crisp, sharp as knife...the only problem is that it has a luminance that you need sunglasses when running at full brightness...

 

Thanks. I'm more concerned about size, as I surf pages full screen and don't see the point of all the white space on the sides...?

Could somebody please post some photos of some webpages (yahoo.com, dell.com engadget) so I can get an idea of what it looks like? This would be a huge help (I'll buy you lunch)!!!!! There are no 1080p laptops locally I can check out in person which makes this decision more difficult.

If I could see some visuals, it would give me the assurance that I need to buy the XPS with a 1080p screen.

Also I heard Google Chrome does not work properly in 1080p (browser formatting breaks or something) can anyone deny/confirm this?

 

Please post pics of your sick screen

 

Has anyone looked into updating the graphic drivers? I noticed that blu-ray playback only worked on the old version of PowerDVD that ships with the machine -- probably because the graphics card does not support Screen Capture Protection.

I look at laptopvideo2go, but if we use a modified inf file, it will still have the above problems.

Ideas?

 

Another odd thing. I never see optimus actually do anything. I can start up a program with either the integrated or dedicated graphics -- but optimus never switches between the two mid-program. Is this expected?

 

I'm in the same boat... some more info (fps and heat ) on the performance of the 525m would be GREAT ! Thanks

 

Hi everybody, I'm in the market for a new laptop and wanted to ask about what current owners of the XPS thought about their laptops. Primarily, I wanted to ask about the comfortablness of the keyboard, the screen quality, and sound quality. Also, are there any upgrades / configurations that anybody regrets or realize that they didn't need to waste money getting? Also, any heating problems with laptop? Any feedback will be greatfully appreciated.

 

guys just save the money and get the 525m you can pretty much 100% overclock it to 540 speeds in the overclocking thread many are getting 550m speeds easy. The extra gig of ram will not be noticed.

 

Janus, don't bother with the RAM upgrade; better RAM is available for cheaper aftermarket. I went with the cheapest HDD with the intent of upgrading to a Vertex 3 SSD when they come out, which should be soon. You definitely want the 1080 screen. I'm still waiting on my unit, since 22 Feb, but I'm the odd-man-out, as I ordered mine with LoJack, which has been causing Dell problems.

 

If you configure the one that currently starts at $1519.99, you start off with some of the upgrades that a lot of people select anyway (i7, more storage space, GT 540M, RGBLED 1080p, Blu-ray), plus 6 gigs of memory instead of 4, and you receive an instant savings of $220.00. The only bad part is that it forces you to choose the 1-year basic service plan instead of saving $55 by opting out, so the savings are more like $165.00. Still, I highly recommend configuring that system. It surely won't last forever.

Also, there's a coupon code drifting around online for $70 off a new XPS system. It works until the 31st, and it stacks with the $220 instant savings. Just Google "Dell coupon codes."

 

Thank you! "Default" means, 1280x800, or do you use a FullHD-display and 1280x1024 at 3DM06?

 

How do i check 3d mark ?

 

http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/3dmark06/download/

 

Alright, ordered on 3/18 (2630/6/640/1080P/540M/6230/6-Cell/3-year) and no new info re shipment. I've heard of other components causing delays (LoJack) but nothing re systems with what I ordered. Checked Fedex using the order number and no luck either. Was hoping for a quick ship like others got. Oh well...

 

Hi:

I was wondering if this RAM is compatible with the XPS 15 Sandy Bridge:

Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX

I'm planning to change the RAM to this one once I receive the laptop... would it work without any problem?

Thanks!

 

I believe it is. The graphics cards are not swtiched off dynamically as the graphics demand increases, they are switched off when a graphics-intensive application needs it.

There is at least one software solution (I'm forgetting the name) which aims to improve this, but apparently there is a lot of work left to do on it.

 

I just did a test shot to compare the previous generation's backlit keys vs the new L502 backlit keys:

http://i.imgur.com/V1Tzt.jpg

Tough to show in the photos, but the older keys were brighter as I suspected. Plus, I didn't notice this before but the old keyboard had backlit mouse keys as well.

For what it's worth, I like the way the keys on the new keyboard slightly better but that's just personal preference. I think the keys feel softer themselves and the stroke isn't as stiff. I miss having multimedia keys from the old keyboard. It's nice having direct access to the volume when I'm doing presentations.

Here's a video comparing both 1080p screens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4oBO1NOO1o

 

Well, I was going through the Windows Mobility Center (you know the thing you can access from one of capacitative keys near the power buttom, I think the left most one...) Well, there seemed to be a option to switch between the Multimedia Keys and the Function Keys in the "Customized by DELL" section of the Windows Mobility Center. Meaning you could switch between would be primary option so that it could be Fn+F#=MultiMedia or Fn + MultiMedia = F# ..... hope you get what I mean...

 

Yep, that's true. I have the function keys turned off most of the time and the keys are set to the Fn function, but then you lose F5 for refreshing and you have to remember to re-enable the functions keys for apps, like Photoshop, where if you're a power user, then you know all the short cut commands.

Personally, I think they should've kept the multimedia buttons and ditched the row of 3 buttons at the top. Those buttons are lame, one is for QuickSet configuration, which you can access via systray and which you hardly use, one is programmable and the other lets you access volume settings, which should be direct.

Personally, I feel like Dell took 3 steps forward and 4 steps back with the new XPS.

You also CANNOT output to 2 monitors at the same time, which I currently can do with my Studio XPS 16 (via VGA + HDMI), it's how I dock to my 2 x 24" monitors in my office. Plus, about 75% the presentations rooms I've been to have projectors that use VGA. Projectors are the #1 choice for conference rooms because plasma TV's are too expensive and the image is a lot smaller.

I hope Dell's engineers are working on bringing back all the useful features of the Studio XPS 16.

I'm currently debating skipping this generation of XPS, sticking with my current Studio XPS 16 and wait until the next XPS line.

If you're coming from a lower end computer than the Studio XPS, the current XPS 15 is a great machine no doubt, get it. But since my Studio XPS does so much more (it even has full size display port instead of crappy mini-display port, ironic since the body of the XPS is thicker and has more room for ports) except that it's not the new Sandy bridge and all that that brings. For me it's an incremental upgrade with a lot of sacrifices. I feel almost like an Apple user where I have to give up so many features to have 1 or 2 cool things. Well, that's an exaggeration, Apple users have it much worse, but you get the point.

 

I still like the design of Studio XPS 16, dont know why Dell abandon it....

 

Sorry for the crosspost, not sure which thread is correct, please let me know which one I should post in.

Can anybody confirm that their L502x comes with a TPM security chip? I received mine, and despite Dell support saying twice now that this model comes with one, there is no option in the BIOS for it at all, and Windows does not see it either.

I AM unable to install the Intel Management Engine Driver which might have something to do with it, but I am wondering if in fact I can't install the driver because something in the hardware/firmware is missing?

 

Is it possible to connect dual monitors via mini-dP + HDMI?

 

I used to as well but then i realized i eventually like this new design a bit better. Yea they could have gone a better route like the envy did but the old xps16 style was getting kinda old.

 

I ordered this with the streak deal noting the lack of an expresscard slot but assumed at least firewire/ilink/1394 was onboard. Anxiously waiting for delivery I realized one of my main peripherals is firewire and I do not see that in the tech specs on the l502x. Am I correct that Dell did not include firewire on this xps 15?

 

Not certain but this implies it could be....

New Mac Mini Display Problems [Text View] - AVS Forum

 

+1 no kidding, the 2012 model better look amazing

BTW, I ran some benchmarks:

http://3dmark.com/compare/3dmv/3029857/3dmv/3029858

2010 Dell Studio XPS 16 Core i5 vs 2011 Dell XPS 15 Core i7

 

The ventilation and heating were terrible on my SXPS16, at least on my old C2D 1640. I don't understand why they put the exhaust vents in the back so I am welcoming that new change in the XPS 17. The SXPS16 did have a better look to it though.

 

Correct, no FireWire.

 

Based on the breakdown of your score the 5730 was faster in your bench than what's in your XPS. It's the CPU that pushed the XPS past the SXPS..

 

And it was using the Intel integrated graphics instead of the dedicated card. So the AMD Mobility Radeon 5730 is slightly better than Intel HD3000 integrated. With the NVIDIA card it should be closer to an 8000 score.

 

Ordered on 18 March, shipped on the 22nd, but refused it since I got a better deal and saved $175. New order placed on 20 March, delivery date says 8 April, still not shipped. Suspect they are being overwhelmed with orders, parts issues or some other delay.

 

Yeah I got optimistic when I heard about all those laptops shipping early, but still nothing for me. Ordered on March 23rd, ETA is the 13th of April. Ship it already!

 

I read that at least some people that ordered on March 18th got them on like March 25th.

I ordered on March 19th and haven't heard anything yet, still in production. Estimated delivery date is April 8th.

I'm not sure when all the coupons and EPP discounts came about, but I saw them on Slickdeals for the first time on March 18th. My guess is that they got a lot more orders than usual right around then.

 

Same here, ordered on the 18th and haven't heard a word. If it doesn't ship by the end of the week I will give them a call and see what's up.

 

Guys I'm about to order right now

here are the specs I'm thinking

i7 2720QM
8 GB
1080p
540M 2GB
640 7200
backlit keyboard
Advanced-N 6230
6 cell battery
1 yr basic service plan
recovery dvd windows 7

all total $1352 w/o tax

I did this through EPP and I also used a $100 coupon

what you guys think, what I'm missing, what should I leave off???

any replies would be appreciated.

 

I would go with 4GB or 6GB RAM and upgrade later.