Finally, my XPS 1530 being replaced due to GPU fails!!

Sorry guys but I need your input again. I finally picked up my new XPS 1645 last night and was able to play with it for last 3 hs. After all windows updates, I went to play my fav online game Dynomite ( you're welcome for bringing up your childhood memories ). There was lag in eggs and weird sound comming ( like double echo) from game. Went from there to youtube and when I switched the quality of video, the screen started flickering and switching black/color. After that computer froze. I had to shut it down by holding power button. I am also expiriencing same weird echoing with other audio. Java seems to be fine, as I have no problems with anything but games. Should I call tech support or wait for the guy from customer relations to call me? Is this hardware issue? I am afraid they will offer me money instead of replacing/fixing newly sent system? I do really love this lappy and I did not have any issue with overheating ( maybe because 9 cell battery keeps the lappy raised instead flat on the desk). Also system seems to slow down with other applications. What to do? Good thing, I still got some popcorn left from last replacement.

 

They wouldn't give you money, they'll just fix (or perhaps even replace) it.

Try a clean install of Windows and all the drivers if that isn't too much of a hassle, but if that doesn't work it likely is a hardware issue.

That slowing down is probably the cpu throttling.

Logging cpu information with unclewebb's ThrottleStop could be revealing.

 

Thanks Sirhcz0r for always jumping in with rescue plan . I have never done clean install before so I will have to look it up online, same as follow your advice for logging cpu info. That is what I am afraid off, as I have not even put photoshop or my video editing on new comp ( and that is most important for me to run). Can I get in trouble for doing clean install in case that it is really hardware issue and they want to replace it again? I will hold on a call to tech support for now and try your advice first. It is going to be long night here.

 

All that's really necessary for doing a clean install is making sure all your files are on something other than the 1645's hard drive, and knowing where the Windows disc that hopefully came with the 1645 is. Just boot from that disc and format the hard drive, then reinstall Windows. Make sure you have an Ethernet chord ready since you won't have the driver for your wireless card yet.

 

How long does it usually take for them to transfer your warranty once they receive the old one back?

 

Once I received my replacement 16xx, I was able to go onto my account and go into:
My Systems and Peripherals > Change My Default System > Add a New System or Peripheral > Then you enter your new Service Tag for your replacment > Click Add

And, it should update your Warranty Information to your new Replacement 16xx! It will still show your 1530 under your list.

Hope that helps!

Cin...

 

If you haven't done the clean install yet, or if the clean install didn't work, I'd suggest uninstalling the Creative Soundblaster Audio Software thing, if you have it installed. That program only caused problems for me (random freezes associated with windows sounds), and for some other people as well. Also I'd suggest installing Adobe Beta 10.1 RC4 from here (uninstall flash 10 first). Install the "plug-in" if you use Firefox, or the "active-x" for Internet Explorer. Flash 10 caused browser/computer freezes on my computer when I played youtube videos (or flash videos in general). Hopefully that helps you, if the clean install didn't (if you have done that yet ).

 

Those of you getting your m1530 replaced with 1645/1640, is your m1530 still under it's normal warranty? (Not the GPU extended warranty.) I am getting shut down on getting a replacement. My m1530 is out of its regular warranty but still under the special nvidia gpu extended warranty.

 

mine was under normal warranty when i got the 1645 replacement.

 

I'm pretty sure that under the extended warranty they will only replace the gpu....but i've been wrong before....

 

Mine was replaced under my extended warranty.

Has your 1530's GPU been replaced before? If so, you *may* have that to work with, and..I thought there was someone else in the thread that was at the same issue with their 1530.... I need to check.



Cin...

 

Hi, im new the forums and also have an overheating 1530 and after reading through all the pages on this forum realized that my overheating was a really big problem. this laptop being my first real laptop i was never too sure on the over heating and it was pretty annoying and hot. ive had my motherboard replaced twice last year and it overheated as would have expected but i paid no mind and that it was a common thing. long story short im no longer able to play games b/c i get bsod or a forced shut down. i chatted with dell online and told them about my problem and the rep told me they will send a technician to replace my motherboard and heat sink. i chatted with them earlier today and after finishing the thread it seemed like it would be best if i just got a completely new system. my question is should i wait for the technician to come and replace my motherboard and such or should i try to shoot back at dell tech support to try and push for a system exchange instead of a temp fix. i still have til jan of next year on my warranty. also after a clean install my temps reached 102 on my cpu and 98 on my gpu
sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.

 

I got my Studio XPS 1640 replacement yesterday. Before I got the package I got an automated call from Dell, telling me that they need my old system back in 10 days and the package will have the return label and instructions.

Upon opening of the package there was no such thing. I searched the whole box and there were no instructions and no return shipping label. Whats up with this? Do I need to call them ? Or is the automated system going to email me the label?

Inputs please

 

Hey!

Grats on the arrival! How are things with it so far?

Neither of mine came with the return labels either

You can call, or hop on chat ~ and they will e-mail one to you. Or, wait a few days and you will get a letter from their "Replacement Exchange Team", reminding you about the terms of the replacement (10 days), and they are there to help you with the process if needed & will include a return Fed Ex Label in that envelope.

I hopped on Chat had them email one to me and by the time I received it, I had the letter so I used the return label included.

Hope that helps!

Cin...

 

Thanks for the reply Cin. Replacement is good, I like the SXPS but I am selling it already as I have bought an Alienware M15x.

I think I will hop on Live Chat and ask them to email me the shipping label .

 

Finally fired off that email to 13 execs. 5 bounced immediately. 2 responded with automated messages stating they would be away from the desk until X date and to contact tech support or their assistants for emergencies. So 6 messages got through (hopefully). Now for part 1 of the waiting game.

 

well i hope to be joining this crew shortly....my 1530 is on the fritz

 

Have you contacted Dell yet? How are your temps during idle and load times?

 

im actually getting my motherboard/gpu replaced for the second time thursday but its just been one thing after the other. hdmi port and media control buttons have both gone to junk since i set up the service call. pretty much fed up with it at this point. We'll see how the new motherboard/GPU does but thats not my only problem at this point. At least they are willing to work with ppl tho

 

Good luck with that. Hopefully it gives you relief for a few months at least. I'd definitely fight for a replacement next time around. Do you still have enough time on your warranty?

 

Some people have post in here about there XPS Studio 16XX stuttering and lagging while playing games. I play COD2 and had to set everything on low and it still stuttered. This is with all the latest drivers etc installed. After searching on this forum, I found several threads about the CPU and GPU throttling down from lack of power. To test this, play a game, when it starts to stutter, remove the AC adapter so you run off battery. I did this and when it switched to the battery, I was able to up the graphics fairly high. Turns out Dell is sending out 90watt PSU with all studio models. 90 watts is not nearly enough power for this laptop, and the CPU and GPU suffers badly. I brought this to Dell's attention and they shipped me a 130watt PSU, and now I dont have any problems. The tech at first didnt understand what I was saying so I redirected him to a thread on the forums and he understood and shipped it right out. Now this laptop performs as it should.

 

I just got my m1530 replaced with a 1640.
I contacted dell about getting a remote for it, since my replacement didn't have one, but they send a full-sized one (like a tv remote), that comes with an IR receiver.
Is there one that will fit in the express card slot like the 1530 one?

 

Hi guys, i've been following this forum and see this overheating problem cant be solved except getting a replacement.

my motherboard has been changed 3 times with some other parts. and i've escalated the matter through unresolved issues since they dont have chat in AU.

The support guy replied he going to send one last tech guy before he will escalate the matter to consider a replacement. I told him I cant accept that seeing from experience for 3 times and rejected the on-site service. Now he hasn't replied back for 3 days. Any advice what should I do? I'm about to send him another email asking the situation..

 

use the one from your m1530 if possible, there are downloadable drivers on the dell website to make it compatible.

 

Latest reply from my Dell Executive Carpet Bomb:

"You have mentioned that the computer heats up to an extent where it is too hot to touch. What we would have to do in this case is to have the computer taken to our service center, so that we could test and repair the computer. This process takes approximately 7-10 business days. Please provide me the address the computer was shipped to originally. Also, please provide me your current shipping address, so that I could send you a box for you to ship the computer back to us, to have it tested and repaired."

Now they want me to send it in? The solutions are going from bad to worse. Any tips on what I should say in my reply?

 

Ouch looks like they are playing hardball with you. tell them you cant afford to be without a computer.

 

I have good news! I've sent back my M1530 and 1640 long ago, but have yet to receive my refund. They were planning to give me 80% of the original M1530 purchase price back, but now they're giving 100% back instead!

Now for the check to get here.

 

I would just call Dell and have them send you a new one.

 

Hey guys, first of all thanks for all the great info in this thread! It has made things much easier for me in this entire process.

I too have a failure/overheating M1530. I started the process with Dell this week to get it repaired/replaced for its numerous issues. After 3 motherboard/fan/lcd replacements (one of which was DOA) they have finally approved me for a system replacement.

My question, how long after the approval did you hear back from them with their "offer" on the system they were going to send you? The tech told me about 3 business days and well, its now day 4. Or did they just email you the info on your new system. I want to make sure that what they are sending me is at least equivalent to what I purchased (ie $ for $ - I spent $2k on this one and expect the new one to be valued at at least that)

Also, as a side note to help others out who may just be getting the run around. When they offered to send yet a 4th motherboard out I simply refused. I told the tech on the phone that sending yet another Nvidia fail board out would not fix my issue and demanded to receive a board with an ATI card. His response was that the this model never came with ATI so he would have to offer a system exchange.

 

they never sent me an email or called about the specs i was receiving. i happened to find it after searching around the "my account" section on the dell website. I recommend you try that if you have an account on there.

 

I'm also getting my M1530 replaced with a studio XPS 16XX


Question though, are these replacements refurbished or new systems?

Just received the specs today but couldn't tell...

TIA!

 

Nice! What are the specs?

 

Hey guys, long time no see!

I'm ALSO getting my M1530 replaced. The technician came out to replace: The motherboard/screen/heatsink/bottom plastic cover/screen bezel/hinges/touchpad/palmrest. The computer was working fine, just some minor defects were bugging me, and now the computer won't turn on at all even with the old motherboard! So, I'm going to be getting a replacement system. What are my chances of getting a Studio XPS 16? I'm worried I'm going to get a replacement M1530

 

Looks like we came back at the same time haha. Just from reading the forums it sounds like you just need to tell the Dell rep that you are sick of the 1530s problems and they will send out a studio xps 16xx

 

Just got off the phone, and they said that it would be the same laptop with the same configuration. Then he hung up on me.

 

Try xps chat. seems like everyone has better luck through that

 

XPS chat doesn't work for me. Before it was busy, now it doesn't support my product.

 

hmmm thats weird. I used it the other day. Using firefox here

 

For your M1530? I've used Firefox, 2 versions of IE, 4 versions of Chrome, and on multiple computers and internet connections. Seems like they blacklisted my laptop maybe?

 

yup. its possible. where are you located? i think certain countries cant use it also

 

I'm in the US.

 

Salami, you could request that Dell send a tech to you to verify your concerns. My dealings with the depot have not been positive. All they would do is replace parts and run their test- not real world tests that will reproduce your concerns.

C

 

Guess who has been Okay'd for a replacement?!?!?!?

 

Also, what can I expect as far as waiting for specs and all that?

 

pretty much anything. You could get the xps 1645 (in my sig), which is what i got - new, or you could get an old 1640 with a t6600 and a 3670, its really just luck. However, most people have been getting 1645/7's lately so i think its more likely that you would be getting one of them.

 

Thanks for the response. The Rep I had seemed pretty cool. I told him I would like a 1645 and he said he'd make a note of it but it wasnt for sure. We'll see what happens.

 

not really sure how much the reps have to do with it. I had a terrible one who said i would likely get an m1530 again lol (this was a little less than 2 months ago) and then said if i didnt get that then i would get an older 1640 with a 3670, and to my surprise and relief, i saw that i had a 1645 coming to me about a week later. So i would take everything they say with a grain of salt.

 

Ill keep that in mind. How long after they approved you for a replacement did you get the specs of your new system?

 

i5-450, ATI 4670, FHD 1080p WLED, 320GB HDD, 4GB ram


Still wondering if this will be a new system or a refurb....

 

This is extremely inconvenient. I have a Dell M1530 purchased in 2008 and have the exact same issues as everyone else here. I sent some emails out as instructed right now, but I just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. I just want my machine to work as expected. Is it too much to ask for a machine that does what it is supposed to? i.e. gaming?
I am unable to even play CMR Rally 2005, a 5 year old car game smoothly. It plays very smooth for the first 2 minutes, then it overheats and throttles and it's pathetic. It's a painful experience, especially because my warranty expired few months ago and I can't afford to buy a new computer in less than 2 years

EDIT: I just realized that I bought it in Jan 2009, not 2008. I don't know what to do :'(