Have 2 M1530s. Which to keep? What to look at?

Hey everyone!
I've just received my replacement because i told them the sound issue was unacceptable with the clicking and stuttering.
I have 10 days to look at them and decide what's up with each and choose which one to keep!
Here is what I am doing/want to do:
- Check for sound issue as best i can (if you have a good test, like the latency one, let me know)
- Keyboard bulge (NEW one doesn't have it at all!)
- Check screen power/brightness
What else can you think of?
Cheers!
Dav
PS: Id be happy to help with comparisons or anything like that, im sure there might be questions out there.

 

Run 3dmark 06 to make sure neither of the GPU's are defective if they are 8600M GT's

 

Great idea!
What else can y'alll think of?

 

Hey there, Riton!

Ok since you have a few days to check

How about:

-Check the CD drive...make sure it's not *loud* or cranky...Ease of the CD coming in and out.
-Check that the Media Keys work (do not stick)..and the Power button is easy to press on and off.
-Make sure all is good with the screen: no backlit, no graininess, dead pixels...etc.
-Does the drive work properly? Bluetooth? Wifi??
-HDMI output and the speakers...(wait your already checking that, right)?
-Is the casing ok, does not have any loose / bulging pieces?
-The keyboard...are all the keys in unison?

I'm sure there are few things I may be forgetting..but that's all I can think of for right now!

Good luck!

Cin

 

thanks a lot cin! ima get to it right now!

 

Okay first points.
the screens seem to be absolutely fine, both of them. However any links or particular methods to check for stuck/dead pixels/spots are welcome!
they both perform well in 3dmark06 (around 4700).
the keys seem fine, and the keyboards for now are okay.
HOWEVER UPDATE ONE HAS ARRIVED
and they have 2 different CD drives. the loud Optiarc and the Silent Matsh1ta (stupid censor)
So "old" computer 1, replacement 0
I have yet to try out the music and sound but it's already late and i can't wake my gf up...
The looks of both are great but ill look deeper into it tomorrow.

 

So, so far soo good!

Yes, let us know about the music and sound!

Cin

 

For the Optiarc there is an update available from Dell Drivers n Downloads page. Get that in and see if you still feel it to be loud.

And in any case, the Slot load CD drive does make some noise while loading n ejecting.. its normal. And considering the sleek design of the laptop, there is some noise while loading n ejecting (and during startup too!!).. though for me its not a big deal because while actually using the CD drive, I don't hear anything.. the noise is not that loud, IMO.

For checking dead pixels, just fix some background plain colors on your screen and see if there is any place with a different color or similar..

http://www.gdargaud.net/Hack/DeadPixels.html

http://jasonfarrell.com/misc/deadpixeltest.php

have you checked the temperatures?? Anyway, I would suggest running some standard, free stress test tools, and monitor temp's (idle, min, max)...

 

What kind of benchmarks/tests woul you recommend fonduekid?

 

For monitoring temperature of CPU, GPU, HD > CPUID's HWmonitor

CPU > Orthos (my choice) or wPrime

GPU > RT HDR IBL, (a wonderful free utility to stress your GPU; I usually run it for 20 - 25 mins to check max temp')

For benchmarking and stress / stability, another popular choice is 3Dmark06

Alternatively, you could also run the stability test from within the nVidia Control Panel. This is also pretty nice and reflective of your GPU performance / stability.

HD > HDtune (free version available - stability, error scan, benchmark etc.)

All the while, first take the idle temperatures, then the max temp' hit during the tests...

 

They both seem to be dealing with stress tests pretty well.
Anything else people can think of?

 

my bottom panel clicks(the removable one that covers the cpu headsink and ram) if you push it by the hdmi port, and the little siver cover to the left of the XPS logo on the top left above the keyboard jiggles, the one on the right doesnt. If they both perform well just go over the build quality with a fine tooth comb. I need the computer, and these 2 small things are not a big deal to me, the only people that know are the ones I tell. I must have the loud cd drive, but I dont care to be honest, to complain about that seem trivial to me, the slot load on the PS3 make noise too and no one is complaining about them! My keyboard seems fine, but there is a high point by my power button, but to see it you have to look at it eye level. Again, it a computer not a custom show car!

edit: see how the scroll on the finger pad works...I have to actually run my finger half on the laptop case. It drives me nuts, so much I bought a mouse. Unless you do not use that feature I would see if one works better than the other.

 

excellent stuff!
Ill check it out!
that's exactly the kind of stuff i looking for!

 

Guess you got a replacement too! I haven't checked my audio ports as I don't have a pair of headphones to test them out with! (no I don't own an iPod) I guess I will have to find a pair and check it out. Have you opened up the bottom panel to see which heatsink assembly you have?

 

Neither of them seem to have the copper ones all the way... I'll be sure to tell the XPS rep about that! maybe i can get a tech to come and install the new one?
On the other hand there's one more difference!
I have two kinds of ram in my two laptops:
nanya nt5tu128m8de
elpida e1108acbg
Im gonna open a new thread about it, but i thought id also say it here!

 

Yea, I noticed that too about my two M1530's. Both branded by Samsung but one laptop have twice the chips per Ram module, but still the same size (1GB). I benchmarked both types of Samsung's and they were about the same, so I didn't really care which to keep. Monday though, the other M1530 goes back to Dell. It was nice having two laptops to mess with though.

 

Now listen up.
believe it not but the ACPI, the 2 CPU temps and the GPU temp MAX are like 30c more on the old one! Unbelievable!