How many think that XPS 15 should have a better GPU?

I had the pleasure to spend some time with a XPS 15 while i was gaming via WLAN with a few of my friends. This particular XPS 15 has the GT 540m while not bad the XPS 15 has the makings of a even better gaming laptop.

I own a MBP 15 with the 6750m and to me the sound that came out of the XPS 15 blew me away overall the specs and build quality was very nice the only weak point in the armor was the 540m.

After a quick search i found out that XPS 15 is not offered with higher GPU config even optional ones I found the backlit keyboard, the speakers and the FHD display winners and only if the laptop had a 555m/560m/6750m/6770m it would be one hell of a laptop.

 

Nope, you want a better gpu get an alienware..

 

Dell doesn't want the XPS line to be "gaming" laptops. While it would be nice for the consumer since the XPS laptops are reasonably priced, Dell is a business and they believe that they can do better business by selling their Alienware products as their only true gaming products.

 

XPS line is a multi-media performance line, not a gaming line like it used to be. Gaming line is now Alienware, you have to step up there to get the big GPU options. Alienware is overpriced and ugly IMO, but there you have it. Plus, aside from maybe the 555m, the cooling system would have to be completely different to deal with the heat of those dGPUs.

Love my 555m though Know that doesn't help the XPS 15.

 

I will try and make a m14x vs XPS 15 video "555m vs 540m" but i for one feel the speakers on the XPS 15 are a little better than the m14x. The screen is another area the XPS with its FHD screen looks much better than my friends 900p m14x, not only in resolution but angle wise also.

My Macbook pro sure does seem to have a challenger with the FHD screen on the XPS 15

It should at least get the 555m as an option.

 

Alienware is so friggin gaudy though. I would never buy one for that reason alone. They seem to be under the impression that gamers all want "Xtreme" designs. All the aggressive lines and neon colors just remind me of a bad Gillette commercial.

 

I agree with you, and would prefer Dell to get rid of Alienware (laptops) all together, and focus on making their other laptops better.

 

I agree, if the xps17 can have a gt555, then the xps15 should be able to handle a little bit nicer gpu...
Especially since it offers a 1080p screen, it would be nice if it had a little bit more gpu for running games at that resolution...

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Dell Xps15, 2630qm, 1080p, 8gb Ram, nvidia 525m, 750gb HD, Blu-ray, BLit Keyboard, 1030 wifi+bt, 9cell

 

As previously mentioned, the XPS is a multimedia laptop more than a gaming laptop, and does a great job of doing what it was designed to do.

 

So, I plan buy Asus N55SF with GT555M 2G, HD+ or FHD, free with external subwoofer Too(I7 model with blu-ray writer).

Play Game just stable is ok, not need paid higher price for alienware. compare with asus N55SF low then alienware 30% with 2 year international warranty. now economi also not so good and notebook game computer just one-two is out of day. why paid more ?

 

Pretty much what has been said here:

Dell IdeaStorm

still no clear answer from Dell...

 

Thanks cri-cri, that is a good link!

I decided not to pay the $100 xtra for the 540m, because it seems like it wasn't a big difference in performance...
I definitely would have paid $150~ more if it was a 555m...

However, obviously heat is a concern, and wouldn't want heat issues to potentially damage the laptop either...
It seems some already have some temp concerns with the xps15 going up into the 80deg range when gaming... mine is usually in the mid70 range...
So it does make some sense why the current internal design may not be as optimal for a higher end gpu... it may need an extra fan or something...

As far as 'dell wants it to be more multi-media'...
The dell feature page description for the xps15 has "brace yourself' under design and a picture of a racing game is the graphic:
"Razor-sharp graphics
NVIDIA® performance graphics (up to 2GB) deliver powerful, high-resolution gaming with breathtaking detail. "

The xps is a performance laptop line.
However it isn't only focused on gaming, like an alienware, where it is not very pro/business/design appearance friendly...

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Dell Xps15, 2630qm, 1080p, 8gb Ram, nvidia 525m, 750gb HD, Blu-ray, BLit Keyboard, 1030 wifi+bt, 9cell

 

If the XPS 15 had a better GPU option I wouldn't even know what a P150HM is...

 

GPU-wise, XPS 15 definitely lags behind the competition from HP, Clevo/Sager, Asus, Lenovo, MBP, etc, while it offers same or better options from most other aspects (display, sound, keyboard, value, etc). I am not a gamer and XPS 15 does exactly what I want, but with competition offering 555m or 6770m in the same class (and not the higher alienware-class), it would be a mistake for any gamer to get XPS 15. Heck, I've already dissuaded a couple of gamer friends from buying XPS 15 and sent them to other 15-inchers. Without something like 555m, XPS 15 is a gaming failure, compared with what is already offered from other brands in the same class (HP dv6, Sager NP5165, Lenovo Y570, Asus, etc)... Bad move Mr. Dell (or perhaps not, if you consider all those $100 extras collected for a marginal 525m-to-540m upgrade which is 99% pure profit.)

 

It would definitely be awesome if my XPS 15 had a GT 555m, but the 540m is alright.

 

525m -> 555m would also not be like $150. Dell charges that for 550m->555m...not rightfully so, but we buy them anyway, lol. Agreed that the 15's offerings are a bit behind the curve, but Dell is too concerned about competing with their own Alienware line...

 

Well here is a dynamic thought upgrade the m14x/XPS 17 to a 560m, upgrade XPS 15 to a 555m. The m17x allready has a 580m. The Inspirons can have the 540m and the 525m "They already have a 525m"

 

Yea but no one is implementing the 560m with Optimus. Won't be seeing it on the XPS line. It's also considered a high-end GPU which means Dell keeps it on the Alienware line only.

 

@mazyarjr,

it's hard to beat sound from l502x with any of those notebooks let's be fair here.

 

I know (and I do appreciate the quality for my own non-game usage), but keep in mind that the issue of crappy speakers can easily be handled by headphones, or external speakers if you happen to game using an external display. The latter would even take care of the display quality. But the gamers are stuck with subpar gpu of XPS 15 no matter what... My friend, believe me when I say Dell missed the chance for a well-balanced, all-around awesome laptop with XPS 15!

 

If they offered a better GPU, their Alienware demographic would be reduced to people who just want neon LEDs and aggressive lines.

I mean, of course it would be nice if they had every option available and let us build a laptop from the ground up for a reasonable price.

The 540m is a mid-range (ok maybe low-mid atm) card and plays most current gen games. Sure, it will struggle at 1080p and/or graphics set to highest for some games, but it's not aimed at gamers. I can't fault Dell for this.

What would be nice and more likely is an Alienware design that is less... in your face. Something sleek. Like the new Razer Blade... only without the $2500 price tag. Ha!

 

+1 on this ENTIRE post...Alienware is ugly. Sorry to those that like them, but I hate flashing lights and all that. Dell did something that made a fair bit of sense with the XPS line. It is NOT a gaming line, not intended to be for a serious gamer. That's why they have Alienware. Inspiron for the basic user, XPS for the power user/multimedia user, AW for the gamer. Sager, MSI, Alienware and the like cater to gamers. Hence they have better GPU options.

 

Ok... so if the xps line is not meant to have more than a 540m, then how come they put a gt555m in the xps17?
The post says gt555m or equivalent...
It didn't say we want a 999gtx sli...

It's simple, the xps line is a performance line and could use a faster gpu...
Some users want a balanced laptop with features and a decent gpu to match a 1080p screen...
When I got my xps8300 desktop in feb, the highest i could choose was the 5770... two months later they added 5850, and now 6870 i think...

A gt555 is feasible for the xps15...

 

True enough. There's no conceivable reason as to why the XPS 17 would require a better GPU than the XPS 15. I suppose they figured the 1080 screen on the 15 wouldn't be as popular? I dunno. Then again, why can't they offer a better 1080 screen for the XPS 17?

Aside from that, however, the 540m fits comfortably within the scope of the laptop's intended usage. It's not as though it's a POS, especially when OC'd.

 

Yep, the 525-540m are actually pretty good cards, and i do enjoy playing games on the xps15...
We often want that little bit more performance tho... i guess that is why overclocking seems rather popular...
I run my gpu at 750 in certain games (from stock 600), and i do notice a performance benefit...

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Dell Xps15, 2630qm, 1080p, 8gb Ram, nvidia 525m, 750gb HD, Blu-ray, BLit Keyboard, 1030 wifi+bt, 9cell