New Dell XPS L521X (Ivy Bridge)

Thanks for testing, I am sure it will be resolved.

 

Yeah me too. It's alright to carry on playing civ right? The Koreans are starting to get it done

 

So it came back and I opened it up looks like the cable to the display is getting pinched against the hinge and case which is my guess for why it's happening (I just have to press on that area and the screen goes wacko) so I'm gonna send it in and get it replaced.

Slight annoyance to an otherwise (so far) great product.

Edit: Thank god Dell support is so great, talked to them for 15 minutes and they are going to have a technician come and replace the screen in 2 business days.

 

Yeah, I've had to do that on my L502x, for gaming I've created a GAME profile with max processor set to 99%, otherwise I get a large drop in frame rates and the CPU drops to 800MHz.

I think it's a thermal issue as it doesn't happen straight away, starts to happen after about 10-15 minutes. I don't think the laptop can dissipate the heat from a turbo boosting CPU and GPU running together.

 

It makes sense, but it is not how it should work, by intel standards, it must be an extra bios protection that put the processor in panic mode or something.

On my sister asus n55 it happens even at 70 degrees or something with furmark and prime95, in this case it should be an overcurrent protection,

even tho the processors hasn't reach is 45 watts limit nor the maximum temperature, the laptop cant handle the stress and downclocks it the only way he can, to the minimum...

I doubt that the bios can say to the processor "hey, calm down just a bit, your pushing to much power, lol"


edit:
There is another work around that is using Throttlestop to overcome the bios limitation and stop the underclocking, maybe someone could try it?

 

Is this the 10% code for the Business side? Or is there a code for the Home side that I don't know?

 

Dell UK home

?G6?BG5C?N1ZL5

Worked for me. Valid until tomorrow.

 

ThrottleStop 5.00 supports the new Ivy Bridge CPUs and by the sounds of it, this is another Dell laptop that needs it.

ThrottleStop can also let you select how much Turbo Boost you would like to use. Some users like to set up 2 profiles; one will full Turbo Boost and then a second profile with reduced or no Turbo Boost. You can then set up an Alarm and get ThrottleStop to automatically switch profiles based on CPU or GPU temperature. It will give you some control over your laptop without it throttling down to a crawl.

 

Thanks, however this time it seems to be an Intel issue.

 

Why is this an Intel issue? Their CPUs work great in other laptops.

 

There is the same issue with Asus N56V, there are not enough Ivy Bridge laptops out in the wild to confirm whether it is limited to just these two. Also only appears so far to affect the quad core variant, I have seen no complaints about the 3210M.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ell-xps-l521x-ivy-bridge-534.html#post8681404

 

Asus N56VZ is running stress test Prime95+Furmark, so this is very hard test, no one instead has tried to run same test on XPS15.
XPS15 seems to downlock it self even with standard application, besides ASUS in not best to compare.
Today Notebookcheck has published MSI GE60-i789W7H (15.6") review that has same HW of ASUS N56VZ, but MSI can run stress test @2.2GHz.
Therefore it's not issue by Intel.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-MSI-GE60-i789W7H-Notebook.77855.0.html

 

Just as a quick response from a brand new owner of the L521X (arrived yesterday): I've noticed that the left front side runs a bit warm compared to the rest of the keyboard & touchpad area. Nothing major, but definitely there. In general, I had it on my lap while watching a full length BluRay movie. It really wasn't any warmer than any other laptop that I've had and I can tell you that I've used more than I can remember. I haven't been able to get any actual temps on the internals yet, but I would say it does well for what it offers.

It's only been a day so take this with a grain of salt... I love it so far.

 

What do you guys think about this:

A Dell rep just gave me a one-use 10% voucher for any Dell system, except the XPS 13 as a "loyalty discount"; it expires on July 11. The thing is, while I like the looks and some features of the new XPS 15, I'm a bit put off by the fact that the model with the price point I'm willing to pay comes with a dual core i5 while an XPS L502x I found on the Dell Outlet with a full HD display comes with a quad core i7 and is £400 less.

Though the L502x ain't all that pretty, I've owned one before and have never found another laptop with speakers as good. However, as I mentioned earlier, I like the design of the new XPS and really like the mSATA configuration. I was going to put my OCZ Vertex 3 240GB in the L502x but that means I'll have to pay more attention to storage. Plus, the better battery life is a selling point (though not necessarily a critical one).

What do you guys think? Go with the L502x or take advantage of the 10% off plus an estimated £80 cashback and get the L521x? Do you guys think,m speculatively of course, that the L521x price will drop by £200 (the value of the discount plus the cashback) and improve in specs in the next 6 months (the approximate time I will probably get bored of the L502x & want to sell it )? For the record, I haven't actually received the L502x as yet so could go either way.

Ideas anyone?

What's your opinion of the speakers? I know the answer is subjective but I think anyone would know what tinny sounds like? I ask because I love the L502x speakers and am thinking about getting the L521x but ain't sure the speakers are as good.

While you're at it, you should use TopCashBack as well, if you don't already do so because they have an 8.08% cashback promotion on. I'd send you my referral link but "accidentally" didn't read the T&C so don't know if that would be classed as spamming.

 

Hey everyone you can check out some pictures of my XPS I received yesterday and as per request I posted them in a thread along with my first impressions.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/675771-new-dell-xps-15-l521x-first-impressions-pictures.html#post8686798

 

I have a one time use 17% off coupon but im still waiting to pull the trigger... I want an ssd... without taking it apart my self, plus i don't "need" a new one just yet.

 

17% off!!! Is it for the US or UK? And is it one you can share?

 

Just got the 1699 version with gt 640m yesterday. However, I need help. I hooked it up via hdmi to my Dell u2711 but I can't get the resolution about 1980 x 1080. I need the resolution at 2560 x 1440. I know the gt 640m supports this but it looks like its using the intel graphics?

Any help is much appreciated.

 

How easy/hard would it be to replace the HDD with an SSD in one of these? I'm torn between this and a Vaio S series right now.. But the Vaio seems to be fairly straightforward as far as the replacement of batteries/RAM/HDD.

 

Go in the nvidia software and set the GT 640m as always on ie disable optimus ...... that should allow you to get the higher resolution

 

Don't see an option for that in Nvidia control panel.

 

I'd take the L502X over this every time.

 

Any particular reasons why? Just wondering...

 

I called dell tech support and they were zero help with my resolution issue. Can someone please assist me.

 

This may be a stupid question but do you have the laptop lid open while you're trying to set this resolution and is it set to be mirrored? If so, try closing the laptop lid and see whether it lets you increase the resolution on the external display. If it's set in mirrored mode, you probably won't be able to exceed the laptops 1080p resolution whilst the lid is open.

 

Set to extend. I added custom display via intel but it wouldn't go above 30hertz.

The guy at dell tech support took over my screen and went to NVidia control panel and under Physx he put gt 640m as default and tried to say that would disable the intel hd 4000 from being used lol. He then tried to tell me my u2711 monitor native resolution is 1920 x 1080. I mean come on its a Dell product.

 

Lol. Yea well, unfortunately, it seems Dell support staff often don't have a clue about their products. The same can be said for the sales support staff; how can you be selling a product and I have to tell you about its features instead of you telling me?!

I'll check around and if I find any suggested solutions, I'll send your way.

Hey playfirst, What type of cable connection are you using BTW?

Ahhhhh... I just re-read your original post. I don't think you can get that resolution with an HDMI cable.

 

Okay what cable would I need?

 

I believe HDMI 1.3 and up supports resolutions above 1920 x 1080.

HD4000 only supports resolutions over 1920 x 1200 through DSUB, no?

 

To be honest, I'm not sure as I'm not an expert in the area.

I just found this: Running Dell U2711 at full 2560x1440 resolution - DVI cable type? - Graphics-Cards - Graphic-Displays
This guy suggests that you need "a dual link DVI-D 24 pin male lead". Might be worth digging around to find out if this is correct.

 

Have you tried using a displayport cable?

 

You may be right. See this post on the Intel forum: Intel HD 4000 HDMI 2560x1440 resolution???

Thank goodness the XPS 15 has DisplayPort else I imagine playfirst would be very unhappy.

 

Is it a mini display port to hdmi i need? or a display port to hdmi? Not sure ? Could someone link me to the correct cable?

 

Something like this: (miniDP to HDMI)
Newegg.com - Nippon Labs Model MINIDP-HDMI-3 3 ft. Mini DisplayPort to HDMI® 32 AWG Cable M-M - Mini DisplayPort Cables

 

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

Why use HDMI at all? Your monitor has a displayport connection

 

Here's another one: mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort: StarTech.com Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Adapter Cable - Video/Audio Cable - Mini-DisplayPort (M) - 20 pin DisplayPort (M) - 1.8 m - Latched: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

I agree. Especially since his monitor can take DisplayPort.

Let us know how it goes when you get the right cable.

 

Will do thanks. Going to buy this cable now.

 

I've used the monoprice cable on U2211H's and it works great.

 

Where is everyone getting all these coupons D:

Anyone hear of any US coupons?

 

For my l502x,
I have the same monoprice cable. Mini DP to DP. Can also vouch for the full res using a 27in imac as an external display at school. Pretty sure its the same panel as the dell 27in? Same resolution anyways.

also, Using hdmi to DVI i get 1900x 1200 on my u2410 at home just fine. Weird.

Should work the same on l521x.


Still considering getting a l521x and selling my l502x. I built a desktop so I can deal with it doing the heavy lifting, and a l521x being lighter and more portable than my l502x for school.
This throttling thing has me a little worried, but also seems a little sensationalist? I think someone on this forum said that their l502x throttled the same way. If that's true, I have a i7/540m, and it plays diablo3 at 1080 just fine and absolutely crushes 8 thread full bore Maya renders overnight. So the l521x should do the same?

 

I have been reading trough some intel documentation. The GPU can also put the CPU into throtteling mode.
So if you mainly see this issue when playing games it could also be the 640 gpu doesnt get enoug cooling and foring the cu to take it slow.

I just ordered a I7 version with the 640 gpu but i already regret this choiche as a i hardly play any games and mosly use single thread applications. An then the i5 seems to run faster compared to the i7 (2,5 ghz vs 2,1 ghz)

 

I really hope that there will be a solution soon and that the new XPS is capable of great performance over time (without throttling). Me and my friends meet for one bing LAN party once a year and last year my Envy 17 put me to shame because of massive downclocking which made playing impossible. I had to sit, wait and watch most of the time

 

The is the same reason im still holding back . While im not planning to put overnight renders . Even if I can utilize 2-3 hours of test rendering without worrying that XPS will melt , Im happy .

Bill , I am wondering if I can expect this from the XPS . I am not considering it to perform like the workstation laptops ( precision ) but how far I can push it .

 

An i7 will turbo to the same clock of the i5 on the same core count. Both have a 2.9ghz max 2core turbo for example.

 

Is the throttling happening on the i5 Dual Core 3210M?

 

i hope not cuz im gonna order a core i5 with 640m and 8gb of ram but by august when i order i expect the issue to be resolved with a fan update or some bios change

 

I don't know for sure, but I remember it happened to the unit Dell sent to The Verge, but I forgot what model it was...

 

Unless I missed something the 640m is only configured with the i7 cpu.

 

DELL Trinidad and Tobago has an i5 3210m with 640m 2GB ddr5, 8GB ram and a 1TB 5400 rpm drive for USD $1500 i think

Link

New! XPS 15 laptop details | Dell Trinidad & Tobago

 

You are mistaken.

New! XPS 15 laptop details — Entertainment laptop | Dell UK