New XPS 15z

I know exactly what you mean. I've seen that exact color fringing on the sides of text on other notebooks, etc. BUT, on the 1080p screen of the 15z, mine is PERFECT, with ZERO fringing that I can see. It is super sharp.

So, I'd say yours has a defective LCD. If it's brand new, I'd call and ask for a replacement. If possible, try NOT to have it repaired. The 15z is very difficult to work on (seems everything requires removing the system board!), and the LCD, in particular is glued to the bezel, so it's a major deal.

Taking off the bottom cover to install a SSD is about as much as I'd want done to mine!

 

I've uploaded a picture as an example, it's about as good as I could get with my limited camera skills.

In some situations it's definitely not as easy to see, but certainly feels like something just isn't right.

 

I am glad I am not the only one.

I am going to sell my 15z and get a 14z. I have no choice but use a external monitor when at home.

 

Are you talking about the darkness on the upper right of your screen? I see that too from far away. But when I am up close, its even brightness.

 

He's talking about the color fringing around the white text. In his image the left and right edges of the white text has red or blue fringing. It makes the text look blurry.

 

Well, the issue is NOT with the monitor.

I booted my system into FreeBSD and the text is VERY SHARP and and VERY CLEAR. The problem is either with Windows or with a driver (which is odd, because I literally haven't changed anything from the factory re-install I just did).

 

Anybody see the leak from Tweakers.net and on The Verge yet? (I'm not linking to them on general principle.)

 

I didnt like the 15z so I am selling it on fleabay next week. I just order the 14z.

Man, 15z is a big lug nut on your backpack !!!!!

You would not want to carry it everyday. I dont even want to carry it once in a while.

The 15.6" is strain at 1080p on your eyes. Its just too bad for me.

 

Yah, specs seem amazing! Finally some good graphics... 640m > 555m! and HOPEFULLY a better screen and quality design.
It's too bad I'm stuck with this one

I wonder how the construction of the laptop would be and how much heat reduction would come from the 22nm process of Ivy Bridge.

I'm applying a job at a notebook review company =) Hopefully if i get selected, I'd get a chance to review it xD.

 

Dell XPS 15z A10 Bios Drivers have been released!
It doesn't mention what they fixed... but install them anyways!!

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

I'll link them!

As we went over this on twitter (I'm sure you can figure out who I am now).

Dell making a thinner XPS 15 with Gorilla Glass display and Ivy Bridge CPU? | The Verge

Dell XPS L521X - Preliminary info - Dell News and more

Foto en details dunne Dell XPS 15 met Gorilla Glass verschenen | Core | Tweakers.net Nieuws

L521x looks to be a combination of the 15z and 15 into one nice and powerful model, hopefully it's the GDDR5 640m.

 

After the nightmarish experience with the Seagate firmware update, I wont go anywhere near the upgrades until after the more adventurous venture

 

It's quite stable.
You know you want the latest firmware!
Do it!

:GEEK: :GEEK:

EDIT:
Well I don't know what they fixed.... system seems to be the same as before. Same old issues.

 

"A big lug nut"? Man, you gotta get out and exercise! It's 5lbs and (one of) the thinnest 15.6" laptops and you're complaining? Back in the day, I carried an HP HDX 20 (yes, 20" notebook, 15.5 lbs) in a backpack, to work, in the snow, UPHILL both ways, and you're complaining about a razor thin 5 lbs?

Sit-ups, dude...sit-ups.

 

Maybe it doesn't fit in his backpack like mine didn't . It's a pretty large 15" laptop I say, even though it's very thin.

 

Maybe not, but his comments inferred that it was heavy, not that it didn't fit.

" You would not want to carry it everyday. I dont even want to carry it once in a while." sounds to me like it's very heavy. Plus, I was kidding with him...

And, it's NOT a 15" laptop. It's a 15.6" widescreen laptop. A 15" laptop is from the olden days where the screens were square. A 15.6 widescreen is a much wider chassis and does not fit in most backpacks designed to snugly fit a 15".

 

My refurb 15z came with A10 about 2 weeks ago.

I think the 15z is too big and broad, just like any other 15.6". Somehow I dont see the thin ness. It is heavy.

I have one of those Targus backpack ($10 value, not the type of bag that weight as much as the laptop. Pointless!). The 15z came flush to the corner flush on the bag.

I go for the 14z now and I know that resolution suck too. I have no choice. Nothing will fit my life I guess.

Now I have to open up the 15z to take out the SSD. Good life.

 

I don't know when they are going to solve wifi issue the whole dell community is fullfill with that issue, really shameless Dell eng

 

Yah I meant 15.6". That's pretty standard nowadays.

Hey what Wifi issues? I've had many problems but thankfully none with the Wifi. What are you experiencing?

 

well..that exact attitude got me burned... so no thank you

 

When I install video drivers for this 15z, I install the Nvidia driver and it ask for the Intel video driver first. Then I can install Nvidia.

I have no clue why this is.

Do you know?

 

Nice... looks like they got rid of that chrome trim.

I just wish they kept a dedicated hm/end/pg row like the new Envy 15.

 

Here you go

Re: New Dell XPS 15z (L511z) Wireless Card Issues - Laptop General Hardware Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

Re: XPS 15z Audio Crackling/Stuttering with network traffic over wireless (Latency Issue) - Laptop Audio Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

 

Hey I don't have any of your mentioned issues. I reinstalled the OS with INTEL drivers, not the ones from dell.

Here's the link:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...64-bit)*&DownloadType= Software Applications

Download the 2nd file. But during the installation, select to install DRIVERS ONLY. Not the proset wireless software. I've found that that software is conflicting with some applications.
Uninstall your wireless card drivers, install this and restart =)

The intel drivers from dell's website haven't been updated in a while. I sure hope they update the HD 3000 drivers as well. The ones I tried from Intel made the screen flash so I reverted. Waiting from dell.

EDIT:
What about your router? Do you think that could be a factor? When I'm at home, my router sucks (its 5 years old) and sometimes drops connections... like every couple days. Not frequently. When I'm at college/at dorm, it never drops. So it could also be the router. You should test if that's the case.

Otherwise its a hardware issue on your wireless card. Get dell to replace it.

 

Nvidia optimus is supported because of the software from INTEL. Intel's software does the switching process, while the Nvidia control panel just decides which processor to use.

So you need the HD 3000 drivers first:
EDIT: wow, I just went to dell support page and the HD 3000 drivers aren't showing up.. Maybe they're updating them?

Use the drivers from the CD which they sent with your laptop.

 

I could not find it. Can PM me the link?

Another new 15z coming out?

 

I am so darn confused with all the Dell drivers on their site.

There is Intel driver and then there are Dell drivers.

So far my 15z has not crash. But I am selling it next week. I will have the same problem with the 14z.

 

I don't know everyone is affect with this issue. I think try the DPC latency checker. My router is working fine and even my other laptops and phones are perfectly working fine. I already replace my card twice, also try 6200 still this card having the same issue.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/636431-dell-xps-15z-issues-list.html

 

This is when you disconnect your battery and reconnect it. That would fix that jump in batter percentage.

 

I got my 14z just now. It is smaller and lighter. Screen not as crisp and clear as the 15z on 1080p.

15z on 1080p screen is vivid.

 

My thumb fingernails are bloodied from opening my refurb 14z.

That is tight. I had to use a few credit cards to hold onto it while i pry some more.

Why was the 15z so easy to open it?

I wonder if it is a virgin 14z that I got?

But opening up 15z prepare me for the 14z. Otherwise I will be in heep lots of trouble.

I have to clean up the edges from the blood before I put it back.

 

For 15z ...

What are these software and are they necessary? I have google some of this and no help:

* App - Quickset and Physc System Software
* Chipset - Management Engine Interface and Mobile Intel Series 6 Chipset
* Input - Dell BT Travel Mouse Application Release??? What is this ?
* Network - Install all 5 files?
* System Utilities - ST Microeelectronics Driver Motion Sensor? I have a SSD now
* Video - Intel Wireless Display connection Manager

Anyone knows?

 

Hey guys,

what temperatures do you have on your XPS 15z machines?

I have i7-2640m with 2GB GT525 and 8gb ddr + Seagate Momentus XT (750GB, hybrid HDD+SDD drive) and I have temperatures like on the screen below:
Is it normal? Laptop running already for few hours, just web-browsing etc, fan's working on low speed most of the time.

 

Yup 56C is perfectly fine. Try under load though.... It'll reach > 95C.

 

Does anyone have a problem with the laptop sometimes not detecting that you've inserted a headphone? It seems to happen after I sleep/hibernate the laptop a few times.

It'll detect the headphone after I restarted the laptop.

Running on latest drivers.

 

We saw this or something like it on XPS 13. Fixed with the latest audio driver. If you are logged into Windows, and plug in the headphones, then close the lid or have screen saver kick in, does the headphone sound disappear until you reboot?

 

i noticed that the 15z is no longer listed in the Australian website...

 

Clearing stock for Ivy Bridge notebooks I do believe.

 

Hey guys!
I just ordered a refurbished 15z and I'm pretty excited for it! I got a great deal with the 20% off coupon code that is active through the end of the week. Got a computer with the following specs for $860 after taxes and shipping

Processor: Intel Core i7-2640M Processor (2.80 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz)
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus
1 TB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
15.6 inch FHD (1080P) WLED Display

It's going to be a HUGE upgrade from my 5 year old Inspiron E1505 (Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T5200, 2 GB ram, 100 gb harddrive).

Anything I should know about this laptop?
Has anyone else bought a refurbished 15z and if so what was your experience with it?

 

Yes I have bought in refurb in March also. Mine is same as yours, except I got the i5, 500gb hd and 6gb memory for $680 shipped.

I am selling it now on fleabay and I like the refurb 14z.

 

Funny you should ask, considering you're post #1189 in a thread all about the 15z.

I'd have hoped you read through some of these posts and gleaned some information about the 15z before you bought.

But, in any case, you got a pretty good deal (not as good as I did, which was same specs as yours, plus a 256GB Samsung 830 for $789). I think, apart from trackpad issues, that you'll enjoy the 15z. The 1080p LCD is beautiful and overall, it's a great laptop.

Give it a good "once over" when you get it. I've received quite a few 15z's where the previous owner felt it necessary to disassemble their 15z, and not being the easiest laptop to open, have left "signs" of their efforts.

Good luck!

 

Yeah I have read through some of the posts in this thread but I just don't have time to read the whole thread. So I'm somewhat familiar with the trackpad issues and the wireless issues. Did you have problems with the wireless chip?

Thanks for the advice about the once over. This is my first time buying a refurbished laptop so I'm a little nervous about it but that's why I got a warranty! My dad is good with computers so I'll have him look over it with me to make sure everything looks good.

 

I've not really had any wireless issues, but I also don't think my usage fits the criteria for possibly having the issues.

You've got 15 days or so to return it should anything not be right...so make sure you're happy with it! After that, you're stuck with it.

 

So my 15z came in today and so far I am very satisfied with it. Since I had bought refurbished, I was worried about the condition of the computer but it doesn't appear to be tampered with at all and there are no cosmetic defaults that I can see.

I do seem to have a LITTLE bit of the screen door effect but I don't think its bad enough to make me want to replace it.

The only real issue I am having so far is that the cypress trackpad is not working properly. I have the 2-finger gestures and multi-finger gestures enabled but none of them are actually working. I checked the driver and it seems to be old (from 3/8/11) but when I try to update it through the device manager it says the driver is up to date. I am unable to find it on Dell's website either. Does anyone have a direct link?

Thanks!

 

Here is the most up-to-date one.

As far as I can tell, it still doesn't work that great. It will start out working fine, then one day, the cursor is back to jumping around or I lose focus on the window I'm working in, and a different window is now foreground. I swear I'm not touching the trackpad.

I wound up just removing the Cypress software and letting the touchpad be a dumb trackpad using Microsoft drivers, and it helps, but I lose any ability to fine-tune settings.

Let us know what you find out.

 

Thanks! I actually ended up doing a dell chat support session and they were able to install the latest driver then. It has definitely been working better since then but I did notice that the cursor jumped a couple times. For the most part I use an external mouse so hopefully it won't be too big of an issue for me but if it is I'll take your advice to use the microsoft drivers instead.

Another problem I'm having is with the usb 3.0 ports. When I plug my toshiba canvio external hard drive in (which is a 3.0 device), I get a pop-up that says that the device would work better if used with a 3.0 port. I've read of other people having this problem but so far I haven't read a solution.

Thanks for all your help so far, by the way.

 

I, personally, haven't had any USB 3.0 issues. I have used the 3.0 ports, and no problems (except when trying to boot a USB bootable thumb drive off one of the 3.0 ports, but that was with an older BIOS, and I think they fixed that with A10). BUT, here is a new NEC USB 3.0 driver from March 2012. You could try installing it.

You might also check for other new drivers on the 15z downloads page. Just set a filter for 0-90 days and it will show you only the new stuff.

Good luck!

 

Hello,
I am a new owner of a used, refurbed, first run XPS 15z, purchased from cl for a Very reasonable 350 for my i5 vehicle. I like it a bunch, I've done a ton of research now (i read this whole thread).
I still have the following issues and questions:
I have low, inconsistant connection to airport.
What are wireless solutions available? can i replace it myself? with what?

Is there a link to a beep chart for this model (l511z)?

I had a problem, ram cards not seated properly? NOT new mobo needed like dell said works fine now, but should i be scared?

GPU overclocking, and under power cpu is working for yall?

 

Congrats for your machine.

1- Still there is no solution for Wi-Fi we are still facing the problem.
2- What do mean by beep chart ?
3- Nope great news, Dell share same Chipset HM67 with 14z and 15z.
4- If want to want overclock try MSI afterbunner and you don't have to do underclock Sandybridge its manage automatically.

 

Any of you know of a way to stop the extremely annoying McAfee popup ad?
The worst part is.. it doesn't have a way to close it with one click.. you've to select an option from a drop-down...grrrr ...if it is once a week or so, I wouldn't mind!.. but it comes more than once a day.. heck it came up 3 times yesterday.. and my subscription is expiring in October!!.. ...sheesh!

I will DEFINITELY not going to renew McAfee just because of this annoyance