**Official Dell XPS M1530 Owner's Lounge**

Congrats Bimmerguy. I got a Samsung too, and mine doesn't suck either. I guess that makes just the two of us.

 

Lolz, i guess all of that finger crossing worked. I even have the samsung optical drive and no keyboard bulge.

 

They should make a sticker for it saying Samsung Certified System

 

Don't officially have the thing yet (funds haven't been deducted ) so I'm currently an outsider BUT YOU WAIT I'LL BE IN RATHER QUICKLY (a month >.>)

^.^

For the display I got (1920*1200) dell only gets it from Samsung so I better be the third >.<

 

Id so put one of those stickers on the laptop. Hell, i had a heart attack because i didnt read about it on here until AFTER i had ordered it.

 

Hey guys, finally after 3 months of debating which laptop to get for college/gaming, I've gone with the 1530. I'm very excited but I have several questions.

Most questions regard what I should do right when I get the laptop, and debating whether I should reformat or not.

1. I got the Dell 1505 Wireless-N Mini-Card instead of the Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N mini card because the Dell rep told me they were the same and if either was better it would be the Dell, but now I read reviews and I don't know what to think... does anyone know for sure? And if the card I got is bad, how can I change it?

2. I read about Bloatware, but must I reformat to get rid of all this stuff or can I go to add/remove programs?

3. Will my gaming performance heavily increase with a reformat? I understand there are several extra steps in reformatting this laptop like installing the Dell Mediadirect first + something called AHCI.

4. What drivers will I need to update when I get the laptop? Will the CD have all the drivers I need? How do I know which ones I need to update?

5. I read something about AHCI/Intel Matrix, that gives you a 15% performance boost, and if you don't install it with a flash drive/CD when you reformat, then you will lose that performance increase, true? If you reformat without doing that, can you add it later?

6. I read something about performance increases by disabling vsync and turning off aero/visual settings... I have no idea what either of those things are, anyone want to elaborate?

7. I got the McAfee, I wish I didn't, will it slow me down? How can I remove it if it will?

Thank you in advance to any responses.

~B

P.S... My specs for $1,699... any thoughts?
Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5
4GB DDR2 667MHz
1400x900 15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA+
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
160G 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor
Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Home Premium Edition
8X DVD+/-RW
Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card
bad choice?
McAfee SecurityCenter 15-month
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition
LoJack Theft Recovery Softwarefor Laptops, 1 Year

 

1. - All I can say is that I got the Intel card, and it's been perfect. Fast N connections on my home network with no drops, and flawless connections to other networks I've connected to away from home. So I can definitely recommend the Intel card. All I know of the Dell card is that some folks on these forums suggest that it's a bit buggier, but I have no hands on with it. It it was me, I'd stick with the Intel card.

2. - No, it's not essential that you reformat. The "bloat" isn't that bad and you can remove unwanted programs from add/remove programs. I reformatted mostly because I wanted to repartition the way I wanted. I didn't notice any significant performance gains though. Keep the stock image if you want. No harm. You can always reformat later if you desire.

3. - Can't say. I'm not a heavy gamer.

4. - The CD will indeed contain all of the necessary drivers, though possibly not all of the most recent ones. You can always check Dell's site to see if updated drivers have been released. But the CD contains all of the drivers that you need to get up and running. Just run setup from the CD, and it'll install a handy interface listing all of the drivers on the CD. It's pretty easy to figure out which ones you need so long as you know what hardware you have.

5. - I've read conflicting reports on this. Some say yes, you have to. Others say that with Windows Vista it's not required. I went ahead and did this anyway with my Vista reinstall, and everything was fine. Whether it was necessary or not, I dunno. Just run the Intel Storage Manager exe and let it expand the drivers to your USB flash drive. Use that during the install.

6. - Sounds gaming related, so I dunno. I do think I've heard similar suggestions for desktop gaming systems so there may be something to that. Perhaps a gamer can elaborate.

7. - I don't know about McAfee specifically, but I hate those sprawling and intrusive security suites. I'd remove it (add/remove programs) and install something leaner, but that's up to you. NOD32 (commercial) or Grisoft (Free Version) are slim anti-virus packages.

Best of luck. Looks like you're getting a nice system.

 

I just received my xps m1530 notebook earlier this week and I'm loving it! I have a 1440x900 screen, 3 gigs of ram, and an intel 9300 processor. I was a little worried how vista would run because of all the hype about it being so processor intensive, but I actually really like it. I would definitely recommend this laptop to anyone!

 

Care to share the exact model of the samsung optical drive? You can find it in device manager. I didn't know that was a drive that came with the M1530. Be great to hear your experiences after you have tried burning with it, reading old scratched cd's, etc.

As far as I knew there were only three optical drives that were specced with the M1530: Optiarc (Sony), Teac, Matsh!ta (Panasonic).

 

how do you check what brand your screen is?

 

Go to device manager, expand Monitors, right click on the listed Monitor (probably just shows PnP Display or something) and click Properties. On the dialog box that comes up, click the details tab, and then select Hardware Ids from the dropdown box. The Samsungs are shown as SECxxx. Not sure how the others appear.

 

N/M. Must have been reading something else when I was looking at other things in the device manager. Its a Teac.

 

Yeah I suspected so. Well the Teac is supposed to be one of the better ones, I've got it and so far so good. The Matsh!ta is supposed to be good too, while the Optiarc one is really loud.

 

nonononononononnononono!
Dell has announced a while back that the XPS line is NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
Just focusing less on extreme gaming and more on luxury-style, design-first computers, ie. M1330, M1530, XPS One etc. They wouldn't ditch the line- it's selling brilliantly, especially the laptops. Just wild rumours. Yes, Alienware is going to take over the extreme gaming side, but I don't do extreme gaming so I'm sticking with the good ol' XPS. And Alienware's laptops are big. Very big.

And anyway, the 1535 doesn't look half as good as the M1530. very similar styling, few more colours, but bland and looks like a door wedge. Slightly thicker, slightly less subtle and smooth. Not as nice.

 

I just ordered an XPS M1530 earlier today with the special 10 Days of Deals on Dell Home website.

Got a pretty well spec'd system for not a hole lot of money. Almost $1000 cheaper then a similarly spec'd MacBook Pro

Dell XPS M1530
Tuxedo Black
T8300 2.4Ghz
4GB DDR2-667
8600M GT
15.4" 1920x1200
DVD Writer
250GB 5400 RPM (may buy a 7200 RPM drive for it later on if need be)
Intel Wireless N
Bluetooth
9 Cell battery
2 Year Warranty/2 Year Accidental and LoJack

$1384

I really love the way this laptop looks. I always wanted a 1330 but it was way too small for me. So I'm glad I'm finally buying a 1530, which is my first ever laptop.

Do you still get the Creative earbuds, the little case thing, etc. with these laptops? Do they all come with that little media remote too?

 

Yep, sure do. its a nice bonus.

 

Woot! Just switched my order from the Dell 1505 Wireless-N card to the Intel Next-gen Wireless-N card... it's weird though, when they cancelled my previous order from 2 days ago, and made this one just now... it only cost $10 extra, and it says I got bluetooth on the order form now... which I didn't order haha.. oh well not complaining! I also took off the McAfee 15 month thing... figured it was just unneeded bloatware... good idea?

Only bad thing is... the new shipdate is estimated 10 days later... weird considering I ordered the other 2 days ago. Oh well no biggy.

Thanks guys

~B

 

Well I finally got around to starting my blog, beginning with the unboxing video of my XPS M1530. You can see that at http://gamingtechreviews.blogspot.com/

It's still early, so I'm not totally sure on how I feel about my new XPS just yet. I have and older XPS 1210 that I will be doing a face-off review later, and right now it looks like the early model just might win.

The two annoyances so far are first, the front left rubber feet do not touch the ground on a level surface, so the laptop wobbles. To me that is unacceptable. For the time being I have added a thick tape piece underneath that alleviates the wobbling but I'm annoyed at the fact this top of the line laptop has that issue. But I don't think I'm annoyed enough to send it back either. Anyone else have this problem? Is it worth calling Dell about?

Second the hard drive was noisy, but maybe that was just initially as it seems to have quieted down down. Hmm.

 

so i finally decided to order the xps 1530.
specs:
tux black
2.4
2gb ram(will be upgrading to 4)
160 gb
m8600gt
15.4 1280x800 screen
total around 1209. around 1300 if the 4gb ram is included

what do you guys think about a laptop cooling pad? is it necessary? im going to bring it to college for dorming. which pads do you guys recommend?

 

Is a media remote supposed to come with the 1530?

Edit: nevermind I found it

 

I think so, it came with mine

 

I recently received my m1530 after waiting over 6 weeks, and now im trying it out. The problem is, my hard drive makes clicking noises, and my optical drive sounds like a helicopter taking off. Im calling dell Monday about these hardware problems, but in the meantime, i did a clean install of vista and installed all drivers on the cd, yet my computer is still not recognizing wireless networks. Any ideas?

 

I forgot to mention that under Device Manager, Network Adapters, my Intel 4965 ABGN card is not listedm only bluetooth devices and marvell ethernet controller

 

nvm about the wireless, for some reason on the third installation of the drivers it worked and im connected now, which video drivers do you think I should use?

 

I just purchased a Certified Refurbished XPS M1530 from Dell outlet today:

Dell XPS M1530
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
15.4" WUXGA+ LCD (1920x1200) & 2MP Camera
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT (GDDR3)
160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
355 Bluetooth

$980 + tax&shipping.... system comes with 1 yr warranty. I also have 21 days to test the system. If I observe anything I do not like, I will just return it...

I am really curious about the screen and its resolution. how do you guys like WUXGA+ LCDs on your M1530?

 

Hey guys, new poster, and about to purchase a laptop for college. Gifts from relatives has put me at 1500 credit, and I'm willing to spend a few hundred of my own. I'm looking for a gaming laptop, and the M1530 seems to be exactly what I need, price/performance wise.

SYSTEM COLOR Tuxedo Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition SP1
LCD AND CAMERA High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
HARD DRIVE Speed: 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
WIRELESS CARDS Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
BATTERY OPTIONS Special Offer, 30% off 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
FINGERPRINT SCANNER Finger Print Reader XPS M1530

With four years warranty + Accidental and Theft protection (A good idea, I think, since I'm looking to last this through college) and a bag, it comes to $1,884.89 shipped. Two main questions:

1) Can I cut anything to remove some cost, and keep the quality for gaming.

And 2) I'm getting a 70 gift card because of four year warranty, and am looking for a mouse/headphones. I saw a few pages back that some headphones come with the machine, are they any good, and what should I look for mouse-wise?

Any other general advice on it, and more so keeping the cost down would be great, since I'm at my major limit. 400 isn't the greatest for me to spend, but if I pick up another job, it'll be fine. Thanks guys!

 

To save money, you could get less RAM and just order the extra from someplace such as Newegg. That will save you a little bit.

The headphones that come with are Creative noise canceling headphones. I hate ear buds, but these ones are not to bad. They sound decent, too.

Mouse wise, are you looking for a wireless mouse? If not, just go to any shop that sells them and pick up a cheap small one. If you do want a wireless mouse, get a nice Logitech bluetooth mouse.

Good luck.

 

If you were looking for a gaming notebook, why'd you go with the 128mb GeForce 8400 ? Thats gonna kill your performance compared to the 256mb 8600M

The wobbling is something that a few users have posted. I believe its in the top 10 questions thread about the M1530. Since the case is aluminum.... you can flex the case ever so slightly and it will straighten out. Be careful though. Find the posts, they describe how to do it safely.

 

Only go logitech bluetooth if you have got bluetooth on your machine, and if you have, it costs next to nothing to get the dell bluetooth mouse as well, which has mixed reviews. If it doesn't work, no worries. If it works, great!

 

I have a 1530 on order and should be getting it soon. I was thinking of getting something like this to help protect the screen from the keys.

http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreenSavrz.aspx

Is it needed? Is there much of a problem with dirt transfering to the screen from the keys or is there enough of a gap between?

Thanks.

 

IMO it isn't really needed to purchase the screen protector. I use the cleaning cloth that is given with the laptop and it works fine. The included cleaning cloth looks like the same material on that site.

 

I don't know if it's really needed, but I got one (a different brand) for mine. I use it whenever I close the lid. Well, for now anyway. Seems like the kind of thing I'll end up not bothering with after the "new" wears off of the notebook. But it doubles as a cloth to wipe down the screen and exterior, so it's all good.

I got this one:

http://www.shaggymac.com/

 

Thanks guys.

I have seen those shaggymac ones too. I was thinking of getting either of those.
Like you though I do worry it would be something I just wouldn't bother with once the novelty of the new laptop has worn off.
Three months down the line I'll be wiping the screen will the sleeve of my jumper or any random nearby rag let alone placing a screen protector everytime I close it. lol

 

If you do a fresh install of Windows, can you still send it back to Dell if something goes wrong?

What about a little bit of overclocking?

 

I read that as well however there was a more recent article on engadget that explained the 1535 inspiron was going to be taking over the xps line as they slowly fade the xps name off of the dells and focus that towards the alienware. I tried to find the article briefly but i didnt find it. if find it i will post the link.

 

Yes, Dell does not care if you reinstall Windows. Hell, they'll let you install Linux. In fact, on my old Dimension 4500, years ago, they actually recommended reinstalling Windows to me.

Well, just do not tell them you overclocked it. Before you send it in, set your clockspeeds and memory speeds back down to stock/default specifications and settings.

 

Here's the thread that talks about the Engadget report:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3437920#post3437920

It's speculative rather than factual.

 

not sure if anyone knows the answer to this. the "u" key on my keyboard seems to not work all the time as of today. i unplugged the laptop and moved it and ever since then the u key doesnt register sometimes.

this same thing happened once before with the "y" key and i just pressed it hard and i heard it snap back in and worked fine since then. but it doesnt seem to work with the "u" key. is there a way to safely remove a single key and put it back on? dont really wanna get a new kb from dell.

 

Just ordered my m1530 with a 6 cell battery, so I understand there might be a small delay...but my est. ship date isn't till 7/2! Someone please tell me that the Dell ship dates are like the Amazon.com ones in the fact that they ALWAYS deliver wayy earlier than stated...?

 

aceZsta// why dont u just get the free 9 cell batter upgrade for XPS 1530?
in that way, u can get the laptop at least 2 weeks early.

 

For one, I don't see any "free 9 cell battery upgrade" for the m1530, only a 30% off, and that's still $118 which is a large chunk of cash.

Second, I don't want a fat bulge preventing my laptop from sitting perfectly flat, since i'll need it that way when I start college.

 

you should go to the "Powerful Savings" section of XPS laptop and from there you would see free upgrade to 9 cell battery.
I'm just suggesting that you might want to take advantage of free 9 cell battery upgrade since currently 6 cell battery is causing delay and 9 cell battery costs like around $140 (not sure about exact price) and that space btw the "fat bulge" gives the laptop more air to get into the vent.

Anywayz, since it's ur laptop and you are satisfied with ur purchase, you should be fine with it

 

Is the free upgrade for Canada too? I'm gone guess it isn't I didn't see the option to upgrade.

 

Do all of the XPS extras (sleeve etc.) come with the (Product)Red versions too?

Neon

 

Yes they do. Same as other color versions.

 

Uk has 15% off XPS's over £600 if you give them the correct voucher code on checkout. . .

 

Yeah, ends on the 11th of June, so hurry! but a warning: doesn't work in the business store, only in home, so if you are trying to reclaim tax in the UK, can't use the coupon.

Anyway, I've taken the plunge without the coupon- got a dell rep to give me a bit off- and finished up with this (finally ordered!):

T8300 Processor (2.4ghz, 3mb cache)
3gb ram
320gb Hard Drive
256mb 8600M GT graphics
WXGA+ (1440x900) screen
Standard slot-loading drive
6-cell battery
a/b/g wireless

With all the trimmings. Apart from bluetooth- decided to go for more power instead of it, and wireless N which i'll never really need for a long time. My house only has g, and it works fine over 3 floors so I'm not bothered.

One slightly irrelevant question to the actual laptop... any recommendations for a decent mouse which is relatively cheap and I can buy in the UK? (ie. not sold by best buy). Has to be wireless, but not too small as I will use it for prolonged periods of time.

 

Have you guys had trouble with Dell support when contacting them about noise complaints? When I called in about my noisy Optiarc optical drive that sounds like a helicopter and my scratchy, loud hard drive, the guy freakin patronized the entire time, telling me that all optical and hard drives sound like that and i wouldnt know whether my drives were too loud or not. I've read from multiple people on this forum that they had there crappy optiarc drives replaced with Teacs or Mat****a without much problem, so whats the deal? Should I just call again until they replace it?

 

orderes a inspiron 1720 with

dual core 1.83 1mb cache
160gb sata 5200
nvidia ge force 8600m gt(32 mainstream processors, 128 bits, 256mb own memory and 512mb shared memory)
1gb ram dd2 667mhz

and I want to konw how is going to run new games (call of duty 4, gears of wars) and old games like Call of Duty 2

Please some body(and espert better) give me an answer

 

Just ordered a 1530 with the following specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 (2.40 GHz)
• Vista Ultimate
• Tuxedo Black with 2MP webcam
• 1440x900 LCD screen
• 4GB RAM
• 320GB HDD
• 256MB Nvidia 8600m
• DVD drive
• 6 cell battery
• Bluetooth adapter
• Intel Wireless N card

​

After adding on a 15% off coupon, all of this came to €993.64, the equivalent of $1560.71

Dying to get my hands on my new notebook now!