***Official Studio XPS 1645 Intel Core i7 Discussion Thread!***

i was wondering, would someone like me who isn't a professional and doesn't do photo rendering or video encoding etc. see any benefits from the 820QM?

 

No, that's definitely true, I've seen many sites which claim boot-time is decreased with Windows 7. Whether that has to due with multi-processors, I haven't the slightest clue. From my own experience, though, turning on multiple processors during boot for Vista did close to squat, maybe 1-2 seconds shorter, but well within my margin of error. That might be improved in 7, I don't know. But any applications that use multiple threads aren't increased much by 7's tweaks in multiple-core processing.

Right...there's a paucity of stuff on i7 mobile, but the desktop versions should be comparable in terms of relative performance from i7 vs. C2Q.

I think you're mistaken, though, thinking that a single-core application won't benefit from an i7 compared to a similarly clocked C2Q.





...

~Ibrahim~

EDIT: If you can't see the images, go here:

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=857&p=4

 

Awww. How long are you delayed for now?

Cin..

 

Oh, it's the same date that was online: 11/5, but this time this information was sent in an email. I mean, it has no more useful information, but being the most unexpected delay, it was nice to know they considered a delay.



~Ibrahim~

 

How much did they charge for the upgrade?

So is the laptop you're awaiting not have Bluetooth? What BS...

 

It was incorrect, the price was the same for the 1 year/2 year/3 year warranty. I tried to order it but the site failed... wish I had phoned up

 

Could be... although I thought that Vista -> 7 compatibility was good.

Thank you kind sir

 

Is there any way to change the OS from 64bit to 32bit?

 

The CDs given (if you chose 64bit) have both versions, and Win7 should be both when you upgrade.

 

I may be wrong, but I do not believe your statement to be correct. There are definitely 64-bit install DVD's and 32-bit install DVD's (true for Vista and Windows 7). There is no way that I know of, with a 64-bit install DVD, to install the 32-bit version. You need the 32-bit install DVD. Now, the product key is the same for 64-bit and 32-bit, and if you have the Ultimate version DVD, you can do some things that allow you to install ANY of the versions from that one DVD (Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, etc.), but still at the same bit-level (ie, 64-bit Ultimate gives you your choice of any of the versions, but at 64-bit, etc.).

Also, regarding the OP's question--if you meant can you convert 64-bit W7 to 32-bit, the answer is NO. Only a reinstall will get you to 32-bit.

 

Microsoft sent me a Windows 7 Ultimate copy and it has an option for both systems, 64 and 32.

 

Oh sorry. But last time I heard the 64bit install carried inside the 32bit too. If that changed and I am wrong, thank you.

I do know that the 32bit is 32bit only, while the 64bit had both 64 and 32 inside...no??

 

Ok, I was intrigued and did a bit of research and this is what I found. Apparently, if you purchase a retail copy of Windows 7, it comes with BOTH 32-bit and 64-bit versions of whichever level you buy (Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate). It appears (and I cannot verify since I don't buy retail versions) that you get 2 DVD's in the package--a 32bit and a 64bit DVD. Can anyone who has actually purchased a RETAIL copy confirm this?

I read some talk about there being a single DVD that had both versions, but it was a DUAL LAYER 8.5GB DVD, which tells me it contained duplicate code for each bit-level (4GB for 32 bit and 4GB for 64 bit). That reinforces my thought that you cannot get 32-bit out of a 64-bit DVD...it's two different images.

Now, I am not sure what Dell is shipping with their PC's, but I would bet that if you purchase a 64-bit system, you will get ONLY a 64-bit DVD.

 

My copy of Win7 is at home sitting in it's box. I haven't really glanced at it yet as, obviously, my laptop hasn't arrived. If you still want the info I can get it to you tonight.

 

If no one has chimed in by then, sure! Thanks!

 

With these delays has anyone gotten any perks from Dell that did NOT involve setting the date back further? I know if you threaten to Cancel they can give you 75 dollars not to. Any body know of anything besides this?

 

So I'm getting myself a new 1645 because Dell broke my year-old M1730, and won't replace it with the comparable model because Alienware is their only brand that makes something close to it. I have a little Macbook for mobility and I use my Windows laptop for gaming, I'm wondering how the 1645 is at this? I know the 1640 had an overheating issue. Has anyone actually received their computer yet? I haven't gotten through the whole thread yet :/

My specs:
1.6-2.8 GHz i7
8GB DDR3 @ 1333
1GB Radeon 4670
Bluetooth-enabled
Blueray Combo Drive
64-bit Vista, hopefully I'll get a 7 upgrade despite the system being a replacement.
Creative X-Fi
16.0 FHD RGBLED
Basically I was pissed at Dell for breaking my old rig and picked out all of the bells and whistles, and I made my case to their ultra-senior support people (literally, I was talking to the head of their dispute resolution team) well enough that they let me do it. I'm still losing over $1000 in price differential between this and my old one (and another $1000 on the Macbook I had to run out and buy when they broke my M1730), but I guess I can settle for this.

I need to know, though. How is this going to game? That's all I really care about. Empire: Total War maxed out on Ultra. Crisis with DX10 settings. I feel like the 4670 is a pretty weak card to put in such a beast of a laptop, but that's the best they offered.

 

the 4670 is an ok graphics card, you more than likely will have a hard time on the highest settings. especially if you play and high resolutions. For a bit better gaming rig I would have gone with the alienware 15. It seems like a good laptop for gaming

 

I had the XPS 1730, which was literally a Dell-branded Alienware 17xx, completely the same build options. It was an outstanding gaming computer and it could keep up with the custom-built gaming rigs my friends have. Now it's sitting dead in a corner of my room because Dell has been trying since August 5th (I "crap" you not) to fix it, each successive time they make an attempt it gets worse, either missing parts or wrong parts and the last time, they put in a faulty graphics card which killed my system, freezes and crashes on startup.

But yeah trust me I tried desperately to get them to replace it with a comparable model from Alienware but since it's run almost as a separate company they wouldn't do it for me. So I'm "stuck" with the 1645. That's if it ever gets to me. I think I'm experiencing exactly the same delays as everyone in this thread, except since the Customer Resolution person is dealing with it personally (and I get at most two rather unintellible e-mails a week from him), I'm basically in the dark about it. I honestly have no idea about my estimated ship date or anything, I'd be happy to get it before Thanksgiving (US) at this rate. Although I also sort of half-expect it to show up any day now because he said two weeks ago it would take five days.

 

you said that your year-old M1730... it has a warrenty right? I am guessing you been up and down with dell on that but I know that is not a cheap laptop and I will raise all types of hell if I paid that kind of money and have to settle for less. When one of my media lights on my 1640 went out I called dell and they came to my house two days later without fail. When my laptop was shipped but missing software, I had them get it for me. They wanted to charge me to look on my laptop to see if the software was on there. I spoke with the supervisor real quick and threatened to send this thing back and never buy from dell again. So everything got resolved and so far so good but a year from now better be the same.

 

My copy of 7 (from house party) came in 2 DVDs. One for 32-bit and other for 64-bit. No, 64-bit DVD doesn't have both installation files inside. Once installed, the 64-bit OS can run both 32-bit and 64-bit programs.

In a way you are right that to run the 32-bit programs it needs all the 32-bit libraries and that's why the ISO size is bigger for 64-bit. But still, the installation program is 64-bit for 64-bit DVD and cannot be run on a 32-bit processor based systems. Also it doesn't give you an option to install the 32-bit version from 64-bit DVD.

I have seen some custom made ISO images online that have both versions in one, but I doubt they are official.

 

Really? you wrote this entire paragraph to essentially echo what I said? Did you REALLY say that you're "100% confident that MOST things will work" as if that was a correction to my statement?

Maybe I'm in a grumpy mood today, but come on down from your soap box. You arn't unique in having dealt with Win7 for "a LONG time" since most people on this board, including myself, have probably been "hip deep" since before public beta. I didn't say it would not work. I said that you should not assume that it would. All but two items on my Asus have auto installed since RC1. the Sound and webcam driver did not work until beta Win7 drivers became available. The Vista drivers would install but the devices would have limited or no functionality.

Dont post a large lecturing paragraph telling us that things "should work" it just makes you look like a less-reliable source then you may be. Hopefuly the 200 system rollout works, i mean it should, right?

 

What he's saying is unless you know for sure it doesn't work, you should assume it'll work, at least if you believe MS. The big thing in 7 is compatibility.

Most drivers don't need any change and the ones that need are also minimal and most manufacturers have already done it. This is why even the RC version released months ago could recognize almost all hardware.

It's not like XP to Vista transition where manufacturers had to release new drivers as most existing drivers didn't work. And also the changes were huge so many vendors (like Creative) didn't support Vista for a long time.

So a product is not being offered with 7 due to driver availability is hard to believe unless you have some communication from the vendor.

 

Believe me when I say this, you have NO idea... I've been dealing with Dell on this issue (defective GPU, it's an NVIDIA mobile so go figure) since August 5th and it's now October 27th with no end in sight. I'm already dealing with their highest levels of customer support, the so-called "dispute resolution team," basically because I threatened to sue for breach of warranty contract ("identical or comparable parts") after they tried to close the case having replaced my 2x512MB 8800GTX with a 2x256MB 8700GT. They also lost parts (the HD compartment door) and wrecked BIOS settings (I had to fix the BIOS myself because tech support had no clue what to do about it) at the same time they put in the cheaper card.

Then they gave me a refurbed GTX that's completely broken, it works for less than five minutes (slowly) then causes visual tearing and then a loss of video, usually not even enough time to boot up my computer. But they said that there's absolutely no way I can get a replacement system that's the same as the one that they broke, because Alienware is a separate brand, despite the fact that my m1730 is identical to the m17xx of that model year. So the 'warranty replacement' for my $4000 rig is the 1645, which costs about $1000-$1500 less new, and isn't really a gaming computer. Thanks Dell!

But yeah, so what I've been able to gather is that no one has actually received a 1645 yet, so we're not sure exactly how it performs. Is this about accurate?

 

This entire situation is ridiculous. I still haven't ordered my machine because I can't seem to get a rewiew...because Dell can't build them.

I find it hard to believe that nobody knows whats causing the delay.

 

725 posts and delivery is still weeks away at best on the first units. Should get interesting when they arrive and all the heat and gaming issues start getting posted like with the 1640's.

 

Thats honestly the WORST advice I've ever seen, and to see it written on a forum that has so many intelligent readers makes it even more surprising. In the world of IT, nothing works until you prove it does. You do not just install every update that comes out willy nilly because M$ says they've tested it, unless of course you don't care about your job.

 

Hey...that's not true. If you ordered in September, it's guaranteed you will have your SXPS 1645 next week.

~Ibrahim~

P.S. 400th post!

 

laptops generate heat and any high performance laptop will have some heat issues where other people with the same config wont.

It's all about how/where its being used. Some of the biggest complainers might just be sitting under a quilt with their 1645 laying flat on a pillow. My asus never had heat issues, but I kept the back end propped up to make sure it could get fresh air flow.

 

Heat and gaming issues? That's why I'm getting this. What heat and gaming issues?

 

Ibrahim,
Just curious. Where has it been said that delivery is guaranteed next week?

I ordered 10/2 (just a little outside the window you quoted) and still have a shipping date of 10/30 if I call or login online. I'm not holding my breath, but I am debating going with the desktop processor clevo version for the performance. The only thing keeping me dell is the RGB screen and the price.

 

there ARE NOT any heat and gaming issues known yet because nobody has this laptop yet. the post that i was replying to is pure speculation and i wouldn't worry about it.

 

Well, I don't think you read what I said completely. What I said is, you TRY the software / driver whatever that works on Vista on your 7 before saying it doesn't work. You don't need an official seal of approval from the vendor, especially if you are a techie.

The person who is deploying 7 based systems office-wide, must have done a pilot on 5/10 systems before coming to conclusion that everything is fine.

And I was commenting on the subthread about TV tuner software/driver few pages back where it was speculated that software/driver issue is the reason behind unavailability.

 

I just got told that its the plastic bottom of the laptop that is backordered, and thus causing all of this grief for all of us. In my opinion, very bad form on Dell for not having enough backstock of a regular part to fill the orders.

 

Were you told how long it would be? And wouldn't this mean that the 1640 is backordered as well?

 

A part can be backordered but they must have had at least few of them available when they started taking orders, right? But no one has got it and that's what makes me wonder if it is really the parts that are backordered or they have uncovered a serious issue that must be resolved before shipping the laptops.

 

Are NON I7 Studio XPS 16's shipping? I assume they have the same bottom...

 

Different bottom, I believe the 1645 has larger vents

 

I see. I understand.

 

Has anyone received theirs yet?
How is the cooling design?

 

I got another call from Dell today. This time it was a manger. Anyway he told me that systems that were ordered at the end of September should be shipping this week, so mine it still on track with an ESD of November 2 (I ordered Oct. 5), but it may ship out by Friday. He told me the same thing he told me last week, that the reason for the delay were software compatibility issues with Windows 7. I don't really buy that, but whatever. This is like the 4th call from Dell I've gotten to give me status updates, and he's gonna call back on Friday to give me another one.

 

seeing as my first post was completely ignored, ima trya it again. I need to know since 'm going to be ordering very soon

 

NO, go for the 720QM that will handle anything and is future proof.

 

aight thanx

 

does the 9 cell battery stick out the back on this machine?

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Studio-XPS-16-ATI-HD4670-Notebook.21440.0.html

Yes, and check out the link for a review and pictures.

 

$90 CDN, same price as the upgrades for all the other Dell Laptops.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5451104&postcount=704

Well, they're "confident", but now it's writing.

~Ibrahim~

 

Geez $90 CDN for BT? Dell FAIL

 

hey, i havent seen a lot of bencharks regarding these new i7's vs the core2duo.....ive got a p8600 im going to format and send back to dell this week, i could take any sort of benchmarks before it leaves, and then run the same on my 820qm when it comes in a few weeks, just wondering if that may interest y'all. if so, i could create a thread and post them.