REVIEW:My New XPS M1530

Finally i got new XPS M1530 as a replacement today, with the following configuration:

Intel C2D T8100 2GHZ @ 800MHZ FSB, 3MB L2
3GB Samsung @667 MHZ Ram
1280x800 Samsung WXGA screen
250gb WD@5400 rpm
Nvidia 8600GT @DDR3
intel(R) 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini-Card
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio Software
Tuxedo Black LCD display with Integrated 2.0 mega pixel web cam
6cell Battery
Vista HP SP1
McAfee(R) Security Center(TM) – 30 days trial
CompleteCover/ CompleteCover Guard Technical Guide include
1-year XPS Premier Service with 1-year CompleteCover
#1 Year Complete Cover Accidental Damage Protection
1 Year Priority PC User 24x7 Support (Round-The-Clock Technical Assistance)
# Year 1 Standard POW


i received this afternoon, i inspected thoroughly later in i did format and installed vista Ultimate with SP1, then installed all the necessary drivers also installed DELL MD 4.

PROS
i ran 3dmark 06 soon after installation of all drivers, i got score of 4671
next thing i noticed the temperature its idles between 57-60c
when i ran 3dmark 06 the max temp reached was 82c.
the HD is 250gb WD@5400rpm, the drive is so quieter


Everything is perfect except 2 issues, one is DVD drive makes lot of noise while reading dvds, and little bit bulge near the XPS |M1530 logo not visible tho, also the cover over the speakers on the lest part of hinge has come up, also not visible much

This time what i noticed is my dvd writer makes noise continously while reading the dvd, i did noticed the noise while installing vista, also during installation of drivers and other software DVD. and the noise is pretty loud and annoying.


Except those im overall satisfied with my new system, im feeling good, i guess the noise from my dvd writer may soon disappear, if not, need to be replace the DVD writer.


i havent ran much benchmarking tools except 3dmark06, yet to test few games later in.

 

2 questions:

When did you order your system?

What BIOS version do you have?

 

Congratulations @ Taruian...

Glad that this time you are more happy with your system.... Good for you.

Btw, for the CD/DVD drive making a lot of noise, you might want to check the recent firmware update/release from Dell for the "OPTIARC AD-7640A 8X 12.7 IDE slotload DVDRW (for Hawke)".. apparently they have made some changes to improve on the acoustic performance or something.. See if this applies to you and get it in... Probably you will see a difference with the noise

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=32&fileid=266959

Good Luck once again and hope you enjoy your system Cheers.

 

How do think you about the screen?
My WXGA Samsung LCD (SEC3358) was grainy and dim. I got it replaced with beautiful LG now.

Studio 15 also use Samsung WXGA screen but I’m quite surprised that their screen is almost good as LG.
The Hardware Id is SEC5441. Maybe Samsung version 2?

 

Woot congratulations, now get GAMING!

 

actually this was a new replacement made by dell, i ordered it on 19/7/08

after 50 days they did replaced to new one, also my invoice date got changed from 19/07/08 to 20/09/08.

its a new build.

btw it came with A09

 

My DVD writer is TEAC, and not OPTIRAC.
i guess that firmware doesn't suits mine.

 

i like samsung always, earlier i had same samsung sec3358, this time i have the same screen, but i have no prob with the screen.

btw how can you say the screen is grainy or not? can u post the pic of grainy screen.

tho i don have grainy screen, i always love samsung over lg

 

It's not black and white that every Samsung screen is grainy and every LG is awesome. But in the M1530 there was a HUGE debacle over the grainy screens that happened to be made by Samsung. I forget the part number but there are many threads about it.

If you have a grainy screen it's easy to tell, basically when looking at a white screen (like a Word doc) the white is not clean, it is "speckled" (for lack of a better word) with what looks like bits of yellowish grains. It might be hard for some to notice this, but if you put the screen next to another laptop (just about any will do) you'd see it. The white will look bad. Also the screen brightness was very low compared to others. Many users would never notice or care but those on NBR sure did, including myself.

 

Hey, congrat's on receiving your replacement 1530
I'm happy for you that things are working out so far!


Cin

 

Samsung can produce good screen. As I mentioned in my previous post, Samsung panel that Dell use for Studio 15 is beautiful.

XPS M1530 should be Dell high-end models, but Dell use low grade Samsung screen for M1530

M1530 grainy screen