Refresh on Studio XPS anytime soon?

I've been thinking of getting a Studio XPS 16.
However, before I buy one I want to know if there's been any word on dell refreshing the CPU or chipset on this model? I would rather wait 6 months to buy a new laptop than to buy it and have a newer model come out.

It's been a while since I kept up with the latest mobile processors and chipsets. I found a powerpoint presentation that indicated Intel would release the T9900 in the second half of 2009, but not sure if this would also include new chipset.

I've searched the forums and couldn't find anything. If you guys have any information, I would appreciate it.

 

I'm waiting anyway until the Core i7 laptop processors are released and hopefully soon after, Dell might fit one of them to a SXPS model.

Dell are useless for information, they never give out any information before a product is released. I was in touch with two sales reps about the 4670 coming out on the SXPS 16 in Ireland/UK. They both told me there was no plans to change the SXPS 16 in the near future, and that they would e-mail me if any graphics card updates happened. Later that week, the 4670 was released and I didn't even receive one e-mail.

 

If you can wait, you should wait. Buy it when you need it. In 6 months, the next generation platform will be released. Dell will most likely refresh their line. Most users really don't need the newest processors (or even the fastest since they won't take advantage of the speed, hence it would seem equally as fast), but if you do need raw number crunching for programs such as MATLAB, then you will notice a benefit in the next generation CPUs.

 

For any given piece of technology from any given brand for any given purpose there will ALWAYS be something better 6 months later. It's as much a fact as the sky is blue. If you don't want/need a new toy now then I'd wait. The new toy 6 months from now will always be an upgrade from the same toy today.

 

I doubt they'd do a major GPU refresh any time soon on the SXPS 16 (though they could on the 13) as I don't see what they would replace a Radeon 4670 with (unless they add Nvidia options?). The next major CPU upgrade would be assumed to occur some time after Calpella is released (whose initial pricing and power consumption aren't welly known).

 

the only thing i noticed was that the xps studio 16 now has an option for a white model rather than just black....

 

I am almost 100% confident, that if you can wait 6 months, you will get a refreshed Studio XPS sometime in December/January, with a new gen CPU for sure, and I don't know about the video card, but I hope something from nVidia 1xx or 2xx series.

 

I really doubt they will refresh the Studio XPS 16 again. It just had one upgrade on the GPU. Its going on 2 year old technology.

I think they will probably make adjustments to it and it will be like a Studio XPS 16z or something.

 

1xx series is garbage, it performs worse than the HD 46xx series since its almost identical to the 9xxx series. While the 2xx series is mostly a die shrink, it doesn't offer substantially better performance the the HD 46xx series either. Hope that the 3xx series can give better performance or it's possible that Dell will stick w/ the HD 56xx series.

 

Huh?

+1. The 4670 would be the largest update I'd expect. I'd assume they'd create a separate line (or tag modifier) for Calpella machines as hardware needed may vary by quite a bit causing design change requirements.

 

http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=s540106au1&c=au&l=en&s=dhs&cs=audhs1

there is an option for alpine white, not sure if that was always available in US, but thats the first time i saw it for the AU site

 

The white is actually pretty nice, really clean.
Still hoping for a dark green option on a Dell.

 

If your going to wait six months for the next big thing, you'll never own one. I think these XPS 16 machines with the 4670 are a screaming deal for $1500 plus or minus. You can play any game, plenty of storage, very fast, get a great screen and have a really attractive looking machine. Not too big, not too small...just right.

 

I still don't see that on the U.S. site for either the SXPS 13 or the SXPS 16 . That said, on the AU site it doesn't seem like they offer the non-leather version. The white one actually looks much better than I would have expected it to. I wonder if it's still a finger print magnet....

 

I'm wondering if the SXPS 13 will get a GPU upgrade like the 16 did (3670->4670) within the next couple of months. Maybe a G210m. They could also redesign it a little like they did with the Studio 15 (1555) whilst repositioning the air vent. Here's an idea.

I mean, I figure they won't release a completely new product till Arrandale is released in January around CES like the current model was. What do you guys think?

XPS M1330 - June 2007
SXPS 13 - January 2009
XPS/SXPS 13 - ???

Ok, they could end up releasing it mid-2010 or even later if they follow a similar life-cycle as previous models (1.5 years).

 

Just out of curiosity, since they redesigned the studio 15 for better ventilation, were previous studio 15 owners able to sent their system in for the vent fix?

 

Unless i'm mistaken, I don't think the Studio 15 suffered from the same overheating issues as the SXPS models. I think you misunderstood my post. But Dell does seem to be moving back to the traditional side-vent if you look at the newer Studio 14/14z models. If it allows for better cooling then i'm all for it.

Seriously though, the M1330 had a faulty GPU. The current model fixed that but screwed up with cooling. Will they ever make one which runs cool without any problems which need fixing like the previous ones?

 

Hey man, the thing that you linked on IdeaStorm is great. I posted a new thread to hopefully promote this idea. The reason why I asked the question is because I have a studio xps 13 (just bought 2 days ago lol), and found the vent design absolutely unacceptable for a laptop valued at $1k+. I think that if people rep the idea some more, the problem would be fixed sooner. Also, this link: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19289346.aspx makes me think that Dell is already at work on the vent issue.

 

So do any of you think that there is any chance that the Studio XPS 13" will get any sort of hardware update between now and Christmas? I know I want to buy the Studio XPS 13 but I don't want to buy one now if a new revision comes out in a few months. Right now my plan is to wait until black friday where hopefully there will be a sale. Either that or when Windows 7 comes out.

I mean the price of configuration that i've been looking at now costs $1,150 compared to the almost $1,400 it cost about 15 days ago maybe that's assign they're about to refresh it? Or is it just a really good deal and I should buy it now.

 

It is uncommon for Dell's sales to mean anything until it is on a literally 100% constant basis (as it was for the XPS 1330/1530 for their final months). There is always the possibility the GPU options will be updated to the 1xx/2xx series. The next major CPU update will be when Calpella is released (though I'm not sure how 13"-friendly those CPUs will be).

 

Does anybody know the battery life of the 6 cell version and the 9 cell version and how much of a difference in battery life does the slim WLED based screen compared to the default LCD screen?

 

I hope they don't release a new SXPS too soon ;P I just ordered mine 1-2 weeks ago.

 

I just got mine 2 days ago :O But either way, would be cool if they can upgrade ours with little to no cost If not, they should at least offer a vent replacement.

 

Sorry, i didn't specify, i meant a SXPS 13 update, because the 16" model was refreshed not so long ago. My guess is there will be a 13" model refresh sometime between October 22 and Christmas. As I said, if you can really wait 6 month, i think you'll get an updated system between now and Feb 2010.

 

How long do new Dell laptops usually arrive at the outlet? I just bought the 13" from the outlet.

 

Should be quicker than ordering a brand new laptop. Brand new ones have to have parts be bought and assembled, then shipped out.

 

lol that's not what I meant. I already got my laptop 2 days after purchasing it. What I meant was when do they put new laptops on outlet. It took them awhile to get the adamo on the outlet.

 

Well my 6 cell SXPS16 with the 1080p WLED screen (P8700 CPU and ATI M Rad 4670 GPU) with the wifi off, on powersaver, the screen brightness down all the way, backlit keyboard off, running no programs, on Windows 7 and nothing attached via any of the ports is 3 hours and 45 minutes +/- a couple minutes. Running word I get about 3.25 hours and watching a movie about 2.5 hours. Pretty good if you ask me.

 

I meant, on the 13" version of the Studio XPS, that is a really good battery life though, on my old ASUS 15.4" laptop I was lucky to get an hour an 10 minutes on Vista, I got 2 hours on Windows 7 RC.

 

There not "put on". If nobody returns a laptop, there is none of that model in the outlet.

 

I predict that when the 40nm GPUs rolls out from TSMC to Nvidia by September/October, that's the time we may see a 210M in the SXPS 13. Have that move suggested at Ideastorm a couple of times. If I'm not mistaken, they're also redesigning the heat vents some time in the near future.