S-XPS 1645 AC Power Throttle Issue Investigation

I'm stuck in the same boat my friend.Although i'm not really going to use the laptop for too much gaming.Also I haven't ordered the RGBLED screen nor the Blu-Ray drive so I'm wondering how much it'll affect my use.
I'm really disappointed though and all the excitement which I had before has all but disappeared.
Could someone just advice me as to whether to cancel the order or just wait?
I haven't dealt with Dell before and i was just wondering what the usual practice is with regards to cancellation of orders.Do they refund your credit card or is it something like store credit.
My EDD is 21/12 btw ..postponed from 07/12..

 

I can't decide for you to cancel or not but, Dell said they had a BIOS fix ready for around the 15th, so you may be good out of the box. The notebook has a warranty of course so they're obligated to fix problems like this, it is advertised as being a gaming notebook. Also if you use this for playing games, there are several ways to workaround the issue. For me it's almost a non-issue since I play games on an external monitor anyway.

 

If I were you I would cancel now-making sure they wont charge you rest. fees. I would wait until its clear that DELL will actually fix this the RIGHT way. By the right way i mean a BIOS update that actually fixes the problem and not throttle down the CPU and reduce its speed so we all don't need more then 90W AC. Also, that will defeat the purpose of buying a capable i7 CPU... whats the point of you cant use it to its potential? Judging by Dell's history they might F^$#$K it up and we will be all screwed. Xmas is around the corner so better deals will arise and by then it will be clear what came up.
Just my 2 cents.

 

I could be mistaken, but isn't the Dell Studio XPS 16 advertised as a "multimedia notebook" as a means of avoiding actually calling it a gaming system?

EDIT: Actually here's the description: "With stunning good looks and performance, the NEW Dell Studio XPSTM 16 is designed to give you a multimedia laptop that’s sure to turn heads. From the optional genuine leather accents to the seamless design, you’ll be surrounded by elegance. And the 15.6" LED or 16" RGBLED ultra widescreen display makes your movies, videos and photos come alive with brilliant color and detail."

Dell has been careful not to call it a gaming laptop since honestly the video card isn't particularly great for gaming anyway.

 

Where did you hear that? That offers some glimmer of hope..Also, Could you please tell me what the usual practice is with dell with regards to cancellation?
Money back or store credit?

@daraj and eblock12..Thanks a lot

 

If your order is In Production, it will be hard to get cancelled (it's possible, but you'll have to find a rep that will do it).

 

Is the throttling issue happening to every system?

I am trying to see how widespread this really is, so thanks!

 

It's status is in Production
But when i called the support centre today, he gave some random excuse of parts not being available and said the prodcution has been delayed.
That added another 2 weeks to my EDD
I ordered it on 23/11 and the new EDD is 21/12

 

This is what I heard from talking to a Dell Rep (tech support), they said there was a BIOS update that is currently being tested and they're working with Intel.

As to cancellation, I don't know how it works, sorry. I thought they don't charge you until the notebook ships.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

They don't charge until it ships, yes. They just do a hold to make sure the method of payment is valid before sending your system to manufacturing.

The reason they are giving ppl a hard time about cancelling is a new tactic that I guess Dell figures once you get the laptop in your house you won't want to return it.

 

Anyone?

 

If you are in the US, then you can use the automated phone status to get the detailed order status.

800-283-2210, options 3, 2, 1, 1.

 

Unfortunately, here in India,you pay for it before they start manufacturing because i got a payment confirmation slip from my Sales Rep.Pretty sure that my credit card has been billed

 

Thank you so much! it actually works!

 

The link below will explain the different stages:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=156489

 

We the 210w adapter is out for delivery....I will do some tests this weekend to see the difference. Any suggestions on what tests you guys want to see, ie software and test???

 

no way this thing needs 210 its clearly a bios/mobo issue

the i7 draws roughly the same power as an upper end c2d - and the gpu is medium range

if the hp envy and asus G51 can run on 120 - it isnt crazy to think this only needs 90

 

Thanks for the link .

err... the laptop is actually being made OUTSIDE US? Mine's still in build stage... Since boxing stage can take >3 days, no way its gonna be delivered on time by Dec. 9... Dell's really pushing it... since I need it by Dec. 15...

 

These are assembled in China (Xiamen, to be exact).

 

now i highly doubt the motherboard update etc. will be reflected in the newly built system... Or is the Dell engineering team in China >_<...

 

What you need to understand is that any of these problems will be going to whoever the ODM is for the 1645 (Quanta, maybe?).

Most of them are either located right next to the Xiamen facility, or are right of the coast in Taiwan

 

Mine's being assembled in Malaysia...
EDIT: At least, my last order was. After Dell canceled and reordered on me, I didn't ask where my new one is being made.

 

I think all asia-pacific orders are assembled in malaysia.Dont know if its the same case with the US

 

yes it wouldnt seem very cost effective to build them all in malaysia and then fly em back over here

 

Dell used to use APPC1 and 2 (Penang, Malaysia) for US orders; however, the last systems I have ordered (2 Adamos, 2 Studios, and an M15x and M17x) have all come from China.

EMEA is still using Penang, AFAIK.

 

Breakdaddy, just report the problem to Dell. The more people we get informing them of this issue, the more news sites this gets spread on, the higher the pressure on Dell to fix this.

To the other guys posting in this last page, keep ON-TOPIC, all other stuff in the appropriate threads and forums please.

So back on-topic. After a Dell Tech remoted to my XPS via Dell Connect he installed A02.

I reran some 3DMark tests after that and the results were interesting:
~7100 marks on the adapter (HOWEVER, the battery was fully charged), and then ~7100 marks on battery, and then around ~5000 (??) marks on the adapter again...

I rebooted, and reran the tests. Just to get the same results I was getting before the BIOS update:

6800-7100 on the battery (< 90% full)
6000-6500 on the adapter

I must have performed about 10 consecutive tests, plugging in, then back out, plugging in, and back out...

 

Ordered on 13th nov......... Been told that it will be assembled in chennai.... Dont cancel these are minor issues and will be sorted soon

 

Here's the result of my tests with the Monster 240w.

All tests have been made at 1920x1080 Full Brigthness, Wifi ON, MAX performances.

No battery 90w



No battery 240w



Battery in, 100%, 90w



Battery in, 100%, 240w



Note that i got this error message from Windows 7



Without AC Adpatptor:



Any other test to do?

 

Seems like it with all the ones who have tested their system.

 

Is it safe to say we should use the system on battery whenever possible when doing demanding tasks? I know it's kinda backwards but until a fix is available this will be a temp solution.

 

@Tonkadan: yea try the 3DMark06 test please.

Also, the CPU speed in your tests seem different? Make sure that you have your Windows power profiles set to the same for both on battery AND when plugged. Choose High Performance, then Change advanced plan settings, and go through EACH option - also set minimum CPU power to use when on battery and plugged in to 100%.


On a side note, just called the Dell Premium XPS Support line in Europe which should operation 24/7. Apparently nobody is able to answer the call as all employees have been evacuated as they are testing some "standard emergency procedures".

 

I see my signature is becoming popular....

Anyways, Tonkadan. Thanks for the tests, but missing a few things:

1) Brightness?
2) Tool you tested with?

It's the "Battery in, 100%, 240w" test that is worrying me. It was a constant 7x? You realize that Real Temp isn't a *great* thing to check the multiplier. Instead use i7 Turbo, it's packaged with Real Temp. This is because Real Temp refreshes more slowly and is less accurate, as you can see from here:



In fact, Real Temp only calculates the multiplier from the HIGHEST thread's multiplier. So if only one core is 13 (should be all 8 if all was right in the world), it will report that.

So, you wouldn't mind running the tests one more time, would you? If you want, you can skip the battery in/out (I don't think that should matter), but some people might, so maybe keep it in, lol. This time, use i7 Turbo and, if you take a screen shot, make sure the multipliers posted are constant. Or if they are constantly oscillating/changing, you can just say so.

Thanks and sorry for all the nit-picking, but this needs to be as scientific as possible for us to find the problem.

~Ibrahim~

 

lol "sh!t they caught us - everybody gtfo burn everything!"

 

@Tonkadan
Thanks for the results, Did you use Furmark and Prime95 for stress?

 

you guys sure the power options for some reason arent set to

"when plugged in - maximum processor state <100%"?

 

I have just received a call regarding the BBB complain i filed earlier.
The charger is not the solution.
It is a known problem for the newly issued system, they are working on it and as for now they don't have a time frame for it.
Good bye XPS, welcome Envy

 

Tonkadan: can you run prime95 or OCCT with ATI TOOL (scan artefact) ? It's the best for stress gpu/cpu.

 

if its capping the power - then upgrading the a/c adapter should not have done anything

isnt the envy like $800 more you sure you dont want to wait lol

 

I like the system very much, but we have reported the problem for more than two weeks now, we even worked with the so called supervisors. The solution that is within my reach , the adapter, is not going to work.
It looks like it's their policy to cap systems to reduce heat emission (Latitude, XPS 1640 and 1645, and even the recent Alienware).
They had so much time to solve it in the previous systems, why would they care for solving it for the new system when the old one are not solved yet.
Again, it is not that the system is bad, no it is very good, but when you buy a high end product you become very sensitive to it, it is like buying a 10000cc vehicle but it is capped to work at 8000cc, it is very good, but the cap is not acceptable.

 

but if you get full throttle on battery - it isnt capped theres just a power problem

the system doesnt generate less heat on battery does it?

 

It didn't get capped under battery when i ran crysis + prime 95
but when i ran 2 days ago furmark+prime 95 it stayed at 7x (on battery full brightness, WLED, Max performance, ATI powerplay set to max performance)

I will run it again if the result stays the same, then i am done.

"the system doesnt generate less heat on battery does it?"

Can someone with 130w or more try the above combination and reply to me please.

No but if the above is valid, then if the processor is let to run at max, the heat will increase.

 

I live in connecticut.

 

I replicated the stress (furmark and prime 95 at the same time under maximum performance with powerplay set to max performance) test under battery regardless of which brightness level i use, i get 7x for the CPU multipliers
The GPU keep switching between 675 and 300

I would appreciate if anyone with the 130w or above adapter replicates the test.

 

Since the new PA-4E has been sold out on triangle laptops. I'm looking at this one: http://www.trianglelaptops.com/p-11087-dell-latitude-inspiron-pa-4e-130w-ac-adapter-ju102.aspx

It's used. Anyone see any problem with it? If not, will just buy it.

 

Will the i7 hit 12x multi if all cores are being used?

I thought this type of scaling was part of the i7's new architecture.

 

maybe its just the benchmarking programs you clowns are using

pretty new tech

....im pulling strings now

CANCELLED

 

Yeah it should if its under heavy load. If not all cores are used it can potentially go up to 21x with the turbo boost feature.

 

What I am trying to get at is if all cores are being used, then maybe 7x is the max (depending on which i7 you have).

No?

And what you said eblock is exactly what I am trying to figure out. Since all cores are def being used in Prime, then it is very possible that 7x is the max for that proc (sorry, don't remember which one you have khaledsief).

 

It's 1.6 ghz (2.8ghz with turbo boost), 133mhz is clock from bus so multiplier is 12x with no turbo boost.

133mhz x 12 = 1.596 ghz
133mhz x 21 = 2.793 ghz

Each core has its own multplier, they all have the same clock speed limits.