S-XPS 1645 Throttling Info. and Updates

Dell-Bill or anyone else. Longtime lurker finally registered. Was following and waiting to see if this issue would get resolved before ordering and now that it looks like the issue has been resoved, I can't get one with the RGBLED screen??!! Is that option gone for good? I see that it is available when getting the i5 processor but not with the i7?? Was the RGBLED option taken off on purpose due to the throttling issues? Thanks.

 

Are these being sent to you from a PM with bill?

Thanks

 

I have been following the NBR forums since the build and ship delays not long after ordering my XPS last year in October. I have not been posting to the forums though. I would like to put my name in there so that Bill can send me a PM do get my 130W adapter.

Bill please send me a pm so that I can provide my personal information. Thank you for your work in getting this issue resolved. I have been in personal contact with Dell supervisors through email and you have provided more information than even they have.

 

I went on dell's site and checked and it looks that although they have almost identical builds in terms of the foundation of the hardware, they are handled separately in terms of development with regards to drivers.(i.e. bios)

My guess is that the 1647 will have to go through it's own process of testing and validation before receiving any attention in terms of bios updates and/or free adapter handouts. I have the sinking sensation that due to the throttling not being as undeniably bad as the 1645's issues, the 1647 will not see as complete a solution.

Personally I am sick of waiting. I might as well go hang out in the "waiting for mac book pro refresh" threads at this point. I am just going to return my 1647, since I am still in the window, and pick up a different machine.

 

Hi Bill,

What would be the most convenient way to get the 130W power supply. By talking to you guys with a PM or by simply waiting. I notices some power supply's have already gone out. Is that because of you guys?

Thanks,
Marc

 

I've been lurking this thread from when I first got my laptop Dec 31. I'm happy to hear there is a happy outcome brewing, but what I'm curious about is, how is the adapter distribution process going to work? Bill mentioned something about PM's...does that mean he will PM all of us with details, or us to PM him?, or??

 

I am curious as well. Please let us know the most efficient way to obtain the replacement 130 watt ps.

Thanks.

Jim

 

I think we have to be a little more patient. Bill already mentioned the adapters will be sent out when the BIOS update is publicly available.

Getting this adapter program up and running will probably take some effort. Having the go-ahead is likely the biggest step and that has been done.

 

I do believe the plan is on dells part anyway. is not to start swapping adapters until the bios is out and dont. And according to bill it is finished but in the testing phase i believe, which if it doesnt have issues will be out soon. Once its out of the testing phase it sounds like everyone here will get a PM about the adapter replacement.

They have a lot of work to do, to get all the reps etc notified it sounds like. So im also assuming even the people not on these forums will be able to call in and get an exchanged processed as well.

 

Curious also, especialy on behalf of UK resisdents, what procedures will myself and other UK users will have to take.

Thanks.

 

Hi Mitchell, I agree with you but I was just curious because a few threads back two people posted theirs where on the way. It would be nice to have it for when the bios is ready.

 

Adding to the above, wondering about best way to get a replacement ps.

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped identify this issue and develop solutions, both unofficial and official. I was so frustrated and confused about the poor of my notebook and so relieved reading this thread.

 

I am also curious about the 1647. Honestly the only difference is the processor (i7-620M) in my case, the chipset and GPU are the same. I know for a fact Dell uses the same build for the model, due to the fact that it actually comes with the incorrect RAM (1333 instead of 1066). The system does throttle under load and I would assume uses the same algorithm, so the new BIOS fix should help us as well. Perhaps a Dell rep. could confirm for us? (hint hint wink wink)

 

I think you are absolutely spot on. The entire process was driven by Dell's attempt to create laptops with a certain level of performance at a specific price point. Too much performance on the $1600 machine and no one will buy the $8000 machine where the real profit is to be had. So the XPS 1645 et al were artificially limited on purpose.

No one would be able to prove much of anything since the throttling mechanisms were not well understood and would be complained about by only a small percentage of power users.

When the community (armed by UncleWebb's custom application - and this is the key to the whole thing BTW) simply would not stop pushing on the issue, and when a credible threat of real media coverage began to materialize, Dell realized their "business model" no longer worked and had to be altered.

I'm very happy to see that we may yet get the performance we paid for. I absolutely love my XPS 1645 otherwise. It's the first thing I've owned in many many years that I actually get excited about. Here's hoping it all works out.

 

Yah, but isn't the CPU the core issue here? And, with the i-series of procs I'm betting there was a different spin on the motherboards. I can tell you that the part numbers for the motherboards are different for those two models. They're not interchangeable so I would assume there are some design differences.

Am I correct? I don't know. Again, every system is slightly different (otherwise they'd be the same systems), so each has its own little quirks.

Please note, I'm not saying that the 1647 isn't going to end up with new adapters. Its just that right now I can't tell you definitively one way or the other.

 

If I order a xps from your website with a i7 does that mean its a 1645 model?'Or anything I order now will be a 1647? thank you

 

Nice, i just found a Dell 130w Adapter in my house.

 

Hi,

@kaushikpai
I have no problem with a external Optical Drive... I hardly use DVD's.
@yejun
I am still a kid... I don't know if I will like those business-laptops.Moreover, can I game on them?

 

I'm no Dell apologist, and I'm upset with Dell for this issue as well, but this just sounds crazy to me. I'll always bet on a person or company doing something stupid than something nefarious.

 

I would like to be on the PM list for a 130w adapter please.
Thanks.

 

Not sure if that is the case. They didn't have to put a high end cpu in these systems. But they may have had too to stay competitive with everyone else(HP Envy) at the same price point and feature set. But the way this was dealt with I have a feeling it might not have been put trough its paces before it was released or they where planning on revising the model quickly and the fallout damage would have been small. All speculation of course.

 

EDIT: Decided to return my XPS. Who knows what else is wrong with it. Nevermind on the 130W adapter.

 

Well, I would accept your take on things except for:

1) The whole "three months to admit a problem" thing.
2) Throttling on several models.
3) Much larger adapters shipped with higher end models that contain the same cpus.

They knew these machines needed more power from the moment they finished the design on the 1645.

But anyway, no one will ever be able to prove anything so I'm gonna stop talking about this now.

 

@Bill

Don't get mad. LOL.

But, anyways, right. Bill, due to our previous contact [system capture, etc.], enlisted me for a 130W adapter a few days ago. It's in my hands right now.

THE FIGHT IS OVER!

But, right. The current system is NOT in place yet, but should be soon from what Bill is saying here.

It's not sham, it's not fake. It is so FUDGING REAL. I can post pictures if you guys force me, too,

 

Any news on that youtube video?

 

Definately include me on that list for a 130W.

 

OK. But is there already a BIOS for the 1647 in the testing phase?

 

Thanks to everyone involved in this thread. Looking forward to these 130's.

 

Can someone explain to me how people are receiving 130W adapters already?
What PM list? that would take ages? (considering there are a LOT of 1645 users?)

Anyway please add me to the list then (yes i have a 1645)

 

Hello Dell-Bill_B pls include me in your PM list too.. thanks for.. well.... EVERYTHING!!!!!

 

Hey Dell-Bill_B can you put me on the list to? Thanks for all you helpful information on this issue.

 

Wow... i just got my replacement adapter... 15 hours after i got off the phone with bill.... i dont even get a return phone call from dell in that timeframe...

What a turnaround!!!

 

I would like to know that too.I would hate to get a 1647 knowing its going to be another 3 months before it works properly

 

The envy's 5830 card is a powerful one indeed, its far cooler and faster then the 4670. the 4670 couldnt match my desktop OC'd 9600gt, but i didnt expect it too. Last night i was playing some games and it turns out its smoother then my desktop, furmark benchmark confirms this, that it was just as fast if not faster. I know im posting about envy in a dell forum, i might as well concede now. But i did have both systems and is my opinion.

Anyways at the risk of going off topic. We just need to hang tight a few more days. Although its been a few months, it sounds like its all coming together at the last minute for them at dell. I hope to god bill/todd isnt taking things personally here, as theyre some things that dont add up and is just users discussing it. Which ya cant change of course after whats happened, whats been done cant be undone. But doesnt mean none of us are ungrateful at you bill/todd in fact quiet the opposite, just dell in general.

the whole deal has soured my opinion as well on dell, but im not going to discuss that as im more concerned the issue is going to get fixed. And everyone gets there adapters so we can kill this thread.

 

Hey Dell-Bill_B can you put me on the list to? Thanks for all you helpful information on this issue.

 

Agreed. One of the other things that has become clear in the last two days is that "a certain poster" in fact was in touch with "certain people" who indeed were taking the problem seriously and working (probably quite hard) to get us a fix.

I have no doubt that pulling management/engineering/legal/marketing together to deal with something like this in a large company is a herculean effort and I appreciate that there was someone there to take the reigns when it was required.

When this is all finished up, the group should begin "The campaign to get Bill and Todd raises and get many other people in Dell fired".

 

Hey, current XPS 1645 owner, very happy to see this resolution. DELL-Bill_B could I be added to the list to receive a replacement adapter? Not sure which is the best / fastest method to get one, thank you!

 

I posted this before but it was soon buried in the recent post flood. So I'm re-posting it here. Apologize if I'm not doing the right thing.


Hi Bill & Todd,

I bought my sxps 1645 in US, but I'm now in China (for a very long period of business trip). I have completed the warranty transfer process and now my warranty is handled by Dell China (actually I have already had the err-functional keyboard replaced by Dell China). So, my question is, how could I get the 130w psu? Since 1645 is not available for sale in China, the Dell reps I contacted with here knew nothing about the throttling issue. I'm worried whether I could get the 130w psu for free.

I just registered on NBR lately and could not send you a PM. So it will be very kind of you if you could reach me at [email protected]. Thank you very much!

 

Though I can't PM yet (assuming that this is how it will be handled), I'm excited to be able to get a proper power supply for my new XPS!

Thank you again to everyone who brought this issue to light and helped resolve it!

 

It has already been said that this fix is global. You should be able to get the free adapter with Dell China, once the BIOS is released

 

Dell-Bill B,

Is this you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Z28elna78

Always nice to put a face to a name. Now we know who to buy a drink if we see you!

Thank you for your time and efforts.

 

I wonder if we can buy an upgrade 5830 and stick it in place of the 4670 on the 1645. That would be awesome.

 

Heh , sure it would be, but the GPU is soldered to the Motherboard.

 

Bill, I appreciate you spending the time to clarify things and get the ball rolling. can I be included on the list of NBR people to get the 130 PSU? thanks

 

Well it's actually part of the motherboard, there's no separate GPU. It's custom design - the motherboard is the graphics card!

 

Probably not pin-compatible either. But if they were it should would be fun to break out the soldering iron and try my luck.

Is the memory for these types of GPUS "on die" or is it on the board somewhere? My guess is that it's the later and so there is just no way it could be done.

 

yep, the memory is also embedded into the motherboard like the GPU.
And even if it was pin compatible the performance of ATi 5000 series would had been bottle-necked by ddr3 vram.

 

It would seem that the most efficient way of dealing with distributing 130W power supplies would be to set up a dedicated phone line specifically for the issue.

You call, get someone who knows not only about the issue, but why you are calling... you give your 1645 order number, they confirm it and send you out your supply. The entire call would only take a few minutes.

Seems a better idea (both for Dell and customers) than chasing PMs.

 

Correct. Although, that's working under the assumption that they have the same 130w adapter for use in various systems available for sale there.

Another example of the kind of things that make setting up this process take a while.

 

So is ENVY worth the wait or will the SXPS 16 suffice?...

Apologize if this is inconvenient to post this in this thread... please tell where I can get a proper advice with some explanation on the choice between these two great rigs.