S-XPS 1645 Throttling Info. and Updates

Since you asked why, let me explain my thinking:

The problem is that there are many, many posts that ask questions that are answered on the first post, and many questions that are off topic being posted in this thread.

The problem has been identified.
Dell is working on the solution.
The title of this thread makes it clear this thread is for "Info. and Updates".
The noise being posted makes good information fall back very, very fast.

So, atlstang could post "Info. and Updates" and we would not have to filter through so much crap, and nothing of value is lost.

I am not suggesting the problem is no longer real, I am suggesting an alternative path to get the information out without all the crap.

Oh, this thread should be a sticky for a while.

My suggestion is just that, a suggestion. I would love to hear a better suggestion.

 

No thanks.

I agree. And if people would read one or two pages before asking questions that have been answered too often, the signal would improve a lot.

 

No ETA's so far, Dell is playing safe, which isn't a very stupid thing.
we know it when it's there.
If the A07 will be what we suspect: Good chance it will. because of the dedication of DELL techs (better late then never )

 

Issues with A7 are not necessarily " S-XPS 1645 Throttling Info. and Updates". Long threads like this place a big load on the server.

For the sake of clarity, A new thread about the A7 BIOS will be warranted. Probably not until it gets released. At that point a Dell Rep should start that thread and say "here it is". Then feedback and issues can be posted in that thread.

Perhaps a dell Rep could start that thread now and post "it's not ready yet, please wait until we tell you it is." That could stop Dell Bill B from having to keep answering the same questions over and over again.

In any case, it should be a new thread.

This is what I mean. This question is asked and answered dozens of times already, and it's on the first page.

 

My girlfriend has a problem with her SXPS16 (same config as mine) : the screen seems to have only one color : blue. Diagnostics give the same blue-ish screen so I received the error vode 0334 (colors weren't displayed right).

So I'm going to have to call Dell tomorrow to get them to fix it (laptop is only 2 weeks "old"), it should be a very good idea to have them replace the adapters when they plan to come here, right ?

Although I don't think they would/could plan it that way..... I'm from the Netherlands by the way.

I'll call them tomorrow and perhaps I'll ask them if they are familiar with this throtling issue and it's probable solution.

 

LOL whining (no offence) about questions and answers already posted is also generating noise (just an obvious statement)

 

At this stage in the process it looks very likely that the techs on the European desk will be unaware of the proposed solution to this issue, so you may noit get any luck with this idea.

 

He is not whining, and has a good point. I have read through all 241 pages in this thread and the entirety of the original power issue thread, but the last 50 or so pages have degraded into people asking the same question over and over again. It just wastes the Dell reps time and buries the useful information. Can people please just read before they post?

Plus, don't bash on Unreasnbl. He has added some good input, to the point where I believe someone suggested he change his name to "reasonable"

 

sorry, i'm a total newb...what does PM stand for?

 

PM - Private Message

 

@Unreasnbl

If you really want to clarify this topic, the best way would be to make a little FAQ of all these multiple-times-answered questions and PM that to atlstang.

Obviously, it'll take some time, but it should be a bit better than the two massive quotes he has now (no offense atlstang).

~Ibrahim~

 

Point taken It's true this thread is overflowing with questions the last 50 pages. not ment to bash realy, Unreasnbl has put in plenty of good input.

@ Unreasnbl : a little sorry and why not change your name to "reasonable" as stated above, or will that be your magic new name when Dell comes out with A07

Finaly a working day again tomorow (even though one posted a message on sunday) there will be hopefully some more info about testing the A07 BIOS.
hope the techs did this thing FTR, but I prefer a smooth BIOS that's worth the wait

 

An easy fix would be to just change the thread title (if that's possible) to something like "X-XPS 1645 Throttling Info READ FIRST POST before posting (updated 2010-02-08)"

Another easy fix, Bill / Todd could put a link to the same effect in their sigs. Something like. "Read the FAQs at http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=446193 before asking the same questions again"

 

Urgh.. enough with all the noob bickering.. thread is not closed.. admin will decide when to close. point is moot. Try to keep comments relative to the topic please.

 

Ye and if you're on it change the title to USA only as well

 

Bill, I understand you cannot send the adapters out of the USA/Canada due to regulations however, what about the members of this forum who are not in either country. Is there away that international members here can also have their adapters prioritised?

I do understand I have not been a member here for long, however I have been following the issue since before this updates and info page started.

 

Ordered today and watching for A07 :: Dell Studio XPS 1645 | Obsidian Black High Gloss| i7-720QM | ATI 4670 | 1080p WLED | 4GB RAM | 500 GB 7200RPM HDD | Blu Ray | Intel 5300 Wifi | Creative SB X-Fi MB |

 

sry i was out of town since friday and didnt have net access. did i miss much? something you want me to change on the main page??? I dont have any pms?

It will take me a while to look through this stuff, but im not sure i have time tonight. Sooooo any news/updates/changes thats happened pm me please and ill do that. Actually anything new please pm anyway

 

Can I ask where you were ordering from that still had blu-ray available? Also, can anyone tell me how the temperature of the 130 watt adapter is with throttlestop enabled compared with the 90 watt that I've seen many complain about?

 

Let me work on this. I can't promise anything, but I'll try to see if this can happen. Good feedback.

 

Thanks for that, and while you are here! 3rd time lucky...

 

It would be great if that happen.

 

I had posted previously like 37 pages back that I would be taking the exhaust heat problem to the team. I also commented on how long it might take to see a new part, but could not guess at an ETA. I do know we had the same problem and solution on the 1340, and the turnaround time seemed like it was fairly reasonable but could not recall exactly how long it was.

I also shared that when the issue investigation on the 1340 was ongoing, we just took the cover off of our test unit, and it worked great. It looked low rent, though. I am not sure if that would work on the 1645, or if anyone besides me would want to try it.

 

Thanks for the reply, I did see dribs and drabs of info along the way.
I am happy to be a test dummy, except I don't think you are able to send me any test parts being in Australia.

 

Hey Bill,
IDK if you remember me asking about still waiting for my SXPS 1645 laptop and what can be down about getting the 130w adapter before i get my laptop. And you said to check what adapter i'm being sent. But how exactly do you check? It doesn't specify on the order spec sheet. Thanks

 

pls include me in your PM list too.. thanks

 

Hopefully they will, I know Dell are going to be rolling out free distribution of 130W PSU at least here, but as to the other parts I don't know.

@Bill, will Australians see this new part if it proves viable?

Regards
Reece

 

Hey Bill I am really confused, are you guys shipping the 130 watt adapters or not yet?

 

I'm not Bill, but maybe I can save him the trouble... It's been said many times over that they won't start doing this until the A07 BIOS is released. They don't have a date for that yet.

 

I wanted to ask..
Does any one else has the battry portion sticking a bit above the rest of the surfce towards the left of the machine?

It seems uneven.
Also the keyboard is not entirely plain.
Or is it just my machine?

 

How do I get a 130w adapter replaced from DELL In INDIA?

Will it even be made available in india?

 

Definitly !

 

What will happen if I use a newer A07 bios without the 130w adapter?
Because if the bios is available for download without people being shipped with 130w psu then they are running a machine demanding 130w from a 90w!

Will the bios contain some limitng code! again ? x-(

 

The easy fix seems that if you don't have the 130w adapter yet, don't flash the A07 BIOS. Especially if the only fix in the A07 is the throttle issue.

 

i have also noticed this !!

 

The impression I got was that the A07 bios will identify the adaptor in use and adjust the max power draw to a limit safe for the adaptor. So we will be able to use our 90 watt adaptors when max power is not needed.

 

A07 just fixes the issue where 130W and up adapters are not properly recognized. Nothing to do with more power draw.

 

Not true, I have A03 and my 150 Watt is recognized, The only way to solve throttling is to allow more power draw, and A07 will do that if Dell actually solves the problem, why else would they be shipping 130 Watt adapters if it could only draw 90 Watts?

 

Bill,
I've been following this thread for sometime now and this my first time posting here. I called dell technical support about getting my power supply replaced 2 weeks ago before any of news of a BIOS fix was in sight. I just received it today but its the brick version. So I called technical support to get it replaced with the slim version and the person I talked to said that he can't replace it with the slim version because he has a memo that was released 3 days ago stating not to give out anymore 130W PS because it does not solve the i7 power problem. I told him of course it wouldn't work because the BIOS update has not been released yet. And he said that even with the updated BIOS it would still not correct the problem. I ask him if there is any way to see the memo and he said that its dell internal. So I wrote down his name and badge # and politely said thank you. A week ago I started talking to dell about returning my laptop but decided to hold of on it because of recent events. My question to you is if you have heard anything about this memo.

 

@godai_nin. I don't think they will. It doesn't throttle on battery now, and I don't think they will change any more of the BIOS code than they absolutely need to.

But they might need to do something to cover the transition from unthrottled mains running to safe battery running, when this is sudden, as I conjecture that this can momentarily put the battery in a state where it is being asked for more power than it can deliver, and so the safety link in the battery goes. Or something.

So the BIOS needs to respond instantly to loss of mains power when it's above the battery draw limit, to get back inside the battery draw limit. But as we can see now, that's not as bad, if it is throttling at all, as mains power throttling.

Since one of the techs was reported as saying that the current BIOS has been found to be unexpectedly slow in responding to requested power changes, it's quite possible that improving this will fix the above without further changes being needed.

But I'd still like them to test it.

And yes, this is still the Throttling Info and Updates thread. Bricked batteries have been reported as a side effect of operations on unofficially unthrottled 1645s. I should like to be assured they will not be a side effect of officially unthrottled 1645s. Seems on topic to me.... but not to you?

 

As one of the many who have kept reading this thread without ever posting, I'm quite amazed (and frustrated) by the number of people asking the same questions over and over again ... when they've already been answered!!!
Worse, that others make comments that directly contradict comments from dell reps. Ridiculous!
It's taken me 4 days to try and catch up on all the posts here, and I finally have, why can't others spend a little time reading for themselves.

Now I've added to the noise, I'll apologise. Sorry.

Also, I'm one of the Aussies (Australians) curious to know what will happen here ... but I'm just going to wait for them to tell us. Can everyone else do this too?

Patience is a virtue!

Have a great day/night, and think of things to do for a little while until the BIOS and power supply arrangements are ready.

 

Hi there Bill

I'm from The Netherlands, so I will not bother you with questions about when I can receive the 130W adapter I'll just hang in there and wait until we hear about it in our country.

I do have another question :

Me and my girlfriend bought the XPS16 with RGBLED screen and after 2 weeks my girlfriends' XPS-screen turned blue-ish. Only the color blue seemed to work. in the BIOS, Dell diagnostics....only BLUE text and graphics
Seems like something's not right. So I disconnected the poweradapter and removed the battery : after that it's fine.

I think it's a hardware problem, and I see there are more user with this problem.

Is there a fix for that ? Should I let a Dell engineer look at it ? I mean, if this is an known error but there isn't a solution for it yet, I'd rather wait for a fix than having to miss the laptop for about 2 weeks....

Thanx in advance !

 

From what I understand the A07 BIOS will be written to correctly handle power from both 90w and 130w adapters, so there shouldn't be a problem using either version. Of course, I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, but that's my understanding.

 

Perhaps this thread has run it's course. Threads this long are really only useful to those of us who have been following it all along. It it growing increasingly difficult to separate the background noise (from posters who are too lazy to inform themselves before posting), from the genuine information from contributers such as Dell_Bill.

Perhaps a temporary locked sticky thread should be created with the pertinent details. It could be updated as new information comes to light.

From what I surmise Bill has given us the following information (thanks Bill). (Correct me if I'm wrong)

1. Dell will be releasing bios A07 that will allow the 1645 to utilize a 130w adaptor.
2. Dell will be shipping 130w adaptors to NBR members (specifically in the USA at this time)
3. The distribution will be through several Dell employees who have posted here. (don't bother calling Tech Support yet for your 130w adaptor)
4. You will be permitted to keep you existed 90w power supply
5. Currently there are no plans to change the exhaust vent on the 1645. Bill merely stated that if there is shown to be a problem, he thought Dell may redesign the exhaust vent.
6. The details of all of this are still being sorted out, so be patient

 

Errrrrr, to USA NBR members only for the time being

 

No, Zlog. I'm out on this deal. I should have had a 1645 running properly two months ago. I should have been able to sell this Tosh 2 months ago. I should have been able to take the 1645 to Canada with me for the last two weeks, and use it there. I shouldn't have had to write to my Dell Rep and the global UK support operation about this issue, and be totally insulted by the lack of a reply. I shouldn't have had to hang on to a so-called premium telephone response system for 1645 owners in the UK for 15 minutes without anybody ever answering (except that as the system had auto-answered, the call was costing me money, to no avail). I shouldn't have had to read this interminable thread, and its predecessor, for clues as to what to do, and so as to be (maybe) first in line for something that makes what I bought into what I thought I'd bought. And I'd say 'maybe' because I'm in the UK, and so out of the jurisdiction of the Dell_@ people who are here to rescue us.

Was keeping the laptop my choice? I guess so; but there wasn't anything to match it until recently, and I did have some confidence Dell would fix it. But since I didn't have every confidence that Dell would fix it, I and my 1645 have been stuck in limbo for two months.

Now perhaps I can have that confidence, and start moving stuff from this Tosh onto the 1645 at last. But it doesn't alter the fact that I've still got a laptop that won't go anywhere near its Dell-claimed promise until I finally get the fix, so I still won't be freely able to do the things I bought it for; and it doesn't alter the fact that I now have only 2 years and 10 months left of an expensive three-year warranty.

So as I say Zlog, I'm out on this deal. Let's see if Dell want to recognize this in some way better than just putting me back where I should have been, but two or maybe three months late.

 

I have the same battery problem and I am also from India. I have send Pix to Dell Tech Support. Havnt heard from they since 3 days. That suckz...

 

Sorry, I mistyped, should have been "bluetooth". What I actually ordered was :: Dell Studio XPS 1645 | Obsidian Black High Gloss| i7-720QM | ATI 4670 | 1080p WLED | 4GB RAM | 500 GB 7200RPM HDD | DVD R/W | Intel 5300 Wifi | Creative SB X-Fi MB | Bluetooth |

Will probably try to grab a blu-ray drive from Ebay or somewhere when my computer actually ships.

 

Its the case for every 1645..So its fine..Dont worry about it

 

It is not every 1645, mine is not that way at all.