S-XPS 1645 Throttling Info. and Updates

Wicked! Thanks!

 

I've been away from the forum for a few days so this may have already been addressed. When I updated to A07 and the system restart, it got hung up on the "waiting" screen for Windows and I had to shut down. It has happened twice since then, and never before I updated to A07. Anyone else experience this?

 

I've been experiencing this since I recieved my laptop, on all BIOS versions. Disabled X-Fi CMSS-3D and X-Fi Crystalizer in the Creative audio control panel about a week ago and havent had the problem since...

 

Great, thanks for the advice! Sounds like X-Fi is more trouble that its worth...

 

Hi Bill, i'm a Spanish customer. We've also run into problems, our technical support has no idea about it... no idea about xps 1645 130w adapter problem and no idea about how to do with the replacement.
I explained to one of them but his statement is clear: "We can do nothing about it now, until notification from Dell arrives...".

Can you help us? I've not be able to send PM, so I sent you a PM in form of friend request in Dell forums with the details.

 

Ask for a manager. If he will say no then say that your PC is nor working as described on Dell website and ask for return.
Then they will give you free power adapter.
Also ask the guy for his name and double check 3 times if it's a new (not refurbished) slim model.

 

Bill, I sent you a PM with everything you asked for. Waiting for a sign

 

I wish I could remember who to credit on these boards for cluing me in on the whole X-FI situation. Dell and Creative advertised that product in a way that I found to be very deceptive. It was presented as if it was a hardware upgrade even though if you spent enough time you could see that it wasn't.

On the configuration screen (in Canada at least), they offer you the option of:

"High Definition Audio 2.0 with SRS Premium Sound [Included in Price]"

and then also had another option of:

"Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi MB "

If you look closely, these are "sound options" as opposed to the other hardware choices that are clearly marked as hardware choices.

A trip to the Creative micro-site for the X-Fi product didn't immediately clear up the confusion either. I didn't order it because of the mystery poster I mentioned above, but I'd feel pretty burned if I had.

The fact that it doesn't work well on top of everything would be even a bigger burn. You guys should see if you can return it and get your $30 back. You paid for it and now you have to disable it to keep the machine stable?

 

gszech, thanks for the answer. This method may work, but it would be my last option. I'm searching for a more friendly solution, also available to other spanish customers. Maybe Bill, Todd or Brad could help here contacting with them or something :-/

 

Just forwarded your email. Hopefully something will happen. I think Lorthirk's PM hit me first, and I should have sent his as well. Sorry, Lorthirk.

I have your PM and will get to it right now. Did you email me as well, or I have not even answered your first PM yet? Sorry for the delay.

 

Hi Bill, I am glad to see things are getting better now. I wanted to ask that was that feedback submitted to Dell India Tech Support?? Any response from them? Thanx again

 

Thanks! I hope so I'll inform you if i'm able to get it.

 

I just sent a note over. Hopefully it will help.

 

Thanx Bill

 

Does anyone have Mass Effect 2? I am having low FPS on that game. Wondering if anyone else is having similar problem or is that the 4670 can't handle ME2

 

Some of the cutscenes bring the FPS down, but for the most part, it's a pretty smooth experience on my machine. Not sure what the problem is for you.

 

I sent you only two PMs, the first with only the incident number and the second with the reply and all the informations.

 

Bill, can you take note that there might still be other power issues with the SXPS 1645 such as with USB and external devices? I have went through two 1645's and two motherboards on this one and on every one of them I have trouble with my devices randomly disconnecting and "resetting" themselves like they're being turned on/off. I'm using A07 and 130-watt adapter and it's always done this. My external storage device will hang and lock up because of it. It only happens with the 1645, not 1640, E1705, or any of my other computers. Maybe just throw the idea out there that there's other problems that need to be investigated.

 

Forwarded your information along. Thanks for your patience.

Interesting. Anybody else seeing this? If so, can you guys start a new thread and PM the URL to Brad or Todd?

I sent your post over to the lead engineer asking if he thinks it could be chipset, BIOS or what.

 

I think I do. I've had some trouble with 'known good' devices on my machine, but would need to do some testing to be sure the 1645 is the troublemaker.

 

Yeah, over the course of about 24 hours I can observe the lights on my G9x mouse turning on and off every once and awhile, with my G5 it resolution will reset itself and requires reset to function normally, and every time I use external storage it will disconnect during a large file transfer at some point (ie. 100GB+) - Windows will say the path is no longer valid on files being copied and the driver disappears in Windows and the driver is stuck like it's in the read/write mode (light is solid) and it gets really hot. The problem isn't always noticeable during an hour or two session, but during a whole days worth and multiple hours of uptime, you will notice strange things happening.

 

ya I have noticed it a few time with my logitec mouse, the light won't come on and requires reboot, although sometimes i think it just need to go to sleep... not entirely sure since it has only happened a few times

 

With A03, I found sometimes I would stick in (one of several) USB keys and just get no response from the machine. I would have to reboot before it would recognize. It was nothing to do with the machine sleeping because I was often plugging and unplugging USB drives while working on a fresh install (so the machine had no chance to go to sleep).

Haven't noticed the issue with A07, but I also don't plug/unplug that often. Never had it just "lose" a plugged in device though.

 

Can you still get the 16" RGB LED screen? I've been looking recently and it isn't available from the web configuration. I'm wondering if it were removed due to the power issues.

Also, what is the effect of an 820 proc - will it cause even more throttling?

Any update on if new laptops are shipping with the 130 watt PS?

Last question should I just wait a little while for a new video card update?

 

Yes also am still wondering on the factory cut in on the adapter and BIOS. Any new news Dell-Bill_B? Thanks

 

yeah the USB problem is intermittent I tried with all kinds storage devices sometimes they work, sometimes they hang or just not being detected at all.

Dell-Bill any progress is being made on throttling issue at the meeting?

XPS 1645 still throttles when run on battery alone even with updated bios to A07 so it seems there was nothing done there. When laptop runs with 130w power adapter some improvements were made but the issue still exists.

 

I wonder if thats not preferable. The 9 cell battery has at its initial state 85Wh meaning it can deliver 85 watts for one hour. Max load can be well above that with no throttling. Discharging the battery at these rates will have impacts on its live span (due to heat), this is not a dell issue but a battery issue. I am sure that if there where no throttling on battery, people would soon complain about batteries loosing their capacity. I personally look at this laptop (and would so with other high performance laptops) as a desktop replacement and very seldom use it on battery. If Dell would make a 8 cell Battery and use the space the 9th cell occupies with a modified vent to blow air out the back then that would be an somewhat ugly but working fix for the heat / lcd issue imho.
I have no issues with usb devices, i use external HD, my two phones and logitech mouse.

 

Definitely let Todd or Brad know about it, especially if you guys start a new thread. We want to solve any current or future problems a lot faster than we did the throttling issues. You have engineering's full, undivided attention, so take full advantage.

Vent issue to be addressed soon. Stay tuned. I saw the thread on it.

 

March 8. Firm and confirmed. Gospel. Book it. (If they miss that date, I'm gonna look like a moron. )

 

The throttling issue is closed. Maybe I'm out of touch, but shouldn't it throttle on battery to save power? I know it didn't before A07, and I doubt they added that "feature" with A07.

 

It is? I thought you mentioned something would happen for us RGB ppl...

 

Bipul, How did you manage to get the 130W PSU? I am getting a replacement 1645 after returning my old one.Did you buy it or did Tech support approve one for free?

 

Hello Bipul,

I am watching all forums both from Dell 2 direct and this one regarding throttling issue regarding 1645.

Now i think everything is fine, and i am planning to take one 1645 with configuration same as yours... can i go forward with it?

 

In my experience the system only throttles on battery when you unplug the cord. I assume it does this to save the battery as switching to battery under full load has proven to be very bad for the battery. If you give it s few seconds it slowly comes back up and runs unthrottled.

I have not seen any other scenario where it throttles on battery, and the on I describe above is there for safety reasons as it prevents the battery from being killed. You cannot (and should not) blame Dell for that.

 

yeah!! i'm also thinking on the same lines.... mine also throttles heavily on battery when i unplug the cord... nfs undercover fps goes down from 70-80 fps to 35-40.. half!! and my battery weared out 8% in 4 days (3 weeks back ) when i used my laptop to max performance on battery... however i give it minutes not seconds but my system's performance on battery doesn improve though....

 

Not so true. With an original 90w power adapter XPS 1645 does not drain as much/fast power as with 130w. So if you run at the battery it will still give you good battery life.

 

I thought there is somehting for the RGB users? No?

 

How is it closed does the meeting took place already and why the throttling issue even with 130w adapter and a07 bios were not addressed. Not to mention throttling issues on xps 1645 with RGB panel. Also laptop should throttle with the battery but as much as it is now.

It seems to me A07 bios optimization have reached its limit with 130w adapter. I don not think DELL will address vent issue at all and they hope it won't get as much attention as throttling and it won't go into effect because XPS 1645 is almost at end of cycle.

 

Ah yes. RGB customers. I was on a call where a senior engineering manager presented on this last night. Remember I said what I was hinting at might not be what you were expecting? What they are looking at is proactive AC adapter replacements for RGB customers. If you already have your 130W adapter, you will not be impacted. The reason they chose to to proactive for RGB customers and not WLED customers is because testing showed high bar performance with A07+90W+WLED was much closer, but not completely, up to goals. With A07+90W+RGB, we are way off goals. So, we want to make sure every RGB customer who may or may not be aware of the A07+130W adapter solution (as in they don't all read NBR) gets the solution.

 

I think it would be very naive if we expect Dell to knock our doors and tell us " let me replace your vent for you so you can get your money worth" Come on. The whole thing needs to be redesigned from scratch and like someone said i don't think the vent issue is going to be addressed. What might happen is they might release XPS 15/14 with a redesigned vent and an upgraded GPU and all the rest will be left in the dust. Good thing I have 2 years warranty in case some problems arise in the future
Just my 2 cents.

 

Hi Bill,

any news on the vent problem? the left bottom of my screen is still burning hot when I play games. I feel it produces more heat than my girlfriend's hair dryer. LOL.

 

Not exactly true insomuch as the vent issue is not being looked at. It absolutely is. We fixed it before on Studio XPS 1340. It could happen again.

 

Keep them crossed.

 

How was it fixed on 1340, and why was the laptop discontinued shortly after

 

I hope that it does, I feel like this machine could run so much cooler if the hot air wasn't getting trapped by the screen -_- I am also worried about air from a machine running from 60C-90C being blown on to my gorgeous RGBLED...that can't be good.

 

That's the spirit!

Not sure the product cycle has anything to do with the vent fix, but I won't say you're wrong. I just don't know. Someday, if the opportunity presents itself, I'll ask around...matter of fact, now you've done gone and got me all curious. I'm get up and go ask now. May not be able to share the info, but I'm really curious.

 

I have an anwer I can share. Due to certain design limitations of the 1340 chasis, we could not come up with a satisfactory offering for Arrandale+discreet graphics. We could do Arrandale+integrated graphics, but that's not the spot that system was ever intended to play in, so the decision was made to pull it. Basically, if we did not have an equivalent offering for Arrandale in the 134X series that we have in the 164X series, we did want to have the 1340 "lagging behind" the 164X offerings. We are working on a new 13" form factor that will have Arrandale+discreet graphics that you should see hit the market in the latter half of this year.

 

Damn.. latter half is way to long for some of us who are looking to get a new lappy sooner than that

 

Now with that being said how and when will the vent issue be addressed on XPS 1645. So far I don't see satisfactory solution for XPS 1645 RGB owners even though RGB screen was pulled off from DELL website long time ago.

Throttling issue not addressed adequately yet RGB oweners are left in the dark. I only hope XPS incoming model with will be more rigorously tested, perhaps DELL can hire couple gamers at final testing to avert mistakes from the past!

 

You need to contact The XPS Tech support. You need to tell them that even after installing the new BIOS, you still face the throttling issue. Ask them for the 130W Slim AC Adapter. Tell them that I am following up with Dell forum and NBR forum and I know some users from india who have got their 130W Adapter and returned their 90W Adapter. They will definitely send you one.

Ya sure. It works great now