Studio XPS 16 - Optimizing for Windows 7

I spent several dozen hours loading Windows 7 multiple times with multiple driver configurations while analyzing performance. I thought I would give back after finding this site a particularly helpful resource.

Hardware
Processor (T9800)
Memory (8GB DDR3): 8GB seems overkill and I would probably get similiar performance from 4GB
GPU (Radeon 4670)
Screen (1080P WLED): Good screen for those looking to save a few $$s from the RGBLED
Storage (Intel X25-M 160GB Gen2 SSD): This is a non-Dell upgrade. I cannot recommend this upgrade enough (see performance below). If you have the cash, it's a huge boost in the overall computing experience making a good laptop into an amazing laptop.
Media (Bluray RW): Video editing and burning blu-ray movies is a great use for this laptop
Wireless (Intel 5300, 370 Bluetooth)

Windows 7 Install
Pretty straight forward and I prefer a clean install in order to have complete control over the subsequent environment. Let Windows Update take care of your first set of drivers and you'll be 95% ready to go.

Note to any SSD owners, don't format or re-partition your drive if you want to see maximum performance. Also turn off defragmentation scheduling as an SSD doesn't need it. For more information see Anand's excellent SSD articles at anandtech.com. My testing showed no performance increase for any additional supposed SSD tweaks (i.e. turning off indexing, page files, etc.). After extensive testing, I recommend going with Windows defaults and benefiting from what these services give you. To be fair some of these tweaks are designed to maximize lifespan but I think they're unecessary (again see Anand's article). The SSD will also make you battery last longer and reduce your heat.

Finally, make sure you chose the "High Performance" power plan.

Drivers & Applications (thanks to member iaTa)
Intel Chipset Drivers v9.1.1.1015 (extract and use the -overide -overall switches when you run the actual setup file)
Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.9.0.1023
Dell Quickset Application, IDT Audio, & Latest BIOS
ATI Catalyst Display Driver v9.8: I DO NOT recommend this if performance is your primary concern. It took my WEI numbers down from 6.7 to 5.4 and degraded my 3DMark performance. Windows Update will recomend an optional ATI driver download which gives the better performance. If you do download the ATI drivers, you'll need mobility modder (important: follow directions on the site). [Update] Evidently some have not seen the performance degradation I saw with the ATI drivers - could be something unique to my config.

Start-up and Services
There is plenty of information about using the system configuration utility to modifiy and minimize start-up application bloat. Maybe it's because my abundance of memory but I did not see any benefit in the performance tests I ran in disabling start-up programs. I did make an exception to the IDT Audio drivers "Audio Service" based on threads I read here.

There is an excellent resource for the services Windows instantiates put out by Black Viper. However, after tweaking all services to his recomendations I saw zero impact on application performance, benchmarks, or re-boot times. Again, maybe it's the abundance of memory I have available.

Benchmarks
Windows reboot time: 30 seconds
3DMark06: 6851
Windows Experience Index: 6.5 Overall (6.5 Proc, 6.5 Mem, 6.7 Aero, 6.7 GPU Gaming, 7.6 Hard Drive)
ATTO Benchmarks: 90 MB/s Peak Sustained Write, 270 MB/s Peak Sustained Read
Pinnacle Studio 12 load time: 11 Seconds
AVCHD to BluRay standard HD lossless 1080i encoding: 3 to 1 (3 minutes encoding for 1 minute HD video)

 

Props for the post ! I wish there was a similar one to the XPS 1340 (Since I got that one !) Does the XPS 1640 got official Dell Windows 7 drivers ?

 

Hmmm...I wasn't aware there was a "good" way to format an SSD drive...will nened to look into that.

Incidently, the latest BIOS on the Dell downloads site is A08, but my new one came with A10.

 

There are optimal ways to format (reset the NANDs) SSDs. The best way seems to be a "Secure Erase" using the HDDErase tool. It requires Legacy IDE Mode to be set from the BIOS in order to recognize the drive in boot up. Unfortunately the Dell BIOS does not support this. I tried everything including all kinds of alternative boot disks but could not get it to work on the XPS 16. Maybe this new A10 BIOS when it finally posts...

If anyone gets Secure Erase to work, let me know. The good news is it will soon be irrelevant when Intel releases its new TRIM support firmware in October. With TRIM support, Windows can instruct the SSD which cells have been erased by the operating system and are available to be reset by the firmware. Currently (in a simplified explanation) any cell that you've previously written to even if it has been erased by the operating system (thus not truly erased/reset) will take longer to fill in subsequent writes. This is because in SSDs the drive needs to remove/reset old data before writing new data. This is why SSDs degrade in write performance over time since previously used cells need this extra step. Fortunately this degradation is one-time (it does not keep keep getting worse) and only about 10%-20% in writes. TRIM is supposed to basically fix this. For a much better explanation than mine, see Anand's article.

It will be intersting to see what affect TRIM support will have on traditional file recovery techniques. If I understand the process correctly it should render traditional file recovery programs for accidentally erased data inoperative. The upside is if you're doing naughty things (none of us of course) on your PC, it should cover your tracks

 

Thanks for the info...

I just checked my A10 BIOS. There's nothing in there to let you use IDe mode. Only options are to change SATA mode to ATA or AHCI.

So since we can't do this, there's no other way to efficiently format the drive?

I formatted mine using Windows 7 setup, so does that mean it's not going to perform as well as it should?

You say Intel will be releasing this TRIm firmware, but the Dell SSDs are Samsung...?

ALso just noticed you say the ATi catalyst drivers actually gave you a performance decrease? The Windows driver is the best for performance? Seems very strange. I'm using the ATi Mobility drivers from the ATi website and get 6.7 in WEI.

 

Yes you will lose some write performance with a Windows 7 format. An alternative to a secure erase in HDDErase is to use MHDD. Use the "Erase /DISABLEBIOS" command. However, I did not seem to recover my original WEI 7.8, ATTO Peak Write 100 MB/s performance with MHDD though so may not be worth it. Before knowing better, I stupidly formatted and did a CCleaner wipe. Both are the exact wrong things to do with a new SSD. No matter though since TRIM support in October should make all better.

Maybe I should retry the ATI drivers based on your experience. Given that the Windows Update drivers are giving me 6.7 WEI and 6851 3DMark06 all I'm really losing in the Catalyst Control Panel. However, I hate giving others poor advice if it's some anomoly only I experienced.

I didn't buy a Dell SSD as the Samsungs seemed to be reviewed inferior. Instead I bought Intel X25-M Gen2 SSD 160GB and installed it myself (easy). In general Intels first, then OCZ, then Samsung in most reviews. Intel Gen2 have come down in price with 34 nm technology. Anyone thinking of buying make sure they get the gen2 drives. Only gen2 will support TRIM.

 

I tried installing the latest ATI Catalyst drivers again but they continue to nerf my system (YMMV).

With ATI 9.8 Drivers / Without 9.8 ATI Drivers (Windows Update ATI Drivers)

 

I have a big question. My WEI rates me at a 5.9 overall (graphics = 5.9) on Windows 7. I uninstalled the ATI Catalyst Center and the funny thing is, its still on my system bar and same rating of course. Can you help me troubleshoot and get this higher score that you are all achieving?

 

Make sure you uninstall everything ATI. THEN, do a Windows Update to ensure you have the latest drivers from there (it will be an optional update and still be ATI drivers only version 8.632.1.2 instead of version 8.640.0.0). You should get something near 6.7 for both graphics benchmarks. If you get that far, try running 3DMark06 and let us know. This is all assuming you have the 4670 card of course.

 

Yes I have the 4670. The thing is, when I go to control panel there is no way to uninstall ATI even though CCC is running. Do you have MSN Messenger? If so can you send me your info so we can chat? Thanks!

 

I don't have messenger on this machine yet. However, do this. Try reinstalling the catalyst 9.8 drivers (using mobility modder and the online instructions). You'll then have the ability to uninstall through the control panel. Make sure during the uninstall you do a full uninstall of everything ATI (CCC, drivers, etc.). The hit Windows update to make sure all optional packs are installed. Let us know.

 

Do we need mobility modder? http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-64.aspx Isnt that for the mobile version anyways? I installed this in the past directly.

 

I tried the Mobility drivers and desktop drivers (using modder) and there was no difference between the two:

 

WEI graphics performance under Windows 7 x64 bugs me ALOT:
I have a Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M that gets ~12K in 3dMark06 (even more in XP) and yet the rating is just 5.9 as in Vista x64. It may be a 64 bit issue, I don't know.

 

Still scotsman and I are getting 6.7 graphics WEI with the Radeon 4670 (though I have to use older drivers). I'm curious what happens when Ioha gets his uninstall issues sorted out. Of course this is Windows 7, not Vista.

 

Can't hurt to use it given the problems you've been having. Also, the link you provided is for a beta version. Use the links I provided in the first post for the reinstall and mobility modder. If you're using anything but the Windows 7 7600 version (check "system information"), I may not be able to help. Everything I've learned is on this release version.

 

Try using Guru3D Driver Sweeper, boot in safe mode by tapping F8 until advanced boot options screen appears. Run the Driver Sweeper and remove all ATI-Display leftovers.
I always use it before installing new drivers or reinstalling.

 

I just ran a WEI and its still 5.9. The driver version for the 4670 is 8.632.1.2000. I am a bit bummed. Here is a picture:

 

I am on Windows 7 RC (7100), maybe that has something to do with it? Who knows :C

 

Bingo! Either that or the slower processor (less likely). Still, you have a well-balanced system at least from a WEI perspective.

 

Sorry for the confusion, I am bugged by the 5.9 graphics rating under Windows 7 Of course, a 5.9 rating under Vista is no problem ...

 

Hey, first let me say thanks for this great tread!

Just wanted to inform you that there are new Intel Chipset drivers version "9.1.1.1019" available.

Download Link