** The Official Studio XPS 1640/45/47 replacement thread **

They didnt have any specs yet but were just calling to let me know that I was upgraded from the SXPS to the XPS 15. Hoping for i7 with 435 wince i5/435 combo doesnt exist! Backlit keyboard and bluetooth are also a must. As soon as I can see specs I'll update.

 

Ok I was able to get an order number but no details earlier. Logged into XPS SALES Support tonight and they send over an email like you would get if you placed an order normally. Here are the specs..I can't think of anything I'd expect more from them
I deleted the unnecessary info
Essentially XPS 15 with 9Cell, i740/435M, 4gb ram, 1080 screen, Windows Ultimate, Backlit, Bluetooth

No ship date yet, will update when I get more info

1 224-9506 XPS L501X
1 312-1114 92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1 317-5418 Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz / up to SC 2.93 GHz, 6M
1 317-5422 4GB,DDR3,2 DIMM
1 318-0138 JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
1 318-0151 Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo
1 320-1669 NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 2GB graphics
1 320-1673 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X
1 331-0481 Backlit Keyboard (Internal) - English
1 342-1682 500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
1 421-1365 Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit, English
1 430-3891 Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
1 430-3894 Dell Bluetooth 3.0

 

These are the same specs as ours is SUPPOSED to be, except 8gb RAM. However, for some reason, they cancelled the order and a new one appeared with the non-HD screen Windows 7 Home...no idea why, but we phoned back and they told us, too bad, it's already in production and they can't cancel it so they'll have to ship the correct parts out later.

Man, this has been an exercise in patience...at least 10 calls to get to this point and it's still messed up. It's coming up on a year with the 1645 and we've still never been able to use the laptop for games/photo editing.

 

I'm ok with them mailing out the needed items as long I get that screen/i7/435 combo. I have BluRay on my SXPS and have not once used it so either way is fine with me there. Any available HDD they off is ok. Bluetooth and Backlit is a must for me also.

 

Hmm if they are replacing our 1645's with the xps 15, are they obligated to offer at least the same specs as our replacement or our original notebook?

 

They sure are. Check my sig, each of my 4 replacements has been better than the last and MUCH better than my $500 XPS 1530 from 2 years ago.

 

Hey guys ive had a ty time with dell since i purchased my xps 1645 last march. I wont go into too much detail but prob i was having was when battery went under 25 % the screen went blank and that problem started after had got it fixed?? first prob was when i pluggen in power adapter when battery below 25% my rgb screen would turn green red or blue so basically they made my prob worse. The second time they took it back they changed display and put in the wled after i had previously payed for the rgb. Funny thing is with the wled the problem did not occur so in other words they put in the wled hoping i would not notice. Anyway they sent tech out next day and put rgb back in and problem was back again. Now my laptop has been sent back to dell nearly a month ago i rang them last week and they said they were waiting for parts so i waited and rang them again they said they would ring me back yesterday but did not and then i got a phone call today. The guy said the laptop was beyond repair and that we would need to come to an alternative arrangement or replacement. I asked him what arrangement and he just said they would call me back tommorrow.

What do you guys think they will offer me and what should i push for. I really loved the laptop and one of the biggest reasons for buying it was the rgbled which is really beautiful. Im from ireland and the xps16 is still for sale here and the rgb is still an option. My specs are in my sig.
Cheers

 

Well I got an update from a representative today and the specs of my 1645 replacement are:

1 224-9506 XPS L501X
1 310-0173 Airborne Documentation, System Exchanges,Factory Install
1 312-1114 92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1 317-5418 Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz / up to SC 2.93 GHz, 6M
1 317-5423 6GB,DDR3,2 DIMM
1 318-0138 JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
1 318-0151 Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
1 318-0152 Metalloid Aluminum (WLAN) L501X
1 318-0237 Power DVD 9.6 with 3D, Factory Install
1 320-1669 NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 2GB graphics
1 320-1673 15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X
1 330-6222 Windows 7 Label
1 331-0481 Backlit Keyboard (Internal) - English
1 331-0483 Resource DVD L501X
1 342-1683 640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
1 410-0488 Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student, English
1 410-1883 Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 Multi-Language
1 410-2461 MCAFEE PEARL MUI,30DAY,Without Media
1 412-0360 Soft Contracts - Banctec
1 420-6436 PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 420-6576 DELL WELCOME,Software Dimension/Inspiron
1 420-7938 Dell Connect 2.1
1 420-9100 Dell Dock Consumer
1 420-9518 DATASAFE ONLINE 1.1 2GB
1 420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp
1 420-9876 Cozi-Calendar
1 421-0092 DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1 421-0323 Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface
1 421-0757 Skype VOIP Application
1 421-1193 Download Store Links
1 421-1362 Dell Software,Roxio 1.0
1 421-1737 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
1 421-2086 eBay Webslice
1 421-2119 Adobe Photoshop Elements/ Premier Elements 8.0
1 421-3874 Camera Software 2.X, Factory Install
1 421-4060 Fast Access Facial Recognition 3.0 SW Application
1 421-4118 WHITEPAGES.COM,Webslice
1 421-4289 Dell Support Center Software 3.0
1 421-4600 Recovery DVD for Windows 7 Home Premium OS, 64bit, English
1 430-2600 Integrated 10/100 Network Card
1 430-3889 Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
1 430-3894 Dell Bluetooth 3.0
1 464-7384 Exchange

Basically:

Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz / up to SC 2.93 GHz, 6M
92 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
6GB,DDR3,2 DIMM
Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 435M 2GB graphics
15.6FHD TLF LCD L501X
Backlit Keyboard (Internal) - English
640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
Dell Bluetooth 3.0

Downgrades from previous replacement are

8gb -> 6gb ram
Intel 6200 N card -> wireless-n 1000

Since it is already in production, would it be possible to ask for these back?

 

Sure thing, most likely they will say that they can't halt production. Tell them its not a problem and take a post delivery solution. Have them send a tech out to replace the parts or send the parts and you can do it yourself if comfortable.

 

Oy correction I have the 5300 wireless card, how does that one compare to the 1000?

 

anyone? Im itching to ring dell back now cos i know they wont contact me

 

That some upgrades are still an option in the internet doesn't mean that they are really available. If you order a Studio XPS it can happen that that thing goes in production and after 1 - 2 weeks they notice they don't have all the needed parts and cancel it. (That is what my sales agent told me here in Germany. We still have got all the upgrade option for the SXPS too)

I would go for the XPS 15 in your case. It's at least comparable to your SXPS 16 imo.
I hope this heps a bit...

 

Cheers for the reply man. I see some people here are getting the xps 15 but to be honest i really dont like the look of them i think they look cheap compared to the xps16 and also as far as i can see they dont have firewire which is a must for me because i would be using this machine for recording through a firewire audio interface and the b+rgled screen on the 15 is not near as good as the rgbled on the 16. The 15 has 95% color gamut compared to the 16s 125%. Im so disappointed because i really loved the xps16 and dont feel i would be near as happy with the xps15 even with the better specs

 

I can completely understand you.
You can try to get one of those SXPS 16 with the RGBLED panel. but I can only dissuade. The Delivery of the new ones is allready delayed and I wouldn't be willing to wait 2 more weeks just to hear from dell that the ordered pc is not available anymore.
And about the display no one can hardly tell how good it actually is before the real first review is published. According to dell technicians it features improved technology in contrast to the old RGB screen. They say that they have a better and more true-to-life colour reproduction. (Which is not a bad thing according to some users who were experiencing RGB panels which had a red cast.)

 

Ya your probably right. I can put up with the screen end even the new design as long as they make it worth my while ((good upgrades) but the firewire will be a big issue because i got this laptop for recording is there any way i can get around this with the xps15

 

I hope that I'm right I actually wanted to order a SXPS 16 in the middle of October. Just before my sells agent told me about the new XPS models and that I should better wait for the new ones... I wanted the SXPS 16 with the RGB screen too and I hoped that the XPS 15 will get the same screen. But after I've read some more reviews of the old screen I'm hoping that the new technology really is an improvement over the old one and holds up to dell's promise

with your firewire problem. I am not sure but maybe there is an adapter for that with the USB 3.0. I had the same problem 3 years ago with my old desktop pc (also used for recording) and I've bought an external sound card to solve this problem.

 

Ha i really dont listen to dells promises anymore. They have let me down too many times and treated me like a complete idiot. Im no expert with computers but i know enough so i wont get ripped off.

As for the external sound card are they expensive? I payed 300 for the interface already and really dont want to spend much more im far from a professional musician .

 

No, they are not highly expensive maybe around 100€
But I can't find a single one with firewire ports.

For what do you use that firerwire port in generall?

 

Well i just use it with the focusrite pro24 for recording guitar and vocals thats all really. Theres no way im buying a different interface i really like the one i have. I know i could get a usb interface but then the focusrite is left unused.

As you said maby theres some kind of firewire adapter for the usb 3.0 but i dont think there is im going to google that now actually. So have you ordered the xps 15 or do you already have it?

 

I have ordered it last week. Unfortunately because of the high demand for these things here in Germany my EDD is 3rd of December I hope it arrives early and maybe 1 or 2 weeks ahead of the sheduled date.

 

I dont mean to upset you but i seriously doubt you will recieve your system early. When i orderd the xps16 i was waiting over six weeks despite the estimated delivery date of 3 weeks. I really hate waiting on things it drives me crazy Hopefully you will not have to wait as long as me

 

Oh that really would not be acceptable. They adviced me to order early so I will get my system by the end of november. If it's not the case I will claim damages. I mean I've paid for something that I don't treceive in 5 weeks. That can't be right...

 

I would be very surprised if it reached you by the edd especially if they are in such high demand. I dont think theres much you can do because they will probably just blame it on the delivery company. Im curious how would you claim damage?

 

honestly I am not really sure whether that is actually possible.. But I don't think that it's right to get someone's money and don't render a service in return. I think it's farily unilaterally.

 

I know what u mean. Welcome to dell

 

Yes I know that this is how Dell works. But in the past and I can't rememeber waiting longer than 14 working days for a pc.
But things have changed

 

Its a great card with 3 antenna's I believe. Great coverage with good range and speed. I believe 450mbs speed

 

Which one? the N1000? Got the same in my ordered XPS 15 and i'm curious too. On Intel's Website I can hardly make out a difference between the ones Del is offering.

 

No the 5300. You will be happy with the 5300

 

Just got off the phone with dell there sending me a new xps16 same config but with a 2gb ram upgrade. Jesus that is just so bloody miserable i said to them that 2gb ram means nothing to me could they not upgrade the cpu or something instead but they refused they said 2gb ram upgrade was the maximum they were allowed. ill be waiting another 12 days for this system to be delivered (so they say) i wont hold my breath. Three months without a laptop altogether due to faults and i have only had the machine for 7 months And he said it will definetely be the rgb screen i will get. Does anyone know when i should get the order and spec list and will i even notice the 2gb ram upgrade

 

If everything goes fine wih your order you are lucky but I'm crossing my fingers for you.
I think the order and spec list should arrive maybe today or tomorrow.
But if you notice the differemce between 4 and 6 GB RAM depends on the Software you use.
My XPS will be packing 4 GB and that'll suite me just fine. Nevertheless I am upgrading it afterwards to 8 GB. You can't have enough memory.

 

Going from 4gb to 6gb is not something you will really notice. If you multitask a lot then MAYBE a small bump. a 5730, better processor, HDD, etc would be a better upgrade IMO

 

Ya i know i would really like the 5730 but its not even an option here in ireland. They would not agree to anything other than a ram upgrade should i have agreed to this or should i have refused. Im not trying to bleed dell but they really do owe me something better imo i will have been 3 months without a laptop due to the faults with the system i was going to ask for ssd but after asking for cpu upgrade with no luck i didnt bother

 

Ya i really dont think the extra memory is going to make any difference to me and like i said to you i will be shocked if i get the new system in 12 days

 

No that's right. Like the post above. A better graphics card or a better processor or a ssd would be more of a bump up for you but not 2 more GB of RAM.
Do you've got an EDD already?

 

It was just the cheapest option for them i guess. I didnt get email with edd or anything the sales guy said should take only take 12 days because its a like for like replacement. But then i asked him when i will recieve the order confirmation and spec list and he said end of next week because they need to have the authorised first i then said how would i have it in 12 days if the order wont even be authorised till the end of next week. He just insisted it would only take 12 days. Ya bloody right

 

It's always this way. They never really listen to you and then don't know what you mean. This is why this kind of errors occure.

 

Amen to that they have not got a bloody clue

 

If i experienced problems with the new system they are sending me how would i go about a refund. I bought this system on finance (still paying for it) so im guessing it would not be very straight forward. Im hoping i wont have to but hey i just dont have much faith in dell anymore. I really wish someone with xps 16 with similar config to mine could run a few tests for me to see if the problem im having is common with the xps16 becauise i have not come across anyone else with my problem before

 

Being offered this computer below for my current system.


The hard drive will be a 256 SSD and the network card will be the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6250 AGN w/ WiMax.

Should I accept this?

 

Yes you most definetely should take that replacement as long as your ok with the design. An ssd and 8gb ram alone is great never mind gpu upgrade. I would have been thrilled with this if it had been offered. I did not want the xps 15 because no firewire so all i got was a miserable 2gb ram upgrade. Did you have to argue for all them upgraded or did they just giv them to you

 

Actually man can you tell me how long it took them to email you the specification list? They just told me today im getting the replacement and im eager to make sure the rgb is on the spec list

 

After they said they couldn't replace my 1645 with a xps 15, they decided to do so anyway. A phone call came saying that I will be receiving an email tomorrow about the spec's and they'd like me to confirm it. Surely, it came and here I am today.

 

I don't really know what the design of the XPS 15 is, but if its not a SXPS 1645, then it must be an upgrade. Dumb vent is blocked when I open the monitor, a hinge is skewed left and the whole thing feels like cheap plastic.

 

Im getting another sxps1645 i personally think its a beautiful looking machine i agree with you about the vent it is positioned very badly i dont see why they couldnt have put it on the side and put the ports on the back it would be a perfect laptop. I think the new xps15 looks a bit cheap but the config is great. If they had offered me the system they are giving you i think i would have taken it i would just have to do without the firewire. Did you have to argue for them specs or did they just offer them to you? I feel a bit let down by dell after seeing what you got for your troubles. By the end of all this i will have been without my laptop for 3 months and ive only had it seven months

 

I didn't really argue. The notes must have "be nice to him" written down

 

Ya well they must have had "make him beg and give him as little as possible" written in my notes. First he said would you like a replacement a differenre make of system or an upgraded system. I aid an upgraded system but im not paying anything more than i payed for the first one. 2 F**KING gb of ram. If the next system has anything wrong with it there will be hell to pay

 

does anyone know if the studio xps 1640 can run without a heat sink? dell replace my mother board but sent the wrong heatsink.. i have the ati mobility 4650 1GB board and the heatsink was for the mobility 3650 512mb

i tried to boot it up but it immediately shuts down... dell will replace it but i really needed access to my machine tonight! any help would be much appreciated.

are there any senors that recognize no heatsink and shuts off?

PS.. i have a cooling pad to avoid damage to the processor...just need to access my machine for about 20mins or so.

 

Surely not recommended! Could cause permanent damage!

 

i dont care if it gets damage.. it is being returned to dell...they have done 6 home visits and decided to replace it with a new XPS 17... i just need access to it temporarily while i get my new system in a few weeks. got valuable data on the drive that i need to access within this week.