**The Official Studio XPS 1645 Intel Core i7 "Owners Lounge"

Turbo mode, yey!
Ordered mine today too. EDD Dec. 3

 

Those are some fun numbers. It's a bummer that we probably never will see the coveted 2.8GHz clock speed without OC.

Now what would really make my day is being able to OC the base speed and turbo mode speeds, but obviously thats locked and unlikely.

 

Not that it means too terribly much, but those who wondered about the WEI (Windows Experience Index), here's what mine scores (see attached file for the pdf printout of the WEI, along with a description of my computer):

Processor: 6.9
Memory (RAM): 7.4
Graphics: 6.7
Gaming graphics: 6.7
Primary hard disk: 7.1

Highest possible score is 7.9 (1.0 being lowest). FWIW, that smokes one of my dual-core desktops w/ Win 7 (5.9, 5.9, 3.5, 3.3, and 5.9 comparatively).

 

See....I still don't understand why MS changed their mind. The stupid scale was supposed to scaleable! So a 5.9 would ALWAYS be a 5.9 and they'd just increase the maximum. Then they go do this.

My C2D E6600 @ 3.465GHz got 5.8 on the CPU in Vista, but I don't even know how that compares now.

~Ibrahim~

 

Hi Guys,

Just need a tip (I know this isn't the 'haven't got it yet thread' but I don't know who else to ask).

Like many, my order was cancelled and re-assigned new order no. on the day is was to be delivered (EDD), It is all due to the wifi card issue obviously - I was told it is now 'expedited' like everyone else. My question to owners who endured this and got past it, who to call, the Jaguar team? I should be compensated as my EDD passed Order 10/22 due 11/16 now 12/14 although they say 'expedited' they won't guarantee anything.

A) Did others really get it quicker after cancellation and new order #?
B) Who do I call to rant and rave to get some upgrade in ram or proc.

Thanks, hope I'm not hijacking the thread - just don't know where else to find info. When you call Dell it seems to be India or Mexico and they are robots, not capable of fixing/changing anything.

 

Order Status thread. Search for it.

A) Yes
B) Ha...wish I knew.

 

Who else having problems with their "Windows Navigation Start.wav" not producing sound through the 1645? I even deleted it and replaced it from my desktop, and it still won't play. I know some don't like the "clicks", but I for one do. All my other sounds are playing perfectly. I have the Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi MB, btw (#313-8546). You can find the system sounds under the C:\Windows\Media folder.

The only thing I've done is upgraded the graphics card to the latest ATI Beta one, FYI. I don't think this will have any bearing on it, however.

Edit: Okay, temporary reprieve. I had to "Disable Sound Blaster enhancements". WTH? Any suggestions on which of the enhancements to modify to get it to play right with them on?

Thanks!

 

Really weird little problem.

Having trouble playing back my DVDs, used the attached Power DVD, as well as PowerDvd 8 and 9.

Problem is that the Blu-Ray drive seems to just go mad every minute or so, start reading the disc, sounding like it has a bit of problem and then causing stuttering/skipping in the film.

Thing is though, that I can pause the film during this, let it play out and continue after without the skipping, so it's not the DVD.

Also I don't have this problem at all when it runs off battery instead of power supply!

I've updated drivers and messed around with the power options but to no avail. Anyone else found this?

120gb SSD/ Blu Ray player btw

*edit: oh and if I leave my computer completely idle it'll also try accessing the blu ray drive every minute or two, even though nothing at all is happening on my part.

 

Interesting, I scored the same except a 7.0 in processor, and 5.9 in hard disk (7200 RPM not SSD).

 

For you lucky folks with a 1645 ... if I may make a request ... can you create a signature and put your system details there. You can use my signature as an example ... sadly ... don't have it yet though ...

This way when you say I got "this score" or "that score" ... we can see specifically what you have ... and be able to compare apples to apples with someone who may post a different score ... make sense?

Thanks!

 

Got mine like 3 days back sorry couldn't review it instantly as I said guys but yea here it goes:

My processor is i7 720, Ram 4 gigs and surprisingly no bluetooth!?!?!? Talk about Canadian owner getting ripped off. My BIOS says Bluetooth is enabled but my system totally raped the presence of bluetooth. The good part about windows 7 in dell is that the windows edition made for dell is custom made for dell (like the OSX for mac hardware). The bad part is because of that I don't see any traces of bluetooth in my system. I even typed bluetooth in my search bar but no results. thats how bad it is for the Canadian system.(Thank you for treating Canadians like Dell -_-) The system does get pretty warm at times and I did experience windows crashes about 3 times today. Games perform really well. I could play CoD4 with everything maxed out. Very smooth gameplay. Overall from its predecessor, the 1645 is 35% faster. Dell did improve a little bit regarding heating issues. The palm rest gets warm now but the mousepad doesn't.
If you guys need anything please feel free to ask. I'm more than willing to help you guys out and anyone can you please assist me with this bluetooth problem. Either I ahve bluetooth but the disabled the hardware or there is no bluetooth. This is really bad because I thought bluetooth was included and its not that much for me to pay for the bluetooth. I'm very disappointed. Any Canadians having the same problem??

 

i thought all the canadian 1645's didn't include bluetooth, but i might be wrong. Anyway it's a simple DIY project if u wanna add bluetooth, i'm sure u can find how to somewhere in the forum.

 

Dell Canada says BT isn't compatible w/ Win7. But I've seen otherwise... just install it yourself since they don't want to.

 

Does that mean the computer comes with a bluetooth chip they just disable it?

 

No, bluetooth is enabled in the bios, but you actually don't have the bluetooth module inside the laptop itself. Figured that out when I opened and and installed one myself.

 

Casual864,
Could you point us in the right way.
Where to buy the bluetooth module ? How to Install it ? I guess the installation is a bit different for a XPS 1645 and a XPS 1640.
(Should we start a new thread for that ?)

 

Hopefully someone will confirm this but I believe if you search Ebay for a 'Dell 1370 bluetooth' you should find some for not a lot of money.

On a similar note can anyone confirm that if I purchase a 5300 wireless card that the laptop comes with the 3 aerial leads inside it as standard?

When I ordered mine I only had the option of the standard Dell b and g card.

Also bluetooth wasn't an option so I'll have to add that separately too.

 

Hi,

Regarding your Bluetooth concern I would first recomend you to simply call the techsupport. They will precisely tell you if you should have bluetooth or not and if and how you can activate it. Just give them a call.

Regarding your 3 system crashes... may I ask you where was your laptop at the time of those crashes ?
Was it on a flat and hard desk ? Or was it on you knies or on your bed ?
I'm interessted to know on which kind of surface it was.

Regards and thanks for reply

 

May i ask why is it important what surface was the laptop on when it crashed

 

You will not be given any BT module b/c the service reps have been told that BT isn't compatible w/ Win7, so there is no module installed. Go to eBay and search Dell 370 for the BT module. Go to Dell support and download the manual for simple instructions on installing it.

 

He is trying to see if it is heat related. Soft surfaces tend to block the airflow under the laptop. (at least that's what I think his intent was)

 

Cool. Thanks. Not that it is very important but it would be nice to have sometimes I think.

It looks like it just connects pretty easily by the look of the chip. Is there no soldering or anything needed?

 

Really? this sucks!

the main thing i hate about laptops is that the manufacturers think its ok to install a truckload of rubbish on there and for some reason that should be OK. i prefer to use drivers direct from the component manufacturers where possibly (eg drivers from ATI instead of Dell display drivers)...

does this mean that i cant do a clean windows 7 install? what cd key and windows 7 disk to they provide? a bespoke DELL one?

 

For those who already received the 1645is this possible to know what was in the box?

Regards.

 

No its not. Dell builds their own installers but the OS is the same as any other win7 install.

 

These days, the deal-breaker on laptops for me is the screen's black level.
Can anyone with the RGBLED comment on that?

I find a lot of laptop displays sacrifice good black levels for brightness. The newest Macbooks, however, have nice, inky blacks.

 

You can read through this thread for more details, but its my understanding that the display is a little lacking in blacks. However, work on tuning that display are still ongoing.

 

It's the Bluetooth 370, not 1370, BTW.

Dell 1645
Black cover (not a case)
Power adapter
Driver/applications CD + Windows Restore CD
Warranty Info Sheet
Windows 7 Info Sheet

Think that's it.

~Ibrahim~

 

As an alternative to the built in bluetooth, i am using a tiny external USB Bluetooth that i got from meritline for $2 shipped, it is available also on ebay. It works great on vista and 7.

 

Ah yes it is the 370 isn't it, sorry about that.

 

Laptop (has a protector sleeve seemingly made of alcantara [faux-suede, like what's in vehicles today]), charger, reinstallation software, and manuals. That's it (if you don't cound the packing slip on the outside ).

 

If one doesn't mind, would you mind testing this out on your system, as well? Basically, I need to know if you hear the "Windows Navigation Start.wav" (the traditional "click") when clicking on links and other various areas of Windows. If you do not, please uncheck your "Disable Sound Blaster enhancements" to see if the sound comes back.

Any and all little things like this needs to be reported to Dell.

 

I'm not sure if this relates to the problem and I'm also unaware if anyone else had these issues but:

When I first received the laptop and booted it up from factory presets, the sound was absolutely horrendous. I'm not sure if it's because of the Soundblaster software (many seem to be unware of this, but you don't actually receive a soundblaster card -- you receive enhancement software with a IDT High Def Audio card) or if it was just some weird settings.

Anyway, prior to actually using this machine and installing applications and games, I did a reformat of the machine, it had 3 partitions of which everything sans some minor things (dell icons, wallpapers, etc.) was already on the CD so I deleted those and did a clean install of windows 7.

The first thing I noticed was the sound was *much* better, and I didn't even have the sound blaster software installed. Because of this, I never bothered installing the software on this reformat.

Edit: This may not apply to you if you chose to upgrade your sound card upon choosing components (if this was an option).

 

Thanks Hayde, I appreciate your feedback. I look forward to others hopefully, too.

 

Can you take apicture of the protector sleeve please?

Yes, Creative Labs have some pretty crappy drivers...

 

YIKES! I powered up the beauty again today and found I also have a bad pixel on my RGBLED! 4" from the top left and 2" down. I went online and found that Dell will replace the LCD on this laptop if only 1 Bright Sub-Pixel is bad. See here:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?docid=150023

With that being said, I already spoke to a Dell online chat agent, and within 10 min of chat, start to finish, I have a new LCD on the way (said the repair tech should be calling me within 1 to 2 days). That's some excellent customer service!

 

I read that one person got dust behind the RGB screen and it was a problem that I read about in the 1640. Anyone else have this problem? I would like to take my laptop in the field and various other places and I am concerned about dust and other things getting stuck behind the screen. Can you clean it or have it serviced if it gets dirty or is this something you have to live with? I may try and go with a LCD to be safe.

 

[Post deleted to prevent spreading misinformation. It was blatantly wrong. You can read in the various people who quoted me below, if you so desire.]

 

Oh how wrong you are.

 

Exactelly. Often people are having crashes due to heat issue. But the heat issue is not due to a bad laptop but only because is is badly used.
Like for exemple a laptop sitting on a bed = no airflow anymore...

 

?
What did I miss?

 

It can still get dust behind the plastic even if new. There should be some kind of plastic border for the screen to avoid this though...

I'm still wondering how does dirt gets inside the protective plastic :S

 

Wrong. Where do you get your misinformation from?
Both Joker and had the "dust" under the glossy screen issue and we both had replacements sent. It was a known issue and these were factory brand new units. Got in during the manufacturing and was glaringly evident.

Guess what, you have the same screen and same plastic protective screen and I will bet that the same issue will arise with the 1640's. Not all, but some.

 

Just got mine 5 min ago. Now waiting for Dell to send me upgrade parts.

 

Waiting for you'r Review video !!!

 

HOLY CRAP, Fred.

We have the same birthday. Happy belated 19th!

~Ibrahim~

 

All right guys can some one please enlighten me as to how I can find an EPP coupon code for students.

I can't even build a comparabe system on the EPP site. In an earlier thread I read that the way to save big is not to use the EPP website, and rather to build your system and apply the EPP code upon checking out, and to use Bing for even more savings. Dell is all over the place on this, and won't give me the code.

Now I know this is a owners thread but as soon as I figure this out I'm going to buy this system, and save!

Also, anybody know about black friday deals?

 

For the people that already have it, do you think it's ok for carry it every day?

For example from home to office and office to home or to university, etc...

Thanks.

 

I have a messenger bag, and carried it around with the power cord and a notebook for a couple hours yesterday. It didn't bother me until the very end of the day. Overall, it seems pretty light.