Top 10 Questions about the M1530

Top 10 (now 20) questions about the M1530


Since we seem to be answering the same questions over and over I put this list together to hopefully help minimizing this problem. There are not listed in any particular order...


1. What LCD panel is Dell using in the M1530?

There’s currently 5 type of LCD panels available on the M1530. There might be other models but so far this is what I have found.

1920x1200 - WUXGA
Samsung SEC3255 - Dell P/N: U450C

1680x1050 - WSXGA+ (200 nits)
LG Philips LPLF300 - Dell P/N: XK309
LG Philips LPL010F - Dell P/N: DW306
Samsung SEC3350 - Dell P/N: X167G
Samsung SEC3350 - Dell P/N: RW985
Samsung SEC3350 - Dell P/N: XR860

1440x900 - WXGA+ (250 nits)
AU Optronics AUO2077 - Dell P/N: GU429
AU Optronics AOU2077 - Dell P/N: XX726
Samsung SEC3157 - Dell P/N: X174G
Samsung SEC3157 - Dell P/N: W345C
LG Philips LPLDF00 - Dell P/N: XP059
LG Philips LPLDF00 - Dell P/N: KR515

1440x900 - WXGA+ LED (300 nits)
CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS CMO15555 - Dell P/N: FX313

1280x800 - WXGA (220 nits)
Samsung SEC3358- Dell P/N: RP636
Samsung UNKNWN- Dell P/N: W656G
AU Optronics AUO2374 - Dell P/N: C931C
LG Philips LPL0301 - Dell P/N: NU763
CPT Chunghwa CPT141F - Dell P/N: TM121

To find out which LCD panel is installed in your M1530 do the following:

In Device Manager expand Monitors and double-click on Generic PnP Monitor. Click on the Details Tab and change the Property box to Hardware Ids.


2. What’s that grainy screen everybody is talking about?

Lithus wrote the Grainy Screen FAQ and he explains it better than I could.

There's also the How do I fix my m1530 Grainy Screen? thread which is quite lengthy to read.


3. How do I make sure I get a LG LCD when I order my M1530?

You can’t! You can sweet talk the CSRs all you want and request they put a note on your order. Your M1530 will be kitted at one of the few assembly plants Dell uses to manufacture the M1530 and they will use whatever is on the shelf at the time your order is processed. If the planets are properly aligned you will get a LG panel.

Here's a link to Here is How Dell Notebooks Are Made Step By Step. A very good insight at how Dell notebooks are produced from ordering to delivery.

Here's a link to a photo story 'Inside Dell's Irish build-to-order factory'. From parts to PC in four hours flat.... Very good story with great pictures documenting the manufacturing process.


4. I have a Samsung and it look fines to me, should I bother getting a LG?

If you’re happy with your display that's all that counts and the answer is no. Not all Samsung panels are bad, in fact many have reported being highly satisfied with the Samsung panel in their M1530.


5. I don’t have sound when I use HDMI to connect to my LCD TV. What's wrong?

Right click on the sound icon in the system tray, Select playback devices, Select HDMI and click the Set default button.


6. Can I overclock my M1530?

Yes, there’s many threads already covering this. BEWARE, overclocking could permanently damage your very expensive laptop and depending on the warranty you purchased you could be without a laptop for a while.


7. Which Wireless-N Card should I get with M1530?

The Intel Wireless-N card is recommended as many have reported poor reception using the Dell 1505 Wireless-N card. Also the Intel Wireless-N chipset seems to be able to achieve better throughput with more Wireless-N routers than the Dell 1505.


8. My M1530 Keyboard has a bulge, is that normal?

Yes and No. The keyboard bulge seems to be a chronic problem on the M1530 and the M1330. This is caused by cables that have been improperly laid out under the keyboard. If you’re comfortable with removing your keyboard then you can correct this yourself by following the instructions in the Service Manual. If you have on site warranty you can get Dell to send a technician to fix this.


9. My M1530 arrived and it has scratches/bumps/broken parts/whatever. What should I do?

Call Dell and arrange for a replacement to be shipped to you. You just paid a lot of money for a ‘New’ laptop and it should arrive looking new. If Dell QC missed this then you have to ask yourself what else they missed. Some will recommend getting Dell to send a Technician to replace the faulty parts which is also an option.


10. I really want to get my LCD replaced with a LG. What should I do?

It can be done. It requires time, perseverance and patience. You must be ready to have a technician take your laptop apart to replace the LCD. You must also be willing to return your laptop multiple times if needed.

BertieW wrote the How to get an LG screen: Thread Summary that explains what works and what doesn't when attempting to secure a LG panel.


11. Can I install Windows Vista 64-bit on my M1530?

It can be done. It will require you to wipe out your existing installation so make sure to backup whatever data you have on your laptop before going ahead with such project.

XPSWORM wrote the Windows Vista 64bit on XPS1530 guide. Please read it before attempting to install Vista 64-bit on your M1530.


12. Where can I find drivers for my M1530?

The Dell web site would have the drivers. And there's a list with links in the **Official Dell XPS M1530 Manuals, Drivers & Utilities** thread which is maintained by sinstoic.


13. Can I upgrade my M1530 to Windows XP?

Yes you can. It will require you to wipe out your existing installation so make sure to backup whatever data you have on your laptop before going ahead with such project.

Here's a link to the Step-by-step guide for installing Windows XP on XPS M1530 created by bmp41083.


14. Why do I get a tingling sensation when I rest my hands on the palm wrest?

On some M1530 there seem to be an issue with grounding caused by the AC Adapter.
This results with a small build up of static electricity in the the laptop which can cause tiny shocks or tingling when resting you hands on the palm wrest. If you are experiencing this contact Dell Support and arrange for then to replace your 2 prong AC Adapter with a 3 prong AC Adapter (grounded).

More information is available in the Dell XPS 1530 Shocking Users thread.


15. Is the M1530 a *Gaming* system?

The XPS M1530 when ordered with the 8600M GT video card is a decent gaming machine. You should be able to play just about any game out there without problems provided you don't expect to play them with all settings set to maximum.

I play HL2 and COD4 regularly on mime and it's great.

Have a look at the M1530 PERFORMANCE TEST - 9 Games with ingame pics thread for more information.


16. What are the normal GPU and CPU temps for a stock M1530?

Modern CPU and GPU have a high heat threshold and are very unlikely to be affected by normal temperature variation. The normal operating temperature of your M1530 can vary greatly based on a few factors. Ambient temperature, airflow and heat transfer can seriously affect the temperature of internal components.

My T7700 and 8600 both over around 55 Celsius and will reach high 70s in games. The T7700 has a thermal specification of 100 Celsius so my temps are well below that. Again depending on the factors previously mentioned your temps may vary from mine with an identical system.

There are many utilities out there than can be used to monitor your system's temperatures. Here's links to 2 popular ones, PC Wizard 2008 and I8kfanGUI.

17. How can I fix the uneven base of my M1530?

The uneven base has been reported on both the M1530 and M1330. Your first option should be to contact Dell support to arrange a replacement.

In case you do not want to replace the whole base here a simple fix.

Warning: The instructions below are supplied without any warranty whatsoever. By attempting this procedure you agree to be solely responsible for any damages to your laptop and/or anything else.

Put the laptop on a flat base. Put a Dime (10 cents) under one of the 2 pads that are always touching the surface. So if the upper right corner to the lower left corner is uneven put the Dime under the upper left pad. Apply a gentle downward pressure simultaneously to the upper right corner and lower left corner until the 2 corners are touching the surface. remove the dime and it base should be even.

Notice I said to use a Dime. You can start with that and if that doesn't work you can try a Quarter (25 cents). I would not try anything thicker.

18. What accessories should I expect with my M1530?

The standard XPS branded accessories shipped with the M1530 are a sleeve (case), remote control, leather CD case, headphones and cleaning cloth. This is what I received with my M1530. In recent months many have reported not receiving all accessories with their M1530. The reason for this is still unclear and if you are a victim of the random accessories distribution contact Dell and request them. If Dell is unable to supply you with the missing accessories you should be able to get some sort of compensation like a coupon to use on your next purchase.

The Dell XPS Accessories thread contains some good information on what to expect if you are missing accessories.


19. What's the maximum memory supported by the M1530?

The offical maximum memory supported by the M1530 is 4GB. As of BIOS A11 the actual maximum is 8GB. You will need a 64bit OS to take advantage of this.

At this tie g.skill is the only manufacturer with 4GBmodule that are affordable. You can find them at your nearest online retailer.


20. Should I be worried about the faulty NVIDIA GPUs issue?

Not really. The problem is with a weak die/packaging material which GPU temperature fluctuation could cause to fail overtime. Dell has acknowledged the problem and has decided to extend all warranties by 12 months to a maximum of 60 months. So if like me your M1530 has a 3 year warranty you now have 4 years, 3 years of full coverage and 1 additional year covering only the GPU. So the 12 months extension is only to cover GPU failures.

Here's a link to the which explains the issue and the side effects.

Here's a link to the NVIDIA GPU Update: Limited Warranty Enhancement Details announcement.


And finally, the Search function is your best friend.

Edits are alway in red...

 

Lithus. L-I-T-H-U-S. One "I".

Though it is a made up word, so I don't blame you. Actually, I still do.

 

Corrected...

 

Dell added LED WXGA+ display option to the XPS M1530 line-up - currently available from the small business section of the dell US website (not sure about the rest of the world).

 

Can we get this pinned?

EDIT: Might want to add something about installing Vista 64 for users that want to.

http://loytty.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!D38B786E8EA7A572!36893.entry

 

Anyone have XPS screen made by CPT Chunghwa? I have yet to receive my laptop and would gladly appreciate your input.

 

Mine's a CPT and I don't see any issues really. It actually looks quite nice!

 

I'll add a mention of this panel later and once we have the part number(s) I'll add it to the chart. Thanks for mentionning it.

I'll add that as well as something about the headphone jack issue later this evening. Thanks!

 

Is the default 1280x800 screen for the XPS M1530 good enough?

 

Good enough for eating? No, I don't think that should be part of your daily diet.

 

Why not? It could contain nutritious grains.

However I digress. This thread is starting to get off-topic. We should try to keep it to the facts as laid out in post #1.

My 1680x1050 screen is a Samsung (non-grainy variety I might add) and has a different p/n & code. I'll provide these when I get home and check.

 

Great! Send the info over and I'll update the chart.

Thanks

 

Info about the LED WSXGA LCD and Vista 64-bit has been added.

 

1680x1050
Samsung SEC3350 P/N XR860

 

Thanks, can you the the hardware id from device manager?

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I finally managed to get on to the XPS Technical Support Manager (Daniel) and he said the Samsung SEC3350 (RW985) is actually a WLED screen where the others were not? That doesn't seem right to me at all as they have only just released the WLED screens to small buisness in the US but when I raised my concerns he said he was sure that it was a WLED and that is why they are not very bright compared to the LG which is a TFT.

Is that right? I was sure the screen was a TFT, I've only seen two WLED's and they were both far better than this screen.

 

The SEC3350 is WSXGA+ 1680x1050 and it's not LED. The only LED LCD they offer on the M1530 is WXGA+ 1440x900.


I guess Daniel needs to bruch up on the XPS line...

 

whoops, forgot I'd already posted that and put it in the 160 page thread too.

Dell are just dodgy as hell, I was constantly given different stories and then finally told that the screen I have is actually better than the others because the RW985 is actually a WLED even after I protested and said I was sure it wasn't. After two hours I finally gave in and he was willing to approve a technical refund and forward me to customer service - they tried to charge me ~$160 restock fee initially.

That's ~16 hours of my time over two weeks wasted for no gain. Hard times.

 

1280x800
CPT "Chungwa"
Model #- CPT141F
Looks great.

 

Thanks,

Info updated and a few more Q&A added.

 

Great thread. I found it very useful. +Rep

 

Thanks! Glad it helped.

 

Thanks for this FAQ.

Not all M1530's are made in Malaysia. In fact, here in Europe they are assembled either in Ireland or in Poland.

 

7. Which Wireless Card should I get with M1530?

The Intel N card is recommended as many have reported poor reception using the Dell WIFI card.


is the Intel card made by broadcom? i had one sent out and it only had 2x aerial connections on it, when my laptop has 3 wires...?

 

I knew about the Ireland location but this is the first I hear about Poland. Anyone has a press release or link?

 

I'm quite sure the Intel wireless cards use Intel chips but if anyone has more information please let me know.

If your card is using 2 aerial connections it's most likely a BG or ABG card. Wireless-N uses 3 aerial connections.

 

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/01/30/41443.aspx

 

Thank for the link. Cool picture of the Notebook Manufacturing Cells in the link near the bottom of the page.

 

Cool thread, nice job. Repped.

 

great thread

 

Thanks!

Another question added, we're now at 14.

 

#14 is a good one. I had that problem too.

 

About the LED, any updates on the manufacturer and if it will have grainy problems?

 

The LED option has only been available to Small Business in the United States for about a week and to Home for 1 day or so.

It will be a few days to a couple of weeks before buyers receive their LED equipped M1530 and report their findings here. Once I see information regarding the M1530 LED screen I will update the chart.

 

Great post - rep added

 

One more question added, about gaming this time.

 

Great job with this thread Rhodan.

I hope to hear about the CCFL and LED screen comparisons soon. That's the only thing I'm uncertain about choosing at the moment. I know the benefits of LED screens, but I just hope the quality is just as good or better than the CCFL screens.

 

I posted, in another thread, the result of a comparison I did last week end with LED and LG CCFL at the local Future Shop.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3260624&postcount=28

 

Has anyone tried the 1920x1200 screen yet? I am curious as to whether it is any good or not. I'm in Australia and it's not listed as an option yet, but hopefully in the future it will be.

Also, out of curiosity, does image quality at non-native resolutions get worse as the difference between native and forced resolution gets greater, or is it a much of a muchness? (basically wondering if for example games will look better running at 1200x800 on a 1680x1050 screen than the same on a 1920x1200 screen.

 

Ordered replacement for (grainy 1440x900 SEC) latop and repl was shipped late yday.It has 1440x900 LED LCD screen. Yet to receive it but based on service tag look-up LED LCD is as below :
FX313 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 15.4WXGA+, LIGHT EMITTING DIODE..., TLF, CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS

Tx.

 

nice job!
how about adding the various weight of m1530
with 6cell and with 9cell?

ok i admit i am lazy

 

Nobody as seen the 1920x1200 panel yet.

You do not want to run your LCD in non native resolution. It will be fuzzy regardless of which resolution you select.

 

We have our first report of a LED model! Added to the list.

Thanks unewlaptop!

 

Repped OP, thanks for the Top 15 FAQ.

 

Can you run it windowed in like 1280x800 so it won't be grainy?

 

I think you mean fuzzy, not grainy...

 

Yea, I meant fuzzy, thanks. After reading tons of grainy threads it's stuck in my mind.

 

No you can't. Most LCDs only look good at their native resolution. So you need to get the resolution you are comfortable with.

 

If it runs 1:1 windowed then why would it matter if it's native or not? I was wondering if the hardware was designed to run windowed.

 

Added question #16.

Thanks to ApocNarok for sugesting it.