XPS 14 UltraBook Owners Lounge

Color me ignorant, I usually run vanilla windows without vendor bloat, but I believe quickset only involves fn + F keys to launch the various parts of it.

 

Correct, there is no system tray icon with this version. Windows key + X will display some other options too.


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OK then, I guess there's no way to force the NVIDIA GPU on. It will only turn on automatically when the system detects some kind of GPU load threshold.

 

You'll need some proper benchmarking software like PCMark to get a decent rating. WEI isn't an exact science at the best of times.


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I'm still curious to see how it would score, just because I'm curious.

Tried disabling HD4000 at device manager, not a good idea.
Thank god for last known settings, I guess that confirms it's the default.

 

Just start a program that uses the gpu (Photoshop or a game) or use the Nvidia control panel.

 

Are you able to connect 2 external monitors to this computer??

 

Yes. 1 x HDMI and 1 x mini Display Port.


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I don't know if the option is still there if you installed Windows yourself, but I have a option on the context menu for applications to "run with graphics processor", which lets me choose which GPU to use. If you don't have it, I could probably dig through the registry to find the command used.

 

Finally tried one of these out in person. Just thought I'd contribute a few impressions. Along the way, I'll make some small comparisons to some other notebooks I've used recently.

Weight and Dimensions: Felt a bit less heavy than I anticipated, based on specifications. It definitely isn't light, and honestly I don't think I'd call it an ultrabook based on the overall weight and physical dimensions. However, it does feel like a reasonably sleek 14" notebook.

Build Quality: Overall, felt great in terms of fit and finish. No complaints there.

Input: Keyboard felt OK. I feel like the keyboard is a bit of a weakpoint compared to a few competitors (such as Lenovo's chiclet keyboard) but it's definitely better than others I've tried. I think I might like Asus' keyboard on the UX31A a bit better but I'm not sure. However, the trackpad performed very well; far better than the UX31A's, and I found it better than that of the HP Folio 13 as well (and X220 for that matter).

Display: Display was OK. It's bright, and side viewing angles are decent, but vertical aren't great. They do seem a bit better than that of the Folio 13 but maybe a little weaker than that of the Spectre 14. I found the vertical lines to be noticeable, but less noticeable than that on the Folio and Spectre. Overall picture quality weaker than the Series 9 and UX31A by a substantial margin. I did find it looked a little better than the one on the Sony S13, but I think that may just be from it being glossy vs. matte. Both S13 and XPS 14 displays seemed to have marginal contrast.

Overall: I actually found it pretty likeable, and my opinion of the notebook improved after finally using one, relative to my expectations over the past few weeks. However, the combination of bulk and weakness in the display, as well as somewhat marginal processing power, probably will keep me from getting it. I'll definitely be paying attention to the refresh, though.

 

Anyone else definitely confirm that the mSATA slot in the XPS14 Ultrabook IS SATA-III ?

 

I do still have my original O.S. installation, and I ran my Adobe Photoshop with the option you said "run with graphics processor", and a sub-menu lets me select "High performance NVIDIA processor (default)", but notice it says "default" on that GPU. Anyway, I left PhotoShop minimized when I ran the WEI and it didn't seem to make any difference (still a measly 4.8). It could be a driver issue for the NVIDA chip. Who knows. When the WEI starts, the entire screen blinks, so I have a feeling that it is switching back to the Intel 4000 graphics chip for the assessment.

 

Hi guys,

I've been going through a notebook odyssey lately - been trying to get away from Mac OS for several reasons (MS Office, which I need extensively every day, is a stability-nightmare on Mac OS + I hate Apple) for quite a while now but so far, no Windows notebook has worked for me:

- Asus UX31e: unusable keyboard (fixed in the UX31a), unusable trackpad (not fixed)
- Dell XPS 14z: got two units with bent cases that wouldn't sit flush on the table -> returned
- Samsung Series 7: god awful screen and high-pitched whine that almost drove me insane: exchanged for an MBP 13, which I later sold because the screen resolution is crappy.
- HP Envy 14 Spectre: got two units with defective screens (looked like something was pushing against the screen, causing ripples whenever I was typing / the notebook was moving, even slightly - have since seen many more Spectre's in various shops exhibiting the same problem - definitely a serial issue). Also, the Spectre's not available in the upgraded Ivy Bridge version here (in Switzerland) yet and HP only sells it with 4gb of RAM and a small 128gb SSD - both of which aren't enough for my needs, as I do photo editing extensively.

At the moment, I use a Retina Macbook Pro that I bought without thinking after I had to return my second Spectre. There are three problems with it: 1. it's slow. That's hard to believe if you see the benchmarks, but the 8gb basis version is extremely laggy when scrolling through larger websites etc. The high-res screen really kills the CPU / GPU. 2. the screen exhibits temporary burn-in whenever the computer gets warm (disappears once it's cooled down again). 3. that's the biggest issue: no app support for the high-re screen. MS Office has to be scaled and looks so fuzzy that it's close to impossible to work with it for more than a couple of minutes. There's no relief in sight - Microsoft stated that they won't be upgrading MS Office next year, so I'd be looking at a 2-year window until the high-res screen is supported. I also use Adobe Lightroom professionally - and it's close to impossible to determine the sharpness of photographs with it since it also doesn't support the high-res screen.

In short - the rMBP is great for web-browsing if you get the 3000$ 16gb version and it's not suitable for the intended audience (creative professionals) at this time because 1. it's slow and 2. app support isn't there. I don't have 3000$. And I actually need to get some work done on my notebook.

Anyway - I've been going through all kinds of Windows notebooks again because I'd like to sell the rMBP while I can still get (almost) full price for it on auction sites. The XPS 14 has been popping up whenever I entered my search parameters. Before I take the plunge, though, I'd like to have a definite answer to these two questions:

1. Just how loud is the fan? Can I count on it being totally quiet while I do work in MS Office and while browsing the web? I know it won't be dead quiet during photo editing - but I need a quiet notebook when I do administrative tasks.

2. Just how bad is the screen? Nothing compares to the Retina in terms of resolution / sharpness. I'm willing to compromise here. Is it better or worse than the Spectre's? I was very happy with the latter (except for the rippling, of course...). Is there anyone here who does image editing on an XPS 14? I have an external screen in my office, but I would occasionally be using the XPS 14 on the go for editing pictures.

My problem is that in Switzerland, they won't let you return electronics unless the device is DoA. So if I shed 1500$ for a notebook, I have to be sure. As Dell doesn't have any shops here, I have to buy based on what other people say.


regards,

Peter


ps: those who keep saying the MBP's screen is a lot better - would you care to state which MBP you're talking about? There are massive differences between the screens (the 13" MBP has a god-awful screen - it has good viewing angles and is bright but the resolution is abysmal. The standard MBP 15" screen is pretty bad as well - extremly glossy and not quite bright enough to "outshine" the reflections. The high-res matte 15" screen is awesome. The Retina is also extremly nice but suffers from a series of issues, as I mentioned above).

 

1. I didn't even know my XPS-14 had a fan (completely silent) until I ran the Windows Experience Index (WEI). Then it kicked on, but immediately shut off after the assessment was completed. I have the Core i7 model with the NVIDIA GPU and 8GB of RAM.
2. The screen is bright and razor-sharp. The horizontal viewing angles are fair, but the vertical viewing angles are very narrow, so you have to park yourself in front of it, make lid position adjustments, and stay put.
Other than that, it has been a flawless machine that is a great performer, at least for what I do (s/w developer running development tools, photoshop, dreamweaver, etc.).

 

Two follow-up questions:

1) What HD do you have? If it's a 5400 or 7200RPM, would you classify it as fast?
2) Are you having any wireless issues as others are having?

 

I have the Samsung PM830, 512GB SSD. It seems very fast, and scores 7.9 on the WEI.
No WiFi problems at all. I am getting the full 10Mbit connection (limit of my Internet connection) no matter where I go in my house, even out to the far edge of my pool which is about 60 feet away from the house (WiFi router is in upstairs closet).

 

I just compared these two in a post I made on the previous page. I found vertical lines were a bit more visible on the Spectre 14 display, and it appeared to be less bright than the display on the XPS 14. However, the Spectre's display appeared to have better contrast (and possibly better color). If you are doing photo editing extensively on your laptop, I'd recommend getting something that has full coverage in whatever color space you're working in. The display on the UX31A purportedly has 100% coverage of sRGB; I imagine the rMBP does as well?

 

Thank you! that sound's very promising

 

For perfect color accuracy, I have an external IPS monitor. TN panels are almost never color-accurate (with the exception of the Samsung SyncMaster T27A750 with its a-si TN panel perhaps, which is claimed to be covering the entire sRGB color space). The rMBP covers almost the entire sRGB space, that's correct - but that won't do me any good if I can't use Lightroom or Photoshop on it properly at this time (although I do expect that Adobe will release updated versions soonish. However, the impact on performance of the new high-res apps will likely be a problem).

The UX31A has a killer monitor, but they messed up the trackpad so bad that it's barely usable on the go. I had the UX31e a while ago and just couldn't use it without a mouse. According to pretty much every review I've read on the UX31A, the trackpad has not been improved.
Also, the UX31A isn't user-upgradable. It's available with a 256gb SSD (which would be enough for me) but only comes with 4gb of RAM, which isn't.

 

So basically, the situation right now is this: the only good thing about the Retina MBP is the screen. The only bad thing about the XPS 14 ist the screen.
If only I could see one in person before I buy it :-/

 

If you can find the program which actually runs WEI, you might be able to make a shortcut to that and force it to run on the NVIDIA card.

 

Upon researching this, the C:\Windows\System32\WinSat.exe program runs the assessment. However, if you try to run it from windows explorer it just opens and closes quickly without running the assessment. Tried running it from the command line, same deal.
I tried running "WinSat /h", and I could tell that the command prompt window that pops up was displaying help, but then quickly closing. After 17 tries, I managed to catch a screen shot of it (text barely visible) with my screen print utility. It needs to be run with the following parameters:
WinSat formal -restart
However, since it requires parameters, I can't simply right-click on the WinSat.exe file and choose the "Run with Graphics Processor" option. I tried creating a desktop shortcut icon to the program, provided the parameters, and I was able to select the "Run with Graphics Processor" option, but then the program simply doesn't run (arrrgh!).
I did, however, notice that when you right-click and choose "Run with Graphics Processor", there is a 3rd menu item at the bottom called "Change Default Graphics Processor". I went in there, and there is a "Global Settings" tab page where you can force the NVIDIA GPU to be used for ALL programs. I did that, re-ran the assessment, and got the same results as before:
Graphics: 4.8
Gaming Graphics: 6.7
I am pretty much convinced that the NVIDIA is already being used automatically by WEI, and this is indeed the actual score. It's not that bad, really, but could definitely be better. Maybe a new NVIDIA driver will come out soon for this chipset.

 

Can't wait to get my hands on a Dell XPS 14/15. Currently in the midst of checking prices everywhere, I keep trying to Google coupons but each one that I find and enter at checkout ends up saying it requires additional information. So I ask you, what coupon codes did you use if any as I would rather not spend roughly $2000 post tax on a laptop. Also, anyone know when the Dell XPS 14/15 inch models should make their way to Costco? I know Costco already houses the 13inch model. Thanks.

 

Why not try running a program, such as EVGA Precision, that will display the clock speed and load on the GPU? I haven't used Precision 3.x but I know 2.x will show these figures by default. If you see the GPU running at full speed, and with high load, it's probably being used for WEI.

 

OK, I downloaded and ran the EVGA Precision 3.0.3, and it did show the GT630M running between 600 and 725MHz during the assessment, so I guess it really is kicking on. However, even when I'm not running the assessment, it is showing the GT630M as running, so it could be the monitoring software itself it turning it on. WEI scores remained the same.
Also, I had to immediately uninstall the EVGA Precision software because even after quitting the program, it keeps two prcesses called EGAVolgateTuner.exe running that are consuming quite a bit of CPU power.

 

New BIOS update out today guys, A06...

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United Kingdom]

 

@dell-bill: is the wifi issue also being researched on the L421x? I am not an owner yet, but am eager to buy one but want a solution first. I think the laptop is beautiful but too expensive to buy "broken".


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Long time no post! Woo! Anyways. I'm back from lurking!

I'm absolutely loving my XPS 14, i've just got one problem that i sadly dismissed before. Fan noise. When i first got the laptop, it didn't bother me(i blame the honeymoon phase), but now that ive had it a while, It's atrocious.. The XPS lineup is classified for multimedia, correct? Which(to me) means some light, casual games, movie streaming, internet browsing and email. Not highend gaming by any stretch, but some can be done. But even playing old games, that for their time were rather ugly(If anyone is familiar with Dragon Age: Origins, made in 2008, many textures from 2005). Playing a 4 year old game, settings minimal and resolution lowered, the fan kicks up to high gear and still only manages to keep the GPU in the low 80's c. I know it's acceptable for the gpu to hover at those temps, but i find it a little uncomfortable for my hands.

I'm well past my return date, so i'm going to try tomorrow morning if i can work out an exchange(silly how dell never actually posts a true exchange policy online) and get the XPS 15(or something similar from Dell) that hopefully wont have as loud a fan. I'm hoping that if i find a similarly priced laptop they'll let it through no problem. If not, i'll make do. It's just kinda frustrating when the fan can easily be heard over the game. :|

 

Try the new A06 BIOS I mentioned earlier. Thermal adjustments is one of the improvements.

Personally, my fan hardly ever kicks in - I use Visual Studio & SQL Studio.


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Frankly, I've never had a notebook that was quiet while playing games or watching Youtube videos at high resolution. My old Macbook Pro sounded like a vacuum cleaner as soon as a video started to play, so did the Macbook Air I previously had. I'm actually very sensitive to fan noise - but the only thing I'm really allergic to is fan noise while the notebook is idle or when I work in MS Office - or, generally speaking, when I have to concentrate.

The by far best notebook in this respect is the Retina MBP. The fan on that one always runs but it's so quiet that you don't hear it. It won't spin up during videos. It will get loud in Lightroom, though.

Peter

 

What did the GPU load % say when running WEI? If you didn't look at that, try using the 2.x series Precision tool. I use that instead of the 3.x on my own computer, since I sort of suspected 3.x would be kind of bloaty. It doesn't install/run a service like 'EVGAVoltgateTuner.exe' or the like. Also, by default, it should show GPU load %.

Also, it takes some time for the GPU to ramp down P-states to idle after running something using hardware acceleration. I've also noticed that, with the newest nVidia drivers, it seems to attempt to accelerate everything it can and goes to the highest state when doing so, so it's easy to end up at full clock in many cases. I don't have experience with Optimus, though, so I don't know how this behavior interacts with the GPU-switching behavior.

 

A quick question: is the XPS 14 compatible with all mSATA SSDs? I have a 128gb collecting dust here. I bought that one for my Spectre that I had to return due to two DoA cases in a row. Can I just remove the 32gb that comes installed and put in the 128gb?

That plus a 256gb 7mm Samsung 830 would really push the drive-space capacity into the comfort zone.

 

I believe that using your 128Gb for you system and programs and your samsung 830 for data will be the best option in your case.

 

Now i have a question. Can you suggest me any sleeves or case to put it in? It doesn't fit the Digittrade ones (13.3) but i'm looking for something similar: easy to carry, neopren, light, cool. any ideas??

 

Well, I just got my XPS 14 delivered.

1. The screen is perfectly fine. The viewing angles are far from terrible
2. The fan's blowing like a jet engine, but I'm installing Windows Updates
3. The harddrive feels insanely slow - can't wait to get my SSD in the mail in a couple of days
4. Both the keyboard and the trackpad are really good

I noticed a bright blue sub-pixel defect on the screen. According to this:

Dell LCD Display Pixel Policy | Dell

I should be elegible for a screen replacement - do any of you have any experience concerning this? How does Dell handle that? I have the on-site repair warranty on this computer

The pixel's near the left bezel, so it's not really a deal-breaker, but I'm a perfectionist.

Peter

 

Here's what the EVGA Precision window looks like (below). The outer ring of the speedometer is the running frequency (speed) of the GPU, and the inner ring is the operating voltage. I'm not sure where to read the load from with this program.

 

Hmm...doesn't look as though that tool lists load by default. You can sort of inferentially figure out if the GPU was being used if it shoots up to full speed and core temperature goes up quite a bit. Typically, t hat would mean it was under significant load. Although, if the cooling is relatively weak it might not (I don't recall what the situation is on the 14 in that regard). I'd still try installing Precision 2.x if you aren't sure. It sounds like, so far, that the gpu was running but it's not clear. The 630M is a relatively weak GPU, so I would not expect the score to be high. What WEI score does an HD4000 typically get?

 

I would recommend to stay away from the Dell 14 Adventure Sleeve, it is too big for this model.

I'm currently using laptop bags > laptop shoulder bags > alley small laptop shoulder bag > STM Bags

It is rated for a 13 inch laptop (I used pretty much the same one for an XPS 1340) but it fits pretty good.

Given that the bag works well, I would say one of their sleeves probably works fine as well: laptop sleeves > STM Bags

 

I wanted a sleeve bag because i'm used to carry around university my papers etc in my easpak bag and i don't want to scratch the xps. Unfortunately it is 33.5 x 23.2 and all the 13 sleeve i've looked at are too small (they fit a macbook pro which is slightly smaller). Any ideas? I don't want to buy another bag just to carry the notebook

 

I'm using this:
Amazon.com: Case Logic LAPS-114 14-Inch Laptop Sleeve (Black): Electronics

It's not a snug fit though.

 

Has anyone else updated with the new Bios - A06 ?

My wireless connection got noticebly worse after the update, before I could see numerous networks from my office (upwards of 10) now I can only see the closest one, the connection keeps dropping and it is noticebly slower.

Anyone else see this ?

 

I find that this case :

Amazon.com: Be.ez 100571 LA robe Sleeve for MacBook 13.3-Inch (Black/Pumpkin): Electronics

Is a great fit and also offers good protection.

 

I have - and noticed that where I had 5 bars of reception before, I now only have 3. No dropped connections - and since I didn't measure the network performance before, I have no way of telling whether it's any slower now.

Generally speaking, I'm not even sure why I upgraded to A06. My XPS isn't any quieter now. I upgraded because I thought it was insanely loud - as it turns out however, that was only because Windows was intalling upgrades in the background and MacAfee was running background scans.

 

One thing that may help ..... It made a difference to the wireless performance on my 13z.

Goto : Intel® Customer Support
Click on the Automatically Detect & Update Drivers and Software Link

 

Do you use it? I thought it was too small! my xps is 335mm long and the sleeve is only 330mm.

 

I have my XPS 14 sitting in it now . . fits snug but perfect.
I have found most of the MacBook Pro 13 cases to be suitable.

 

I have asked the seller about this one and it told me it is too tight. I think it's the same size of yours (both are for macbook pro). What can you say about it?

 

Updated right after it showed up on the Dell support site a few days back. I haven't noticed any difference, but really haven't paid close attention. I'll take note of my connection quality/speed tonight (wired connection at work).

Otherwise, not noticing much different w/ A06.

 

Anyone that also has a MBP 13 ever seen/used a Booq Vyper XS3 sleeve? I'm curious if the XPS 14 will fit, basically how much 'play' was there w/ this sleeve and your MBP 13. I have a couple of Booq bags that I carry and thought I'd keep the 'luggage' matched. But the specs specifically state 'check your dimensions' if it's not a MBP 13. The XPS 14 is just outside of the lenght/width of the XS3 internal dimensions, but the XPS is thinner than the height dimensions...so wondering if it'll squeeze in there w/ that little bit of 'play'.

 

My M1330 is very nearly dead. I've been looking very hard at the XPS 14 - it's almost there, but not quite.

So, here is a question for Dell-Bill:
I want the NVidia 630 with the mobile broadband. Both are required for me to hit the buy button. The Dell site doesn't offer that combo, and I asked the sales people online about it - it's simply not offered. Those two features, though both are available, seem to be locked in some unknown XOR function. The backing for the broadband version seems to be different (leather), wondering if that is for antenna/broadband reception?

So to the question: Would it be possible to build a franken NVidia/broadband machine? As in, buy an NVidia 630 machine, simply add in the mobile card assuming all the cabling/antenna is there? I D/L'd the service manual and couldn't get a sense of if it would be possible. Don't care about the 32G cache module...that can go away, and it looks like it needs to for the broadband card. Maybe even go further...order two machines, combine them to one with the feature set I want - is this physically possible?

thx