XPS 14 UltraBook Owners Lounge

I second the above!

 

I didn't say the standard SSD was miles faster, just stated that it 'is faster', a fact that you have confirmed.

Real world difference may well be minimal.


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Is anyone else having problems with wireless connectivity? Because even when 5 or 6 meters away from router my connection drops, whereas the connection is perfect on all other laptops and my previous laptop connected to my router. Ping, download and upload speed is also considerably worse than other laptops wirelessly connected to my router. Also when about 10 meters away, as well as dropping, connection also sometimes disconnects, it also takes a while to connect to wifi on start up. Is there anything I can do about this? I have tried downloading drivers and updating the BIOS but the problem persists.

Also, when running at fairly high CPU the fan seems to kick in and fan noise is quite loud and can get annoying at times. If anyone could be of any assistance it will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Some are, but most are not. Look back a few pages, this has been discussed extensively.


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No problems with WiFi or any loud fan issues here. The only time I even heard my fan run was when I was installing Adobe PhotoShop.
As far as the WiFi, it could be there are a few people that receive units where the antenna connectors have not been properly seated. Just RMA it back to Dell.

 

I checked out the XPS 13 yesterday -- not sure if that's a valid comparison. You wouldn't happen to know (other than resolution) if it's a different screen? Anyway, it *was* super bright and with my non-trained eye, I thought the viewing angles were good. Vertical was satisfactory, and horizontal was pretty good. Of course the other machine I'm seriously looking at is the Samsung NP700Z5C and in that display comparison, the XPS is the hands-down winner.

-Matt

 

Are you referring to the connection where the antennas meet the wireless chip mate? Or something else?

I'm curious to see if there are any similarities between the 15 inch model's WiFi issues; it all seems to be ok (on the 14) from most reports I've seen luckily.

 

Yes. The physical connectors of the antenna wires to the wireless card are very tiny and hard to get seated properly. The last time I swapped out a wireless card on one of my previous laptops, I had to have my wife hold a magnifying glass over the work so I could see what I was doing close-up mating the antenna wires to the card.

 

Anyone looking for a sleeve type case for their XPS 14? I've just received my STM Jacket (small) and it's a perfect fit!
Build quality seems excellent and there's plenty of padding to protect your new lappy.
It's also got a small zipped pocket on the front big enough for your PSU.
So, if you want a small space saving carrier I can highly recommend this one: STM Jacket

 

Never got an answer on this. Was told by a on-line sales person was not possible some time ago, as mentioned in my original message.

BUT, I tried again today and found a sales person willing to chat for about an hour and found it was physically possible to build, then she called me for an hour trying to get the order done. She was able to set up a custom build for me to include i7, 8G RAM, NVidia 630 AND the WWAN/mobile broadband, 500G HDD - no mSATA 32G cache module. So, I ordered it. Here's to hoping it works out ok. ETA: 8/29.

btw...will replace the clunker 500G HDD with a 512G Crucial m4. It's already on deck.

 

Congrats, that's awesome. Do you feel like they adjusted the price fairly for the "extra" features?

-Matt

 

I felt it was very fair. They took the $1499 i7, 8G, NVidia 630M, 500G HDD model, gave me a small discount, and swapped the mSATA straight across for the WWAN module and other work needed for the custom build.

I'll report on success/failure sometime after 8/29.

-NP

 

To anyone that has the model that includes the 512GB SSD. Is that SSD mSATA or a standard 2.5" SSD?

 

It's a standard size SSD

 

Ah, so none of their configurations has a model with a mSATA SSD as the primary / sole drive.

 

If you want that, the better route would go buy the base model of the CPU and GPU combo you need, and upgrade the hard drives or RAM if you need it.

mSATA drives are going in the ranges of $100 for a 128GB and $220 for a 256GB.

It's pretty simple to install and then you can set up the OS and programs on the SSD and use the larger hard drive for your documents and stuff.

 

I think I'm going to do that. I've already gone through three XPS14s because of scratches and gouges in the metal lid and on the rubber on the palm-rests.

They said I'd have to return this third one for a refund. Going to order a different build of the XPS14 next.

 

I noticed that they released a newer BIOS for this (A06).

My computer seems to be working fine (other than issues with the video drivers and Windows 8 which seem to be recognized by Dell) and they only mention improvements with temp management. Would you recommend updating the BIOS?

 

I'm on A06, it's always recommended to be on the latest version.


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What exactly should be done to install the OS on msata SSD?

 

Set your BIOS to AHCI mode (Turn off Intel Rapid Start Tech). And set the boot order to USB, [External] DVD drive (if the option is there), mSATA, HDD.

Boot from a Win 7 USB install drive (or external DVD drive). Format the mSATA and the hard drive (make sure you back up any files you want first) and install to the mSATA.

That's it!

 

Great.

Thanks!

 

All XPS 14 UltraBook models are user upgradeable to 8GB of RAM, right? If so, I'll go with the $1199 model and add the RAM myself since I already have some 8GB SO-DIMMs sitting around at home.

Is there much of a power-savings stepping down to the i5-3317U from the i7-3517U?

 

1) Yes.

2) I think the watts used are the same, however you can look up the exact numbers on Intel's website

EDIT: The max TDP's are the same (17 W). See here for the i5 and here for the i7.

 

The sleeve has just arrived!

LArobe Sleeve - LArobe "I Lov' Paris" per MacBook 13,3": Amazon.it: Elettronica

I can say that is very well built and it fits perfectly the xps!
Thanks everybody!

 

When it comes through, could you do a few side-by-side comparison pics with the M1330 if yours still works?

 

Can you see the difference in term of performance between the I5 and I7?

 

Depends on your usage. If you are just browsing, emailing and using word etc. then even the i5 model it overkill.

However, that is today, and depending how long you want the laptop around will tell you if you need to future-proof it. (And really, the only thing most need to worry about... Everything else vital is upgradable)

 

Is it me, or have Dell killed off the option of having a middling XPS 14. Looking at their UK site, you only have the option of the basic one at £1009 or the top end at £1509.

I do remember one being about £1129, which was the same as the basic, save for an i7 over the i5.

 

Well that's a relief:

Dell covers all the Windows 8 bases with new XPS models | ZDNet

Fortunately, none of the new XPS models (with touch screens) make the current XPS 14 obsolete.

-Matt

 

Dell only offers a 1 year warranty on this, don't they?

Is there any way to upgrade the warranty?

 

If you order from Dell then during the process you should be given the option to upgrade the warranty.

You can also do it on the Del website after purchase, but it is usually more expensive after the order.

 

Just reading through notebookcheck's list of external reviews. Out of the 13 English reviews, 7 of them had negative opinions about the screen, 1 said a positive and negative, 2 were neutral and 4 were positive.

Probably going to make the jump for it within the next week, but for a normal person, who probably won't do anything more than light gaming and watching movies, anime, YouTube videos or whatever else have you (not a notebook techy or reviewer), is the screen competent enough?

I'd ask again if anyone had a working M1330 to compare to it, but I don't think that's going to happen.

 

Another issue that seems to pop up a lot (oddly, more in reviews than by users here) is cost. I see that comment a lot, "Too expensive." I wonder if Dell has gotten that message, and if there is a price drop on the horizon. Or wait...I guess it just came out a few months ago...

Personally, I think the price is fair given (a) Dell's warranty, (b) the screen resolution (though darn I wish it were IPS) and (c) of course, the great build quality. For my tastes, the only feature that doesn't align with the cost is the GPU (probably a deliberate hold-back for 2nd gen XPS). And another USB port would be nice, but two is OK by me.

And oh if I'm nit-picking: fix the keyboard font and swap the keys over to the Asus style -- even my 12" has dedicated home/end and page up/down keys!

But yeah I'm ready to jump soon too.

-Matt

 

Has anyone installed win7 on the mSATA? It still bugs me the Samsung 830 SSD I fitted takes 25 seconds to boot. It should boot in about 15. If anyone has installed on the mSATA can you time how long it takes from when the BIOS bar has finished moving across until the password screen is displayed please?


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Anyone think it would be possible, say, in the future, to get an OEM screen or something on eBay and replace the one in the XPS 14.

e.g. say if they made an XPS 14 refresh with an IPS screen. To order the part and replace the current panel.

Or just to find a generic OEM IPS panel and replace the TN display?

 

And now...strangely...3 of 4 models have dropped off the US page. Only the $1999 i7/512GB SSD model is listed.

New XPS 14 Ultrabook Backlit Chiclet Keyboard,HD+ & Long Battery Life | Dell

-Matt

 

I see all 4 models when I go to your link.

 

Bump!


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Thanks -- yup, me too. Maybe a post-Labor Day glitch? Also looks like the prices are unchanged.

-Matt

 

Sorry I can't help with your question (yet), but I noticed a very odd comment in a recent Amazon review:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Dell XPS XPS14-10909sLV 14-Inch Ultrabook Laptop (Silver)

Of course my gut feeling is that he's not booting from the SSD "almost instantly", but I can post a query about boot time if you like.

-Matt

 

Sorry - Just remembered about your mail you sent - YGM

 

I have a model with the 500GB hard drive + 32GB mSATA cache drive. Is there any way to remove this cache drive and still have my unit fully functional afterwards w/o having to wipe the 500GB hard drive and reinstalling Windows?

 

Is anyone else not able to boot from SD card? I have a copy of Ultimate Boot CD on a SD card and my desktop can boot it, but I can't get my XPS14 to boot from it.

 

How about WWAN? Quality/strenght of signal? If speaking about wifi quality/problems, how WWAN works? Why you didnt buy WWAN model, but swapped the mSATA?

 

Anyone?...

 

I'm almost sure you can only boot from the SATA ports or USB.

 

Are you telling me that i can really swap my "msata" ssd with a wwan card? O.O

 

Yes, but models with msata or with wwan are different:
"Premium full-grain leather: Enjoy the long-lasting strength and beauty of a full-grain, black leather display-back, purposefully used to reduce interference with XPS 14’s mobile broadband antennas."
New! XPS 14 Laptop with Integrated Mobile Broadband | Dell UK
So if you will swap, quality of wwan could be problematic...

 

So the built in SD card reader is not connected to an internal USB header? I think I just found my reason then to return this XPS14 for refund. Even my $200 Acer netbook can boot off its built in SD card slot.