XPS 15 (Haswell) Owner's Lounge

See
http://plugable.com/2012/12/01/windows-8-and-intel-usb-3-0-host-controllers

I did this on a clean 8.1 and it works but did not help with my at&t beam ac340u. BTW, anyone with this usb wwan modem who managed to get it working on xps 15 9530 or m3800?


Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

It seems that more and more recent buyers claim to have no coil whine, is it possible that it's fixed? Maybe a good time to finally pull the trigger?

Galaxy Nexus Tapatalk

 

I found another couple of places around campus where the Wi-Fi is off. Works sluggishly or doesn't work at all. I'm attaching a photo of inSSIDer. I don't know what values are good. So maybe you can tell me here.



Also, what's the best way to show-off the gorgeous screen to somebody?

 

Well since left click does seem to work if you can drag (and presumably single-click an item to highlight it?), I can only think of a few reasons why double-clicking wouldn't. The first is if your double-click speed is set at a higher speed than you're actually clicking, in which case try lowering it. I think that's in the actual touchpad configuration app, but it may be in the generic Windows settings as well. Otherwise, are you maybe moving your finger too much between the two clicks? Or maybe not clicking down far enough in the lower-left corner? Try the extreme lower-left area of the touchpad. If that doesn't solve your problem, I don't have any more ideas off the top of my head, but I can't imagine how this would be a hardware issue.

Even the best signal there isn't great. Ideally you'd want signal strength in the negative teens to -30s. -40s and 50s is merely ok. Still, even that should be stable and adequately fast for lower-traffic situations like Web browsing though, so if that's your signal strength in your room and in other places where you're having trouble, I'm a bit surprised. But -60s and below is going to be slow, and it will probably frequently stall and/or drop completely. It's also a bummer that they only seem to have very limited 5 GHz availability.

Showing off the display is probably best accomplished by showing text in an application that supports HiDPI properly, like Microsoft Word or Firefox. And any photos taken with a reasonable digital camera would show off color performance and to a lesser extent the resolution of the display.

 

@jphughan - Thanks a ton. Does that warrant me to ask for a replacement/a new wireless card?
Also, when accessing videos on some websites and going full screen, it doesn't fill up the whole screen.. it stretches it out and so I can only see parts of the video. Only properly fits the screen when I reduce the screen resolution. Any idea why this is?

Edit - Just started streaming the NCAA march madness final on my laptop and on my tablet both via the dedicated app. On the laptop, it barely even streamed a few seconds on the game. On the tablet it is working mostly fine, albeit at a lower resolution but at least it is running. So, I guess the wireless card is messed up?

Second edit - Ran a test on my tablet and it is showing wifi percent at 56% and dBm in between -63 and -67. I don't know if that helps.

Last edit - I moved places again, this time within the library, a short distance away from where my laptop was when I took the screenshot, and the video is streaming perfectly fine from ncaa.com. It is still showing signal as 50/53/62 on the first three.

 

No, I see absolutely no indication that you have a hardware problem that would warrant a replacement. The low signal strength is far more likely to be caused by the WiFi infrastructure than your own machine. However, one possible explanation for the performance discrepancy I can think of is the fact that this laptop has an aluminum lid. Radio waves don't travel through metal as easily as they do through other materials, like plastic, which could explain why some other devices are getting a better signal than your laptop in some areas. Back in the day when Apple had a MacBook made out of plastic in addition to the aluminum MacBook Pro, the MacBook consistently had significantly better WiFi performance for this reason. This is also why the iPod touch has always had a patch of plastic on an otherwise metal back panel; that's where the antennas exit the chassis.

I'm not sure what you're talking about in terms of the video not displaying at full resolution. You say that it doesn't fill the entire screen, but then that it stretches it so you only see part of the video, which suggests to me that it's over-stretching the image. But without knowing your browser or what plugin the video you're watching uses, I have no idea what to suggest there. Try other browsers and videos on other websites to see if this is behavior persists across those conditions.

But in terms of WiFi signal strength, honestly I think you're chasing a ghost here. At the end of the day, you have some areas where your WiFi signal is solid and other areas where it isn't. That's entirely par for the course, especially if you're dealing with signal strengths in the -50 range. Different WiFi-equipped devices perform differently even when placed right next to each other. It's a product of using different WiFi cards, different software, different antenna designs (and quantities and orientations), different chassis construction, etc -- and it's all perfectly normal.

 

Well, turns out they are coming to replace the trackpad and keyboard lol. I got the right side to be able to double click but the left side just doesn't work. The Dell guy said he's seen it before a bunch of times and it's for sure a hardware issue, something to do with the sensor inside. Hopefully the fix doesn't introduce any other issues. I will update once it's fixed,.

 

I completely understand what you are saying here but my wifi worked almost flawlessly in the lubrsry, albeit a hiccup in one place. I've now come back to my room and it isn't working at all. Either it won't connect or will give me the limited sign. I don't know what's up but this is really strange indeed.

 

Try this:

Whorld - Home

But to get it to run at amazing full-3200p res, you have to disable scaling (right-click the application > properties > compatibility > check 'disable display scaling...') Also, uncheck 'use directdraw' in the options for max performance.

 

Yeah I was experiencing the same with the Nexus 4. The workaround that you mentioned actually fixed my issue. I don't connect my phone to the laptop very often but I noticed that connecting my phone through a USB hub also worked as a workaround.

Does anybody's power adapter make a buzzing noise while connected to the wall but not connected to the laptop? I noticed it before but I haven't seen many people mention it on this forum.

I believe the A03 bios update reduced my processor noise which is the noise while opening applications or scrolling on a webpage but did not affect the coil whine noise while full battery and connected to the power adapter.

 

I'm also surprised (because one sees a verification progressbar on the end of flashing), but it seems that reflashing A03 solved my problem. This time there were no full power fan speeds after the first reboot after flashing the bios as last time.
(Last time flashed the A03 bios, I had on the first boot also under windows full running fans until I shut rebooted a second time).
So it seems that I had bad luck with first A03 flashing (and luck, that the computer didn't broke with this maybe incomplete flashing, reprogramming bios settings (I guess that maybe hidden CPU, bus, etc. settings may not been updated.)

At least one thing which is sure: Now on A03 and no occasional freezes anymore.

 

Did we get a list of the best cases?

Noticed the leather sleeve's currently sold out, but it's the sort of thing I want. I'm currently keeping it in a laptop backpack when not in use, but it kinda rattles around in it because it carried my L702x...

There's nothing on the wiki.

 

Yeah, the USB cable I used is the original one. I am starting to think that it could be an issue with my laptop, how can I confirm my theory?

 

Does your phone with your cable work correctly in another XPS 15 9530? You may not have access to another XPS 15 9530.

Not sure if a comparison with any other recent Dell computer can serve as a proof for yourself and for Dell support...

 

Unfortunately, this is an issue with Windows 8.1. I have spent the better part of the last week trying to find a stable solution. I have found a few workarounds that work for a little while, but once you disconnect the device or put the computer to sleep/reboot, the issue returns. There is nothing wrong with your computer.

I've tried several cables and different devices. Further, it is mentioned on MS forums. I am still searching for a STABLE solution. This is ridiculous... never thought I'd have a problem with USB given the maturity level of the technology.

 

That really is bizarre. If anyone affected by this issue has a spare hard drive that would fit into their XPS and Win7 install media (no product key required for this test), it would be interesting to try installing Win7 onto that disk and then just installing the chipset and USB 3.0 drivers to see whether the issue persists there. That would definitely confirm whether this is a hardware or software issue. And I can't imagine that this would matter, but just for maximum consistency, make sure you install Win7 in UEFI mode, which takes a few extra steps during the USB install media prep phase to do: UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows.

 

I'm getting very close to wiping my SSD and installing Win7 to test this out (and probably get rid of W8.1 altogether). I haven't reached that point yet, but if I do decide to do this, I will post here what I find. In the meantime, it would be great if someone else who does have a spare drive to give this a shot.

Also, from what I've gathered searching various forums (NBR, XDA, and MS), a number of people having the issue upgraded from Win7 to 8.1 and say the problem was not present on Win7 and only appeared after upgrading to 8.1.

This is the final issue that needs to be resolved on my machine. Unfortunately, it's probably the most critical for me right now.

 

Or you could try booting from a Ubuntu Live in a USB flash drive or external HDD.

 

Actually, now that you mention this, let me add some more details.

I've done a clean install of W8.1 via USB and my external HD works fine (had issues initially until I updated drivers) via USB and on every port. There is no question in my mind of whether or not the USB hardware is functional. Just seems to be that 8.1 does not like mobile devices (particularly rooted ones and other peripherals from what I've gathered).

 

THANK YOU all for the support and suggestions for the USB issue I am facing. Trying it with Linux or USB bootable flash drive is an excellent idea. If someone tried this, please update us with your results.

I also read in the news that Windows 8.1 Update 1 is released, maybe this fixes the issue?

I am interesting in knowing what is your temporary solution.

 

I haven't tried to get the update yet, but will look into it shortly. The post where I mentioned the temp solution is below.

This WILL work BUT it's not a great solution and is NOT stable. Sometimes, it'll be perfectly fine for hours, other times, it takes several attempts just to get it to stay connected.

 

Will Dell refresh these with a Maxwell card, or do they typically wait for the next Intel release before releasing something new?

 

History suggests that this system will not see a GPU upgrade, at least not until the next-gen model of the XPS 15 is released. The only systems that tend to get newer GPU offerings within their lifecycles are high-end Precision models and Alienware models, since those two markets care more about GPU performance than anyone else. Before Dell owned Alienware, some higher-end consumer laptops got that treatment, but I don't think that's happened recently. But on this system in particular, offering another GPU would require designing a whole new motherboard since the GPU is soldered onto it, not a discrete physical unit like it is in higher-end Precisions and Alienwares. And second, this system being thin and light means that it's been very tightly integrated and optimized for its specific components, so changing something major like a GPU would likely require some significant re-engineering or at least re-validation of not just the motherboard but also the thermal management components. For those reasons I just don't see Maxwell happening on this generation of XPS 15.

 

Makes perfect sense, thanks.

 

Just got my XPS pretty pumped about it.
One thing I keep noticing, mostly with a white background, is that the screen looks like it has a protective film over, anyone else experiencing this effect?

 

So quick question, is it possible to change the touchscreen settings to require only one tap to perform an action? I find it a bit annoying having to "double tap" for an action to occur (especially when I have a tablet that only requires a single touch).

 

I have a funny behaviour with the lid and suspending functionality in Linux (Cinnamon, Ubuntu 14.04, kernel 3.14).

When I close the lid, the computer suspends. When I open it again, it instantly wakes up (not even 1 second delay), but then after 2-3 seconds it goes back to sleep, this time what it seems a deeper sleep (this time I need to press the power button to wake the computer up). This is happening consistently, i.e. every time I suspend the computer.

I'm thinking it may be some conflict with BIOS settings (even though I have Rapid Start disabled), or maybe some Cinnamon/Gnome/Ubuntu power management settings.

I haven't tested anything so far, nor I have searched elsewhere, I am just checking first if anyone has observed a similar pattern.

 

Hello to all
Firstly, sorry for my english : I'm french! Sorry too for being french!!!

What do you think about Full HD display??

Is the QHD+ display the right choice to think, before buying this laptop in spite scaling troubles, and highest price???

Many thanks in advance for your comments
Best regards from France
Jean-Pierre

 

I wonder if the the newly released Windows 8.1 Update 1 will address this issue? Available now through Windows Update.

 

"I wonder if the the newly released Windows 8.1 Update 1 will address this issue?"

win 8.1, samsung series9, NOTE2 - no issue. works perfect.

 

Nope, installed yesterday and tried my devices, still no luck. I'm going back to the workaround I did before (tried removing everything and starting clean, no luck).

Is your Note 2 rooted?

 

You're probably seeing your touchscreen layer, or maybe just a reflection from the Gorilla Glass coating.

Looking in Control Panel > Pen and Touch, it doesn't look like it. I'd be worried about accidentally doing a lot of stuff with that setup though.

That answer depends a lot on what specific applications you'll use and your tolerance for issues. The short answer is that the FHD display is still very nice and guarantees a problem-free experience. The QHD display on the other hand is absolutely incredible, but since this is brand new technology on the PC side, there are still issues being worked out. So if you're the type of person that just wants everything to work out of the box and doesn't have time or patience for researching workarounds or configuration options, FHD would probably be the right choice. If you're the type of person that likes having the latest and greatest technology and is willing to put up with a few issues here and there to have it, then QHD is worth considering. I think it's definitely worth the increased cost if that's the only issue on your mind.

If you have specific applications that don't handle scaling well, some may have workarounds until the application vendor actually updates them. And if you'll be using the QHD panel with an external non-QHD display, you may want to read this article I wrote on what to be aware of and your options for making them work together best: Multi-monitor Setup - XPS 15 Wiki.

Good luck!

 

A question for the people who got their XPS 15 in the past two weeks: Can you hear any coil whine (high pitched noise)?

[ advance note to @jphughan: I know your opinion on this and you're doing a great job for Dell as a Dell employee. I'd like an answer from people who received newly manufactured laptops (unless you have any new inside info on this). ]

 

I received my xps 15 9530 512gb ssd qhd 3 weeks ago and have not heard coil whine. I have not tried hard to put my ear close though. It was sold as a refurb via ebay but it looked brand new. I am happy except that my att beam wwan usb aircard does not work on this. Usb ports are good since other devices work.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

Yup, I'm convinced that there's something up with the USB drivers on this machine, still surprising to me.

 

I downloaded it yesterday, I still get the issue (constant disconnection and reconnection)

 

We have a m3800 that doesn't have this issue running LinuxMint 16/cinnamon, but same OS on a dell e7440 (what I have) I have this problem. That and I get corrupted video (the e7440 has no nvidia card) while scrolling in windows in apps like thunderbird (even tried using latest video drivers). I have an old XPS 14 (ivy) that has none of these issues. These seem like haswell chipset related bugs, but I can't figure out why it is fine on some machines and not others running the same OS (yeah bios on both are current). I'm about to get an xps15 soon so I can report in if it behaves any differently from the m3800 (I don't see why it would, only video card & battery is different).

 

Welp, I have to say, I feel pretty silly. I've finally fixed my USB problem. It had nothing to do with the drivers and everything to do with... can you guess?

The cable. Yes, the freakin cable. Now, just so you know, I tried a total of 3 different cables prior til now. I had another one laying around that I had not used at all and decided to try that one just for sh$ts and giggles (bringing the total to 4). Obviously had low expectations, but voila, everything works. No more rapid disconnect.

So, iamcanadian4, try to find some other cables. The cable that I'm using now that works is a logitech cable that came with my BT keyboard for charging. The other 3 cables I tried are the cables that came with my samsung devices (go figure).

Can't believe I've lost so much time on something like this... Good news is, I can officially say that my machine is perfect now and operating/performing as it should in all areas. Let the real fun begin.

Thanks for all that helped.

 

good news, my 2 year old pushed the laptop onto the carpeted wooden floor (.8m) with my sd card in it, now the SD card reader is dead. my fault or dell's fault?

anyway, no USB i create works, have asked Dell to send me their official USB for a clean install

 

Those sound like two unrelated problems, but the SD card reader malfunction is definitely your fault, though you're lucky that's the only apparent damage. If you have Accidental Damage Protection, no worries getting it fixed. If not, well....

As for the USB issue, did you read the two relevant articles on the XPS 15 Wiki?

Create a Windows Install USB - XPS 15 Wiki

Cannot boot from USB - XPS 15 Wiki

 

I will reply in very plain English. QHD - no advantage now. Some programs cannot use QHD. So if you get Full HD, you will be fine. FHD won't look as good as QHD if you look very closely, but for normal distance very little advantage.

 

wrong line answered...failed to delete post

 

Hey, got the same issue... Every f****** time i start the machine it would give me this.... Have you figured out which device driver causes this?

 

I respect your opinion, but disagree. For me the QHD display was one of the main reasons to buy the XPS 15. It really depends on the programs you are using. MS Office and Visual Studio look great. The sharpness of PDFs in Acrobat Reader benefits from the high resolution of the display, despite the fact that the Acrobat Reader itself is not high-dpi aware. I also enjoy the high resolution when I edit images in Adobe Lightroom. I'm still using the "old" LR 4 which doesn't scale, but I plan to upgrade to LR 5 in the near future.

 

Check this post to identify what's causing the bluescreen:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...-15-haswell-owners-lounge-25.html#post9607386

 

I did.

At the install screen it wants my Product Key, and whatever I enter is rejected.

People say UEFI does not ask for a Key, but mine did, I think the BIOS is "corrupt"?

 

no, oryginal soft

 

Hey, Guys I would like to ask which option should I use in bios in order to maximize the battery life. I am not talking about how long the battery will keep performing normal before starting getting depleted in 1 hour. right now I can play a 720p movie and it mentions 4 hours.


Edit: I have the mid tier so I am very pleased with this.

 

UEFI has absolutely nothing to do with product keys. Systems with embedded 8.x keys can go through Setup without promoting for a key, whether or not they're UEFI, and not all systems that support UEFI have embedded keys. If you have a prompt it means that the installation media you're using is for Pro only and you have a Core key, or vice versa. Not all 8.x ISOs can install both editions. I mentioned that in the XPS 15 Wiki article I linked to you a few posts back....

The BIOS options have nothing to do with how long your battery lasts on a single charge. They deal with how long your battery maintains its long-term ability to hold a charge, which is usually called batter longevity. The best way to maximize that aspect is to set a custom profile that stops charging around 80% and doesn't start charging until 50% (the lowest they allow, unfortunately). If you want to maximize single-charge battery life, the XPS 15 Wiki has a guide to creating a power plan.

 

There may not be any literal "advantage" to having QHD, but it does look amazing. And sometimes things looking good is reason enough to buy something. HDTV and Blu-ray don't offer much if any "advantage" over standard def and DVD apart from looking a lot better, and yet people still want HDTVs and Blu-ray players.

That said, I agree with above posters that if you spend a lot of time looking at text or digital imagery for work, QHD can be useful in addition to simply being awesome.