XPS 15 (Haswell) Owner's Lounge

Hey guys. I just got my Dell xps 15 1TB model. I have the coil whine. It's not overly disturbing and I decided to get it anyhow. There isn't really any other laptop out there that's comparable and I did not want to get a Mac. One question please: Is there anyway to reduce the noise, like any background programmes or registry edits or limiting the battery charge level. Thanks guys. Much appreciated

 

The most reliable of the mostly unreliable workarounds is to run on battery power as often as possible. Other than that, workarounds that have worked for some (and not others) include forcing the keyboard lighting to always stay on (in Windows Mobility Center, click the actual keyboard icon), keeping certain USB devices always attached, changing your background picture, and running Linux. Coil whine seems to be tied to a particular range of power draw, and these workarounds all seem to nudge power draw just enough one way or the other to make a difference, at least for some people.

 

... and keeping the display at full brightness reduces the coil whine for me.

 

notebookcheck does a quite detailed review of screens for the XPS and the macbook:
Review Dell Precision M3800 Workstation - NotebookCheck.net Reviews
Review Dell XPS 15 (9530, Late 2013) Notebook - NotebookCheck.net Reviews
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 Late 2013 Notebook Review - NotebookCheck.net Reviews

It looks like the XPS may be slightly better but not much in it.

 

Got a pic of the new palmrest? And it's a different, textured material? I've got little bubbles under forming under the front right corner of my silicon palmrest. I think they'd have to replace the whole body of the laptop to fix it. Not sure if it's worth it.

 

they have to replace the palmreset as one piece as I had an engineer show up with a scrap part, it had been smashed on one side. part of the reason I have a 3rd laptop, it even had bits of tape and part of the NFC cards cable lock still attached to it so expect a 2nd hand one if you ask, really is no point taking a photo as you can't tell them apart looking at them. It feels different and side by side looks different but the old laptops got the staining to it so nothings going to make much sense if I post a picture. I would say rubber but they are advertising it as silicon still? it may be but it is less slippery.

anyway, question time.

would you all keep a 5 month old battery with a 0% wear level or keep the new one that had 5% wear and is now 2% after the 1st charge cycle?

I think I am a fool to keep a 5 month old battery over 2% ?

(just tried pics and the camera cannot show the difference m8)

 

I am assuming you schedule an XPS 15 replacement over the XPS support and ending up getting a new laptop with the new motherboards?
Also can you update us with the coil whine/noise issues under the new board?

 

i already posted pics of the 2 boards, whines still there when the battery is charged. not as bad but there none the less.

 

Hi Asher's,

Thank you so kindly for your time and response as it is greatly appreciated.

I decided to buy a brand new Dell XPS 15 9530 as I could not find any reviews which clearly stated that the retina display was better than the IGZO display and I have been a long-term PC User as well.

Best Regards,
SD

 

I got the same error message: 'The AC power adapter type cannot be determined. Your system will operate slower and battery will not charge.'
I just got this error on waking xps after overnight sleep on a plugged adapter. Anyone seen this? I wonder if it has to do with some kind of graphics issue - yesterday i had installed google earth and used it for a while, i don't do anything more graphics heavy.

 

Will setting the battery not to charge beyond a certain point (95% for example) limit the coil whine please guys?

 

Has anyone tried installing the updated Samsung SSD Driver from the Dell support website--?pros/?cons

Samsung SSD PM851 Firmware version EXT49D0Q View details
Release date 7/11/2014
Recommended
Version EXT49D0Q,A00

 

What does "9530" refer to when discussing the XPS 15? Also, the Microsoft store has a nice price on XPS 15-8949sLV. Is this a different model or something? I asked the chat for the battery size and they said 56 WHr, which I know is not even possible. I did look at other websites that had that model # and they said 91 WHr.

Thanks

 

Not for me.

 

I occasionally get that error message. I unplug and plug it in again and it's fine. Must have happened maybe 3 times over the last 6 months. No idea what triggers it.

 

Sometimes happened when the charger was not fully pushed in for me

 

I haven't seen it on this system, but I've seen it on other Dell systems. Often it's just a momentary fluke if the AC adapter wasn't plugged in all the way or some other weirdness happens (there are a fair amount of electronics and firmware/software handling AC and charging in both laptops and AC adapters these days, after all), but if it starts happening regularly, the overwhelming majority of the time it's the AC adapter that needs to be replaced. In rare cases it can be the charging unit in the system or if the charging unit isn't a standalone device, the entire motherboard. I can't remember how this system is set up in that regard.

Nope. That would have been an easy workaround that would definitely have been known by now.

9530 is Dell's model code for this particular generation of XPS 15. All SKUs of this generation are called 9530s. The Microsoft code you see is either the code they decided to use for this entire model or perhaps a specific spec of this model. You should be able to infer the battery size from the rest of the spec. If it has a 512GB SSD, it has the larger battery. If it has a spinning hard drive, it has the smaller one.

 

I wanted to install it today but for some reason I can#t get my bootable usb stick to work on windows 8... although it works fine on windows 7.

I Disable secure Boot and enable legacy boot rom.
I boot the usb stick via f12 (using windows 98 dos files on the usb stick).
I somehow never get into the dos menü of the usb stick.

I managed to get into the "windows 8 recovery dos" but from there it won't allow me to execute the firmware update .exe

Can anyone help me?

 

Two quick updates that may be useful/informative to people in this thread:

First, as somebody mentioned here earlier, I too have had intermittent DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION BSoDs, but they didn't happen frequently or consistently enough for me to bother troubleshooting. Turns out that it's because they seem to happen most frequently when resuming from sleep, which I seldom do because my laptop is often parked at my desk and powered on 24/7. In any case, I rolled back to version 12.8.7 of the Intel Rapid Storage driver from Dell's site, and it's still early to confirm a total fix, but I haven't had that problem since. I was previously running version 12.9 off of Intel's site since I like to run the latest drivers whenever possible.

Second, for those with QHD+ panels who noticed that Remote Desktop does not support scaling the remote host's UI, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that it DOES support scaling the remote UI. The bad news is that it only works if the remote host is running Windows 8.1 or Server 2012 R2, which in turn means that Microsoft is fairly unlikely to retrofit that support to previous versions of Windows.

 

I think Remote Desktop Connection Manager works on hidpi/qhd+ panels, though its been a while since I used it.

 

First, make sure your flash drive is 32GB or less (or find an alternate FAT32 Format utility since Windows won't format anything larger than 32GB for FAT32), then enter the following commands in diskpart:

List Disk (note the number of the disk corresponding to your flash drive)
Select disk X (where X is the number you noted above)Clean
Create partition primary
Active
Format fs=fat32 quick
Assign
Exit

Then copy the files on and try to boot while your BIOS is in Legacy mode or in UEFI mode with Legacy Option ROMs enabled.

It does, but I tried it and just didn't like it for reasons I can't remember anymore. I seem to remember just an odd UI overall. Fortunately I'm seldom using the built-in panel when I need RDP, and when I do I'm ok just dropping to 1600x900.

 

I think the steps you listed are exactly what "hirenslive cd - make bootable usb stick tool" does.

It formattes m 8gb stick to fat32 and copyied the win98 dos file onto the stick.

When booting up I also see the stick as booting option and select it but I never get into DOS from where I could execute th fw update tool.

Thanks

 

Hmm, this shouldn't matter, but have you tried taking your system into full Legacy mode as opposed to UEFI mode with Legacy Option ROMs enabled?

 

Has anyone bought there's off eBay? Thinking about purchasing it refurbished for $1600, not sure if it's the best way to go.

 

Hi guys

I was planning on buying a new notebook was looking at the 1TB+32GB msata model. Just a few questions as this thread is massive. Are the issues with the coil whine and flicker really bad and wide spread? When is the new range of XPS due this year? As I might wait out for them.

And lastly is it a good notebook? I can't find anything in the same price range as 1500 euro as good as this.

Cheers
John

 

Hello guys. I have the 1TB model. I just have one question. How loud should the HDD noise be? In a quiet room I can hear it. My friend says its normal. I just want to be sure as the window for me to return the laptop is closing. I know this might seem like a stupid question. Just want to be sure. thanks please

 

Nope I didn't but as u said, that shouldn't change anything ? It seems like it just doesn't want to boot into DOS.

 

I got mine into dos via full legacy mode when I secure erased my 1tb EVO, so it can be done. I had the same issues as you to start but soon figured out it was the secure boot causing it.

 

It's a spinning HDD, so it's going to make some noise. I've never seen a mechanical drive that I couldn't hear in a quiet environment, so I'd say it's normal. (Having said that, I do find the low-profile WD Blue in the XPS to be pleasantly quiet, especially compared to the WD Black/Caviar drives I've often used in other machines.)

 

Can't say how widespread those issues are, but my XPS (bought in July, manufactured in May) hasn't shown any signs of them. I think it's a great notebook. I personally don't care for Windows 8, so I'm using it as a Windows 7 machine. Aside from a brief glitch with the touchpad driver (resolved with a tip from jphughan), I've had no problems at all.

For me, the "Holy Grail" of laptops has always been one that would combine the hardware quality of a Mac with a true, well-executed Windows platform. Not only is this the first one I've found that even comes close, it's darn-near perfect. My one nitpick, by comparison to a MacBook Pro, is the stiff hinge that requires two hands to pry open.

I would never buy a higher-end laptop without the manufacturer's full warranty protection. Even the best models seem to have a defect or two that plague enough units to become "known issues"....in the XPS, it seems to be "coil whine"....and of course other hardware failures can occur at any time, especially within the first few months. Without full warranty protection, you'd probably have no recourse.

Since you can get the 32Gb/1Tb model brand new for $1699.99, I think paying that extra $100 is more than worth it for the warranty and the peace of mind. (BTW, the 32Gb/1Tb is, IMHO, a much better value than the single drive SSD model. You can spend the difference on a top-of-the-line 512Gb SSD and end up with a really nice, flexible, two-drive system. You can't add a 2nd drive to the 512Gb model, a least not without also buying/replacing both the internal battery and the stock SSD.)

 

The thing is though it still comes with a one year warranty from dell. But yeah that all makes since. Thanks for the advice!

 

How exactly did u get it into full legacy mode? Just via bios "disable secure boot" and enable "legacy mode with ROM" ?

And what did u use to get a DOS usb stick? Any special tool? mine looked like the normal "format" window but with the option to install the dos files.

 

No, disabling Secure Boot and enabling Legacy Option ROMs is what you already did. Full Legacy mode is achieved by switching the Boot Mode (or something) option above the Secure Boot option. It will currently be set to UEFI; switch it to Legacy.

The firmware update tool doesn't require a true DOS boot disk with an actual boot sector, as evidenced by the fact that they just tell you to copy the included files to the root of the drive. The diskpart commands I specified earlier will prep the drive appropriately.

 

how long do dell take to process a refund ?

this ones running warmer than the previous, fans nearly always running and tbh is starting to me off (already done the thermal paste) . Only options a refund, may have to repurchase unless I find an alternative but nothings come out in the past 5 months that I like.

 

Ok. Thank you. I just want to be sure. I hear the HDD sound continously. It's not overly loud and maybe I am just being overly finicky. It is louder than my Sony laptop thats older than it though. Again, maybe i'm being overly sensitive to this.

 

What you hear that sounds like HDD spin noise might be the 'coil whine' people talk about. The definition of 'coil whine' is not clear but it includes the excessive noise that sounds like HDD noise, which is actually not.

The easiest way to check this is to unplug your ac power and if the 'HDD noise' you heard is gone, then what you heard was 'coil whine'.

 

Hi

I haven't been keeping my eye on which drivers came out recently on the dell site and now I don't know which I already have and which I need to install. Is there a way of automatically detecting and installing these updated drivers without having to download and try each wizard. (Similar to how apple devices handle driver updates?).

 

Recently I have been wanting to play my Sgs3's music through my laptop via Bluetooth but it does not seem to connect as an "media audio" option. It pairs but nothing more. I saw that a few people were having this issue earlier in the thread but i can't find whether or not there is a fix or not. I just want to connect the phone so the music plays through the laptop which is connect to my speakers when I'm downstairs or on the porch. I have tried disabling Microsoft Enumerator and pairing and also re-installing the drivers but no avail.

 

Hmm.....are you sure it's the hard drive? On this laptop, the HDD bay is located in the front, left corner (just to the left of the touchpad). You're sure that's where the noise is coming from, and perhaps a little vibration too? All of that would be normal, to a point.

A couple additional comments regarding HDD noise: First, the newer HDDs are generally much higher capacity than just a few years ago, and the bigger ones do tend to be a little louder. Maybe that relates to the difference with your older Sony. Second, my "pleasantly quiet" drive is not being used as my system drive (as it would be in an unmodified configuration), so it's likely not working as much as yours. That may partly explain our different experience/perception of the noise. Not just for the noise factor, but because it'd make your laptop even zippier, you might consider adding a mSATA SSD system drive at some point.

 

Hello all!

Finally, after two motherboard replacements, I'm happy to report that the PC performs at his top.

While keeping the PC on a tilted laptop stand, with 100% GPU utilization and 1 CPU core at 100% (2 virtual cores at 100%, overall CPU at 28%), the GPU runs stable at 940 Mhz / 74 C and the CPU runs between 2.2 GHz / 74 C and 3.2 GHz / 85 C. It seems that it throttles down to 2.2 GHz when it reaches 85 C, then cools down, spins up to 3.2 Ghz and repeats the cycle every 2-3 minutes.

While keeping the PC flat on the desk, I get lower values, of course: GPU stable at 796 MHz / 80 C and CPU stable at 2.9 GHz / 90 C.

I did the benchmarks by running two instances of CPU Burn-In to get two virtual cores at 100% utilization, and Unigine Valley benchmark with the following settings, to get 5/6 fps on average:

• Camera: Free | Focus = Min | Aperture = Max
• Environment: Time = 1/4 | Clouds = 1/ 4 | Rain = 0 | Wind = 1/ 4

Power plan was High Performance. I must also say that the PC has been running for about 24 hours with at least 5 of them under stress, so the stock thermal paste should be already settled-in.

Since it was running very well, I decided to test it at its maximum, running 8 instances of CPU Burn-In, this time disabling error checking for maximum heat generation, and the valley benchmark with my custom options.

In this scenario, when the PC is on the laptop stand, the GPU runs stable at 915 MHz / 78 C and the CPU at between 3 GHz / 93 C and 1.8 GHz / 75 C (it cycles between the two extremes). Instead, while sitting on the desk, the GPU runs stable at 405 MHz / 79 C and the CPU runs stable at 2.8 GHz / 97 C.

It is clearly preferable to have a laptop stand or keep the PC raised from the table when stressing the CPU and GPU. It is interesting to note that the CPU gets really hot in all test cases and affects the GPU performance. With CPU utilization at 5%, I get 1050 MHz with the GPU.

Since the High Performance power plan enables Turbo Mode and causes the CPU to generate enormous heat at 3.3 GHz, I tried to play around with the Maximum Processor State setting in the Power Setting to get stable 940 Mhz (GPU) at around 75 C on both GPU and CPU. Setting the Minimum/Maximum Processor State at 85% (1.8 GHz) lets the GPU run at 76 C and the CPU at 77 C without any fluctuations, with the PC on the laptop stand, while getting GPU at 915MHz / 80 C and CPU at 82 C when lying flat on the table.

** This will become my favorite setting when I don't need all the CPU power and I want the most stable performance in the GPU. **

I finally am very happy with the performance I get, and I recommend everyone to run a similar benchmarks and compare the results.

Best regards to everyone,

Marco

 

I am a new owner of the XPS 15 with 512 SSD and 16GB RAM. No coil whine here. It seems to be top notch. I wanted to have a USB 3.0 Ethernet dongle to carry with me. Is there any advantage to the Dell model vs. all the others on Newegg that are half the Dell price?

 

The Dell 2.0 adapter supports PXE, but the 3.0 version doesn't, as far as I know. Other than that, there's no benefit other than that the Dell adapter MIGHT inherit the system's warranty coverage (not sure about that with external accessories though). And FYI all of the USB 3.0 adapters I found when I was doing my research used the same chipset internally, so performance should be basically identical. I bought a StarTech unit that has a USB 3.0 passthrough port so that I don't lose a port when the NIC is attached.

 

Yea I did that test. It's definitely the HDD noise. I just want to be sure how loud the HDD noise should or shouldn't be.

 

So I passed on buying the model with the 4712Q processor and went with the one with the 4702Q processor. Apart from the different processors, are there any other differences in the 2 models as regards known issues?. There was like a $200 difference in price. Just want to be sure I went for the right choice

 

No, the new CPU neither solved any existing problems nor introduced any new ones.

 

You can't install this update, because you have a Samsung SM841.
Samsung SSD PM851 is a different model used in latest XPS15, but it has worse performance than a SM841.

 

So just to make sure I understand this, in a nutshell, you suggest setting maximum power of the processor to 85% to ensure best GPU performance (via reduced heat output caused by turbo mode)?

 

That is correct, as long as the reduced CPU performance is not an issue with a specific application.

Basically I have an additional Power Setting that forces the CPU to run at 85%, thus ensuring that I get the maximum and most stable performance possible from the GPU.

Best regards,

 

Oh crap, didn't notice that

THANKS !

 

Quick update on my DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION BSoD that I get occasionally when resuming from sleep or first booting my system. Changing the Rapid Storage driver didn't do anything, but I finally got the Windows Debugger tools to analyze the minidump files and Netbt.sys was implicated. That's a Microsoft driver, but searching around suggested that the true underlying cause may be LogMeIn Hamachi's driver. I was already running the latest version, but it seems that several others experiencing this same BSoD with the same file implicated in their dump files resolved the issue by uninstalling Hamachi. I've just done that and will use TeamViewer in the meantime for remote access, but hopefully this solves it. If anyone else using Hamachi has this issue, it may be worth investigating.