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    XPS 15 (Haswell) Owner's Lounge

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by mark_pozzi, Oct 23, 2013.

  1. Afy

    Afy Notebook Guru

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    As far as warranty and replacement go, Dell is difficult to beat. Especially if you get their accidental cover as well. In my opinion its well worth the money, and the NBD service is hard to beat.
     
  2. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    No need to disable Rapid Start OR Rapid Storage. Rapid Start is totally usable on an SSD, and Rapid Storage is the AHCI driver. You mean Smart Response. Rapid Start may need to be reconfigured though since I don't know whether the hibernation partition survives an image and restore.

    But unless the Win8.1 system image tool has become a lot less picky than Win7's, I doubt this will work. First, the HDD partition will be larger, so the utility will complain about that even if the amount of space actually USED on the partition that was backed up would fit on the new SSD. Second, the Win7 image utility errors out even if there's an additional disk in the new system compared to what was there when the system was imaged -- it even counted the boot flash drive I was using!! I eventually figured out that I had to remove the boot flash drive after the recovery environment loaded but before choosing restore for it to work. Since your system will have two internal disks present whereas the pre-image environment only had one (the cache drive was hidden), this may not work. But again, Win8.1's utility may be more tolerant.

    Even if It's just as picky, you could probably make it work by jumping through enough hoops (shrinking there partition pre-capture and extending it post-restore, disconnecting the spinning drive during the restore to keep the number of disks consistent, etc), but even then you might have an issue with Windows loading the "RAID" (Smart Response) version of the AHCI driver per your previous BIOS setting and now requiring the regular AHCI driver. There may be a workaround for that too, but honestly I'd just do a clean install and get all the drivers manually. A build intended for an HDD won't be quite appropriate when used on an SSD anyway. For example, Smart Connect will be off, Rapid Start may be off (especially if you have 16GB of RAM), and Smart Response will be on, which is all backwards for an SSD setup.

    To switch to AHCI, just enter the BIOS (F2 key) and in one of those menus the SATA mode will be set to Intel Smart Response; there aren't many options in there, so it won't be hard to find. Just change that and done. But I agree the data on the spinning drive MIGHT not be readable after that until you format (or switch that setting back), which would be yet another roadblock from restoring from any image, Dell or otherwise.
     
  3. krayziehustler

    krayziehustler Notebook Evangelist

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    Not exactly the same class pc. The Lenovo is thicker/heavier and if configured with 512gb SSD like the Dell the price advantage starts to go away especially since it cant take 16gb RAM or the NVidia that the Dell has. So it's a no contest for me. The only thing it has going for it is the keyboard, but then again that can be said for all laptops as Lenovo has the best keyboard on laptops among all companies imo but that is not enough to make me pick it.
     
  4. lamberbee

    lamberbee Newbie

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    Also found this forum ... as I am a proud owner of the new XPS15 Haswell but sadly enough also having problems with system.
    Concerning connectivity ...

    Wireless 2.4Ghz 802.11gn works fine but the 5Ghz 802.11a doesn't. The 5G connects fine but with limited connectivity and therefore no access to internet nor the router in my network. According to Dell the problem is:

    - Windows 8.1 and drivers: well, got the latest one, V16.5.3.6 which is not even available on the support website
    - McAfee Internet security: Maybe remove it and test again
    - My Asus RT-AC66U router that could not be W8.1 compatible. Updated already to the latest version, other devices connect.

    Last resort is a full reinstall of the XPS system. Drastic, so before doing that I want to check if someone has the same problem?
    Any feedback what exacty the issue is ... and hopefully a resolution?

    Thanks
     
  5. Cincinnatux

    Cincinnatux Notebook Guru

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    I had planned on buying a T540p last summer when I realized my aging laptop would not do what I want it to do. After combing over every scrap of info that leaked out I finally realized that Lenovo's vision for the T540p is as a budget ThinkPad rather than as a performance machine despite the naming scheme.

    The T540p is not even trying to compete with the XPS 15 any more, if it ever was.

    That being said, there are reasons you might still prefer it. But you should probably compare the T440s to the XPS 15. They have more in common.

    The other thing to keep in mind is that there is only one review published on the T540p and it is scathing. So if you are still leaning toward the T540p please wait for more reviews to surface so you can be more confident that the first review is off the mark (though I found it fair and well considered).

    via Tapatalk and my S4
     
  6. Ryanb22

    Ryanb22 Newbie

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    I have the mid level xps
    An selected the Lightroom 5 ( upsell) choice digital download

    Can any 1 actually tell me what is upsell and why is it the dearest option for Lightroom
    Thanks
     
  7. c0derbear

    c0derbear Notebook Evangelist

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    FWIW, I have Win 8.1 on my L521X, I have an Intel 7260 WLAN card (same as your Haswell ships with I think), and an Asus RT-AC66U at home. I don't have any problems with 5 Ghz connections, but I'm using 802.11ac not just 802.11a. My wife's XPS Studio 1645 with Intel 7260 and Win 8.0 also has no problems.

    I'd try setting up different network names for 2.4 vs 5 Ghz on the Asus and explicitly attach to the 5 Ghz one.

    It's possible that your machine is deciding to use the 2.4 Ghz connection owing to signal strength or some other metric. If you have both nets configured with the same SSID and password then you leave it up to the machines to negotiate.

    You could also, for testing sake, turn off the 2.4 Ghz band on the Asus.
     
  8. w3thax

    w3thax Notebook Enthusiast

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    This is strange. Mine got shipped later then yours and will arrive earlier;

    Estimated delivery: 30.12.2013

    Link started to work this afternoon.
     
  9. hatchaxe

    hatchaxe Notebook Enthusiast

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    thanks for clearing that up.
     
  10. tricky76

    tricky76 Notebook Consultant

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    here we go again, first i tried dell tech support, and they are useless
    my computer can not detect my location, and the tech cannot get it to work either...any thoughts?
    i used bing maps, they could not detect, then i uninstalled and reinstalled...still nothing. dell tech suggested using another map app, so i went to google, and it cannot detect my location either.

    does it matter that i am tethered to wifi through my samsung galaxy s4? i mean, the phone can locate itself, as well as the ipad air i also have tethered...it locates itself as well...computer though, it has no idea where i am
     
  11. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    My UPS tracking is working too, but the scheduled delivery is outrageous (7 January):

    Chilly Mazarin, France 27/12/2013 17:42 Arrival Scan
    Waalwijk, Netherlands 27/12/2013 11:10 Departure Scan
    Waalwijk, Netherlands 24/12/2013 4:32 Origin Scan
    Netherlands 27/12/2013 6:34 Order Processed: Ready for UPS

    So my XPS 15 is already in France, I can understand that UPS can take one more day to delivery to a Island (I'm actually in Sardinia)
    but 7 January seems outrageous, I had chosen a delivery in Sardinia because I was here for Holiday and estimated delivery was December 20.
    Now, I have to leave Sardinia January 3, but I'll have to go back to take my XPS 15, fortunately round trip with Ryanair is only 30€ :nah:
     
  12. hatchaxe

    hatchaxe Notebook Enthusiast

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    when did u guys order it? consider urselves lucky.

    i ordered laptop on nov 9th and still have not received it.
     
  13. micmex

    micmex Notebook Geek

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    Did you try the Merlin version of firmware for the Asus AC66 router?
     
  14. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    I don't know where you are, but XPS has not a GPS, also detecting location through IP in some nation is very unreliable.
    If you want detect your location through Wi-Fi, this should not be in use, and of course must be available Wi-Fi networks.
     
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  15. c0derbear

    c0derbear Notebook Evangelist

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    tricky, last I heard none of the XPS have a GPS receiver chip in them. So, geolocation would likely be estimated from network-ip address. If you're tethered to your phone then I'd assume the tethering is NOT providing that kind of information. Which is crazy, if you ask me, as the phone knows where it is (from a GPS receiver chip) these days.

    But, it's not the fault of your PC, I'm pretty sure.
     
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  16. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    I have ordered December 1 and it was shipped December 15.
     
  17. w3thax

    w3thax Notebook Enthusiast

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    Talk to UPS or Dell to change the delivery adress. It should be still possible.
     
  18. tricky76

    tricky76 Notebook Consultant

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    aha, so the ipad air has gps, as does the phone itself...but since computer is sans GPS chip, it can only use the wifi, which for me this second, is a cellular signal, and cant pinpoint location? but thats sorta weird, as the phone knows precisely my location, and when i am home, the computer knows within a few feet of my location...

    oh well, thanks guys...as usual, i get the straight dope from you guys...
     
  19. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    From what I know delivery address cannot be changed in any way.
    Dell specifically says that when you ordering, also for UPS I'm unknown person, so I can't change the delivery address, only Dell could.
     
  20. hatchaxe

    hatchaxe Notebook Enthusiast

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    did you order from costco or direct from dell?

    idk how you guys are getting your laptops that quickly, ive been royally screwed over by dell. never had to deal with such a crappy situation or the crap ive faced with the customer service
     
  21. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    Dell, I'm in Italy and there isn't Costco.

    I suggest to cancel your order and proceed to a new order, I don't know why, but your situation happens every time Dell launches a new product and this happens to the people who have ordered for the first.


    Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2
     
  22. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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  23. hatchaxe

    hatchaxe Notebook Enthusiast

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    i actually had a good experience with fedex, mailed out a box to family on tuesday dec 24th, it got to them today. it was expected to be delivered in 3 business days on dec 30th. it was with-in canada. it was probably worse overseas or outside north america.
     
  24. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    Latest drivers are 16.6. They've been out since before the XPS 15 even launched and they're known to fix Wifi issues over 16.5.x. That router will definitely work on 8.1; routers don't have OS compatibility issues, only hardware and possibly driver incompatibility issues.

    Update to 16.6 from Intel's site and all should be well: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/De...loadType= Software Applications
     
  25. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    Tethering just allows you to use a device's cellular connection from another device either over Wifi, Bluetooth, or a physical cable connection. It doesn't by itself permit any sort of information sharing between the two devices or access to other hardware on the host device, e.g. its GPS/NFC receivers. There actually is a Bluetooth profile that allows a GPS receiver to send its location information to another device that way, so theoretically a phone could expose that profile for other devices to access its GPS information over Bluetooth, but I don't know whether any phones support that or even whether any Bluetooth drivers for Windows support pulling GPS data that way (though I suspect many would since I imagine people use Windows machines with external GPS receivers when traveling and such).
     
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  26. zakazak

    zakazak www.whymacsucks.com

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    Yep my tracking link just updated too...30.12.13 should be the dat of delivery according to UPS :)
     
  27. zakazak

    zakazak www.whymacsucks.com

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    Oh I thought u are from italy :eek: anyway, due to xmas and new years the whole delivery is crippled. Our laptops have been in Yermany for 3 days or so without moving. And now its weekend again...and then again 2 non-working days :/
     
  28. ZephirSt

    ZephirSt Notebook Enthusiast

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    Lol, my delivery date accordingly to UPS changed from
    Tuesday, 31/12/2013
    to
    Tuesday, 02/01/1900

    :facepalm:
     
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  29. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    Yes, I'm from Italy, but seems that packages for Italy go through France, my XPS now is near to Lyon (Feyzin, France 28/12/2013)
    moreover delivery date is disappeared :eek:, in this moment there is any scheduled delivery date :confused: (before it was January 7)
     
  30. w3thax

    w3thax Notebook Enthusiast

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    The german "Kundenservice" can do this afaik. At least Dell told me when I asked for a delivery change to express. For Italy it should be this site: Recapiti telefonici del supporto clienti | Dell Italia

    ok... :eek:

    delivery date disappeared for all my 3 UPS shippings I am waiting for (have also one from amazon and one from another company)
     
  31. bneslsc

    bneslsc Notebook Enthusiast

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    So Dell is shipping me a replacement highest spec XPS 15 which was placed into their system (the replacement system this is) in mid-December. Just got a text saying that delivery will be made on the 6th of January.

    I'm confused, if they are in such a short supply of IGZO panels, how did they manage to make mine? Mine is a replacement device, whose original problems was the wifi and dead pixels, so I'm a bit concerned. When Dell means replacement, they do mean a brand new machine don't they?
     
  32. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    It will be a new machine. Dell always keeps parts available for warranty replacements and system exchanges; those parts are never used to build new customer orders even during supply shortages in order to avoid Dell failing to meet their warranty support SLA.
     
  33. arass

    arass Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can anyone recommend a port replicator for this machine? I need to run ethernet, a monitor and various peripherals (power would be a plus but is not totally necessary).
    Targus seems to have a "docking station with power" that at least nominally has everything I want, but it is not very well reviewed.
    Amazon.com: Targus USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Dual Video Docking Stationwith Power (ACP71USZ): Electronics
    Maybe there is something better out there?
    Alternately, I wonder if I would be better off running HDMI straight to the monitor, rather than using display link through the USB port. Not sure if there will be a performance hit running video, internet and various USB devices over the same usb 3.0 line. The other option is to just run a HDMI cable, ethernet to usb, port replicator and power cord into the various ports on the left side of the laptop. less elegant but maybe a bit faster to run off separate ports . . . thoughts? and maybe recommendations for ethernet to usb adapters?
    thanks!
     
  34. hephooey

    hephooey Notebook Enthusiast

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    That is not what I heard from the tech support, Dell promised me an system exchange two weeks ago, then I got a email the system will not ship until the end of January and they told me I can go check the estimated shipping date on the website. Frankly I am very furstrated with the support of Dell, they kept giving me promises and did nothing in practice. When I told them their next day support is more like next year support, they politely told me to read the warranty webpage... I ordered a rmpb last week, if I like the it I will return the Dell one. The machine is OK, but I really had enough of the support.
     
  35. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    Dell has a D3000 dock. The usability of DisplayLink will depend on how you use your displays. Typical productivity will be fine, but games and other high-refresh activities especially with high-resolution panels may be tricky.

    I skipped a port replicator and just connect power, MiniDP, HDMI, speakers, and two USB connectors each time. I figured the cost of a dock (plus additional AC adapter if you don't have a spare and want to keep one parked with it) wasn't worth it especially if I ended up having to keep the displays directly attached, and REALLY wouldn't be worth it if I had to keep my external hard drive directly attached to retain UASP support. Then again I'm not constantly having to take my laptop with me, so I don't mind not having a dock as much.

    I just got a StarTech USB 3.0 to gigabit adapter that even has a USB 3.0 passthrough port built in so you don't lose a port. StarTech and SIIG are both good vendors and both have two USB 3 to gigabit adapters. All of them use the same chipset, so performance should be essentially identical.
     
  36. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    It's possible that parts inventory has been drained with existing warranty claims, but you'll still be getting a new system and the reason yours has been delayed wouldn't be because they used warranty parts to build new systems. Sorry for your experience though!
     
  37. hephooey

    hephooey Notebook Enthusiast

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    If there are that many warranty claims already something must be seriously wrong in Dell's quality control department. But I do see quite some claim even in the thread, since I am one of them it is probably not just the so called "loud minority" ;)

    RANT ALERT...

    Well, if they were honest about the shortage at the beginning I would not be so mad. I was kind of expecting the delay when I call the custom service, so I was quite impressed when they first told me they would replace the motherboard in 2 days, and when they cannot fulfil that they offer to send a exchange system in 10 business days. I actually asked the agent to confirm the date (both times), he/she and his/her supervisor both did. In the end nothing happend for 3 weeks and eventually I was told to wait for another month until January 27th. I was pretty upset and even sent the (other) agent the previous chat logs where the dates were confirmed by Dell (Yes, I use chat and email support service so it is easier to check the record). Dell replied saying they were full of "sincere intentions" and the agent should know the delay and double check the date. To me it just sounded like they were telling me to suck it up. Anyway I guess I can still vote with my money, and it is not likely Dell will win it.
     
  38. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    Well without knowing how many warranty parts they stocked in the first place, let's not judge Dell's quality control. It could easily be that the general shortage forced them to accept a lower than normal inventory. :)
     
  39. Cincinnatux

    Cincinnatux Notebook Guru

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    It is disappointing that the company is being so opaque about the situation. I'm unclear how they benefit from compartmentalizing information such that service supervisors are apparently unaware of realistic fulfillment schedules.

    That being said, the XPS line has always had an air of bleeding edge effort to it, meaning that Dell has incorporated components that have not been available long enough for thorough testing. There's an element of beta testing in every unit, which is one reason why the XPS 15 has so few real-world competitors. Lenovo just spent the past 2 months trying to get the T540p out the door and ended up cutting nearly every high-tech component to finally get it to market in late December, two months after most analysts thought they would. And even with those delays, the end product is a disaster according to the only independent review available on it. Sometimes companies simply screw up, especially in the face of an accelerating erosion of sales figures. Dell, I think we're all aware, is under considerable market pressure these days.

    Of the new technologies, I think the IGZO display is the big question mark. It is being manufactured in a new facility by people who likely have inadequate experience with the technology and who may well have inadequate experience with high tech engineering/assembly in general. Sharp has been struggling with production issues since last spring when it first started pushing IGZO. I am not surprised that the early runs are showing inconsistencies in quality.

    There are a lot of disparate parts that have to come together to build a laptop. Companies like Dell cannot accurately predict which components in any given assembly are going to experience last-minute delays in shipment, or are going to fail quality control testing late in the game, or are going to turn out to perform out-of-spec with regard to heat dissipation or power consumption or whatever.

    And these niggling issues seem to plague high-end machines more frequently than they do lesser machines, in no small part because high-end machines are typically relying on *this* year's technology, not last year's. Supply chains are still evolving for this year's tech and kinks are still being ironed out. Those of us who want this year's tech pay a two-ended premium: higher prices for the newness of it and higher failure rates for the lack of history behind each component.

    Whether you stick with the XPS or switch to a rMBP, I hope your next machine serves you well. It is frustrating to have an experience like the one you have documented, and I agree with you that the votes we cast with our wallets are the most powerful votes we have.
     
  40. struselix

    struselix Notebook Consultant

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    Guys...it`s a lot of pages ago since there is throtteling mentioned in this thread. Is this still an issue while playing games or not?
     
  41. zakazak

    zakazak www.whymacsucks.com

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    That is because UPS is not working during the weekend. Which means the "computer program" which calculates the scheduled delivery gets a little confused.

    For example my package left Yermany 2 days ago (and it should be in Austria since yesterday already) but UPS won't update the status until monday. So the "ups schedule program" still things my package is in Yermany or is simply confused :D
     
  42. DellView

    DellView Notebook Enthusiast

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    This annoying sound problem is a shame for such a fine machine. Many users are reporting this issue. Will send the unit back and buy another brand since Dell is not responding.
     
  43. jphughan

    jphughan Notebook Deity

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    Some experience it, others including myself don't even after several non-stop hours of gaming. One point someone mentioned that he experienced throttling when using it on his lap or on a bed, but never while it was just sitting on a desk where presumably the ventilation can work better. Someone else even mentioned that propping up the rear of the machine caused throttling somehow, but letting it sit normally was fine. Unfortunately I never saw anybody who experienced throttling update their posts to clarify how they were using their laptop and whether putting it on a desk changed anything. So my GUESS is that throttling is the exception rather than the norm, and the reported cases were due to the machines being used in non-optimal ventilation scenarios and/or perhaps a case here and there of the cooling assembly in their particular unit having an issue, like the guy who dropped to 5 fps after 3 minutes of gaming or something.

    There were also people who reported throttling when running synthetic benchmarks that keep both the CPU and GPU running at maximum the entire time, but that's not a consistent condition in real-world gaming, so that result isn't terribly relevant. Most people seem to have zero issues with games.
     
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  44. arass

    arass Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am having issues with the touchpad, but am not sure if I am just slow to get used to it, or if switching drivers might help.
    mainly I am having problems with unintended clicks (when I am mousing around, and something i move over gets selected by accident)
    I am running the drivers I got from the dell driver update page (17.0.13.0)
    but I know some people have had success with non dell drivers from Synaptics (not sure where they got those, or what problems were supposed to be solved)
    More generally, I wish there was a thread of tweaks for the xps 15. this one has a lot of good stuff, but it is so mixed in with people's shipping problems, broken things etc, that it is hard to figure out what the recommended tweaks are for people who have working units that they just want to work better.
     
  45. pier2s

    pier2s Newbie

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    I had the issue but not anymore!
    The ventilation system is very sensitive or extremely well done :). It is only working properly when the laptop is on hard surface.
    Like another user I was using a magazine/book to slightly up the pc from the table (without blocking the fans/air entries). I have been doing this for a long time with my previous ones to help the cooling, and until now I though it was a good idea.
    I stopped and no more throttling. On dell website a user is also mentioning not to use a cooling pad, I guess it is for the same reasons
     
    struselix and adlerhn like this.
  46. adlerhn

    adlerhn Notebook Consultant

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    Any link? It's great that you solved the issue (and thanks a lot for sharing the experience). However, this behaviour doesn't seem very logical...

    My thoughts, which seems to contradict your experience. Cooling pads should be at least better, as long as the direction of the air flow of the cooling pad is the same as the intended one for the computer (in this case, towards the computer?). Likewise, more space between the desk and the pc should give a better airflow.

    Maybe a better cooling is making the GPU run faster, and therefore throttle faster, whereas a worse cooling makes the GPU to be more conservative, thus avoiding such drastic throttling?
     
  47. trofi

    trofi Notebook Consultant

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    Are you trying to connect at the same modem for both frequencies? Also where is the modem placed.

    You should know that due to the higher frequency 5 Ghz cannot get through walls etc as easy as 2.4 Ghz. So if we are talking for the same router it you could speculate that f 2.4 G can pass through the walls and connect 5 cannot
     
  48. trofi

    trofi Notebook Consultant

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    You do realise that there are only 2 working days basically this week right? Most companies would be understaffed too during that period as most employees would have taken their annual leaves... So basically everything is pushed back
     
  49. GNUDell

    GNUDell Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just wanted to share, that with the "Intel Extreme Tuning Utility" (google XTU + intel) some adjustment of the 9530 is possible.
    For example you can undervolt, change the maximum boost for 1 core active, 2 core active, ... or the speed of the integrated intel graphics (default 1150 MHz, mine is working great like the more upper class of the haswells cpu's with 12500 MHz (I would not higher, but 1250 MHz are in more or less the same CPUs avialable).

    The reference clock (FSB) can not be altered. I just wanted to share about the tool. Had in mind that some other clocks could solve my DAMN coil whining problem) - but it did not. ... Still waiting if 3rd party supplier have some non-dell power adapters ready for the tiny and new powerplug of this model. - I have still the hope that something could solve the NOT ACCEPTABLE coil whining problem of my great device.

    So if anybody sees a alternative power adapter or even better a unlocked bios for the 9530 please give a hint!
     
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  50. micmex

    micmex Notebook Geek

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    Sounds exciting, in details what have you successfully done with undervolt, change boost etc. I want to know about the details before going ahead with the XTU
     
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