XPS 15 (Haswell) Owner's Lounge

I think that's a reasonable stance for people that consider coil whine a total dealbreaker rather than an irritation. For me, I've had coil whine on lots of previous systems that use high-wattage AC adapters like the XPS 15, so I didn't even think it was an issue when I heard it on my own system until so many other people complained. If it gets fixed in my 3-year warranty period, I may decide to brave a repair tech to get whatever component(s) are required to address it, but if not, then there's still no other system I'd rather have on the market. But if coil whine is making your system unusable to you or that alone would make you want to purchase a different system, then by all means return it now and reorder later if it gets fixed and you haven't already moved on by then.

 

Sorry I am getting used to the new keyboard, and I missyped. My system recognizes 30 GB out of 32 GB

 

Ok, that makes perfect sense. The discrepancy is because storage manufacturers use the decimal system for defining capacity, whereas Microsoft (and Apple until recently) uses the binary system.

 

Also got this error on startup today. System was off all night'

irql_not_less_or_equal

It rebooted itself.

 

Have you tried software to block charge at 80 or 90% for exemple ?

 

I got myself a xps 15 laptop as well. coming from an 13 inch sony sb that i liked.

First impressions, very light for a 15 inch laptop! craftmanship is very good and everything seems well put together, and very thin as well. it is a beautiful thing. One remark that i have is that the laptop wiggles a bit, the front right corner of the laptop wobbles a bit. but i might be able to fix that myself.

I have the version with the full hd screen and the quad core i7 and the 1tb harddrive. I was planning to put in a 256gb samsung 840 pro for the ssd, but it hasn't arrived yet. so i have been trying the 1tb drive. The laptop is fairly quick, even for a normal harddrive, i guess the msata ssd helps with that.

The full hd screen is absolutely beautiful, i didn't want a qhd screen because i have to work with professional software that i need for work. The full hd screen is still very nice, viewing angles are huge and the colour and sharpness is great. The screen is really reflective though. but from a 1366x768 TN screen to this is a huge difference. The workmanship on the screen is good as well, no gaps and all fitted, there is a bit of backlight leakage on the bottom left, but that is only noticable on a complete black screen.

As for coil whine i haven't heard any. I do know my hearing is a bit damaged, so i might nog be able to hear.

 

Still loving my Dell Outlet top spec'd XPS 15. Very fast, no noticeable issues (maybe a bit of coil whine, but not loud at all - any background noise and you can't hear anything, and only when the machine is working hard). I can hear the fans when gaming, but that's it. The only game I really play is League of Legends, and it plays that quite well. I also really like the sound of the speakers when sitting on a flat desktop, although when on your lap it leaves something to be desired.

 

When did you purchase yours, i'm trying to see if recent purchasers of the xps 15 are experiencing the coil whine issue

 

Just so you know, I order 2/3, received 3/21 and coil is virtually non-existent (you have to lean in and be in a silent room). Sitting it on your lap in complete silence and you still won't pick up on it.

 

I ordered 13/03 got the laptop today 25/03. as far as i can see there is no coil whine.

 

Exactly like mine

 

Thank you! I was surprised it worked - I thought the .inf file would specify qualifying hardware, not including the Dell - but it installed smoothly.

 

Guys I want to ask something regarding the scaling. When I choose resolution and then make text nd other items larger or smaller I don't get the option to customizes calling to my own like

instead I get a bar that I move up down without a scaling. Only if I tick the option let me choose one scaling level for all my displays I can make a custom dpi level. Anyone who can tell me how to get that option without being forced to set the same scalling for all monitors?

 

trofi are you a recent purchaser too? Without the coil whine?

 

Hey guys i'm ready to take the plunge on this laptop. I'm currently using a hulking Alienware 18 and I want something a little more mobile and with a high quality screen. My only concern is I saw that Nvidia released the 800 series of mobile video cards and Dell is even offering them already on the Alienware laptops. My question is, how long do you think before the XPS 15 get's the new updated 800 series video card? I would hate to buy this laptop now, just for it to get updated with the newer graphics card in a month or 2.

 

Have you thought about the coil whine issue? If coil whine won't bother you, you can go ahead and purchase it.

 

I care more about performance then coil whine, I rarely use my laptop without some sort of background noise (tv, music..)

 

I have a question to ask though, Does coil whine indicate the unit is defective or is it just the fact that we can hear it and it bothers us that makes it an issue?

 

You don't get to specify multiple simultaneous DPI levels. The options you can see are what's available. Essentially the Smaller/Larger slider determines a scaling percentage for your primary display, and Windows deals with scaling in a different way on all of the non-primary displays. If you want a custom DPI level AND none of the slider options are close to what you're after AND you want to be able to use HiDPI and regular DPI displays together, you're out of luck. I've explained how the per-display scaling works and why there isn't a better solution several times in this thread already, but I finally just wrote a detailed page on the XPS 15 Wiki on the subject: Multi-monitor Setup - XPS 15 Wiki.

Don't count on upgraded video cards being available for such a tightly integrated system with discrete GPU actually integrated onto the motherboard. I would bet good money that the next-gen graphics card will be part of the next-gen XPS 15. Alienware and the top-end Precision models get upgraded graphics card options because the graphics card is of paramount importance to those buyers, and that's made easier by the fact that those systems have physically discrete GPUs and room for generous cooling assemblies in order to accommodate future cards that may generate more heat.

Audible coil whine is considered the defect; it's not a symptom of some other defect.

 

My greatest fear is Dell not coming up with a solution and then we are stuck with the coil whine issue. What if we wait, Dell doesn't fix it and we are not able to get a refund, we would be stuck with it. It baffles me how Dell with all its ability is keeping its customers in the dark. Don't they know the importance of customer satisfaction? If they are not concerned about customer satisfaction at least they are interested in making profit. I just can't stop wondering what they are doing.

 

People seem to have this notion that large companies simply by virtue of having significant resources can fix a problem overnight. If anything, being a large company actually slows down response times. That's why smaller startup companies are the ones touted as being more agile and being able to respond better and more quickly to shifts in their industry's landscape or market. If you looked at the thread I mentioned to you earlier, Dell has already officially acknowledged the issue after receiving multiple reports about it and is now investigating. They're not keeping customers in the dark; there simply hasn't been any news to share at this point. There was another issue a while back with the Latitude E6430u smelling like cat urine due to some issue with chemicals used during production or something (link here). As you'll see if you read that thread, Dell responded to the original complaint quickly, but it took a while before there were enough reports to indicate it was a widespread issue worthy of an investigation into underlying cause (as opposed to a defect isolated to a few units), then it was a while before there was any actual news to share with respect to a fix -- but it did eventually come.

As I've already said earlier today when you first asked your question about options and recommendations, if coil whine is a dealbreaker issue for you, then return the laptop now and buy something else that appeals to you. If you can live with it and there isn't any other laptop you feel you'd be happier with, then keep using it, and if a fix is developed, use your warranty to obtain it at that time -- and if it isn't, well then you decided to keep it despite that issue. Frankly I don't even consider coil whine to be that big a deal. Sure in a perfect world it wouldn't exist, but it's certainly not unique to this particular machine, or even Dell machines. There's no such thing as a perfect laptop, but (for me, at least) even with the coil whine, there's still no other system on the market right now that I'd rather have. But you seem to be asking the same questions over and over again, and I don't understand why because the choices seem pretty clear to me.

 

what does the bios a02 do?

 

There isn't a comprehensive changelog, but I've noticed that it now allows pre-boot screens (e.g. BIOS, the startup animation) to be displayed on an external panel if the lid is closed, whereas A01 would only ever show those screens on the built-in panel. I mentioned this a while back in this thread when A02 was originally released.

 

Hello guys,

Any idea what is the best way to clean the silicon surface of XPS 15? I've heard people recommending alcohol cleaning wipes but I am afraid that this will eat away the surface. Thank you!

 

new intel Wireless and BT drivers at intel.

Remember to select windows 8.1x64 or use the direct links below.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Se...AC+7260&ProdId=3714&LineId=1784&FamilyId=1783

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/23449/eng/BT_3.1.1311_e164.exe

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/23707/eng/Wireless_17.0.0_e164.exe

 

Hoping for any improvements in the wifi "n" stability and compatibility...

 

it didn't fix the random refusing to reconnect from sleep bug

 

See, I've read about this recommendation, but I also recall a user saying that the alcohol is a temporary fix -- that the discoloration comes back. The only surface that is affected is my touchpad. The palm-rests are fine, as of now. I am unsure about what to use in this case, as well. To be honest, the discoloration on my touchpad doesn't bother me the slightest knowing that it will come back from using it again.

 

Yeah I order in January but it was moved in production last week and was delivered 2 days ago.

I do have it but I have to stuck my head down to the keyboard to hear it. The same applies with he battery fully charged and the laptop working to unzip/install the adobe master's collection.

Guys one question, I tried to use my earphones but they want be plugged i all the way and thus sound wont be transferred to them. Do you know if I need and adapter or a special kind of ones?

 

Ok Thank you, Actually I don't even mind that illustrator wont scale . I can see the icons and I am OK with it as I know what they are supposed to do etc.in fact I don't mind using the laptop without scaling at all the space you get is awesome. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I am 26 or I am used t reading scientific journals with really small print either way I am ok with it I am just asking in case my father wants to see it.

 

Read the XPS 15 Wiki, Common Complaints section.

 

I've found the middle ground between QHD and FHD to be the perfect setting for everything working well.

Adobe applications are great at that setting (with no scaling) because you get high res images and I don't mind the tools being a bit smaller, it gives you more image space.

I also worked out why all my right click sub-menus were opening to the left, it's a touchscreen setting for right handers so that menus don't pop up under your hand, but I use the touchscreen so rarely I switched it to left handed to get normal response. Might see if I can add that to the wiki too.

 

Nah, it seems I simply don't have the patience for wiki editing, someone care to add that for me?

 

You lost your patience in just 5 minutes. Wow, that deserves a prize.

 

I'm getting this quite consistently when returning from sleep. And a couple of times the computer has just shut down even without a bsod.

Any tips on drivers that I should try to (re)install before calling dell?

 

I tried to upgrade the touch firmware for my low tier sent on the 18th. But it was already upgraded. So this might be a renewed version.

 

Greetings, just received a new Dell XPS 15, so far everything seems to be working great except the trackpad seems a bit erratic.
A Dell support person reinstalled the driver, that seems to have helped.
He offered to replace the trackpad if it still seems erratic.

I'm wondering if anyone has had the trackpad replaced, and if that has helped?
Thanks

 

Has anyone tried to undervolt the i7-4702 of the XPS 15 9530? Any significant drops in temperatures? Is it even possible?

 

Trackpad is known to be a bit of an issue. Take a look at the XPS 15 Wiki and read up in Common Complaints. Basically update the driver, disable any gestures you have no use for, and update your touchscreen firmware, which also seems to improve the touchpad.

 

I realised I'd have to create a page for the fix and then link it's back to the main page of fixes, while at work.

 

You mean the resolution between QHD and FHD? I just might try that...
Not a fan of the way Windows handles scaling.

 

Yes. In a word.

Works perfectly for me.

 

Received my top tier replacement today from dell. Replacement ordered March 17 and arrived March 26th due to backlog in available systems. This laptop also has a high pitched coil whine when plugged in, just like the first. I am quite disappointed and am considering asking for a refund. Has anyone had any experience with getting their money back? Does the restocking fee apply in this case?

 

Have you tried to switch the power supply of the new one and the old one? Both my new and old machines have coil whine with their original power supplies. But when I plug the power supply of the old machine into the new one, the whine is gone!!! That is really a surprise, maybe a coincident.

 

Switchimg the power supply adapter dies not work. At least for me and the meanwhile 3 adapters i fester. Google also here for my old post.

 

Before you call Dell about the BSOD I suggest that you analyse the problem a little further. I think it really helps a lot if you can tell the Dell support what you have already found out.

You can take two approaches to find out the cause of the BSOD:

1. Start the program 'My Dell'. Click on 'Checkup'. On the left pane of the Checkup window you will see an entry called 'Bluescreen search program' (or similar). Here you will get a short summary of the BSOD telling you which driver had caused it.

2. If you want to invistigate the cause of the last bluescreen further, I suggest analysing the dump file with the kernel debugger. You can find a good walkthrough here:

Reading a memory.dmp or other .dmp file - Scott Forsyth's Blog

You should do this every time when you get a bluescreen. The dump file is overwritten each time so that you can only analyse the last one.

My wife's XPS 15 had a problem with the nVidia graphics chip. After analysing the dump files and trying out different driver versions, I called Dell. They agreed immediatly to change the main board. After the exchange the problem never occured again.

My XPS 15 had once a blue screen caused by McAfee when I tried to send it to hibernation. It never happened again, so I didn't care about it.

 

Thanks a ton! That's really good info. I will troubleshoot some more. Seems to be the gpu that is causing the trouble in my case too.

 

Guys I am asorry I ask again but noone answered back. Do I need any adapters to put external speakers or headphones to this laptop? I tried to plug in my earphones but they wouldn't go all the way in

 

You don't need any adapter as long as your headphones use standard 3.5mm plugs.

 

Probably a coincidence. I tested 3 generations of Dell 130W power supplies with no change in coil whine.

No adapters required as long as your headphones use a standard jack. Just insert and select the appropriate device type when you see the popup window.