XPS 15 (L521X) Owner's Lounge

Just received mine (GT640, 8GB, 512SSD model --> BIOS A04) and immediately checked for the throttling issue by simply installing and running Civilization V. Unfortunately, I see the CPU going to 1.2Ghz (CPU-Z) while playing the game The fan also makes quite some noise which I don't find an issue while playing the game, however, I don't like it when just surfing the web or working in a word document. Still have to work more to see how often this happens.

Finally, I can see a small dust particle between the glass and the actual display which I really don't like. I guess I'll be calling up Dell support for a replacement screen or to clean it. However, I'm still puzzled what to do with the throttling issue, I don't want a laptop that can't handle 'simple' games at full speed.

Everything else about the laptop ME LIKE A LOT. Quality and build are excellent. Screen is actually better than I had expected, very crisp and bright.

Hope to hear some solutions for the throttling issues, if not solved, I really hate to have to return it.

 

This is even more frustrating, since Civ5 is not a demanding game at all in terms of performance. I could run it in my 5-year-old HP Pavilion dv9283ea with dual core and 512 MB GPU...

 

I'm considering it, but I just waited two weeks for this one, how long til a replacement comes. I'm going to try rubbing it with a cleaning cloth, maybe it'll buff out. I took a picture after I took it out of the box.


Ok, I scrubbed the top, I think its gone, (or I can't see it in the light in the room I'm in now) and I think my machine was just dirty.

 

I think they should come to your home within 2 days with the new part and replace it. No?

 

Got mine - is anybody else's screen terribly oversaturated? I mean mine is crazy saturated. I have to lower saturation by 30 to get it to look normal.

N

 

It is good and normal if the cpu stays at 1.2ghz when idle. (or when alt+tab a game). The problem I see, is that the CPU goes to 1.2ghz on load, while gaming.

To check it, you need to log the CPU frequency while gaming (or maybe t play in windowed mode) or just see the fps drop with fraps.

I measured my monitor and it is fine, green and red are on the NTSC primaries (they are a bit different from srgb), blue is just a bit weak.

 

Hi,

I tested the game in windowed mode with CPU-Z running on the side. It started out with 2.7-2.8 and dropped after a minute or so to 1.2. After quitting the game, it continues to remain at 1.2 for a couple of minutes (while surfing the web) after which it increases again to 2.1 - 2.7 depending on the load (surfing/desktop apps).

Regarding the monitor saturation, everything seems to be perfectly normal on my screen, did not need to change anything with regard to the saturation/colors/contrast.

 

Same thing over here, I'm really hoping Bill can check in and comment on this situation.

 

Ok here is a few tips for those curious about whats inside your machine:

1. When taking off the bottom cover, makes sure you are very careful, there is a ribbon cable connected to the machine on the bottom cover (used for the battery check button)

2. BE VERY CAREFUL screwing the hard drive screws. I had the head snap off the screw when I was applying very little torque. Terrible.

Here are the parts inside:

BD DVD UJ-167

Ram - 2 x Hynix HMT351S6CFR8C 2Rx8 PC3-12800S 11 11 F3 SK Hynix

HDD - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7500BPKT Newegg.com - Western Digital Scorpio Black WD7500BPKT 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive -Bare Drive

SSD - MZ-MPC032D http://www.samsung.com/us/business/oem-solutions/pdfs/PM830_mSATA SSD_32_64_128_256GB_Spec_1.0.pdf Not that I distrusted Bill, but for those that weren't sure its PM830.

Windows and Intel stickers remove easily without residue.


Also, I apologize Bill, I will not be performing that test of using the Msata drive as a cache for SSD. The bottom cover is too much of a pita to take off compared to my latitude, sorry. I already broke one screw putting in the SSD, I'm not going to chance these crappy screws breaking again once I have everything in there. (I install windows with one HDD installed or else it trys throwing its hidden partition on other drives)

 

I hope you don't mind me asking, but how do you measure the monitor colors? Do you use one of those Spyder calibrators?

 

I've recived my XPS 15 on thursday and made a little review you can download as a PDF-file (because I don't know how to use HTML ) under:

File-Upload.net - Dell-XPS-review.pdf

My overall experience is great, I love the notebook and are very glad that I waited half a year for the new XPS

 

I believe when you said "eye-cancer", you meant "eyestrain"... no computer screen actually causes eye cancer lol. Anyway, good review.

 

Great review! Thanks a lot for this contribution

 

Just got my XPS today too. Overall, I like the unit. The trackpad is not too stiff or too loose. The screen is also very nice for a TN panel. What I don't like though is that the optical drive makes a noise as if its checking for a disk anytime I open WMP. Other then that, it runs very quiet, but I haven't tried gaming on it yet due to the known throttling issue. Now the waiting game begins on whether Dell can address the throttling issue. If not, unfortunately I'll have to return it and go elsewhere.

Oh, and the power brick is not as large as I was expecting it to be, which was a pleasant surprise.

 

I wouldn't avoid gaming or any other task because of the throttling issue. I would recommend using it the way you want/need to and let the Dell resources here know what issues (if any) you have.

That will help Dell pinpoint and expedite resolution. If you have significant issues and reach the end of the 21 day return policy, I would definitely return it.

I personally do heavy imaging manipulation and database/software design on mine. I wouldn't have noticed the throttling if it weren't for the forums bringing it up. I plan on keeping mine and hoping for a BIOS/software update in the near future to resolve it.

 

Well, tracking down the issue is not easy.

My guess: the CPU throttles to 1.2Ghz when the GPU reaches 71°.
(screenshot attached: please try yourself, just prime95 running +gpuz)

-> when the GPU is not used, TurboBoost works as intended, and the CPU can stay at around 2.6-2.8Ghz and 95° on heavy load.
-> the CPU can bring the GPU over 70° even if the GPU is doing nothing.
-> to recover normal functionality (over 1.2Ghz), you need to wait to cool the GPU down.

I think sharing the thermal budget is not a bad idea per se, but I fear that the CPU at 1.2Ghz for gaming is too low.

I'll wait for any news from DELL now.

I used a Spyder3 express sensor with HCFR software (freeware). I'm not sure about the accuracy of my measurements, but I'm confident the monitor is good for my use.

 

OK, So apparently my screen may be defective. Just want to confirm. If you go to Contrast - Lagom LCD test

On my screen, at default settings, blue is not differentiated after 26, green after 25, cyan after 28, red after 29, purple after 30, yellow after 29.

Thanks for your help; trying to determine if it is truly defective before I contact Dell support.

N

 

My concern is that it may turn out to be a hardware related problem that can't be resolved with a simple BIOS or software update (hoping this won't be the case). Like you said though, I have 21 days to test it out and worse case scenario, I'll just return it.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

Same with mine, but that "issue" should be resolved with calibration. It is not a problem for me.
I measured just the saturation of primaries. (I didn't calibrate it, I need to learn how color calibration works in Windows 7, if I keep the laptop)

 

I think this is a fair assessment of what is happening, but how often are you actually hitting thermal capacity in gaming? And what is the net impact on the gaming experience? The question that comes into play for Dell is how much thermal headroom did they design into the system, and is it a matter of extending the limits before pulling back.

Others have pointed out Bill included) that Prime95 loading is quite extreme, especially for laptops, and can exceed most manufacturer's design parameters.

I'm not disputing your experience at all, just trying to get a better handle on what you are experiencing and how it is impacting you. Your feedback is constructive and helpful for owners and potential owners.

 

Well, mine throttles in less than a minute when playing STO (a 2 year old game) at medium graphic settings and my Framerate becomes a slide show just moving around. I installed EVGA Precision and monitored the framerate, temps etc. and watched my framerate drop more than 50% and my GPU temp was less than 60C.

I ordered my XPS 15 specifically with the GT 640M expecting to get much better performance for occasional gaming then my E6530 that has the NVS 5200 - but with this throttling issue the E6530 outperforms it!

If I didn't care about gaming I would have just bought one of the Ultrabooks - but this is an XPS system so I expected decent gaming performance, especially with the optional GT 640M discrete graphics card.

 

If you go into Windows Mobility Center (right click on the battery icon on the Taskbar) you will see a setting for 'Enhanced Color Performance'. Dell defaults it to 'Splendid Color' which I think accounts for the oversaturation. Setting it to 'Generic Color' may help.

In any event, I don't think it's anything that calibration can't overcome.

 

You got it - this solved it perfectly - thanks so much - never would've thought to look there

N

 

Imagine how long it took me to find it

I miss the good old days when the Dell Customization options were in the Quickset menu.

 

OK Next issue - I am missing the option in the Intel graphics driver to disable Display Power Saving Technology. I go to a dark web page and the whole screens brightness dims. My old XPS14 had this option available to disable this feature, but it is missing on the xps 15. Any thoughts?

I have changed to battery options in the Power settings in the Intel graphics options too


N

 

Do you think there is any hope to have the GPU (+ boost or not) at less than 71° while playing any game?

I started my investigation after perceiving a strange "slugginess" in diablo III and Prince of Persia. I wonder if forcing the use of HD4000 can be better than using the nvidia.

Also I fear for Guildwars2, that likely will be a cpu-bound game.
Of course, to asset real-life performance we need more benchmarks.

I bought the DELL because I trusted the brand, and I thought that if they say "2.1ghz CPU and GT640", and I paid for them, I can use both them at nominal performance under typical load. At least on a premium DELL. Maybe on others laptop it works in the same way, I don't know.

Really chris, I'd prefer an official DELL statement that the CPU is designed to work at 1.2Ghz while playing games, that everyone does in this way, and that this does not affect the majority of users. All this "damage control" makes me a bit nervous.

 

TO help anyone else bothered by this - Dell controls this setting with their battery feature. Right click on the battery and click Dell Extended Battery Life options and then click the option "Enable Dell Intelligent Display in Battery Mode"

N

 

I keep posting this, but has ANYONE got the i5, and does it throttle? The reason I am asking, is because if it does not then it would confirm either faulty cpu or faulty bios.

 

LiquidSilver,

I don't think the underclocking has anything to do with the thermals. It happens when the GPU takes over the the Intel 4000. That tells me that it is either a bug in the CPU/Chipset, BIOS, or Optimus driver.

When Anand was reviewing the MBPw/RD he actually encountered the exact same thing.

"I also had a strange experience where the CPU clocks on the system magically decided to get clamped down to around 1.2GHz on battery power. A simple reset of the PRAM and SMC fixed the problem but it was odd behavior for sure. I can’t completely fault Apple for this one, as I know I subjected the rMBP to a bunch of strange tests over the course of the past week and a half."
AnandTech - The next-gen MacBook Pro with Retina Display Review

I am actually pretty surprised he just blew it off. He usually doesn't let that stuff slip.

Hopefully Dell is in contact with both Intel and nVidia to get this figured out and solved. I am guessing a bios update from Dell or a driver update from Intel or nVidia will end up being the fix. Have you tried the latest drivers from their websites, particularly nVidia beta drivers?

 

Have some rep, that confirms the issue is a bug rather than thermal.

 

Two thumbs up!

 

srry i havent ordered my i5 with 640m yet but i doubt the i5's will throttle

 

Just ran some Skyrim for about 20 minutes and didn't experience any drastic drop in FPS. These are the setting I used:



I was 30s-40s through out the whole beginning with drops into the upper 20s when the dragon attacks.

 

The latest beta driver mentions something in the release notes that it

I might try installing this and see if it helps, rather someone more used to this kinda thing did first though. I just make songs, I'm no master of technology lol

 

If I'm not wrong, someone did the test with nvidia beta drivers and it doesn't change anything....
I really hope that this throttling problem will be solve, because I'm ready to cancel my order of the vaio S15 if it's the case.

 

Does anyone know if there is cpu throttling if the laptop is plugged into mains?

Speaking of which im finding the power cable to be not long enough, seems to be about a meter long!

The sound is decent enough, not quite the same as the jbl's but for the form factor and considering no subwoofer they do a good job.

There is nice materials used on the palmrests but it and the keyboard is a bit of a dust magnet!

As mentioned before the screen is vivid and they have definately used a good panel, colours are rich and vibrant just like the b+rgb displays although there a bit of relection probably due to the gorilla glass. I also mentioned i found one dead pixel but its near the edge of the screen so not that noticeable, has anyone else checked for this?

So what are you other i7 owners going to do, keep it regardless or return if you dont get a bios / gpu sw upgrade within your 21 day return period?

Maybe Bill can help us out here

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

In German getting eye-cancer is a saying, if something Looks really really Bad, but i guess you can't translate it in this Way

 

Just received my machine today.

Put in my SSD and installed windows, but I'm going to have to say that I'm utterly disappointed with the machine.

Even after installing all Dell Drivers/applications from the support site, the fan is on all of the time (even at the desktop).

Running Windows Experience Rating thing puts the fans to 'extremely loud'.

Is there an application/software that I can use to control the fan, this is absoltely insane - it's so loud! My wife walked in and asked how it was going, and before she could say anything, she mentioned the extreme noise.

 

seems like this laptop design has got some thermal problems. I will reserve my judgement until I receive mine later this week.
try creating a custom fan profile with afterburner, see if that helps. however I do remember some other user saying that the fan was inaudible during normal usage.

 

Did you change the power profile to high performance?

 

It's definitely not inaudible at the desktop.

HWINFO says it's running at 3100 RPM, and the GPU fan is at 0 RPM, so I guess I've got this setup about right.

CPU temp is 60C and GPU is 53C idle.

 

No, balanced right now. Shoudl I change it?

 

The fan will run all the time at low revs, it is normal behavior or it would overheat. Also do not forget that after running Windows for the first time, it takes a while for it to bed in. So it will be doing a lot of caching etc. Also the .NET framework makes the cpu go nuts for the first few reboots until it optimizes.

Im windows task manager, is the CPU useage going nuts?

 

Then it's going back, it's simply too noisy at idle to be acceptable to me.

No, CPU is 1-2%.

 

Something is wrong with your config, I noticed you said it is running @ 3100rpm?

 

Yup, HWiNFO64, says 3100 RPM at idle.

 

From the other thread:

I had suggested in the other thread that one should contact UncleWebb to see if he can help with a workaround solution.

 

Did this happen before or after you did the driver updates?

 

Hard to be sure, I didn't take any notice whilst installing Windows, as I was expecting the machine to be busy whilst doing this. I'm going to re-install win7 now to see if that helps.

Anyone know how to get back to the RAID setup screen in the bios? I've done something to the MSATA config, and I can't get it to 'accelerate' the main disk (I just see it as a seperate disk now).

 

Awesome!
Would you mind sharing your ICC profile with us please?