XPS 15 (L521X) Owner's Lounge

I installed Win8, webcam works fine.

 

Did you do a clean install of win8 and did you install the dell webcam software or does windows recognize it natively?

 

I originally did an upgrade and had a lot of issues, so I did a clean install (with uefi) and then loaded all of the win8 drivers from the dell website in the recommended order. I have had no issues, and the system boots up in about 17 seconds, and wakes up in about 11 seconds. It is very fast and stable. I upgraded the hard drive to a Samsung 512gb SSD, I upgraded the mSATA to a 256gb, and I put a 256gb SSD in place of the optical drive.

I also now use a 802.11ac usb adapter and get 867Mbps connection most of the time, when I am upstairs and on the other end of the house, it drops to 144Mbps.

 

That is strange, I did a clean install on a 512GB Intel SSD, loaded all dell drivers and Windows 8 says there is no webcam present in my system. I do boot to the desktop in less than 10 seconds though.

 

There is no Dell webcm software, or where is it? There is even no webcam driver. It's included in Win7 or Win8 IMO.

 

Go to the bottom of the drivers page and there is a link.

Here it is as well:

https://smartsource.dell.com/Web/Welcome.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fweb%2fmain.aspx

 

1Kevin just to say If your running a UEFI system that boot up time with an SSD seems awfully slow for win 8. I went for an upgrade without UEFI and the boot up is from pressing the power button is 9 seconds dead to the desktop. What sort of speeds are you achieving with your wireless ac setup.

 

I timed it several tries and 17sec from dead to desktop, and 11sec with IRST. While I'm pretty happy with this, I'll see if I can figure out what is adding the "extra" time. What are your uefi settings to get to 9 seconds?

Wireless ac is incredibly fast! Connection is typically at 867Mbps within 10meters of the router, upstair through a couple of walls and probably 15meters from the router it drops to 144Mbps, that is the lowest it has dropped. Actual transfer with the server in the house is about 1/3 of that effectively (haven't done significant testing).

 

I hope Dell will offer the XPS 15 with a touch screen. I just think purchasing a new high end laptop w/o a touch screen today is really missing out. The XPS 15 top model has all the things I want except a touch screen.

 

Thats the funny thing Im not even using UEFI just legacy BIOS and the times are pretty damn fast. Even on my desktop which does not have an SSD just a WD Velociraptor it only takes around 13-14 seconds. I would definately have a look again mate as with your setup you should be achieving far greater bootup times. Well I have to admit those speeds for the WiFi sound excellent. Think I may just have to go down the ac route like yourself.

 

which caddy are you using for the Optical Drive? How did you do that? I installed the 512gb and replaced the 750gb but I might want to put the 750gb in the ODD.

 

So I just received my newly built full replacement L521x (Windows 8, 1901 card) I received via working with Terry. So far I'm seeing only slightly better wireless performance than my original one, still not good enough. Is there anyone else who received their replacement who is seeing substantially better wireless performance?

 

There may be others but I have seen positive reports about this company:

http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index..._3&zenid=7ac503f909879b16154ce00d9ce4bb13

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

before you return the old system can you please swap out the cards and post the specs pls.

 

About 364 pages back in this thread someone mentioned something about the card reader driver slowing down boot times. You might try messing with that.

 

Oh, I really didn't know this. Webcam central is worth to install? What are the main features?

 

Just thought I would comment that the $1699 model has been marked down to $1499 now through the 26th.

 

I am a bit confused. I tried to install Windows 8.

My steps:
1. Install Bios A012
2. Change bios setting to UEFI boot
3. Place windows 8 DVD
4. Can't install as the "drive is not a GPT drive" (even when i formatted drive and deleted drive, it won't allow me to create new partition)

So, I changed bios back to legacy boot and I was able to create partition and install Windows 8. So how did others use the UEFI boot for speedier startup? Sorry, I am quite noob as you can see here.

 

Pegasus, you are answered in the other thread. ;^)

 

That is what I did originally. Here is the caddy:

Search Results : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

 

Cool. Seems a bit expensive though. I was looking at this one: 2nd HDD SSD hard drive caddy For Dell XPS Studio 13 (1340),XPS 15 (L521x) | eBay

Looks like the same thing. I'm just using the 32gb msata as a second drive right now but IDK if it's worth it to put the 750gb drive back in

 

Heh, yeah, thanks Coderbear.

 

So I was wondering if I go to the BIOS, and remove the iRST thing, would the MSATA SSD be displayed in My Computer? And if so, would I need to reinstall Windows if I wanted the OS all on the MSATA? Also, would removing the iRST option format my hard drive or anything?

 

I got a Buffalo one sent to me, it was slow, very big and useless, until I complained then they sent out the "only" (thats what they said the only type of nano adapter) Nano Adapter Dell stock a D-Link nano adapter and that gets up to 50Mbps on my 65Mbps max internet speed. So basically they send you out a random one, and if you think its too slow/too big then just complain to dellcares on twitter and they will send you out one more practical for your needs.

 

No you would not needto reinstall. Just create a partition on your hdd, move your files on it. Then shrink the os partition to the same size as the msata. Then using norton ghost, or partitition magic etc, copy or ghost your os partition onto the msata..

 

Yup, I found it added 10 seconds to the boot time. This was not using uefi boot though.

 

I was getting this msg too. Maybe a different situation. I put in the Win7 instal disc (I'm using Win7, but maybe the same for Win8), delete partitions and create a new partition. Then I would get the GPT drive msg. Solution: Start over, delete partitions. Do NOT create any new partitions. Highlight the drive you want to install in and continue. It will create the necessary partitions automatically and work.

 

i solved it by not using UEFI boot. Then it could create the partition without problem. The GPT drive is for UEFI boot. Check out the other thread, explained succintly by coderbear. (installing windows 8 on L521x thread)

 

So what exactly did you do to the card driver? Did you just disable it?

 

Yeah just disable it. Re-enable it everytime you want to read an sd card

 

Just thought I would share my experience with the wifi issue. Have had the laptop for approx 3 months and have the poor wifi issue like most. Have followed all the attempted fixes and until now have taken a step back. I bit the bullett in the end and let dell send me a 1901 wifi card. Well all I can say is wow. With the new card the link speed never drops below 270mbps anywhere in the house or garden. Transfer speeds on the 2.4ghz band are approx 7MBs (56mbps) and on the 5ghz band they are approx 12MBs (96mbps). At no time in transferring large files do theses speeds drop. This would certainly indicate to me that there is certainly no inherent build issue with this laptop.

 

Hi! Could you please give me your config? I just received a "new" xps 15 with windows 8 and the dell wifi 1901 and the performance is as bad as the old intel wifi card. No difference at all!!

 

Tom, I have the i7 3612QM, 1TB HDD, 256GB mSata, 8GB Ram and 1901 wifi.

 

Don't know what to think about.... You're using a N wifi router?

 

Please include which router is being used.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

The router is a Netgear N600 Dual band DGND3700

 

Dell is having me send out my xps to replace the keyboard but I find that useless seeing as the revised 521 has a new chassis that improves wifi performance nd I will be requesting that replacement then the 15r if it does not work. sigh, sooo tired of this

 

Hi, I used a netgear DG834Gv5 and a netgear DGN2200 with the same result...

 

Tom do you mean the same good results as me or poor results like others?

 

Same BAD results.... No difference between the 1st version and 2nd version of the l521x: no wifi signal or bad connection (slow and with frequently disconnected)

 

How far away are you from your router?

 

Of course I'm comparing the wifi performance with my old Vostro 3500. At 6/8 meters from the access point with 2 walls in between I cannot connect to my wireless network. With the old Vostro I can.

 

When I spoke to 2 different tech support guys about getting my xps with the Intel wireless card replaced with the system with the 1901 wireless card I was told both times there are absolutely no changes to the systems except a different wifi card and processor. Certainly no changes to antennas or like. And to be fair I do actually believe them. I was achieving my speeds through 2 walls and sat in my garage. I am at a complete loss to pinpoint where the issue could lie.

 

Ya, I tried to find a better driver but nothing worked.

 

Had a chat with a rep who says this problem has been resolved in machines shipping now. Wasn't very well informed though.

 

Dell has been claiming that there is no problem the entire time.

 

Not sure what you mean. That he's lying about the solution and the problem probably still exists? Or that they are denying there is a problem? If it's the latter, he admits there has been a problem in the transcript. I've also seen plenty of posts by DELL reps engaging about the problem on the forums.

 

He might be lying unless they changed things again. I ordered one several days ago based on my experience with my StudioXPS 16 and reviews from CNET, PCWorld, etc, but that was before I learned about the WIFI,Screen, and throttling issues. According to the order details mine is being shipped with the Dell 1901 Wireless card.

Mc

 

- dell has never publicly stated there is a WiFi problem, to me that means they are avoiding the truth at best.

- when cornered with data most sales reps disavow knowledge or claim it has been fixed, usually by software or replacement card fix, which time and again proves to NOT repair in-field units, and we still continue to get reports of faulty units

- service reps continue to disavow knowledge of endemic WiFi issues and drag people through the 100 painful steps of ineffective remediation. Exceptions have been some social-media reosnthat have been helpful for remediation efforts or returns.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

Just go back in this thread, every time that someone has asked to Dell reps if the problems were solved, they have always said "every issues is fixed", you can find even the chat with Dell reps in this thread and obviously it's all false, this is happened in August, September, October and now in November.

You can try to ask to Dell Reps if a problem that doesn't exist it's fixed, I bet they say that it's fixed.