XPS 15 9560 owners thread.

Search the forums m8

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ures-benchmarks-xps-15-9560-kaby-lake.802345/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...60-and-why-most-people-shouldnt-do-it.802670/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...rature-observations-undervolt-repaste.785963/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...w-with-all-xps-15-9560-gpu-throttling.802641/

http://www.ultrabookreview.com/10167-laptop-undervolting-overcloking/

 

Thanks a lot. Seems more useful for the serious gamer and heavy users but I greatly appreciate the info.

Unrelated, but is there anything tricky about doing a clean Win 10 install after receiving the laptop? Is there any Dell software you'd recommend loading (again, average user here) if you do a clean install that gets rid of all bloatware? Is there any good reason not to do a clean install?

Also, do you need to register a new computer with Dell or is that totally unnecessary and unrelated to the warranty?

 

Click the link in my sig

 

Thanks as always Gonzo. Unfortunately, I have a feeling your walk through is a bit out of my comfort zone because I am so new to a lot of this stuff and really want to avoid making mistakes so I want to simplify this as much as possible.

Is doing your method vastly different from just loading a windows 10 ISO onto a flash drive from the microsoft webpage and then executing it on the laptop? Are the differences widely applicable or more for the advanced/power users?

 

I don't think getting more battery life is only useful for gamers

 

Yes it's just a plain iso the same as you get from Microsoft with the necessary drivers burnt in. Nothing else.

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Alright, I think I understand better. Sorry to be so clueless on this. I am okay following steps but I just want to avoid ending up with a bricked laptop and the more ignorant you are, the more possible that seems.

The other two Q's: Is there any Dell software you'd recommend loading (again, average user here) if you do a clean install that gets rid of all bloatware and is there any good reason not to do a clean install?

Also, do you need to register a new computer with Dell or is that totally unnecessary and unrelated to the warranty?

 

There are lots of people on the forums who can help you if something goes wrong, but if you follow the steps you should bet totally fine.

I can't think of one good reason not to clean install, I only boot into dell's install to make sure the laptop is functional and then I wipe it...

If you bought the computer from dell then you don't have to do anything to register it and the warranty will be in your name. If you bought it from somewhere/someone else then you need to do a warranty transfer: https://www.dell.com/support/assets-transfer/us/en/4

 

Thanks a lot custom. Glad to hear I don't need to bother with registering if purchased from Dell and that a clean install is a no brainer.

My final follow up is just to ask if there is any Dell XPS 15 software you would recommend loading that would be lost with a clean install? I'm insecure about things like PremierColor, Dell Updater, or anything else that could be good to add to a clean install on an XPS 15.

 

Personally the only dell software that I install is dell power manager. If you have a 4k screen then PremierColor may be something you want (sadly I have 0 experience with it). GoNz0 should have all of the needed drivers. If you're lacking something you can always pick it up from http://www.dell.com/support

 

custom90gt summed it up nicely. I included any extras you may need such as prem colour and power manager can be downloaded from Dell.

If you have ever reinstalled a PC/Laptop you can just use the ISO and get on with it, I had so many questions from total newbies to seasoned pro's that the 1st post grew full of information that may or may not be of use!

All this started because a standard install couldn't see the SSD until the windows anniversary release but people liked the fact the install contained all additional drivers you would have to install and it installs them for you!

Also without the wifi drivers you can't sign into your microsoft account, pain in the arse having to make a local account then convert it after you install wireless.

 

Received my DA130PM130 from Dell yesterday and I am noise free now I was actually pretty shocked because I only called the day before.

Everything on my 9560 seems to be good so far other than my power button is ever so slightly raised on the right side and flush with the deck on the left.

 

I see, thanks for elaborating. So you need to have a Microsoft account? I'm still in the Win 7 days and I don't think I've ever had to make a Microsoft account.

 

You don't need one.

 

This is exactly set of software from DELL I had installed. And would recommend others too.

 

So most people here recommend Dell Power Manager?

What are your thoughts on Dell Updater?

 

Updater will install more crap on your NB.
While power manager gives you some control over parameters which u cant change somewhere else than BIOS and Dell Power Manager

 

Just got my 9560 and need to buy a mouse. The one i'm looking at it is bluetooth, are there any issues with the 9560's BT ?

 

I use a Logitech MX Master with my 9560 and have had no issues.

 

Logitech M557 - everything work fine

 

Thanks.

Another question, I know this has been discussed, but is there anything that can be done about the ghosting? I have the FHD model and it's a bit much, like when scrolling quickly through webpages. Will updating certain drivers or setting refresh rate to 60 help? I checked the display settings and the default is 59.

 

Is the amount of junk that Dell Updater will load much less than what exists if you don't do a clean install? Basically, my main worry is that I'm not knowledgeable enough to keep things manually up to date in a way they should be. Any option that will make automatic updates that are needed would be really attractive so long as the costs of doing so are not excessive. How much downside is there to Dell Updater? Does it also do an okay job at doing the necessary and positive updates as well?

 

Short answer "no"
long answer, go search the 9550 threads on it as it is the same panel, resulting in the answer "no" Bit of a lottery, FHD is worst but you can kick up a fuss with tech and they may replace it.

 

Live by the motto "if it isn't broken don't unfix it"
Seriously sod Dell updater it is a waste of system resources and misses most things, being active on here will yield better results.

 

Replace it with what? From what I've read it seems like it's just the type of panel they used. Unless you step up to the 4k one.

 

Replace with the same but some are better than others. You will find out if you go to the 9550 threads.
My 4k is ok until you turn on the blue light filter then it is basically unusable when scrolling.

 

Getting my 9560 today. I7/512/16gb with 4K and fingerprint. Got a great deal via pm through Best Buy.

I ordered an intel 8265 to swap with the killer wifi and have also ordered a 960 pro as well. Looking forward to using gonzos clean ISO!

Anyone have any ram recommendations? Will prob swap it out at some point.

This thread has been helpful and just wanted to say thanks to all who contribute.


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You will not notice faster ram in this, 2400 is the limit and cas timing account for a couple of percent. I got a great deal on 32gb of Crucial cas17

 

That glue is used to give some mechanical strength to those delicate components. It's ok.

 

Ah ok. What are your thoughts on the crucial ram? I was thinking about getting Kingston.


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Thanks but 'being active on here' worries me. It just feels vague and easy to get lost or confused if I need to manually be checking the forum. How many drivers and other types of things do I need to be regularly checking to update? What does SOD stand for?

 

Looking at the 9550 thread on ghosting and people's photos of the ufo test, it seems like I might already have one of the better panels.

https://streamable.com/s3sgq

 

The fastest Userbenchmark RAM scores around 86 come from G.SKILL F4 2666 C18, followed by Corsair and Kingston 2400 around 83
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/933641
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3036580
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/2874033

That G.SKILL had even higher RAM scores in the 9550, so I guess 2666MHz must be real
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/869414
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/933641

But there are likely better ways of spending money than on slightly faster RAM.

 

I went to Dell site and created subscription for drivers/bios e.t.c. updates .. If you do so - you wont miss something crucial

 

if I got a million every time the Dell Updater found something I would be a millionaire today

 

Undervolting lowers the power consumption of (and thus also heat produced by) the CPU which is useful to heavy users because the load temperatures go down, but it is also useful to light users. Aside from the battery extension, it also means that the fans will spin up less often when you run into a CPU-heavy webpage or something of the sort.

It is very popular because it produces gains of the same order as any other modification, but is much safer and easier to do. You don't have to open the laptop or mess with the BIOS -- you just download a program (there are a couple, but Intel's XTU is the simpler of the two), adjust a slider and test. The worst that will happen is that the machine will need to be rebooted (it undoes your modifications in this case so in theory you never wind up with a broken configuration). Thus, undervolting is the one method I would recommend even to people who are relatively new to such things.

 

Exactly my case. I'm not really into opening up my laptop and applying thermal paste or pads, but I found undervolting to be quite simple and useful, both for extended battery life and less frequent fan runs. After a few blue screens and reboots, settled on -125 for CPU and -100 for GPU. My guide was the following:

http://www.ultrabookreview.com/10167-laptop-undervolting-overcloking/

 

Thanks a lot. Is there any source that will say what the 'etc' refers to? Basically, I don't know what driver updates are important and what are bloat. I don't know when they will need to be updated and when they should be left as is. This option sounds like a good one but would love a bit more info or a link on how to do this properly.

 

Anyone have tips for improving the reliability of the WD15 USB C docking station? I can get it to recognize the external monitor if I plug the monitor in, after the laptop is connected to the docking station. However, if I undock when I come back the monitor isn't recognized. Same thing happens from monitor sleep mode. I have to power cycle the monitor every time. The monitor is an ASUS PA329Q operating off the thunderbolt port in the back of the docking station.

BTW, I've downloaded all the latest drivers from Dell's website (including thunderbolt port drivers) and the latest Intel video driver from Intel's website.

 

Gonzo, you make an appearance in the end of this video! How do you think his video is? I tend to just find illustrative youtube videos a bit easier for me to follow and the fact that he's referencing you gives him some extra credibility With that said, do let us know if he is off base on anything.

It would also help many to hear others reflect on the process. He also makes some changes, like the way the computer charges, that I'm unsure about.

He also changes from Raid to ACHI but doesn't say why he is doing it. What is the purpose of this?

 

Tally ho there, Champs

 

Well, he loves his XPS:es, thats for sure

 

Is he a poster on here? Any one want to take on any of the below Q's?

 

NVMe drives are best running on ACHI with the correct driver if available.

 

Does anyone has a 4k laptop connected to a 4k external monitor via USB-C? My issue is similar to the one quoted; intermittently (more often than not), after the monitors are turned off by Windows to save energy, moving the mouse will not wake up the external monitor; in Device manager Windows still thinks the monitor is connected, but it is like the monitor has not received a wake up call. Depending on the situation to restore display on the external monitor I may have to press the power button of the monitor once (not always sufficient), unplug/replug the cable (always works), disable "extended desktop" and enable it back (not always sufficient).
When the laptop goes to sleep, and is waken up, it always manages to properly wake up the external monitor. HDMI also works perfectly (but limited to 30Hz). The LG technician came to check if the cable or the monitor were faulty, but it worked perfect with his laptop (and switching the cable did not help), with his LG Gram test laptop. So I believe it is either a driver issue or a hardware issue, most likely driver (my bet is the Intel driver is buggy) but it would help to know if anyone has USB-C external monitors working flawlessly (I guess it is less common than HDMI).

 

Man, I don't think I can handle this ghosting, it's like "drunk vision". Does Dell charge you for returns?

It's so disappointing because everything else about this laptop is almost perfect.

 

They can't charge you for returning a defective laptop.

 

With the 9550, I could undervolt for ~10*C temp improvement. New thermal paste provided another ~5*C thermal improvement. Some other tweaks gave a bit more. For the 9560, we don't have enough before-after stats here but undervolting will likely be helpful, but not quite as effective (partly because the Kaby Lake chips seem to have issues around -130mv and the Skylake chips could be undervolted significantly more.)

The one major issue is that the 9550 & 9560 generally have bad thermal paste jobs. So repasting fixes a defect.** For a really bad paste job thermals get really bad.

Undervolting partially compensates that defective factory paste job on the CPU in some cases but it is inevitably an artificial bottleneck. Undervolting the CPU does little to help GPU temps, which are obviously more critical with the 1050 chip.

** You could say there is sample bias but there is enough documentation here from a few experienced owners who have opened up say 6+ units with a 100% hit rate.

 

Tally ho chaps!

He likes the Dell - Alienware line a lot and he is very positive.

About a month ago, he did a detailed video which covers most of the problem areas in just a few minutes. It is pretty dense so watch it a few times and take notes. Don't think Dell paid for that video lol.

Look at his videos, study these forums, read a few online "reviews" and come to your own conclusions.

 

Personally I find that he is just too positive, to the point where I am wondering if he gets paid by Dell for doing this. Know faults like ghosting, the keyboard area being a fingerprint magnet, coil whine etc has never been mentioned in any of the videos I have seen. And considering how clean the XPSes are in each video, he must have quite a lot of experience cleaning them

So I would see his videos more like his personal opinions than actual reviews like the ones by Notebookcheck and MobileTechReview. That said, he is of course entitled to his own opinions and the videos I have seen are well made and he puts a lot of work and time into this which should be respected.