XPS 15 9560 owners thread.

Had the 56whr battery version with a 250 gb SSD. What is the easiest way to get more space?

I believe the 56whr battery model has the option to fit a 7" SSD but is it just an easy install or do I need anything for this setup?

 

you have 2 options:
1. Install a 2.5" SSD (Recommend Samsung 860 Evo) - for storage
2. Change your m.2 SSD to a 1TB stick (requires reinstalling windows, but strongly recommend this)

Since you're looking for the easiest way, i reckon you go for option 1 - open bottom cover to ensure that the space beside the 56wh battery is empty (there should be sata connection there), then after confirming that, go ahead and order an SSD, install it there and start windows

 

Thanks for the info. I will open it up and check. Yeah getting the 2.5" SSD seems like the easiest route to take.

I did see some mention stating that the 2.5" SSD slot was limited to 150mb/s. Is that true?

 

Some people claimed the HDD bay could be speed limited but I never saw any data confirming that. The nvme bay should be fastest although that is overkill for many of us.

Did your laptop come with a HDD? If not, open your laptop to check that there is a connector in the 2.5" drive bay. Those cables were impossible to source from Dell previously; some other sources emerged but the cables were not so cheap.

 

Mine definitely isn't. I've got an MX500 in mine and I'm getting the advertised read / write speeds. Mine is also the 32GB+1TB configuration. My guess would be that this is also true for the other configurations of the 9560.

 

The MX500 runs at SATA3 speeds (e.g. up to 6GB/s)

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/storage-ssd-mx500

 

Hey Everyone,

I would like to ask two questions. The first one being what BIOS boot times do you all get and what BIOS settings do you use to get the best boot times? (Mine is 10.7-10.8seconds) The second one is which BIOS version would you recommend?

I recently changed my SSD to a Samsung 970 PRO and I was really sad when I realized that it didn't help that much when it comes to the boot times. Right now my system boots in about 25 seconds which is kind of heartbreaking because my 4 years old custom PC boots in about 10 seconds or less and that only uses a SATA SSD.

 

NVMe has high initialisation time considering its a PCIe based drive to leverage multiple lanes for increased data throughput and speeds. But, that slight delay is made up thanks to high R/W speeds.
Indeed my PC with HDD kicks my current AW's ass with NVMe by booting in 10 secs. But, I took a sweet revenge and installed SATA M.2 drive with Linux on my Alienware and now it boots under 5 secs beating my old PC with HDD. Hahaa.. You can't beat me twice!!!

 

Ohh, so what you are saying is I might be better off by installing my OS on a SATA drive rather than an NVMe one? Sadly my XPS config is the one with the bigger battery so I don't have the space for a 2,5" drive and I'm afraid even if I were to order a smaller battery from dell with the drive cage my config doesn't have the proper connections to wire up the drive... In my case Custom PC wins 1:0 against my XPS

 

I'm curious, you say your boot time is 10.7-10.8s but then you say it's 25 seconds?

My other question is, would you seriously consider putting in a smaller battery and a slower SATA SSD to trim down a boot time? NVMe isn't the only thing "slowing down" your boot time, it's DDR4 as well (it takes time to initialize/test). So you could also trim down your boot time by going with a laptop with DDR3 memory. Sure both of those options will be slower when actually using your system, but at least it would boot up fast...

In case it wasn't clear, I'm being sarcastic. Its lame that an older slower system may boot up faster, but 25 seconds vs all of your daily use, your XPS is going to surpass the slower system many times over...

Is your system already set to fast boot and disable any un-needed boot up options? When you installed the new SSD did you clone the drive or do a fresh install? Have you cleaned up your windows 10 install?

 

Its okay. Ultra Male has 4xNVMe drives in RAID0 and it takes 20 secs to load with almost 0 startup apps(except AV) on 960 PRO 2TB SSDs.

 

I suspect that he is making the distinction between the BIOS boot time (as shown in the Task Manager) and how long it takes after pressing the power button before the desktop appears.

As a point of reference, on my XPS 15 9560, my BIOS boot times have been running a little over 9 seconds, and it is typically taking around 12 seconds from the time I press the power button until the desktop appears.

When I first got the computer, BIOS boot times were around 8 seconds and it took about 10 seconds for the desktop to appear. I've found that, when there is a new BIOS, my BIOS boot times and the time for the desktop to appear return to levels that were present when the laptop was new. Over a period of time with the same BIOS, those times climb to about the levels where they are now. Also note that I have the number of startup items reduced to a bare minimum, and I do not have any of the crapware items that Dell ships its computers with installed.

 

Hello i'm Burak and i am happy to find you all.

My problem is, a couple of months ago my touchscreen stopped working and also my wireless keyboard stopped working. I'm sure that one of the update windows or bios whatever cause this problem.
I checked bios and i couldnot find a touchscreen enable/disable section.

In devices i can not see the touchscreen, only i can see it when i opened the hidden devices and you can see in below image it has Code45 (it says device is not plugged).



My windows and all dell related packages are updated.

I tried, sfc/scannow already.

Could you please help me ?

 

Hi, Burak. I don't know how much help I can offer. I'm glad you tried sfc/scannow. Did it give any errors or say it couldn't verify some files?

Also, have you had any incidents recently of dropping your device or hitting it with something? It may be possible that the issue could be hardware related, but that is less likely than a software issue.

 

Hi, thank you very much for reply. Sfc didnot find an issue and i didnot drop or hit the laptop. Actually i suprised with that kind of problem on very high priced, high quality laptop and because of my last working life i used it a small amount of time. i think i must call the dell support to solve this issue. i tried to find a way to not give the pc for maintenance but i have no hope for fixing by myself.

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...9&oscode=wt64a&productcode=xps-15-9550-laptop

Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver

Enhancements:
- Improves the stability of Thunderbolt software .

Version
Version 17.4.79.510, A12

Category
Chipset

Release date
06 Mar 2019

Last Updated
11 Mar 2019

Compatible Systems
XPS 15 9550
XPS 15 9560
XPS 15 9570
XPS 15 9575 2-in-1

 

I don’t know if you or anyone noticed yet in my Book, if there was ever anyone in this type of venue that exemplifies just Great it would have to be you, as being 12 Messages on the + side vs Reputations certainly speaks Multitudes to me and your well respected opinions & suggestions obviously speaks LOUDLY among the members as well, so, a very Big KUDOS from me.

 

Hi to all.
I would like to add a second HD in the laptop.
I know I need ad adaptor and so I have some questions.
Firstly... can I add only an HD or also an ssd?
Then, what kind of adaptor I need to buy.
All the suggestions and also links are welcome.

 

Which battery do you have? If you have the larger battery then you'd have to buy a new battery, cable, and bracket to mount the hdd/ssd. Some more info on your system would be helpful. Also this question has been asked many many times already and you could likely find the info with a search.

 

the right side fan on my computer has started making strange sounds (it's unreleted to temperature, happens when the laptop is at 48°C idling temp as well).

anybody change the fan? what do i need to take into account? i assume i have to take off the heatsink and repaste the baby. what else?

what's the part number? right side, please.

 

Check if any apps are using nvidia GPUs such as GPU-z or similar? I added Nvidia tray icon to display whether nvidia GPU is being used or not. Its called GPU activity tray which can be found in Nv control panel https://ccm.net/faq/41241-nvidia-display-gpu-activity-icon-in-the-notification-area

 

yes, i have the nVidia utility.

thanks @Vasudev, but i really need to change the faulty fan, it makes noise regardless of the usage of the graphic card...

 

Ok, you can put in your service tag at dell.com/support and see the part number yourself and order just the fan or complete heatsink.

 

shall do.

 

You only swap the fan, no taking the heatsink off.

 

Hi, thaks for reply.
I have the small battery and so I think I can install an additional hd/ssd.
I wasn't be able to search the exaclty argument because I have no idea of the name of the support.
Anyway, I will search for it now.

 

Somethign like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Eathtek-Dell...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9HCAM8CW1RSK9HA6YR6P

 

If you already have the small battery, do you already have a HDD? Most of the 9560s with the small battery came with a HDD and a small 32gb cache drive.

 

I have upgraded it a lot.
I have a Samsung nvme 512 and 32 gb of ram.
Now I need to have extra space to save data on it.

 

You didn't answer my question at all. Do you already have a mechanical hard drive in the bay or not?

 

No, I haven't both

 

If that's the case, then you would likely need the cage/cable/screws like you linked before.

 

Update:
I contacted with Dell and went to service for replacement. When they remove the panel they figured they don't have the exact part so I want them to assemble again while waiting the new part. After the assemble problem is solved. My touch screen is working now.

 

Dell Command | Monitor

This package contains the Dell Command | Monitor application. The package is supported on Dell tablet, Dell XPS, OptiPlex, Precision and Latitude systems that run Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 operating systems.
Fixes & Enhancements
Fixes:
- Issues observed on health state for FAN instance of DCIM_NumericSensor class had reported incorrectly. This issue has been resolved.

Enhancements:
- Supports Dell Dock, Dell Performance Dock, and Dell Thunderbolt Dock.
- For the list of new BIOS settings that are supported, see the Dell Command | Monitor Version 10.2 Reference Guide at support.dell.com.
Version
Version 10.2.0.432, A00
Category
Systems Management
Release date
09 Apr 2019
Last Updated
09 Apr 2019
Importance
Recommended

https://www.dell.com/support/Home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=904DF

 

BIOS 1.14.2 is out.
Fixes:
- Firmware updates to address security advisory INTEL-SA-00185 (CVE-2018-12188 CVE-2018-12190 CVE-2018-12191 CVE-2018-12192 CVE-2018-12199 CVE-2018-12198 CVE-2018-12200 CVE-2018-12187 CVE-2018-12196 CVE-2018-12185).
- Fixed an issue with Secure Boot Option ROM Signature Verification.
- Firmware updates to address security advisories INTEL-SA-00191(CVE-2018-12201, CVE-2018- 12202, CVE-2018-12203).
- Supports Japanese keyboard character at the PreBoot Authentication environment for Dell Data Protection | Encryption.
- Fixed the issue where the keyboard backlight does not turn on when the power button is pressed.

 

https://www.theverge.com/platform/a...placement-fixed-pricing-features-release-date

https://twitter.com/AzorFrank/status/1120766914840727553

 

I've noticed that, whenever a BIOS update includes an update to the Intel Management Engine, it brings boot times back down to about where they were when the computer was new. Then, gradually over time, they get a bit longer.

After installing BIOS 1.14.2, the BIOS boot time was reduced to 7.3 seconds, and the total time from when the power button is pressed until the desktop appears is down to a little under 10 seconds. Those boot times are about as good as I've ever had with the XPS 9560.

 

Actually you can update MEI FW yourself to latest version. Did it fix DPC issue someone was mentioning in XPS thread when they're using XPS for music production or studio work?

 

Can you please explain in more detail how you did that, where you found the firmware, how you chose the correct firmware, etc.? I just did a search, and I was a bit confused by what I found.

Thanks

 

Yeah sure, look at win-raid. https://www.win-raid.com/t596f39-Intel-Management-Engine-Drivers-Firmware-amp-System-Tools.html
Download ME Analyzer and new database file from win-raid or github and drag n drop the BIOS.exe or hdr file to ME Analyzer to check correct FW size and version. MEI FW has 1.5MB or 5MB versions. So, be careful. Flashing wrong bin file can brick your PC.

 

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-...ain-series-no-white-SKU-planned.418981.0.html

 

Anybody notice DELL silently removed BIOS update 1.14.2 from the update site? Any idea why it was removed? Wondering if maybe I should downgrade.

 

It's likely pulled because for some people (including me) the 1.14.2 breaks HDMI. If HDMI still works on your laptop or you don't use it, there's no reason to downgrade, unless there are also other issues that I'm unaware of.

As this article mentions, downgrading BIOS doesn't restore all of the firmware components and thus may cause system instability.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Some-...evere-BIOS-related-HDMI-problem.420326.0.html

 

Ok thanks. I do use HDMI but through a Thunderbolt adapter so haven't noticed.
Would be nice if they actually posted this on the support topics and articles sections of the update site.

 

nVIDIA GeForce GTX and Quadro Graphic Driver


This package contains nVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, GeForce GTX 1050, Quadro M1000M, Quadro M1200, and Quadro K1100M driver. It is supported on Dell XPS and Precision systems that run Windows 10 (64-bit) operating system. Graphics drivers or video drivers control the flow of data between the operating system and the display. Some video drivers allow you to adjust the display properties.

Fixes & Enhancements
Fixes:
- Driver update to address nVIDIA Security Bulletin (CVE 2019 5665, CVE 2019 5671 and CVE 2018 6260).

Enhancements:
- Not Applicable.


Version
Version 25.21.14.1972, A16
Category
Video


Release date
17 May 2019
Last Updated
17 May 2019


Importance
Urgent

Compatible Systems:
XPS 15 9550
XPS 15 9560

https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...3&oscode=wt64a&productcode=xps-15-9550-laptop

 

Hi guys,

Ok I'm doing a crazy thing and going to check out W10 1903 - just loaded it on a 9yo XPS and it works, well, fine... So going for the plunge on the 9560.

But I'm thinking - which in itself is painful - do we still load the various chipset drivers from Dell or do we believe the unholy alliance of Dell/MS has produced them in the OS code? I notice on some PCs that if I load the chipset drivers Windows Update will suddenly notice that I have a new device.

With older PCs after a reinstall I tend to go to Device Manager and pick out various devices in say System Devices and do an update driver and point them to a folder with the uncompressed drivers and usually it will pick up one or two. I suppose I'm bothered about loading a Dell specific driver that will turn out older than the one from Microsoft.

Cheers
Chris

 

I can't help you with your driver question, but, if I was going to move to Windows 10 1903 (or any other Microsoft features update) this soon after it was released, I think it would be wise, before downloading and installing the update, to make a system image. That way, if there is an issue with 1903 that you can't recover from, you will have the option to return your computer to the exact way it was before trying the update, and you will be up and running again in around 30 minutes or less.

 

what do you guys use for cloning the nvme drive on this baby?

back in the 2.5" hd days, i always had a bootable clone that i could easily swap in to get back into business if something went wrong. obviously that's not an option in the nvme realm, but i would still like to have an HDD clone...

i can do macrium clone of the hard drive, but the resulting clone does not boot as external USB. what gives?

further, i did the clone first while booted up, and the result was 30 gb more free space on the clone, so obviously something was not right. then i did an incremental using the macrium bootable USB, and now the clone is at least the same size. what went wrong when booted up, or am i not supposed to be booted up?

and - is there a way to make the clone bootable? how?

 

Yeah thanks for this - I do it a different way (I can hear the eyebrows go up on that statement).

First thing i do when I get a PC (or mac) is partition the drive and all the data sits on the second partition (D) - and is backed up as and when. I have all the User folders (desktop download video etc) on the D drive and point the system at them on a reload - this way the data is never affected. And depending on the size of the drive a third partition with drivers and support software.

This means I can nuke the C drive, and with the latest versions of windows that includes killing off the small partitions at the front of the drive that have the various back up and support data for windows. Then I point Windows at the hole and say 'fill' and it makes the partitions with its own data anew and makes the system partition. The one neat thing that MS does Win 10 means I have USB drives with 1803 and 1809 so if it all goes terribly wrong I can easily load an older version.

I've been doing that one way or another since Win 3 (I was the one tech jurno, in the world apparently, that never had any issues with Win Me - clean install every time) and I've never yet had a hard disk fail (ie kill the other partitions) doing it that way (give it time). And personally I'm always bothered that with clones any bad bits and bobs on the disk are captured and kept and repeated - my own crazy I know.

For info, this was the second load of 1903, the first one I didn't load any of the drivers and that was a right pain in the arse as windows went back and forth trying to download stuff. For the 9560 I did the usual, no internet, bang on the chipset stuff and most of the other drivers, and then let windows do the rest. Way way simpler.

1903 seems to be doing ok on the two machines so far - 3 more to go... hey ho.

C

 

Bios version 1.14.3 was posted on the Dell site today. Supposedly, it fixes the HDMI issue that some had with version 1.14.2.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...0&oscode=wt64a&productcode=xps-15-9560-laptop