Dell Inspiron 15R Special edition (7520)

I got the XPS 15 new and in the first month it had 3 service calls and a depot repair. And it was still messed up. Horrible WiFi, touchpad, heat problems, etc. The ONLY thing it has is the sleek and thin look. I am now using the Inspiron 15R SE. Pretty happy with it. No complaints so far. I am not exactly using it in company spec though. I upgraded the mSATA to 256 GB. I installed Windows 7 completely on mSATA and am using Intel RST. Very fast for me. Great WiFi. At 25 f,eet and through 2 walls the WiFi is almost 4000% faster than my XPS 15 (Yep, 4,000). The battery life is fine for me. Been getting around 4 hours, but I haven't played too much with the power saving settings. The XPS is a flawed design. Some people claim to be problem-free, but I personally thing they are in the minority.

 

How have you found the construction? I know it's not unibody, but is it more solid than, let's say, the regular inspirons? I bought my mom an Inspiron two models ago (with an i3 chip, she doesn't really use the computer much) and it is very solid but the whole thing is plastic. Does this feel more like a machine, if you know what I mean?

Right now the top model is $1099. I'm thinking of pouncing on that with a three-year warranty.

 

Ya, I know what you mean. I've had the XPS models for years, but I did have a couple of Inspirons a while back. This thing has a pretty good feel. Nice large rubber feet, solid screen with the rubber seal around the edge. The only thing is the DVD tray. Seems a bit cheap. And chicklet keys always make a laptop feel cheaper, to me anyway. This thing is kind of the descendant of the XPS L502x. I had the XPS 15 (L521x) and prefer this. So that should tell you something. DO NOT buy the XPS 15 until the next model. Just my opinion. So, if you want a 15" Dell, this is it. Plus this has 4 USB ports whereas the XPS 15 has 3.

 

I just got my Inspiron 15r SE.
Intel i7
1tb hdd
8gb ram
1080p res
The startup time is slow no matter how you tweak the windows ( windows 7 ultimate 64bit)
The fan is very quiet.
For some reason its slow for an I7 processor, maybe because of 1tb hdd 5400rpm.

Anyone else has the same problem?
I am an IT Engineer and did all the tweaks, but still running slow and startup time is very disappointing.

thanks

Shakz

 

Do you not have the 32 GB mSATA SSD on there? That should make it go quick.

This concerns me...being slow for an i7...because that's the whole point in getting that processor. I'm also looking at that top model because I want the mSATA SSD in there but all the HDD for all the models are 5400 rpm.

 

Ya, we really need to know if it was configured with the 32GB mSATA drive, which means it should be utilizing Intel's Smart Response Technology and Rapid Start Technology. SRT combines the mSATA with the HDD to store frequently-used applications and content for quicker response. RST is a hibernation replacement. It will wake from Intel hibernation about twice as fast as Windows hibernation.

If you don't have this, then you are pretty much gonna have slower speeds all around, with a 5400 rpm drive. Also, I heard if you didn't order a model with the mSATA, they will ship you a unit that is lacking the port for an mSATA, so you can't add one later.

 

Hi all,

Im not sue if this is the right place to be posting this and I apologise if it is. I bought the 15R SE last week with the i5 3210 & the 7330 GPU and have already experienced a problem. I can't get the HDMI working at all. I have tried 2 different cables and on 2 different TV's but to no avail, its not even recognising that anything is connected. This is a majr issue for me a I need to be able to plug and lay HDMI for presentations etc. Any ideas? TIA

 

No it didn't come with msata. It was preconfigured for fast track delivery, but it did come with a free Xbox 360. I got it delivered within 2 days.
The option is there to add a ssd drive later.

Shakz

 

Ok
Just ordered this Mushkin 120gb mSata drive!
Amazon.com: Mushkin Direct Atlas Deluxe 120GB mSATA SATA III Solid State Drive MKNSSDAT120GB-DX: Computers & Accessories
Hope it fits !

 

Edit: Wrong thread.

 

Call Dell and troubleshoot the problem with them over the phone.

 

Anymore reviews on bios A7? How is it different from older versions and if you have noticed any good afte the upgrade?

Thanks

 

MAYBE less fan activity and a different logo at startup.. but other than that noticed no difference! ..

 

I'm not sure if I ever updated BIOS before. If I'm getting the laptop shipped out to me next week, will it likely already be updated to that BIOS? If not, is it an easy thing to update?

Just waiting to see if there are any sales tomorrow before I pull the trigger.

 

Thanks for the info,
Currently even with bios A4 the fan is quiet.

I think I m gonne go for it. I did read somewhere that the bios is not downgradeable so let's hope for the best.

Silvergator, not your laptop will be shipped with the older version of bios.
Upgrading is easty, plug ur charger, close all the pages and run the setup file and follow onscreen instructions.

 

That doesn't make much sense to me but I'll ask again when I actually get the computer.

 

Has anyone else upgraded the SSD drive on the 7520? Specs say the mSATA controller only works up to 32GB (which sounds a bit sketchy to me).

Also, has anyone successfully upgraded the RAM to 16GB? Probably requires BIOS A07?

Thanks!

 

I am running a 256 GB mSATA drive on mine and reinstalled Win7 on it.. The 1TB drive is now just additional internal storage. Works fine. Dell reps state it only works to 32 because that is all they are tested and sold with. They can't comment otherwise. But, only plan to switch mSATA on this model if you are comfortable with completely taking apart the unit. The Dell manual does a good job of explaining what to do, but you should be aware. The memory and 2.5" drive are super easy. The mSATA is on the other side of the daughter board. And you have to remove the mother board just to get to the daughter board.

 

Thanks for the insight. Dell ships it with the SSD configured somehow as a "cache". When you swapped in the larger SSD, do you now just have two primary drives, or is one a primary and one a secondary? My hardware knowledge might be quite a bit dated now.

 

So I was all set to wake up tomorrow morning and order this computer and then...BAM...just saw this.

Brand new DELL Inspiron 15z Ultrabook.

Model page

I don't care much about Windows 8 and having a touch screen, so the third model doesn't phase me, but the fourth model looks very comparable to this computer for $100 less and it's an ultrabook.

It has a 500 GB HDD/32 mSATA instead of the 1TB/32mSATA and a DVD player instead of a Blu-Ray. Other than that it looks exactly the same to me and may even have a better graphics card (though I don't care about that). But I do care about design and weight and I think it comes with a gorilla glass screen, too.

Thoughts?

 

I don't know, if portability is an issue for you, sure! go for the 15z, else... i'd stay with the 7520, the procesor in that nb is an i5 vs this i7, besides it has lower clocks, and the videocard is a 630~540M which is a bit less powerful (according to some benchmarks at least) than the 7730M
It's the trade-off you have to pay to have more portability
Still it's a very nice ultrabook

 

Don't really need the portability though it would be nice to have a nicer laptop. I did some more digging on it. It's not a 1080p full HD screen - a 720p WHD. The processor isn't as good (as you said), no blu ray, half as big of a HDD. Despite the glass screen and design being cool, doesn't sound like as good of a deal as this bad boy.

 

The 15z does not have a Full HD screen (720p vs 1080p). That was a big reason I got the 15R SE. Otherwise it looks pretty comparable.

 

I have just taken out 1tb 5400rpm hdd and replaced it with my old 500gb 7200rpm, with one click it opens Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Visual Studio and Cute ftp instantly.

Now I feel like the speed of Intel I7.
Will do some further testing on the rest of the hardware.

 

Ahh, if I couldn't get the 1920x1080 screen resolution that would be a deal-breaker for me.

 

It's only a dual-core processor and the specs don't indicate what the screen resolution is. It's more of an ultrabook for sure compared to the 15R SE though.

 

Yeah I still think I'm going to grab this SE. I went to Best Buy today to take a look at some of the new Windows 8 models. The Yoga from Lenovo is really cool but the machines just are not as powerful as this one. I may have to get an external touchpad as using Windows 8 in the store with your hand is pretty cool.

 

I just installed Windows 8 but cant figure how to get switchable graphics working. Stuck on Intel HD 4000. Any ideas?

I don't mind if it I have to manually switch, as long as I can do it.

 

I also installed Windows 8 on my 7520, and noticed that Catalyst Control Center was gone, so I went to the Dell website for the drivers and noticed pretty much the whole suite of drivers for this machine has been updated for compatibility with Windows 8, so I went ahead and did a full maintenance

Also, no, I do not believe there is a manual switch for the graphics cards, unfortunately. :|

 

When I had it straight from Dell with Win 7 I could set AMD/Intel graphics in the power options and such.

So always used AMD when plugged in.

Now on Win 8 it just uses Intel all the time. I've installed all the Win 8 drivers from Dell, no joy

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

 

This means biggest plus of SE to play games is gone if you cannot use the dedicated GPU.
Any confirmation? Good I have not updated yet despite having the $15 offer.

So the A02 is not letting you use the GPU? Have you tried to play a game and see the temps of GPU?
It shows integrated but if it shows temps it is actually running AMD and the temp for 7730.

 

What can I view temps with?

I have latest gpuz and that shows both Intel and 7730m but it can't read temps or usage of the 7730.

Might reformat and see if just plain Windows 8 manages better than Dell drivers

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

 

I am using CPUID's HWMonitor which is free. It does not give you GPU temp unless 7730m is running even though the lablel stays to 4000

 

Is anyone using inspiron 7520 with Seagate Momentus XT 750GB (7200rpm) Hybrid hard drive?

Any reviews on this?

Thanks

 

Did you do clean Win 8 install? or the upgrade?
Did you install the A02 7730m driver now available at Dell? Supposed to be for Win 8

 

A few questions:

1. Updated to Win 8 on the 26th, then refreshed Windows and it got rid of all Dell's apps. Now the fan stays on more often than not, even simple tasks such as refreshing a browser tab make it kick in. Any ideas?

2. Can I install a 256GB SSD in the main 2.5 drive slot instead of taking apart the motherboard and using the mSata slot? My unit came with just one 750GB 7200 rpm drive instead of the 1TB 5400 + 32GB msata SSD version that most people got.

Thanks in advance.

 

I took the hdd out of mine and replaced it with SSD. Easy as. Just follow the manual

If you want both ssd and hdd I think you can buy a caddy to slot a 2.5" hdd/ssd into the optical bay

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

 

What is Catalyst Control Center?

I heard that doing a Windows 8 refresh as soon as you get a computer from somewhere like DELL is a great idea because it removes all the crap and bloatware. My concern would be doing so for the model WITH the mSATA because I wouldn't want to lose or mess-up all of its benefits from Intel like the rapid start and stuff...what should I do?

 

The Intel Rapid Start is just software that is installed like you do all the drivers. I reinstalled windows and rapid start with no problems. One of my previous posts in this thread has notes on reinstalling.

 

So if I do that W8 refresh then my HDD with the mSATA will remain partitioned the same and everything? Is there anything that comes pre-installed that I should want to retain or is the refresh indeed the right move to make?

Since the computer does not come with a W8 disc, if you ever wanted to do a manual format and install, would you make a disc from the original version before refreshing or the regular version after refreshing?

 

It also requires a hibernation partition. If you delete the old partitions you will need to create another one. It is outlined in the Dell Intel Technologies documentation.

 

For those who installed W8 can they comment if the GPU 7730m is working fine? can they use 7730m? Did you have to uninstalle your antivirus program before W8 install? I heard that can give problem since W8 has built in antivirus.

Btw,
There are about 17 new drivers in the driver section for W8 so you will need to use them.

 

Right. So as long as I don't mess around with that partition, simply refreshing W8 would get rid of the crap and bloatware but still maintain the ability to have IRS and everything else, correct?

 

If you are just updating to W8 I think it may not get rid of all the bloatware. I usually delete all partitions and start over myself, so someone else will have to chime in for this one.

 

Hi,

I flashed the new firmware and installed Win8 on the 26th. At installation, I opted to not keep any files, since I had just bought it 2 weeks before and planned the upgrade. Then proceeded to reinstall all new Win8 drivers on the Dell website, and have no problems at all. Even installed Dell software, like Quickset, but left Stage off, since I don't use it.
AMD stuff is there, just like on Win7, after installing the provided by Dell's website. Played some games (D3 and Torchlight 2), and performance is a little bit better with the new drivers, I think.

regards

 

You don't need to delete partitions, just use the option on the Windows installer. That's what I did.
That reminds me, I had to use EaseUS Partition Master (free) to create the separate partitions, as the upgrader didn't ask me anything other than "do you want to keep your files?".
I also deleted the Windows.old folder after I thought everything was running fine, freeing some GB from the OS partition I created.

 

Did you install in any particular order?

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

 

Chipset first, then the VGA driver, then the rest. Before updating the VGA driver, the Radeon appears with the yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager.

 

Hmm maybe that's where I went wrong. I didn't bother with all the Intel chipset ones. Just assumed they'd be part of Windows 8

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

 

I already did a clean @7 installed 2 months ago and so if I just do an upgrade why should be there bloatware?
I want to keep some of my programs I have installed in last 2 months so I assume they will stay if I choose to keep programs/files.