I have HAD IT with this Studio 1535

Lol, that's good to know. I am always afraid they are going to stop repairing the computer because the thermal pads have been removed. Dell seems to be pretty pushy about keeping the original junk on there. I've have never heard of AS5 causing a hardware failure when properly applied though. If that does happen it would suck for the person whos warranty got voided.

 

I guess I'll just leave it as it is since removing the optical drive doesn't have anything to do with the motherboard.

 

Hey KingRaptor phone up Dell, they should change your keyboard... they replaced mine because of the spacebar noise....

 

Oh, my keyboard doesn't squeak anymore. It just did for the first week and then stopped. I'm guessing some plastic parts were making contact when they weren't supposed to, but using it over time wore the plastic down and it's not making contact anymore.

thanks though

 

well I spoke to the tech support guy today, he confirmed that the Engineering Dept in the US is already testing the hardware (after a sitdown with the manufacturer for the hinge cover) with a new BIOS, and it should come up soon... keep your fingers crossed

 

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
or should I say,
"Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet?"

 

Haha, I know what you mean.

Also, rafucho, did the guy you spoke to say whether the BIOS update is for the 1535, 1537, or both?

 

How much cooler does the Arctic Cooler make the CPU run?

 

Before applying Arctic Silver, my older T5750 would idle in the upper 40's Celsius. After removing the thermal pad, polishing the processor die and heatsink surface, and applying Arctic Silver 5, it idled in the upper 30's, occasionally lower 40's. This was an older 65nm Merom processor. My current T9500, a newer 45nm Penryn (which generates less heat) with Arctic Silver 5, idles in the lower 30's. I haven't seen it go above 65 under full load after an hour of Left 4 Dead. I haven't had the opportunity to use the T9500 with a thermal pad, though; I bought it after I had disposed of the old pad.

 

A Dell engineer came and replaced the optical drive and keyboard. No more squeaks from the keyboard's spacebar and the optical drive doesn't have the eject problem anymore for the time being. Need to do more testing by using different discs. Besides that, the sound emitted from the optical drive is very different even though both the new and old are of the same make and model.

 

That happened to me, too. The replacement drive I got was the same Optiarc model number, but the eject sounds way different. Less mechanical and "clicky", and more smooth.

Although the invoice said I was supposed to get a TSST model. :/

 

Is it only me or does any one else like the loud DVD drive noise? I like the way it sounds loud and 'mechanical'!

 

I do enjoy the sound of a powerful PC. I prefer notebooks to be a bit quieter, but I think the Studio 15 DVD drive does a pretty good job of shutting up.

My desktop on the other hand...I keep all the fans at 100%. The thing sounds like a jet engine! And then I can easily drown that out with my Z-2300's.

 

Post some pics of your rig please.

 

She's pretty powerful (although starting to show her age with the Pentium Dual Core E2200 processor), but unfortunately not much to look at. The case is the plainest of black aluminum perfectly square mid-tower cases. No windows or LED lights to speak of, save the standard indicator LED's for things like hard drive use, and power. Just looking at the case, you would never guess she's harboring a 512MB 8800GT.

Honestly, the prettiest things about it are the accesories; it's got a 20" ViewSonic VA2026w with 1680x1050 resolution, and it's a fantastic display. Also, the orange-backlit Logitech G15 2nd revision gaming keyboard and the multi-color LED-lit Thermaltake Gamma Pad mouse surface add some nice eye candy. And of course, there's the Logitech Z-2300 speakers, the subwoofer of which is nearly as tall as the computer tower itself, and definitely wider.

Also, a little update for you guys after a couple of weeks...since the motherboard replacement and installation of a fourth media panel, the eject button has not stuck once, neither on a cold boot nor waking up from sleep. *Knock on wood*. It still ceases to function of its own accord, though, and I'm still waiting on that BIOS update.

 

I suppose it'd be for both 1535 and 1537...

 

the brand new palm rest for the vapor red design was installed this morning...
here are some pics....

 

Looking good!

I'm half tempted to buy a new palmrest and lid and install them myself. At the very least, I'm going to buy a palmrest with the fingerprint scanner.

 

this one is very sexy, but it's a mega fingerprint magnet, it looks very greasy... I don't like this....

 

Hey, with that red palmrest on the 2nd post above... can you install one with a fingerprint reader on the Studio 1555?

I just ordered the 1555 in midnight blue yesterday, and it has an expected ship date of June 4! :O But I think it'll come way sooner than that. It's being built now.

 

I wouldn't think so, the 1555 has different dimensions from the 1537 and 1535... sorry, you'll have to wait until they release a special edition for the 1555

 

Get an old rag and some rubbing alcohol. Higher percentage alcohol is better; I use 91%, but even 70% will do. Soak part of the rag in alcohol, and gently scrub the fingerprints out. Shouldn't take more than a minute, and it'll look brand new. Then dry it off with another rag, or a dry section of that same rag. I make a habit of doing this every week.

 

No problem. I would only like the fingerprint reader on the 1555 for convenience. I wouldn't really rely on it.

Though, where did you buy your palmrest? I'd like to know the site so I can keep updated with new retrofits for the 1555.

 

nope, I didn't buy it, I got it for free from Dell

 

to rafucho:
o0oh shiny... Nice that they gave you the special edition version.

 

Lucky!

Is there a site where I can buy it?

 

I think it's time for an update, considering the actual topic of this thread has been pretty stagnant these past couple of weeks.

I'm starting to get impatient waiting for this alleged deus ex machina fix-all BIOS update for the 1535/1537. They've had plenty more than the "10 more days at most", and still no update for either system. I'm starting to think the service rep I spoke to just made it up on the spot. Other than his own word, there's no evidence that anything of the sort is coming out, or was ever planned.

I'll give it one more week, until next Monday, and if there's no BIOS update by then, I'll be contacting Dell again, possibly through Unresolved Issues this time.

 

I am waiting to see new BIOS too but...

 

not yet, not yet

 

anyone?? any news on the BIOS? please...

 

Nothing new released for either the 1535 or 1537. Dell has three more days until I call them again.

 

I have had it too, I'll ask for another solution, waiting and waiting for a BIOS update, that honestly I don't think it'll be the solution for the Studio line, I have had it.

 

Still no BIOS for either 1535 or 1537. If there's nothing up by tomorrow afternoon, I'm calling Dell.

 

I'm calling Dell no matter what happens, this is really annoying

 

any news??

 

None so far. I didn't end up calling them today; I was out until just about half an hour ago, well past midnight here. I'll call them when I wake up tomorrow.

 

nothing new... just these drive ejections, I think I'll sell my Studio and I'll buy a MacBook

 

With a MacBook, you're only going to run into another slot loading drive. You think it'll be the same or different?

Try a tray-loading laptop if you're concerned. Unless there's something worse about them.

 

Try to get some info on what you're looking for. The worst thing that can happen is that you get a new computer. Dell an pkay company, just like people it messes up. Check my review @laptopmemo.com and you'll see.

 

I've just had it with this..., I want to try Apple...

 

Looks the Studio 1537 has a new BIOS, A09:

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=316579

I hope that helps those of you with issues on your 1537.

Unfortunately, no new BIOS for the 1535. We're still using A06 from back in December of last year... :/

 

hey mastershroom, i have a quick question if you don't mind.

i just started looking at laptops the other month and by then i think the old studio models were off dell's site and replaced with the new studio 15 (or 1555 on here) and the 17.

What is the difference between the old 1535, 1536, and 1537? I'm thinking of getting either a Studio 15(35?) SE or the new 1555. will i run into these same problems that you and other people are having with the SE version? (and do you know of any major problems with the 1555?)

and it sucks that these machines have so many problems, how can it be that difficult for dell to do proper testing and then fix the problems BEFORE releasing products? hope you get everything sorted out.

 

The 1535 and 1537 are both Intel-based, and the 1536 is AMD-based. The 1535 uses the older Intel Santa Rosa platform, with the PM/GM965 chipset. The 1537 uses the newer Intel Montevina platform, with the PM/GM45 chipset. There's not too much difference between the two Intel ones, just a few small things, like the 1535 can use up to 667MHz RAM and 800MHz FSB processors, and the 1537 can use up to 800MHz RAM and 1066MHz FSB processors.

For the record, the Studio 15 Special Edition is based on the 1537, so it's got the Montevina platform, etc. and uses the drivers from the 1537 page on Dell's website.

So far, JohnByeBye and I are the only two cases I know of that have this particular issue that I made this thread about, and we both had 1535's. So, it seems if you have a 1537 you're safe from this problem.

The Special Edition will probably still have the freezing eject button on startup, but that stops after a few minutes and then works as normal. In fact, a new replacement media panel may fix the problem forever, so you're in luck there.

I haven't heard of any major issues with the new 1555, most likely since they removed the entire touch-sensitive media panel to begin with.

I think the 1537 SE is an excellent choice, and I would personally get it over the 1555.

 

You know since i'm getting a 1555 it'd be easy for me to say "hhaha sucks for you mine won't have any problems! (even though we all know that's not true)" but I really feel for you

You'd think that Dell would realize that loyal customers will buy a computer from them on average every 2 years. How shortsighted.
I feel for ya because I had an inspiron 1000 that, even though it had replaced motherboards, always had a really bad problem of throttling to half it's cpu speed or less and being slow as heck. It took me a very long time and threads of legal action to get them to replace it with a refurbed E1505

 

Finally, a BIOS update. Unfortunately, I won't have my Studio until August...I'll post updates then.

In the mean time, I'm using a brand new HP dv4t. Good job Dell for releasing an immature Studio 15 that caused me 3 replacements without fixing anything. I used to be one of those Dell fanboys; alas, things have changed...

 

The A09 bios did not help fix anything with my 1537

 

what problems are you having with your 1537? (I'm looking at getting one)

 

Just the media panel freezing on every start up, apart from that, the laptop is great, it does everything i want and more, i just don't like waiting for the media panel to fix itself.

I take the battery out before every start up and hold in the power button, like other users have said, but sometimes you just forget to do that.

 

Have them replace the panel again. After my fifth replacement, I haven't had the button freeze on startup since it was installed, well over a month ago.

 

UPDATE

I imagine most of you are aware of the new firmware update for the media panel, posted in the other thread about media button issues. I tried this update, and it hasn't really done much for me. Supposedly it fixes the freezing on startup, but that hasn't affected me since my last panel replacement in the first place.

Anyway, barely a day after updating the firmware, my eject button went completely unresponsive again. So, this firmware is great for those with the sticking issue, but it does nothing for my particular problem.

I had another chat with a tech support rep just now, and this time I have to send my system in to the depot for their technicians to have a look at. The rep I spoke to speculates that it may have something to do with the plastics, like the bottom panel. I'm very skeptical about that, but it's not like I have much choice at this point. I should get an empty box and FedEx shipping label within 2 days, and then I'll have to schedule a time for FedEx to pick up the box and take it to Dell. At that point it should be away for 5 to 8 business days.

If this doesn't fix it (and I have no reason to suspect it will), then I really think I'll have to resort to Unresolved Issues. So far, I've had multiple software updates, reinstallations, and reformats, as well as several hardware part replacements, including the media panel (four times), the DVD drive itself (twice), and even the motherboard.