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    Testing Battery Life/Performance

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by maxpowersin, Jun 19, 2009.

  1. maxpowersin

    maxpowersin Newbie

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    Hello,
    I just bought a Dell Studio 1555 laptop with the following customizations made

    1) Vista Home Premium x64
    2) 9 Cell Battery
    3) 512mb ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
    4) 4 GB Ram

    Can you guys recommend me some softwares which can check my Battery performance. I am not sure if I am right on this but "THIS" software when run simulates various levels of activity on the laptop such as Casual use, High Intensity use etc etc. It runs by itself and then we can see for how long the battery has lasted. I don't think the battery meter is very accurate so can you please help me with this. Thank you. I hope I have explained myself properly

    Also an unrelated question. In the future if I wanted can I get my laptop upgraded in the following parts by Official Dell people?
    1) Processor
    2) Hard disk
    3) G card
    4) Ram

    Thanks :)
     
    maxpowersin, Jun 19, 2009
    #1
  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Usually, Dell will not upgrade your system once you've purchased it, even if you offer to pay. Luckily, most of those parts are user replaceable; you can replace your RAM and hard drive yourself. They're easy replacements, and they don't void your warranty. Unfortunately, replacing the processor is more difficult, and will void your warranty. Luckily, though, processors are usually the last things to need upgrading.

    The graphics card on the Studio 1555 is completely non-replaceable. Neither you nor Dell technicians can replace it. It is soldered to the motherboard and is essentially a permanent part of the system, unless you replace the entire motherboard.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 19, 2009
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  3. maxpowersin

    maxpowersin Newbie

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    Ok. thanks a lot Mastermushroom :)

    can anyone help me with my battery thingy too?

    Thanks
     
    maxpowersin, Jun 20, 2009
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  4. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    For maximum performance, run a CPU torture test like Prime95 or play a game until the battery runs out. For minimum/casual stuff, just try it out yourself; see how long it goes while you surf the web, type up emails, etc.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 20, 2009
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  5. horus22

    horus22 Notebook Guru

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    what about the LCD screen? User replaceable?
     
    horus22, Jun 20, 2009
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  6. NiteWalker

    NiteWalker Notebook Evangelist

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    Doable, but not overly simple. Download dell's service manual for your model. It'll give you an indication of what's required to change out each part. I was browsing through the service manual for my laptop and was surprised at how easy some components are to replace.
     
    NiteWalker, Jun 20, 2009
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  7. maxpowersin

    maxpowersin Newbie

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    Hmm... ok
    thanks guyz..

    Hmm.. but if I see for myself I wouldn't need any programs in the first place.. I need a software which can automatically simulate day to day tasks and later come up with a number say "this battery has lasted 5 hours" something like that.... This way I wouldn't have to actually sit on the laptop constantly checking the time every now and then. I know for sure some programs are out there to do this.. I just can't remember the name :(
     
    maxpowersin, Jun 20, 2009
    #7
  8. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Ah. I've never actually heard about any programs like that.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 20, 2009
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  9. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Since when did upgrading your processor void the warranty?

    As far as I was aware, if a fault happens due to a replacement the user made then the warranty is void. So lets say the battery suddenly died 9 months in and I had upgraded my CPU; my laptop would still be covered by the warranty. Unless somehow they could prove that my battery dying was related to me upgrading the CPU.
     
    Fragilexx, Jun 20, 2009
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  10. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    That may be the case, but Dell actually had a chart on their support site at one point, that detailed which parts of certain notebook models were considered user-replaceable and which required official Dell technicians to perform. None of them listed the CPU/heatsink as a user-replaceable part.

    And either way, even if warranty is only voided by a replacement that specifically caused that problem, it's not always going to be fair. If someone has a problem with their laptop, completely unrelated to a replaced CPU, but Dell technicians cannot solve the problem, then Dell could easily say that the CPU replacement caused the issue, and thus the warranty is void.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 20, 2009
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  11. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Legally, the onus would be on them to prove the fault occurred due to the replacement.
     
    Fragilexx, Jun 20, 2009
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  12. NiteWalker

    NiteWalker Notebook Evangelist

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    Also, if something did happen to the laptop couldn't you just swap the old processor back in before having it serviced?
     
    NiteWalker, Jun 20, 2009
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  13. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    You could. In fact, that's what I just did when I sent my 1535 to the Depot for repair; I put the old T5750 in and took out the T9500 that I had installed myself.
     
    Mastershroom, Jun 20, 2009
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  14. maxpowersin

    maxpowersin Newbie

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    AHA..
    so the processor could be replaced..
    that wud be nice if it could.. I mean I will think abt upgarding my dell like after 1 year or so maybe.. let's see :)
     
    maxpowersin, Jun 21, 2009
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  15. Dspr_02

    Dspr_02 Notebook Evangelist

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    Dspr_02, Jun 23, 2009
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