dell screws up again, sent me a bogus replacement!

I am so tired of dell. this one is going back and they have permanently lost a customer. I have had their stuff before and liked it but this is just the end of the line. I returned the last one because the audio was defective. this one was supposed to have the soundblaster audigy integrated audio. It does not, they neglected to install it. Now for the second time I am stuck with a computer that does not work as advertised. !

 

The SoundBlaster Audigy Audio is just software & not hardware...

 

You could always install the software yourself if the disc came with it...isnt there a way to download it also off their webite? The sound blaster audigy is only a software...nothing more.

 

So your sending it back because they don't have software? When you talked to them did you explain this detail. I'm sure they would've gladly sent you a CD for the Audigy Advanced MB.

Did you get the CD with your laptop?

 

yes that is what I figured, but either way, the static is still there regardless of audio type I have also checked all of the files on the computer, there are no creative drivers of any kind, it is also not listed as anything like that in the bios or the device manager. its called sigma tel. If it was a creative driver running it you would be able to find the software for it, or some kind of creative control center. none exist.

 

lol, going off about software you can get them to send to you is kinda funny

 

They never advertised that it had a Creative chip. No Dell laptop has a Creative Sound Card. They are mostly Sigmatel Chips, and sigmatel drivers. The Creative is software that gives you kinda more functionality. It's like a glorified equalizer

 

there is no creative hardware in device manager sigma-tel is the right hardware and the rest is only software. it seems to me you are just slightly blowing this out of proportion, at least until you talk to dell. they will send you a install disk and authorization code if you pester them enough and
can prove it was their mistake.
jim

 

i have checked the software on the cd and now that I look it is installed but it still has the static in the audio, so either way its going back.

with how terrible the audio coming out of this machine is, I do not understand how anyone is able to live with it. This is the second 1530 I have had, testing both options of audio setup, and both have been full of static beyond reason. Its not as constant as it was on the other machine, but its still unbearable. What can I possibly to to clean it up? I have tried adjusting the power options and all of those sorts of things to reduce processor usage but nothing seems to make any difference.

for the record, I was not aware that this was only software, though I may have said otherwise above. Its hard to think clearly when you are so pissed off about this stuff...
Every person you talk to at dell tells you something different because most of them really know nothing about anything. I originally diddnt order the creative software because I thought it was only software. then the computer came and the audio was beyond use. then later when I talked to dell the guy on the other end told me it was a different logic board with an 'integrated' creative chipset. So I order a new laptop with that option and it does the same thing, so mabye you can see why I am so frustrated right now...

 

Have you checked the cable you used to connect it? Or maybe a different set of headphones?

 

poster has zero credibility

 

I havent gone through all of those steps on this machine, but I had on the last one and this has the exact same problem. The audio problem is not the fault of the speakers, but rather that of the hardware or software. Doesnt make a difference if its speakers or headphones in a different jack. Really sucks because this really is all I wanted from a laptop, but the key is it has to work properly. All I really use it for is audio and video. if it cant do any kind of playback with out blipping and causing static, what good is it?

I was heated and apparently looked in the wrong place, but thanks to the help from others in this thread I did look in the box and there was a creative audio CD. I did install it and it diddnt make any difference. like posted above it is basically just an equalizer. I thought this stuff would be factory installed so when I diddnt see it right away I panicked. Either way I have gone through the paces properly now and it still creates static. I dont know what else to say.

 

What kind of laptop do you have? A 1520?

Sorry I could've swore that you were talking about a 1530 from reading your previous posts.

I get a little bit of static in my right headphone jack (Which is a lot less than what I had in my 1520), while my left headphone jack was perfect. Do you get static in both, thats if you have a 1530.

 

If you want a Creative card, you have to get the X-Fi Express card.
It will give you much better sound.

Assuming the sound from the headphone jack in the M1530 is anything like it is in the M1330, the quality of the sound from the headphone jack is not so good, even if you're not having a problem with static.

 

the static comes from all audo outputs regardless of source. all headphone jacks. I have seen those flash bay creative cards and they are interesting, but if I were to use one of those I wouldnt be able to use the audio from the HDMI port to my tv, and it also sticks way out of the flash bay..
and yes, this is a 1530. it has the t7700, 3gb, 8600gt, 1400 screen as opposed to the 1680 that was on the last one (grainy but liveable, this 1400 is crisp!)

do you think I should wait and make them give me a few hundred dollar credit and use that toward one of those flashbay creative cards? I only wish that that card would help the onboard speakers, as well...

 

I don't think anything can help those onboard speakers.
You say you're also getting static through your HDMI port?

 

Demand credit, and a new 1530 with no headphone jack static. I wouldn't settle for a broken laptop. I didn't know the 1530 had a major headphone jack problem like the 1520. If you truely have a problem, it should be a lesson to dell to improve their quality control.

 

ive been waiting a month and a half to get a working computer, been living without one for a while now. This is the second laptop with the same audio problem. I am just not sure that ill be able to get another one that doesnt have the problem.

I have no method of testing the HDMI port at this time, I was just suggesting that if the static comes out of all of the other audio ports than it would most likely do the same through the HDMI ?

 

oops, you're right I was gonna post that he has a 1520 lol

 

Well so far I am completely satisfied with dell. I did have a malfunctioning burner, but got is painlessly replaced.

 

I truely think the HDMI port is fine. I don't think it has anything to do with a defective sound card or anything, just a bad design. Someone had posted about magnesium interference or something.

What I like about dell is that they send you the replacement first, so I can still continue to work while they got their act together.

I think your in your every right to ask for a return if your truely fed up. I was thinking about returning my 1520 but after a lot of persistence i'm finally happy. Its all up to you.

 

FWIW, I am going through the EXACT same problem with my M1330 right now. I've tried everything (disabling enhancements, reinstalling driver, etc) and I still get a static pop coming out of the speakers and/or headphones. It happens whether I'm listening to MP#'s, playing DVD's, or watching a YouTube video. It also happens when any of the sources are played through the Media Center. Dell sent me a new duplicate replacement and it has the same problem. After reading through many threads here, I tried turning off the wireless switch and the problem stopped. It's strange that the problem occurred (and can be prevented) on both machines. Really sucks...

 

this is kinda funny guys. i've been browsing through all the threads about returned dells. but just think for a sec: what if you bought at a store like Best Buy? Are you going to go and return 3 maybe 4 or 5 times until satisfied? It's hard to believe that only Dell is getting things wrong.

Take the screen for instance. Samsung obviously supplies HP, Gateway, Lenovo, etc. so why aren't their computers being returned in massive numbers? I've got lots of friends with "sandy/grainy" screens here at school, and most just don't care enough to return their computers.

I just can't believe that only Dell is going through QC issues right now.