Bottom line on the 1645 problems (for me and in general)

So as I've already posted here I'm interested in a refurbished 1645. However, reading this forum has me worried that I'll run into the throttling problem. So I have a couple questions I'm hoping some of the experts here will answer.

Does the community here think that Dell will ever solve this, or are those suffering from the throttling issue now pretty much screwed?

I'd also like to hear some thoughts on my particular situation. I'm not really a gamer, I'm a software developer. So I'd be running Visual Studio, SQL Server, etc. I also plan on making use of virtual machines.

Am I likely to run into the throttling problem?

TIA!

 

Throttling seems to be very variable. What I can tell you with certain confidence is that unless you max out your pc both cpu and gpu you will never experience throttling. I personally I have not experienced throttling during real world applications like games and such.

Some people here however have gotten the kind of computer that throttles even under modest conditions-if thats the case then you got a lemon and you should return the laptop though I'm sure this percentage is very minute. The vast majority of xps owners are very satisfied. I am one of them.

 

I had the same setup you have and had throttling with simple games like L4D.... and still have throttling with my current rig.

 

i had these exact same questions, and the exact same purposes as you. you usually only get throttling if you utilise 100% of the processor and/or GPU for extended periods of time (e.g. more than say 30 mins). the throttling people are suffering from are from synthetic tests (such as a combination of Prime95+Furmark) or playing hardware-demanding games. I'm sure you wont' be doing either of those.

When i've got the money i'll be buying a 1645, but it believe than i shouldn't come across throttling given that most of the time the processor is idling. Hopefully it will be the same for you (should you choose to go forward with a 1645). Also, if you're using VMWare like I do, you can tell it what processors to use, which limits the CPU overhead and should avoid any throttling (I think).

That said, I cannot guarantee that what I think is true, since I don't have a 1645 myself. But from what I've gathered from personal opinions as well as everything that's been posted here over the past several months, throttling has only occured during gaming and heavy synthetic benchmarking/testing. Unless you are building a massive multi-project solution in VS2005/2008, the amount of CPU usage of Visual Studio versus running WordPad is, for all intents and purposes, practically the same - it's just the memory that is different (it's text editing!). So I doubt you would run into throttling problems, unless you really hammer your system with a huge VS solution compile and SQL script run simultaneously. The only "iffy" part is with virtual machines. I'm only famliar with VMWare Server 6.x, I don't know if 7.x requires more processing power, or if it's better and less demanding in that aspect.

Hope that helps!

 

or lightweight games like Left 4 Dead (1). It's way older then the SXPS 1645 and wasn't considered demanding at it's release.

Anyway, even though I have throttling problems, if I just run the processor by itself at 100% it works fine.

 

No throttling is not just from synthetic testing. I get throttling playing WoW, Killing Floor, Starcraft 2. I am currently awaiting my 1645 replacement. Some people suffer from throttling others don't But it is defiantly not related to synthetic benching

 

i never said that throttling is just from synthetic testing, but it's also from playing games. i haven't yet seen anybody have problems with throttling while watching a YouTube video (although there have been issues there, which is a different matter) or just surfing the internet.

but if you're saying that running Prime95+Furmark will not cause throttling (which is synthetic benchmarking), then i don't know what kind of throttling you've had or read about. i'm trying to answer the OP's question as to whether they would suffer from throttling based on the type of computer usage the notebook would see. many people who are pushing their notebooks hard with benchmarks and tests are all posting their ThrottleStop logs which all show throttling. as such, synthetic benchmarking is one of many causes for throttling.

if i may clarify, when i say "hardware-demanding games", i mean any game released after 2004 that wouldnt run properly on integrated graphics such as the Intel GMA graphics family.


even WoW and L4D are "hardware-demanding" as they would bring older notebooks with integrated graphics to their knees (back in the day).

 

None of those games should even cause the xps to break a sweat.

I can run both of those games simultaneously and switch between then effortlessly and seamlessly and the cpu doesnt even look like its trying very hard. so if you're having troubles running just one of those then you got a lemon.

 

Thanks for the great responses on this thread - I really appreciate the time people take on this forum to share their experiences and expertise (and since I just discovered to rep system here I've done back and spread some around).

Does anybody care to speculate on the likelihood the Dell is going to solve the throttling issue on 1645's purchased today or the recent past?

I can understand Dell not really being able to do much about the 1645's temperature issue (would require a physical redesign of the notebook) but can't they release a BIOS update that at least eliminated the throttling?

 

In my mind the issue has been solved. I dont throttle, I dont have heat issues either. Granted I may be a special case but after testing and taking this rig to the extreme many many times I get the right results. Honestly if I were you I would avoid certain parts/specs like: 90 watt ac adapter (cannot tell if this comes with the unit), ati 4670 (go for the 5730), and RGBLED (until there is a 150watt ac adapter this is not an option, plus the WLED looks just as good imho). If you can get a rig without those and a 130watt adapter you should be fine. But also remember that the 5730 is a DDR3 mid level card and not a true enthusiast level card IMHO. Sure its right on the cusp of being an enthusiast card, and produces about the same heat (less wattage though) but it will not get near the FPS a 5850 will. I think alot of people dont factor this aspect in when they game and then assume it is a throttling issue.

 

liquid, thanks for that, gives me alot more confidence as that was my thought process while buying the system. (About avoiding those specific parts).

 

I have a 1645 (i5 540m, ATi 4670) and have absolutely no throttling. I know I had it with my 1640 (C2D ATi 4670). But I fought to the teeth with Dell and they eventually gave me my current 1645. The truth is, it is one of the most versatile notebooks on the market. Sure it can't play games at max settings, but what the hell do you expect. Its got IMHO one of the best laptop screens on the market, destroys everyday tasks, takes on video/photo editing with ease, can play most games on medium to high settings, has loud speakers with decent quality, great keyboard, strong construction, understated design, is light enough to carry to work or class, is slim for its size and is a great value compared to the competition. To me, even though I hate Dell's customer service, that is enough reason to make it a strong consideration for any laptop buyer. No matter what laptop you get, there will always be the chance of getting a lemon. At least with the SXSP16 there is no chance you will get a "bad" laptop.

 

This card is more than capable of running 99% of games at medium to high details at 720p resolution.

The throttling doesn't kick in right away so I'm sure people turn down the settings if they are getting under 10FPS to begin with...I don't think your giving the majority of users credit with a statement like that.

I have the exact same system as Liquidxit2 (2GB more RAM) and I throttle in pretty much every game after 5-10mins unless I play on an external monitor and shut the laptop screen off.

 

were you playing sc2 on the 3670? how did it run?

 

Medium settings 1920 x 1080 ( 1280 x 720 wasn't available to choose ) 20 - 40 fps avg 25 and it would slow down when alot is on screen but also i would throttle

 

and this was on the 3670?

i need to get the 4670... you know if i can just switch out mobo?

 

Yea it was with the 3670. the game ran rather well. It scales really well. Um to get a 4670 you will need to replace the whole motherboard. An i5 or i7 + 4670 or 5730 is not possible tho as the chassis has a bit of a change. It now has a northbridge.