Dell XPS m1530 complete care experience

My laptop had issues from the day I bought it in August of 2008. I went through 3 hard drive failures, and an LCD lamp failure. However, I have been dealing with an outrageously HOT laptop this whole time. While in school, I run Autocad 2010, and I need to elevate the laptop, with a thin fan panel below it, while using an external monitor via HDMI. With this set up I can run it with my gpu at about 85-90 celsius. Without the fan, and elevating it, it will run around 100 C, and then shut off shortly after.

Well recently, when in the midst of studying for an engineering exam, and being a state of stress, I accidentally backed over my entire backpack while in a rush. (Ti- 83 plus, textbooks, and my laptop) all got pretty much destroyed by my truck. So now, having about 180 days left of complete care, I contacted Dell to see what can be done.

The Agent said a return to the Dell Depot is a must, where a repair will be attempted. Although it was completely my carelessness that destroyed this laptop, the last thing I want is some refurbished m1530 with the same GPU problem (only now finding out about after researching), and the same horrible hard drive and LCD problems. I would rather even have a downgrade in GPU performance, or a downgrade in CPU/ram to get me out of this m1530 stage, and just get me a reliable laptop that can run simple CAD drawings without burning the desk it sits on.

So right now, I'm waiting for dell depot to "repair" the system, and haven't received any emails regarding what is going to be done. They received the system today, according to the Agent I gave my dispatch number to. So my question is, what can I do to get a system replacement? Do I need to go out of my way and complain about how the system had many problems before the accident? Any thoughts will help me out.

 

Has anyones 1530 been replaced with another 1530? Just trying to know what to expect from dell.

 

**sorry for repost, deleting in other section**

My laptop had issues from the day I bought it in August of 2008. I went through 3 hard drive failures, and an LCD lamp failure. However, I have been dealing with an outrageously HOT laptop this whole time. While in school, I run Autocad 2010, and I need to elevate the laptop, with a thin fan panel below it, while using an external monitor via HDMI. With this set up I can run it with my gpu at about 85-90 celsius. Without the fan, and elevating it, it will run around 100 C, and then shut off shortly after.

Well recently, when in the midst of studying for an engineering exam, and being a state of stress, I accidentally backed over my entire backpack while in a rush. (Ti- 83 plus, textbooks, and my laptop) all got pretty much destroyed by my truck. So now, having about 180 days left of complete care, I contacted Dell to see what can be done.

The Agent said a return to the Dell Depot is a must, where a repair will be attempted. Although it was completely my carelessness that destroyed this laptop, the last thing I want is some refurbished m1530 with the same GPU problem (only now finding out about after researching), and the same horrible hard drive and LCD problems. I would rather even have a downgrade in GPU performance, or a downgrade in CPU/ram to get me out of this m1530 stage, and just get me a reliable laptop that can run simple CAD drawings without burning the desk it sits on.

So right now, I'm waiting for dell depot to "repair" the system, and haven't received any emails regarding what is going to be done. They received the system today, according to the Agent I gave my dispatch number to. So my question is, what can I do to get a system replacement? Do I need to go out of my way and complain about how the system had many problems before the accident? Any thoughts will help me out.

 

I doubt you'll get another M1530, those have been out of production for a while. My guess is that you'll get a similar size Studio XPS if the system is beyond repair.

 

from seeing other ppl's experiences, it is that after 3 repairs they will replace the laptop with something better. if ur lucky, they won't have any spare 1530s left and just send u an upgraded laptop.

just look for problems in the new 1530 that u receive and ask them to repair it.

 

3-4 repairs usually will get the ball rolling on a system replacement. You'll likely get a XPS 15 replacement.

I'm pretty sure Dell still has plenty of M1530 parts, but seeing as your unit has had multiple repairs, I would contact Customer Service or chat with Dell to see about getting a replacement unit. Also remember if you get a replacement unit the balance of the warranty is transferred to the unit, so you'll likely want to extend the warranty.

 

So you really think they're gonna try to repair the system with spare parts? It literally got ran over by a truck.

 

I've had entire D630s get replaced with new parts. I would definitely follow up if you want a replacement. It does seem like you have grounds to ask for one.

 

Still waiting to hear from Dell regarding the repair/replacement decision. Got a call today from Depot stating that they received the system, so I should hear from them in a couple days, and will update.

 

Received a call from dell today. Gave me brief specs of the system they are sending.

XPS 15
i3 processor (2.2 ghz?)
Geforce 540m 2gig
500 gb hd
blu ray disk drive, never asked for that and didnt really care for it
B+RGLED 1920 x 1080
8gig ram
backlit keyboard

OLD m1530 xps
t9300 2.5ghz processor
4gig ram
250 gig hd
geforce 8600m gt
15.4 WXGA+ (dont know the resolution, does anyone know?)

As you can see, I can not complain. Does anyone know about the i3 processor? I thought it was not very good. Is it better than what I had?

 

It's superior to the Core 2 Duo because the Core i3 supports Hyper-Threading (making it somewhat like quad-core, since both cores support two threads each), but of course, it's not as powerful as the i5. WXGA+ is 1440x900.

I think you got a fairly decent upgrade.

 

If your M1530 came with a T9300, I would ask for at least an i5, and probably an i7. That one of the top of the line Core 2 Duo chips for 965 chipset, and you should get a comparable replacement which would be a top of the line i7 chip, as 965 never got quad cores.

 

That reminds me of an old saying...give someone an inch and they'll take a mile...

 

Yeah I know the i5 would better, but am I really on grounds to demand it? I already had to ask for the 1080p screen (they originally had me sitting at a 1377xwhatever, and they pretty much upgraded every other spec I can think of. The i3 is just as fast at what the m1530 had correct? Cant really complain then, unless you guys think I should ask for it.

 

any thoughts?

 

So it turns out they are switching the system yet again. I certainly lost out on the video card, but the i3 to i7 certainly is a good upgrade. I never cared for the blu ray disk anyways, so thats not my concern. I was glad they kept the screen though.

XPS 15
i3 processor (2.2 ghz?) -> i7 processor
Geforce 540m 2gig -> Geforce 1gig (i think its 525m)
500 gb hd -> 750 gb hd
blu ray disk drive -> dvd/rw
B+RGLED 1920 x 1080 -> SAME
8gig ram -> SAME
backlit keyboard -> SAME

OLD m1530 xps
t9300 2.5ghz processor
4gig ram
250 gig hd
geforce 8600m gt
15.4 WXGA+ (dont know the resolution, does anyone know?)

 

the 525m is still going to be about twice as good as the 8600m gt, I actually still have an m1530 (still alive too!) as well as this l702x system and seem to remember getting around 4000 in 3dmark06, think you'll get at least 7000 with the 525m and it's likely quite overclockable as this 5xx series of geforce cards don't seem to have any cooling/excessive heat issues like the 8600m GT did

apart from the GFX card that's a pretty nice upgrade from the m1530, don't expect extreme gaming but with all things considered (i7, gt525m, 1080p screen) the system replacement you're getting is miles better than what you had

WXGA+ is 1440*900 iirc, I still have the 1280*800 screen in my m1530 :-D

 

I'd opt for the higher end video card...8600M GT was highest GPU offered, there were 8400M GS M1530's, so maybe if you can squeeze the GT540M as XPS video cards are soldered...requiring a new motherboard if you wish to change video cards.

Do you know if it was a quad core i7? I would that would be appropriate considering again T9300 was #2 CPU option available for M1530, and #4 fastest for 965 chipset (after X9000, T9500, X7900).

 

I don't think dell is obligated to match the equivalent order of quality. So if the higher cpu from the 1530, is just as fast as the lowest quality XPS (due to tech advances), then they will replace it with the lower one. They try to match the specs, as if they were gonna replace it with another m1530.

 

It doesn't work like that. I've seen high spec'd M1710 go to fully maxed up M1730 to M17x R1 to M17x R2, from a T7600 Core 2 Duo to X9000, QX9300 to i7 Extreme. They have to give a comparable replacement. If you spent 3000 on the machine, they have to give a somewhat high end replacement via CC.

 

So I received the l502x today. Everything is as promised EXCEPT the 1080p. This was the most important thing for me, considering I use autocad for a living and I cant deal with the terrible default screen. Any ideas on what to do? The live chat isnt convincing me that something can be done, considering they are saying its just as good. Except that the systems they promised BOTH had the 1080p. However, I have no proof that the techs said thats what they were building. Any Ideas on what to do?

 

Get them to send a technician with the 1080p screen and do the swap in home for you or you can try to sell it to buy a laptop you want..

 

maze11, may I ask what kind of warranty you had? How did it last for 5+ years?

 

I had 4 years of complete care. Bought it in the summer of incoming freshman year, and it failed mid year as a senior. I still have it until this summer. Maybe I gave the wrong date previously posted in the thread.

 

Sounds to me like dell did a pretty good job replacing your unit. You can find 1080p screens on line for pretty cheap and replace it yourself.

 

Fight for the screen. Reference the m1530 fiasco with the samsung vs LG screens. Reference what you were promised. This is a core component of the system, and it is not acceptable for them to leave it out. Dell sent out a tech to replace my screen when this happened to me.

 

They did end up sending a tech to replace to screen

 

I have the same problem as well...... I owned a XPS1530M computer and I totaled it two week ago...... -.-

they promised me with a system exchange with the new XPS15 L502Z/X with
i7 Core 2760 2.4Ghz with 3.5Ghz Turbo Boot with 6MB cache,
8Gbyte of DDR3 RAM,
Nvidia GeForce GT540M wih 2GB of RAM,
1TB of 5400RPM Hard Drive,
8X Blu-ray Writer Drive,
1080p display
6cell battery
Dell told me that my system will take 3-4 wks because its brand new computer

I got my computer today. Its a refurbished XPS15 L502X model with
i5 processor 2.5G to 3.0 turbo Boost and 3M cache
6Gbytes of DDR3 RAM
Nvidia GeForce GT525M wih 1GB of RAM
500G of 7200RPM HD
8X DVD ROM
1080p display
9Cell Battery

Its a down grade from what they promised beside I have a 9cell battery.....

Any idea how to get the one they promised me. the brand new computer with all the upgrades.....