Dell 13z Thread

I have a small review with lots of pics over here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18079528 for anyone interested. I really like my 13z, boots very fast, runs very smooth etc.

 

Hi all, I've had this for about two weeks so far, having some problems with youtube video quality though. is there anyway i can improve it?

my laptop is the third combination on this page Dell Inspiron 13z Laptop Product Details | Dell United Kingdom

the one that says 'Inspiron 13z Small, powerful laptop. With nVidia graphics card.' in bold under it.

anything I can do, or is it just like that?

I had a couple of messages from my computer that 'NVIDIA Graphics card has stopped working' but it also said that windows looks online for a soloution whenever connected to the net, and the message seems to have dissappeared now. so maybe its solved.**
Currently, regular quality stuff is really really blurry, it theres a HQ option, its clearer, but if the images move fast, it looks pixellated/boxy/blocky , the only things that come out perfectly fine are some video recordings that I assume arent really high quality that they pixellate, nor are they poor quality that its blurry to start with.

Any ideas? Thanks .

**(how do I know for sure? I should be able to use the NVidia control panel? If so then yes it's working, I've tried adjusting video colour and video image settings, no huge diff- more like, the sharper the colour, the more blocky the moving image becomes, so I've toned everything down for now).

Aplologies if it's a dumb question, I'm no computer whizz .

Kay.

 

It sounds like you don't have the latest nVidia drivers installed and also to get smooth HD playback or Flash HQ playback you will need to install Flash player 10.1 BETA

nVidia: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/notebook_winvista_win7_x64_195.62_whql_uk.html
Flash 10.1: http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html (install both Windows plugins)

 

Thanks, nice review. How come you didn't take the discrete graphics option and the 8cell tho?

 

I think the 8cell is abit too chunky and I won't be gaming on it so no need for the nvidia gfx card since the 4500MHD handles basic games just fine - both handle windows aero and windows 7 itself exactly the same however and accelerate hd content the same too.

 

Thanks for the response .

Ijust tried this, unfortunately, it didnt seem to make a difference . Any other suggestions?

 

Hmm those should have fixed it really, weird!

 

is there anything in settings i need to change to do with either video or general display perhaps....?

 

There shouldn't be any problems with the graphics card to start off with - Personally I'd call up Dell to check your Graphics card out if it's still playing up. I'm confused on it as every GPU-Z registers it as a G105m but with different specs to every other G105m I've ever read up on (40nm, 16 shaders, gt218 core, lower clocks... etc - essentially an underclocked g210m) so I've been cautious with the graphics - and they've never been the limiting factor.

Lots of travelling recently for work - will try post measurements tomorrow when I'm more awake.

 

Hm...I have contacted them over email, the guy has said it's probably a software issue that the dell software department can easily solve, but they will charge a 'nominal fee'. is this something that counts as a 'fault' or just something that needs fine tuning/adjusting....?

 

No idea - I've never had a problem with the graphics (even after briefly playing about with clocks and using many different drivers and flash player versions) and youtube videos seem fine to me. It could be some software - but then why has it not popped up on all other 13z's with same software?

 

So this can play 720p videos just fine? From youtube and films from HD?

This laptop seems like a really good one.

 

It can play 180p just fine.

 

Nice - this is looking like a very good laptop.

Is the glossy coating too reflective or alright?

 

It's quite fine really, no different to my 24" Hazro IPS monitor which I have no issues with.

 

I see, though an IPS panel is more or less bound to be better, but if at least you don't see much difference that's one person to go by.

I've habe a look at it in a shop as that way I guess i can determine best what the reflections are like.

 

Just to be clear, I'm saying the glare/reflectiveness is no different, not the overall colour/picture quality lol as my Hazro wipes the floor with it and virtually all other 24" screens out there that are not of the same class!

 

Oh I see lol!

not of the same class you mean likes of TN panels?

One other thing - is the keyboard on the 13z the same as on the Dell Studio laptops? Or does it have slightly less travel?

 

TN panels? *spits* don't talk to me about those lol.

Yeah key travel seems the same as the XPS laptops I use at work, the key shape is different however but the feel and key travel seems to be the same. Mouse buttons and trackpad the same as well.

 

So your 24" monitor is better than most IPS panels you say then?

I had a look at a few pictures and the keyboard seems a bit flatter on the 13z vs Studio 15.

I am thinking of making a thread about 13z/15z vs Studio 15 for gaming as the Studio 15 has a better GPU, but I'm not sure about the CPU.

I could not find any 13z laptop in the local shop to try out the keyboard, but I think I came across the 14z and that felt similar, but then I tried a keyboard on a Dell which looked similar, but seemed to have shorter travel, not sure what model it was though...

 

the 13z is sufficient for games... I wouldn't expect it to beat a studio 15 with full c2d and 4570, but for all of my games (hl2 mods / l4d2 / dao / etc) it's good enough.

 

My monitor is an IPS panel (H-IPS) so colour/clarity is same as any other high end IPS - its gaming performance however and overall performance is better than others.

I've had many 24" screens...

 

lolwut, "I've had many 24" screens..."

 

Hmmm I see. How does the T4300 fair agasint the SU7300?

It seems like the Stuido GPU is about 30% faster, depending on how the T4300 is I might go for that one since battery life is not too much of a concern and the weight is not vastly different. Well, about 0.7 of a KG according to the Dell site base weight and whatnot.

Hmmm.... The keyboard on the Studio also gives me the impression of having more travel.

I see - I have not heard about that one.

Huh?

 

he ended that with a "..." so im waiting for the rest of that comment.

 

I see.

Damn here is another "oh I can't decide between this and that"

Damit

 

so will the usa ever get a dedicated gpu in this thing?

 

"..." is often used as an alternative to "etc" and in this context I intended it to be a statement that required no further continuation.

I'd have thought that would have been self explanatory given the pretty direct statement itself lol.

I've had many 24" screens and kept the Hazro which I've mentioned above. What else were you expecting exactly?

 

No, "..." is never (or not supposed to) be used as an alternative to etc (latin " et cetera" which translates to "and so on"). The three periods indicate an intentional omission, such as:

Guy: "Oh, no I was just stretching."
Girl: "Oh, so you weren't trying to...( make a move)?"

 

Well that's the context in my reply in the first place.

I stated the spec of my Hazro 24" screen and then ended the reply with the fact that I've had many 24" screens that I knew about 24" screens (IPS/VA/TN etc).

Should have been pretty easy to understand I guess.

 

I suppose it makes sense.

 

I also ordered top version of this (4gb su7300 g105m). Nice spec's but: DONT BUY!! I received a broken 13z TWICE!!. The quality of my delivered 13z was bad.
1e attempt: dead pixel and batt problem.
2nd attempt: extremely noisy/vibrating coolingfan.

What happened to Dell?

I will get a refund. Thats the only positive aspect.

svtea

 

Hi all,

Anyone else have the problem of sound cracking every now and then when listening music? For me it happens with both mp3 playback and when listening audio cd's. I've also tried with both internal and external sound card, different headphone jacks etc. and the problem continues.

I've tried a ton of other things as well such as reinstalling windows, updating all the drivers etc. but still no help. What I notice is, that the cracking occurs quite often when I just open my web browser, and then occasionally as I'm surfing websites.

It seems as though somehow giving any additional load to the system may cause this and its driving me nuts, as I like to listen to music pretty much all the time when I'm using my computer.

I've tried quite a few different tricks from Dell's official support forums where they have listed things that should help with cracking sound, but to no avail.

I'm very close now to calling them and returning the whole thing, so if anyone can help me with this I'd truly appreciate it!


//sami

 

Hello, i am going to buy a new laptop soon, and i am looking at Dell 13z and Asus UL30. Don't know with one to buy so can anyone who has the 13z give me some information about how it is in everyday use. I am going to use my next lapton in school so i need a good battery and a nice keyboard to write on.

Mvh
Xavier

 

I find the 13z the best laptop I ever had (previously had other Dell, Asus and Acer). It's compact and light, has a good performance and great screen.

The 8-cell battery lasts >5 hours on light office/internet work, but it sticks out at the bottom. This makes it more difficult to use it on your lap but it's great on a desk because it tilts the laptop at the back a little bit making it easier to type on. The keys of the keyboard are very light to touch.

The laptop lacks only 2 items: a illuminated keyboard (but that's more for business/more expensive laptops I think) and some indicator lights for num lock, shift lock and disk activity.

 

Thats good to hear StievieD. I will for sure go for the 8-cell battery and I don't care about illuminated keyboard or the indicator lights.

 

Which graphic card did you choose - Intel or Nvidia? I have this problem too, and I'm sure it's caused by GF 105m. When I disable it I hear no crackles.
See also http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=157614
I'll return my 13z and order a new one, but with Intel graphics.