Dell Inspiron 15R Special edition (7520)

Thanks, might give it a try tonight. I didn't think it would make much of a difference with it being similar software.

CCC looks so much better in that new version actually.

As an update, gave it another try this time using Driver Fusion and it does work. I can run BF3 on ultra at 720p with a fairly solid 50fps now, so a significant boost from before for me.

 

Nice to hear that!!
Seems the updated drivers do actually work better

 

To those who managed to use Driver Fusion to install the 13.1 CCC,
what do I need to do from here? :/



Thanks in advance!

 

Bought a Inspiron 15R SE 7520 a few months ago from Dell's outlet and haven't tried it until today. Laptop appears to work except there is no image on the LCD. Tried increasing brightness but that doesn't help. Shining a flashlight to the LCD I can see the image. Therefore, I'm guessing the light or inverter board(?) is the culprit. I can hook an external monitor via the VGA port and the external monitor shows the image.

Two questions:

1) I was going to use Dell's email or chat to diagnose the issue, and it says that Chat and Email is not available for this product. The product still shows limited warranty until October 2013. I bought the product in October 2012. I haven't bought a new Dell for about 10 years so I'm guessing there's been some changes. I used to be able to use email support for past products within the full 1 year warranty period. Is this normal?!

2) Any good indicator if it's the light or inverter board? Or could it actually be something else?

Thank-you

 

You should select amd and intel (both which say display) and click on delete!
The rest should be easy

To JTurbo
When i disassembled mine i didn't do the screen as well, but i suspect the power wires for the backlight are along with the data cables, have you tried moving the cover back and forth?
If that doesn't work i'd suppose you could start suspecting the light itself or that inverted board you mention!

 

Bought a Logitech M905 Wireless Laser mouse to use with the laptop. After installing the SetPoint software (Logitech mouse n keyboard software) I found that the mouse movements were jittery. It was getting on my nerves.. finally setting SetPoint to High Performance in the switchable graphics fixed it...

 

I took off the bezel and made sure the panel was connected and disconnected and reconnected along with tapping around the panel. The backlight still didn't work. Got through to Dell and they're sending out a new panel.

So far, seems like a pretty nice laptop. Would be even better with a working panel. A little disappointed that it was defective out of the box, especially a refurbished unit that would have gone through testing. There was also a Dell CD in the CD drive.

Other, minor, issue is there's a gap between the CD tray end cap and the base of the laptop with enough room to stick the thickness of a quarter or more between the two. It's also loose so it flaps around.

 

Mine is also a bit loose, so it makes quite a racket if you like to tap the tray, but it isn't that large (the gap i meant)

 

Concerning leshcat's drivers, has anyone else encountered any issues with DSE? I can't install it because of it being locked by the UEFI secure boot (windows 8). I even tried disabling driver signature enforcement through the advanced startup options but with no luck. I'm not even sure it would be worth it given it needs to be in test mode continuously if I understand correctly...

 

Not sure if this question already came up....

Can the 15R SE (with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 and an AMD Radeon HD 7730M) use two external monitors, one connected via the VGA port and the other via the HDMI port? I have no lucky thus far and was only able to display desktop on two screens but not all three. The HDMI-connected monitor has a DVI port, so I'm using a DVI-HDMI cable.

I suspect that the VGA and HDMI combo will not work -- analog and digital. But, is there any other way to use two external monitors with the 15R SE?

 

Dell sent a replacement LCD and LCD cable. I replaced the LCD and cable myself and that didn't fix the issue. Both LCDs (original and replacement) have no backlight but you can see the faint image on the LCD (both original and replacement) if you shine a flashlight on the LCD to illuminate it. Using an external monitor works as the video is displayed on the external monitor.

I contacted Dell, again, and they want to send another LCD but this time a technician to replace the LCD. They had me turn the laptop on while holding the D keydown to do a display test on the LCD. Again, you can't see anything on the LCD unless you illuminate it with a flashlight.

I'm not sure the likelihood of two defective LCDs (original and replacement). The cable was also replaced. The cable is securely connected. I was starting to suspect the motherboard/video card as that has to power the LCD but Dell disagrees as they claim the external monitor wouldn't work if the motherboard/video card was bad. However, the LCD gets power through a connection there, so I disagree with Dell's claim. I hope they're right, because this laptop is very plastic with few screws and lots of "snaps" - which means it won't hold up to many disassembles.

Very disappointed with Dell's quality. To have the laptop defective out of the box is bad. To have the replacement part not work is further bad.

 

You can only have 2 displays at once.
Either both external or the nb display + vga OR hdmi
If you can't get both external monitors to power up, go and play with settings in screen resolution!

 

Hello Everybody

Please post the Hardware id of your FHD Screen......mine is SEC5448.....its video quality is very poor.

To Find The Hardware Id of Monitor : Go to Device Manager > Left Click the Monitors > Right Click the Generic PnP Monitor > Right Click the Properties > Left Click The
Details Tab > Select Hardware ids from the Property Tab.

 

I have the same problem... How did you solve it !?!?!?

 

What about a direct online chat session with Dell tech support?

 

I had a chat session with a Dell tech about this, and you are correct.
Besides Built-in Display + VGA or HDMI, I was also able to get VGA + HDMI (so the laptop display is turned off).
According to AMD, Raedon HD 7730M could connect up to 6 external displays, but on this Dell laptop, I suppose there is hardware limitation.

I don't know if this is true, but is this the limitation posed on most (if not all) laptops? I have never heard/seen a laptop that can be used with more than 2 displays without some add'l graphic card adapter.

 

Hi people.

I have been using Inspiron 1520 for years and now looking to replace it with inspiron 15R SE. Are there any known/widespread issues regarding 15R SE?

Inspiron 1520 used to have defective LCD (china made) and statics during headphone usage.

edit: i value the quality screen (color, no dead pixel, reso) alot

Thanks!

 

AUO21ED. What do you mean, when you say that the video quality is very poor?

 

Also got the SEC5448
how do you know the video is poor, If you tell me I can see if I see the same thing

I like the screen, especially the matte screen

 

The video playback is very pixelated and grainy. The colors don't look natural. It also suffers from ghosting.

 

Hi, i would like to ask something. I am currently set up a dual monitor via VGA port to my old lcd (VGA). But the result is quite poor and pixelated. Was that the result of intel HD4000 being utillized for dual monitor? Is there any way to use radeon 7730 for this task?

 

I'm starting to dislike the 720p screen, and despite following the thread for a while I can't remember if anyone has asked if the standard screen can be replaced with the 1080p one? Anyone have any idea?

I've read on other laptop reviews that some have the wrong type of connector, I believe single link rather than dual which means only half the pixel lines can display information.

 

I have a small favour to ask of other 15R SE users, if someone doesn't mind!

Could somebody go to Start, search for 'partition', and look at the Disk Management, then tell me if their 'recovery partition' has 100% space free, or if it's filled?

Basically my system won't let me reset it: it tells me "there was a problem resetting your computer", or something similar. At first I thought it was a HDD problem but I used the Dell Diagnostics and it tells me the HDD is fine. Then I looked at the partitions and noticed that my recovery partition appears to be empty.. I was wondering if this could be the problem (but how would it've happened?? I've reset the system multiple times in the past). However if it's 'normal' for the recovery partition to be empty (maybe it's hidden or I dunno?) then my problem must be elsewhere

thanks!

 

How are you "looking" at that partition?

 

Hey, I took a screenshot as it might be easier



all the partitions (including recovery partition) have 100% space free, is this the same for everyone?

 

I Think i couldn't see the partition contents from windows either!
There must be something to it.. try some linux flavour

 

My Recovery partition looks about the same size as yours, however, mine is about 50% used. I've not restored my system and so that's how mine came from Dell.

I've attached a screen capture of mine.

 

To update the story of my Dell Inspiron 15R SE being defective out of the box (no backlight), Dell sent another LCD and LCD cable and a technician. This made the 2nd replacement LCD/LCD cable sent by Dell and the 3rd LCD when you count the original. The issue continued with no backlight. The technician called Dell to report the issue and Dell wanted to send another LCD and LCD cable but we got Dell to send a replacement motherboard as well. I replaced the motherboard myself and the LCD (3rd for this unit when counting the original) finally powered up. I then put the original LCD back that came with the laptop, which also previously had no backlight, and that LCD worked. Meaning, it was the motherboard all along as it apparently wasn't powering the LCD/inverter. With tearing apart the laptop base a few times replacing parts to make this defective laptop actually work, the plastic tabs on the base of the laptop were starting to crack and a few actually broke. I got Dell to send some replacement plastics.

Overall, I was disappointed to get a defective laptop from Dell. But disappointment went further when 2 replacement LCD/LCD cables was sent with the same outcome and Dell wanted to send a 3rd replacement! However, Dell made things right by sending a replacement motherboard, which actually fixed the issue, and then some plastics to replace the abuse the base took in all of this.

 

I was wondering if I could ask a very big favour?

Could someone order me a N7JHH mSATA daughterboard? Ill pay you for the product itself and shipping - they are asking for £50 in the UK for this, and I know people are getting it much cheaper then that.

Any takers to help out a fellow nbreviewer?

 

Can someone with this model (15R SE) download "Speedfan" program from here:
SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

and let me know what the fan speed of their laptop is?

Specifically Fan1?

Mine is loud, has been for months and its starting to really annoy me!

It's currently idling while I type this and the fan is at 4800rpm.... CPU temp is normal at about 43degrees.

Thanks,

 

Here you go!
In options in speedfan you can click on "Enable Dell Support"
So you can manage the pwm for the Fan1

 

My fan went to 4200 when I ran Prime 95 for a few minutes, with temperatures nearing 70 C. Afterwards when I left my laptop idle for a few minutes the fan dropped to 2800, and then 0 when the temperature dropped below 45 C or so (is that true? Does the fan really just stop when idle? :O)

When I resume activity (watching a YT video), the fan goes back up to 2800 or so.

 

This is mine at pretty much idle operation today:




Fan at 4400 to 4800 is very loud, yet laptop is doing nothing (idling).

It keeps going up and down at intervals, however sometimes it stays on 4600+ for 10 or more minutes.

 

Set it to auto control the fan speed!!
Enable the setting for dell laptops in options

 

There must be a fault with the motherboard or sensor on mine as it shouldnt be going on and off like that from 0 to 4800 (max speed) every few minutes when IDLE and cool!

I do not wish to use Speedfan to control the fan, just to monitor.

 

View attachment 92175

That's my fan
CPU almost idling 6-7

 

How do I see which GPU is currently being used while running a game?

Also since this thread is so long, and this topic is spread all over and rather confusing to read that way, how do I make sure I have the latest graphics drivers, the correct way to get, and install them if I do not? I am not new to PC driver installs, but I am a total laptop noob, got my first one a few hours ago LOL.

 

What i do is check on speedfan if i can read the 7730 temp, if it shows some value then its working, otherwise if it shows 0 the intel is working.
Cheers

 

I see that Dell has new graphics drivers listed for the 15R SE for both the intel HD4000 and the 7730, as of 2/21/2013 has anyone tried them yet?

 

7730 driver for Win 7 (8.951.9.1000) seems to be the one from 3/13/12 so not sure why it says 2/21/13
Intel HD seems new

 

I've just installed them.
i'll see if there is any improvement and report!

 

Yeah I just noticed that. That is the one I'm using, I really want a newer driver, but being a first time laptop owner I'm nervous about trying non dell supported drivers.

 

What temperatures should I be at when gaming on this pc? both for the i7 3632qm cpu, and the HD 7730 gpu?

 

During SC2 my GPU maxed out to 61C and CPU 71C(i5)

 

My GPU seems to stay between 60 and 63 Celsius, my i7 got as high as 76 Celsius this was in SWTOR in an area with a bunch of people and with settings on mainly high with a few at medium.

Is that temp ok for an i7?

 

Max Temp according to this link is 105 C: Intel Core i7 3632QM Notebook Processor - NotebookCheck.net Tech

I think I have read many times that anything under 90 C is safe.

 

Recently I found out the the fan of my Inspiron 15R SE is working at high speed in Setup.

If I turn it on in the morning that doesn't happen from the beginning, but if I stay for 5 minutes in Setup, even if I don't do anything, the fan starts to make a noise as if it were working at 4500 rpm and the air the comes out is hot. It seems that the more I stay in setup the noisier the fan becomes. When I start Windows 8 the rotation speed slows down, reaching 2800 rpm if the system is in idle.

I've updated the bios to the version A09 recently, so I don't know if the fan worked that way when the version A07 was used. What I do know is that since when this laptop arrived to me, whenever I turn it on, the fan briefly becomes noisy before the Windows is loaded.

If someone could verify your Inspiron 15R SE and tell me if the fan works as I described it would be greatly appreciated. Suggestions about that question would be very welcome too.

 

I'm having the same problem with the graphics drivers not uninstalling. Driver fusion hasn't helped. They appear in device manager the same as the third image above. Every time I do a complete driver clean and restart the laptop,
Windows 8 reinstalls the wrong drivers again. These will then conflict with any new driver i install (leshcat,dell). Is there a better solution than a full windows format?

 

Has anyone tried installing a SSD by copying the boot drive onto the new SSD instead of a clean reinstall? What about the recovery and other hidden partitions? Until I can get a OS DVD from Dell, this is the only way I can see to upgrade. My SSD is reaching in a few days... Any pointers would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

 

You need to enable TRIM on the SSD which can only be enabled by a clean install of windows. You could download a legitmate ISO online (there's some on the Microsoft website for Win 7) and install it straight on the SSD. Would remove a lot of the Dell rubbish that comes pre-installed as well.

That's what I did at least.