Dell Studio 15 1558 Thread

Great detective work dimodi!

I had vmware and virtual clonedrive installed which probably explains it! I didn't look at the device manager close enough or I would have pointed that out. Sorry!

With regards to the refund, I just wrote one letter to them (record delivery so they couldn't just ignore it). I pointed out the issues and that I was dissatisfied with the level of service I experienced and the fact that I had to cough out a further £35 to get the 6300.

For completeness, here is my device manager once I've re-installed (ignore external HD, vmware and virtual clonedrive).

 

Well I finally did it and ordered mine.

Ordered in Ruby Red to cut down on fingerprints, upgraded to the 13-350 for a touch more speed, 500GB HD which will be moved external to make room for my SSD, 4GB's of memory, integrated graphics mainly for lower heat, upped to the 1080P LCD, Intel 6200 wireless, back-lit keyboard, and added bluetooth. Grand total $759+tax and shipping. I think I did all right. Delivery data of 5/5/10 sucks but oh well.

 

Hi guys,

I have 3 issues with my Dell Studio 1558.

Having read the Dell Studio manual, the laptop is supposed to come bundled with 4 speakers and 1 woofer. Has anyone managed to successfully test all speakers ?

When I tried the Speaker Setup, the only audio that came out was from my L and R speakers. In Quadrophonic and 5.1 surround, I can't hear anything from the rest of the speakers. Do I need to plug speakers into the individual jacks to test this ?

Also, the subwoofer on my 1558 has absolutely no sound as well. I updated to the latest drivers too but still no difference in terms of sound quality, especially when I crank up the bass. My laptop comes with the Soundblaster software option (I've read that this conflicts with the Windows drivers ??).

Lastly, does anyone know how SRS Premium Sound is reflected in the Dell Studios ?

Having read the description at their website, I'm beginning to doubt if this was a marketing ploy by Dell as the sound quality on my studio is just marginally better than on my older Compaq :

http://www.srslabs.com/premiumsound/sound.html

I've read on forums that the ASUS notebooks come with a neat SRS Premium menu interface to tweak the SRS settings. How is this reflected in our Dell Studios ?

Thanks in advance ...

 

Sorry to double post. But if anyone else has an issue with the cooling fan turning on and off every 30 seconds or so even when the cpu is under NO load. Please post in this thread. It's pretty annoying. Seems like a crappy implementation on dell's part.

 

My 1558 does this a lot of the time; I accepted that its just the way the laptop behaves... I guess everything can't be perfect, the laptop scores highly in all other areas other than the chassis design, heat emission and fan noise.

 

@axepert I don't have any software installed to test each speaker separately or I would have given it a shot.

There are people complaining that the subwoofer doesn't work on their 1557 on the Dell forums. Might be a red herring but worth a look nevertheless:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19300158/19675420.aspx?PageIndex=1

I haven't really paid too much attention to the fans. Probably cos my laptop has spent most of it's life in my PC room which sounds like a rocket! Next time I move it to a quieter room, I'll listen to it.

 

Just a heads up that there's a fix on the Dell site. It's not compatible with my dvdrw though so I'm not sure why it's come up as a recommended download for me!

TSST TS-T633C 12.7mm Slotload 8x DVDRW

Release Date: 05/04/2010
Version: D800, A07
Download Type: Firmware

Fixes auto-run issue when media is inserted

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R259387&SystemID=studio1558&servicetag=&os=W764%20&osl=en&deviceid=22912&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=32&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=380607

 

I applied the firmware upgrade and while I can't see any difference in the auto-run function, it definitely didn't break anything

 

It just kept complaining that it wasn't compatible. You just need to provide the '*.bin' file sitting in the windows folder to the firmware application, right?

 

That's correct. To check which DVD drive you have, go to msinfo32.exe and check the model under the components section.

 

Surprised !

Everytime I chat with Dell agents they say we are NOT offering Studio 1558 in USA and all say studio 1558 has a touch screen. Is it correct ?

 

You know... I still don't even know where these numbers come from... It is so confusing. How does a consumer know whether it is 1558 vs 1557? Is that a USA & Canada or European designator or something?
Is it important enough to have separate sub-forums?
It would be nice to just have a Studio 15 sub-forum instead of both.... That is, unless there are significant differences?

My order only shows: Item # 224-7415 Dell Studio 15

 

I just checked mine and in the parts list it has "DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP,1558". From everything I have looked i7=1557 and i5=1558. Other than that they are the same.

 

Cheers for that. My drive is:
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GA31N ATA Device

Seems to have firmware A102.

I have this installed on my Dell. Is this what you mean?

 

Dude, I have a 1558 and it has an i7. I guess the 1558 allows more choice of i3, i5 and i7, but its not restricted to an i5.

 

Ah. OK, mine shows 1 330-6868 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP,1558
I have the i5 build with a 4570 (512mb)

 

By the way, here's another image for people who still aren't sure how great these i7 chips are on the studio. I've got the laptop connected to a 22" 1680 x 1050 as well, which is why the rest looks enormous..

What's happening? I'm running iPlayer and running 30 episodes of stuff off my external HD, also showing the temp of the laptop and the strain being put on the processor.

 

That software looks useful! I don't have that on my Dell, would you recommend it?

 

It certainly looks nice but I haven't really tweaked. I was hoping someone would recommend some settings. I was trying to get some oomph out of the subwoofer, but I didn't get very far.

I think the software was installed via the IDT driver:

http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...bookreview.com/showthread.php?t=468806&page=8

I certainly didn't install it separately.

Btw, it's great to see the i7 performing so well with whatever you've thrown at it. You tried the kitchen sink at it yet?!

 

:laugh: not yet man, you know that one's coming soon though

 

There's some software here:

http://www.kitchen-sink.com/a2/index.html

 

Correct again! Nice one, much appreciated; looks like you're a pro at all this Dell setup stuff... if I were you I'd charge for this advice, seems to be accurate 100% of the time so far ; just don't charge me

Thanks again !

 

I may have made some progress on my constant fan cycling issue. What are some normal idle temperatures for a Studio 1558 with the i3 and integrated graphics? My idle temps are between 44-52 degrees celsius.

 

just found a 5% off coupon, anyone have any success calling them and getting the price reduced after the order?

 

Cant comment on that exactly, however I remember dell reduced my system from £740 to £690 3 days after I made the purchase. I called them up and asked if I could get he extra £50 off as it was on a the exact config that I had bought just 3 days earlier, they said no as each order is individual and final. I cancelled n replaced my order, it came 8 days later all in all so i was happy.

Those 5% coupons are always available btw, in case you didn't know.

 

I had couple of chats with diff Dell agents, no one is ready to cut the price what is offered online

 

OK...Can you please confirm whether you have a touch screen on your studio 1558 ? Because Dell sales agents are saying studio 1558 have touch screen but currently we are not offering it.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I've already read through all the postings I could find on this issue (including the link to the 1557 forum you shared) but could not find a fix.

Initially I called Dell support to inform them about this problem, but the support person said that I had to manually install the Soundblaster drivers as 'occasionally' it could have been left out from installation from the factory. I told her that mine was already installed, but she said I should re-run the installation CD again.

Doubting her, I fiddled around abit and found SRS audio had to be manually enabled (its disabled by default). Once turning it on and killing off all the mids/treble, I could hear the puny subwoofer warbling underneath. I had high hopes for this to be great sounding seeing how they marketed it with SRS premier sound, subwoofer, surround sound etc, but boy was I sorely disappointed

Anyway, issue resolved, and now I probably have to think about getting myself a separate set of speakers now ... sigh ..

 

Try here : http://www.couponsnapshot.co.uk/online-vouchers-tagged-with-Studio-15-6806.html

What I did was to tell the agent that I had discount coupons, and asked if they could give me a better offer (which they duly obliged ).

AFAIK, there's no touch screen option available.

A word of advice though, I found the Dell Studio 15 to be HUGE. Having been used to 14", I found the extra 1" to be really significant, both in terms of size and weight (its a powerbrick!). The only saving grace was having it in 1080p .

Suggest you test it for yourself in person before deciding on buying it. A friend of mine got herself a Sony Vaio CW26 which was of similar price/spec, and I must say, it trumps the Dell Studio in terms of looks and feel.

 

I went from a 10" eeePC and I have to disagree with you. It's not that big of a difference. I'll agree with you that it is a powerbrick, but that said, I can get 3 hours out of this unit easily on a 6-cell battery which is pretty damn impressive for my spec. I find it hard to believe that it can be trumped by a Sony at a similar price. Maybe you found it significant because you went from a 14 to expecting a 15, but actually got a 15.6".

The only similar priced sony at the price of my Studio is an i3 or maybe an i5, and stands no chance at outperforming it. Maybe it outperforms it in style and brandpower and perhaps weight.. perhaps.

 

Thank you for your suggestion.
But I need a 15.6" - 16" (main stream) laptop with MUST Full HD screen under $1000. hence I'm left with only Studio 1558 option.

 

Yeah, the best bet, almost always, is to get external speakers. This is where the SRS and multi-channel sound will really come through. Good laptop speakers are often overlooked, to my dismay. My 17" MacBook Pro had very good speakers which was nice because I could listen to music on a whim without having to worry about speaker setup or headphones. That said though, they definitely were lacking bass punch... I think to get really decent on-board speaker sound we would need to move up to a 17" size or greater.
Personally, nothing beats a nice pair of headphones. You don't have to go expensive either, to get really good sound.
Just curious, did you have the X-Fi option on your Studio?

 

I was in the exact same boat... The Dell Studio 15 offered the most bang for the buck AND had the really nice 1080 LED screen which is very hard to find on a system around the $1k price point.

 

What did you pay for your configuration ?

BTW, I really like Asus N61JA configuration and price, but that laptop has only 1366x768 resolution which is the deal breaker for me.

 

Glad you got it sorted. Always glad to be of service. Invoice will be in the post

 

I bought off the State & Local Employee Purchase Program (EPP).
Cost was $949 before tax and shipping. Total cost put me just over $1k at like $1050. I had a coupon code for an additional $50 off at the time (expired now).
If you can qualify for any of the EPP programs, you can call and they will likely offer to give you $50 off with free shipping... They did to me. I just had the coupon anyway so just did it online. If you called, you might be able to get it for $1030 out the door (my deal minus shipping cost)...

 

Another one I liked was the Sony "F" series, but it lacked an LED backlight so the deal was out.
I wanted eSATA, and a hi-res screen LED backlit (1920x1080 or 1600x900), a backlit keyboard and an i5 as minimums.
Asus, Gateway, Acer, and Sony were all in the running but the Dell gave the most for the least...

 

ditto ..... same configuration for me too
BTW, what is the advantage of LED backlit LCD ?

 

Better picture and better battery life.

 

Yep. Less power draw and very consistent lighting across the screen, plus instant brightness as opposed to CCFL which sometimes requires a small amount of time to come to peak brightness (although not so much anymore). The main thing is LED can get much brighter with less draw and they have a consistent brightness across the screen.

 

That explains why the picture quality is fantastic even on the lowest brightness setting.

I accidentally left it on low when I was messing about with media buttons. I was pretty shocked to see how bright you could make it go.

I have to say, the HD screen is just lovely. I'm using the Canada windows theme and I keep getting drawn to poke my face close to the screen to marvel at the picture quality! Fortunately, I've not been caught doing that by anyone yet. My occasional madness is still a secret (until now).

Got a query. There is a media button to disable wi-fi. When I press it to try conserve some battery life, it seems to also knock out my bluetooth mouse which is obviously a royal pain. Is there an alternative way to just knock out wi-fi but leave bluetooth on?

 

Well the only reason why I had to settle for a Dell Studio 15 instead of a 14 was because Dell Australia did not support the Studio 14 as it was not sold there (I purchased my Studio 15 outside of Australia, but am planning to use it there).

The Vaio I mentioned certainly did not match the Dell Studio 15 in terms of specs, but it came really close for me:

Taken from http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/sony-vaio-cw-series/4507-3121_7-34024577.html?tag=psum

Sony VAIO CW Series VPC-CW26FX/W - Core i5 520M 2.4 GHz - 14" TFT
• Manufacturer:Sony
• Part Number:VPCCW26FX/W

General
• Built-in DevicesBluetooth antenna , Wireless LAN antenna
• Width13.4 in
• Depth9.2 in
• Height1.5 in
• Weight5.3 lbs
• ColorIcy white
• Notebook typeThin-and-light (4-6 lbs.) , Gaming laptop Processor
• ProcessorIntel Core i5 I5-520M / 2.4 GHz
• Max Turbo Speed2.93 GHz
• Multi-Core TechnologyDual-Core
• 64-bit ComputingYes
• FeaturesIntel Turbo Boost Technology
• Chipset TypeMobile Intel PM55 Express Cache Memory
• TypeL3 cache
• Cache size3 MB RAM
• Installed Size4 GB / 8 GB (max)
• TechnologyDDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz
• RAM configuration features2 x 2 GB

Storage Controller
• Storage controller typeSerial ATA
• Storage Controller / Serial ATA InterfaceSerial ATA-150

Storage
• Floppy DriveNone
• Hard Drive500 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
• Storage RemovableNone
• Hard drive typePortable

Optical Storage
• TypeDVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Integrated

Optical Storage (2nd)
• 2nd optical storage typeNone

Card Reader
• Card reader typeCard reader
• Supported flash memory cardsMemory Stick , SD Memory Card , Memory Stick Duo , Memory Stick Pro , Memory Stick PRO DuoDisplay
• Display Type14 in TFT active matrix
• Max Resolution1600 x 900
• Widescreen DisplayYes
• FeaturesLED-backlit Video
• Graphics Processor / VendorNVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
• Video Memory512 MB
• Total Available Graphics Memory2263 MB Audio
• Audio output typeSound card
• Audio output compliant standardsHigh Definition Audio
• Audio InputMicrophone

Notebook Camera
• Camera Type Integrated
• Camera FeaturesFace-tracking technology

Input Device(s)
• Input device typeKeyboard , Touchpad
• Keyboard localization and layout QWERTY

Telecom
• ModemNone

Networking
• NetworkingNetwork adapter
• Networking / Wireless LAN SupportedYes
• Data link protocolEthernet , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g , IEEE 802.11n , Fast Ethernet , Gigabit Ethernet , Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• Networking standardsIEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g , IEEE 802.11n , Bluetooth 2.1

Expansion / Connectivity
• Expansion Slots Total (Free)2 ( 0 ) x Memory , 1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/34
• Interfaces1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 , 1 x Audio / video - HDMI output - 19 pin HDMI Type A , 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm , 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm , 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A , 1 x Display / video - VGA output - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 pin FireWire

Miscellaneous
• Compliant StandardsRoHS

Power
• Power device form factorExternal

Battery
• TechnologyLithium ion
• Installed Qty1
• Battery capacity4400 mAh
• Mfr estimated battery life4 hour(s)

Operating System / Software
• OS ProvidedMicrosoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
• SoftwareVAIO Care , VAIO Media Gallery , Microsoft Works 9 SE , VAIO Help and Support , Sony Picture Motion Browser , VAIO Media Plus Multimedia Streaming Software , Norton Internet Security 2010 (30 days subscription) , Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60 days trial)
Manufacturer Warranty
• Service & Support1 year warranty
• Service & Support DetailsLimited warranty - 1 year - On-site , Technical support - Phone consulting - 1 year - availability: 24 hours a day / Monday-Sunday

Sustainability
• ENERGY STAR QualifiedYes
• Greenpeace policy rating (Dec 2009)5.1

 

And that's precisely why I wanted a laptop that had good built-in speakers. But alas ...

Yep, I'm using a really good and inexpensive Senheiser PX100 headphones. Its the best bang for the buck, small, portable and yet very powerful in the bass department.

I did opt for the X-Fi option, and found it to be rather of an overkill especially with the SRS premiem sound features already available. Speaking of which, I found that if I disabled all the X-Fi enhancements, it actually sounded much better and natural on the headphones.

 

I'm currently getting 3hrs 30 - 4hrs 15 maximum on a 6-cell on powersaver mode, lowest brightness, wifi on. this seems unexpectedly high, not like im complaining. How's everyone elses battery life, and does this mean 9-cell-ers are getting 5/5hrs ish

 

There are some settings in bios, you can set between wifi, bluetooth and 3g phone.

 

Cheers Jako, you're a star! It worked a treat.

 

I have 1558 with ATI 5470 and it seems that it doesn't support flash video hardware decoding. I have the latest flash plugin 10.1 RC, using Chrome browser and it still uses CPU for playback not GPU - GPU usage is 0-1% when viewing Youtube videos.

Same applies for Avivo video encoding. This program should be using GPU for H264 encoding, but yet again it uses only CPU and GPU usage is 0-1% when encoding videos with Avivo program (it is included with ATI drivers).

Oh and I'm using latest ATI drivers from Dell support site. Windows 7 x64

Can anyone confirm this or am I doing something wrong?

 

I believe the hardware decoding is only supported in video that was encoded using h.264. If I am not mistaken, many videos are encoded using FLV or f4v. I wonder if you could try again on a video that you know to be encoded using h.264?

 

I read something earlier about Adobe enabling hardware acceleration soon. Google it.

 

Yup. Getting about 5-5 1/2 hours on my 9-cell. I wasn't sure I was going to like the 9-cell since it lifts the laptop about an inch up but now having it for almost 2 weeks, I've got to say it's nice. Better cooling for the laptop.