Dell Studio 1555, *Part 2*

Can anyone help me here?
My new 1555's DVD drive crashed while playing a game and the drive no longer exists will not eject.

 

Hi there! and Happy New Year (from the far east)
I found out there is a new driver for the Intel WiFi link 5100 AGN card.
The one that came with my lappy is 12.0.0.82.
The latest one is 12.4.4.5 at the http://downloadcenter.intel.com.

Has anybody tried it? (Dell Support doesn't refer to any driver update available.)

Would the driver update mess up my wireless settings in 'network and sharing center'?
thanks and have a nice (hangover) day

 

For the record this is now ok after leaving it to cool down...happy days!

 

so nobdy is able to figure out driver problem of sound blaster???its been more than a week i asked my query regardin this

 

why would you need to use that software if the IDT driver does the job just as well. and it works under w7 64 bit as well.

 

i never notice much difference with these sound suites anyway. Even the idt software makes the sound crackle a bit when you adjust the volume so i only use it to change the function of the audio jacks. I think even windows 7 has built in audio enhancements in its sound control panel.

 

In last week I figured that power management is broken sometimes. I have Windows 7 x64 PRO, DELL A8 BIOS, latest drivers. So whats the broken? CPU after hibernation or sleep sometimes use bad voltages for clocks ( I have P8700 ) . So in 800Mhz is 0.875, 1600 is 1.0, 2533 is 1.075V. Problem is that sometimes voltage stucks on 1.075 instead of low CPU clock 800 or 1600Mhz, sometimes is 1.2V ( which is used tio intel IDA - cca 2640MHz ). And other problem is that CPU clock changing on demant doesnt work - so its basicaly stuck on 800 or 1600MHz and is noticable slow - no matter of which power management profile i choose , etc power adapter plugged in-out. Sometimes helps only hibernate or sleep - wake up notebook again and power management works again OK, if doestn - restart do the job.

So thats my little big problem ... anybody have solution or same problem as me?

(To check voltage i used CPU-Z and to measure power i used buldin benchmark of winrar so the stuck on low clock is real cca 500Kbs in winrar , in 2533 is 1100Kbs )

 

Does anyone know if you can swap the new i7-720QM for the regular CPU (c2d P6600) without problems? I was just going to buy a higher c2d but my friend is doing well with his mobile i7 atm.

Also with the additional heat (which im assuming there is), should I buy arctic silver to help cool or will regular thermal paste do fine?

 

No you cannot swap out a core i7 for a Core 2 Duo. Requires a completely different motherboard for a C2D.

 

Hi forum,

I just got my first Dell laptop (Studio 1555, Core Duo T6600, Radeon 4570, Win 7 64bit), so this would be my first post here. I have two questons I did not find answers to in other threads (cheers to the people who worked on the laptop cooler thread btw - really helped me!).

First: This might be a windows 7 issue: while having a CD/DVD in the CD drive, the drive continuously (every few minutes) starts to spin it and stops after a few seconds. Is there any way to turn this off?

Second: I am not really happy with the temperatures the system produces:
I did install HWmonitor, below a few samples of the readings:
idle: CPU 52 to 56 Celcius
GPU(tz0-3) 52/48/54
HD 33
opening a pdf: CPU 63
opening IE: CPU 63
playing the 30 secs generic Wildlife video included in Win 7: CPU 65

playing Fate(included in Win7) for 3-5 minutes
CPU: 72/72
GPU: 63/56/82
HD: 41
and the fan really started to work.

these numbers (while playing the game) do seem a bit high to me or am I mistaken? I was prepared to use a laptop cooler if I was to sit down and play for a couple of hours but was a bit surprised to have the temperatures rise this fast.

The GPU driver seems to be up to date (dated June 2009) - at least there is nothing newer on the Dell HP. I also deactived the wlan as recommended in another thread. I read about switching to battery conserving mode to reduce GPU heat generation; how would that influence the performance of the GPU?

Thank you for any help!

 

Just letting you know BIOS A09 is up for grabs.
Changes - "enhance display quality."
Installation went just fine in here.

 

Looks like that A09 helps me with wrong powermanagement (P8700)after sleep or hybernation. And display quality - i dont know, it same for me ( I have FullHD display )

But i have small question. Did somebody overclocked dell stuio 1555? If yes, with which program? Im tried with setFSB but i dont know PPL generator. Olny that worked was MEMset, so i can adjust memory timings - but it hasnt gains i memory bandwith, only latency drops a little. GPU is locked, im talked to Ray Addams (ATT) and he said that he have 4570 too and there is no way to over-under cloks it (but he said too, that overclocking this GPU is useless - thats right. BUT, underclock will be great especialy with DXVA mode - but we can only dreams about it)

EDIT: So power management is better, but not ideal.

-If im on baterry and try to sleep, after resume is CPU clock stuck on 800 or 1600MHz, after doing hybernation its back to normal and power management work.
-If i have power adapter plugged in i can sleep or hybernate and if i resume all is ok

So on batery only hibernation is option. Can somebody try this with windows 7 x64 for me? Thanks a lot

 

A small OT guys:
Does anyone knows how to run i8kfangui on a 64bit OS?
I've installed 7 Ultimate at 64bit and now i'm not able to use i8kfangui...

I know there are a lot of programs that will work but i love i8kfangui, so if there's a way to install it please let me know
Thanks

 

hey guys i recently did a clean install of windows but cant find the dell power plan in drivers and downloads section, does dell still has that for windows7?

 

In W7 x64 you must restart OS , press F8 - disabling driver signatures , instal 64bit version of i8kfangui, then with "driver signature enforcment overider" patch ploblem driver. How to use that tools use google.

So im tried to instal with this way with succes. Im albe to monitor all sensors, but whem i want to show fan speeds it start to freeze sometime, but control of fan works, but there are big freezes. So maybe this caused of bad setting , maybe is W7 x64 issue.

But if you said that exist other programs... cau you tell their names? It will be super to control FAN, because i havent problems with temperatures and FAN sometimes run for nothing

 

try looking under vista, should still work with win7

 

nvm found it

 

Yep you found it, but... its worthless Because difference betweend this DELL power scehme and balanced scheme of windows 7 is name of scheme ...

 

...sorry, i forgot to say that i mainly use i8kfangui only as a temperature reader only ...
So i meant that there are a lot of programs that can read the temps.

Thank you, i'll try googleing for this tricks and i'll see if i can succeed in the installation.

However i8kfangui also with a 32bit OS gave me serious lag in controlling the fan, it freezes the mouse and the system became unusable...

It's a pity that there aren't any update of this great software...

 

Ahh i see, monitoring isnt problem for soft, but contorling somethink is more difficult.

But anyway, i dont know that anybody post it before, but I succesfully managed overclocking ATI 4570 on my studio. It takes long time and trying different utilities. Finaly it works with RivaTunner with added vendor ID. Im able to underclock and overclock GPU and memory! It overides all ATI power management. Im tried 150 for GPU and 200(400 effective) for MEM - its all ok on 2D and DXVA acceleration is OK too with this clocks, but better is 150GPU/400(800)MEM for better UI responds. On 3D im managed 750GPU/1000(2000)MEM clocks! - All stable and heat is same as before, maybe max 5 degrees higher, but with aprox 25% incresed GPU performance!

DO IT WITH OWN RISK <<LINK FOR INSTRUCTIONS>> DO IT WITH OWN RISK

Later I put there comparison screenshots of 3DMark 01,05,06 and Vantage

 

Taken from the Studio's page on Dell USA:

"Performance you need. When you need it.
The Studio 15 laptop is packed with the latest processor technology from Intel® CoreTM i5 Dual Core and i7 Quad-Core processors. When compared to the previous CoreTM 2 Duo generation of processors, the Intel® CoreTM i7 Quad-Core series performance has increased up to 137%. Intel® CoreTM i3 processors coming soon."

Cool.

 

Great find!!I don't have enough knowledge to try those modding, but I'm interested in underclocking the graphic card 'cause in my notebook the GPU temps are always higer than the CPU one, so I think that the fan starts often because of the GPU...

Do you think that underclocking the GPU we might have lower temps and therefore a lower fan activity?

 

Definitely something I'll need to try out!! Good job on your gains.

 

Underclocking of GPU doesnt reduce temps a lot, cause ATI power management has 2D clocks about 200-300MHz of GPU and mems 200 or 400 too. So if you underclock it around 100-150MHz, it doesnt matter temps are same because factory 2D clock is OK, only DXVA is bit higher - but anyway in DXVA i have temps arround 50-60 degrees on GPU, with 150MHz on DXVA is temp same cause higher load of GPU(arround 30% instead of 10% with 680Mhz)

So.. If you want reduce power or temps underclock doesnt work, but in 3D you can gain arround 10-25% FPS (with higher temps)

 

I`ve got a studio 1555 with a p8600.. I`ve tried this, and it does not work (for me).. ah, and im running w7 x64 with that..

Check the SSs..

before, everything default..

frist of evereything..

i should got here, 2d clocks.. but, i dont.. i have (windows mode) 500/800 @ windows.. as u can see below..



ok, running the bench at 800x600 windowed..

1240 marks.. ok, at least, the temp metter was working! the max temp was 84 (the laptop is on the bed, without ventilation..)..



changing the clocks to 750/1000 (was 500/800)..

running the same bench again..

during the bench (look the clocks and the temp)..



after, and, the same result..



whats wrong? but, theres really smt wrong, or, this does not work?

 

When I increased my mem speeds from 800 to 1000mhz my 3dMarks in 3dMark06 went from 3900 to 4350, which is a pretty good bump! But I can't get my clock speeds to to 750 without a crash during testing. I'm not sure if its my temps that are triggering it, a lack of voltage (or wattage or amperage or rainbows...) or what else it could be.

@thomasck
My stock speeds are 680/800, but yours are reading 500/800 which I find weird. What are your computer specs? Also, try doing the benchmarks with the computer on a flat surface which will help it cool better. With the fans going full tilt on a bed, you're probably sucking up a loooot of dust.

 

Now my speeds are stuck at 500/800 and I can't get them to change... ARG!!!

Edit: After I re-enabled PowerPlay and Catalyst AI my stock speeds went back to 680/800 and I was able to OC up to 725/1000 stable. In Furmark I had a score of 900+ (Stock 800-and-something) and in 3DMark06 my score was 4500+ (Stock 3900).

 

outch! yours stock speeds are 680/800? its not fair! =( i wanna that!

its a 1555, p8600, 4gb, 320hdd.. same then yours..

and about the fans, yeah, i know that.. i just said cause if someone says "your temps are too high", i`d say "yes, its cause its was on the bed"..

but yours vga itsd 256mbs? mine its 512.. but the rest of the vga specs r the same..

here is another ss..





u can see thats is written 680mhz in the first SS.. but when i open a 3d app, the clock does not change...

edit

i think that now will work.. im downloading the 3dmark03.. when it finishs, i will test..

 

Yeah I was having the same issue as you, I could set the speeds to whatever I wanted but they wouldn't change from 500/800 under the Sensors tab. Try turning Catalyst AI and PowerPlay back on in the Catalyst Control Centre, that fixed it for me. It went back to 680/800 normally, and I could turn it up to 725/1000.

 

Nice OC Terbo too. I can go to 775 / 1065 and i have 512M version. I post my OC progress to hwbot and im #1 in 4570 category For example in 3Dmark01 my notebook beats Core i7 Q720M with 4570!

http://hwbot.org/community/user/froxic?tab=profile

 

Wow, I wonder why you can OC so much more than me? I thought I was stable at 740 but I locked up on final test on 3dMark06. The screen just goes black =(. Oh well... I'll have to start messing around with the memory clock and see what happens.

I'm wondering if I'm running out of power, you have a processor that uses less power than me but I don't know if that would be enough to make a difference. Anyone know how I can check my power consumption?

EDIT: just hit 4555 marks at 730/1000

 

maybe my CPU take less power that you say, maybe my GPU chip is better or better cooling paste, etc... every component differs even on same waffer

EDIT: Wierd, i had only 4350 with 750 / 1000 !! and CPU score better about 500 points that you, i dont understand, maybe drivers or OS? Im on seven x64 and CAT 9.11

EDIT2: With CAT 9.12 is 3Dmark score 4500, but i tried Vantage too, and score is same. Cau you try vantage and 05 for me?

 

Hi guys,
I'm still looking for people who have upgraded their Wireless card driver.
Any comment?
cheers,

 

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...roducts&ProdId=3062&LineId=1784&FamilyId=1783

This is a link to where I found 13.0.0.107. I've been using it a couple days and I haven't had any issues.


@froxic:
If I get a chance I'll try it out on Vantage, it won't be tonight though haha its already late enough as it is.

 

I PM terbo and he told me that my score is bit lower cause he has only 900P screen, so ho test in 1280x800 ( not in 1280x1024 as me)

Im test i now, and i have 4962 3Dmarks in 1280x800 (775GPU/1065MEM)



SM 2.0 : 1789
SM 3.0 : 2088
CPU : 2296

So its OK. But anyway CAT9.12 compare to 9.11 adds aditional 200 points in 3DM06 - so its "must have" for 4570 mobility users

 

This friendly competition is making me want to upgrade my CPU!

 

P8700 is definitely better than T650 - higher clock, higher FSB, higher cache, lesser power. But i dont think that it good to upgrade - it faster, cooler, etc... but upgrade price is big disadvantage, only for some ponits spend X bucks.

http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=37006,39311,

 

for 9.12 users do u also have CCC installed? i remember back when i had the 1535 CCC actually decreased gaming fps!

 

I have CCC installed ( original 9.12 bundle moded with mobility patcher ). I dont know if that decrease FPS cause i only have CAT with CCC installed. So its up to you that you can try to test it with and withnout CCC

 

hi , there a software , a good software , to make photo and video with the studio 1555's webcam ?

 

If I was going to upgrade my CPU, I'd probably just go for a T9X00 and say power consumption be damned.

Has anyone installed BIOS A09? I wish I could find the tech data for it to find out what it actually does. We've probably all seen the thread in the forum about it but no one seems to be speaking up...

@chaugh : Yes I use CCC with 9.12 and have no problems with it, but I haven't done a direct comparison of CCC on/CCC off.

 

@Terbo: I have A09 - in notes is somethink like "better display quality" - i dont se difference between A08. But my power management work better ( i have issues witch A08, but it maybe related with P8700 CPU only or somethink between earth and heaven )

@seb87: Try VirtualDub
1. File - Capture AVI
2. Device - Integrated webcam

 

I have same model ... (equivalent components).
Can you paste screen from CPU-Z MB TAB. What revision is your motherboard?
10x in advance!

 

My "new" motherboard is the same, but bios update is failed.
What may be due to this problem?

 

Hmm, and notebook is broken then? Or flashing prodecure fails and it ok with old bios. If firtst, i think that you must call dell tech support for help. And second one? I dont know, maybe try it again...

 

Here's mine if its still relevant.

 

what website do you go on to check for updates?

 

BTW, after you have ur charger in for a bit, does it go REALLY REALLY hot - untouchable type hot?

 

You can either navigate to your model or type in your service tag. http://support.dell.com/

My adapter can get quite hot when its charging, but not too hot to touch. The adapter for my old Toshiba was super hot all the time so I never gave this one a second thought.