Desktops General - Read Only

[s.myrr]

The "Has anyone taken delivery" thread is getting out of control - and far more people there are not owners... SO how about this new and improved XPS 435 Owner's Thread!?  Instead of posting 15 updates a day about delayed orders, newest deals, etc, how about we start a thread dedicated to the owners of this machine, and also a place where future owners can ask technical or performance questions about the machine.  There are a good amount of owners here, so let's build a community!

Any takers?

[LathropDave]

Forgot to mention I updated from A07 to A13 this morning and no problems encountered.

There is also a new update for Creative SB. Make sure you get the right one for your sound card. If during the install it says something like no product can be found, you probably have the wrong one. I'm speaking from experience.  ;)   However when I attempted to do the automated update through Creative during the setup, I got the dreaded  BSOD (blue screen of death). It also does it if you try and run it from All Programs.  That feature has not worked since I got my 435T even on the original Dell image.

[napageo]

Yes, the auto update through Creative gave me the BSOD from Day 1 and I have not tried it since. I did use the Windows Update to update the Creative Optional 8/19 update. It updated with no errors. However, when I went to use audio, there were many problems:

CNN: Videos would play 0.5 seconds of sound and then go silent.

YOUTUBE: Videos would play, but sound would fade and have distortion.

WMV Files in Media Player: NO sound at all.

So, I did a system restore and things are back to 'normal'. But normal is: I get distorted sounds occasionally after system restores from sleep mode. I have to reboot, and sound is OK for a while. I was hoping this update would fix that...but only made things worse. Very sorry I got X-Fi Titanium card from Creative...nothing but problems.

[lesterpaul]

My 435T is due here tomorrow. I hope I dont have to deal with a bunch of problems. My goal is to remain unattached and send it back if it fails once. It shouldnt, none of these issues on this thread should be taken lightly. Dell should build working computers, if they dont -- make them. Send it back 100 times if that is what it takes.

[Chas_T]

I updated the BIOS from Version 9 to the new 13 and its been stable and uneventful. All the hardware I connected works fine.

lesterpaul: For what it's worth, my machine has been stable and without any issues. The only complaint I have is the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard would not allow BIOS entry and the boot time took forever. I can live with that as I have a bunch of keyboards available. However,I am hoping Dell and Logitech do resolve the issue because I liked the keyboard as I work in dim lighting. Much luck with your new machine.

[D99X]

Well, I upgraded from A09 to the new A13.

Freaked out at first because the upgrade appeared to lock up the machine for about a minute before it started processing. Glad I just let it sit and do its thing.

Haven't noticed any significant changes. My BIOS load time does appear much more rapid now though. Think I had a USB device or two that may have been causing it to drag before (but it could have been something else I did that sped it up too).

[ispalten]

D99X,

Well, I upgraded from A09 to the new A13.

Freaked out at first because the upgrade appeared to lock up the machine for about a minute before it started processing. Glad I just let it sit and do its thing.

Haven't noticed any significant changes. My BIOS load time does appear much more rapid now though. Think I had a USB device or two that may have been causing it to drag before (but it could have been something else I did that sped it up too).

I too was surprised that it appeared to lock up the system, I thought I was in BIG trouble.

My boot time has increased quite a bit though. Looong time with BLACK screens after the BIOS splash (which is faster though) and the first MS screen. From the last MS screen though once the desktop appears it completes populating very fast now.

I booted a few times with the same results.

As an aside to another problem others have been having, I've been able to fix one.

The problem was the 15-in-one Media Card reader.

Mine failed a few times and came back to life randomly. The USB port always seemed to work. Well, last week I need the card slots and they were not there. The USB port didn't work either. Hello Dell... after a LONG phone session in which the Rep. went off looking for other things to try, he decided I had bad h/w.

First try was to get on my system and make sure I knew what I was talking about, next he re-installed the Intel Chipset drivers (I had installed newer ones I think?). Now he wanted me to open the unit and check the cables. Tight, but I then discovered the USB drive worked on some USB devices, like and external drive, but not a card reader that was a single, that is a media card in a device that attached to a USB port. At this point it was 'declared' the USB port worked fine and the device was the problem? Didn't work on one of the USB ports on the top of the machine, but I really didn't care that much. I have a printer with a media card slot and I can read the card from there (which proved to him the card was good). Soooo, the choice I had was a TOTAL rollback and re-install of Vista or have the h/w replaced first. The h/w was my choice, and if that didn't work, I'll forget about it.

A day later, I get a response from a thread I opened on this problem. There appears that the 19-in-1 reader has some grounding issues. The 'fix' for that was to add a ground wire. Hmm, let me try that? I opened the case and I figured I'd remove the h/w and check the connectors on the back which were not easily reached. I started but didn't get the screw all the way out and didn't want to RISK dropping it in the case (I've already dropped 2 drive screws there and have not been able to get them out). So I screwed it back in REALLY TIGHT and I'll let the tech do it when he comes with the part). Turned the machine on and ALL the drives are back!!!! Could it be that the ground loosened up? I called Dell back but the part was shipped and direct to my home. I have it and will give it to the Tech next week, but all those with these problems, you might want to make sure the screw IS tight.

[Truc88]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post, so apologies in advance if I did something wrong.
First, I have to say this thread is a mine of very useful information, and after reading through the 34 pages, my head is spinning :-)
I expect my 435MT to be received this week-end, and I am planning some upgrades and I have some questions please.

Here is my config :
i7-920 / 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 4 DIMMs / ATI Radeon HD 4850 512M / 19 in 1 Media Card Reader in Dell Bluetooth Package / Internal Qflix-enabled DVD Burner and DVD-ROM / regular Dell keyboard and mouse

1- right now I have only 4 GB in dual channel, and I did not want to opt for the expensive configurator of 6 MB (+$100) when I purchased the machine.
B/C I can see in the parts link  :
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Memory_Upgrades/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A2290225&mfgpid=200594
for 1GB for $22 each. So if I buy 2 modules, and install them in my machine, I would get 6 GB, and tri-channel. Is this correct ?

2- As I don't know yet how the 4 DIMMs dual-channel are installed, but I assume they are in the slots 2, 1, 4 and 3.
Before I purchase my additional 2 GB (above), if I moved them to the slots 2, 1, 3 and 5, I would have a theoretical 4GB i tri-channel ? ( if I read correctly an older post from i-vol).

3- I am currently using this "Iogear MiniView Micro USB PLUS KVM Switch with audio and cables "MiniView™ Micro USB PLUS KVM Switch with audio and cables"
http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS632U/
to share my monitor and my Logitech cordless keyboard/mouse between my laptop and my current old PC.
Can I use them without any issue with the new 435MT ?

Thanks in advance for any answer or suggestion.

[Fusheng]

My 435T also came with 4GB, and the 435MT has a similar mobo/ram setup.  It was in 1, 2, 3, and 4, and said "Dual Channel" on the BIOS splash screen.  I tried moving the RAM around to get 3GB triple channel + 1GB single, but it doesn't work that way, no matter where you put it.  You can take one out and put them in 1/3/5 or 2/4/6 and get 3GB triple channel.  But, as soon as you put that 4th or 5th stick in there it can't do triple channel.  Only with 3 or 6 sticks.  And, I doubt that 3GB triple is better than 4GB dual. 

If you bought two IDENTICAL ram modules to that 4th stick, then yes, you could do 6GB triple channel.  Or, you could spend $100 at newegg for 3 x 2GB and end up with 9GB triple channel. 

I've been running the 4GB dual channel, playing games, running iTunes, downloading, and internet, and I haven't noticed any slowdown at all.  I'll probably go for the 9GB eventually, but I don't see the need right now.  Depends on what you're using it for.

The only problems you might have with your KVM switch is running it in Vista 64.  Not everything is compatible.  Same will go for Windows 7.  Should work, though, USB is named Universal Serial Bus for a reason...

[Truc88]

Fusheng, Thanks for your answers,especially the ones about the attempts of reaching tri-channel with only 4 DIMMs.
Once I have the machine I will run a CPU-Z test and see what kind of RAM I got from Dell.
I might stick with 4 GB for now until I find a decent deal for 2x1GB from Dell. 9 GB is too much for my needs and usage.

For the KVM, I will do more research on Vista x64 and the potential drivers.

[robnich35]

 I am currently using this "Iogear MiniView Micro USB PLUS KVM Switch with audio and cables "MiniView™ Micro USB PLUS KVM Switch with audio and cables"
http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS632U/
to share my monitor and my Logitech cordless keyboard/mouse between my laptop and my current old PC.
Can I use them without any issue with the new 435MT ?

Thanks in advance for any answer or suggestion.

I have been using an Iogear Miniview KVM switch with my 435MT  (Vista 64-bit) for 8 months without any problems.

Bob N.