I ran the same experiment on my brand new XPS 15 5930. I don't even get 6 hours with hardly any load on the system. The 11 hours are a flat lie to make people buy the system
I hear some distinct feedback on some forums about XPS Battery life, or the distinct lack thereof.
One thing I did find, was that the Intel video drivers as-installed are at least part of the culprit. But the newest intel video drivers (version ending in 3345) might quit when trying to install over the Dell installed drivers.
So go to programs or device manager and uninstall the intel video driver. Restart to make sure that the device manager list only shows a generic Microsoft driver, then install the intel driver from the intel website ending in 3345.
A test I often run, just as a capability test, is to let the laptop run idling with screen to minimum brightness, auto dimming off, but setting the screen turn off time to 1 or 2 hours so it is ALWAYS on.
As received I MIGHT get 10hrs, but most often around 9. Now it is common to get 11+ with the same test by only changing the Intel video drivers. Battery life in other higher power use scenarios also seems somewhat improved compared to the v3325 driver installed by Dell. And the system runs noticeably cooler at idle
Frustrating to have to have to figure it out, but it does measurably help my system.
Since then I have just done a clean install, and will be checking how the system works. Early returns indicate the improved battery life compared to the Dell install remains.
drjoe66
11 Posts
0
December 7th, 2013 07:00
I ran the same experiment on my brand new XPS 15 5930. I don't even get 6 hours with hardly any load on the system. The 11 hours are a flat lie to make people buy the system
Ken PC
76 Posts
0
December 14th, 2013 21:00
I hear some distinct feedback on some forums about XPS Battery life, or the distinct lack thereof.
One thing I did find, was that the Intel video drivers as-installed are at least part of the culprit. But the newest intel video drivers (version ending in 3345) might quit when trying to install over the Dell installed drivers.
So go to programs or device manager and uninstall the intel video driver. Restart to make sure that the device manager list only shows a generic Microsoft driver, then install the intel driver from the intel website ending in 3345.
A test I often run, just as a capability test, is to let the laptop run idling with screen to minimum brightness, auto dimming off, but setting the screen turn off time to 1 or 2 hours so it is ALWAYS on.
As received I MIGHT get 10hrs, but most often around 9. Now it is common to get 11+ with the same test by only changing the Intel video drivers. Battery life in other higher power use scenarios also seems somewhat improved compared to the v3325 driver installed by Dell. And the system runs noticeably cooler at idle
Frustrating to have to have to figure it out, but it does measurably help my system.
Since then I have just done a clean install, and will be checking how the system works. Early returns indicate the improved battery life compared to the Dell install remains.