**The Official Studio XPS 1645 Intel Core i7 "Owners Lounge" - Part 2

[Brendanmurphy]

I would like to say thanks a lot to the people in this thread who make it possible for the video guide on thermal paste compound to be made available.

I bought the xps 1645, white color, thinking it was wonderful spec with intel core i7. After 6 months, still no problem. After almost a year, machine starts to shut down, lock up, black screen, blue screen, jammed, cannot even turn on, blinking audio lights etc... Even from the moment machine arrived, i cannot even install latest ATI video driver.

Then i tried the change thermal paste technique.

Installed ATI driver and catalyst without problems.

No more problems on lock up or whatever...

I want to know:

Is the thermal paste magic? :O

Nope is just amazing what a quality paste and proper application that dell never does can do.

[Stalvros]

I don't know if it's too late to reply to this thread.
I have this laptop model and it's causing me A LOT of problems.
Would appreciate it if you guys can help.

Dell Studio XPS 1645 Problems! Need help!

[wodstock]

what kind of problems?

[jav1856]

I am having some serious problems with my Studio XPS 1645. I have the model that was sold at Costco in Canada a few years ago, 8GB, ATI 4670 GPU, etc. Well it's died on me for the second time since the first of the year. It beeps 6 times and fails to start up, the display doesn't turn on, but the backlight on the keys does come on.

It was still under the costco warranty when it broke the first time, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but that ended on August 1, and wouldn't you know it died on me less than 2 months after.

Is anyone familiar with what error 6 beeps corresponds to? I am assuming it's an issue with the GPU, but honestly I find it hard to believe that it's burned out all ready. I noticed the temperature was hot so I bought the biggest most powerful cooler I could find, and that really cut down on the temp. IF it is the GPU, I am assuming that to replace it requires replacing the MB as well?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[daver160]

I am having some serious problems with my Studio XPS 1645. I have the model that was sold at Costco in Canada a few years ago, 8GB, ATI 4670 GPU, etc. Well it's died on me for the second time since the first of the year. It beeps 6 times and fails to start up, the display doesn't turn on, but the backlight on the keys does come on.

It was still under the costco warranty when it broke the first time, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but that ended on August 1, and wouldn't you know it died on me less than 2 months after.

Is anyone familiar with what error 6 beeps corresponds to? I am assuming it's an issue with the GPU, but honestly I find it hard to believe that it's burned out all ready. I noticed the temperature was hot so I bought the biggest most powerful cooler I could find, and that really cut down on the temp. IF it is the GPU, I am assuming that to replace it requires replacing the MB as well?

Thanks in advance for the help!

6 Beeps is generally some sort of GPU failure, which also explains why you get nothing on the display.

A cooler won't help you at this point, because it seems that if there is any damage it's been done.

If you're feeling adventurous, and since you have nothing to lose at this point, you could open up the laptop and check that the GPU is loose or some such. If you do, please make sure you also know how to apply thermal paste - it's not difficult, but if you haven't done it before it can seem a little b it daunting at first. There are lots of threads on Google that can help you with that, if you're not sure how it's done

[JL6speed]

Hmmm I was thinking of selling my SXPS 1640 for a 1647 or 1645 (for the i5/i7). I don't have any issues with mine. Been working like a charm since 2009 :\ but I read a lot of ppl are having issues in general with the later 16XXs. I just feel the newer XPS models aren't as well built so I'm hesitant on buying another Dell. Just feels like the Studio XPS are still a step up in class / quality at least for me.

[Gaz552]

Hmmm I was thinking of selling my SXPS 1640 for a 1647 or 1645 (for the i5/i7). I don't have any issues with mine. Been working like a charm since 2009 :\ but I read a lot of ppl are having issues in general with the later 16XXs. I just feel the newer XPS models aren't as well built so I'm hesitant on buying another Dell. Just feels like the Studio XPS are still a step up in class / quality at least for me.

I agree with this, my 1645 is built like a tank and does work (though it does get hot). I also think the keyboard layout on the newer XPS's is rubbish compared to the 1645's.

I am thinking it's time to upgrade though, current contenders are the Asus U500 (UX51VX), Sony VAIO S 15 and the Razer Blade R2.
I'm genuinely leaning towards to the Razer, as I find 1920*1080 on the 15.6" screen of my 1645 a tad annoying/hard on the eye's after browsing for a while due to the small size of text (unless you zoom).

[mbalensiefer]

Has anyone here tried installing any of the Gen 2 or Gen 3 CPUs? I have the i720QM and want to upgrade PAST the i920XM.

Here is the i920XM vs. the Intel i Gen 3:

Socket 989/rPGA989 (for motherboards supporting first generation of Core microprocessors, mobile Pentiums, on Nehalem).
Compatible package types: 988-pin micro-FCPGA10
Model (micron) Cores Frequency Turbofreq. L2 cache L3 cache TDP(Watt)
920XM 0.045 4 2000 3200 1024 8192 55

..........................................................................
Socket 989/rPGA989 (for motherboards supporting second-generation Core microprocessors, mobile Pentiums, on Sandy Bridge)
Compatible package types: 988-pin micro-FCPGA10
Model (micron) Cores Frequency Turbofreq. L2 cache L3 cache TDP(Watt)
3840QM 0.022 4 2800 3800 1024 8192 45
3920XM 0.022 4 2900 3800 1024 8192 55


Would this computer support these chips?

[daver160]

Has anyone here tried installing any of the Gen 2 or Gen 3 CPUs? I have the i720QM and want to upgrade PAST the i920XM.

...

Would this computer support these chips?

No. Two reasons why:
* the chipset does not support it
* the BIOS does not support it

First, the chipset on the 1645/47 does not support newer i-series CPUs. For reasons that include many words and other lingo I won't dive into (mostly because I'll muddy the waters), chipsets are only backward compatible. A Sandy Bridge chipset should work with a Nehalem processor, and an Ivy Bridge chipset should work with a Sandy Bridge (and maybe even Nehalem) processor. However, it does not work the other way around

Second, Dell has not updated the BIOS for teh SXPS line, and I doubt that their most recent BIOS (I think was A11?) allows the use of newer processors than the Nehalem line from Intel.

Unless someone can prove me wrong, I think you're stuck with going as high as the 920XM, though not recommended due to likely high temps.

[seeker_moc]

Realistically, the highest you should be looking at is the i7-840qm. The 1645 does support the 920/940xm, but like others have mentioned, I would avoid it due to its higher TDP exceeding what the laptop can dissipate. If you want something better, you'll have to get a newer laptop.