Dell XPS 15 L502X Tools and Updates

[lego99]

The purpose of this thread is to consolidate the knowledge and resources gained from the other L502X threads.
The Basics...
RAM used: DDR3 SDRAM, SO-DIMM 204-pin,1333MHz (PC3-10600)
Videos:
Good overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zni-x1EN3G4
WiDi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asIblTrtILg
Screen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4oBO1NOO1o
Dell Service Manual:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/SM/index.htm
Diagnostics / Tools:
3DMark06 http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/3dmark06/download/
Disk Bench v 2.6.1.0 (good for testing speeds of external hard drives) http://www.windows7download.com/win7.../xmpynafw.html
(might want to wait for RivaTuner v 2.25)
RivaTuner v2.24c http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163
Riva Tuner in Windows 7 http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/...ad.php?t=82508
Creating Fan Profiles In Riva Tuner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXr6IIj1sLY
Some great tools to have CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting
SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala
Dell Drivers and Downloads L502X:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...os=W764&osl=EN
Various Drivers And Such:
http://www.gsmdrive.com/2011/03/09/d...4bit-download/
Hardware:
Second HDD or SSD caddy http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?...roducts_id=358
Notebook coolers http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...cooler&x=0&y=0
Intel Drivers:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/
Cool Intel Gadget (Turbo Monitor v2.0, Jan,06 2011):
http://www.intel.com/support/process.../CS-031038.htm
Nvidia Drivers:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us
Verde Driver v,270.51 Beta, Rel.Date March,30 2011 http://www.nvidia.com/object/noteboo...ta-driver.html
Anti Glare Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JcyOKAsNY
How To Set Up Dual Monitors In Win 7:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/wind...-in-windows-7/
Download Resources:
http://www.guru3d.com/
Checking Hard Disk For Errors:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...isk-for-errors
HDMI:
Dell XPS L501x hdmi PROBLEM
Screen Calibration:
Zygotic's screen calibration via spyder 2 Dell XPS 15 R2 - L502x - Owners Lounge
Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000 Driver Info:
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support...ics/cp2-hd3000
Undervolting Possibilities/Info:
RMClock ? (took the link down... doesn't seem like RMClock does the trick)
Facial Recognition Software:
The same Dell uses apparently https://stats.sensiblevision.com/us1/fa/
Security http://sensiblevision.info/faq/index...=94&artlang=en
How To Improve Boot Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi-Jn..._order&list=UL
Surge Protectors/Suppressors:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-9774926-33.html
Graphics
What order do I install my drivers?

How to make a bootable USB drive:
http://www.intowindows.com/bootable-usb/

If you are building a new computer or reinstalling your operating system, Intel® recommends installing the drivers and software in the following order:

1. Windows* operating system service packs or patches available from Microsoft* (for example, Service Pack 3 for Windows* XP)
2. Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility
3. Microsoft DirectX* 9.0 or later
4. Video or graphics driver (for example, Intel® HD Graphics Driver)
5. Intel® Application Accelerator or Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
6. Sound or audio drivers
7. LAN or network drivers

[lego99]

Possible fixes:

USB 3.0 Problems: From the Dell Community website ~ "Hi, I have an XPS 17 with the same USB 3.0 Controler (resenas), and i have the problem with an external hard drive Verbatim 500 Go USB 3.0.
With the default drivers (v2.0.4.0) when I connect the hard drive on usb 3 plug it doesn't work, but it's ok on lateral usb 2 plug. If I plug an usb 2 device on the usb 3 controler, it's ok. I have contacted Verbatim support for this problem, and they said that there's a problem with the resenas drivers v2.0.4.0, and the solution is to install old resenas drivers v1.0.20.0. I try this solution and effectively with this old drivers my USB 3.0 hard drive work correctly on USB 3.0."
Link: http://en.community.dell.com/support...px?PageIndex=1
Discussion on this topic suggests a few possible causes of the USB 3.0 problem. Incompatibilities... of all different kinds. I suggest you take some time to read the Dell Community Forum to get an idea for yourself. Below I've listed some Driver versions that were discussed in the link to the Dell community forum above.
Correct me if I'm wrong...
~ It sounds like there have been no failures with the USB 2.0 port while operating all by itself.
~ Some USB 2.0 failures have been reported while various USB 3.0 devices are connected, be it a single 500GB external drive, a mouse, whatever.
Possible fixes (found on the Dell Community Forum) to explore for USB 3.0 problem:
~ Using an older version of the Host Controller Driver (v1.0.20.0) ? (result unconfirmed)
~ Download and install Registry Booster ? (result unconfirmed)
~ Disabling Powershare in BIOS ? (result unconfirmed)
~ Using specific system compatible devices only ?
USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver v1.0.20.0:
http://www.x-drivers.com/catalog/dri...ler/17424.html
NEC Renesas USB 3.0 Firmware v3.0.2.7.0.8
US111_302708FWUP.exe (1.81MB): http://alternatifblog.com/forum/masa...2-7-0-8-a.html
Renesas Website: http://www.renesas.com/press/news/2011/news20110309.jsp

Fan:
Does the windows power settings influence the fan "on off" problem ?


Process Explorer & Task Manager:
Use Task Manager, Process Explorer and or msconfig to help cut down on processes running in the background ? To access Task Manager right click on an empty space of the bottom tool bar.
Video explanation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgmVD...feature=fvwrel
Process Explorer Download: http://download.cnet.com/Process-Exp...-10223605.html

HDMI
"Same happens with mine, can't see the whole desktop on my tv through HDMI.
Although my TV is quite old and only 720p, which is what I thought the problem was. Tried all the possible combinations and can't get 100% fit.
I've been connecting laptops to this TV for years now and never had a problem before.
NVIDIA Control Panel\Display\Adjust desktop size and position
I attempted to change the "desktop resizing mode to report to the display" without any luck. Fortunately, the Resize Desktop button worked perfectly.
Also, I couldn't clone my display through HDMI, either. However, after updating the BIOS, Intel display driver, and NVIDIA driver (all straight from Dell's support site), duplicating has become an option. I'm not sure which one did it, but I haven't noticed any disadvantage to updating yet."

Screen Brightness
There was an annoying "feature", however, with dynamic contrast - screen would randomly dim and brighten as it pleased. To disable this I had to go into Intel (integrated video) control panel and set the "power saving technology" to the "maximum performance" slider underneath the "battery tab." The issue had previously persisted even when I wasn't on battery.

[lego99]

((( reserve )))

[lego99]

((( reserve )))

[ComputerStud]

Fken great job lego99.

Thanks for putting in the work to consolidate all the information.

This deserve to be sticky.

Tried to rep you but not sure how.

[slb1904]

Cheers lego99! Still need to update all my drivers and this thread will help me a lot! Great stuff, thanks!

[Falco152]

It be nice if you could reorganized it with direct links with each part like the NBR HP Driver threads(Example). You may need to create a new thread with as many posts as drivers and software reserved, into order to create a quick reference table of index instead doing a text search. Then it would be simple to get others post for working updated drivers.

[lego99]

It be nice if you could reorganized it with direct links with each part like the NBR HP Driver threads(Example). You may need to create a new thread with as many posts as drivers and software reserved, into order to create a quick reference table of index instead doing a text search. Then it would be simple to get others post for working updated drivers.

That's a really good idea. I like that format. I have no clue how to do it though For now I'm going to keep accumulating info while I have the spare time. Feel free to add, criticize, praise, whatever...

[seanm95]

You should add
http://downloadstore.dell.com/media as all the bundled software is there for download. I have downloaded the Webcam Central and powerdvd from there.

[Falco152]

The moderator of that example thread used Microsoft Expression which is free to college students, I think they also offer to high school students for free. Basically, a literal what you see is what you get editor with no html experience necessary.