New XPS 15z

[CTM Audi]

I have plenty of situations where I would like to game for 20-30 mins at a time, at a desk, without a convinient power outlet close by.

I'm just asking a simple question though... Will the gpu under clock itself hill on battery or not?

I used to own an early 2008 MacBook pro that got better performance than the m14x on battery.... I just think those graphic cards are overpowered for those laptops... Not much more than desktop replacements really... No o portable...

But can I please get my question answered instead of debating why I would want to "game on battery"?

Win7 has very easy to use power options. Set it to performance before playing, and it wont downclock at all. Just be ready to watch that battery meter drop.

[jamezr]

I made it! It was faily easy.
I used my credit card to pop it off.

The internal layout is beautiful and well thought.

exactly...once you get the base off everything is very easy to get to and arranged very nicely. What are you going to replace the stock hard drive with?
Got a great SSD in mind? :-)

[4thehorde4]

uh...so you have a XPS15z? So you can truthfully say it has cooling issues?
I have one and it does not have cooling issues at all! I have it here on my lap for the last 2.5 hours and it is just warm..... and the battery is still at 4.5 hours left! Dell has hit a home-run with the 15z. I have a HP Envy14 that I am selling because this thing just made it obsolete....

I have come across a few reviews that did mention it got very warm especially under gaming conditions. To be honest I am deciding between whether to get the XPS 15 or 15z. The only reason to get the 15z is obviously its thinner body and better looks (subjective), though I personally find the XPS 15 looking pretty beast. Back to the main point, the reasons why I am seriously considering not getting the 15z is because the screen is of lesser quality than that of the XPS 15's B+RGLED (90% vs 60% gamut). Also its an unequivocal fact that the XPS 15 with its JBL speakers + subwoofer has the best audio on any laptop to date. For some reason, Dell decided to do with a downgraded webcam of 1.3mp vs 2.0mp on the XPS 15 and that matters to me a great deal because I skype alot. Other things to take note of but not as significant is the lack of quad core and blu-ray on the 15z. As such, I am leaning towards the XPS 15.

[kevhuynh]

I have come across a few reviews that did mention it got very warm especially under gaming conditions. To be honest I am deciding between whether to get the XPS 15 or 15z. The only reason to get the 15z is obviously its thinner body and better looks (subjective), though I personally find the XPS 15 looking pretty beast. Back to the main point, the reasons why I am seriously considering not getting the 15z is because the screen is of lesser quality than that of the XPS 15's B+RGLED (90% vs 60% gamut). Also its an unequivocal fact that the XPS 15 with its JBL speakers + subwoofer has the best audio on any laptop to date. For some reason, Dell decided to do with a downgraded webcam of 1.3mp vs 2.0mp on the XPS 15 and that matters to me a great deal because I skype alot. Other things to take note of but not as significant is the lack of quad core and blu-ray on the 15z. As such, I am leaning towards the XPS 15.

I don't know about those reviews of it getting warm specifically under gaming conditions. Let's be real. What laptop DOESN'T get warm while gaming?

I don't want anecdotes either. I've gone through 10+ laptops in the last 3 years and enough in the last 15 years to make a head spin so I've had my share and experiences. Actual temperatures with reference points.

I don't want to belabor the point, but heat issues on it's own is understandable and a true concern. Reviews calling it warm while gaming on the other hand? Means nothing to me without numbers given the huge disparity of opinions (an absurd amount that are worthless) out there.

On your personal dilemma, it sounds to me like you've already decided on the standard xps 15. I solid choice imo. I WILL say this though. If I'm going for a 15" laptop where the absolute thinnest frame isn't the primary consideration...I would look STRONGLY at the HP D6VT. The 6770M it packs is just something I can't turn away from. Basically, if it's the thinnest, power, reasonably priced 15" laptop, it'd be the 15Z. Sacrifice the svelte look of the 15Z, I'd do the D6VT.

[Karamazovmm]

You don't buy this laptop for gaming. XPS with exception to the 1710/1730 has never been about serious gamers. If you want gaming, get an Alienware or an Sager/clevo.

there fixed for you

[4thehorde4]

I don't know about those reviews of it getting warm specifically under gaming conditions. Let's be real. What laptop DOESN'T get warm while gaming?

I don't want anecdotes either. I've gone through 10+ laptops in the last 3 years and enough in the last 15 years to make a head spin so I've had my share and experiences. Actual temperatures with reference points.

I don't want to belabor the point, but heat issues on it's own is understandable and a true concern. Reviews calling it warm while gaming on the other hand? Means nothing to me without numbers given the huge disparity of opinions (an absurd amount that are worthless) out there.

On your personal dilemma, it sounds to me like you've already decided on the standard xps 15. I solid choice imo. I WILL say this though. If I'm going for a 15" laptop where the absolute thinnest frame isn't the primary consideration...I would look STRONGLY at the HP D6VT. The 6770M it packs is just something I can't turn away from. Basically, if it's the thinnest, power, reasonably priced 15" laptop, it'd be the 15Z. Sacrifice the svelte look of the 15Z, I'd do the D6VT.

Thanks for the tip with the HP. Anyway when I was talking about the potential heat issues of the 15z, I was comparing to the XPS 15. I have played around with one with max settings and it was barely warm to the touch. I am concerned about the 15z as it doesn't appear to benefit from the superb heat dissipating design of the XPS 15 which has been raved about in many reviews since it came out. Perhaps it is inevitable that slimness and heat buildup will always come hand in hand.

[tntomek]

You don't buy this laptop for gaming. XPS with exception to the 1710/1730 has never been about serious gamers. If you want gaming, get an Alienware or an ASUS G series.

Sorry but no, I'm not talking about serious gaming but its nice to have a decent video card. The old XPS's Enys etc ALL have superior graphics card, I suppose no one 'needed those'. If the 15z is offered with a 540-550 I'll pay the premium 'just in case' I decide to game on kitchen table when my other PC is being used. Whatever the circumstance, newer hardware aimed at same user should be at least as powerful as previous generation. IMHO Alienware/G are just not my cup of tea.

[J1mb0]

hi guys,
How about is the FullHD WLED screen in the XPS 15z comparing it with the FullHD B+RGLED from the XPS 15? and the audio? (speakers are JBL in 15z?)

I'm not sure which laptop to purchase according to my needs.
I'm not a hard gamer (some casual games ocasionally), the use would be browsing internet, watching movies/tv and programming tasks (with VisualStudio).

In store for my country (spain), the current offer for the 15z with FullHD screen comes with the following specifications:
*i5 2410M
*4GB RAM
*WLED FullHD
*500GB HDD (Dell sucks with RAM and harddrive config for my country!!)
*Nvidia 525 with 1Gb
1099 Eur (967 applying current discount vouchers). Next level (i7, 8Gb,etc) is too expensive (1399 without dicounts).

A XPS15 with i7 quadcore, FullHD, 6 GB, 500 GB hard drive and wifi card 1030 (can't choose the 6230 card in the spanish dell's store) now costs 1,009 euros. (And without backlit keyboard:is not a choice in my country )

[4thehorde4]

hi guys,
How about is the FullHD WLED screen in the XPS 15z comparing it with the FullHD B+RGLED from the XPS 15? and the audio? (speakers are JBL in 15z?)

I'm not sure which laptop to purchase according to my needs.
I'm not a hard gamer (some casual games ocasionally), the use would be browsing internet, watching movies/tv and programming tasks (with VisualStudio).

In store for my country (spain), the current offer for the 15z with FullHD screen comes with the following specifications:
*i5 2410M
*4GB RAM
*WLED FullHD
*500GB HDD (Dell sucks with RAM and harddrive config for my country!!)
*Nvidia 525 with 1Gb
1099 Eur (967 applying current discount vouchers). Next level (i7, 8Gb,etc) is too expensive (1399 without dicounts).

A XPS15 with i7 quadcore, FullHD, 6 GB, 500 GB hard drive and wifi card 1030 (can't choose the 6230 card in the spanish dell's store) now costs 1,009 euros. (And without backlit keyboard:is not a choice in my country )

Sounds like computers are pricey in Spain. To answer your question, the screen on the XPS 15's B+RGLED has 90% gamut while the WLED on the 15z has 60% gamut. That means the 15z has about 50% less color reproduction than the B+RGLED. Aside from gamut, everything else seems fine about the screen. In regards to audio, the XPS 15z does not have the JBL w/ subwoofer so it won't sound as crisp and deep as the XPS 15z. If the XPS 15 is not available then by all means get the 15z. Otherwise, I would give it some thought.

[GeriWolters]

Hmmmm.... I don't speak Spanish, but it seems to me that the Dell online store does offer the Core i7 version for the same prices as in the Netherlands... La tienda en línea de Dell. Construya su propio sistema