hmm..i had 6 times of service,changed 2 mobo, 2 Ram, 1 fan & heatsink,1 palm rest & bottom casing...

do you guys think i should ask for a replacement unit,even now my system is running fine..actually im kinda piss off now..my RM5k+ baby has become like a SH*T with scratches & the laptop body stickers all get rip off & then stick back again..

how many of u guys think i should ask for replacement unit?

This post has been edited by NewbieBetta: May 26 2007, 05:29 PM

if you wish to, juz ask for it. I think your request is quite reasonable after giving so much trouble and defacing to it.....

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Added on May 26, 2007, 5:39 pmn for my case, dell said in view of the problems i faced, if i'm still unsatisfied, they can giv a full refund (mine is long over 14 days adee)..... so if you wish to get a refund i think you can too request for it....

This post has been edited by dingding: May 26 2007, 05:44 PM

just dismantle my system & apply AS5..but the temp still same with default thermal paste..will update u guys after 1 week..

easy to dismantle..but must remember the screw carefully..u might get it mix up

+1 Vote for a replacement unit...You paid for the bloody thing, you have the right for good service... Though legally, you're not protected... The CompleteCover clause DOES say that external cosmetic defects that do not affect the operation of the computer itself ARE NOT bound to the CC service...

But you have your rights, and it was Dell that created them cosmetic defects in the first place... Be loud and assert your rights! And by that I say call them and give them hell...

We're (or at least I am) behind you all the way...

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Added on May 26, 2007, 11:12 pmAs a side note, I'm currently typing from my room using my XPS, a floor away from the computer I used to surf the net with, thanks to my brand new Belkin WirelessG router courtesy of my latest Low Yat raid this afternoon...

Other spoils of war from the raid include the CM Notepal P1 and a Canon MP-160 multipurpose printer (which is not exactly mine, as I helped a friend to buy it)...

Short reviews of all three will be featured here, and if I have time, I'll type out loooooooooooooong, in-depth reviews for LYN later...

This post has been edited by Eiraku: May 26 2007, 11:17 PM

yup..i call them & just few 5min of talk..they agree on giving me a replacement unit..yeah..hopefully the new unit wont giv me any trouble

FIRST IMPRESSIONS (AKA QUICK REVIEWS)

COOLERMASTER NOTEPAL P1

PROS:
- Sexy design.
- Sturdy full aluminium construction.
- Powered by a single USB port.
- Cheap for a CM product (RM70++).
- Good build quality (the only problem are the rubber feet, some are not well stuck out-of the box and needs a good press to securely stick them)
- Good, solid replacement for the "thick book" I've been using to improve the air circulation on the XPS's bottom.
- Really compact.
- Tilts the XPS at a good angle (not intentional actual)
- Really, really quiet fans...

CONS:
- Marginal cooling (from 52-54 deg CPU, 55 GPU at idle - using the "thick book" - to 47-52 deg CPU, 52 GPU - as reported by I8kfanGUI)
- Doesn't quite fit the XPS M1210 (Had to push it to the left side of the cooler to make sure the airflow hits the CPU/GPU fan intake... And even then it's not optimal as I can't push it further back, the center of gravity of XPS will cause it to pivot on the Notepal P1).

LAST WORD: Not as good as the Zalman NC-1000, but sure as heck cheaper (by RM100)

RATING: 6/10

BELKIN WIRELESS G ROUTER

PROS:
- Router itself really, really light and small.
- Lifetime warranty (even against lightning)
- Acceptable performance for such a small router (3 bars reception through 2 walls and a staircase... Not bad for a single antenna, and I haven't screwed it in optimal position on the wall yet).
- Good build quality.
- No build in ADSL modem (a plus for me as I don't mind the TMNUT modem getting zapped by lightning as it's covered by TM, but I DO mind my RM150 router getting zapped)

CONS:
- Huge, heavy power brick.
- Not exactly cheap at RM150 a pop (you can get other brand routers at RM20-30 cheaper).
- Plasticky in nature (feels flimsy even though well build... Because it's so light?)
- Intermediate set up difficulty (A first pass using the Wizard failed, maybe because I didn't restart the ADSL modem?)

LAST WORD: Small, light and capable... With lifetime warranty!

RATING: 8/10

Haven't unpacked the Canon Pixma MP-160 yet, maybe tomorrow...

This post has been edited by Eiraku: May 27 2007, 12:42 AM

Good to hear, dude! Keep us posted...

Hey, Eiraku,

What's the model of the belkin wireless G router?

I'm looking for one too and a shop here quoted me RM200 for a Linksys (two antenna, not sure whats the model #) wifi router.

the linksys one i suppose it's a WRT54G

did u clean the heatsink n procs properly?

It's F5D7230ak4... Linksys is supposedly better, but like everything else, I'm warranty-centric (main reason why I got a Dell anyway) and so I got the Belkin... And I didn't want the ADSL that came with the Linksys (plus the fact that the Linksys is HUGEEEE in comparison to the Belkin)...

Lifetime warranty (even against lightning strike... ) on the Belkin (or any Belkin for that matter... I still have the Belkin wireless G card for my old C2220, and unlike the previous D-Link one, it gave me no problems at all, under Windows OR Linux... ), 2 years warranty if I'm not mistaken on the Linksys (gotta check my raid-book later for the Lowyat price for the Linksys)...

Brand ranking for routers (or any network hardware - based on my collective experiance):

1) Linksys (high performance)
2) Belkin (lifetime warranty, good performance)
4) Aztech (cheap, quite ok)

Avoid D-Link like low end Acer lappies... They are well documented to be problematic... And I personally watched my D-Link G+ wireless card die on me for no apparent reason...

This post has been edited by Eiraku: May 27 2007, 02:15 AM

Ah I think the linksys I saw is just a wireless router.Not too sure though but I've always thought Belkin will be more expensive.

My problem now is that I have a desktop that's still running on Pentium 3 so I would have to find a wireless card/adapter (not sure what it's called) that will work on the Pentium 3 and is also compatible with the wireless router at the same time.

The wireless G router, can it work on "A" or "B"? Apologies for the noob question

This post has been edited by eyen: May 27 2007, 02:39 AM

B yes... A no... G definitely...

Yeah Belkin products tend to be more expensive, but with the lifetime warranty it's well worth it... I think it SHOULD work with a Pentium 3... I'll recheck the box for the minimum reqs...

But if you don't care for the warranty and need a little bit extra speed and coverage, the Linksys should deliver...

yeah..follow those AS5 applying method from their website..

@ NewbieBetta,

Its good to hear you got the replacement unit. About the AC5, hmm its an awkward result but u can ask in details if u need anything.

This post has been edited by derred: May 27 2007, 11:31 AM

i dint notice any improvement in the temp on my current system..will need some time i guess

Thanks! I'm quite surprised that you got the wireless router for RM150 only whereas the linksys I saw is RM200. Maybe the linksys comes with a built in adsl modem or something.
Or maybe the extra antenna is worth RM50? haha quite unlikely.

Back to the xps, what do you guys use to wipe the front casing of the laptop? The "fingerprint magnet" place.Coz mine has quite a lot of smudges on it.Not sure if I should use a normal wet cloth or any special cloth?

And for wiping the lcd screen, what do you guys recommend?

I think the Linksys's a bit more expensive at RM180++ in LY, but it's the one with the ADSL modem build in... But I'm happy with the Belkin, other then the fact that it gets really hot after a day of use.... People with wifi routers, is this normal?

For me, I'm using 3M's Scotch-Brite for the screen and other general wiping, followed up with the Camera Lens version of the Scotch-Brite (my bro got it for free from his Uni), for final wiping of the screen... Just wet the cloth with a litttttttttttttttttle water, just to get stains out, and wipe dry...

Anyone has experience on 0% citibank installment on this XPS?
I dun hv enough credit limit with my citibank credit card to make installment on my desired XPS.. Can i apply only 70% installment on the XPS? Balance i pay with other credit card..

This post has been edited by accs_centre: May 27 2007, 09:57 PM

Hey guys, just bought my XPS back in March.

Back then, everything is normal until recently, the CPU & GPU has been very hot. It runs consistently on 80C +- degrees. If you play games (well, just FIFA07), the GPU can goes up to 100C. The GPU will decrease the clock speed at this temp and everything will look like slide show. Previously, everything runs smooth, i even played Half Life 2: Episode 1 smoothly.

After much thought, i'm wondering if one of the fans is slower than it should be.
1st fan - around 4000rpm
2nd fan - around 950rpm

Anybody has any idea what happen? What's your temp while doing normal daily tasks?

Right now, 40-50C seems luxury to me.