Dell XPS

Dell XPS Gen 4

The Dell XPS is a line of high-end gaming computers sold by Dell. XPS is an acronym for Xtreme Performance System. The first XPS computer dates back to 1993. By around 2003-2004, the first XPS laptop was released, featuring desktop Pentium 4 processors. As of 2009, almost all Dell computers under the XPS line are now branded as Studio XPS, with the XPS One being the only remaining computer sold under the XPS brand.

Generations

There have been six generations of XPS computers, with the newest major upgrade being in 2005. Each new generation brings many upgrades to system components, but rarely chassis design updates.

Current XPS desktops

Studio XPS

The Studio XPS, also referred to as Studio XPS 435MT, was released November 16, 2008. This is a PC with performance somewhat between the XPS 420 and 630. Its processor is the Intel Core i7. The current Studio XPS models, however, are not as gamer-oriented, with only one PCI-E x16 slot and a 475W power supply. It has RAID0/1 support, however, as well as the capability of up to 24GB of RAM. Later this model was renamed to the Studio XPS 9000.

XPS 630

Description

Now no longer available from Dell as a new system purchase, but is in factory outlet. This desktop at one time filled the gap between the media-oriented XPS 420/430 and the high-end XPS 730x. There is no physical difference(s) between the 630 and the 630i. The marketing concept was to use an "i" to designate systems installed with an Intel chipset, and an "a" for systems with AMD-installed chipsets, but since Intel-based chipsets were the only models ever sold, this designation holds little significance. The 630 features a Dell-modified NVIDIA nForce 650i chipset that supports both SLI and CrossFire configurations, but lacks ESA certification (the only ESA-certified component in the 630i is Dell's "Master Input/Output" (or "MIO") printed circuit board). The XPS 630 at one time came standard with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 CPU and dual NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT graphics cards.

Problems and Solutions

Currently, there are several issues with the XPS 630 including problems with the chassis fan control, chassis LED lights, LightFX 2.0 lightshow control software being advertised but never shipped, irreversibly limited PCIe slot configuration (8,8,1,1 unlike genuine Nvidia 650i SLI motherboards which also offer the 16,1,1,1 configuration), constant HDD activity LED, lack of SLI-Ready memory support, and a reliability issue due to a problem inherent in the Nvidia 650i SLI chipset that can surface when overclocking with 4 or more gigabytes of RAM. To date, the only issue resolved by Dell is the July 22, 2009 release of a Softex Media Plug-in that provides at least some of the features originally advertised in LightFX. The problems resulted in PC PRO revoking their Recommended award for the system. Many 630 owners have bypassed the aforementioned problems by swapping out the Dell-modified 650i motherboard with genuine, unmodified third-party motherboards, such as the EVGA nForce 780i SLI FTW. It is important to note that the PCIe slots on the XPS 630 use 8 hard-wired lanes, even in a single card configuration, limiting potential bandwidth significantly compared to normal 16-lane slots when using single high-end graphics cards, such as the Nvidia GTX 2xx or later series. The slots are also PCI-E revision 1.x, and not 2.0, further limiting performance. Performance is equivalent to other systems with 650i chipset motherboards when using two graphics cards in SLI mode. Dell does not include an SLI bridge if you purchase the system with only one card.

XPS 625

A version of the XPS 630 but with AMD Phenom II chips and ATI Graphics.

XPS One 20 and XPS one 24

Released on November 19, 2007, the Dell XPS One is an all-in-one desktop designed for "minimal fuss and maximum cordless connectivity", and ships with the power cord, and a wireless keyboard with a touchpad and wireless mouse prepaired to the system. The XPS One comes in 20-inch (XPS One 20) and 24-inch (XPS One 24) models. The 20" model has an Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 while the 24" model has an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200. The 20" model has 2 GB of dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 667 MHz while the 24" model has 4 GB of dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 800 MHz. The XPS One 20 has integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics while the XPS One 24 has integrated Intel GMA X4500HD graphics, and can be customized with an nVidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card when chosen with PRODUCT (RED). The XPS One 20 has a WSXGA (1680×1050) resolution with 16.7 million colors, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, an 80° viewing angle, and a 5 ms response time. The XPS One 24 has a WUXGA (1900×1200) resolution with 16.7 million colors, a 1200:1 contrast ratio, an 89° viewing angle, and a 6 ms response time. The 20" model has integrated High Definition Audio and 10 watt stereo speakers while the 24" model has SoundBlaster Audigy HD software with 25 watt premium JBL speakers with an integrated subwoofer. The XPS One 20 and XPS One 24 were subsequently discontinued by Dell.

Previous XPS desktops

• XPS D series - A system that came out in 1997. It contained an Intel Pentium II (Klamath) CPU, SDRAM, and a i440LX chipset.

• XPS R series - A system that came out in 1998. It contained an Intel Pentium II (Deschutes) CPU, SDRAM, and a 440BX chipset.

• XPS T series - A system that came out in 1999. It contained an Intel Pentium III CPU, SDRAM, and a 440BX chipset. An "r" suffix was used for Socket 370 versions while no suffix was used for Slot 1 versions.

• XPS B series - A system that came out in 2000. It contained an Intel Pentium III CPU, 128MB of RDRAM, an ATi RAGE graphics card, and an i820 chipset. An "r" suffix was used for Socket 370 versions while no suffix was used for Slot 1 versions. Later models (especially the "R" series) had a built in DVD drive.

XPS Gen 2 - Included Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading Technology (3.4 GHz, 800 MHz Bus, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 400 MHz dual-channel DDR SDRAM (400 MHz), Supports SATA and IDE hard drives, 1 AGP Slot, 4 PCI slots, Sound Blaster Audigy², and Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse. Video Card included was ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (AGP x8). [1]

XPS Gen 3 - Circa August 2004 - Included Pentium 4 Processor 550 with HT Technology (3.40 GHz, 800 FSB), Microsoft Windows XP Professional, dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM, 7200 RPM SATA hard drive, Sound Blaster Audigy², and Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse. The video card was the then-brand new ATI Radeon X800XT (PCIe x16).

XPS Gen 4

XPS Gen 5 - Used a Pentium 4 HT processor with 512 KB, 1 MB, or 2 MB of L2 Cache. It can support up to 8 GB of DDR2 memory @ 533 MHz or 667 MHz.

XPS 210 - A small-form-factor case that is 67% smaller than the XPS 410. It does not use full-size PCI slots. The XPS 200 is aimed at being a low-impact machine, meaning it blends in better with the room's features. It is more of a multimedia computer than an actual gaming machine, despite the XPS name. The main difference between the XPS 210 and its predecessor, the XPS 200, is the upgrade to the Intel Core 2 Duo processor line. This makes the XPS 210 faster than the XPS 200.

XPS 200 - This model was available from late 2005 to the end of the 3rd quarter of 2006. It was replaced by the XPS 210, which is nearly identical to its predecessor. The main exception in this case is the upgrade to an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and other minor adjustments.

XPS 400 - This model was available during late 2005 and the first half of 2006. It was replaced by the XPS 410, which is nearly identical with the exception of an optional Intel Core 2 Duo processor and slightly different audio and video card options.

XPS 410 - The former intermediate model of the XPS series and bigger brother to the Dimension E510. It features a base configuration of an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Quad is also available as an option. Other base options include the NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE, 7200RPM SATA-300 hard drive, and dual-channel DDR2 RAM. The case is nearly identical to that of the Dimension E510, with an additional 3.5" drive bay being added. The case is physically taller because of this. The power supply is also slightly more powerful than the Dimension E510 (375 W vs 305 W, respectively). The XPS 410 replaced the XPS 400. It was replaced by the XPS 420. XPS 410 units were also sold as the Dimension 9200, allowing Dell to continue selling remaining units after the XPS 410 was discontinued.

In an odd twist, the Dimension 9200 was the final desktop in the Dimension line, effectively making an XPS unit the last in the Dimension family.

XPS 430 - similar to 420, with DDR3 RAM and without the LCD on the computer chassis.

XPS 420 - Now discontinued, it features similar components to the XPS 410, but it used different case design and new features. This was Dell's media based computer featuring the Dell Xcelerator (a simple and effective Video Recorder), and an LCD screen in the case, running Windows Vista SideShow. As usual with the 4XX Line of XPS's it did not allow for SLI Graphics.

XPS 600 - The former flagship model of the XPS series that features an Intel dual-core Pentium D 950 processor, dual nVidia GeForce 7900GTX in SLI mode, 7200 RPM SATA hard drive, and dual-channel DDR2 RAM. This case has not changed significantly over the past several generations, with the large aluminum plate on the front. Discontinued a few days after XPS 700 launch and succeeded by the XPS 700.

XPS 700 - Targeted at the gaming community, this model featured the Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors with dual nVidia GeForce 7900 GX in SLI mode, a 7200RPM SATA hard drive and dual-channel DDR2 RAM. For the first time in an XPS desktop, the BIOS allowed overclocking, while the aluminum case featured a distinctive "leaning" design. The XPS 700 used significantly larger power supplies than the other XPS models to accommodate higher-end video cards and overclocked CPUs. Like its forerunners, it used a non-standard non-ATX motherboard, thereby limiting upgradability. It was replaced by the XPS 710, with many customers offered a free motherboard upgrade to XPS 710 specification following complaints about the system.

XPS 710 - The formal flagship model of the XPS series that features the new Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors, as well as Core 2 Quad processors. Other features include dual nVidia GeForce 7950 GX2 in Quad SLI mode, 7200RPM SATA hard drive, dual-channel DDR2 RAM. The XPS 710 uses significantly larger power supplies than the other XPS models to accommodate higher-end video cards and overclocked CPUs. It was replaced by the XPS 720.

XPS 720 H2C - The H2C edition computer has included a dual-stage radiator cooling technology, and a motherboard capable of overclocking its quad core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700. The H2C comes standard with dual nVidia GeForce 8800GTX cards running in SLI at a price of $6,780. The XPS 720 H2C uses slightly higher quality parts than the other XPS classes and is currently one of the most powerful and one of the fastest pre-built systems that an individual can purchase by a significant margin. Hampering its overall performance however, are the locations of the PCIe 16x slots. In an ideal SLI configuration, the 16x slots must be close enough to allow the SLI Bridge to connect both video cards. In the case of the XPS 720 motherboard, however, the closest slot to the first 16x (that is closest to the processor) is an 8x; the second 16x is at the far edge of the board. This is now not available in the UK. In the U.S. the XPS 720 H2C is only available through Dell Outlet now, meaning no new computers of this model are being manufactured.

XPS 720 - This is the same as the XPS 720 H2C, except it does not have the "dual-stage radiator cooling technology." It comes in two versions, the Red Special Edition, which is the same as the Black normal one, except it has a 1 kW Power Supply. The Black normal edition has only a 750 W Power Supply. This is now not available in the UK. Like the XPS 720 H2C this is only available in the U.S. through Dell Outlet.

XPS 730 H2C - This was Dell's latest high- performance gaming computer. It had H2C(A high performance cooling system) as standard, which was ideal for gaming. Its motherboard , the nVidia nForce 790i Ultra, was capable of overclocking its quad core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 up to 3.64 GHz. Dual channel DDR3 SDRAM system memory was available in US and the UK.. There was a choice of colors also at some outlets. The basic model specs of the PC were: Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor QX9650 (3.46 GHz Overclocked), DUAL 1GB ATI Radeon 3870 X2 Crossfire X Graphics Card, 2GB Memory, 1TB 7200rpm Dual HDD. The base price in the UK was £2,499. The system also came with an improved H2C cooling device, seen on ultra high gaming computers. This has since been replaced by the XPS 730x (see above).

XPS 730x

Released on November 16, 2008, it is basically an XPS 730 with the new Intel Core i7 which also used the new X58 Motherboards. The 730x has where, when configured with the Core i7 975 Extreme Edition, can be factory-overclocked to 3.73 GHz. The 730x also integrates Alienware's AlienFX and a new theatre lighting system. The internals of the 730x has also been redone for ease of upgrades, although most of the inside remains the same. The 730x now supports a Tri-Channel of 6 GB of DDR3. The graphics card support is either a dual or single Geforce GTX 285, or a single ATI Radeon 4870 X2. The 730x operating system also supports 64-bit Windows. Dell has discontinued the XPS 730x in its US online store and is currently in the process of selling remaining stock. It has been mentioned that this was done to focus more attention for customers seeking gaming computers to Alienware. The desktop was discontinued on September 17, 2009.

Current XPS laptops

Studio XPS 16 (M1640)

Released early January 2010, it features a 15.6" 720p or a 16.0" 1080p 16:9 aspect ratio screen. It is equipped with either a 512MB ATI Radeon HD 3670 or 1024MB ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics card, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a DVD+/- RW or a Blu-Ray ROM combo drive, and Windows 7. It has an illuminated QWERTY keyboard and leather accents on the lid are optional. Its full body is onyx black and silver.

Studio XPS 16 (M1645)

Same as above, featuring a quad core Intel Core i7 Clarksfield processor on an intel PM55 chipset mainboard. These XPS systems were found to have throttling issues when demanding applications like games were run on them. Dell has provided a fix for the issue, with the help of community input. Other laptops were also found to suffer from the same throttling issue.

Studio XPS 16 (M1647)

Same as above, featuring a dual core Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 Arrandale processor. The M1647 motherboard still uses the Intel PM55 chipset (as the M1645) but overall the motherboard uses less power than its predecessor.

Previous XPS laptops

The Dell XPS M1730 is known for its various LED lighting effects.

XPS M1730

The XPS M1730 was the newest version 17" XPS laptop computer. Compared to its predecessor, the XPS M1710 the model was physically redesigned with a completely new chassis available in a grey, white, blue, or red. Like the M1710, the M1730 offered unique user- and software-changeable LED lighting in the touchpad, fan outlets/inlets, as well as the lid and speaker grills. Also like its predecessor, it featured a 17" widescreen. From the components angle, it supported overclockable Intel Core 2 Extreme processors (2.8 GHz to 3.4 GHz overclocked via the X9000 Processor), dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX video cards in SLI, up to two 7200 RPM SATA hard drives available in RAID, and up to 8GB DDR2 SDRAM . A BluRay Disc Drive was an option in some models. New with this latest version was a built in optional AGEIA physics card to enable PhysX enhanced titles take advantage of hardware accelerated physics, the option for 64 GB solid state drives, a back lit keyboard including a number pad, and a miniature gaming LCD display above the keyboard. The model has been discontinued, likely because of Alienware's new M17x laptop, which is now sold at the same price as the XPS M1730.

Criticism

The M1730 has been criticized for its looks, increase in weight and size compared to previous models, and for having only marginal performance gains in select games. The last complaint is likely due to Nvidia only having recently released a mobile version of the 8800M video card which Dell added to the list of options following the release of the M1730.

Upgrades

Top view of the M1730 9800M GTX SLI 1GB VRAM graphics card.

Following the initial release of the M1730, the option to have dual 8800M GTX graphics cards in SLI was made available. This is said to have a 174% power increase (as quoted by Dell) over the dual 8700M GTs in SLI which were previously the highest available option. More recently an option to have dual 9800M GT and 9800M GTX (Though this graphics card differs from the 8800M GTX that the 9800M GT/9800M GTX has a PhysX chip in it) graphics cards in SLI has been added to the line.

The 9800M GTX SLI is currently the highest supported graphics card with 1GB GDDR3 VRAM for the M1730, as opposed to the 9800M GT SLI and 8800M GTX SLI only with 512MB of available Video Memory and slightly higher amount of stream processors. Thus, performs slightly better than the 9800M GT and 8800M GTX cards. The availability of the 9800M GTX SLI is rare, and may only be purchased in limited Dell direct outlets and on eBay. And in most cases, they are either out of stock, not on sale any longer or selling the previous 9800M GT and 8800M GTX graphics cards.

XPS M1530

This 15.4" laptop, released on November 28, 2007, features the Santa Rosa platform. The XPS M1530 is almost identical in design to the XPS M1330 except that it has 3 different colors (blue, white and red) and it is a bit thicker and heavier with a 15.4" CCFL or LED screen. It can be configured with Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors up to T7800 (2.6 GHz)/T9500 (2.6 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache)), up to 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667 MHz, up to 320 GB 5400 rpm hard drive/500 GB 5400 rpm or with faster 160 GB or 240 GB 7200 rpm and up to 320 GB 7200 rpm hard drive or an optional 128 GB solid-state drive, and can be configured with a 128MB DDR2 Geforce 8400GS or 256 MB DDR3 8600M GT GPU. Wireless draft-n is also available (802.11n). The XPS M1530 includes a biometric fingerprint reader and a 2 MP webcam. Another option for this laptop is a glossy 1920x1200 display, even though it is 9 inches smaller than Dell's 24 inch monitor. The system weight starts at 2.62 kg (5.78 lbs) and is dependent upon configuration. The laptop contains an internal slot for a Dell mobile broadband card.

XPS M1530 is no longer available for purchase on Dell's website as of early August 2009.

XPS M1330

This 13.3" high end laptop, released on June 26, 2007, features the Santa Rosa platform. It features a 13.3" screen either with CCFL or WLED. The WLED-backlit version has a 0.3 MP camera, as opposed to the 2 MP camera with the CCFL screen. The XPS 1330 with the WLED screen is thinner and brighter than the previous XPS 1210 version, the thinner WLED screen forcing the optics in the camera to be limited to 0.3 MP. Moreover, XPS 1330 can also feature a biometric fingerprint reader, usually found in business class laptops like the Latitude series. The XPS M1330 also offers the NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS graphics card as an option. Originally, it could only be configured with Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors up to T7700 (2.4 GHz), but could later be configured with processors up to the Intel Core 2 Duo T9500. The XPS M1330 is also available in the (PRODUCT) RED line along with other Dell computers. There have been several cases involving M1330 laptops to be cosmetically defective in manufacture, such as loose hinge covers and unusually and uneven gaps between plastic parts, as well as customer complaints concerning "CPU whine". The Dell XPS M1330 is noted for its light weight of only 1.8 kg.

XPS M1330 is no longer available for purchase on Dell's USA website as of early August 2009. It has been replaced by the M1340 (Studio XPS 13).

Problems

Dell became aware that the problem was limited to Nvidia chip production G84- and G86-GPU's, the BIOS was updated to A12 which improves thermal control but does not prevent it from reoccurring. The problem associated with Nvidia GPU's was the chip material used could not stand high temperatures.

Studio XPS 13 (M1340)

Similar to the Studio XPS 16 but trimmed down into a 13.3" 720p 16:10 aspect ratio screen, it has an illuminated QWERTY keyboard and includes leather accents on the lid. Its full body is piano black and silver.

The Studio XPS graphics offerings are currently the integrated Nvidia 9400M G (same as used in MacBook Air and 13" MacBooks) and the more powerful Nvidia GeForce 9500M GE (which is composed of an integrated GeForce 9400M G and discrete GeForce 9200M GS with 256MB of GDDR3 memory). When configured with the 9500M GE you're able to switch between the 9400M G running standalone and the 9400M G with the 9200M GS in Windows Vista, without logging out and back in like you must with Apple products due to the availability of Hybrid SLI. Although this model is still available in Europe with the 512MB nVidia GeForce 210M graphics card and the NVIDIA® GeForce® MCP79MX Chipset.

• Processors: Intel Core 2 Duo P7350, P8600, P8700, P8800, P9500, P9600 or P9700.
• Memory:3 GB, 4 GB, 6 GB, or 8 GB of shared dual channel DDR3 SDRAM @ 1066 MHz.
• Chipset: nVidia 730i
• Graphics Processor: integrated nVidia GeForce 9400M G graphics or nVidia GeForce 9500M with 256 MB of graphics memory.
• LCD Display: 13.3" Edge-to-Edge CCFL-backlit display with 1280 × 800 resolution or 13.3" Edge-to-Edge LED-backlit display with 1280 × 800 resolution and TrueLife.
• Hard Drive: 250 GB, 320 GB or 500 GB SATA at 7200 RPM or 256 GB Solid State Drive.
• Optical Drive: 8X slot-load dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive or 2X tray-load Blu-ray Disc Combo drive.
• Battery: 6-cell (56 Whr) or 6-cell (56 Whr) w/additional 9-cell (85 Whr) Lithium Ion battery.
• Camera: 1.3 MP or 2 MP webcam.
• Wi-Fi Card: Dell Wireless 1510 802.11a/b/g/draft/n half-mini card.
• Bluetooth: Dell Wireless Bluetooth Internal 370 (2.1 EDR).
• I/O ports: 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB/eSATA Combo port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet port, 1 VGA output, 1 HDMI output, 1 DisplayPort output, 2 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack, 1 54 mm Express Card slot, 1 8-in-1 memory card reader, 1 IR receiver and 1 power adapter connecter.

XPS M1340 is no longer available for purchase on Dell's USA website as of March 2010. No replacement 13" Studio XPS has been announced.

Gen 3

File:Dell2010ondesk.JPG

Dell XPS M2010 Laptop, mouse, power brick and lock

LED lights on the XPS M1710, set to the color "coral".

XPS M2010 - The XPS M2010 was the top of the line briefcase-styled mobile desktop with a 20.1" widescreen with a WSXGA+ resolution and TrueLife. The outside of the case was covered in leather. The XPS M2010 used an ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 graphics with 256 MB of graphics memory and had support for dual hard drives. The laptop could be customized with an Intel Core 2 Duo T2500, T5600, T7400 or T7600 and 1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB of DDR2 SDRAM @ 667 MHz. The laptop expanded to a full desktop set, including a detachable bluetooth keyboard, bluetooth mouse, and radio-frequency Media Center remote. It was praised for the high quality sound system which included 8 separate ¾" speakers below the screen and a 1¾" subwoofer on the bottom of the machine, ported to the right hand side. While the computer could be folded and carried as a briefcase with its built-in carrying handle, at about 21 lbs it was generally considered too heavy to be a true desktop replacement. In 2008 It appeared in both Iron Man, where it was shown on character Tony Stark's desk, and in Get Smart on the chief's desk in a few background shots. It was also shown prominently throughout the short-lived FX series Dirt.

XPS M1710 - The higher-end 17" WUXGA TrueLife widescreen XPS desktop replacement available in black or red. The system was marketed to gamers, sharing a chassis design and many components with the lower end Inspiron E1705/9400 and the higher end Precision M90. The base design featured an Intel Core Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900GS or 7900 GTX, 7200 RPM SATA hard drive, DDR2 SDRAM, a magnesium alloy case with user configurable multicolor LED lighting in the touchpad, fans, speakers and lid, access to an "exclusive" XPS-branded segment of DELL's business support division, and was built on the Precision M90's D-Dock motherboard. Later models offered the Core 2 Duo processor, the NVidia 7950GTX, and optional Blu-Ray. As the mainboard used the Intel 945 chipset, the XPS M1710 could not address more than 3.25 GByte of RAM though Dell specified "up to 4GB RAM". This computer was replaced by the XPS M1730. Note that there are severe overheating problems with the graphics card in this model (see this Dell Support-Forum thread ).

XPS M1210 - A high performance ultra-portable (12.1" screen) notebook featuring a new case design, Intel Core Duo processor technology, an optional dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 7400 Go video card and an optional integrated web camera (1.3 megapixel). The M1210 also has optional WWAN (wireless wide area networking) features supporting 3G broadband services. With the standard battery, the laptop weights 1.9 kilograms. Unlike other 12" notebook computers, the M1210 features a built-in optical drive rather than an external. This model was discontinued as of July 31, 2007.

Gen 2

Inspiron XPS Gen 2/XPS M170 - This successor to the Inspiron XPS, had replaced the desktop Pentium 4 with a Pentium M processor, which provided almost the same level of performance as the desktop Pentium 4 and reduced the weight from 9.06 lb to 8.6 lb. It featured a 17" widescreen display at the same resolution as the first generation. Due to the use of a mobile processor, this laptop was thinner and lighter than most other high performance gaming notebooks of its time. It has a design very similar to the XPS M1710. It was initially given the Nvidia GeForce 256MB 6800 Ultra Go GPU which was a Dell exclusive at the time. The laptop was rebranded as XPS M170 soon after the GeForce Go 7800 GTX was incorporated.

Dell XPS M140 Laptop.

XPS M140 - The lower end model XPS computer that has a chassis identical to an Dell Inspiron E1405 laptop. This model features a choice of several Intel mobile processors, 14.1" widescreen and between 512 MB to 2 GB of RAM. This model being more media-oriented than gaming currently does not feature a dedicated graphics card. This model has been replaced by the E1405, a 14.1" laptop physically similar the M140. It features the newer Intel Core Duo processors and Intel's 945 chipset. It is no longer classified as an XPS laptop, however.

Gen 1

Inspiron XPS - The first XPS laptop, this computer was a very heavy computer starting at 9.06 pounds without power supply (which added an additional 2.5 pounds). This was because it was offered with either a 3.4 GHz desktop Pentium 4 HT processor, or the 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor at the same clock speed, which gave off tremendous amounts of heat due to their high clock speeds and inefficient microarchitecture. Other features included a 1920 x 1200 15.4" LCD, and subwoofer integrated into the bottom of the case. Earlier models came with an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, and later models with the Mobility Radeon 9800. Dell promised graphics card upgradability, but only delivered the small 9700 to 9800 step for 9700 owners (at a $399 price tag, including technician to install it), and never delivered the promised upgrade to the 9800 owners.

Special editions

Over the life of the XPS line, Dell has introduced models which include contemporary cutting-edge features. The first example was the XPS 600 Renegade released in early 2006, which included an Intel Pentium D Extreme Edition 965 processor that was overclocked at the factory from 3.73 GHz to 4.26 GHz. Despite the overclock, Dell honored Intel's warranty for the processor. The case featured an air-brush paint job completed by Mike Lavallee. Most notably, the machine was the first commercially available system to feature a Quad-SLI configuration, with four custom NVIDIA GeForce 7900GTX graphics cards with 512 MB of memory. It also included a Western Digital hard drive spinning at 10,000 RPM. The XPS 600 Renegade had an introduction price of $9,930.

The company offered an X-Men special edition XPS gaming desktop. This computer is based on the next generation XPS desktop. No specifications on this model except that it is only available by entering the Dell X-Men contest, and that it sports an X-Men painted case.

In May 2006, the company announced the XPS 700. The XPS 700 chassis is a 56 pound, 24" x 22" x 8.5" aluminum enclosure with bright LED lights in eight selectable colors. The base configuration included high-speed SATA drives and a one-kilowatt power supply.

In November 2006, the company announced the XPS 710.

Also, at CES 2007, Dell announced a few new products, including a specially painted XPS M1710, and an XPS 710 "H2C". This is a special liquid-cooled version of the XPS 710, available with quad-core factory-overclocked processors and comes standard with an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX graphics card.

In March 2008, Dell introduced the XPS RED. A portion of the profits made on this special edition are being put towards research for a cure for the AIDS virus.

History

Desktop

• 24 November 2007: XPS 720 currently shipping

Laptop

• 27 November 2007: M1530 announced
• 5 October 2007: M1730 announced
• 27 September 2007: M1730
• 26 June 2007: M1330 announced
• 31 May 2006: M2010, M1210 announced
• 18 April 2006: M1710 announced

References

• Dell M1730 Drivers/Software unavailable from Dell WHQL and official get the support you need!
• Dell M1730 Service Manual
• Dell M2010 service manual
• Dell M2010 US Business configurator - may expire/change
• Dell UK store configurator; different options available. May expire/change
• Dell XPS 410 product details
• Dell XPS M1730 product details
• Dell XPS M1330 product Details
• Dell XPS 720H2C product Details
• Dell XPS 600 Renegade Product Details. May expire/change
• Dell XPS Generation 2 FAQ. Subject to change
• Dell XPS M1710 product review by PC Magazine, December 11, 2006
• Dell XPS M1710 on WikiSpecs
• Overview of the Dell XPS One by Engadget
• Dell XPS M1530 product review by Practical PC, Apr 2008

External links

• Dell XPS Notebooks|Dell XPS Laptops
• Dell XPS Desktops
• Dell XPS 210
• Official Dell XPS Website
• Dell XPS at Wikispecs
• Official Dell E3 Product Page (Requires Flash)