New Ultrabook
- Explosive Newt
- Posts: 1553
- Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:33 pm
New Ultrabook
Any recommendations? My XPS13 is doing weird stuff - running hot for no discernable reason, apps closing at random - it's 5 years old so perhaps time for a new one.
Small
Powerful
Good battery life
I may well buy a new XPS but keen to hear what else is out there.
Small
Powerful
Good battery life
I may well buy a new XPS but keen to hear what else is out there.
- DeskJockey
- Posts: 4711
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:58 am
Re: New Ultrabook
Before you scrap the old one, have you checked that the fan (assuming it has one) isn't full of crap? As for app issues, a reset to factory could fix that.
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Driving a Galaxy far far away
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- Sundayjumper
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Re: New Ultrabook
My XPS13 isn't five years old so maybe not the same model but it did start running very very hot and it turned out to be slightly hidden setting that made the CPU run full pelt even when idle.
"Minimum Processor State". Should be 5% but had somehow got set to 90 or 99.
"Minimum Processor State". Should be 5% but had somehow got set to 90 or 99.
- Explosive Newt
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- Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:33 pm
Re: New Ultrabook
I did open it up and pull a chunk of fluff out of the fan, but it continued to do the same. I think the heat is coming from the battery... which is not the original one as that one developed an intermittent fault and needed swapping out. Seems odd though.
I'll give the power settings tweak a try though - I otherwise really like my XPS, it does everything I need and it would be a shame to get rid.
I'll give the power settings tweak a try though - I otherwise really like my XPS, it does everything I need and it would be a shame to get rid.
- Explosive Newt
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Re: New Ultrabook
I'm also very impressed at the work has gone into making the explainer image.Sundayjumper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 9:21 pm My XPS13 isn't five years old so maybe not the same model but it did start running very very hot and it turned out to be slightly hidden setting that made the CPU run full pelt even when idle.
"Minimum Processor State". Should be 5% but had somehow got set to 90 or 99.
Re: New Ultrabook
I'm kinda interested in this thread what with my soon to be new found financial freedom.
I'll probably stick with a Chromebook first though
I'll probably stick with a Chromebook first though
- Sundayjumper
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Re: New Ultrabook
Not my work I’m afraid ! I shamelessly stole it from somewhere on the internet.Explosive Newt wrote: ↑Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:27 pm I'm also very impressed at the work has gone into making the explainer image.
- DeskJockey
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- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:58 am
Re: New Ultrabook
Might be looking for a new laptop soon. Wife tripped going up the stairs carrying her laptop and it smashed into the floor just on the right side hinge. Everything works, but it might be beyond economical repair to replace bits. Hinge properly broken and frame also looking rather sad.
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- DeskJockey
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Re: New Ultrabook
Upon closer examination the hinge is intact. It is the mount in the screen that snapped off the backing. Mount is also intact, so I've gorilla glued it back in place. Fingers crossed that'll work as a zero cost fix.
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Driving a Galaxy far far away
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- DeskJockey
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Re: New Ultrabook
First attempt as glueing failed. Bond came away as soon as there was pressure on it. Trying to clean the broken bit it snapped in three.
Now trying again with a different glue and more patience.
Now trying again with a different glue and more patience.
Last edited by DeskJockey on Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Driving a Galaxy far far away
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Re: New Ultrabook
Fingers crossed it holds.
I've had a 13" HP Probook 2in1 for the last year. The newer XPS stuff don't have many ports making a dock or hub essential !
It was similar spec, metal case, 16gb RAM etc but has USBC, A plus a HDMI and a fair chunk cheaper than the Dell.
I've had a 13" HP Probook 2in1 for the last year. The newer XPS stuff don't have many ports making a dock or hub essential !
It was similar spec, metal case, 16gb RAM etc but has USBC, A plus a HDMI and a fair chunk cheaper than the Dell.
- DeskJockey
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- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:58 am
Re: New Ultrabook
If it can't be fixed it isn't a big issue. Bought used two years ago today (as it happens) and isn't Win11 capable, so will replace it with something newer if it that's how it ends up. To fit with docking station it'll need to be a Lenovo T480s or newer. They seem to be about £3-400 on eBay which seems reasonable. It is used for nothing more demanding than surfing the web and office productivity, so no reason to spend more.
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- Explosive Newt
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Re: New Ultrabook
Old XPS had 2 USB-A, a thunderbolt port, a charge port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack and a conventional power port. New just has 2 thunderbolts and the headphone jack. So it means a dock takes more importance and you will need a dongle for USB-A stuff (frustrating).
That said, I am definitely using USB-A a lot less these days; my mouse is bluetooth now and I very seldom use USB sticks with everything online.
I'm finding myself using the power mostly when I've got it plugged into a second monitor and multiple tabs/windows open. Teams etc seem depressingly resource heavy.
That said, I am definitely using USB-A a lot less these days; my mouse is bluetooth now and I very seldom use USB sticks with everything online.
I'm finding myself using the power mostly when I've got it plugged into a second monitor and multiple tabs/windows open. Teams etc seem depressingly resource heavy.
Re: New Ultrabook
That's another bonus is the Probook has a conventional power point when used at my desk with a monitor but when out and about i use a usb-c for it and my phone so only need one charger.
- Explosive Newt
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Re: New Ultrabook
Exactly the same with my current XPS - and increasing numbers of things charge with USB-C so it’s kinda handy. The downside of this though is that the only way to connect to an external monitor is USB-C, so I can’t do both at the same time unless I have a standard charger. Two ports would be useful from that perspective.
- Sundayjumper
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Re: New Ultrabook
My XPS - a couple of years old now - has two USB-C ports, so no problem to charge & use some kind of dongle at the same time.
There’s one port on each side and either can be used for charging or connecting to a dock, a small point but that flexibility helps keep the desk tidy.
There’s one port on each side and either can be used for charging or connecting to a dock, a small point but that flexibility helps keep the desk tidy.
Re: New Ultrabook
DTEN, I wouldn't be surprised if the thermal paste on your cooler has dried up and stopped working. Worth whipping off the cooler, cleaning it with some alcohol then whacking some new paste on there to see if it improves things.
The artist formerly known as _Who_
- Explosive Newt
- Posts: 1553
- Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:33 pm
Re: New Ultrabook
There was a thermal controller driver update - I have installed that and it seems to have settled down, so looks like there is life in the old dog yet.
- DeskJockey
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- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:58 am
Re: New Ultrabook
Glueing didn't work. As soon as I reattached the hinge the bond failed. So, have ordered a used T480s from eBay. Oh well.
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Driving a Galaxy far far away
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Re: New Ultrabook
T480 any good?
I'm in the market for a midrange used laptop....
I'm in the market for a midrange used laptop....