Dell XPS 15 L501X With JBL Sound-System and NVIDIA GT420M
The new XPS 15 (also called the XPS L501X) is a completely redesigned multimedia notebook from Dell. Sporting a JBL sound-system with subwoofer, NVIDIA GT420M dedicated graphics, and an Intel Core i5 processor, this system is designed with performance and entertainment in mind.
Specifications:
- Intel Core i5 460M Processor (3MB cache, 2.53GHz)
- 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 glossy display with LED backlighting
- NVIDIA GeForce GT420M with 1GB DDR3
- Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
- 6GB DDR3 memory
- 500GB 7200rpm HDD (Seagate Momentus 7200.4)
- Realtek gigabit ethernet and Intel 1000 802.11b/g/n wireless
- Bluetooth 3.0
- 6-cell Li-ion battery (56Wh)
- Dimensions: 15 x 10.4 x 1.3-1.5-inches
- Weight: 6.21lbs
- MSRP: $899.99 (Closest configuration)
Build and Design
The new Dell XPS 15 has a silver on grey color scheme, using metal panels and plastic for the body. Compared to past XPS designs that were trend setters that distinguished themselves from the lower models, the new XPS doesn't seem to spark much visual interest. In theory, mixing alloy panels with a brushed metal palmrest and backlit keyboard usually yields good results. Overall, it seems like Dell missed a big opportunity to make the XPS-series the unique notebooks they once were. The result is a rather bland looking multimedia notebook where its budget-oriented sibling --the Inspiron 15R--outshines it.
Nevertheless, the XPS 15 feels nicer than it looks. The metal panels on the interior and exterior add strength to the body, reduce flex, and give the notebook a high-quality feel. The inside of the notebook features a large brushed metal panel that makes up the palmrest and keyboard surround. The bottom of the notebook is completely plastic (including the access panel) but still resists flex and feels durable. The only problem we noticed was the high use of plastic clips holding most of the notebook together (in addition to metal screws).
Users looking to upgrade the Dell XPS 15 will find it easy or not so easy, depending on which components they are looking to swap out. The single access panel on the bottom of the notebook houses the two sticks of RAM, wireless card, and WWAN/TV tuner slot.
Screen and Speakers
The Dell XPS 15 can be configured with two 15-inch screen options. The lower-end models offer a WXGA resolution 1366 x 768 panel, whereas the higher-tiered models include a nicer 1080p 1920 x 1080 screen. Our review system included the lower resolution option with a glossy surface. The WXGA panel rates average to below average, with a 177nit maximum brightness and a contrast ratio of 190:1. Black levels were average at best, with an average brightness level of 0.91nit. Colors looked vibrant thanks to the glossy surface, although with poor viewing angles, most colors washed out quickly with the screen tilted forward or back.
With most 15-inch notebooks going for thinner designs, it's hard to fit really good sounding speakers in a notebook these days. Dell did an amazing job with the speakers on the XPS 15 though, which offer high peaks and rumbling lows. For users looking for a more private listening session, the XPS 15 offers two headphone jacks for sharing a movie on a plane, as well as SPDIF and HDMI out for the home theater.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Dell XPS 15 features a very comfortable backlit keyboard with a design using traits from standard and Chiclet-style keyboards. The keyboard doesn't feature an internal bezel like most island-style keyboards, but it also has completely flat key surfaces. For typing long documents or even playing a game to blow off steam during a long company meeting, the keyboard does an excellent job. The backlight is adjustable with three settings; off, low, and high.
The touchpad is a large multi-touch Synaptics model with dedicated left and right buttons. The touchpad supports some multi-touch features like pinch zoom, two finger scrolling, and offered a surface large enough to not make multiple fingers feel cramped. The touchpad buttons were also very nice, offering deep throws and soft feedback.
Performance and Benchmarks
The Dell XPS L501X offers an upper midrange configuration featuring an Intel Core i5 processor clocked at 2.53GHz and a NVIDIA Optimus graphics solution powered by the GeForce GT420M dedicated graphics card. The system had no trouble decoding locally played 720P and 1080P video, with the GPU hardly breaking a sweat. Online streaming HD video was also no problem for the XPS 15, where we tested 720P and 1080P videos from sites such as YouTube, Hulu, and Vimeo. Initially we did run into a small bug where video's wouldn't play in full-screen, but updating the Flash codec to the latest version corrected the problem.
In standard daily use, the Dell XPS runs smoothly with fast boot times, thanks to the standard 7200RPM hard drive. Users can configure the XPS 15 with an optional solid state drive (SSD), although at the time of this review, Dell only offers a rather expensive--$510!--256GB SSD.
Heat and Noise
Dell did a pretty good job handling the thermal load of the high-performance components stuffed into the XPS 15. During our benchmarking, the system quickly ramped up its cooling fan speed to handle the higher heat levels while still maintaining a minimal noise output.
Battery Life
The XPS 15 is offered with either a 6-cell or 9-cell battery. Our configuration included the smaller 56Wh 6-cell battery, which performed pretty well while still maintaining a clean flush appearance on the bottom of the notebook chassis. In our testing with the screen brightness reduced to 70%, keyboard backlit disabled, wireless on and refreshing a webpage every 60 seconds, and Windows 7 set to the Balanced profile the XPS 15 stayed on for 5 hours and 16 minutes. For a notebook with an upper midrange processor and decent dedicated graphics, this was pretty good.
With previous XPS notebooks being flagship models from Dell, it's disappointing to see such a bland and normal looking system. Build quality was a step up at least, with metal panels protecting the screen and metal on the palmrest and keyboard trim inside the notebook. The plastic chassis felt strong, but left something to be desired when it came to accessing internal components. The sound system was my favorite feature on this notebook, providing booming bass and great audio quality.
Plus:
- Fast processor and graphics card
- Good battery life
- Comfortable backlit keyboard
Minus:
- Difficult to upgrade
- Bland design
