What are /r/XPS's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Cooling pads basically offer no significant difference compared to simply raising the rear of the laptop slightly to allow for easier airflow to the intake fans.

One problem with many cooling pads or stands is that even if they have fans/vents, they still end up putting more plastic/aluminum between the computer's fans and fresh air. If you get a stand or riser or something, get one that doesn't put any extra material underneath the intake fans for your XPS 17. Even something cheap & simple like this should give you pretty much the same benefit that any other stand/riser/cooling pad would.

I would imagine many USB-C -> Net dongle should work without drivers, but some might need to download something to function. Do you have no access to Wifi if that is the case?

Assuming your network supports DHCP you shouldn't need to do anything on the PC side to get it to connect to the internet.

I bought this dongle and it works fine.

https://smile.amazon.com/SK-hynix-Gold-PCIe-Internal/dp/B08DKB5LWY/

500GB is $75
1TB is $119 w/ 15% coupon applied (worth the extra $20)

https://www.anandtech.com/show/16012/the-sk-hynix-gold-p31-ssd-review

This SSD is without question the best NVMe option for laptops.

Deal4GO 2nd Second 2280 PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Heatsink Hard Drive Cover w/Thermal for Dell XPS 15 9500 Latitude 15 5500 Precision 5550 04TW9C 4TW9C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DMRJPW1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_9BTPFb7N7DYAB

Everything you need except the M3 20mm grub screws is included in the box. You will need 4 of those. Amazon also sells them, I had to buy a 50 pack but it was not too expensive. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSNGPL8/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Huh. I just checked, and I was plugging it into the one normal usb-c port. It actually works as expected when plugging into the thunderbolt port. But now I'm even more confused, because this worked on my surface book 2 which was not thunderbolt.

If still useful, these are the monitors I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N2L5CXO

I got the flickering issue figured out: it happens when I set brightness to full. My guess is that this is due to power consumption of the monitor. But when I connect the charger to it, it just goes dark.

Also, I tried this USB-C to DisplayPort cable, without luck. Connecting any monitor with it to the dock results in blank screen - with or without monitor charger.

I guess that my options are:

1. Get different dock.
2. Get a laptop with sufficient amount of ports.

I tried USB-C to DP - this one to be specific. No luck - both monitors present me with a blank screen, with or without a charger. Not even "no signal" message.

Right now I got it working by connecting one directly to the laptop, and the other to the dock. Not ideal but it works.

The annoying thing is that I'm not able to connect the monitor chargers at the same time - the screens just blink with respective manufactures logos.

Power provided from the dock to one of the monitors doesn't seem to be enough as I can only operate on 60% of brightness - anything above that makes the monitor cycle on and off.

USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor, 9 in 1 USB C Triple Display Docking Station to Dual HDMI Adapter Displayport SD TF Card Reader 2USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, 100W PD for USB C Thunderbolt 3 Laptops https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FT6RNYC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_2BMGCWAG3Q3EQKZ4Y1SG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

However only rated for 100W and IIRC the 130W charger that comes supplied isn’t sometimes enough to keep a full charge under heavy load.

If you want a dock that does have external storage options as well just let me know

This will have Ethernet and 2 HDMI:

Docking Station Triple Display USB-C Docking Station Dual Monitor Adapter Laptop Hub USB C to 2 HDMI 4K +VGA+Ethernet+100W Type C PD+4USB+Data for Dell/HP/Lenovo/MacBook Laptop Pro with Thunderbolt 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QJFWQJT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_S846DGY8WGQRS0FGMCQE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

So when I think of “docking station” I think of laptop tray that my work laptop sat on that had a bunch of ports out the back. Really if you want something cheap you want this. USB C can handle up to 40 Gbit/s which is more than enough for ethernet, two displays at 4K and keyboard and mouse.

You can find more of a tray type docking station but those are usually at least $150 bucks like this one from Dell.com:

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/docking-station-essential-cyber-acoustics-ds-2000/apd/ab341043/pc-accessories

As for Amazon, this tech is all pretty basic. “Quality” HDMI cables/ports/etc is usually just marketing and doesn’t really affect anything. So worse case if it doesn’t work Amazon has free returns and you can drop it off as UPS nearby.

Let me know if that helps

Just be careful not to buy DisplayLink, your laptop doesn't need that for sure. If you absolutely cannot find a more decent TB4 or TB3 dock in your region - even https://www.amazon.de/Thunderbolt-Charging-DisplayPort-Specific-Notebooks-UTD21H/dp/B089M7ZZ47 should do dual 4K 60Hz.

Thank you. I had a look at the wavlink devices. They seem pretty reasonable. Maybe I'll order one of those USC-C/TB3 devices at amazon and see if it works. They are a bit pricey, but should do the trick. Too bad there are plenty of "reviews" on Youtube for this device, but nobody used it to attach two 4k screens to it.

This is the one I have and I love it. Just enough space to fit some things!

tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Shoulder Bag for 15.6 Inch Acer Aspire 3/5/7 Laptop, HP Pavilion 15.6, Dell Inspiron 15 3000, 15.6 ASUS ROG Zephyrus, 2020 New Dell XPS 17, Waterproof Accessory Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HVM8984/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_PVA9FZNBASR34T0ZWBAW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Super weird.

It might be worth running something like Memtest86+ or something like it to make sure you're truly stress-testing your RAM.

Beyond that, I'm a bit at a loss. I could suggest you try throwing Linux on your system, installing Chrome, and seeing if you still have a problem to rule out some Windows driver weirdness, but that's probably more trouble for most people than it's worth.

Maybe try pulling one of your RAM sticks and running on just one (if you have two) to see if you still have the problem, then swapping that stick out for the other to see if you still run into the problem?

Do you notice any consistent situations when you run into this problem? Are you always running on battery, for example? Always using a certain amount of RAM, always have certain apps running in the background?

Edit: link to Memtest86+

I have no personal experience with this product, but it claims to support video out and up to 100W power delivery:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Transfer-Compatible/dp/B07TT6NGBC?th=1

You're not going to get those specs for that price new, unless there is some serious catch - find that out before pulling the trigger. Even on Amazon, that exact spec is $4999 although it's clear you can bear Dell's price easily

https://www.amazon.com/XPS-17-9700-Anti-Reflex-Best/dp/B08HSNVX2R?th=1

Apple is revealing its new Macs next Monday - for $3000 you're likely going to be able to get a 16" MBP with upgraded silicon from last year (M2 or M1X) which will be 10-cores and 16/32 core GPUs (similar performance to a 3060) and maybe 32GB of RAM, although Apple's memory upgrades are even worse than Dell's. If you can hold off a week, it might be worth checking out. I suspect M1X/M2 will be significantly better than 11th gen Intel.

For my XPS and a wired mouse I use: Amazon Basics L6LUC021-CS-R USB Type-C to USB 3.1 Gen1 Female Adapter - Black https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GGKYXVE/ It's inexpensive and compact. I bought 3x (1 for each of my type C ports).

Had this issue as well what I think really fixed it for me was a windows factory reset. But before you consider that try resetting the network adapter.

Finally, killer wifi cards are notorious for connection issues you can find really nice replacement cards which are AX/wifi 6 compliant. They are fairly cheap and easy to install. I use this one now

I’m personally using HP’s G2 Thunderbolt 3 dock with both my MSI Thunderbolt 3 and my Dell 9310 Thubderbolt 4 laptops, and have been really happy with it.

I run 1x QHD @ 75 Hz and 2x 1080p @ 60 Hz through it, in addition to: gigabit Ethernet, a USB keyboard, a USB mouse, a USB ANT+ adapter, and a USB wireless sound card.

Edit: I forgot to mention, but it also supports 100 W PD charging over USB-C.

HP Thunderbolt Dock 120W G2 (2UK37AA#ABA) Docking Station Port Replicator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DPKVYXR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_8JVDPVE1JHP7NK8EP2Z7

Consider getting this protective shell for your XPS.

mCover hard shell case for XPS 15

The hub you linked says, in the title of the listing, that the HDMI out is . Additionally, "works with XYZ" means that it'll provide connectivity, not necessarily that its a one-to-one connection, per se.

You'll need a few things to get this working the way you want over HDMI:

• HDMI 2.0 or newer port on the monitor itself (which the Samsung has, but only one of them is 2.0, the other is 1.4)
• Thunderbolt to HDMI 2.0 or newer adapter (such as this one?)
• Likely an HDMI 2.0 compatible cable (example); though I'm unsure just how important that is for HDMI.

I'm also guessing you'll need to use the Thunderbolt ports on the 9575 -- I'm unsure if the standard USB-C ports have enough bandwidth for high refresh rate displays, even though it says its a DisplayPort bus.

Update: i just bought this heatsink (similar to what I saw in another post) and will try the game tomorrow after installing it, to see if the laptop behaves funny or the temps are lower.

https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B08M9692D7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

oohh

is this the one you got by any chance? https://www.amazon.com/OLOy-1x16GB-2666Mhz-SODIMM-MD4S162619IZSC/dp/B07R42C9RY/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=oloy%2Bddr4%2B16gb%2B2666mhz&qid=1603579794&sr=8-7&th=1&psc=1

I bought this one and very happy with the performance https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B079QJQF4Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wow. I'm on BIOS 1.17.1!

I might bump my Turbo Boost Power settings back up to where you are then.

Repasting is easy. I had never done it before either. I just watched some YT videos. I'm glad I did it. All you need are the torx and philips screwdrivers to take the back cover and the heat sink off, some q-tips and isopropyl alcohol to clean the CPU and GPU dies and the back of the heat sink and a thermal paste of your choice. I used Arctic MX-4 and it definitely made a difference. The DELL paste job was a mess.

This is my current charger and cable combination The cable is rated up to 100W you are going to use less than that depending on your charger.

USB C Charger, Anker 60W Power Delivery Fast Charger [PIQ 3.0 & GaN], PowerPort Atom III Power Adapter for iPhone 11/Pro/Max/XR/XS/X, USB-C Laptops, MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, Galaxy, Pixel and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PP1W7S8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_VkCpFbYSDKQ68

CBUS 5A 100W USB-C Cable, 6.6ft USB Power Delivery (PD) Fast Charge USB 3.1 Gen2, 10Gbps Data — Compatible with PD Docking Stations, Hard Drives, MacBook Pro, Air, iPad Pro, PixelBook, 4K/5K Displays https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MW1ZWP6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_-lCpFb0ES192C

If they are difficult to find in your country I think you are better going with the 61W Apple charger that includes the cable for $60. This chargers are easier to find.

https://www.amazon.com/Lacdo-Compatible-Predator-Chromebook-Resistant/dp/B01NCMYUMD/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=lacdo+15.6+inch+laptop+sleeve+bag&qid=1596758883&sprefix=lacdo+&sr=8-4

This is what I got, fits a small mouse and charger, not too large or bulky.

Yeah totally I’ll send you the link I used. All i did is hop on the phone with dells sales team. Email them this amazon link New Dell XPS 15 9500 15.6 inch UHD+ Touchscreen Laptop (Silver) Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti with 4GB GDDR6, Window 10 Pro (XPS9500-7845SLV-PUS) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0897WZSZ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_i8kyFbXBEVAJB

Then you want to customize from there on the phone after they price match it and add on your features and then mention the code save17 to get 17% off the upgrades you make as well. I realize this is for more specs than your wishing for which I realized late. Basically I want people to be aware you don’t have to price match on the same laptop, you can fudge it a little. If you want the fancy screen this is the way to get it without paying $400 for it.

But you’re right I looked and couldn’t find a cheaper way to price match this particular build. I think your best bet is to buy now with the save 17 code but if you aren’t interested in upgrading the processor to the 8 core then what you really want to do is hold out until the new model comes out. I don’t think this laptop is worth much dollars without the 8 core processor because there’s better laptops that will suit your needs. If you are in it for looks as well as power, like I am then I would say wait till the new model comes out and buy the old with the 8 core.

Thanks for the response! I was looking at amazon and saw they gave the 4k, 1TB, 16GB RAM (https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Touch-Intel-NVIDIA-GeForce/dp/B07T4HGF79?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1#customerReviews)

have you ever bought from Amazon? looks like I can get it next week with Amazon vs on Dell it’s end of April...

and yeah I was going to go with touch and not OLED

I only skimmed briefly, so here's what I got :

You got a new xps15(congrats), and want to connect two external monitors(doesn't matter if they're dell or samsung monitors) that only have displayport connectivity.

If that is all correct, I suggest getting this : https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Display-Splitter-Dongle-F2CD062/dp/B00OJZNXZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1492106065&sr=1-1&keywords=hdmi+to+dual+display+port

or any other brand's version of that. An hdmi-to-dual-displayport dongle. Plug the hdmi end into your xps15, plug each display into the display port. Tell me if I got something wrong.