This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Dell XPS 15 laptop.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Dell XPS 15. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Dell XPS 15 page on LapWik.
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For full specifications see the Dell XPS 15 specifications page.
| Name | Dell XPS 15 |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i5-2410M processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz Intel® Core™ i5-2520M processor 2.50 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.20 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM processor 2.00 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-2620M processor 2.70 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM processor 2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.30 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz |
| Screen | 15.6” (1366×768) Widescreen 15.6” (1920×1080) Widescreen |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| HDD | up to 750GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-RW Blu-ray |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000 (1×2 bgn) Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1030 (1×2 bgn+ Bluetooth) Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6230 (2×2 agn+ Bluetooth) Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6150 802.11 b/g/n (WiMax + 1×2 bgn) |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | good | |
| Screen | good | |
| HDD | good | |
| Optical Drive | good | |
| Graphics | fair | there are 2 graphics board in this machine. The Intel board works fine for me (I'm no gamer - I just need decent high-res 2D for development). The nvidia optimus board does not work well under Linux yet is powered on by default and makes the machine run very hot and use a lot of battery - you need to either disable it using a acpi_call (and reduce battery consumption by a _lot_) or utilise the bumblebee project (I haven't tried it - check it out via google) (if on Debian, look at debumblebee). The acpi_call to turn off the nvidia board is: modprobe acpi_call; echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF' > /proc/acpi/call; - you need to find the acpi_call kernel driver (google it!) and compile it for every kernel you install - it's not a standard part of fedora. Gross hassle. |
| Sound | good | Under Debian unstable (24/01/12) headphone jack sensing wasn't working. I fixed this by running 'amixer -c 0 cset numid=9 1; sudo alsactl store' You will have to find the appropriate setting to change with amixer and then save using alsactl. |
| Ethernet | good | |
| Wireless | good | |
| Bluetooth | good | |
| Modem | good | |
| USB | good | |
| Card Reader | poor | Will read card if booted with one. Some tweaking needed to have it read cards on the fly. |
| Webcam | not working for me | |
| TV Tuner | Not Tested | |
| Keyboard | incomplete | eg the function keys Fn-f1 (maps to ctrl-alt-p or mod4-p) and the funny 'additional' keys above the keyboard don't map to anything useful (the gears? key maps to ctrl-alt-x or mod4-x; the tripod? key maps to 'dim display'; the comb? key maps to “no entry”/forbidden??? |
| sleep/hibernate | good |
You can enter any specific notes with running Linux on the Dell XPS 15 here.
Overall it's a nice machine (esp. the JBL audio and 1080p screen) but there are so many struggles to get some things working and no help from Dell at all as far as linux is concerned eg it can't seem to boot from any of my USB devices and the webcam and nvidia optimus problems as noted above. Also Dell refused to sell it to me without their choice of operating system. I wouldn't buy another and would recommend others to find a lappy without the dead-brick graphics board. I've worked with linux for 18+ years and it was a struggle for me - God help the newbie. I'd advise people to steer away from Dell for linux unless they hear to the contrary about the specific model they want to buy - their attitude to Linux is just the old arrogance of the evil empire!
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