NEW XPS 730x Owner's thread

My SLI bridge was the culprit. Rolled up to the latest Nvidia drivers, still working. Still nothing out except 1.0.5.

Who has already upgraded their 730x to the Windows 7 release? Did you install any of the Vista drivers? If so what did you install and in what order?  Did you install the Dell Chipset or just go with what Windows 7 installed?

The only things that I have installed so far from Dell are: Broadcom application(driver were already there), Realtek(the drivers were already there, I wanted the controls), AlienFX, nVidia Control Panel 6.03, Dell Dock and the Dell Thermal Application.

I let Windows install all of the drivers and there are no issues listed under "Device Manager". I can not even get into the Drivers & Download section today to see if there is a driver I might be missing, some script error every time.

Here are the problems I currently have.

1)  I can not get the LED lights to change color. I have tried doing this with the AlienFX software and also using the nVidia Control Panel.

2)  My 9800GT SLI are running alot hotter than when running under Vista. I have the fans at 100% and at idle they are running 60-63c.

On a positive note I can run applications and games that would not run under the factory install of Vista 64. The computer is alot faster and seems more stable, no errors anyplace in the Event Viewer.

I did a clean install with the upgrade version of Windows 7 Ultimate.  I had some of the same questions as you and the only Dell specific applications I installed are the Alien FX and the Dell Thermal App.  I had downloaded a version of these that were for another comp (630 maybe) although the ones on the 730x work apparently.  Just use the Vista ones.

I did not install any other software including the chipset.  I contemplated downloading and installing the latest version from Intel but the Windows 7 ones seem to work fine.  I didn't install the Realtek drivers as I use a sound blaster titanium sound card and didn't feel the need to install anything for the broadband.

Regarding your first issue, I don't think you can use both the thermal/Alien FX software in conjunction with the Nivida Control Panel.  I believe they conflict.  I would chose one or the other.

I also run 9800GT's in SLI and I don't see any increase in the running temperatures.  I use the EVGA software and usually keep the fans at 75% all the time.

I am very pleased with Windows 7.  Perhaps it is just an improved Vista but I am very happy that I upgraded.  Some of the new features are growing on me to.  :)

Mark

Okay, I have a serious problem that I hope someone can shed some light on.  On Thursday night, I had one of my Raptor hard drives die on me, or so I thought.  For the longest time, I could hear one of my drives winding down as though it had lost power.  On Thursday night, I was browsing the web and Mozilla suddenly stops working.  Then, AVG reports that an error has occurred and it shuts down, along with several other programs.  Upon checking My Computer, the drive has disappeared.  The only thing I had to do was reinstall my program files because my OS and everything else is on other drive(s).  The drive is under warranty until May of 2012 so getting it replaced won't be an issue.  However...since removing the drive that disappeared, I can now hear ANOTHER drive doing the same thing.  I'm sure it's possible, but I find it unlikely that (2) Raptor drives would die so close together, if in fact they are.  I'm wondering if something is going wrong with my PSU, or...? 

Any insight would be very much appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

I have seen alot of failures with the Raptor. My girlfiend has always used them in her computers and she has at least 1 die every year, in the last year she has lost 3 of them. She ran them in Raid 0 and would lose everything each time. I finaly got her to let me install a Seagate 500GB as her main drive and she has not had a problem since. Most of the ones she had problems with were retail and 2 were the Dell branded. If you google it you will find that the Raptor has a very high failure rate probably because it spins so much faster and builds up more heat than a 7200 rpm drive.

Got it stable at 4.01 :) just been picking at it now I'm kinda of happy.

Not that happy with the temps under load like 60-70 but it better then before when I was getting over 80c and I had to back it down

I think I have to reseat the processor. What help alittle bit was keeping the side of the case open to let more air in.

I read around that from the factory they put to much termal paste cause the heat sink is not to hot to touch like it should be with that temp range.

I'm going to put good old artic sliver.

Hopefully I can push it to maybe 4.2 on air lol

I'm a crazy overclocker. I really been thinking about getting a xeon to have more fun

But I must wait for the I9s six cores 12 threads 

Good luck on your overclocks

I have some questions about the GTX 295.  It takes a 6 pin and 8 pin power connector.  From what I can tell the 730x has 4 6 pin connectors. 

1.  If I install one of these is there an adapter that could be used for the 8-pin connector?

2.  If I wanted to add a second one down the road could the PSU handle it? and how would I manage the power connections with 2?  would 2 of these work in a 730x?

Thanks

Mark

You can install two of those video cards. You will need two of these.

Hey Chris or anyone,

On my XPS 730X, I am running one EVGA 295 CO-OP ed (one card but dual SLI internal) which states it requires 680 watts, would I be able to add a second 295 CO-OP edition to be in Quad SLI with just the dongle listed?

DELL-Chris M:

You can install two of those video cards. You will need two of these.

or would I need a supplemental power supply?  Dell standard 1000 watt PSU

Darrell

The retail power supply requirements do not apply to Dell. Since we ship the 730x with Dual GTX 285s, I do not think Dual GTX 295s would be an issue.

Darrell WV:

Hey Chris or anyone,

On my XPS 730X, I am running one EVGA 295 CO-OP ed (one card but dual SLI internal) which states it requires 680 watts, would I be able to add a second 295 CO-OP edition to be in Quad SLI with just the dongle listed?

Thanks for the reply Chris.

 Darrell,

How do you like that card?  I was looking at it the other night and seems to be my leading contender.  I plan to get one in the near future then add anoher down road.

Mark

The EVGA 295 CO-OP ed is a great card, renders well.  Back in the old 730X posts Chris M had given us the EVGA software address to control graphics cards and I am using that to control the fan, have it set at 75%.  I am currently playing EVE and The Witcher Enhanced Ed with my 730X and the graphics with this card is hands above my old dual 260's in SLI and even a little better than my 285's in SLI, but to be fair I never ran the 285's with Win 7 they are in my 730 running Vista 64 bit.

At this point Win 7 Ultimate, i7 965 and 295 CO-OP is a great place to game.

Best,

Darrell WV

Hello, I was wondering is there a way to remove the front panel area ( near the bottom where the fan and lights are? ) i notices when i was looking in there the large fan has just a HUGE amount of dust on it. I tried to vacuum it from the outside thru the vents but the fan is to far on. Does the front cover pop right off? any easy way to get to the fan?

thanks

Anyone else have issues with the multi-card reader not reading SDHC.  I think a long while back in the old thread I asked about this, but I can't for the life of me find it if I did.

It will read regular SD just fine for me, but not SDHC.. and that seems ... wrong.

Best to grab a can of dust-off and have fun. I need to do a full cleaning of my 730x about every month or so - even with my machine up on a desk about 3 feet above the floor it still attracts lots of dust. Make sure you unplug the main power and everything if you decide to investigate any of the fan covers inside.