7 Posts
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2541
October 10th, 2022 05:00
DELL XPS 15 9500 Battery drain after firmware update
I bought my XPS 15 9500 laptop 1,5 years ago, and i've been using it in dual boot (Linux/windows) since the beginning. In both OS, I was getting 8/9 hours of battery. As I am not using Windows a lot, I decided to log in Windows and proceed to available updates (Windows 10 to Windows 11, Bios Update, Firmware and drivers updates).
Right after the update, I could only get maximum 2/3 hours of use in both Windows and Linux.
As it's affecting both Linux and Windows, I guess the problem is due to the Bios update or one of the Firmware updates.
I tried to downgrade the bios to the 1.11.0 version (minimum I can go) but the problem remains.
For that reasons, I'm pretty sure the problem is due to one of the Firmware updates, what can I do about it, I heard it's not possible to downgrade firmware, is it really impossible ?
What solution do you have for me ?
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 31st, 2022 10:00
Quick Update: It is due to the use of Nvidia card
The fact that the problem appeared at the same time on Linux and Windows is just a coincidence:
- on windows, (maybe) somehow after the Windows 11 update, it was using the Nvidia card although power saving mode (on demand) was checked in the settings, but in my case just changing and going back again to that mode did the thing and I could get again 8+ hours of battery
- on linux (mint 21): I think a kernel update or nvidia update broke something and i think only the nvidia card was being used.
Conclusion: I was wrong, nothing due to a firmware or bios update.
(Using a Linux Live USB helped me solve my problem as I saw I was getting back my 8+ hours of battery, because by default it was using the intel integrated graphic card)
d5123101
2 Intern
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457 Posts
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October 10th, 2022 05:00
When you reference 'firmware updates' which updates are you referencing (specifically)?
ejn63
10 Elder
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28.7K Posts
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October 10th, 2022 05:00
Check the battery capacity. Under Windows, open a command prompt with administrator privilege and type
powercfg /batteryreport
What are the current and design charge capacities of the battery showing?
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 10th, 2022 06:00
Unfortunately I don't know, because a lot of updates have been done at the same time, and I can't find any report of the firmware and bios updates (Dell Support Assist and Windows updates seems to only show drivers updates)
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 10th, 2022 06:00
Thank you for your answer, here is the result:
energy-full: 65,7552 Wh
energy-full-design: 84,2916 Wh
(It's important to note that I had 8/9 hours of battery with about 70,0 Wh, so this does not seems to explain why I lost 6 hours)
d5123101
2 Intern
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457 Posts
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October 10th, 2022 09:00
Well then my question is how do you know any 'firmware' updates were performed if you can only see driver updates?
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 10th, 2022 11:00
Well, i know the bios has been updated because i remember i saw the bios update screen and i think some firmwares are also updated during the bios update also no ?
d5123101
2 Intern
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457 Posts
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October 11th, 2022 07:00
Not really. I have heard of BIOS updates messing up performance after being installed (and the performance decrease remaining even after reverting back to the old BIOS). Have you tried searching the forum for similar events? I could but it'd take me longer than you (since it is your own personal issue)
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 11th, 2022 08:00
I just proceed to the latest bios available today (v 1.19): It still didn't resolve the problem.
In the bios, the log events says I updated the Bios the 6 sept 2022 (bios v1.17 I guess then)
The previous I had must be 1.10 because the previous bios update I did was the 23 nov 2021.
I confirm the bios update also try to update a lot of other stuffs:
(Even when downgrading bios, these firmwares does not downgrade)
Updating System Bios
Sending INtel(R) Integrated Sensor Hub FW Update
Waiting for Intel(R) ISH FW Update to complete
Intel(R) ISH FW Update Completed Succeffully
Sending Intel(R) Management Engine Firmware Update
Waiting for Intel(R) ME FW Update to complete
Intel(R) ME FW Update Completed Succeffully
ME Completed Succefful
Wireless Antenna ... is already up to date
Main USB PD Controller 2 ... is already up to date
Main USB PD Controller 1 ... is already up to date
Updating Primary EC BIOS GUID[1]
Firmware Update Succefful
Updating backup EC GUID[1]
is already up to date
Saving Manifest
Bios Realease dates:
(@d5123101 Thank you again for trying to help me)
d5123101
2 Intern
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457 Posts
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October 11th, 2022 23:00
You can thank me if the problem gets solved lol. I read the changelog of the BIOS update you applied and now you will no longer be able to downgrade to version 1.10.0 (just so you know). Also, I believe those firmwares which the BIOS utility updates when doing a BIOS update cannot be easily downgraded. I have a few questions for you, when you do a BIOS update have you been keeping the laptop plugged into power the entire time? (also make sure you are using the correct power adapter) How have you been updating the BIOS? Through downloading the utility from the Dell website or some other method?
qloupito
7 Posts
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October 13th, 2022 12:00
Hehe that is why i said thank you for *trying* to help me
Yes the computer was plugged in the entire time with the correct adaptater.
The first time i did the update (the one that cause my problem) it was with the dell support software (Also same for the last bios update i did 2 days ago) When i tried the downgraded bios it was by using the downloaded bios and a usb key by selecting update bios at startup in the uefi.
d5123101
2 Intern
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457 Posts
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October 15th, 2022 03:00
I'll have to read over the forums again because this is an issue I've heard about before but I don't think there is a resolution for it (or at least not one that I remember) I suggest you also look over the forum and let me know if you find something (or nothing).