For me, using Windows 2015 LTSB is the most important and challenging requirement to get a modern laptop to be comfortable. I have been successful in finding workarounds for driver issues, but with Intel 10th gen (400 series chipset), there are some issues. The 400 series chipset requires 17.x intel RST drivers, which frequently BSOD on 2015 LTSB (at least using modern intel chipsets). The last working RST driver on these Dell laptops I have been testing for 2015 LTSB is 16.x, but it only supports up to 300 series chipset. Also, it is very difficult to get the sound working properly, due to "Intel Sound Technology" drivers.

XPS 15 7590, which uses 9th gen intel (and 300 series chipset), I was able to get everything functioning optimally (unfortunately, it uses PWM below 26% brightness, which is very bright). I bet an XPS 13 9380 would be the last usable XPS 13 version. The matte FHD on the pre-2020 XPS 7390 and earlier (although 7390 doesn't run 2015 LTSB properly, which is why 9380 should be optimal) doesn't use PWM. New XPS 13 with 13.4" screen and 16:10 aspect ratio has PWM.

On Inspiron 13 7391 2-in-1, there is the BSOD issue from intel RST, and while Realtek driver is installed, it does not appear to be receiving sound due to malfunction in the intel sound technology OED driver (which has to be forced to install by removing build requirements in driver ini).

I think modern windows 10 is what is behind a lot of modern windows laptop discomfort. 8th and 9th gen intel might be the last properly working systems on 2015 LTSB (and thus also build 1507/1511). No idea about AMD-based laptops.

Experimenting with an XPS 13 7390 now, but it has the 400 series chipset.

Disabling the intel graphics and switching to Microsoft Basic Display adapter (it is adequate for web browsing and Microsoft office) is the other piece of the puzzle to make modern laptop usable, but it won't eliminate the discomfort of newer windows builds, it has to be done in combination with 2015 LTSB/ 1511/ 1507.

Do you absolutely need intel RST? Like for some Raid config?
Just asking because i'm not using it anymore at all, actually i'm not installing any intel driver nowadays, only the ones from Windows update (incl. Chipset, USB, etc drivers), which made things even more stable and/or better performing for me.

    tsb The Windows 10 2015 LTSB installer doesn't see the disk in the newer Dell laptops I've tried. I have to manually load the RST driver to even install Windows.

    • tsb replied to this.

        degen Strange. I used to use chipset AHCI (or RAID) drivers for installing Windows, maybe you can look up and find one at the intel downloadcenter. Should be as standalone available instead of RST. Saying this because maybe it'd be more compatible/stable then with your system as RST.

          15 days later

          On further testing, BSOD from the RST driver is present only on 1507 LTSB, not 1511.

            degen Good to know. In fact, I was just about to pull the trigger and purchase the New 15" XPS 9500 to see if I could get 1511 up and running on it. I'll update with how I get on in the coming weeks.

                si_edgey I was able to get sound working too, let me know if you have any troubles with that (or any driver issues). The only thing that doesn't work is there is no compatible driver for the Intel GPU for the 10th gen, even comet lake. It's actually UHD 630 on comet lake, which did have a driver for 1507/1511 working in 9th gen, but unfortunately Intel changed the hardware ID and renamed it straight UHD in the 10th gen products (to hide that that they didn't upgrade the graphics I suppose), so the drivers for UHD 630 won't work. However, who cares for us because we want the basic display adapter. I change the brightness in the BIOS to zero because the XPS 7390 FHD does not use PWM at any brightness level, and Windows will respect that setting, even under the Windows Basic Display Adapter, until the next restart. Also, Modern standby won't work properly. You will have to disable that using the reg key which is found easily in Google, and switch to hibernate.

                It's a good idea to backup the DriverStore/FileRepository folder (which contains all the drivers) from the factory Windows install so you can use those drivers in 1511 if needed. Some of the drivers will work if you remove the build requirements from the ini. Other drivers can be found from Snappy Driver Installer.

                Fingers crossed everything works properly.

                EDIT: If you need the Intel GPU driver functioning, the last XPS 15 to do that will be the XPS 15 7590, which is still an upgrade over your 9560, but not nearly as exciting for sure.

                    degen The only thing that doesn't work is there is no compatible driver for the Intel GPU for the 10th gen

                    Ah that's a shame, and might be an issue for me since I will need the HDMI output from time to time and occasionally suffer through an hour of gaming on my laptop. I'm still living in the naïve state of mine that maybe this new set of hardware will work for me on 1909. 😉

                    Thanks for the info, I'll get stuck in and if I have no joy I'll return it. Without the 16:10 screen and current hardware I'd rather just stick with my 9560 I think, just always keen to future proof myself.

                        si_edgey What if you get the new XPS 15 with the Nvidia GPU? That will have a driver for sure. Then you can just disable it when not using. Not sure though if it will introduce additional dithering even with the adapter disabled, as some have reported with desktop Nvidia GPUs.

                            degen My current XPS 15 9560 has the Nvidia GPU but the HDMI port seems to be only be available when the Intel GPU is enabled. The new XPS 15 9500 is on its way to me (with Intel & Nvidia GPUs) - I don't know how video is delivered over USB-C but I'm guessing the Intel GPU will want to be involved. I shall report back in due course.. 😉

                              10 months later

                              I found an Intel UHD Comet Lake modded driver which works on 1507. Unfortunately the brightness control doesn’t work, but hardware acceleration is working.

                                2 years later

                                degen Hi. really appreciate it if you could share the modded driver. Thanks

                                  dev