Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Has anyone updated a Momentus 7.200.3 model ST9320421AS (without G = G-shock?) with the Dell Momentus ASG Firmware? Current version is SD13. According to Seagate, it's the latest update.

 

Two milestones today:

1. I've had my E6400 for 4 months

and

2. This thread has exceeded 100,000 views.

John

 

Since I haven't still placed my order (because of the holidays), can you tell us if you still recommend the laptop as a good business-class choice? Since you seem to be the only one around here who's had the laptop for a while now.

 

I ordered on the launch day so I have one of the first to be shipped.

Yes, I would still recommend the E6400 to be on the shortlist for business users. There are still some residual issues with Dell software and drivers which are causing a few people problems, but the underlying hardware is very solid. My E6400 has clocked up quite a few miles / km in different countries and has given me no cause for concern. It survived the high ambient temperature (35C) better than I did. One build weakness is insufficient rubber bumpers to stop the display and the chassis colliding during transport. There's more wobble in the hinges now than when new, but they are not loose.

The eSATA port, USB sleep 'n' charge and the backlit keyboard are all features which I find very useful and the alternative notebooks don't offer all of these. It is heavier than I would like but this is offset by the potential to get up to 6 hours from a 6 cell battery. The one notebook that I would like, if it had the aforementioned features, Intel graphics and the WXGA+ display, would be the Samsung X460, since it is around 0.4kg lighter than the E6400. However, I think I will need to continue dreaming for a while....

John

 

OK, thanks for reassuring me. It's a pity that a high-selling laptop will also get many complaints, it makes hard to really know if a laptop is faulty or not. I will stick with this one then. Two more questions (I don't promise they will be the last):

What are the advantages of a backlit keyboard? I never used one. Is it worth 45€? I don't use the computer in badly-lit places, so I suppose I won't get it (although I might just for the "cool" factor).

Is 1440x900 too small on a 14-inch screen? I don't wear glasses while on the computer (not at all, actually), but since I use it 8-10 hours a day I am a little scared it might have too small fonts. In relation, is Dell planning to sell this laptop with 1280x800 screen with LED backlight? If it did, I'd jump at it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

 

I would definitely recommend the 1440x900 LED. I think it is perfect for a 14 inch.

 

My Dell Latitude E6400 Vista Biz64 SP1,SP2 clean install notes 6/9/09:

References:
o Dell E6400 drivers and downloads. Select your OS before downloading latest Dell software. Software on Dell Resource CD may not be most recent. Dell downloads execute/extract to c:\Dell\Drivers\... and then auto install unless noted otherwise. Some downloads are offered both as 'application with driver' and as 'driver only', allowing you to skip the application (I skip applications unless they are required). Note that OEM drivers available elsewhere may be more current but not yet sanctioned/offered by Dell.
o Dell: How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order. My install order below is more or less the suggested order.
o Dell ControlPoint (DCP) spec sheet.
o Dell E6400 service manual.
o Intel Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset.
o Intel Matrix Storage Manager (IMSM) Technology.
o Intel WiFi Link 5300/5100 Products.
o nVidia driver download for Quadro NVS Series 160M (Notebooks).
o DPC Latency Checker freeware (no installation required).

Hot Keys:
o F2 boot to BIOS.
o F12 boot device menu.
0 Fn+F1 sleep/hibernate per power management setting.
o Fn+F2 battery charger ON/OFF.
o Fn+F3 DCP Power Manager Battery Status.
o Fn+F4 numlock ON/OFF for embedded Fn+numeric keypad.
o Fn_F5 scroll lock ON/OFF.
o Fn+F7 DCP.
o Fn+F8 display device.
o Fn+D screen blank.
o Fn+Z fan OFF.
o Fn+Right-Arrow keyboard illumination OFF/ON Auto ALS (lit upon input in dim lighting)/ON (lit upon input). Use DCP to set input device, brightness, and auto OFF delay.
o Fn+Left-Arrow display Ambient Light Sensor OFF/ON (brightness varies with ambient lighting).
o Fn+Up/Dn-Arrows override display brightness until boot to BIOS setting and/or power mananagement setting.
o Alt+Fn+F11 screen shot.

Preparation:
o Flash Dell BIOS to A14. Set SATA controller to AHCI (don't need/want IRRT/RAID controller activity).
o Flash Seagate HDD ST9160411ASG to DE17 (burn a boot CD or install drive in floppy system to flash).
o Flash TSST ODD TS-U633A to D300.
o Download latest Dell E6400 drivers and downloads to numbered/ordered folders on USB drive.
o To install Intel ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI or ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E SATA RAID controller driver during OS install, extract 'driver only' download to root of USB drive.

Install OS:
o Boot F12 to Dell DOS Diagnostics CD and run all tests to be sure the hardware is solid.
o Boot F12 to Dell OEM Vista Biz64 SP1 DVD. Select option to install Intel SATA controller driver during OS install.
o Delete partition(s) except small EISA partition (used by Dell Diagnostics?). Create and format system partition (100%).
o Install Vista (no key or activation is required with OEM DVD).

Install Devices (drivers and applications):

1. System Utilities (Notebook System Software)
o Dell_System-Software_A02_R214475.exe

2. Chipset
o Intel Mobile Chipset R182522.exe
o Intel Turbo Memory flash module driver, if available.

3. Security (PCMCIA/Smartcard controller)
o None.

4. SATA Drives
o Intel_Matrix-Storage-Manager_A04_R218080.exe (driver 8.8.0.1009 only was installed above with OS). Skipped application for monitoring drives and managing RAID/IRRT implementations. This version of IMSM improves latency issue.

Note: On some chipsets, Vista will not tolerate changing the BIOS SATA setting post installation when this setting affects the boot drive. For instance, if you installed with the BIOS set for IRRT(RAID), switching to AHCI will result in a BSOD on restart. Assuming you are not actually using RAID, this is a device/driver recognition glitch. MS KB922976 presents a simple fix for some systems, but the E6400/E6500 seem to require the extended fix presented here. Dell ships the BIOS set to IRRT presumably to allow an IRRT backup/recovery solution.

5. Audio
o IDT 92HDxxx HD Audio Driver A08 R217834.exe
o 7/09 IDT sound quality warbles. Uninstalled IDT driver via Control Panel/Programs, and rebooted to install default Vista audio driver.

6. Video
o nVidia Quadro NVS 160M Video Driver A06 R215954.exe Seemed ok but decided to not leave well enough alone...
o 186.03_notebook_winvista_64bit_international_whql.exe Download direct from nVidia. Manually uninstalled nVidia Desktop Manager afterward to remove version mismatch.

7. Chipset (Card Bus)
o Ricoh Card Bus R5C83x/84x Media Driver R188776.exe

8. Applications (Dell ControlPoint System Manager)
o Dell_ControlPoint-System-Man_A11_R218881.exe, Dell power and system device management. Modifies Windows Mobility Center.
o Dell_Ambient-Light-Sensor_A00_R191268.exe, ALS service.
o Dell ControlPoint xml file R191548.exe, all day battery life configuration file.

9. Applications (Dell ControlPoint Connection Manager)
o Skipped it. Wireless connection profile management. This module may include drivers for LAN, WLAN, MAN, and modem devices, making their subsequent driver installation redundant.

10. Applications (Dell ControlPoint Security Driver and Manager)
o Skipped it, no fingerprint reader on this system. Security features/trusted platform module and fingerprint reader management. Broadcom USH device remains banged in Device Manager.

11. Chipset (Intel vPro or Intel AMT)
o Intel_AMT-SOL--LMS_A00_R192787.exe (requires above DCP Security Driver). Skipped it, no vPro on this system and not using AMT.
o Intel_AMT-HECI_A00_R192786.exe (requires above DCP Security Driver). Skipped it, no vPro on this system and not using AMT.

12. Network (LAN, WLAN, MAN, WPAN BT)
o Intel 825xx Gigabit NIC Driver R211478.exe
o Intel WLAN 5300 R194578.exe
o No MAN/cellular broadband device on this system.
o MICROSOFT_WINDOWS-VISTA-SP1-_A01_R204794.exe (install before following BT driver)
o Dell BT 370 R216468.exe

13. Communication (modem)
o CONEXANT_D330-HDA-MDC-V-92-M_A02_R187785.exe

14. Input Devices
o CREATIVE-LABS_INTEGRATED-WEB_A06_R213648.exe
o Dell_Touchpad----Pointing-St_A09_R212017.exe

Update OS:
o Turn on games under CP/Programs and Features.
o Windows Update to SP2 (saved Search 4.0, IE8, and Windows Live Essentials until last).
o Defrag.
o Configure Windows.

Utility:
o Dell Webcam Central Application CD March 2008 v1.00.06 A00 (requires following patch).
o Dell Webcam Central Patch 11/26/08 v1.01.04 A01 (found on dell.com under 'all results' tab).
o Install/Update Cyberlink PowerDVD DX 8.1 Application CD for dvd codec, or install your own codec. Once installed, online update will download latest installation package (8.2.5202) for subsequent installs.
o Install/Update/Configure secuity. Vista64 is built to be more secure and includes a personal firewall (inbound only by default is sufficient, imo) and MS Defender anti-spyware. Install your own anti-virus (I use F-Prot AntiVirus for Windows x64).

Power and Latency Tweaks:
o Disable unused devices in BIOS to conserve power and improve latency: LAN/NIC, dock parallel and serial ports, modem, media card reader, PC/Express Card and Firewire 1394, and eSATA. Configure wireless switch to allow disabling all wireless devices.

Performance:
o WEI 3.4; CPU 5.4; RAM 5.9; GPU: 3.4 (4.6 gaming); HDD 5.8.
o DPC Latency Checker is green under 1000us but spikes higher on occasion.

GK

 

I have found the backlit keyboard very useful because I'm sometimes working where the power is not 100% reliable. It's nice to be able to carry on working without interruption when the lights go out. Otherwise it is a luxury.

I like the extra real estate of the 1440 x 900. I do wear glasses but I haven't had problems, partly because the display is bright. If I could make do with 1280 x 800 then I would get a smaller notebook. 1440 x 900 is slightly bigger than 1280 x 800 @ 12.1".

John

 

May I know what "USB sleep 'n' charge" is?

 

That also leads me to believe that it is a driver issue since you are using the Intel graphics and I have a the nVidia. The current Dell nVidia drivers are from 08-19-2008.

Anyone running using an external display above 1280x800 with the nVidia NVS 160M?