Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Clean install here is stable. I left off the DCP Connection and Security bits. Also left off the Intel Matrix Storage Manager app until I understand it and AHCI/IRRT/ATA BIOS options better.

Did update to today's Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver 12/4/08 8.7.0.1007. Now my drive activity light seems to be very quiet!

Tried to install today's Dell 370 BT Win package with embedded firmware updater, but it stopped, saying the latest package was installed. May be an installer glitch Dell must fix... my installed 370 driver is 1/31/08 6.1.0.4100 and the new package is listed as 12/23/08 6.1.0.4402. I'll check back later.

E6400 runs Dell DOS diags like a champ! I trust the hardware, I doubt Vista, and I pray for Windows 7. Although I'm a little concerned about nVidia's chip failure problem... I wonder if my nVidia bumps are high lead or high tin.

GK

 

How is the latency - I rolled back to the previous driver? See this thread.

John

 

I briefly read about your latency concern... you backed out quick. How would I determine latency here without loading any tool? I did burn a CD-R ok... new Matrix driver (or perhaps the Matrix app I did not install) was suppose to address random burn issues. This machine has Line6 AISO drivers and REAPER x64 installed for recording over USB from a POD X3 Live... worked ok before installing latest Matrix driver. Was going to have the guitarist test again now after installing the latest driver. My thinking... if REAPER recording over USB still works, how else does 'latency' concern me?

Unrelated note: Bumping from 2GB to 4GB took free RAM from 10MB to 2GB on a system running nothing... soooo, I would recommend a minimum of 2x2GB on the E6400 with Vista x64.

Update: Ok, I ran DPC and it does not like my latency. Now what? What would be a real-world concern? There is so much stuff running on these machines that I'm just happy when they don't crash and lockup. How does poor latency convince me to start uninstalling things I need otherwise? I'm just happy to see that the latest Matrix driver seems to have calmed my drive light. Maybe I have poor DPC latency results and can still stream data?

GK

 

DPC on W7 returns
"This machine should be able to handle real-time streaming of audio and/or video data without drop-outs."

Absolute maximum is 1732, there are 2 peak values (above 1000) but the rest are below 500.

Test was run using the High Performance Power plan.

Using Balanced Power Plan there were several red bars with peak values at ~5000, most values are below 500, though.

Tests perfromed while playing music using WMP.

 

@Anvil, wow, my machine I get 8 hours (ok 7hours and 50min), and can stretch it to 9 hours by disabling wireless, Aero, set the screen at 40Hz, disable optical drive. So with Windows 7, ohh I can't wait to try.

@GKDesigns faulty Nvidia GPU's doesn't affect the Quadro series. Especially that the NVS 160M is a custom chip for Dell laptops, I really doubt it. The affected chips with ACTUAL reports that I know of is the 8000 series for laptops. I mean you can see it, the Quadro doesn't super heat on you. If the issue existed, than your machine would like the XPS series where the new BIOS where it kick fan start way earlier and faster, making Dell change the battery life of the machine.

 

@GoodBytes

Remember that W7 is beta and things might change, for better or for worse.

I see no point in going back to Vista at this point. It is definately faster and for my use (VMWare Workstation) it is noticeable faster.

 

the latency is HORRID. what a trash driver. can't watch a youtube with it, or anything else. rolling back NOW.

 

Thanks for the offer!

I'm going to PM you the dump file: I don't really know what to do with it. I've downloaded Debug Diag 1.1 but it doesn't seem to find anything there. I presume it's because it doesn't see the 64-bit apps of which the driver is one.

 

I've just received my E6400 from the Dell outlet (with a pretty high spec but at half the price!!). I really like it - everything is crisp and clean, stylish but simple! (I've got a good feeling about this purchase)

Can someone point me towards some tests I can do on the machine to test it's speed? (benchmarking techniques?)

Also, because it has come from the outlet, what is the best thing to do in terms of sorting out the battery - eg. should I drain it then charge, or will this not matter?

 

Also, can I find out the make of hard drive without opening up the machine!?