Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

@halflifedivided, you get the best deals when the laptop is NOT on special. Yes you read correctly, let me explain:

When you call Dell over the phone, they will ask you to build the system on their website so that nothing is miss understood. Build it with a little less... like 80GB HDD instead of the 160GB, Wireless G instead of the intel wireless N, DVD reader instead of the burner, etc...
Then you present the computer at your sales rep, you can talk about information on warranty and how it all works (in case he is on commission, it makes negotiation easier, even thus you already know all that info.)
And start negociating a price and free upgrades (free shipping is already a given, so don't worry about that. Before you open your mouth it's there. (just makes sure you have it, of course))

If the laptop is on special, then the sales rep can say "Well it's already on special, I can't do anything", and it would be much harder to get a good price.

Now I did not try this... I mean I negotiated the price and free upgrades when the laptop was not on special. But it's just a logic guess.

[PS: I recommend Next Business OnSite service, as no mater what happens (even a replacement machine), you get to keep your machine while Dell send you a new machine or get the professional tech guy that comes (next day, or any other day/time you wish), and fix the problem. All parts and machine is paid both ways.]

 

There is a 20% off coupon for the dell outlet store on this model, for US customers.

 

it seems that when there is a coupon available prices are inflated a bit. not positive though. but you still end up saving.

 

Question about the minimum clock speed. In the BIOS, it shows that the P8600 has a minimum clock speed of 1.6 GHz. When I use the Dell Power Plan, during idle Everest and RMClock both report 800 MHz core clock frequency. Is that real?

The issue I have is that when I try RMClock to undervolt, I am able to get the core voltage down (from 1.1375 to 1.025). But the idle core clock is at 1.6GHz when I select PST and Performance on Demand. That seems like it may be using more power. If I clear the PST in Power On Demand, then the idle speed drops back to 800 MHz, but the core voltage reverts to default. Anybody else sees this?

 

ok, so i have three problems with this laptop, otherwise things are great (and one likely isnt dells fault):

1)The keyboard backlighting is uneven.

2)My webcam flickers under certain lighting (not just a very specific one, but many, it seems) conditions; i have not been able to figure out which

3)i sometimes get a problem with my audio. it seems to coincide with random services stopping. i assume this is a windows vista issue and something just isnt right. it certainly doesnt have to do with my codecs, because i uninstalled and reinstalled and everything in between. and its random.

4)there are some scratches on the lid and near the keyboard, but i guess this is normal for a refurb, and they offered to replace it but i dont think i want to (gotta send it in).

5)um, this has never happened before but as i am typing this, the touchpad and buttons dont work. odd

6)there is some cpu whine but i guess its not a huge deal

7)Also, im not sure since ive never used a touchpoint before, but when i tap it to double click, it seems like it is only responsive towards the top. that is, it takes a light tap to double click if i touch the top, but if i touch anywhere else, even hard, it doesnt respond. is this normal?

you guys think it is worth contacting dell about these?

 

In Power Saver mode, your CPU will vary from ~800Mhz to ~50% speed (that is the magic that makes you save battery life). See Windows power options on other things that gets slower, or under power.

In High Performance mode, your CPU will go from max speed.

In High Performance mode (and plugged in), your CPU will go from max speed to 6% OC.

 

The curious thing to me is the inconsistency. The latest version of CPU-Z reports that the idling core clock freq. is 1.6GHz, while Everest and RMClock both say 800 MHz, when I disable the P-State transitions in RMClock (so that there is no more undervolting) or if I choose the Dell power plan. When I enable the P-State transitions and undervolt, all three say that the frequency is 1.6GHz.

The same type of behavior is observed with the P8400.

I see a similar thing in John's review of the E6400: different versions of CPU-Z report different core clock speed.

 

Normal... The idea of the backlit keyboard is not to act like a LCD monitor where it consume as much power. Less LED's are used to save power. It has enough to do the job, thus.

I don't know, i don't have the webcam. But i know it's Creative. Creative = abysmal drivers. That is why I refused to take when teh sale rep wanted to give it to me for free.

I had this issue, it think it's driver bug, because I can't even remove "Power saving" mode on the sound card. (setting not save).
What I did to fix the problem permanently, is either use older drivers, or go to the settings, and set the ST Filter and Windows Audio and Windows Audio Experience properties panel, and set them to restart when they fail (it's in one of the tabs)

[/quote]
4)there are some scratches on the lid and near the keyboard, but i guess this is normal for a refurb, and they offered to replace it but i dont think i want to (gotta send it in).
[/quote]
What kind of scratch... if it's a straight line, look if the plastic frame is perfectly flat around the screen.. it might do contact when you close the lid on the palm rest.

Does it work again when you restart your computer? If not, contact Dell support, to help you out. I think I know what is the problem... there is a cable that is miss connected (under the keyboard).

High Pitch noise? This noise occurs when the system is idle. It's the power system for Intel Core 2 Duo. It's a design error from Intel. It was far worse with early generation of the Intel Core 2 Duo chip. In tel has a hard time hearing it, because they are old and they hearing can't hear that frequency. Don't expect to have it fixed.

Not normal.. contact Dell to replace it.

Yes... it's fast too. My experience with Dell Canada is awesome. I did not wait more than 5 min on the phone. And everyone is form Canada, so you get clear English or French.

 

Before undervolting you must know your CPU well before.
I can't give support to this. Same if you overclock.

The speed of the CPU varies on what you do with the system.
For example: If you browse folder your CPU will be at 800Mhz, if you run a program it will go faster... it will change the speed of your system as much as you need it. So you don't waist power for nothing. That is one of the things that separate this system again the 300$ systems.

 

Actually, i just checked again, and the trackpoint is responsive everywhere. Except the center is the least responsive unless i tap it really hard.

I'll ask them about the issues, but i think im just being overly sensitive. im sure theyre pretty normal. the scratches are on the lid.

i think the webcam flicker occurs almost always at 60hz, but on 50hz it does not occur unless the brightness gets past a certain level. it has something to do with fluorescence i guess, but it seems like it does it even when its over moderately bright. i dunno, ill check it out.

in the meantime, can anyone else try turning up the brightness on their lights and see if there are any horizontal flickers on their webcam image? thanks!