Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

Use one version older of the Intel Matrix drivers from Dell.

 

Well, how nasty are the spikes?

I have Windows 7 beta, so my results may not agree with yours. When I set Power Option to Dell recommended, I get yellow spikes (around 1000 us) every 10 seconds. Setting Power Option to High Performance removes those spikes. Upon further experimenting, I found that if I set the Min. Processor State at 35% or lower, I get those 0.1Hz spikes. Setting that at 36% or higher removes those spikes, and the latencies are all green. Obviously YMMV, and this is done with the laptop plugged in. I have the P8400, 4G RAM, Intel 5300 wifi card, Intel graphics, DVD/RW, FWIW.

Even when there are those latency spikes, I notice no stuttering or any issues with audio and video playback. 1080p material plays fine. So, I leave the min. processor state at 5% min.

 

--> Thanks, yes, I know, but the parameters are suboptimal and can not be changes without an other software.
My old Dell notebook also had a build in temperature control, but I found a better one (ik8fanGUI).

--> Thanks, I will keep on looking for a software to lower GPU voltage. I can overvolt with rivarunner? Why can't I undervolt with it?

--> According to my experience and measures the Dell thermal paste in the Latitude E notebooks is far from good. The temperature hysteresis from load to idle is more than 15 degrees but it should be between 2 and 4 degrees (independent of the length of the heat pipe). I will apply a better one next week and will then post my results later. The following image shows how bad the thermal paste is.

The temperatur should not jump so high as the thermal capacity of the copper should absorb in the first place. It should rise an fall only a few degrees. With a better thermal connection between the silicon and the copper, the fan will start later (a lot later, even without any changing of the thresholds for the temperature control)!

 

RE-INSTALLING WINDOWS and DRIVERS...

Hey guys, I was just curious, if I wanted to wipe out my system and do a re-install to factory settings, what is the best approach? I looked through the manuals i received from Dell and they recommend to try system restore in most cases but if you wan't to wipe it out clean to do a complete clean and re-install to factory settings... All my other laptops in the past have had restore cd's with the windows and drivers built onto 1... this is my first system with 2 different drivers discs and a seperate windows CD. I downloaded the instructions from Dell's support site indicating the best method/order to install drivers to prevent conflicts/issues, but what I don't understand is should i run the windows re-install first? then do drivers cd? then drivers updates on dell support? it seems like to wipe your system clean it takes a long time since there are so many seperate drivers to install?

I am running xp pro right now and wanted to install vista just to try it out and see what it's like even though every says it stinks. and if it doesn't work i want to go back to xp pro. also i want to get comfortable doing it as i like to wipe my system clean at least once a year to get a 'fresh start'. basically, im hoping someone can help me understand the best and most efficient process to make sure i do this properly and avoid headaches. thanks!

 

No one that used Vista will says it stinks. People that says Vista sucks is either Mac fanboys, or Linux fanboys. Or people, despite using Windows themselves sees Microsoft as an ultra evil corp, therefore everything they make sucks (these people takes ages to move to a newer Windows... they tend to still use Windows 2000 despite having almost any thing new not work under it), OR people that tries Vista on their 200$ laptop where it can't even run XP smoothly. And idiots that thinks Windows os bloated. "OMG Windows is soo bloated... it comes with.. with.. notepad.... and and calculator.... OMG my poor 9GB of RAM and my 5TB HDD!! I am using vlite to enjoy a broken Windows."

Vista/Win7 drop support of technologies for increase responsiveness, make the OS easier to test with the millions of possible configurations, and increase security at a hardware level. And uses the GPU rather then the CPU to draw it's interface.

Just some notes:
- Vista will be slow at the early stages as it indexes your HDD. In the Control panel you can adjust the folders you want Vista to index. Just leave your computer on over night and it will all be done (considering that you have a lot of files) when you wake up.
- You may feel lost for a few weeks on it, but if you use it seriously for a month or two you will see that it all makes sense, as everything was FINALLY organized, including the folder structure.
- No optimization needs to be, everything is automatic.
- Vista does not configure like XP... you will probably break Vista/Win7 if you do it the same way.
- There is no use in showing hiding files. Unlike XP, all the files are shows. The only hidden files are folder configuration .ini files and some folder like AppData (which contain all your programs configuration for YOUR account only).

The day you will do that, you will see all the XP problem emerge in front of you, and quickly return to Vista . I for one see them under Virtual PC (I have Windows XP there so that I can help people, and test my software)

 

nice observation and points taken, but can you answer my original questions as to how to effectively/efficiently do the re-install of either O/S back to factory settings and how to install the drivers properly to avoid issues?
Also you seem to be a phanatic of Vista... why do you use 64 bit? I hear a lot of reviews saying go with the 32 bit? What is your take on that? I have 4GB of ram in my unit, that would suffice right? it just seems like all the biz people i speak with continue to say xp pro is the way to go and all the consumer people are recommending vista, that scares me...Also the cd I have is for Vista Business 32 bit... is that any better or worse than premium or premium 64 bit?

 

Business people are always slow to adapt, and IT managers I'm sure aren't looking forward to supporting a new OS that will take them time to get used to.

Anyway, 64 bit is better than 32 bit sorta because it can fully use 4+ gigs of ram while 32 bit can only use up to 3.2ish gigs. In addition, even though its 64 bit, all of your 32 bit programs should still work as well. There should be no driver issues at all either. Essentially, 64 bit is a bit faster than 32 bit and its the future of OS.

Dell has a list of how to install the drivers in what order on their support site for this laptop, in addition it was linked to a couple of pages back. Check that out.

 

@dakicka, Theros123 said everything I wanted to say.
Also many businesses don't see the value in changing to Vista (meaning upgrading all the computers with 2GB of RAM and a better video card) for programs like Word, which is what the most employees uses. And then you have the fear factor that IT managers have: "Oh! that larger company is not adapting Vista.... maybe thy see something that we are not... therefore, we take no chance!".

To say the truth I would expect the same thing with Win7. I think at the end of life of Win7 companies will adapt it, as it should be time for them to upgrade their computers either way. I guess we have to see...

Don't see me as a Vista fanatic or Vista fanboy, I know I sound like that, but I just correct false fact. It just happen to be the hot topic at the moment.

So yea, if you don't have Vista 64-bit and have 4GB of RAM, I suggest to guve a call to Dell Customer Service and request Vista 64-bit as you need it to unlock all your memory, and unlock the full speed of your CPU (no, you won't see a drastically faster computer.. just a little bit faster) and be able to run 64-bit applications... they are few now, buy growing. Java 64-bit, IE 64-bit are out. Adobe is coming with Flash 64-bit, same for Firefox. Photoshop is already out if I am not mistaken, and so on...) Of course, programs like MSN in 64-bit has no advantage... but having a OS, which is heavy as 64-bit helps. Personally, I would just go with Vista 64-bit even thus I had 2GB of RAM. Vista, because it's the only (for now while Win7 officially comes out) OS that takes full advantage of your RAM and multiple core CPU. And 64-bit version... well to use your 64-bit CPU that you paid for. And it's free so no worries.

Vista (should be the same for Win7), take about 25min to install... maybe a few more minutes if you have a 5200RPM HDD, but not that much. Then follow Dell instruction on the order to install the drivers. The link is in the driver download section... just a note, it covers all machine from Dell, so their are something you don't need to install. For example: If you do not have blue-tooth... then don't install the drivers, which makes perfect sense.

I suggest to download the drivers First, and print the instruction of the driver order, and burn teh driver to disk before installing Vista.
I suggest to not do teh Vista upgrade. As much as I like the idea... I don't want you to have a bad experience because your registry of XP was damaged or corrupted in an area. Do a fresh install.

Remember that you can chat with Dell support if you need any help.

 

so do you guys think businesses will make win 7 the new standard?
also back to my original question/post... what is the best way to do the complete new install of windows? do i install the cd first, wipe everything out, load it up THEN do the drivers? or what? thanks! as i mentioned, my last 2 laptops had a restore cd w/ the OS and drivers all in one so it was seamless.

also you mention upgrading the better video card... is it good to have vista with the nvidia card or is the intel one sufficient?

 

Vista will be fine with the Intel card. FYI, the dell OEM CDs do not install any drivers for you...you have to do that yourself.

Anyway, just put in your CD and boot up the computer. Load into Windows using the CD, and just do a clean install destroying the old Windows install. Let it do it's thing, and finish the installation. Then, log in and start installing the drivers using the Drivers CD included with the computer.