Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

But don't forget that the previous generation of nVidia GPUs die from thermal cycling (repeated hot > cold > hot ... ) and it is too early to be sure that the chips currently used are free of this problem. In fact, I would consider that the fact that the E6400 has very conservative fan rules (fast fan speed comes on at 50C chipset / GPU temperature) means that Dell thinks it is vulnerable. Very annoying for we with the Intel GPU but the same fan rules).

John

 

Yup

Another thing is cost optimization that is not the Quadro PCB (the board). If you look let's a Geforce GTX 200 series, you will notice that the fan kicks in at full speed for about a second and hear 1 or 2 "Bzzzuuurrt" noise, not loud, but hearable if your computer case is open, before the system kicks in. Wonder why? That is because the board was optimized to cut costs, and to make it function, the fan needs to kick in at full speed for about a half a second. As for the noise, lower-end components are used. A Quadro will NEVER have such 'defect'. As the board is better made in all aspects, and better quality components used, with better quality soldering mix metal, which can sustain more heat.

 

1- It's better that the GPU is hotter all the time then cold. Well either case is no problem, but it's easier to have it hot all the time. So Dell is not helping by having the fan kick-in easily.

2- Nvidia is not stupid. If it happens again, then no OEM's will ever use Nvidia GPU ever again.. or at least for some time. So they should be taking more care of the mobile GPU's. You can see that Dell now uses ATI GPU's on some laptop, probably to even the odds, and reduce the impact of made GPU design/build. Which also explains why Nvidia hid the fact that the GPU where faulty... as they knew it would kill their reputation on the notebook level, and look it did... look at you, now.

3- If you wonder about architecture design, every ATI/Nvidia GPU new architecture is always a heavy heater and has bugs. The second generation has these solved. The Quadro is NOT a first gen (not a G80).

4- Laptop has a 3 year warranty, and for those who has the 8000 series buisness or not, out of warranty or not, Dell covers you.. meaning free heatsink and/or free motherboard.

In the years Nvidia is in the market they got one failure. Every company has their failures. Microsoft has it's WinME, Nintendo has it's VirtualBoy, Atari the 5200 console, Apple MacBook Air screen hinge. I prefer to see a company that had a failure than one that doesn't..as it awaits to have one as they have no lesson learned when they are not careful and cut costs.

Knowing that the PS3 is using Nvidia GPU, that the coming Zune HD is powered by Nvidia Tegra, when such decision of selecting partners was during or soon after this problem, probably indicate that Nvidia showed and proved to other businesses that Nvidia is making sure that it doesn't happen again. Also, knowing that Dell choose to use the Nvidia Quadro, where no other Nvidia chipset was used on different laptop models since the last Nvidia problem, makes me wonder that probably Dell knows that the Quadro are better build.. I mean they could have easily put in an ATI Fire series GPU, or an ATI GPU in for cheaper with the same performance. As on desktop level, more and more Nvidia desktop video card manufactures offer lifetime warranty or some ridiculous amount of years.

Anyway, that are my thoughts.

 

I want to buy a E6400 from Dell Outlet. Is there anything I should be aware about, such as problems? Hows the contrast (136:1??!! notebookcheck.net) and is there any crackling audio?

 

There is 1 issue with the laptop. It's aesthetic so, won't be a functional or system (hardware) related issues.
The screen frame gets scratch by the labels and by the laptop speaker grid over time. It's not real deep scratch, just .... make having a small thin line on the frame left and right corner that appear smoother than the rest. The trick to reduce the problem is to put something under the 2 pads to keep the screen lifted and prevent contact when pressure is apply on the screen. I put a peace of plastic from a tie wrap.. the ones that comes with my mouse to hold the wires together in the package, as it's black and hard to see.
I also put really thin pad in the screen lock hole to make sure, and keep the screen straight when close no mater what.
You can't remove the OS and Intel Centrino2 labels as they use some sort of acid based glue. so if you remove it, you see the plastic deformed. Lame... bu that is not Dell fault... they don't make the labels and obligated to put them else they must pay a much higher price. Also the 2 pads makes over time permanent marks on the screen frame (same affect as the scratches). The palm rest has nothing, it's really the screen frame... for some reason a bad plastic mix has been used and keep being used for that part.

Anyway, for me this is not a problem, it's minor and aesthetic, the rest of the laptop features, quality, performance and battery life, makes up for it.

 

No, of course the chip does not outright fail at 105C. My point is that the chip is much less reliable, i.e., it has a shorter mean-time-to-failure, when it operates at that temperature compared to lower temperatures.

 

Right, if you plan to keep your system for 7-8 years.

Usually, after 4 years the system is really slow... not that it slows down, but that application and OS gets more and more fancy and less optimized (as it's less needed) to a point where you need a faster system. So you'll change it by then. And, again the GPU is not at 105 contently. Sure, reliability reduces but processors in general (and other components in the system) reduces reliability if you normally use the system in a cooler environment (i.e: keeping the system idle and have all low temps). So, what it comes down to is to not use the system at all.

 

Microsoft is doubling its score: There's ME II (aka Vista). There comes a time in corporate history when those who learnt from the mistakes have moved on and a new bunch have to go through the learning process.

John

 

I used to be one of those people who think that the higher the resolution the better, but there is a limit after all.

I just cannot get used to the WUXGA+ on my E6500 and may have to sell it. My eyes are bleeding.

 

Why not just drop the resolution down to something you like more? You don't have to run the screen at it maximum resolution.