Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

I could also be satisfied with my E6400. Everything is just about perfect, just have to try out how loud the aftermarket 7200rpm HD is I bought for it. DVD burner is the UJ862A (it does the job with some cheap DVD+R), the display is the LG WXGA+ one which looks fine even at absolute minimum brightness.

I didn't say that I actually am satisfied, because it has some really annoying whine. It is always there once Windows has finished booting, alternating with the access noise of the HD, often resembling some morse code and clearly audible to my young (20 years) and fine ears from an armlength away. It doesn't matter if the notebook is on battery or on AC, and it's even louder when I switch to High Performance mode where any power management I could find is disabled. Shouldn't be your average Core Duo whine, should it? And yes, I know how it sounds, just the same type of noise - my dad's notebook has it, but very faintly, at a level where I could easily tolerate it. The whine I'm talking about is surely loud enough to distract my neighbour in the lecture room if his hearing is as good as mine. My sister says she doesn't notice anything, but I doubt that she really can't hear it - it's somewhere around 1, maybe 2 kHz.

I'm assuming it's coming from the southbridge, the noise is the loudest just left to the trackpoint (is that the southbridge's location?). It's inaudible during data transfer to an external USB HD, during SATA access (well, still morse code style) - and when I enable Bluetooth, it goes away at the expense of lots of battery life. No, that can't be the ultimate solution.

Now I'm thinking about what I should do. Using the return policy and ordering a new one is no option, period. Besides the 3 weeks of waiting for a new one that could be a worse draw considering the random parts, the prices also went up more than 100 euros since back then. So this means I'll have to talk to the Dell service next week. I don't want them to completely replace it which might be easier to handle for them internally - I just want to have the system board changed and everything else should remain the same.

Does anyone know if I have something like a right for exactly this method, as someone who paid for the 3-years on-site service? I'm even expecting them to rather pick it up than repairing it on-site because they have to rip really everything apart, but I don't hope this means my precious notebook stays a full month somewhere around Europe...

 

What does the CPU utilisation show in Task Manager? Also try RMclock in monitoring mode to see the CPU speed and voltage. I wonder if the CPU is continuously running at full speed (which power profile are you using?).

I would use the on-site service. The E6400 is designed for ease of maintenance and, because you can watch the person do the work then you can also make sure the problem is fixed.

John

 

Is it possible to upgrade the graphics card from Intel to NVS Quadro discrete card? Same question for wireless card. How hard is it to replace the wireless G with a wireless N?

I've been looking at pre-configured Dell outlet systems lately. Alas, they don't have the exact options I want.

 

From what I know the video card is attached to the motherboard. You can't change that. However the wireless card you can, and it's generally easy to do it.

 

When you order an E6400, under wireless options it notes that you don't have to subscribe to AT&T service in order to use the GPS function of the AT&T card. Anyone know how you might use GPS to display real time mapping? I don't really know how I'd use it as I have a couple GPS devices we use in the car and on the bike, but if it's doable it'd be good to know how.

 

No GPU upgrades, but the WiFi card isn't difficult should you be able to find the card.

 

Does the e6400 comes with wireless G only? I'm under the impression that it comes with either Intel 5100 or 5300 wireless cards, both are wireless N capable.

 

Visit Dell website of your region to know what is offered.
At Dell Canada you have:
- Dell Wireless™ 1397 802.11b/g Mini Card
- Dell Wireless™ 1510 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card
- Intel® WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card for VPRO
- Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card for VPRO

 

I see, I only have options for 5100 and 5300 here in Singapore.

 

Wireless N is backward compatible.
it's b/g/n in reality. So you have nothing to worry about. On the plus side when wireless N gets more generally adopted your laptop will be ready. Think that the life span of a laptop is about 3 or 4 years after everyday usage and careful maintenance. So think about long term and what you will do with your laptop.