M6600 - Add 512GB SSD or upgrade i7-2720QM to i7-2960XM?

I updated all applicable Dell drivers and apps from the driver site. When I tried to update the drivers, it said I had the best one already. I went to Advanced, and had it delete the driver. It would just find another one. Then I uninstalled and uninstalled until there were none left. Then I installed the R308326 driver, rescanned my finger prints, and it works TONS better.

It shows a firmware upgrade that wouldn't install. it errors out with 64 bit errors. I booted up with a command prompt, and that doesn't work either. It says USH, but it's a Broadcom according Device Manager. Perhaps the firmware upgrade is not for this reader. It does say for the DellControlVault. I give up.

Dell needs something like Microsoft for updates that scans your machine. They currently have a mess.

 

I've been using SSD and 750 Momentus back and forth by shutting off the controller in the BIOS. I've been prototyping installs on the Momentus, and doing them on the SSD when I'm ready. (I really wish Windows had snapshots like VMWare and every other OS.) My expectation of normal has been redefined. I find myself looking for something wrong when it takes the "normal" amount of time now. There is no noticeable difference between starting an app and restoring one from the task bar. The time difference between hibernation and cold boot is a toss up.

 

As I mentioned before, I've been studying RAM tradeoffs. I've been struggling between 16 GB of 1600 for $98, adding 8 GB 1333 to add to what I have for $34, or 32 GB of 1333 for $280. A prototype network of VMs made of two Windows servers, and a client, plus the host OS running VMWare workstation, with vSphere on top, and the RAM disappears pretty quickly, so getting by with 16GB is not a certainty.

What I learned:
1. Most people say that the faster, low latency RAM only makes a difference in benchmarks, and a little bit in video editing and 3D.
2. There is also consensus that Windows 7 64 needs 8 gigs to run at full speed, and the difference between 4 and 8 is always noticeable. It is most graphic with program load times, hibernate, and resume.
3. There is also consensus that having enough RAM is the most important, and that just because you have free memory and aren't' using swap, doesn't mean that Windows hasn't reduced buffer space, and unloaded frequently used modules to preserve free memory. Nor does it mean that Windows isn't making lots of tiny freezes to the system to frequently run processes that consolidate memory into usable blocks.

What I've done:
I currently have 2 x 4GB Samsung CL9s. I bought 8 more gigs of Crucial Vengeance memory rated at 1600, CAS=9, and XMP ready it says. It was $49 instead of $36 for the standard 1333, and it support profiles. It's a cheap way for me to determine if cutting CAS or 1600 makes any real-world difference, and afterwards allows me to run 16 gigs to see if it's enough or if I need 32 gigs. I'll will have learned how to invest if it makes sense to upgrade. If the benefit is not worth trying to live in 16 gigs, than I might as well to 32 and not have to think about it. From my study of other people's tests, it's only around 3% for a 20% increase in memory speed.

The Results:
The stock machine
M6600
i7-2720QM
M8900
8 GB 1333 RAM 9-9-9-24 RAM
Seagate 750GB hard drive
WEI:
7.3 Processor
7.6 Memory
7.6 Graphics
7.6 Gaming Graphics
5.9 Primary Hard Drive

Addition of Crucial 512 primary hard drive, and 750 in as secondary:
WEI:
7.3 Processor
7.6 Memory
7.6 Graphics
7.6 Gaming Graphics
7.9 Primary Hard Drive

Change 8GB RAM to 1600
WEI:
7.5 Processor
7.8 Memory
7.6 Graphics
7.6 Gaming Graphics
7.9 Primary Hard Drive
*My earlier estimates were correct. The extra 20% of memory bandwidth produced a 2.8% difference at the user end. That fits with what others were saying on this thread as well.

Other:
At this point I don't know how to work with AMT yet. What I would like to try is use AMT to set the RAM to CAS 7 and 1333 and compare that to the CAS 9 1600. Instead of a 20% increase in clock with the same latency, it would be keeping the same clock with 20% less latency. In theory they should be a wash. If they don't turn out to be, it would be interesting to learn why.

Thanks!

 

I want to note that with 32gb, I get 7.5 processor and 7.6 ram. It would be exciting if bios update can support 1600mhz 32gb. It should pull 7.9

 

I don't know if that is the answer. I've heard it is how the processor works with 32B vs 16GB, and that it's socket related. The Intel site simply says it will do DDR3-1066/1333/1600. The chip will even do Ivy Bridge memory speeds.

Dell specs for the past couple of years have been based on the author's latest fantasy. If you call Dell, you will get a different answer every time. The XPS 17 3D is a perfect example. The last tech support call I asked the tech how he arrived at his answer. He said, I checked the configuration page on the web site. Their site is loaded with errors. For all we know, the 1333 limitation may be based on the fact that 8GB 1600 sticks were not available at the time it was written.

While writing this I had flash of brilliance. Eureka! I tried the Crucial 512GB SSD. Now it's your turn to try 4 sticks of 8GB 1600! gr&d

 

I think ebay actually has the 8gb 1600. Though I probably wont end up getting them. I already spent 6k on these darn ram... per precision...

 

4 sticks of 8GB 1600 will drain your wallet of ~$800. If you bought your RAM from Dell, then you've paid all the dues necessary to cover you for this lifetime and the next, so I'll let you off the hook.