Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge

Thank you for the info! I'm downloading the FX770 driver now.
Whine level decreasing...
Update: The FX770M driver for Vista 64 worked like a champ for the FX1700M.
WHEW ! Thank you so much!
I spent $300 extra bucks to get this FX1700M instead of the FX770M. It's a shame if it is really only 2 - 3% better! I figured since I'm doing some video production using Adobe Premere Pro 2.0, I would need all the juice I could get to drive my 1920x1200 @ 32-bit color at 30FPS.

 

No, I didn't call tech support, I don't like tech supports.
Do you mean some M4400s did not overheat? Does your GPU not get over 78C with cooler or without cooler? I want to buy Zalman NC1000, but it is a bit small for this laptop(Zalman Width=330mm,Laptop W=358 mm), will it be a problem, may I prefer NC2000(W=400mm)?
What is your cooler choice? Do you recommend Zalman?

 

They use the same core (NB9P). The only difference is, that the FX 1700M core runs with a slightly faster clock (therefore consumes more power), so probably they use the better NB9P cores and declare/use them as FX 1700.

 

I just ordered my bluetooth minicard from dell. I tried to find the same model that comes with the unit however, the closet I found is this one >2.4 GHz Wireless 370 Bluetooth (2.1 + EDR) Mini-Card for Dell Studio 15 Laptop>.

I ordered it anyway.... I hope it fits in my M4400.

I ordered it off the Dell Canada website. I emailed customer service asking them if they were the same cards as those in the M4400 and I never got a reply so I just bit the bullet. It was only 30 bucks so I figured I would take a chance.

 

i just got my new M4400...hope its problem free....im in the process of installing vista 64 and all the drivers. will report back with pictures and details

because they use different components samsung vs seagate hdd, flextronics vs delta ac adaptor, uk vs us keyboard etc
it seems that the seagate drive is a bit noisier...

will report back after i finish getting to use it properly

EDIT: ok im getting really annoyed with the hard drive, the seagate is much louder than my samsung

i hope the DVD drive will be better...this one came with a panasonic (matsusihita) drive. the PLDS one in my original m4400 was horrible

 

EDIT: ok im getting really annoyed with the hard drive, the seagate is much louder than my samsung


I have a seagate 320 gb drive with freefall sensor that I bought online cause it was cheaper than what Dell was charging for it. The model number is ST9320421ASG. I don't know if it's the same thing you have but I have to tell you it is very quiet. I have to put my ear down on the palmrest to hear it.

Dell does have a firmware update for it's seagate drives. I don't know if you noticed it among all of the other drivers for the M4400 on the website. It says that this update addresses clicking that may be heard. I never really heard any weird clicking but I flashed the firmware anyway.

So far there haven't been any issues here with noise. Then again, I have a kid running around the house so maybe I would hear it if it were really quiet.

 

yea hopefully that fixes it, im only halfway thru the list of drivers


does anyone know what to do with the second intel matrix storage manager file?

there are two on the dell website,

A01 R190230
and
A02 R190227

the second one executes and installs fine, the first one just extracts to a folder and does nothing. there dont seem to be anything executable in that folder. any help much appreciated

 

the second update contains the driver needed for running XP in AHCI mode.
Mine came with Vista installed and i had to manually load those drivers in XP to get bot the OS's to run.
And the firmware update for the HDD definetly helps!!
When you download that, burn it to cd, restart, set SATA operation to ATA, boot to cd, it can take up to 20min for the update to complete, you'll see when it finishes and it doesn't automatically restart ( you can go do something else while waiting) After update is finished resart, set SATA to AHCI again and your done.

Hope you're problem free this time bud!

 

i dont have any blank cd's available, can i use a USB key instead?

also, my vista sounds are skipping, i've already installed the storage manager and the audio drivers....

i havent finished installing the rest of the stuff yet, but this dosent sound normal....any ideas?

also my old m4400 is on IRRT, not ACHI.....which should i pick in bios?

+rep

 

You can leave it IRRT if you like, though you maybe won't have a need for it.
Look for Intel Rapid Restore Technology on the Intel site for an explanation.

For the sound issue...uninstall the IDT drivers and let Vista install automatically when you get the "new hardware found" message. Finish the install cycle you're doing now first though so the order of installing doesn't get messed up. This is the easiest possible fix...if the skipping still occurs we'll look at the next

Are you using the CD or did you download the latest drivers?