Precision M6400 Owner's Lounge

I have a couple questions. Where can I find info to compare the different wireless cards I can choose from - and also the bluetooth cards. Whats the difference?

And the hard drive info seems to imply that if I get a 7200 drive, I get a protected drive (from drops) but not if I get a 5400 drive. Is this true? I wanted to put my own drive in for the 2nd drive but want the drop protection technology.

 

Hi all, new here, and I've been waiting for people to actually get these to decide between the m6400, W700 and 8730w. How's the RGBLED screen?

Interesting note: The Covet version for order still does not offer Blu-Ray, though someone posted earlier that they'd seen one with a Blu-Ray drive. Odd.

 

The Free Fall Sensor is built right into the hard disk itself.

If you want to put in 2 drives yourself, your best bet is to get 2 80gb 5400rpm drives and replace them. If you only get one drive, you will likely (I say likely because the 14.1 and 15.4 inch models do not use a caddy) not have the mount for the second hard disk.

For bluetooth get the 370 module, if you need/want bluetooth and wireless USB (connects wirelessly to a matching USB hub - bought separately) get the 410 module.

For Wifi, there isn't any offical word on how good each one is right now, but I have the Dell 1397 and it's great. I don't need N speeds, as I do very little network file transfers. Connects extremly quickly to my D-Link DIR-615, and has only dropped the connection once (all computers in the house went down, it appears a neighbour got a new cordless phone, so I changed the channel on the router). Other than that, I have never lost a connection. It is better than the Intel card in my father's Sony SZ4.

The SSD's that Dell uses are currently by Samsung. Both are great SSD's.

Greg

 

The mount for the second hard disk is included with 1 or 2 hd

 

hmm so who do I believe on this hard disk mount thing. I already asked Dell and they seemed confused by the question.

and the website config seems to say it wont come with the 5400 drives?!

 

I work at Dell and the second HDD mount comes with the system, 2nd HDD or not. The 5400RPM HDD's are not FFS.

 

So, I dont get it. if the mount is separate from the drive (and it comes with the system drive or no drive, then how is the 5400 drive not FFS. Meaning, if I get 1 drive, get both mounts, and then put in a 2nd 5400 drive, then I dont have FFS?

 

The FFS is only built into the 7200RPM drives not the 5400's. It has nothing to do with the system.

 

The service manual is online and it shows the carrier is in place even if a second HDD is not installed:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/wsm6400/en/sm/hdd.htm#wp1185951

Dragos

 

(ok, seriously, sorry for my confusion here)
But you said the FFS mount comes with the system even if theres no drive.
Or are you saying theres MOUNTS in both bays for any drive, but in order to get FFS, I HAVE to order 7200 drives from Dell.
In other words, Say I get one 7200 drive, and put in a 7200 drive of my own later, then only the preinstalled drive will have FFS. The one I put in on my own, be it 7200 or 5400, will NOT have FFS.

Is this what you mean?