Precision M6400 Owner's Lounge

Here is my config, ordered 11/4, est. ship 11/26 and sitting in the "build stage" for since last week. Hope is comes before Thanksgiving.

Precision M6400, Intel Core 2 Dual Extreme Edition QX9300 2.53GHz, 1067MHZ, 12M L2 CacheDual Core
4.0GB, DDR3-1066 SDRAM, 2 DIMMfor Dell Mobile Precision
Internal Backlit English Keyboard for Mobile Precision
1GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M Mobile Precision M6400 Covet
64GB Solid State High Performance Hard Drive, 2.5MM Mobile Precision MX400
FIPS Certified Fingerprint for Mobile Precision M6400
17 inch Wide Screen Edge 2 Edge WUXGA RGBLED LCD, Blood Orange, for Mobile Precision M6400
Dell Webcam Central Software for Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision
Vista Business Service Pack 1 with media, English Mobile Precision
Dell Wireless 410 Bluetooth 2.1 + UWB Minicard for Latitude E/Mobile Precision
No Modem for Mobile PrecisionMX400
210W 3-Pin, AC Adapter for Mobile Precision
US - 6-FT, 3-Pin Flat Power Cord for Mobile Precision
8X DVD+/-RW slot load for Mobile Precision
Cyberlink Power DVD 8.0 Playback Software WITH Media Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision
Roxio Creator Dell Edition,9.0Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision
Integrated megapixel VGA webcam with single digital microphone, Mobile Precision M6400
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (802.11 a/g/n 3X3) 1/2 MiniCard for Latitude E/Mobile Precision
64GB Additional Solid State High Performance Hard Drive 2.5MM, Mobile Precision MX400
Resource DVD with Diagnostics and Drivers for Mobile Precision M6400
All Hard Drives RAID 0 for 2 Hard Drives, Dell Mobile Precision M6400
9-Cell/85-WHr Covet Battery for Mobile Precision M6400
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s)
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year
Standard On-Site Installation Declined
Dell Wireless 5530 (Tri-band HSDPA 7.2/HSUPA 2.0 and GPS) Mini-Card for AT and T Mobile Precision
Intel Centrino 2 Core Duo Processor
You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System
Info SKU-Software and Peripherals products and solutions catalog included in system boxes

 

See post from last night, it has all config details (long list).
But not a Covet.

 

Of course that begs the question as to why DELL would make a high end system for engineers, scientists, graphic artists, etc., that has RAID 0. These usres need stable systems.

 

Looks like you're comfortable with your OS on RAID 0 drive.

 

Yes, I am with dual SLC SSD's. I would not be so inclined with mechanical hard drives. If I were to go with mechanical drives I would order RAID 1 as I've had machanical laptop drives fail quite frequently. I may not be so inclined with MLC based SSD drives but even with MLC drives realibility isn't really the issue just longivety and write performance.

 

This whole Raid thing just sounds like another standard Risk vs. Reward scenario, where there is not a right answer. Those who are risk averse, will probably be happier in RAID 1 or with no RAID. Those who think the rewards of storage and speed are worth the risk will go with RAID 0.

Personally, I went with RAID 0, and will just continue backing up my stuff to an external drive on my network (it's automatic). Worst case, I have a day of reinstalling apps and copying files over.

 

I selected No Raid with HD1 (64GB) and HD2 (250GB) and it says,
"Your Hard Drive Configuration selection with the Operating System of Vista Ultimate is not compatible with 2 Hard Drives."

??

Got to give my 3rd lecture of the day. Will be back ...

 

Just when I was about to order my 2nd 7200 HD and run raid 0. ;P So what kinda SSD is preferable to run OS and applications? I originally planned on one of the cheaper MLC drives but seems like thats a big no no as well. Any suggestions on specific SLC drives? Or will Intels X-25M do well as OS drive?

 

I'd guess that Intel drive is as cheap as you'd want to go-only multi level cell drive I'd use, going by the horrible comments on Newegg for other MLC drives.

 

Well, what the hell. I order 10/27 & my date is 12/8? Give me a break. The only thing different from yours is I went for Vista Ultimate & the 160GB 7200RPM HD.

All I can think of is I added DisplayPort cords to the order. Would they really have a machine sit on a shelf waiting for connection cables on backorder? Or the 19in "free" monitor they make you take? This is BS