New D630 with SSD... weigh in here

Hello all. Hoping to get a few tips for this excellent forum. And contribute some info for the Dell crowd regarding the new D630 with SSD.

I have been using my brand new D630 for two weeks solid. Practically 24/7.

I am coming from a 3yr old D400 which I enjoyed but it was time for a bigger screen and more performance.

First off, the D630 is heavy. Not too heavy but feels a lot more than the 400 series without the bang.

The 14.1" WXGA+ is not really bigger as far as the font size in the native 1440x900 resolution. In fact it seems smaller and harder to read. But the larger amount of visual real estate is a welcome addition. It is crisp and bright though.

I actually get intermittent screen issues. The brightness seems to flicker down really low and back to bright. This has happened from day one and even though it doesn't happen every day, it is annoying when it does happen.

With 2GB DDR2-667 SDRAM, Intel Core 2 Duo processors 800 MHz FSB &4MB L2 Cache on the T7300 (2.0GHz) model and the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 135M running Windows XP Pro, I am not impressed at all with the speed of this machine. Sometimes when I'm opening a small PDF file or even sending a small email using Outlook 2007, the app freezes for about 4 seconds. Like the PDF will open but you can't scroll or after clicking the email 'send' button the emails is still just sitting on the screen. I can move the mouse around and even go to another open program but this is annoying too.

The best part I think is the new SSD which is silent. Kinda spooky. In fact the fan hardly ever comes on unless I have the machine on my lap and it gets warm in the center. But I'm not sure if the SSD is all that fast. I did some testing using HD Tune and it looks a lot faster but since it's silent it doesn't really seem faster.

HD TUNE TESTING

Samsung 40GB USB
HD Tune: SAMSUNG MP0402H Benchmark
Transfer Rate Minimum : 15.7 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 24.7 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 22.6 MB/sec
Access Time : 17.8 ms
Burst Rate : 25.0 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 13.2%

HD Tune: SanDisk SSD SATA 500 Benchmark
DELL D630
Transfer Rate Minimum : 18.7 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 53.7 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 52.0 MB/sec
Access Time : 0.2 ms
Burst Rate : 54.2 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 6.6%

HD Tune: IC25N040ATCS05‐0 Benchmark
DELL D400
Transfer Rate Minimum : 0.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 24.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 19.0 MB/sec
Access Time : 16.6 ms
Burst Rate : 70.0 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 4.5%

HD Tune: FUJITSU MHT2040AH Benchmark
IBM T40
Transfer Rate Minimum : 14.4 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 27.7 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 21.8 MB/sec
Access Time : 17.9 ms
Burst Rate : 59.1 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 9.1%

So to summarize, I think I wanted a faster, more powerful laptop with a larger screen that is easier to read and the enhancements of the new SSD but it looks like I got a heavy machine with a tiny font screen and some stuttering and flickering issues.

Does anyone have any tips on how to improve the performance of this unit? As I said earlier, I use it all day and into the night sometimes and I could be happier if I could tweak some of these above mentioned issues.

Thanks for reading

 

I don't know, but... Adobe reader is horribly bloated, for one thing. You could try downloading FoxIt Reader and use that for PDFs instead.

You could also try reinstalling the OS... I'm not sure if that would help. But you really should have great performance with your configuration.

You can adjust the DPI to make the text bigger, if you like. You can do this in the Display settings control panel. If you don't like that, then you could ask if you could exchange it for the WXGA screen. Tell them about the brightness issue too. This isn't just changing when you're on battery, right? Oh yeah, be sure to try adjusting brightness by pressing Fn-Uparrow and Fn-Downarrow keys.

 

Thank you for the many good ideas swarmer!

I just loaded Acrobat 8.0 two days ago but all of these issues have been going on before loading Acrobat.

I'm ok to re-install the OS but need more feedback on that one.

Adjusting DPI/resolution typically slows down the machine since it's not in the native resolution OSIH but it's also very poor quality on this setup. kinda blurry even. But yes I have thought of the WXGA exchange. just might need to look into that. BRB... OK I just did as you suggested and yes the screen is blurry at the moment. I'll stay with this for a while and see if I like the size.

BTW I need to mention that I have been using the NVIDIA preset "High Performance" for the image setting and not the better quality in hopes to have faster performance.

And yes the 'flickering' brightness issue is rare and it happens when plugged in or on battery. I have been using the Fn arrows to adjust the levels as well but this 'flickering' as I call it is weird.

Thanks again for the comments.

 

Adjusting resolution to non-native shouldn't make it slower, but it will definitely make it blurry! But trying WXGA resolution this way may still give you an idea of whether getting a WXGA panel might be better for you.

Does adjusting DPI make it slower? I don't know... probably slightly, but I wouldn't expect it to have a huge effect. Keeping native resolution and just adjusting the DPI should avoid the blurriness though, at least for the text anyway.

Reinstalling -- the "information booth" sticky thread links to an XP reinstall guide. I still don't know if it will help here or not.

Flickering -- I would have to guess then that there's probably a loose connection to your display.

NVidia settings -- I know nothing about this, but if you aren't playing games then I would think it really shouldn't affect performance.

 

Here's a good example of what super problematic. I just rebooted and pretty much all of the few startup items I have were already loaded when I clicked the Firefox icon on my quick start menu. Then I click on the start button to check another program that I wanted to open but nothing happened and as I moved around I could tell that the stalling was the slowness on the Firefox opening up and then all of a sudden the start menu flash open and shut because I had left that area of the screen. I mean this thing is performing too slow. There must be something I'm doing wrong. There's no way a machine with these specs should behave like that. My D400 didn't even do that after 3+ Years.

But I do like the DPI changes I've made. Thanks a lot for that tip SWARMER. The font sizes are much more appealing now. I'm liking 120% to 125% increase which is 96dpi IIRC

 

Here's another example that just happened...

I clicked on four icons on my desktop to move them to a folder on the desktop and as I was doing it they froze! I tried to toggle over to another app like Outlook or Firefox and they had a hard time coming up even though they were loaded. After about 15 seconds the files released and were back on the desktop where I original was dragging them from. Holy crap!

I tried to duplicate this on my overwhelmed D400 with very liitle drive space left and I grabbed 12 files on the desk top and threw them around like throwing tacks. Super smooth and easy.

Something must be wrong.

 

ctrl-alt-delete, processes tab, see what's eating your cpu and/or memory.

My alternate suggestion is to reinstall Windows.

 

Try to remove the CD drive. Dell call it the Travelite Module. It will get it down to 4.6 lbs, I heard.

The other thing is reinstall the OS and install the drivers dl from Dell website using the USB flash drive. Avoid the manuf. CD.

2gb of memory w XP helps.

See how it goes.

I am looking at the D630 also, but I am very very worried about the very very limited viewing angle! Is this true?

 

I have the WXGA screen, and I am really thinking of calling Dell and asking them why such a crappy screen? The angle is very very small. I just get it right, settle back an inch in my chair, and have to re-adjust. Damn.

I wonder if I got the WXGA+ would it be better? Thanks, Dave

 

Hi guys.

As for the screen angle... yes it is crappy and yes I do have to adjust it just like Cape Consultant says. I doesn't really bother me because in the sweet spot you do get an very good view.

I use this for work all day and typically multitask with Outlook 2007, Firefox with 5-10 tabs, MS Word, MS Excel, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, Notepad, Google Talk and sometimes can have FireWorks, Dreamweaver and Act! open as well. My D400 handled all pretty well. Although Upgrading to Office 2007 did slow things down a lot.

I have been checking the the processes tab and it seems ok. The biggest user of memory is Outlook at around 85,000k

 

whats your battery life like with the SSD?
and also your boot times?

thanks in advance.

btw your screen flickter/brightness issue might be due to the autoadjust brightness is on. try turning it off.
for your icons that are too small:
right click on the desktop > properties > appearance > advanced > item dropdown, choose icon > set the font size to whichever you like.
as for font size within applications, u can change that to whatever you like within it.

 

I just fired my beast up and again, I am completely in love with it. Yes, screen issue, but it IS a nice screen in all other ways. An Vista is running just fine, no issues.

And you know what, Dell's web site is by far the best out there as far as tracking what is in compuyter and instant BIOS upgrades, etc. And THAT, can be a godsend when fixing client's machines. Dell, you are all right in my book, thanks. Dave

 

Whew!!!! I finally found another SSD user.

I read your review and am a bit miffed about your dissappointment; I dont seem to be experiencing the same.

Here is a link to my review of the same SSD on my M1330...

Feel free to comment on the post if you like.

Oh, I forgot....Did you strip your system down and build it again yourself; the software that is. I deleted everything and reinstalled MD3/Ultimate/Word/all my personal file etc...

Im wondering if this accounts for the difference.

Heres my link:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157999

 

Like has been said, DPI for the text/font "issue", (maybe) autobrightness disable for the flicker, and definitely an OS reinstall. Don't worry, gone are the days of sitting behind you computer for HOURS - mine probably took less than an hour to get Vista breathing again.

As has been suggested, only reinstall the OS - get the rest from Microsoft via the update utlity. From the Dell site I just downloaded the Quickset application, and that's just personal preference. You don't realize how much bloat is actually installed until you finally see your computer funtioning without it.

I recently upgraded my drive so I had to go through this just recently. Quick and painless. Thank goodness for fast computers.

Good luck.

Regards,
Paolo

 

oh lucky you if your gonna reinstall your drive to get rid of the bloatware. I put this out earlier today; it will be exactly the same on any Dell laptop with MediaDirect.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

 

I have a D630 with a T7300, 2gb ram, Vista Business and integrated graphics (80mgb 7200 rpm hd). I always have several Acrobate Professional 8.0 & Office 2007 (and internet) windows open simultaneously, and it runs like lightning. I have none of the issues you have.

What version of Adobe are you using? Anything below 8.0 will mess up your machine, because Adobe doesn't support it in Vista (my 6.0 Adobe Standard REALLY hated Vista and gave me many of the probs you're experiencing). If you're running battery, you may have the ambient light sensor on, which will cause your brightness to automatically readjust. You can reset it to disaable it. Otherwise, all I can think of is that you either have a bad virus, or a lemon.

 

Thanks everyone for the great replies!

UPDATE:

I did get the lappy running a lot better. I got a few apps from my old D400 and loaded them. The one that I think made the biggest difference was Cacheman. I opened up a ton of apps and went thru like i was using them all and the D630 did great. Barely missed a beat. So it looks like a bit of tweaks is what it needed.

As for the SSD questions, yes it boots faster and battery seems a bit longer lasting but it's hard to tell since these batteries lose their ability to hold a charge fairly quick. Hopefully not the 3-weeks or so I've had this.

The DPI settings have helped a bit with the font sizes and the Firefox font size 'ctrl +/-' keys works great for fast sizing on the fly.

Oh, and I did a defrag and it was interesting watching it compact the files after moving them around. I mean... silence... ehehh

Anyway, I guess the last nitpick is the weight and the heat that I'm noticing when I keep this puppy on my lap. The center gets toasty. Nice if I we're still living in Canada but kinda pointless down in Cali. I end up putting it on a thin leather binder which helps.

I went on to the Dell site and spec'd out a m1330 but it does,'t come with XP Pro and they took off the SSD option. I think I might like that model a bit more if it's lighter and I can talk them into the XP Pro and SSD. But I'm still evaluating.

PS an OS re-install sounds attractive but I don't have the time to spend on that and re loading all the apps I have on this thing right now. Unless I got the m1330...

Thanks again for all the great feedback.