Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge *Part 2*

[BatBoy]

This thread is an extension of the original Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge thread. The old one was getting to be too large and slowing down the database.

Thanks folks.

[DrKnow65]

LPTP-LVR: I don't have the card yet (or the laptop), but yes I mean the mobile PCMCIA version. I need the preamp w/ phantom power for use with a measurement mic for room calibration...

I checked about the broken/ replacement thing. The one I'm getting IS the working replacement :-) Should be getting a call back from Dell today about title & warantee transfer (crossing my fingers).

[newswami]

I got my M4400 up and running, and it had the Dell 1510 wireless-N card. Sitting about 10 feet from my router, the card is showing a signal strength of two bars (out of 5). I'm not sure if it's a big issue with this card, but the 1397 wireless card I had in my other M4400 had a range of a few hundred feet before it would cut out. I'm going to drop an Intel 5300 Pro in to see how that does with range. 10 feet gives no wireless capability.

[DrKnow65]

!!! Cut and paste from the end of the original thread !!!
Re: Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge
Ok, my first round of questions.

1) Do any of you quad core m4400 owners know if there is a way (BIOS, RMClock, ect) to shut off two cores while in power saving mode?

2) Again QC owners, do you find the same trends with different BIOS versions as the dual core owners seem to see? (i.e. temps, behavior, ect)

3) Have ANY of you tried using an SSD (sata) in the internal mini pci express card slot? I understand it's set up for a intel flash cache memory module that is primarily used with a standard HDD to speed things up. I'm curious about it for use with an SSD as a ~mini drive~ for programms that do alot of temporary storage i.e. write-delete-write-delete (web brousing, single track audio editing, and the like).

[DrKnow65]

My first post on my "refurbished" M4400, seems entirley brand new to me.

So fas as I can tell it's only been used once (wirless never configured before, only a dial up modem connection was ever done, and the only history on the internet explorer was a hand full of hairy women sites So I'm thinking it hasn't been used much, but surely what use it has seen makes me want to wipe it down with a dissinfectant !!!

It does have all the hardware I was hoping for so I'm stoked and the condition is flawless

I just need to get all the bloatware off, change the settings on the touchpad, and use it for a bit before I go swapping the processor (have a brand new shiny Q9100 quad core).

Happy day

P.S. love the backlit keyboard, and the power adapter is HUGE!!!

[DrKnow65]

New processor is in (Q9100), runs a bit hotter than the T9400 after they were both undervolted. About 10'C more, though I believe this processor could drop more than the 1.05v it's at now. I'm sure if it runs stable at the highest multiplier with the minimum voltage, then probably the idle voltage could stand to be lower than 1.05v as well... I'm going to look into changing the voltage in the BIOS, though I really have no idea what that entails.

*this looked like an active and up to date forum when I started reading, seems like I'm talking to myself now?*

[HerrKaputt]

New processor is in (Q9100), runs a bit hotter than the T9400 after they were both undervolted. About 10'C more, though I believe this processor could drop more than the 1.05v it's at now. I'm sure if it runs stable at the highest multiplier with the minimum voltage, then probably the idle voltage could stand to be lower than 1.05v as well... I'm going to look into changing the voltage in the BIOS, though I really have no idea what that entails.

*this looked like an active and up to date forum when I started reading, seems like I'm talking to myself now?*

You are not talking to yourself, it's just that people haven't subscribed to this "part 2" thread yet. Plus, people tend to reply more when you ask questions or have a problem than when you are describing what you are up to with your laptop.

But please continue giving us updates, just because noone replies does not mean noone is reading. I am

[LPTP-LVR]

Hey DrKnow.

It's too bad e-mu hasn't updated the interface yet because they've been working on an Express card version of the 1616m for quite some time. That would be an even faster connection than the PCMCIA and would offer even lower latency. I've been using the 1616m for years now and still VERY happy with it, e-mu could do better on the development front though.

[newswami]

I guess I assumed too much when I assumed the laptop I got from a reseller would be put together correctly. After connecting the antennae to the wireless card, my range problem is fixed...

@DrKnow
Core2 doesn't truly support core deactivation. That's one of the big advantages of the new i7's over the Core* processors. Only the i7's can completely deactivate unused cores and cut power to them.

Also, A15 gave me the best performance with my QX9300 (and kept the temps down as well or better than any of the previous bios versions.

[DrKnow65]

Herrkapput, I started with three questions (post #4)

But yes, it seems that people are catching up to the new thread now

I did effectively (at idle) shut down two cores by enabling IDA and forcing it to run in 8x multiplier all the time. Also if you haven't copper modded the GPU yet, I'd really consider it. I had to put a .020" shim in to make the GPU contact the sink. The factory paste had air gaps , made a 15C difference after modding. I also copper shimmed away all the thermal pads...

I installed windows 7 RC, a bit improvement over XP Pro. I'm looking forward to grabbing Win7 Ultimate asap.

Question: When I lock the fan on high, I can hear it cycle up and down a few hundred RPM. Do you all find the same thing or might I have a faulty fan/ circuit? Also anyone know if there is a better fan to upgrade to?