M6600 Owners Thread

[Ryan]

It does take some experience and the proper tools. However, the design of these business class system do make it somewhat easier to service in the field when compared to the consumer class systems.

Obviously, just make sure you follow the Dell service manual (already linked above) and be careful. The keyboard bezel and palm rest are the two main casings you need to be focused on. The keyboard itself (attached by 5 fasteners along the bottom) has one single ribbon cable to watch and the other ribbons vary depending on your specific configration. A good set of needlenose or tweezers can come in handy here. If all fasteners are removed properly, the unit will come apart with ease. Reassembly needs to be done with patience; especially how the palm rest is properly layed back into place in the rear... then sides... then front to ensure a flat result.

I can do a CPU swap in about 25 minutes and that is with 18 years of experience.

Scott-

Coming from a Clevo with one back panel away from all the components, I am quite intimidated.. I was hoping to replace the i5 with a quad-core CPU from eBay, but it may be quite the daunting task.

Thank you, Scott. +Rep.

[netinbd]

Hello

What different between those models?

Base,Notebook,GRAY,Federal,M6600
Base,Notebook,SLVR ,M6600,FCG1
Base,Notebook,GRAY,Configure To Order,M6600

[inspiron_geek]

Hi there.
Is it possible to upgrade from a core duo to a quad duo cpu?
What kind of special pads does Dell use for thermal control,any part numbers?
Finally,is it possible to upgrade the Gpu.?
Thanks

[mikeis18]

Hi there.
Is it possible to upgrade from a core duo to a quad duo cpu?
What kind of special pads does Dell use orvthermal control,any part numbers?
Finally,is it possible to upgrade the Gpu.?
Thanks

I'm a newbie here, so I'll just be basing on what I've understand from reading the thread. Do correct me if I'm wrong :

Yes, it's possible to upgrade from dual core to a quad core cpu. Then you'd be able to use 4 RAM slots on quad core instead of just 2 RAM slots on dual core.

If you're talking about the thermal sensors, can't help u there... maybe Bokeh can shed some light on this. If you're talking about thermal pads, Dell has their own thermal compound, which according to Bokeh is the best around. Read his user review on this forum.

Yes, you can change the GPU, just be mindful of the possible problems when reattaching your original heatsink to the new card. I think there was talk about how chip heights vary between the Nvidia and AMD GPU cards about 10 or 20 pages ago, so the you'll have to compensate the height difference with thermal pads.

[Blitz47]

Hmm.. I am by no means a business user..

I really just got this because I was in the market for a well-built, decent spec machine....

3 year Onsite warranty was also very intriguing.

I might just keep the M6600 as the M4600 was $1200..

It all depends on what you are trying to do. I chose M4600 over M6600 myself due to portability issue. If cost is an issue while weight & portability is not an issue, I would choose M6600 and probably upgrade to a quad core CPU later on, when I need more than 2 RAM slot. Use the money you saved towards an SSD upgrade as well. That should boost your system's overall performance for most of the people. RAM is dirt cheap right now and 1 X 8GB module should drop in price but 2 X 4 GB module may not drop in price by that much. I read Korean, Japan, and probably Taiwan RAM manufacturers are cutting production as they can't sustain at the current level. We might see a RAM firm or two go under at the way things are going. There is still room for the 1 X 8 GB module to drop in price though.

I already feel my M4600 is bigger than I like already. My laptop carrying bag can barely fit (Swissgear) it as it is. Getting an M6600 = I need to buy a new laptop bag as well, not to mention 17 inch laptop is really just too big on my lap when I take my laptop with me.

[Ryan]

It all depends on what you are trying to do. I chose M4600 over M6600 myself due to portability issue. If cost is an issue while weight & portability is not an issue, I would choose M6600 and probably upgrade to a quad core CPU later on, when I need more than 2 RAM slot. Use the money you saved towards an SSD upgrade as well. That should boost your system's overall performance for most of the people. RAM is dirt cheap right now and 1 X 8GB module should drop in price but 2 X 4 GB module may not drop in price by that much. I read Korean, Japan, and probably Taiwan RAM manufacturers are cutting production as they can't sustain at the current level. We might see a RAM firm or two go under at the way things are going. There is still room for the 1 X 8 GB module to drop in price though.

I already feel my M4600 is bigger than I like already. My laptop carrying bag can barely fit (Swissgear) it as it is. Getting an M6600 = I need to buy a new laptop bag as well, not to mention 17 inch laptop is really just too big on my lap when I take my laptop with me.

Thanks.. I actually might just cancel the M4600 order as it has not been processed yet, just acknowledged.. I hardly think I will ever have a use for the 2920XM CPU, and holding on to the $1200 would be sweet for black friday, to wait out what deal might await.

I can't give up on the M6600 though.. It was too much of a deal to let go, so I will probably be holding on to it.. Thanks for your advice..

Ryan

[Effigie]

Hi,
Received my french backlit keyboard and just installed it.
It is rather easy except the awful keyboard connector, which is so difficult to get into its right place and close
Well, now it's done and I enjoy my new keyboard, thanks to Dell quick and free delivery.

By the way, if any is interested, the part number is : RoHS:Yes,KYBD,105,FR,BLK,ENDB3

[kapone]

Finally....made the jump to an M6600 (Refurbished...but still).. And for a good price.

K972H 210W/240W switchable Slim 3P A/C Adapter
N971H 125V Power Cord
H3RYW Heatsink
8C5W8 Bezel
5M5FD Full HD+ LCD Cover
FWNFY INTEL VPRO TECHNOLOGY ADV MGMT FEATURES
RTFG6 Palmrest
KGXRY Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 bit Service Pack 1
K4C3C Precision Mobile Workstation M6600 Laptop
R0C4G Processor: Intel Core i7-2720QM Quad Core Processor (2.20GHz, 6M cache)
C4WRV 16 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (4 DIMMs)
CC5TC 500 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
GK95P 8X DVD +/- RW Drive
88FM4 NVIDIA Quadro 3000M with 2GB GDDR5
RG4T9 Intel 6300 Wireless-N (2x2) Half Mini-Card
C112J Documentation
RMY76 Shipping Material
364JR Shipping Material
W3HMK Label
3DGHP Information
7X8WR Label
9M20J Label
K35WG Software
80KY6 Software
F67RR Software
26YTJ Wave Systems Software
GMM7N Service Software
4WYVT Software
WTPWR 17.3 Inch UltraSharp FHD(1920x1080) Wide View Anti-Glare LED-backlit with Premium Panel
9RY9V Genuine Windows 7 Professional
1Y0YT Integrated webcam with single digital microphone
N96VP Microsoft Office Starter
37XT2 9 Cell Primary Battery
J716F Trend Micro 16.6 PC-cillin 30 Day
1TXVC Internal Backlit Keyboard - English

$1101.53 including tax (after the 20% off Outlet coupon).

[Bokeh]

Dell has their own thermal compound that they send to self maintaining repair centers. The crew in the hardware shop was talking about finding a new compound that they like better, will get the name of it tomorrow.

Yes, you can definately swap an i7 dual core to i7 quad core. I have never seen an M6600 with an i5, so I can't say anything with certainty.

I'm a newbie here, so I'll just be basing on what I've understand from reading the thread. Do correct me if I'm wrong :

Yes, it's possible to upgrade from dual core to a quad core cpu. Then you'd be able to use 4 RAM slots on quad core instead of just 2 RAM slots on dual core.

If you're talking about the thermal sensors, can't help u there... maybe Bokeh can shed some light on this. If you're talking about thermal pads, Dell has their own thermal compound, which according to Bokeh is the best around. Read his user review on this forum.

Yes, you can change the GPU, just be mindful of the possible problems when reattaching your original heatsink to the new card. I think there was talk about how chip heights vary between the Nvidia and AMD GPU cards about 10 or 20 pages ago, so the you'll have to compensate the height difference with thermal pads.

[seb87]

the cpu - video cooler have the same size in the i5 and i7 model ?