Dell Precision M6700 Owner's Review

In my experience, this happens when I have had specific Nvidia drivers in addition to the PremierColor software. It seems to want to keep certain software at the top unless you specifically minimize it. I know that PremierColor is setting color spaces for each individual window, so maybe it has to do with that. Not 100% sure.

 

Exact same issue here. I'm suspecting PremierColor as well, since it's got this module which is able to manage windows on the screen with Display Splitter.
It also adds an icon next to the minimize button on every window, although, on this M6700 (w/ PremierColor v2.x) the icon isn't really that visible at all. On the M4600 (w/ PremierColor v1.x) I could at least see the icon, but then it had allot more other issues going on.
I'll try closing PremierColor next time I have this window focus issue, maybe that will solve this irritating issue, for that session.
It is really inconvenient when you're working with multiple windows and need to switch between them every time, requiring to explicitly minimize the top-focussed window before you can re-attempt accessing any window that's behind it.

 

I think you're right bokeh. I went into the premiercolor settings and unchecked the first box, enable application color and it seemed to have worked. will continue to update if the above is not true.
Thanks!

 

I'm not sure if that would solve the issue for me, as I switch between multiple Chrome windows, but I'll give it a shot for now with "Enable Application Color" unchecked.

Edit:

I can now confirm that unchecking "Enable Application Color" does not help the window focus issue from happening.

Aside from that option, I was hoping to find an option to disable the Display Splitter module, but that doesn't seem possible.

 

RQCreative. I also have my themes set to classic instead of aero which didn't help before without the unchecking of "Enable Application Color". see if that combination helps. yeah this seems more of a go around than a real solution if application colour has to be used.

I was looking for other alternatives and this came up.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/45422-taskbar-bug-doesnt-bring-programs-front.html
it sounds like what we are facing but this seems to be a windows 7 case.

So guys this might be it.
sent a report to dell and it was sent in to windows after I told dell what was gathered from here that maybe it wasn't a dell isolated thing. The windows rep then got back with this.

new window opens behind existing window - how to modify?
seems like checking the values for Foregroundlocktimeout and the ForegroundFlashCount and correcting them helps.

 

Ok, I've checked the thread, I'm not sure if this would help, but I'll give it a go on the following steps for now, before attempting to modify the registry values:

 

Hey Guys!

I am the new proud owner of a M6700! This forum was useful before and after the purchase.
Dell M6700 | i7-3940XM | 16GB DDR3 1866Mhz | 256GB SSD | 750GB HDD | Quadro K4000M | IPS



I have a question/issue.

The FAN! It turns ON and OFF all the time!
I use a stop watch to calculate.

The power managment is set to "maximize battery life"
The fan is on for 27 sec.
it turn off for 32 sec.
On for 25 sec.
Off for 30 sec.
On for 25 sec.
etc.

The laptop is on glass table. Nothing around it. I have only chrome open with some diagnostic program.

I use a program call "Speccy" from piriform to measure temperature

The power managment is still set to "maximize battery life"
I read CPU 45°C (this is low because the fan is on all the time!)
Mother board 60°C
HardDrive 31°C (irelevant)
room temperature is 19°C


I set the power management to "low fan noise"
It took more then 15min to start triggering. I had to use youtube (1080p video) to get the heat up.
Now it goes in short burst cycle and can not stop.

On for 27 sec. (temperature goes down to 53°C)
Off for 44 sec.( temperature goes up to 56°C)
repeat


I just went into "normal mode (recommended)"
The fan is on full power... it's been more then 15minutes... ( I had to change power management settings to see the fan speed go down and temperature go down, I also pause the youtube video)



Here are my questions

1. Why does it trigger that often?
2. Does it do that with your M6700?
3. Is it because of the Intel Core i7-3940XM CPU @ 3.00GHz processor?
4. Is it because it's brand new and not yet optimize by DELL?
5. Got ideas, suggestions?

I personnaly do not think that is normal. I am not used to hear fan noise! That might also be a explaination. I also have VERY high expection coming from this very expensive laptop



The DELL support told me to call tomorrow and ask for the "EOS" departement, they know eveything about BIOS and future updates.
I guess it brand new CPU and not everything is fully optimize. I will soon find out.



<*UPDATE*>
I call and got some hints. They did not have a quick answer.

1. I was told that a new update of the BIOS might fix this issue. ( from what I understood, the odds are good that my problem could be fix/improved)
2. He will test to see the frequency of the FAN cycling on one of there M6700 laptop that is at the other end of the building, in their lab.
3. He told me that a rules of thumbs for normal laptop is that the fan is activated at 45°C.
4. He did not have a clear answer if by going down with a smaller i7 will affect the fan cycling. Going from 3Ghz to for exemple 2,5Ghz.
5. He told me that the fan is louder compare to the Latitude lineup (My other laptop was a Latitude D830)

I did run a diagnostic (press F12 when booting).
Here are the result of the temperature I got after running the test.

These are the HIGH values:
CPU Thermistor 79°C
Ambient Thermistor 46°C
Ambient Thermistor 59°C
SODIMM thermistor 56°C
SODIMM thermistor 56°C
SODIMM thermistor 55°C
Video Thermistor 54°C

These are the LOW values:
CPU Thermistor 59°C
Ambient Thermistor 42°C
Ambient Thermistor 47°C
SODIMM thermistor 42°C
SODIMM thermistor 39°C
SODIMM thermistor 39°C
Video Thermistor 46°C

These are the CURRENT values just after the test so they are high:
CPU Thermistor 74°C
Ambient Thermistor 44°C
Ambient Thermistor 56°C
SODIMM thermistor 48°C
SODIMM thermistor 47°C
SODIMM thermistor 46°C
Video Thermistor 47°C

Will testing I noted that
CPU fan is on the LEFT side
GPU fan is on the RIGHT side
When the laptop is in normal use on a table.


<*end of UPDATE*>


The other issue is that I want to switch my OS language to english. I wanted to go with Win Ultimate but the sell guy told me that I could do it with Win Pro but that is not the case!



This is just the beginning, I have yet to try Adobe Premier with the GPU acceleration!!

Thanks for your time!

Jerome

 

Not meant to ignore any mechanical issues, but why is this? I have noticed that certain materials can absorb and/or reflect a lot higher temperatures than others. I'd also suspect that the glass is a lot more reflective of sound as well. It might help to experiment with these materials to improve your computing experience. This is however, in addition to solving your aforementioned fan issue.

 

Hi Krane,

It's my desk, you propably seen those frosted desk at Staples?


that is why. Since it's a laptop, I am experimenting and tried all sort of place.


The last few days, the laptop is not making any sound. I am on "energy saving" mode and no sound at all. I even watch couple of youtube video but nothing more.
The very moment I open my diagnotisc program "Speccy", I heard the fan at very slow speed. Does not bother at all. i7 at 56C mother board at 40C

Thanks

 

I don't yet have a 6700, but on my lowly HDX, I've found wood laminate tables to be particularly problematic. Only a sort time into an HD video and the fan just begins to roar. Use my cooler, or even prop up the rear and the fan almost immediately calms down.

I'm still not exactly sure why this is, (maybe the bonding agent?), but I can feel the heat on my knee can come through the table.