E6420 Owner's Thread

I got new BIOS from dell support. Now turbo boost works nicely. They will update BIOS soon.

 

@azoDye

Happy for this news and... thanks for informing us. I will monitor the dell site for the new bios.

G.

 

Does anyone know: on the bottom of the E6420 (not the ATG) is the hole without a screw supposed to be the keyboard drain? On my previous one I don't recall seeing light shining through it, but now I do (obviously only when the keyboard backlight is on).

Also, I'm beginning to wonder if I made a bad choice getting a Dell... I made them send me a replacement access panel cover because the tabs on the previous one broke - so they did, but no replacement service tag sticker and it doesn't close all the way on the right hand corner - it snaps in, but it appears that the hook lines up in such a way that the cover isn't pulled flush like the other side is. When I get a break from work I'll make them come out and fix it, but for now it's just irritating. Also, the CPU noise is getting really annoying fast...

 

On the left where the HDD is? Yeah, I see light going through it.

I would imagine you would have to somehow transfer the sticker over, since they probably won't ship you one.

As far as the cover, maybe it got warped in transit? It's metal and a large piece, so it's really easy for that to happen.

Haven't seen any of the newer type Core iX laptops that don't make that noise yet. Try running something like Prime95 that will keep it under load to see if it really is the switching of CPU power saving states.

 

It's possible... but when I first got it neither side fit, now the left one appears to have snapped in but the right side remains out. I've tried bending it by hand, no luck. But I have warranties so I'm going to use them Still, it just seems like the manufacturing quality on these has been lower than I expected - the mouse keys never really felt very nice (kind of sticky on both this and the one it replaced), and various other oddities that I keep running into. But, I keep reminding myself that it was the only laptop which met my needs, so I'll deal with it

Thanks for the heads up on the little drain hole. It's kind of bright on mine, but I never look down there while it's on so it doesn't really matter

I'll run Prime95 when I get some time. It's just hard to hear the noise when the fans kick in and really get going

 

as an FYI, I installed the memory kit today, and it works just fine.

 

That's interesting. What speed memory did you get/does it show it supports? I seem to recall that Dell listed a speed that was below what the processor could handle.

 

the part number is Patriot PSD316G1333SK, so it's a DDR3 1333 PC3 10600 kit

 

Question Can you install a backlit keyboard aftermarket? I see some on Ebay, but I was wondering if all you needed to do was switch out the keyboard to get a backlit one of if your original order had to be for a backlit keyboard due to some required connector, etc.

 

I am pretty sure the motherboard and connectors are the same for regular vs. backlit keyboard. Would not make sense to have two different manufacturing runs for such a small difference.