Going for E6400 instead of T400

Hello PPL,

I previously wrote "Having a second thought on T400, Please help!!!" in Lenove Forum. (link below)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=340014

Since I got tremendous help from you guys, I decided to post something for those who may need help in the future.

To begin with,

1/07/09, I ordered T-400 from lenovo.com. It was a pretty decent specs.

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
200 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm with Disk Encryption
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
6 cell Li-Ion Battery
1 Year Depot Warranty, 1 Year ThinkPad Protection
WBR-1310 D-Link Wireless G Router WBR-1310 - wireless router
[TOTAL: $1,815.15 including tax]

But soon I realized two things.
1. ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB was a gaming card
2. Total Price was $1,815.15, out of my budget. (funny I realized that after I submitted order)

So I went thru CSR hassle to cancel the order. (You can read my post on the link above)

Anyway, back to E6400.
I began to look other brand more seriously while I’m cancelling Lenovo order. I think I found the good one from dell outlet. I don't personally have a prior experience with dell outlet, but after reading some posts about it, I felt somewhat confident.

Specs are:
************************************************
Latitude E6400 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.80GHz, 6M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Certified Refurbished
USB Optical two button mouse
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Back-lit Keyboard
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
14.1 inch WXGA+ LED Laptop Screen
Internal 56K Modem
9 Cell Battery, Primary
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M With Express Card
Dell Wireless 410 Bluetooth Module +UWB
Dell 1397 802.11B/G Wireless Mini Card
Integrated Webcam with digital microphone
250 GB Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Lat E6400: 3Yr Basic Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service
Deluxe Large Nylon Carrying Case
E-Port, dock for charging, digital video, and USB / eSATA port support

[TOTAL $1,392.48 including tax]
************************************************
Okay, here’s plus and minus side,

[plus]
- Cost down from 1,815.15 to 1,392.48. less brown bag lunches for many weeks.
- 3yrs warranty instead of 1 year
- NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M which is supposed to work better cad, 3d modeling, sketchup and maya
- 50GB more on hard drive capacity
- 9 cell battery and carrying bag.
- Docking system (I wanted it so badly)
- Built-in modem

[minus]
- It’s not IBM. (I know it’s shallow thought, but had this thing for ibm, but it’s okay now)
- No accidental damage protection. (I couldn’t find it from dell outlet, anyone did???)
- It’s refurbished one
- From Intel WiFi Link 5300 to built-in dell wireless card (honestly don’t know how bad this default card is, though)
- From DDR3 3GB to DDR2 2GB


I thought plus side definitely outshined minus side.
I’m thinking to buy 2x2GB DDR2 ram to replace current 1DIMM 2GB DDR2 ram. It’s way cheaper this way.
II already cross the river and no turning back. Unless there’s a problem with this refurbished system, I don’t want to go thru CSR hassle again. It was not a pleasant experience.

I’ll keep you posted on my upcoming system soon. Thanks and happy computing ppl!!!

JL…

 

There is little performance decrease with DDR2 ram, it's only that it's 2Gb vs 3. If you got one with 2gb (1 DIMM) then all you need to get is one 2gb stick and put it in the empty slot.

You can addon warranty through Dell after you have it. I'm not sure of the link or who to call for sure though. That would be the standard warranty most likely, 3yrs is base on most Latitudes.

I have the Dell 1397 and it is better than any other Intel card I've used. I don't recall it ever dropping connection.

I'm not familiar with video cards, so I can't comment on the ATi vs Quadro.

Greg

 

After adding the system to your cart, Dell should present you with a page where you can upgrade the warranty coverage to include "CompleteCare" - their version of Accidental Damage coverage.

 

I found the web page where I can purchase accodental damage coverage.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/services/client_support/completecare_svc

But I don't have a service tag of my order, so I have to wait till I get the machine.

I'm pretty sure there was nothing asked about "complete care" during the checkout.

Perhaps, ADC is not offered for outlet units????

JL--

 

Outlet units are treated the same as new ones once you get them by the way. Unlike HP where your warranty is reduced to 30 or 90 days.

You can add warranty to that just as any other Dell. After purchase is fine.

Greg

 

If you do a little digging you should be able to get the Lenovo system you want for much cheaper if you live in North America. Between EPP, SPP, and coupons, it's not difficult. We spec'd out a loaded W500 for 1250CAD a few months ago and that should run rings round both systems if you are worried about workstation--maya/3ds max, etc performance.

 

/chupacabras

yup. I know those coupons are great and I searched everywhere. But at the moment, I couldn't get epp/spp. The price I paid for lenovo was actually after a big ecoupon. but still expensive. Somebody in somewhere will always get a better deal than the one I have. Who knows, i may be that "someboday" to someone out there, too!!!

 

The chipset is the bottleneck for both the DDR2 and DDR3 RAM. See this guide. DDR3 should have slightly lower power consumption.

As already noted, you only need to buy one more RAM module. My E6400 is running happily with 2 x 2GB where one is OCZ and the other is a very cheap unbranded module (but has the same timings as the OCZ module).

The Dell backlit keyboard is very nice - much better than a Thinklight.

John

 

You made the right choice, congrats

 

Having had both thinkpad and dell systems, while the build quality of the dell's business lineup has come a long way, I feel they still lack the tactile quality of the thinkpads--the press of keyboard strokes, the rubberized coating of the lcd lid, the fact that even the plastics are high quality and aren't painted (they are molded black), the amazing rigidity for their size (they are thinner). But for me, right now, it's unfortunate that the don't spec better screens and better graphics adapters, especially in their 14inch units. What was nice about the old T series was the fact that you didn't have to compromise size and performance--you could get a loaded workstation with midsize specs in a true 1 inch thick 14.1 package that was sub 5.5 lbs.