Latitude 7450 Owners' Thread

Do you need to install additional drivers? Or does windows 10 get them all? Or is there a DELL software auto install them?
Is the cd-key on bios so that once you finished the clean install of windows 10, it is automatically activated?

 

Windows 8 keys are stored in the BIOS, Windows 7 has a separate key on a sticker (under the battery, IIRC). There is software such as Magic Jellybean Finder which can read the keys so you can make a backup copy.

Windows 10 will install drivers which will get the computer working. However, if you put your service tag into the Dell support site then you can download all the latest drivers, Dell software and BIOS updates. It would be advisable to get the BIOS updated before installing windows 10 in case there are any improvements which improve Windows 10 compatibility.

John

 

Thanks for the link. If I picture it correctly, it seems that the ssd will "sit on" the caddy, rather than being fastened by the caddy?

 

Thank you for the detailed reply. Currently one can upgrade windows 8 to windows 10. So if the key is in BIOS, after I upgrade the BIOS and upgrade to windows 10, will it be activated automatically? Can I do a clean install of windows 10 a year later? Or do I have to restore back to windows 8, given MS no longer provide free upgrade to windows 10 next year? Thanks!

edit: I found an answer. Rumor has it that a TN panel is a better reading companion, due to its refresh rate and less sharp color. Any thoughts?

 

I was told IPS need more energy to keep up with TN panel. It is said that a 300 nits IPS will usually on par with a 200 nits TN in brightness.

 

The caddy sits over the drive to hold it in place. I used it to put a 2.5" SSD in a friend's E7450.

My understanding is that once you have done an upgrade to Win 10 on an eligible computer, Win 10 sends a hardware fingerprint back to a Microsoft server. If you then do a clean installation of Win 10 it will automatically check the hardware fingerprint against the database and activate if there's a match (note that the fingerprint doesn't include storage device and RAM since these can be changed). You can also capture the Win 10 key once you have done an upgrade.

IPS (or other equivalent technologies) may use slightly more power but the display quality is much, much better. The key benefit is very good viewing angles so the colour and contrast don't change as the display is tilted. See the side-by-side photos here showing my Samsung NP900X3B (Samsung PLS - equivalent to IPS) on the left alongside a lenovo T420s (TN).

John

 

Great answers! Are there screws or anything that attach the 2.5" ssd to the caddy, or is the ssd just "contained" by the caddy?
I am totally fine with others can't reading my screen
Is it true a 300 nits ips looks just as bright as a 200 nits TN panel?

 

What are writing intensive actions other than downloading? Games? Office?

 

Have you tried? Will the igpu support 4k@60hz? I use HDMI 2.0 cable only get 30HZ?
Do you guys keep the power cords in the socket? Is it OK? I used to do that but the ring of light bug me out.
How do you do a charge protection plan, like charge until 95% full?

 

It sits over the HDD and holds it in place. This is what it looks like.

Note that TN panels have reasonable viewing angles from the sides, which is where other people usually are. A nit is a measurment of brightness and is independent of the technology. 200 nits is quite dim, 300 is good for bright indoors conditions and 400 can be used outside.

File copying will usually be the most intensive writing activity. Downloading isn't a heavy load unless you have a superfast internet connection (100Mbit/s internet ~ 10MBytes/s which is slower than a reasonable quality card).

I think the HDMI port is HDMI 1 compliant. See the Technical Guidebook page 61:
Max Digital: (HDMI) 2560x1200@60Hz / 3840x2160@30Hz
Max Digital: (DisplayPort/mDP): 3840x2160@60Hz

I don't notice the light on the power plug - it's behind the screen. To set your battery charging preferences run Dell Command|Power Manager, Click on the Settings button on the Battery Information tab then select custom.

John