Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge, Part 2

To add, if some software (like Dell control panel) doesn't work/can't install, it probably need .NET 3.5, which isn't included in Win8.
You can get it here: Download: .NET Framework 3.5 - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

 

Hey GoodBytes,
I knew your nick was familiar when I saw your comment on Lifehacker!

Edit: Win8 boots insanely fast on my E6400 (with SSD).
About 5 seconds, no joke. And the best: you can use everything immediately,
no waiting until all stupid programs and services are finished loading.

 

Btw, nobody mentioned it here, there's a new Bios A031 available!

1. Update Peryn CPU Micro code.
2. Update Intel TXT BIOS AC Module
3. Added support for Signed Firmware Updates.

 

Niiice! I was thinking of getting one. Now I really want one, especially that I am not too faun of the new Dell laptop. I still think that the E6400, despite it's few flaws, is an amazing system. Which SSD do you use, if i may ask?

Oh yea! I already have it, as I when I put Win8, I realized that I updated all my drivers during the course of the laptop with Win7, but never the BIOS. I was on A27 for a long time, until I put Win8 and updated. I thought that was already announced here, as you always have someone announcing this news here.

 

Well it seems I am coming over to join you fokes from the D420 dark side. I picked up a E6400 w/ 80gb hd, 4gb ram, and a 2.4 cpu, dvd burner, and the 160 vid card for $80 off of craigslist. I talked them down from $150 (never tell the buyer you need cash tonight at 1am) It was missing the L key, but I was able to do a warranty replacement (after doing the warranty transfer vie the web page) with dell during it's last 50days of warranty. Anything else I should be looking at before it runs out? The case is in very fair condition, and the hinges seem to be nice and tight. The lovely slic 2.1 bios made loading win7 a cake walk. I even thought the sound was decent after all the bad things I saw written about it.

The only issue is that I see is the battery being close to kicking the bucket. Any one know of a good place to get them besides ebay? Also what kind of real world time are people seeing from the 9 cell batts? I am getting ~1.5h on my sick 6 cell.

 

I have the 64GB version of the Samsung 470 series. Any size of them will do though, as they are really good.
Not sure though if there's already a successor!

Edit: yeah, the successor is the 830 series, which also seems to be very good.

 

I just decided to give the copper mod a try. Ordered a copper sheet, will probably to it next week. Hopefully it helps!

 

1- Make sure that all ports are working.
2- Run Dell diagnostic at boot time (Press F12 when the system starts)
3- Check the screen for faults
4- Get an compressed air can, and clean the fan and heatsink (needed for the next point)
5- Stress test your system and GPU for at least an hour, and see for any overheating/throttling issues.

Thanks I'll look into it.

Really? My laptop has no problem, I can even overclock my GPU to crazy speed (for a laptop GPU).
GPU core 900MHz, Shader clock 1878MHz, and Memory 490MHz. Basically I can push more the memory clock, because the lack of any heatsink on them. And because the memory chips of the GPU is right under the laptop keyboard, I can't do anything.

 

Yeah, I don't know what's up with mine.
I have the CPU constantly downclocked, but fans are still running full power all the time. If I manually put the fans down one step, heat goes up like crazy.
I also need to use ThrottleStop constantly, else I will always have throttle in such a way that I can't do anything because the laptop is so slow.

Temps currently, with Multiplier set down to 7.0 (--> 1800Mhz):
Cores: ~50 degree celsius (max: 58, 56)
Nvidia GPU: 74 degree celsius (min: 71, max: 79)

And I only have open: music player, firefox, one adobe pdf!!
So you can imagine temperatures while watching 720p videos or even playing games. I already had several times where the laptop would shut down because the GPU was too hot.

So I think copper mod is my only bet. If that doesn't work, well, I have the E6520 ordered already.

 

Sounds like it's time for new thermal paste. Thermal paste that OEM uses on "non-gaming" class anything, are horrible. I would suggest to get 2 tunes (because you'll need to use a lot, as the gap between the hetasink and CPU is of the height height processor.

Anyway the copper mode will help, but I think what will help the most is the new thermal paste that you'll put. On my setup, I notice that the heatsink touches the metal base, I added some thermal paste there as well, it help drop by an addition 2-3 degrees.