M4800 Owner's Thread

You can always ask. You don't have the atheros/Dell WiGig card? And didn't order with Linux preinstalled?


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Dell's policy on these machines is that installing custom hardware won't affect the warranty. Naturally, any issues with or relating to your custom hardware won't be supported under the warranty, and you may be asked to restore your system to the original configuration for troubleshooting, should you have an issue.

 

Good to know! It was looking like $30~ on NewEgg for an Intel card, and I popped the casing open earlier (thought my old T60 had a compatible card; it didn't) - the guts are actually pretty easy to get to despite the sturdiness of the chassis. The whole design is kind of like someone gave the ThinkPad line a make-over - sleeker, but still sturdy and not too flashy.

No, just the Dell 1550 WLAN (which is a Broadcom 4352) - the preinstalled Linux is only an option on the full-config build which I confess I didn't see until I went poking more this afternoon, but works out to like $100 more for the same specs and at least an extra ten days processing - I've installed Linux on a bunch of machines before so I didn't anticipate the WLAN being quite so terrible :| Can't hurt to ask I suppose.

 

Hi Momijizukamori

great to hear that there is one more Linux User.

What is the spec of your M4800? Do you have the QHD display?
What are the quirks that you see under Linux?

- The QHD/Nvidia K2100M combination has problems with DPMS. When the display is going dark into powersave, it will not switch back on until you restart the X-Server. I believe this is the same error that you can see in the BIOS when you close the lid and open it again. When you close the lid the display switches off, but it will not switch on again when you open it back up. So this seems to be a BIOS error.
-Kernel modesetting doesn't work properly, so you have to boot with "nomodeset"
-The touchpad resets about once per hour, which will jerk around the mouse pointer.
-I couldn't get the smartcard/fingerprint reader combo BCM5580 (0a5c:5802) to work yet. I need at least the smartcard reader to work.
-DW5570 (rebadged Sierra Wireless MC8805): The 3G modem is per default in a radio - power down mode (flight mode) and it is not yet known how to power up the radio. The BIOS also has a bug when it comes to detecting it. Only if you go into the (F5) BIOS diagnostics the BIOS will detect it on the next reboot.
It is also very finicky when it comes to SIM card adapters. I had to try 4 different ones until I found one that works.

Zero? Just do it yourself.
The first thing I did with my M4800 was to replace the harddrive and optical drives with a 256GB Samsung EVO and a 1.5TB drive and to add the DW5570. I also have an Intel 7260AC which I havn't put in yet, since the Wilocity/WiGig-Atheros AR9262 combo that I had to order with the laptop is running ok and I don't have an AC base station yet.

For me this is my 5th Dell laptop since 1997 and they never had any issues with such modifications. But on the other hand it is also trivial to reverse such modifications before a technician comes in to replace parts.

 

For me that wasn't possibe from Germany.

 

Now i'm using Lenovo T530 with it plastic rounded front.
Was try to typing on M4800 (ca 10 min), and find that "sharp" end of the aluminum casing can be painful on longer writing.
I think first of all about the corners (left and right front ends).

 

In this review, the guy makes the same remark as you. I tend to agree with the fact that when you write too long , it becomes painful. That's why I am looking for an external keyboard which would give me the same sensation the M4800 keyboard give (I really like the touch).

 

About to commit to one of these after long deliberation between the w530, m4700, w540, and m4800, but one thing I'd like to know is what internal temperatures you guys are getting? I know it stays cool externaly, but what core and gpu temps are you guys getting when stress testing/burn in? The model I plan to get will have the i7-4800mq and quadro k1100m with the fhd panel for now til I can afford some more upgrades off ebay.

 

It surely depends on usage. With systematically min1 virtual machine (that I use as dev machine) and normal usage on the physical machine I get 50 °C of each of 4 core at max [measured with core temp]

I take your question as an opportunity to give also a feedback regarding W540. I first decided to buy a W540 before I got the m4800 based on excellent feedback on W530 series. Then I had chance to play with it when a friend got his W540. It is a huge disappointment . Even the entry-level laptop you see in some marts feels less cheaper. The built in quality , the plastic behind, now word to describe it. It seems that Lenovo changed whole chassis and good structure of W530. My friend eventually returned it and bought a M4800 like me. Look @ the review I posted on my previous post, it gives an idea too.

 

To reduce front edge issue I would try putting these 2 big feet under the rear of computer

BlueLounge Cool Feet LaptopTablet Lifts Pack Of 4 by Office Depot

I always use them, mostly to increase airspace under laptops for cooling. I removed the smaller ones from the front and that seems to do the trick (increases slant and should reduce edge issue). If it's on a desk, what about also raising your chair height so your wrists are more above and don't touch the edge?

I chose the Firepro M5100 over the K1100M since Firepro costs less and is rated higher on sites that rate cards.

This The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

So far the only thing that disappoints me is no option to simply get a WiGig antenna (Back cover HD+ panel WiGig add $0.00) for future upgrade and no Win 7 Ultimate option. Those are just $0 and $35 options on the about $175 more fully customizable version with exact same config as above. I'm trying to find out if a WiGig card will work with the spare grey wire antenna anyway. I won't be getting one until they add ac. Also wonder if they will make external USB WiGig cards. They are already adding it to smartphones.

Edit: Now I see they have a special on config with K1100M
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...ision-m4800-workstation&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04