M6600 Owners Thread

Four slots can only be used with quad-core CPUs.
Try configuring a dual-core with a four-slot RAM option and you will get this error message:

"The Intel® Core™ Dual Processor is not available with 4 DIMM Memory. Please update your selections."

So, if you plan to have more than 8 GB of RAM (at a reasonable price), make sure you have a quad-core CPU.

 

i wonder if its a hardware thing or BIOS, since havoctex mentioned that the decision was made to go with a single motherboard

 

The dual core CPU's do not support more than 2 memory slots. Even if you put memory in the additional memory slots with a dual core the system will not recognize it.

 

crap, there goes my dreams of getting 8gb for cheap

 

Sorry about providing that bad news but please remember this is not a Dell design issue, if the dual cores supported 4 memory slots I would definitely have put it in. I hope Intel adds support for them in the future.

 

Hi Havoctex,

Do you mind elaborating a little bit. There have been a couple forum posts from members saying that a dell rep told them optimus is not enabled with the IPS panel on the 4600. Is that the case or is it just that optimus can not be switched off via bios? The major selling point for me to choose a precision over the elitebook mobile workstation is optimus support and an IPS panel (plus better cooling). I am waiting for the 6600 to get IPS and I imagine the bios limitations will be similar to the 4600.

On another note I want to thank you for providing so much useful information. For those of us that are following the forum waiting to purchase, you have been an indispensable resource!

 

2x4GB is not too expensive. The real problem is only if you want to go above 8GB.
But then again, if you are buying a Precision and want to have more than 8GB, why would you go with a dual-core CPU? I think most people will go with a quad-core i7 in this computer anyway.

 

On the M4600 the IPS panel has Optimus turned off and there is currently no way to turn it on in the BIOS. This statement is specific for the M4600.

 

So, does "currently" mean, "we're working on it, it will eventually work" or does it mean "we're working on it, we don't know if it will ever work"?

 

Wow! That's a bummer!!!