M6600 Owners Thread

Dell M6600 Precision Workstation Windows 7 Pro x64.
I have still a laptop monitor blinking problem and then goes completely black – inactive/disabled.

I think I am approaching the source of the problem.
I have just noticed that when I change brightness setting in a created custom power setting in power option – power setting the problem of blinking occurs. The custom power setting has been created on balanced default setting.

I have changed brightness setting (using a slider) only in plugged in section. This could explain the fact that I has been able to stop blinking by just unplugging a power adapter leaving the computer on battery supply (default brightness has not been changed here).

Concluding the above – I cannot use Spyder4Pro calibration with the custom changed monitor brightness within Power Option setting. I have got no such problem with my other laptop setting using Sypder4Pro calibration. That is why I think this problem is characteristic to this particular laptop.

I have to add that the problem appeared suddenly with no precedent.
How can I remedy this problem?

 

have you tried setting up balanced mode this way:
Power options -> balanced -> advanced settings -> Dell enhanced settings -> thermal mode -> pick one you wish to use when on "balanced",

My favorite is Cool when on battery, which lets me to keep notebook on my lap without burning my balls.

That way you get to set up all your other settings the way you want to and still use Dell settings for system speed/thermal control and as you said Dell power profiles keep LCD behaving normally so its worth a try.

Cant help with Spyder4Pro as I keep my monitor on factory settings and i only perceive colors like this.

 

Been using this laptop for more than a year now, is there any yearly maintenance we have to do on it like we do on a desktop computer?

I mean for my desktop I open it up and replace the thermal paste for the GPUs and CPU, I clean up the dust, clean out the fans, etc, probably once every year or so.

Do we do the same for laptops? Clean out the fans? Replace the thermal paste? Etc?

I'd feel really uncomfortable opening it up though, this one was quite expensive and laptop parts are more fragile, harder to replace than desktop parts. I'll still attempt to do maintenance on it though if that'll make its life last longer.

 

I just opened it up and cleaned up the fans, it was easier than expected. Removed the bottom cover and the top keyboard, then used a cotton swab to clean up the fans from the CPU and GPU. It's silent as it was when I first got it now. It's so silent it's scary, is this computer even on?

It used to make this audible fan noise before so you can tell that the computer was on, now you can't hear it, even when putting your ears up against the machine. Maybe I broke the fans? I have no idea, we'll have to wait for it to overheat.

 

I would not recommend waiting until the laptop overheats.
It is easy to find out if everything is ok or not - you just have to run the Dell Diagnostics.
Therefore you push the F12 button before booting your OS and select Diagnostics.
Your hardware is going to be checked by Dell Diagnostics so the fans for CPU und GPU seperately from each other.
It may happens that there is a little loose contact at the connector on the fan.
That problem can be solved in few minutes by checking the plug connection.
I already had the problem of a loose connector on the CPU fan, so I know what I am writing.

 

Thanks, I checked it out on Dell Diagnostics and everything except for battery came back fine. Battery life is at 3% which means it can barely hold a charge. This battery can probably hold 2 minutes of life at the most, so I ordered a new one.

 

Hi guys

I'm looking at getting a M6600 second hand and it has the following specs.

Dell Precision M6600
Intel® Core™ i7-2620M 2.7GHz Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.40 GHz)
8GB DDR3
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
AMD FirePro M8900 Mobility Pro with 2GB GDDR5 dedicated memory
17.3” Wide Screen, Anti Glare FHD(1920x1080) Dell UltraSharp

Just wondering what kind of upgrades can I do to CPU and GPU?

Can I go to a i7-3632QM CPU?
Could I upgrade to a 680M GPU?

Would a 7970M be a bit upgrade from a M8900 pro?

 

You can't upgrade to ivy bridge, only sandy quad.
680m can be used,
7970m can be used, but some find the fan have problems.

 

Thanks for that, looking at the 7970M looks like a good one, I'll throw some MX4 on it when I get it.

Just really wanting to play borderlands 2 on the go, how much extra battery does the 97 Whr 9cell slice battery give you do you have one?

Dell 97 Whr 9-Cell Lithium Slice Battery : PC Accessories | Dell

Will I be able to do a IPS screen upgrade like you?

Oh and planing to get the i7-2860QM CPU is there a better heatsink and fan I can buy from somewhere for this?

Thanks very much for responding

 

Oh Does the 680M better for battery life then say a 7970M?

What sort of cooler would you recommend for keeping it cool?

I found this would this be ok ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alienware-N...738?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ea189bfa