New M6500 Discussion Thread

Can you please unmount the keyboard and check if the RAM sockets that should be underneath it are present?
I first got my i7-M6500 without these sockets and after complaining about that and causing some trouble in Dells service department they told me that it was a mistake because Arrandale CPUs (which covers the i5s) will only get two slots.

I'm not quite sure why someone should order such a monster and then go for an i5. Maybe this is the reason why they don't offer it in their online configurator. But you can order it via phone at least since January.

I tried Absolute Linux in the beginning, which worked fine except for the nouveau driver not being able to give me a reasonable output on my 2800M.

I wanted to try one of the FreeBSD 8.0 RCs (not sure which one) but several DVDs hung up during boot (my image was ok). No idea if this has been fixed in the final release.

You should change that as long as it's not actually dead! I'd recommend to go for OpenSolaris. It's as user friendly as any Linux distribution. The only downside is a very limited package repository.
Unfornunately compiling software on your own isn't always a good solution (e.g. VLC is a real pain to compile).

This is why I'm running Debian. No compiler orgies like in Gentoo (I know this isn't necessary, but that's the idea behind it), no broken/messed up packages like in Ubuntu and no driver huntings like in Windows.

Like everyone else, Dell applies ISO 13406-2 class II if there is nothing else written in your contract.

 

Which i7 do you have? i7-6x0m are Arrandales as well.

--
SvenC

 

For what I need (Photoshop and some web development), the i5 is more than enough horsepower. The fact that I got it for a good $500 below what a new one would cost me makes it a no-brainer. It's the screen (WUXGA) that really drew me to this laptop -- nothing comes close at that price. Even though it is an outlet item, the laptop is flawless in every way. Can't tell it from a new one. Personally, I couldn't be happier.

 

Right! I have a 820QM, which is a Clarkdale. I just was too lazy to go into details because my post was long enough anyway.

Sure, I understand you. But I don't understand the guy who ordered your machine in the first place. afair the difference between two mid-range i5 and i7 is less than $200. When I'm spending $2000 for a notebook I definitely don't care for $200. But I'd care that this machine will fulfill my needs for a long time and therefore would happily take the additional two cores. I've already been very happy about the four cores, especially during video transcoding sessions.
May I ask what you payed?

 

Our needs are obviously different, which is understandable and fine. For what I paid for this (~$1500), it's not so much of an investment that I can't replace it in a couple years for something more cutting-edge if I need to.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but at how much of a discount for an i5? I guess that would be the key factor

 

I ordered that thing today. Let's see how long it will take to ship to the "old europe".
I'm planning to insert a ST9750420AS (750GB, 7200rpm) once I can get it. Does anybody know if it is already actually available somewhere? I can wait another two or three months. I just want to know if it's actually produced by now or still vaporware.
Until then I'll test the caddy with one of my older WD3200BEVT.

 

wonder if anyone has seen this. Dell tech support are working on it with me, and have not solved it yet. I have M6500, i7, Ati 7740 graphics. my machine worked nicely for first week or two of ownership. Since then I have two related problems

I use two 1920x1200 monitors, via DVI. They are even Dells as well!
- left hand (from the front) DVI port on the dock never activates when I put the machine in the dock. I always have to take the cable out and back in again. this I can just about live with if it were the only issue.
-the most bizzare - the monitor display via that DVI port, and via the Displayport on the laptop chassis, is in black / white / greyscale. Its an absolutely sharp picture, but it has no colour.

there's nothing wrong with the monitors or cables, I've obviously tested them on other machines.

yesterday, a dell technician swapped out the graphics card. it came up in VGA mode, then applied already installed drivers to unknown device, came up with ati catalyst etc, and the display via the DVI port worked perfectly (in colour! hurray!) for the rest of the day. I rebooted a couple of times, to make sure all drivers come back up , it still works. after shutdown, this morning I power up from cold, and the black and white problem is back.

I have already tried all the obvious I can think of
- de-install / re-install the ati drivers (8.681-091124a-093052C-Dell)
- dell have swapped the graphics card
- checked bios for latest (A02)
- I have swapped the monitors and cables around

when the machine is in VGA mode (running the BIOS, or the windows loading screen) the colours (such as you can see, there aren't so many obviously) are there fine, through the same port.

I am a network designer, I don't run any photo/video apps that might have messed with colour settings.

does anyone have any bright ideas? I am resigned to spending hours with dell support on this one.

cheers
Ian

 

I just had to thank you all for the help you've been as I read up on the M6500 in preparation to replace my current laptop. While out researching reviews after seeing the specs on the M6500, I found this haven. There's no better review than the hands on experience of you all. After a few days and nights of reading (didn't miss one post, btw), the decision was easy: time to change to Dell for my mobile needs.

My M6500 will be here sometime Thursday. I'll unbox it with my favorite technician, who will be upgrading the OS to 64bit Ultimate (see, you all taught me a couple of the Adobe apps I'll be using with CS5 only work with 64bit). Dell didn't offer me 64bit option at the point of sale and post sale - well, we won't get into that. I guess they thought since I'd already bought it - they were done selling me stuff short term so I ordered the bd optical drive and 4x8gb of memory from third parties. The bd optical drive - something else I learned about here and had regretted not ordering it initially.

Thank each of you for your insight and input. It is and will remain priceless. Dell built it but it was you that convinced a 20 year Thinkpad user to convert!

 

One thing I would want to do is try and find out if this is a hardware or software issue. To do that, once you have a system that is working the way it is supposed to work (like what you had after the technician replaced the graphics card), create a disk image (using Acronis or whatever other program you like for this purpose). Then, if the display reverts to B&W, restore your disk image. If that fixes the issue, the problem is definitely a software one, if it doesn't, it is clearly a hardware problem.

If we are talking software issue, you could then dig deeper. Using some decent registry tools, you could try and compare the registry before and after and see if you can spot some pertinent changes. Also find all files that were changed from before and after the B&W returned. Obviously, you would do as little as possible else with the machine (maybe just boot a couple of times, and then let it sit powered off overnight, then power on) to minimize the number of changed items you have to look at.

Otherwise, this is a nasty issue to have. Good luck!

P.S.: Have you tried replacing the dock? If not try to talk Dell into replacing both the dock and the graphics card next time.