New M6500 Discussion Thread

Hello,

What are the differences between these two displays for the M6500:

17" WUXGA UltraSharp LED Display (1920x1200) Resolution
17" WUXGA RGB LED Back-Lit Display (1920x1200) Resolution

Which one has a wider colour gamut?

Is the UltraSharp also an RGB display? Does it display all the Adobe color space?

Thanks,

Antonio

 

If you want wider colour gamut (near 100%), you should look for RGBLED backlit screens, the first one (Ultrasharp) is not one of them, because it has a WLED backlit ...

 

Thank you. After some more reading I got to the same conclusion.

It is unfortunate that Dell support gave me the wrong information.

 

I copy below a recent chat with Dell Tech support that seems to conclude that dual core can support 4 DIMMs. (It also concludes that Ultrasharp LCDs are better than RGB LED ones, but that seems to be clearly wrong):

Can someone please tell me for certain what memory dual core set ups allow?
Are the motherboards for dual core the same as for quad core?:


This is an automated email sent from Dell Chat. The following information is a log of your session. Please save the log for your records.
Your session ID for this incident is xxxyyy.
Time Details
12/18/2010 03:58:43PM Session Started with Agent (Xyz)
12/18/2010 03:58:45PM Agent (Xyz): "Thank you for contacting Dell Technical Support Antonio Salcedo! My name is Joseph. If you have not yet provided a contact phone number and an email address, please do so now. How may I help you today?"
12/18/2010 03:58:53PM Antonio Salcedo: "Hello Joseph."
12/18/2010 03:59:09PM Antonio Salcedo: "A couple of questions concerning my new M6500. If I may.."
12/18/2010 03:59:24PM Agent (Xyz): "You may! Ask away."
12/18/2010 03:59:48PM Antonio Salcedo: "I see that this computer comes, among others with these two displays:"
12/18/2010 03:59:50PM Antonio Salcedo: "17" WUXGA UltraSharp LED Display (1920x1200) Resolution
17" WUXGA RGB LED Back-Lit Display (1920x1200) Resolution"
12/18/2010 04:00:19PM Antonio Salcedo: "In my order I see WNGR0 17 inch UltraSharp WUXGA (1920x1200) LED Display"
12/18/2010 04:00:36PM Antonio Salcedo: "What is the difference between the two displays?"
12/18/2010 04:01:00PM Antonio Salcedo: "Is the RGB one the one that is able to display the full Adobe space?"
12/18/2010 04:01:24PM Agent (Xyz): "The Ultra Sharp version has a higher quality picture than the standard RGB-LED monitor."
12/18/2010 04:01:44PM Agent (Xyz): "Either should have no issues with Adobe."
12/18/2010 04:02:12PM Antonio Salcedo: "So, is the Ultra Sharp a better in all respects?"
12/18/2010 04:02:19PM Antonio Salcedo: "a better one.."
12/18/2010 04:02:40PM Agent (Xyz): "That's correct. You probably won't notice a huge difference, but there will be one."
12/18/2010 04:03:33PM Antonio Salcedo: "ok, I am asking because I will be doing quite a lot of Photoshop editing on this computer and the ability to profile the monitor and to have a wide color gamut is critical"
12/18/2010 04:04:13PM Antonio Salcedo: "If I give you a tag for my M6400, can you tell me which display I have on that one?"
12/18/2010 04:04:27PM Agent (Xyz): "Yes, I can."
12/18/2010 04:04:32PM Antonio Salcedo: "xxx"
12/18/2010 04:05:20PM Antonio Salcedo: "I think it was RGB LED..."
12/18/2010 04:06:02PM Agent (Xyz): "For the internal LCD, that is correct. 17" WUXGA RGB LED."
12/18/2010 04:06:28PM Agent (Xyz): "I do not show an External Monitor listed in the order details for this system."
12/18/2010 04:07:45PM Antonio Salcedo: "Yes, no external monitor. I am referring only to the internal LCD in both computers. I have successfully profiled the M6400 and I like the results. I do not have my eye1 profiler with me and cannot tell. Are you confident that this LCD in my M6500 will have the same colour rendition, or better than the M6400?
12/18/2010 04:08:49PM Agent (Xyz): "If you order the "17" WUXGA RGB LED Back-Lit Display (1920x1200) Resolution" version, then you will have the same specifications as your old system."
12/18/2010 04:09:30PM Agent (Xyz): "The Ultra Sharp version will have a higher quality picture that won't be too noticeable, but side by side you'll definitely notice a difference."
12/18/2010 04:11:13PM Antonio Salcedo: "I do not mind changing to a different LCD as long as it has the same, or wider color gamut and rendition. Do you know if this is the case?"
12/18/2010 04:12:06PM Agent (Xyz): "That's correct. The picture quality will increase in all aspects with the Ultra Sharp version."
12/18/2010 04:13:19PM Antonio Salcedo: "Then, all is well. Thank you for the reassurance. I do see a difference between the two, side by side, but cannot tell if it is due to the different profiles or native characteristics of each screen. One can only tell after profiling."
12/18/2010 04:14:42PM Agent (Xyz): "My pleasure. You will also notice a better viewing angel on the Ultra Sharp version. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"


12/18/2010 04:45:06PM Antonio Salcedo: "Can you please remind me also if the maximum amount of RAM for my system is the present 8GB or can I go higher?"
12/18/2010 04:45:29PM Antonio Salcedo: "I only have two memory slots (dual core processor)"
12/18/2010 04:45:47PM Antonio Salcedo: "Are there 8GB memory sticks?"
12/18/2010 04:46:30PM Antonio Salcedo: "I like to use ram disks for scratch disks for Photoshop"
12/18/2010 04:46:58PM Agent (Xyz): "I show 1 x 8GB 1333MHz module according to the order details."
12/18/2010 04:47:47PM Agent (Xyz): "The motherboard has 4 DIMMs in which you can populate all with 8GB modules achieving a maximum of 2."
12/18/2010 04:48:08PM Agent (Xyz): "32GB. ^"
12/18/2010 04:48:19PM Antonio Salcedo: "One sec. My order does not say. But I am pretty sure I saw two modules when I installed the 2nd hard drive"
12/18/2010 04:48:43PM Antonio Salcedo: "I thought i saw 2x4GB in my initial order"
12/18/2010 04:48:57PM Antonio Salcedo: "Sorry, I see it now W795M 8 GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)"
12/18/2010 04:49:24PM Agent (Xyz): "Oh, you are correct. The Components Listing is misleading. You have 2 x 4GB totaling 8GB. It was listed as a single item for some reason."
12/18/2010 04:49:50PM Antonio Salcedo: "Ok, now, are there 8GB DIMMs?"
12/18/2010 04:49:56PM Antonio Salcedo: "for this computer?"
12/18/2010 04:50:10PM Agent (Xyz): "In which case you could still add two 8GB modules without removing the current memory, totaling in 24GB."
12/18/2010 04:50:32PM Agent (Xyz): "Yes, although they run fairly expensive if I recall correctly."
12/18/2010 04:51:00PM Antonio Salcedo: "Yes, they are always much more expensive. Are you sure I have 4 memory slots?"
12/18/2010 04:51:36PM Antonio Salcedo: "I thought that only Quad Core configurations come with 4 slots. If I do have 4 slots that would make me very happy indeed."
12/18/2010 04:52:09PM Agent (Xyz): "Yes, you have two locations in which they are installed. Two are near the drives, while the other two are located under the keyboard."
12/18/2010 04:52:23PM Antonio Salcedo: "like on my M6400"
12/18/2010 04:52:30PM Agent (Xyz): "They populate the slots near the drives first, as those are easiest to access."
12/18/2010 04:52:32PM Agent (Xyz): "That's correct."
12/18/2010 04:53:37PM Antonio Salcedo: "I did upgrade the memory in my M6400, I know what you mean. However, is it not then the case that Dual Core M6500s (like mine) come only with two memory slots and not 4 on the motherboard?"
12/18/2010 04:54:09PM Antonio Salcedo: "Sorry to insist but, short of opening up my computer, I want to confirm.."
12/18/2010 04:54:38PM Agent (Xyz): "The Motherboards are the same across all CPU configurations. Video Cards determine the Motherboard type."
12/18/2010 04:55:09PM Agent (Xyz): "All of which have a total of 4 x DIMMs that can populate modules up to 8GB."
12/18/2010 04:55:55PM Antonio Salcedo: "That is what makes sense, but I had read in the forums, several times, that dual core come with only 2 DIMMs, even one Dell rep told me that too."
12/18/2010 04:56:52PM Agent (Xyz): "They may only ship with two modules, but they would not be able to disable or remove two of the DIMMs without needing to manufacturer another Motherboard for the model."
12/18/2010 04:57:05PM Antonio Salcedo: "I agree with that"
12/18/2010 04:57:37PM Antonio Salcedo: "Ok, time to see for myself..."
12/18/2010 04:57:57PM Antonio Salcedo: "I will be happy with 4x4GB"
12/18/2010 04:58:15PM Agent (Xyz): "Coming verbatim from the product details: Memory module connectors Four user-accessible DIMM sockets; Memory module capacities 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB capable; Memory type 1066 MHz, 1333 MHz, 1600MHz; to give you some more detail."
12/18/2010 04:58:33PM Agent (Xyz): "That's definitely ideal until 8GB becomes more of a standard."
12/18/2010 04:58:54PM Agent (Xyz): "Price per GB rises far too much for it to be worth it in my opinion."
12/18/2010 05:00:22PM Antonio Salcedo: "Thank you for the "verbatim quote". I think there is no doubt. And yes, I know what you mean about the 8GB DIMMs, it is always the same. I have had Dell 690s and T7500s and always had an issue with that"
12/18/2010 05:00:36PM Agent (Xyz): "That and 12GB should be more than enough to get you a by with the work you do."
12/18/2010 05:01:07PM Agent (Xyz): "16GB, rather."
12/18/2010 05:02:20PM Antonio Salcedo: "Exactly. But only because Photoshop is not meant for a laptop. On my 690 I have 64GB (maxed up) and I always need more for the scratch disks when handling 2 to 5GB files. But that is not for a laptop"
12/18/2010 05:03:02PM Antonio Salcedo: "Thank you indeed for your great help which has clarified everything (and has left me very happy with my system)"
12/18/2010 05:03:36PM Agent (Xyz): "I'm glad I could address all your questions! It was a pleasure working with you, Antonio. Enjoy your beastly Workstation!"
12/18/2010 05:03:47PM Agent (Xyz): "Thank you for choosing Dell Antonio Salcedo! Your service request number is xxyyzz and Chat Session ID is xxyy. I will ensure that the agent that is currently owning this case is updated on its current progress. If you have any questions, feel free"
to respond to the follow-up E-Mail that either I or the previous case owner has sent or contact us back via chat. If you need assistance in the future, we are always available at Hardware Chat. We will also be emailing the service request num ber and other information shortly. We strive to ensure our customers are extremely satisfied. Please feel free to close this window at your convenience. Have a great day!
12/18/2010 05:03:54PM Session Ended
If you require further assistance, please visit us at support.dell.com

 

If you buy a dual core you'll only get a board with 2 RAM slots.

 

Hello debguy,

Just to understand well. (defining dual core motherboard as one that was delivered by Dell with one dual core processor)

1. Are the dual core motherboards different from the quad core ones?

2. Do dual core motherboards offer the possibility to upgrade to four memory slots?

3. Will a dual core motherboard work as well as a quad core motherboard if the dual core one is upgraded to the same quad processor as the quad motherboard?

4. I do need RAM. But I do not need quad cores. I only run one big application at a time (mainly Photoshop CS4). The above seems to imply that I need to go for a quad core unit. Since quad core have lower GHz speeds (excluding the extreme edition). Will I be obliged to compromise in performance?

Tks.

 

Dual core motherboards have only two RAM slots on the underside, while quad core boards have additional two slots underneath the keyboard. Apart from that they are identical afaik.

Only if you're willing to solder the RAM socket on your own.
Seriously: No, there's no way.

Afaik both boards should behave identical. So the board doesn't matter when switching from one CPU to another.
According to Dell the dual core CPUs only support 2 RAM slots while quad cores support 4 slots. But Intels data sheets for both CPUs are identical when it comes to RAM handling. So both CPU types should behave identical and I've not seen any evidence so far that a dual core CPU will only detect 2 RAM sticks on a quad core board.

Unfortunately it seems like that's what you'll have to do.

 

What am I missing?

If your information is correct, all this differentiation between dual and quad core boards does not make any sense.

What is the purpose of dual core boards being shipped with only two memory
slots if the board and the processor, dual or quad, can both use 4 DIMMs?

Is it not, as suggested elsewhere, that the Intel i dual core processor cannot use more than 2 DIMMs?

I am most confused, my M6400 with an old dual core is happily working with 4 DIMMs after being upgraded from 2.

 

According to another Dell Tech rep, dual core boards do work with 4 DIMMs

This is an automated email sent from Dell Chat. The following information is a log of your session. Please save the log for your records.
Your session ID for this incident is xx.
Time Details
12/20/2010 07:24:09PM Session Started with Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia)
12/20/2010 07:24:18PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "Thank you for contacting Dell Technical Support Antonio Salcedo! My name is Luis Garcia. If you have not yet provided a contact phone number and an email address, please do so now. How may I help you today?"
12/20/2010 07:24:18PM Antonio Salcedo: "Hello"
12/20/2010 07:24:48PM Antonio Salcedo: "I need to clarify. How many memory slots does the motherboard of my M6500 have?"
12/20/2010 07:25:35PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "Let me bring the manual."
12/20/2010 07:25:59PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "Just to verify, is your service tag xx, which is a Dell Precision Mobile WorkStation M6500? I also have a phone number of: xxx and finally an email address of: xx.com ."

12/20/2010 07:26:04PM Antonio Salcedo: "yes"
12/20/2010 07:27:52PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "http://support.dell.com/support/systemsinfo/document.aspx?c=us&cs=RC1009777&l=en&s=dfb&~file=/systems/wsm6500/en/sm/td_memory.htm"

12/20/2010 07:27:59PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "it has four."
12/20/2010 07:28:54PM Antonio Salcedo: "Then why cannot I order a M6500 with 4 memory DIMMs and a dual core processor?"
12/20/2010 07:30:47PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "I seen that kind of set up all day"
12/20/2010 07:30:59PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "I cant say why the site would not let you do that."
12/20/2010 07:31:16PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "but you might want to talk to sales and they can set it up any way you want."
12/20/2010 07:32:19PM Antonio Salcedo: "I am most confused. What you say seems logical. And it coincides with my experience with my M6400, for which I have upgraded from two to 4 DIMMs on a dual core processor."
12/20/2010 07:32:59PM Antonio Salcedo: "However, many people in the forums and even the Dell sales rep that assisted me with this computer, say that dual core M6500s come with only two memory slots"
12/20/2010 07:33:50PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "that's is not true we had some issues with a type of memory and using the 4 slots but has been square away."
12/20/2010 07:35:30PM Antonio Salcedo: "So, in conclusion, you know for certain and you have seen that configuration (four slots fully occupied with a dual core processor) working. Correct?"
12/20/2010 07:35:40PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "I just try to set up one online"
12/20/2010 07:35:44PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "and got the set up"
12/20/2010 07:35:47PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "with 4 dims"
12/20/2010 07:36:03PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "really don't know which wall are you hitting"
12/20/2010 07:36:04PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=bpcc5sy&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&model_id=precision-m6500"

12/20/2010 07:36:28PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "yes why sell you 4 your slots and only use 2."
12/20/2010 07:36:38PM Antonio Salcedo: "exactly."
12/20/2010 07:36:44PM Antonio Salcedo: "Let me try your latest link"
12/20/2010 07:37:06PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "sure"
12/20/2010 07:37:13PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "probably they don't know that the system has 4 slots"
12/20/2010 07:37:29PM Antonio Salcedo: "in your link I can only see quad core processors"
12/20/2010 07:37:40PM Antonio Salcedo: "have you tried with dual core ones?"
12/20/2010 07:37:58PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "lets see."
12/20/2010 07:39:48PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "no it works"
12/20/2010 07:40:12PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "the only thing you got to do is change the processor to a dual core and that's it"
12/20/2010 07:40:17PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=bw1s11ad&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&model_id=precision-m6500"

12/20/2010 07:41:28PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "got it ?"
12/20/2010 07:42:03PM Antonio Salcedo: "I get "The Intel® Dual Core™ Processor selected is not available with 4 DIMM Memory options. Please make a changes one of the highlighted selections.""
12/20/2010 07:44:21PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "that is because the OS selected is 32 bit and won't see anything over 4 gb."
12/20/2010 07:44:46PM Antonio Salcedo: "No, I selected a 64 bit one"
12/20/2010 07:45:39PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "I added to cart and went trough."
12/20/2010 07:46:11PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "hold on."
12/20/2010 07:46:15PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "it stopped."
12/20/2010 07:46:31PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "now it continued"
12/20/2010 07:46:39PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "yes it works I can pay for it."
12/20/2010 07:47:12PM Antonio Salcedo: "Wow, why does the system not let me. Can you email me the configuration?"
12/20/2010 07:47:46PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "done"
12/20/2010 07:47:55PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "email it to xxx.com."

12/20/2010 07:48:39PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
12/20/2010 07:49:08PM Agent sent nudge
12/20/2010 07:49:43PM Antonio Salcedo: "ok, I got the email and yes, it seems to work. Thank you."
12/20/2010 07:50:26PM Antonio Salcedo: "It would be helpful if you clarify with your people why I cannot configure the same system. Thank you and bye bye"
12/20/2010 07:51:00PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "Please email at the end of the page"
12/20/2010 07:51:22PM Agent (TMPw_146176_Garcia): "for feed back and they will surely fix that."
12/20/2010 07:51:39PM Antonio Salcedo: "ok, tks, I'll do that"
12/20/2010 07:51:40PM Antonio Salcedo: "bye"
12/20/2010 07:51:49PM Session Ended
If you require further assistance, please visit us at support.dell.com
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Thanks for the chat log! At least now we have Dell statements from both sites.

Here's the start of two-pages discussion about the RAM issue I had with the user havoctex, who is a Dell engineer, claiming that only two slots are supported with dual core CPUs:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...-m6500-discussion-thread-458.html#post6633404

disclaimer:
As you can see this discussion got a bit heated in the end. Just to clarify it again, I don't imply to charge havoctex for anything, I'm merely saying that Intels docs and the information I got from Dell are contradicting. One of them is wrong, but I'm not in the position to judge which one it is.


Edit:
Just in case you (or your Dell chat partner) is interested in pictures of a two-slot board, I can upload some, because I accidentally got the wrong board at first. I had to make them because in April it was the only way to convince my hotline guy that those boards actually exist.
If you actually get a 4 slot board with a dual core CPU and have 4 dimms installed, may I ask you to provide proof that a dual core actually supports 4 dimms (i.e. a screen shot of some kind of system panel or diagnosis tool that says there is a dual core and 4 dimms installed and the RAM is detected correctly)?