New M6500 Discussion Thread

When I switch to RAID mode and have two disks of different sizes, e.g. 500 and 750 GB, can the RAID controller give me one RAID 0 partition with 1000 GB and the remaining 250GB as another partition or would those 250 GB be lost?

 

With RAID-0 you only double the capacity of the smallest drive, so 250GB will be lost ...

 

Too bad - and thanks for the answer.

 

I am thinking of purchasing the new Intel 310 Series (Soda Creek) SSDMAEMC080G2C1 mSATA 80GB mSATA (mini PCIe form factor) MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Newegg.com - Intel 310 Series (Soda Creek) SSDMAEMC080G2C1 mSATA 80GB mSATA (mini PCIe form factor) MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - SSD

I already have 2 x Intel X-25 M 160GB G2 drives in Raid 0 in my M6500 and am very happy with their performance.

I do not need extra storage.

How could I use the Intel 310 mSATA drive?

As a scratch disk for Photoshop (not needed in my case because I use a RAM drive for that) ?

For the page file?

To boot to Linux? (I've never used Linux)

I like the idea of having a third drive but I am finding it hard to find a good use for it.

I am only thinking of using it as a backup drive in case the main Raid 0 drive fails. But that is a very unlikely event. It has happened to me only once with SSDs...

 

Well, I'm clearly biased but I consider this to be a very good idea.

If you do that I'd be very interested in screenshots from palimpsest, which is a graphical disk benchmark tool much like HD Tune under Windows.
You can find palimpsest in the package gnome-disk-utility if you use a Debian-based distribution like Ubuntu or Mint.

I thought about getting one of those SSDs too, but I'm still undecided.

 

Well, I have been drooling over the m6500 for a while and finally pulled the trigger this morning on the following:

378MC 1 Base,Notebook,Silver,Configure To Order,M6500
K972H 1 Module,Adapter,Alternating Current,240W,Delta - Ac Adapt World Wide
N971H 1 Module,Cord,Power,125V,2M,C13 United States
XX1J7 1 Module,Cover,Assembly,Hinge,M6500
W303P 1 Module,Keyboard,101,United States,English,E-Series Number Pad Dual Point Backlit,World Wide
MK8CW 1 Module,Software,W7P64,Digital Video Disk Drive,Multiple User Interface,NO-E
V1DP5 1 Module,Processor,Clarksfield,XXXXX,1.73,8M,45W
G040H 1 Module,Dual In-line Memory Module,4GB,1333MHZ,DDR3,2X2G
X944G 1 Module,Hard Drive,250,Free Fall Sensor,7.2,#2,HIT-FALC
P180G 1 Module,Hard Drive,320,Free Fall Sensor,FJTSU-A160,Mobile Precision Workstation
PW61Y 1 Module,Dvd+/-Rw,8X,Hitachi Lg Data Storage,M6400
CMK79 1 Module,Card (circuit),Graphics,Advanced Micro Devices,BROADWAY
W591M 1 Module,Card,Network,DW420 Ultra Wide Band,United States
C2WNG 1 Module,Card,Network,1520,United States,Latitude/Precision,E2
KHT90 1 Ship Group,Notebook,North,M6500,Dell Americas Organization
8U335 1 Ship,Notebook,Inspiron Sputnik, 250N,US
839RM 1 Module,KIT,Software,Creative Camera,Business,1.4
M4821 1 Module,Info,No RSD,Cross Linesof Business
K134J 1 Module,Information,NO RAID M6400
1V30N 1 Module,Information,REMOVE,Dell Control Point Connection Manager
G23P2 1 Module,Information,North,Productivity,Software,SMBBC
W3HMK 1 Module,Label,Microsoft,Notebook,Windows7
NY1KX 1 Module,Assembly,Base,Third Party Maintenance,Sleeve,Clarksfield,M650
RV096 1 Module,Software,Devicevm Inc,Reader,2.0,Factory Install,OFF
D853D 1 Module,Information,NO-MODEM E-SRS
W870N 1 Module,Software,WINDOWS-LIVE Relationship Line Of Business
YTFFG 1 Module,Palmrest,W/O CTSC,M6500
5FJ8M 1 Module,Label,Intel,Notebook,CI7
G353C 1 Module,Label,Regulatory,E-SRS Clear,Apcc/dao
K35WG 1 Module,Software,W7P64,ConsumerDesktop,English,Dao/bcc
1C383 1 Module,Software,Creative Camera,Business,1.4,Factory Install
0802M 1 Module,Software,Dell Control Point Security Manager,Latitude/Precision,1.4.00002
4FTTT 1 Module,Software,Dell Control Point Connection Manager,Latitude/Precision,1.4
J139T 1 Module,Software,Roxio,10.3,Dell Edition,Business,Factory Install
CVGW5 1 Module,Software,Quick Fix Engineering,Windows Seven,Business Notebook
67Y8Y 1 Module,Software,Dell Control Point System Manager,Latitude/Precision,1.4
M019R 1 Module,Software,Powerdvd,8.3,Digital Video Disk Drive,Business,Factory Install
F98X2 1 Service Install Module,Software,Mobile Precision Workstation,M6500
WNGR0 1 Module,Liquid Crystal Display,17WU,White Light Emitted Diode,Samsung,M6500
9RY9V 1 Module,Software,Certificate Of Authenticity,W7P32/64
MHP1C 1 Module,Cover,Back,White Light Emitted Diode,Silver,M6500
5CPCY 1 Module,Card,Network,DW365,M6500
CV2RD 1 Module,Bezel,CMRA-MIC,3MP,M6500
WG335 1 Module,Battery,Primary,90WH,9C,Simplo,Silver
T0GP5 1 Module,Software,Trend Micro,WFBS,Multiple User Interface,30DAY
905-9418 1 Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s)
905-9447 1 Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year
906-7462 1 Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended
907-7320 1 Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year
3E476 1 Information,Equipment
11725 1 Warranty Longer of 90 Days or Remainder of System Warranty/ Svc Contract. 21 Day Return. Parts may be Reconditioned.
375-6061 1 Thank you, Dell Outlet
Subtotal: $1,119.20
Shipping and Handling: $0.00

I duel boot a linux system so the 2nd hard drive will be nice for that. How is the linux support for the ATI cards?

 

Im noticing they gave you the Samsung WUXGA screen, I recommend you speak with Dell when you receive it and ask them to send you the LG WUXGA, it's a hell load times better.

 

I noticed that too but I could not see the screen manufacturer until it was ordered... I really wanted the ATI 7820 GPU and the i7-820 processor though. The 2 hard drives were also nice. Also, the price does reflect a 20%discount. I called up Dell and spoke with a rep to get this. I did not want to have to go through the whole coupon thing.... The last time an outlet coupon came out on Precisions, all the screens were 1440 x 900 unless you went over 2k.

 

I don't think you can specifically request an LG panel. It is "hit and miss." The paperwork usually says "Samsung" (I guess they don't bother update the configuration database), but the delivered system may have an "LG" installed.

 

No if it says Samsung, it will come with a Samsung WLED 1920x1200 panel, if it says LG it's the LG LP171WU7 TL D1. This was made clear to me when I spoke with a Dell rep, they can specify down to exact model numbers for parts.
You can specify which one you want, I have before in the past (like 3-4 weeks ago~), I told them exactly which model LG I wanted they agreed with absolutely no hesitation and sent me the right part. Tell them it's for your work, and I can assure you they will not be hesitant. Dell SMB support really kicks butt, trust me they will do right by you every time.

I can assure you it is worth the phone call, or chat because that Samsung WLED WUXGA has horrible black scaling. While it is brighter it is far worse at creating shades of black and it really ruins Picture quality.