Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge

DDR3 is physically different so it just wouldn't fit.
And yes the fan speeding up is delayed but that shouldn't result in a higher max temp i think. Full speed fan should still be able to keep the temp at the same level under a full load.

 

interesting.

so where would one be able to get Bios A12 to try it out? A lot of people use A02 as well, and what are the benefits of that one compared to A12 or previous?

 

oh sorry...lol...forgot too answer your whole post

here you go: http://ftp1.us.dell.com/bios/
I'm still on A02 because it's proven (for my system at least) to get the best temps and i don't have any issues with it otherwise.
The fan might come on earlier but under light/normal load it still hardly ever comes on for me, at heavy load it does it's job better than with later BIOS versions and that's the time i really need it. Especially with long rendering tasks i don't want my lappy to run too hot.

 

another question i had was about the trackpoint. mine has a habit of creeping once I am no longer moving it. is that just an inherent problem for touchpoints, or is there something wrong with mine? I feel like it was an issue in previous trackpoints i've used, but I never actually owned a laptop that had one, so I dont know if it's a major issue. I mean, I'm not bugged by it, but sometimes my touchpad doesn't respond because my mouse is still creeping a little bit. and it's especially annoying because my display is 1920x1200, and even a little creep moves the mouse off text or something. so is there any info on that?

also thanks for my the bios link, that's helpful. is there also like an update/fix list somewhere too, or is that asking for too much? . haha, thanks for the info though.

 

Now your pushing it! lol

Wouldn't know about the trackpoint issue but you can check the things that are fixed in BIOS version by going to the Dell driver page and iso selecting download right away, click on the blue written BIOS and then you go to a subpage containing more info

 

haha, after doing some snooping on dell's site, the list of fixes can be found here under each Bios version:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/previousversions.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&SystemID=prec_m4400&releaseid=R195240&vercnt=8&deviceid=16474&formatcnt=1&releasetype=BIOS&servicetag=&catid=-1&libid=1&impid=-1&osl=en&os=WLH

Still looking for any info about the trackpoint though.

 

Sometimes using the trackpoint can cause locally high humidity on the area of the touchpad that is covered by your palm or other parts of your hand. This can cause the mouse pointer to move whenever you take your hand off the "trackpoint position".
I once had this problem with an old Compaq laptop which was very prone to this - it even caused the touchpad to not work at all sometimes (and the thing didn't even have a trackpoint! ). So the next time your mouse pointer is creeping after you released the trackpoint, try quickly drawing some big circles on the touchpad with your finger for three seconds.

 

That is very intriguing. I will try to be a bit more aware, and see if that really is the cuase or not. I mean, it usually stops moving on it's own after about 3-4 seconds, so I mean let's see what happens.

Now I just need to find a Blu Ray Burner that will fit for < $200. or possibly a Blu Ray player + DVD-RW. and I need to add bluetooth and see if Dell will install the integrated webcam for me if possible.

 

also resist the temptation to push the trackpoint in the opposite direction to the creep. this just makes it continue creeping. if you release it and let it creep for 10-15 seconds, it re calibrates and the creeping stops.

 

hey stingray!

Read the thread i sent you...i "fixed" it already but you'll have a good laugh reading it i think