Precision M4500 Owner's Lounge

Ever since the Outlet changed to their website..it's been REAL spotty for ordering such limited items like M4500's. I placed a total of five orders over a period of two weeks. Three of those were canceled because apparently it was sold to another customer. I had to keep plugging away at it until I got the two I needed.

 

I have the same cpu with the FX1800M gpu on mine. It runs slightly warm in normal use on table. It's pretty hot when I have it in my lap to surf the web.

 

Both my quad cores blow hot air out the left hand vent, it's just the 45 watt CPU plus ~30 watt GPU.

 

BIOS Update A05 Fixes:

Note: If your system currently has the A01 BIOS installed, you must install the P02 patch before upgrading to this BIOS.

1. Added Hyperthreading Enable/Disable Bios Setup Option.
2. Added password option for SATA Minicard in BIOS setup.
3. Fixed booting to a CD using HDD emulation.
4. Fixed booting to the Dell Diag CD.
5. Fixed issue where the TouchPad sometimes does not work after hot docking.
6. Fixed intermittent issue with distorted audio and erratic mouse behavior.
7. Fixed issue where Bluetooth could be disabled after a reboot.
8. Fixed issue where an external monitor would not display when booting docked with the LCD Lid Closed.

 

Seems to be working OK

 

So, the mouse issue is fixed with the security software installed?

 

This is offically is my first post from my M4500. I am going to do a fresh install, if upload the latest BIOS, will my fresh install revert the BIOS or will it remain unaffected?

 

BIOS and OS are separate. No worries mate.

 

While Dell's BIOS update tool is most easily launched from Windows, the BIOS update is not related to operating system installs/versions. After launching the BIOS update tool, Windows is shutdown and the update occurs immediately after the laptop restarts. The BIOS update change is permanent until the user manually invokes the tool again.

If it helps:

Update the BIOS and configure BIOS settings before installing Windows.

Those that reinstall Windows generally do so to achieve a leaner software/driver configuration for enhanced reliability. For example, my systems have no need for Oracle's Java, the problematic and unresponsive Dell Control Point utilities, the redundant Intel Wireless configuration utilities, the Intel AMT driver and compact SQL server it requires, all of the Microsoft Live nonsense, etc., etc., etc. Different owners have different requirements.

Unless the laptop is unstable, there is no benefit to reinstalling the operating system unless there is a desire to omit/replace drivers or tools.

Before starting a fresh install, do a cold/offline backup, carefully audit/review the machine settings, and save configuration information (e.g. info about devices, drivers, installed software) on a USB flash drive. Compmgmt.msc and msinfo32.exe are helpful tools.

Reinstalling the operating system is not trivial in terms of time and complexity. Sometimes owners run into problems and have to return the unit for "repairs".

HTH.

 

What is everybody getting on battery life?

Battery bar shows that I should get 2 hours with the 6 Cell Battery.

My gpu/cpu/screen is identical to the one used in the Notebookreview official website.

I7 620
FX 1800M
FHD 1920x1080 screen

Notebookreview got 5 and a half hours on a 9 cell! You'd think if they could pull that, I'd get at MINIMUM 3 hours...and closer to 3.5 hours.

What sort of battery life are you guys gettin?