Precision M4600 Owners Lounge

Having taken a few pictures while I was disassembling it, I thought this picture will show you the thermal pad contact to the i5. Copper contact is wide enough for the i7.....

 

Wow, great news, thanks for the input!

How hot does your CPU run under load?

 

Hey! Just purchased a M4600 as my current laptop wasn't handling larger CAD files very well (see specs in sig).

It'll be my first "business" machine and I can't wait to get it!

Specs are: i7 2860QM, 16GB DDR3, 256GB SSD, Nvidia Quadro 2000M, FHD LED screen (1920x1080).

I've already purchased a HDD caddy and a WD 500GB HDD!

Hope these specs will help me out in AutoCAD. Having issues with large floor plan files with large hatched areas.

 

Quick question on the M4600 SATA ports. In IRST, I am told that my 2.5 HDD is connected to port 0 and my mSATA SSD is connected to port 2 with the ODD connected to port 3 and ports 4 and 5 empty. Supposedly there are 2 SATA III and 4 SATA II ports (or am I wrong). Why is port 1 not listed. Is one of the SATA III ports just sitting empty and not used? Could the mSATA SSD be moved to an empty SATA III port? Am I just an idiot I ask because I just ordered a MyDigital SSD Smart Series SATA III SSD and would like it to perform to its potential (which is apparently comparable to 2.5 SSD).

 

You cannot reroute an SATA speed controller, as they are locked. Good rule of thumb is that most manufacture have the main HDD/SSD and the optical drive as SATA-III 6Gb speed. As these are the main ports and there are only 2 ports that is available for the QM67. Even the new Ivy Bridge controller QM77 has two....

 

Sorry, I forgot to include my system specs since I can't have a signature until I post 5 comments:

M4600 i7-2960XM, Nvidia Quadro 2000M, 16GB DDR3 1600 MHz, 128GB Samsung PM810 mSATA, 750GB Seagate HDD, 1080P FHD LED

As I mentioned, I have purchased a 256GB MyDigitalSSD Smart Series mSATA SSD to replace the Samsung that Dell uses; I use the computer mostly for engineering and graphics work (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Matlab, Mathematica, Adobe CS5, etc.) and the 128GB drive filled up solely with software more quickly than anticipated.

On a side note as some here are interested in the experiences of others, I originally purchased the computer with the IPS RGB LED screen, but I couldn't stand the pink and green spots in the lower corners of the display. I had a Dell technician come out to replace the screen in the original system and then had them send a completely new system and all of the panels had the same problem. I usually have the laptop hooked up to a couple U2410 monitors so the "reduced" performance wasn't really a big deal.

So, back to my original question about the SATA ports. If there are 2 SATA III ports and only one is used by the HDD, what is using the other port if it isn't the mSATA or the ODD? And, can the mSATA be moved to the second SATA III port?

 

Never mind then. Ph0enix, thank you for your reply. I guess that jumping up to the Smart Series SSD was a bit of a waste then.

 

You will be fine. Will even run CATIA if needed. Good you went with single SSD. Doing same in October. Kill hibernation and reduce pagefile. Increase RAM to 32GB, unless you have DDR3-1600. M4600 kicks down to 1333 with max memory. We installed 2 kits Newegg.com - Patriot Signature 16GB (2 x 8G) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model PSD316G1333SK. Very crisp.

 

I'll be running 16GB DDR3-1333... unless I feel that I need more, I most probably won't be upgrading to 32GB.

Are you running the Nvidia ACAD driver?

 

@jmkiang

Did you mean AutoCAD driver? At present just what Dell delivered installed. This was purchased for Son attending College for Mechanical Engineering. Will install the appropriate drivers to match software required when he begins his Drafting (CAD/CAE) classes.

Be advised the Dell Driver Update Software has issues. After first boot and naming, I updated Windows and Dell. Two of the drivers repeatedly prompted, were installed and did not take. This was reported and they assisted loading traditionally. Was also told that most Businesses that use the Precision remove this program when the IT Department formats to their standard.

This is the only minor flaw this product has. Discuss with Support how you choose to deal with it. This Dell Precision was "accurately" named and has the best support I have ever experienced (excluding work). You will be happy.