Dell :: M6500 For VMware + Visual Studio 2008/2010: A Good Idea?
Mar 28, 2010
I'm looking to purchase a powerful notebook for my development needs. I use MS Visual Studio 2008 (in a VMware virtual machine), currently running on my DELL Precision T7400 desktop workstation (Dual Intel Xeon X5482, 3.20GHz / 32GB RAM / 4 x 300GB SAS HD with 15,000rpm). This thing is a pleasure to work with, everything just flies, even when multiple virtual machines are running at same time.
In next months I need to spend some time developing and testing at my customer's site. Now I need something comparable to my T7400 in means of performance, but portable. My first idea was, of course, a M6500. It seems to be a very powerful beast. However, until now I have no experience with such "mobile workstations". Can this thing really deliver what it promises?
I've been doing a lot of research lately and I have come to the conclusion that as far as the specifications go, the Dell Studio XPS 13 is what I want.
However, I am concerned about the overheating in the laptop, as reported by some reviewers on the net. I don't mind if I can't keep it on my lap (my dv6137tx couldn't be kept on the lap for too long either!), but I am concerned about failure rate increasing due to heating.
Also, I am wondering if its a good value for money given that it is costlier than the Studio XPS 16, 17, etc and still comes with only a 13.3" screen. I would be happy to hear from other Dell users, Studio XPS 13 owners in particular.
The rough configuration I was looking for before coming across the Studio XPS 13 was:
1. CPU = Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (or better), [1066 Mhz FSB with 6 MB L2 Cache preferable] 2. Memory = 3GB DDR3 at 1066 MHz 3. Graphics card = nVidia GeForce 9500 or higher 4. Hard disk = 250 GB, 7200 RPM 5. Screen size = 15.4" or higher 6. 8x DVD ± RW Drive 7. Internal Modem 8. Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet card 9. Integrated Wireless adapter
Oh and I am interested in running Linux.
The Latitude E6500 cannot be shipped with the GeForce 9500 card and I am getting it only with an nVidia Quadro NVS160, which I understand is as fast as the GeForce 9200 .....
Performance wise, I havent been disappointed with the laptop, but one of the main drawbacks I see in the machine is its battery life - Apple has taken strides in improving battery life over 2009-2010, and its kinda annoys me that I'm stuck with the battery I have now.
I commute a lot to/from school, work on the bus/train, and have to use my laptop in places where power outlets are not readily available (some lecture rooms). Realistically, I get about 3-3.5 Hours with screen brightness on minimum, wifi and bluetooth turned of, and doing some basic word processing, as well as reading pdf's.......
I have two friends that have them and I like them. I really like the fact they have true HD screens. Although When I build it on Dell's site I dont get an option for HDMI. My one friend has an HDMI port on theirs.
Anyways are they any good?
I would get the 2.20 Core i3 version i think. 4gig ram. and I think the stock intel HD graphics.
I am looking for a new laptop for school, and I have been looking closely at the Dell Studio 15.
I have a couple of member discounts on Dell.com (I have built this same one on the dell website), but they don't seem to do enough to match the low cost of this one from BestBuy:
I am interested in the Dell Studio 15, but I'm in no rush to purchase. Is this a good time to spend the money? Is there a hardware upgrade or a new release looming?
I recently got a Studio 17" WUXGA screen and as i was testing out my computer and following Les's removal bloatware guide [big thanks] and reading many of the posts in the Studio owners thread I tried to identify my screen.
It comes with an Intel Core i5-430M Processor (2.26Ghz, 4 Threads, Turbo Boost up to 2.53 GHz, 3M cache) while Studio 15 has an i3 processor(2.13 Ghz). It has the same Graphics card as Studio 15 and the rest of the features are also almost the same.
I ordered a black XPS M1710 lid for my E1705 today as well as the XPS touchpad. I know the touchpad won't be able to light up, but I have a few questions:The XPS lid comes with LED's in the cover, will they light up with the E1705?
Can I buy an XPS fan assembly and put it in the E1705 to get the led's to light up in the fan's?
I have a Dv7 not a dv7t so I did not know to make my own thread or post in the other thread.
ANYWAYS - My girlfriends dad got a computer very similar to mine and it looks identical besides the color. I know it is not the exact same because the index score is lower.
When he changes the volume on the touch part from the computer it shows a meter in the center of the that moves while he slides his finger across the volume.
go ahead, mac my day a Macintosh girl in a Microsoft world
Word team blog
Q&A: is Visual Basic returning to Office:Mac? My post about questions we got at Macworld 2010 raised some questions, one of which was this one:
The biggest question in my mind is: will Office 2011 support visual basic for excel?
Yes. We announced in 2008 that Visual Basic for Applications will return to the next version of Office (you can read the blog post about it here: saying hello (again) to Visual Basic). And it's still true: Office:Mac 2011 will support VBA....
I have recently bought a Sony Vaio CS36MJ. Now, i think there is problem in it. I know i can get it exchanged in fact i did get it exchanged twice but the problem still remains.
Lets get to the problem.... I have windows 7 running on it. The visualization kinda get stucky sometimes.
And if i do multi- tasking like open couple of windows like there is a song playing in windows media player .....
Notebook: HP Pavilion dv6-6169er  Problem: I have just installed Windows 7 professional, after installing all drivers (bios, video, audio, touchpad etc - all standard drivers) there are no bar appearing when i press F9-F10 (volume bar) and F2-F3 (broghtness bar) - there were bars before for sure (volume bar with Beats icon and bar itself). Functionally it works, but no visual appearing.  Also, if you are watching a video on YouTube and pressing volume up and down on keypad (F9-F10)- the volume is changing, but the indication under video itself is freezing.  I have tried many times to reinstall audio driver but it doesnt solve the problem.
Just curious, would the V13 with lowest processor be able to run a XP VM (w/ VMware) fine? Does anyone do this? I am a bit worried with 1.3GHz and 2gb RAM, but the under $450 price tag is making me hope it would work... Do you think that the dual core would help this at all? I mean, I would still have the 2gb RAM limitation even with that.
Otherwise, what would you suggest? I would like to keep my purchase under $500 and 13in class business laptops preferred. I don't mind buying from Outlet (I prefer it). I was thinking (hoping) that worst case scenario I haggle Dell on the 3300 or a new v13, or vostro 1320, but I HIGHLY doubt I can get them down that much.
Today I just rang Dell part sales department and was told the left I/O board which has 2 USB 3.0 port for Precision M6500 is available now. The price is 117 pound with one year warranty ! (about $175)
I just ordered one of these Precisions, and I'm just wondering if they take advantage of the integrated graphics on the CPU (like for switchable graphics power saving)?
Or would the engineers just completely disable the integrated graphics because of the discrete ATI M7740?
I am in the process of specing a new laptop for engineering work. I will do a little bit of CAD, but mainly processor intensive mathematical simulations in Java, Matlab, or Scilab.
I am considering purchasing either the m4500 or m6500. I don't think I will mind lugging around the m6500. The positive attributes, as I see them, of the two machines are shown below.
Other than that they seem like they are on par, though I can't help but think the m6500 will be able to better handle the cooling requirements of their components than the m4500. What does everyone think? Is it even fair to compare the two?
m6500 pro's: Graphics power (I would get ATI graphics) 1600 mhz memory supported 4 RAM slots USB 3.o .....
Dell doesn't have this, but are there any good third part solutions. I guess the reason Dell doesn't have it is that the computer demands a rather hefty PSU, but still...
I really would like to get two of these, since they are less than 1/3 of the price of the adapters I can get in Norway, but I'm a bit suspicious.
The original adapter for my Precision M6500 is 210 watts (which is totally crazy, but I guess the Fire GL card eats most of it), and this is rated at 90w. But will it even work? Here's the eBay auction, it's in Great Britain:
I have a problem I've never had with any stationary computer (I have never had a dual hard drive laptop before...):
I have one 320 meg drive which I use as little as possible in drive bay one and another, larger drive in drive bay two.
An expensive program I use for work is registered to the drive in bay one, and I can't get a new license, so I would like it to last as long as possible, which is why I only use it there as a kind of dongle.
For the software licensing stuff to work it has to be seen as the first drive by Windows, but not necessarily the one I boot from
How do you order i7 920 processors ? It doesn't give me such option on the website (all it shows in processor option is "Mobile Precision M6500 Silver Base")
so I called dell sales team to find out which processor is there, and on the website it shows "Up to Intel® CoreTM i7- 920XM Quad Core Extreme processors" so i thought it might be as the only option and goes as standard),
they told me that m6500 is only available with i7 820 (1.73hz) and the machine is upgradable to i7 920. heh ? seems like scam
Meantime I can't choose 2 HDD with 500GB, as primary only ATA and secondary is only SATA.
I've just recieved the M6400 covet edition. Dell has given me the choice to return it boxed and get a full refund. I can then order the new M6500, however, I will need to pay at least 750 Euro extra for the faster processor and graphic card.
QX9300 to Core I7 920xm FX 3700M to FX 3800M
The rest of the specs are the same. Is the worth extra money to upgrade for a computer that will be 8 x faster than the current M6400?
I have to admit though than my hands are itching badly to unbox the m6400.
After reading the m6500 discussion thread it sounds like the consensus is that 1600 mhz memory makes no performance difference. But then a lot of folks seem to have configured their machines with 1600 memory and the below review suggests that the memory will help.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/842/1/
So to have this fully hashed out, I think we need to answer the below questions: 1) If you order the extreme processor does the BIOS recognize the 1600 mhz memory? 2) Even if it does recognize it does it make a difference? 3) Why did people with the extreme processor order the 1600 mhz memory? 4) Can we fill in the WEI scores for memory using 4 and 8 GB of both 1333 and 1600 memory with the extreme processor?
I have tried looking at Dell's webpage, but couldn't find any lists over compatible docking stations. Not to mention that when trying to "buy" another identical computer dockings are never mentioned in the "Buy accessories for your Dell" subpage. I have seen a few cheap, used docking stations on the web, but I don't know if they will work. This is the one I can get really cheap:
Would that work on my Preceision M6500? It's for my second and third office (a.k.a. my wife's pet shop and our cabin by the sea), so I need two dockings. And this way I can save 80 % of the cost!
For some stupid reason the M6500 has no SPDIF output, and I see that there is one on this docking. But I don't care if that works or not, I only use SPDIF at home, and I have an USB sound card with SPDIF there.
My family have bought me the Precision M6500, a little more than I need, but a great machine.Is it possible to find literature on the extra items on the keyboard ,
such as the track stick, track stick buttons, jog shuttle and the precision ON button,the idea behind them and there use
The problem Im currently having with my laptop is that every time i turn it on, it last about 4 seconds before it shuts down. I can only see the power and battery light on before shutting down. I dont even see the screen turning on. I try going to diagnostic mode and the only thing that changes is that my keyboard lights go on, but then after 4 seconds laptop shuts down. What to do or what might be causing this??
