DELL Inspiron 8600/ Latitude D800/ Precision M60 FAQ  

DELL INSPIRON 8600/ LATITUDE D800/ PRECISION M60 FAQ


Table of Contents

1. Things to note in reading FAQ (Glossary)

2. Pre-order Information
(i) What are the specifications and pros/ cons of these models?
(ii) WXGA, WSXGA or WUXGA?
(iii) I have heard game performance is better with WXGA... is this true?
(iv) What video card should I choose?

3. Hardware upgrades 1
(i) Can I upgrade the Video card in my Laptop?
(ii) Can I upgrade the CPU in my Laptop?
(iii) Can I upgrade the Hard Drive? What can I upgrade it too?

4. Hardware upgrades 2
(i) Can I upgrade the Memory? What type of RAM does it take?
(ii) Upgrading/ installing a mini-PCI card
(iii) Can I install a Bluetooth card post-purchase?

5. Other Useful Information
(i) Will one of the quicksnap covers from the i600m/i8600/i9100/XPS/i9200 fit my laptop?
(ii) What is that USB symbol/ panel on the side of my i8600?
(iii) Why does the D800 only offer PC2100 (266MHz) RAM compared to the i8600 and M60 at 333MHz? Can this be upgraded?

6. Contributors

1. Things to note in reading this FAQ (Glossary)


There are many abbreviations used in this FAQ because I stupidly assumed that because I know them that others will too. In an effort to right that wrong, and so that you can understand what in the world that I am talking about, I have included a Glossary of sorts right here that you can refer to if you become lost by some abbreviation. On to it then.

AA= Anti-Aliasing, a feature of Graphics cards that smooths "jaggy" edges.

AF= Anisotropic Filtering, similar to Anti-Aliasing but works on "far-away" or "distant" objects.

BIOS= Basic Input/Output System, this includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware and the power-on self test.

CPU= Central Processing Unit, or the Processor as its commonly known. This means the Pentium 4 in the i9100/ XPS case.

DPI= Dots Per Inch, can be altered to change the size of items on the virtual desktop. Although there is debate whether this name is actually appropriate... but that is for another topic and another day

FPS= Frames per Second, this is generally referred to as a gaming term in the FAQ. A frame is a still picture, and many frames showing progressive movement create the movie affect you see on TV, films and games. The more frames per second the more smooth this movie appears, hence why important to gaming.

GB= Gigabyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 megabytes).

GHz= Gigahertz, the unit used to measure the clock speed of the Processor.

GPU= Graphics Processing Unit, most widely known as the Graphics/ Video card.

HD= Hard Drive, where you store all your data with storage measured in Gigabytes.

i8600, i9100, etc= The i here stands for Inspiron, the line of notebooks. Just a common abbreiviation used throughout these boards that makes it easier on us.... seeing as it is mentioned so often.

IE= Internet Explorer, probably the most widely used internet browser i comes preinstalled on just about every Windows platform.

KB= Kilobyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 bytes).

LCD= Liquid Crystal Display, being the screen on your laptop.

MB= Megabyte, unit of storage measurement (1,024 kilobytes).

MR9700= Mobility Radeon 9700, this is the graphics card in the XPS/ 9100, I'm lazy so I often refer to it in this abbreviated form. Also I have referred to MR9600 and MR9800 and in those cases it is the same thing, MR= Mobility Radeon.

ms= Milli-second, unit of time being 1/1000 second.

P4= Pentium 4, also referred to in conjunction HT; Hyperthreading, a feature of the Processor and EE; Extreme Edition, a version of the P4 with a 2MB cache.

RAM= Random Access Memory, or just Memory as it's often known.

SXGA+= Super eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1400 x 1050.

WSXGA= Wide-Aspect Super eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1680 x 1050.

WUXGA= Wide-Aspect Ultra eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1920 x 1200.

WXGA= Wide-Aspect eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1280 x 800.

XGA= eXtended Graphics Array, this is the display @ 1024 x 768.


Now I am sure I have missed a lot of abbreviations, so if there is something I have missed that is mentioned in the FAQ or that needs clarification please let me know and I will add it.


Back to Table of Contents and Thread

2. Pre-order Information


2.(i) What are the specifications and pros/ cons of these models?

In this section I will go through each system one by one, outlining the basic current configuration options and giving briefly the pros and cons of each model. Please feel free to create topics on these models if need be and we will all be happy to help out. Note also that these models have had different hardware options available in the past for configuration, these are not included. I will endevour to keep the configurations up-to-date.

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>>Inspiron 8600<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M; 705 (@ 1.5GHz), 725 (@ 1.6GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz), 755 (@ 2.0GHz). Or Celeron M; 340 (@ 1.5GHz)
LCD: 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800), 15.4" WSXGA (1680 x 1050) and 15.4" WUXGA (1920 x 1200).
Memory: PC2700 (333MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 30, 40, 60, 80 or 100 GB @ 4200rpm. 60 GB @ 7200rpm. Standard laptop 2.5".
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/24x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 8x DVD+RW/+R,
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2100 (802.11b), Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Dell 1350 (802.11b/g) or Dell 1450 (802.11a/b/g) internal (Intel card required for 'Centrino' branding).
Video/ Graphics Card: 32MB or 64MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200, 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo.
Dimensions:
Height: 38.6 mm (1.52")
Width: 361.2 mm (14.22")
Depth: 276.1 mm (10.79")
Weight: 2.96kg (6.9 lbs) using Travel module.

Pros:
-> Powerful, when that Pentium-M 755 (2.0GHz) is paired with the MR9600 they create quite a match. Second in overall firepower only to Dell's new flagship Inspiron XPS/ 9100 models.
-> Beautiful Ultrasharp Widescreen display, this is what all laptops should have. These screens not only offer better resolutions and more working room, they have better specs (response time, viewing angles, contrast ratio) than most of the regular aspect screens Dell uses in other models.
-> Battery life is impressive with that power, can stretch out between 4 and 5 hours on just the main battery.

Cons:
-> Because of the widescreen and other features is a bit more bulky than the average laptop. Particularly wide (obviously), can make it a little more challenging find a laptop bag than normal.
-> Has been plagued by small imperfections such as keyboard flex, chassis creak and 'mushy' trackstick buttons.
-> Recently revised to i8600c, this model now has no trackpoint, IRDA or many of the legacy ports that it once had. To some this is a positive if they were never used, but a lot find this a negative factor.
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>>Latitude D800<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M 1.4GHz, 735 (@ 1.7GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz), 755 (@ 2.0GHz).
LCD: 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800), 15.4" WSXGA (1680 x 1050) and 15.4" WUXGA (1920 x 1200).
Memory: PC2100 (266MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 30, 60 or 80 GB @ 4200rpm. 40 or 60 GB @ 5400rpm. 60 GB @ 7200rpm. Standard laptop 2.5".
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/24x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 4x DVD+RW/+R, 8x DVD+RW/+R,
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2100 (802.11b), Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Dell 1350 (802.11b/g) or Dell 1450 (802.11a/b/g) internal (Intel card required for 'Centrino' branding).
Video/ Graphics Card: 32MB or 64MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5650.
Dimensions:
Height: 38.6 mm (1.52")
Width: 361.2 mm (14.22")
Depth: 276.1 mm (10.79")
Weight: 2.96kg (6.9 lbs) using Travel module.

Pros:
-> Fairly powerful, with a Pentium-M 755 (2.0GHz) and the FX5650 it is actually a fairly good gaming laptop as well. In fact the nVIDIA card will beat the MR9600 offered in the i8600 in OpenGL games, it unfortunately does lag behind in the newer DX9 based games though.
-> Beautiful Ultrasharp Widescreen display, this is what all laptops should have. These screens not only offer better resolutions and more working room, they have better specs (response time, viewing angles, contrast ratio) than most of the regular aspect screens Dell uses in other models.
-> Battery life is impressive with that power, can stretch out between 4 and 5 hours on just the main battery.
-> Has the Latitude signiture Silver trim and indented LCD cover, looks more professional and certainly more sexy than the Inspiron line with the blue trim.... well I suppose that is a matter of opinion.

Cons:
-> Because of the widescreen and other features is a bit more bulky than the average laptop. Particularly wide (obviously), can make it a little more challenging find a bag than normal.
-> It is a business model but does not offer a CAD graphics option (Quadro or FireGL based), a little unusual for such a laptop but no biggie I suppose, if you are looking for CAD go the M60.
-> Obviously is in general more expensive than the Inspiron line even configured similarly.
-> Has a "crippled" BIOS. As you can see it uses only 266MHz RAM compared to 333MHz on the i8600 and M60, despite using the same chipset. Fortunately this can be easily overcome by flashing it with the M60 BIOS.
__________________________________________________________


>>Precision Workstation M60<<

Basic Specs:
CPU: Pentium M 1.5GHz, 735 (@ 1.7GHz), 745 (@ 1.8GHz), 755 (@ 2.0GHz).
LCD: 15.4" WSXGA (1680 x 1050) and 15.4" WUXGA (1920 x 1200).
Memory: PC2700 (333MHz) SO DIMMs, 2 user accessible slots, 2GB (2 x 1GB) maximum.
Hard Drive: 40, 60 or 80 GB @ 5400rpm. 60 GB @ 7200rpm. Standard laptop 2.5".
Media Device: 8x DVD-ROM, 24x/24x/24x CD-RW (8x DVD), 4x DVD+RW/+R, 8x DVD+RW/+R,
Wireless Card: Intel PRO 2100 (802.11b), Intel PRO 2200 (802.11b/g), Dell 1350 (802.11b/g) or Dell 1450 (802.11a/b/g) internal (Intel card required for 'Centrino' branding).
Video/ Graphics Card: 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX Go700, 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX Go1000.
Dimensions:
Height: 38.6 mm (1.52")
Width: 361.2 mm (14.22")
Depth: 276.1 mm (10.79")
Weight: 2.96kg (6.9 lbs) using Travel module.

Pros:
-> Powerful. A Pentium-M 755 (2.0GHz) and the Quadro FX1000 make a formidable pairing that can tackle most any CAD based work. It is also a good gaming machine, which performs well in most new games at high settings. Comparable in that respect to the i8600, even if the strengths lie in different areas.
-> Beautiful Ultrasharp Widescreen display, this is what all laptops should have. These screens not only offer better resolutions and more working room, they have better specs (response time, viewing angles, contrast ratio) than most of the regular aspect screens Dell uses in other models.
-> Battery life is impressive with that power, can stretch out betwee 4 and 5 hours on just the main battery.
-> Has the sexy Silver trim and indented LCD cover, looks more professional and stylish than the blue trim on the Inspiron line.... a very smart looking laptop compared to some of the fugly widescreen ones out there (yes, I'm looking at you Toshiba).

Cons:
-> Because of the widescreen and other features is a bit more bulky than the average laptop. Particularly wide (obviously), can make it a little more challenging find a bag than normal.
-> Is a very expensive laptop compared to the similar Inspiron 8600 and Latitude D800, but that is expected because of the extras and of course the CAD based Quadro workstation Graphics cards.
-> Tends to get fairly hot when under heavy use, primarily due to the Quadro cards. Keep an eye out.
-> Not offered the WXGA (1280 x 800) LCD option as in the i8600, i9100, D800). Not a big issue but an annoyance for those who would rather the more comfortable of the three choices.
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2.(ii) WXGA, WSXGA or WUXGA?

This has to be probably the most asked question on this forum, what LCD should you choose. It is answered time and time again so I have included this section in the FAQ, although I know it won't do much good to stem the tide.

There is no "better" screen as such when it comes to choosing one. Each one theoretically has exactly the same Specifications, which are

Screen Size: 15.4 Inch Widescreen
Palette: 262'144 Colours
Response Time: 35ms typical
Contrast Ratio: 300:1
Brightness: 185 cd/m^2
Viewing Angles: 65 degrees left-right; 50 degrees up-down

So what is the difference then? Why is the WUXGA more expensive? The difference is that they each have a different native maximum resolution. This is where the choice comes in, no resolution is better than the other, it is all up to what you need and what your own personal preference is. The higher the resolution, the smaller that icons and text will appear on the display because there are more physical pixels covering the same physical space.

Small text and icons can be overcome on the WUXGA or WSXGA displays by increasing the DPI setting or text size, but this can often adversely affect some programs, cutting off windows or making them unusable. Hence this is why it is important to choose he screen that is right for you when you order. These renedies can also be found below.

WXGA:
This display has a resolution of 1280 x 800; this is the closest equivalent to the 1024 x 768 common desktop resolution. If you are mainly using the laptop for office work and web browsing, then this is the way to go, because it has a nice readable text size. Games will play fine too, but it is not capable of the higher in-game resolutions (like 1280 x 1024).


Thanks Xing for the shot, its appreciated. Thanks still to Striker333 as well for the previous WXGA shot.

WSXGA:
This LCD is capable of a maximum native resolution of 1680 x 1050. This is, In my own humble opinion, the best of both worlds. The text and icons are smaller than that on the WXGA, but are still quite readable. The display is capable of good resolutions in game such as 1280 x 1024 which is a commonly used game setting.


Thank-you to WScottCross for this great picture.

Now, provided below are two pictures taken by mojoRT, which compare the WXGA screen (left) to the WSXGA (right). You can clearly see the difference in text/ menu/ icon size and the amount that can fit on the screen... so hopefully it helps in your choice.





WUXGA:
The WUXGA manages to display an impressive 1920 x 1200 pixels. This screen is fantastic if you love a lot of extra space, or do a lot of photo editing. However a drawback is that at the regular DPI setting the text and icons are ridiculously small, so you better have good eyesight. This is a love it or hate it display, and there are quite a few lovers out there... but I have had one and found it to be more trouble than its worth, which is my personal preference. Note the following picture is with large icons.


Thank-you and kudos to AbSoluTc for providing this picture.

Now lastly, below is a direct comparison of WSXGA and WUXGA provided kindly by Michael (hksscom).




Now if you do want to change the size to be more readable on any of these, then you have three options:


1. Reduce the resolution: kind of defeats the purpose, but whatever floats your boat. To do so->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Settings tab;
(iii) Adjust the Screen Resolution slider to your preference and Apply it.
Note: If you are wondering why everything now is not as crisp and clear and looks fuzzy, this is explained later on in the FAQ... kind of an incentive for you to read on

2. Increase the DPI setting: This blows up everything to a larger size, but has its drawbacks in that windows can be cut-off, etc. Here you go->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Settings tab, and click advanced;
(iii) Click the General tab, and from the drop down box labelled DPI Setting you can increase it.

3. Increase the Icon and text size only: This is the only one without potentially really irritating consequences, but does look weird. Have a try->
(i) Right-click desktop and select Properties;
(ii) Go to the Appearance tab;
(iii) To change text size, adjust it from the Font Size drop box seen in this tab. To make icons bigger Click the effects button and tick Use large icons.


2.(iii) I have heard game performance is better with WXGA... is this true?

Rubbish, complete and total rubbish, there is so much misinformation about this. The WXGA does not get better fps in games. Put simply, a WXGA and WSXGA running the same game at the same resolution (say 1024 x 768 for example), with all other specs being the same, will get essentially the exact same performance (plus or minus the usual variables).

However a game running at the WXGA native resolution compared to a game running at the WSXGA native resolution will get better framerates (obviously as there is less strain on the card, but on the positive side the WSXGA resolution will look a lot better).

The attraction of the WSXGA and WUXGA over the WXGA choice is the ability to use these higher resolutions in games, their extra desktop working space, and of course their better picture quality during some scaled applications due to a better pixel pitch. It comes at the cost (some would say), of these smaller text and icons, but not at the cost of performance using the same gaming resolution.


2.(iv)What video card should I choose?

Obviously, this depends upon what you want and the intended usage of your new notebook. Just briefly about each one:

Both Inspiron 8600 & Latitude D800

Choice of:
-> 32MB nVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Go- If you will primarily use the laptop for internet, word processing, DVDs and so on but not for gaming then this is the perfect choice. You do not need a more powerful video card to play DVDs smoothly, they will play just as well with this as with the 128MB card.

-> 64MB nVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Go- Similar to above, but if you also plan on doing some light gaming, perhaps some older games or if you don't mind playing at lower details and such. This has the power to game but is not geared towards high framerates or detail, especially on new games. Perfect for the in-between user.

Inspiron 8600 option only

-> 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 PRO TURBO- This is for all around power on the laptop. This will give you the best gaming and other graphical application performance hence is the best choice for heavy gamers or those wanting to play the latest releases whilst on the road. This card is unecessary and a waste of money better spent on say a faster HD or more RAM if you are not a gamer.

Latitude D800 option only

-> 128MB nVIDIA GeForceFX 5650 Go- This is for all around power on the laptop. This will give you the best gaming and other graphical application performance hence is the best choice for heavy gamers or those wanting to play the latest releases whilst on the road. Not quite as fast as the MR9600PT in the i8600 but still quite good. This card is unecessary and a waste of money better spent on say a faster HD or more RAM if you are not a gamer.

Precision M60 options only

Choice of:
-> 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX Go700- The Quadro brother of the Geforce FX 5650 as in the D800, this is geared towards CAD design and other such software uses. Nice amount of power and most would suffice with this card. Gaming wise is is also about on par with the FX5650, perhaps a little below.

-> 128MB nVIDIA Quadro FX Go1000- This is the most powerful nVIDIA based mobile solution that Dell currently offers, the Quadro equivalent of the Geforce FX 5700. As such for optimal performance in CAD and other such software this is the card of choice, as for gaming this is also quite a nice card to have up your sleeve... knocking on the door of the MR9600PT seen in the i8600.

Both of these cards in the M60, and indeed the M60 itself, are unecessary if you do not use this design and graphics software for either work or pleasure. The M60 is in fact pretty much the same as the D800 but for a few extra configuation options.... at a much more hefty price tag.


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3. Hardware upgrades 1


3.(i) Can I upgrade the Video card in my Laptop?

These models are what was the 'flagship' chassis for well over a year (some would argue still is). Thus there are 4 models here that have virtually identical capabilities (the i8500 used a different motherboard & chipset, but same video form), and that means that there are more cards available to upgrade to. For gamers the two top choices are the 128MB nVIDIA GeForceFX Go5650 and the 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo, both of which are quite powerful (the FX5650 holds ascendency in OpenGL, the MR9600 does in DX9).

For those that use CAD design based programs and need those features there are also two fairly powerful cards available for upgrade, being the 128MB nVIDIA QuadroFX Go700 GL and the 128MB nVIDIA QuadroFX Go1000 GL.

Note: You cannot upgrade to the MR9700 or MR9800 as seen in the i9100 and XPS! These cards are in totally different form factors and thus will not fit, let alone work. So you are limited to the cards as offered in these models, the best of which I have indicated above

Upgrading these cards is very simple, all that needs be done is disconnect all power (including battery), remove the centre console, lift the keyboard, unplug the LCD flex cable and then you have direct access to remove and replace the video card.



For instructions I can direct you to two places, firstly is the service manual at Dell, and secondly is a fantastic guide at Bay Wolf's site, so take your pick. Note the service manual indicates that you remove the display in the procedure, this is completely unecessary so ignore that step.

1. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...eo.htm#1000550
2. http://www.bay-wolf.com/8500video.htm


3.(ii) Can I upgrade the CPU in my Laptop?

Yes you can upgrade the CPU. These models use a Pentium M CPU running at a 400MHz FSB. They are compatible with both the old 'Banias' based chip (1MB L2 cache, up to a maximum 1.7GHz) as well as the 'Dothan' based chip (2MB L2 cache, up to a maximum 2.1GHz). All new orders ship with the newer and superior Dothan based chips now, and I suggest you stick to that path when upgrading... the only advantage of the Banias based chips are lower power consumption at the low speedstep setting, coming at the cost of some performance. Since these are intended to be portable semi-desktop replacements the more powerful Dothans are preferred.



Don't forget some Thermal paste when installing a new CPU in any of these or you may encounter some heat issues which can cause serious damage. I highly recommend Arctic Silver 5 as the best thermal paste on the market at this time.

For installation of a new CPU, the following instructions apply to all three of these models:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...pu.htm#1000550


3.(iii) Can I upgrade the Hard Drive? What can I upgrade it too?

Yes, absolutely you can. All Dell laptops can be upgraded with any standard 2.5" notebook Hard drive. They can take the greatest capacity (100GB) and greatest speed (7200rpm) Hard drives currently available for laptops with no problems, anything that is in that 2.5" format pretty much.

But how to do it? Well it is very simple. But first, keep in mind to transfer the pin adapter from the old hard drive to the new one or it will not connect properly, below is a picture of what is meant by the pin adapter, it fits right onto the pins at the end of the HD.



I personally recommend the Hitachi 7k60 hard drive as the best laptop drive on the market at the moment. It has a decent 60GB capacity and is powered along with a 7200rpm rotational speed and 8MB cache making it super quick. To top this off, it runs cooler than most 4200rpm and 5400rpm laptop HDs and is also quiet, using about the same amount of power as those slower drives so you are not sacrificing battery life. Have a look at the Pricegrabber results for it here, with a listing of vendors and current prices you can find the best deal.

Now the instructions:

The HD caddy can be found next to the PCMCIA slot on the side of the system in these three models, look here:



All that needs to be done is to disconnect all power (including the battery), unscrew the one screw holding the bay in place, pull it out, undo the four screws in the sides holding the HD in the caddy, and take off the pin adapter. Then reverse those steps to install the new one. Following are the appropriate instructions so get going!:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...dd.htm#1123687


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4. Hardware upgrades 2


4.(i) Can I upgrade the Memory? What type of RAM does it take?

Absolutely, upgrading the RAM is very simple and considered a "User upgradeable" component by Dell. These three models have two user-accessible slots that are easily found via a hatch on the bottom of the laptop. The i8600 and M60 both use PC2700 (333MHz) 200-pin SODIMMs with a maximum 2GB.

However for a twist, the D800 uses the same chipset, chassis, motherboard, etc but instead has a 'crippled' BIOS and uses PC2100 (266MHz) 200-pin SODIMMs for a 2GB maximum. However if you flash the D800 with the M60 BIOS then it will be able to use PC2700 like the other two, a process which is generally safe and you will not lose any features.. the systems are fairly similar, close to identical except for hardware options.

In any case, the procedure for memory process is the same no matter which type, simply disconnect all power (including battery), unscrew the memory hatch on the bottom, remove existing RAM if applicable (spread apart the clips on each end of the memory until it pops up and remove), and install the new modules by pushing in at an angle and then push down into place until you hear it click. Replace cover.



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...des.htm#999869


4.(ii) Upgrading/ installing a mini-PCI card

If you did not order a wireless card upon purchase but want one now, or simpy want to upgrade your existing wireless card to a newer or more expansive one (in terms of standards covered), then it is entirely possible. All you need do is order one of the wireless mini-PCI cards from Dell or another vendor, and then follow the simple installation instructions.

The mini-PCI slot in these models are very easily accessible through a separate hatch on the bottom of the system, near the hard drive caddy on the side. Have a look at the instructions following.



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...es.htm#1019173


4.(iii) Can I install a Bluetooth card post-purchase?

Yes you can. The procedure is quite simple, firstly contact Dell Spare parts/ peripherals and place the order for a Bluetooth card. Once that is done it is a simple procedure to install it.

The slot is located where the hard drive is, so you need to remove that caddy first. From here you slot the bluetooth card into place and connect the cable appropriately. Instructions following.



http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ue.htm#1000550


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5. Other useful information


5.(i) Will one of the quicksnap covers from the i600m/i8600/i9100/XPS/i9200 fit my laptop?

Well first thing is first, What is a quicksnap cover? A quicksnap cover such as on the aforementioned models is a plastic sheet that snaps over the top of the LCD back cover. It gives the Inspiron's a unique and personal look without costing too much nor voiding any warranty, so they are a great choice for those wanting a bit of individuality. I myself have the "Graphite Swirl" Quicksnap colour cover for my i8600 and it looks fantastic.

So, can you use one of these quicksnap covers? Unfortunately, of these three models, if you own either the Latitude D800 or the Precision M60 then the answer is no. Due to the shape of the LCD lid and design the quicksnaps will simply not fit. But i8600 owners are in luck, with all the quicksnaps available for the i8500, i8600, i9100 and XPS all being compatible. However note that the covers as seen on the 600m and on the i9200 will not fit, obviously they are made to fit he different sizes of their respective LCDs.

Following are pictures for each design and a link to that design from the US peripherals site where you can order one. Users from other countries will have to e-mail or call their respective Dell branches to order.

Bamboo. Order for i8600 here.

Burlwood. Order for i8600 here.

Graphite swirl. Order for i8600 here.

Red Lava. Order for i8600 here.

Venice Blue. Order for i8600 here.

Unfortunately the three covers offered with the Inspiron XPS are not available through the website, but you can get them by ringing Dell up to place an order. They will cost about the same amount as the regular widescreen ones. In any case, following is what they look like, from left to right is Cipher, Plasma and Skullz. Personally I think they are hideous




5.(ii) What is that USB symbol/ panel on the side of my i8600?

Now, quite regularly we get posed the question, what is that little panel with the USB symbol next to the Media bay? What am I talking about you ask..... have a look at this picture:


Thank-you goes to Bay-wolf for this pic.

This is unfortunately not what it seems, there is no extra USB port on the Inspiron 8600. Then why is this symbol and panel here? Well the Latitude D800 and Precision M60 both share a similar chassis, and in fact the same base plastic as the i8600. On these models this is the location of a powered USB port which is required to run the D/Bay module. On the i8500/ i8600 since this port is not offered they simply covered up the hole with a plastic panel.

In so far as we can tell, there is no easy or feasible way to utilise this hole to put in another USB port, as on the i8600 there is nothing behind the plastic piece, here is to hoping for some ingenious mod
. Meanwhile, D800 and M60 owners, feel free to wear a smug smirk.


5.(iii) Why does the D800 only offer PC2100 (266MHz) RAM compared to the i8600 and M60 at 333MHz? Can this be upgraded?

Like you may have noticed, I mentioned earlier in the upgrade section that the D800 is unusual in that unlike the other two models it sports only PC2100 (266MHz) RAM capabilities. Why this is the case I will never know, because it uses the same chipset as the other two and has this capability.... it just has a cripplied BIOS that allows the chipset to only run the RAM at 266MHz. However this can be circumvented.

The solution is simple, update the D800 BIOS with the BIOS offered at Dell downnloads for the M60. This will enable the D800 to use the full capabilities of its chipset. This will not have any other adverse effect on the system, remember that the models are virtually the same except for the hardware configuration options and so on.


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6. Contributors

I would like to give a big thank-you and express my gratitude to several people whom have made some Contribution to this FAQ whether it be a picture or some useful information. So in alphabetical order (by username):

AbSoluTc-> Fantastic shot of a WUXGA display, kudos to you.

Bay Wolf-> I have referred to his site www.bay-wolf.com several times and it is a very useful source of Dell information, so have a visit!

camaroguy-> Linked to the useful fangui wish list thread.

DELL-Machina-> Provider of several fantastic threads linked in this FAQ, and an all around Guru on the board. Cheers.

gmnstrunr37-> Contributed the WXGA shot, and Xing is one of the legends around the Dell section, good onya!

gobadgrs-> Writer of the fantastic Unofficial guide for getting a killer laptop cheap. Visit this thread it's a great resource for soon-to-be purchasers.

hksscom-> Good side-by-side WSXGA/ WUXGA comparison, appreciated mate.

KCK-> Helped in correcting a few fundamental errors. A lifesaver is this guy.

Madpig-> Thanks for the 14.1" pic man, you have no idea how much of a struggle it is to get these, it's appreciated.

mojoRT-> Provided the two fantastic WSXGA vs WXGA comparison pics, cheers.

odonnelr-> Custom sticker on 600m pic, example of one modification.

shiftaltnumlock-> Provided important ammendment to Dell's i9200 CPU replacement instructions. Props to you.

SilkDawg-> A fellow Aussie was kind enough to offer a picture of how unacceptable LCD light leakage appears. He went through a lot of pain to get that picture to us

Somms-> A few nice additions thanks to somms, you all know him, a legend around these boards.

Spiike-> For a couple of fantastic thread I have linked/ referred to, particularly the amazing Modding thread.

Striker333-> Thanks for the WXGA shot, I was starting to think we'd never get one!

SuperFobSonny-> Contributed some nice shots of Light leakage. Thanks bro.

UnMaTcHeD-> I had forgotton about i9100 owners perhaps eyeing the XPS bag. This bloke hadn't and provided a nice link to where you can get it separately. Good onya!

V.B.-> What can I say, this guy has embraced the whole idea. He has sent me suggestions, written sections and generally been a fantastic help. Pretty much a partner in crime and the FAQ would not be what it is without his numerous contributions. Hands together everyone.

vizionblind-> Helped correct a couple minor issues/ links.

WScottCross-> A great shot of the WSXGA, cheers.

And hopefully I have not missed anyone at this stage, sorry if I have.


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