Precision M6400 Laptop shipped with wrong CPU

Question

I am curious if this has happened to anyone else or if I was just a simple one time mistake... I ordered the new M6400 Covet Edition - awesome laptop. Because of a need at work to run multiple virtual servers for sales demos I needed the fastest CPU and tons of RAM. I ordered the QX9300 12MB L2 Quad Core CPU. This was the ONLY Quad Core Listed. In my build sheet there was a typo - it said "Dual Core QX9300 12MB...". So I called sales to confirm that this was actually the QX9300 QUAD. Well, when I received the laptop it had a Q9300 QUAD CORE CPU. This is NOT the same CPU. The Q9300 has 6MB of L2 cache as well as some other minor differences - and a significant price difference. Odd thing was, the Q9300 does not appear on any of the Dell configurator pages. The BIOS, SiSoft Sandra, CPUID and the Intel CPU Identification Utility all identified this CPU as a Q9300 with 6MB L2. I even called Intel to see if there was ever a case when a QX9300 would report as a Q9300 and I was assured that it would never happen.

OK - called Customer service. Took several people before a tech was conferenced in so that someone understood the problem. From that point Dell placed a replacement order and sent a call tag for the original - with no issues, so I have no complaints as to how it was handled.

It makes me wonder though - how many people ordered the QX9300 and received a Q9300 and don't even realize it?

MatwithM6400wro · Answer

It makes me wonder though - how many people ordered the QX9300 and received a Q9300 and don't even realize it?

Hi Chris,

I just checked my system, and guess what... me too! Straight on the phone to Dell and quoted your post. A technician will be arriving on Monday to sort this out.

Might I suggest, if you want this sorted quickly, contact Dell Tech Support (not Customer Services)

Thanks for the heads up!

Upstate_Chris · Answer

Two reasons I will not go the support route:

1) Dell already sent a call ticket and already picked up the first laptop, so too late.

2) About 4 years ago I ordered the brand new, at the time, Dell Inspiron XPS laptop with a 3.4GHz Extreme Edition CPU - a $600 option over the 3.2GHz EE at the time. Laptop arrived with the 3.2GHz CPU. Called Dell, tech came out about 3 weeks later (apparently the 3.4's were hard to come by) and swapped the motherboard, along with the CPU. Since then the plastic pieces never fit on right and the system was riddled with problems having techs come out about a dozen times in 4 years. Since that laptop used a desktop CPU and is known for have heat issues, I am not sure if the tech issues were related - but I know the fit and finish issues were because of the swap. For the $5K I just dropped on the Covet - I want to at least have a period of time where I feel like I am on a new, not a remanufactured, laptop. If this was a $600 Latitude for work I wouldn't care, but in this case - and with my money - it is important, at least to me.

JimBob1971 · Answer

Please see here

Upstate_Chris · Answer

OK, my last post was deleted by Dell, so let me try this again in a different mannor...

My replacement laptop was received today. The BIOS still reports the CPU as a Q9300. I have spoken to both a Dell and an Intel support rep that have told me BIOS should report QX9300. Also read on another forum that it will report Q9300. So just trying to get some clarification. Anyone ever seen "QX9300" in the BIOS? Any input greatly appreciated.

mezosi.jozsef · Answer

I've ordered also a new M6400 Covet with the following CPU:

Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme Quad Core QX9300 (2.53GHz,12MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)

What I realized during the analysis of the CPU

1. BIOS says: Q9300

2. Intel Processor Identification Utility says:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme CPU Q9300 @ 2.53Ghz (System bus 1066Mhz, L2Cache Memory 12MB).

3. OS Device Manager says exactly the same as above

What is interesting:

1. On the Intel site

-there is no extreme q9300 cpu

- and there is no q9300 with L2Cache 12MB

DougWP · Answer

I also beleive this is exactly what has happened to me. the original quote matches the same typo you described. I need to go home and check... What has led me to look into any BLOG has been the following problem.

I have been seeing problems that appear to be heat related as when i run graphics intensive applications and the let it run 10-15 with the internal fan running the screen blacks out, the machine continues to run and be responsive but the display will not come back without a reboot. When the video shuts off the fan slows down within 30 seconds but it does not recover no matter how much time i give it. ** Note that all BIOS and OS possible interference has been turned off, so there is no "screen saver" or power saving option going into effect at the time of failure. This machine is configured with the 1gb Nvidia graphics option which may be contributing to the heat issues.

patsaison · Answer

Did you get the issue clarified? After reading your post, I checked my M6400, says Q9300, and my order did also say QX9300. I did a CPUID Check and the result shows Precessor name as "Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300", but Specification says "Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Extreme CPU Q9300 @ 2.53 GHz", ao I am still confused. Cores is shown as "4" and Threads is shown as "4". I insert the picture file showing the CPUID check. What do you think? Is it the QX9300 or not? Please let me know.

DELL-Mano G · Answer

Hello all.  This is a known Intel issue.  The Intel chip can only report 5 digits and the QX9300 has 6 digits to report to the BIOS. You are receiving the correct CPU. Mano@Dell

bstraylor · Answer

Win 7 will show it as an 'extreme mobil processor q9300'.  So it does know what it's dealing with.

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Precision M6400 Laptop shipped with wrong CPU

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