New and interesting things about E3 (Latitude Exx20) systems

1.    One of the greatest changes in the design of the E3 series systems is that the rubber feet are now part of the bottom cover, no longer part of the Bottom Mag assy (chassis) and can be easily replaced by sending a new bottom cover.

2.    NVidia Optimus switchable graphics is similar in nature to the Vostro 3xxx switchable graphics in using Intel integrated graphics for load video loading issues, and switching to NVidia graphics for high end graphics.  (OPTIMUS Enabled systems are:  E6520, E6420, E6420XFR, E6420ATG) There are several differences that I will enumerate here:

a.    Unlike the Vostro Switchable Graphics, Optimus can be disabled in the BIOS.  When disabled, the system uses the NVidia 4200M Chipset EXCLUSIVELY and the Intel Integrated graphics is DISABLED.

b.    When installing Graphic drivers and Optimus is ENABLED, install Intel Graphics drivers, reboot, then install the NVidia driver (They are not installed together like the Vostro).

c.     There have been some documented issues with OPTIMUS and installation of some popular applications (Microsoft Office, WordPerfect) the 1^st troubleshooting step for software install issues is DISABLE OPTIMUS in BIOS and try again.

d.    If OPTIMUS is DISABLED in BIOS, the LCDBIST in the ePSA will fail with a black screen (if you press no after the color bars), either enable OPTIMUS in BIOS before ePSA or run LCDBIST from Power+D Key.

3.    The E3 series systems have ePSA (Enhanced PSA) graphic diagnostics, at the beginning of the DIAG is a 5 second MEMORY test on a blue screen then the diagnostics begins.

4.    Fn + F5 enable/disables the touchpad, this can be a call driver.

5.    The E6420 the mute button is just forward of the fingerprint swipe, and can easily be muted with a fingerprint log in.

6.    The E5520 and E6520 have full 104 Key keyboards.

7.    All E3 systems have Backlit keyboard options.  Backlight settings are controlled by Dell Control Point System Manager (Only E3 Control Point Application)  Backlight can be toggled with Fn+Right Arrow.

8.    USB 3.0 is ONLY available via E-Mod Bay USB device (replaces Optical Drive).

9.    All E3 have HDMI (E6320 has Mini-HDMI).

10.  E3 do not have BluRay or Latitude On in any form.

11.  E3 systems do not have a slot connection for the keyboard, so keyboard issues are not replated to the palmrest like previous E series systems.

12.  E3 does not have a battery slice and cannot use E1/2 slice.

13.  No Lock Light LEDs, diag LED indications are produced by HDD, Batt and WiFi LEDs.  Some models have a Caps Lock Led built into the key, Scroll and Numlock are on-screen displayed.

14.  New touchpad software interface.