I got this thing a while back on ebay, found a seller that were selling them new, just sat in a closet. got 2 of em! For the price and features these are the tankyiest laptop I will ever own. I absolutely love it but still need to find a use for them. Nice vid!
The red keyboard backlight is a good color for night use. A lot of cockpits use red lighting when operating at night so you don't wreck your night adjusted eyes.
I want to do a CPU upgrade on mine to an i7-2720qm seems like the only ones that can use this CPU are the ones with the Nvidia graphics does yours have an Nvidia graphics card?
Haha yeah, good thing I could hear it from the car or I would have been panicking. I saw the laptop was fine when I got out and then heard it on the replay.
Thanks for the review. Years ago I was I awe over this laptop, as it look rugged as a ruggedized laptop should look. Time to see if I can get it on a bargain deal. PS... you're use of duct/gun tape...APPROVED! 👍🏼👍🏼
@@LaptopRetrospective the trick with duct tape is to cut a piece to cover more than the hole you are trying to patch, to add some tension. Also, heat makes the tape stick longer, so the more you use it, the tougher it gets.
Hi, how would you compare these to more modern dell rugged laptops? Im torn between three laptops ive found. Rugged Dell Latitude E6420 XFR i7 ($350), Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged i7-8650U ($500), Dell Latitude 5430 i5-1145G7 ($850). I think the oldest cpu people should be getting these days would be an 8th gen but i cannot find many reviews on the newer models as in depth as yours.
Unfortunately I have no experience with newer Dell rugged machines. They are normally pretty rare here and are priced higher. The XFR is their more durable line though.
Are you sure the little "arm" from the heat sink was the CPU? I think the GPU is under the heat pipes next to the CPU, the other chip being the chipset.
I would love to see an upgrade list on this. I was gifted one of these yesterdays because its "useless" and I would love to update it enough to be viable
Glad you enjoyed! When I replayed the footage and heard that sound I was nervous but then when I found the clip that gave out I couldn't help but laugh.
I won one of these in an eBay auction yesterday. It was a bit of a guilty purchase and I almost hoped that I was going to be outbid at the last minute. But, it's mine. I've wanted one for ages now but couldn't justify paying what they usually go for when up for a 'buy it now' price. I actually got the i7 and 8Gb RAM, and an SSD.
@@LaptopRetrospective The laptop arrived today. I actually got really lucky. It's certainly been well used but the interior (screen and keyboard) is almost like new. Plus it's actually the Core i7 vPro version and has the touchscreen, webcam, and Bluetooth!
It's a very special bag that was made in collaboration with TAG and a Canadian Forces contracted company, only a handful were made. TAG might still sell that pattern of pack.
The only thing I wish Dell had done differently would be hiding the labels on the bottom in a protective panel as that would prevent the labels from fading out.
@@LaptopRetrospective It boggles my mind they made such a mistake in a what would otherwise be considered a well engineered laptop. Some of the information present on those labels could actually be crucial, for example when taking the laptop to a service center for a repair (they need the serial number to check the validity of the machine's warranty) or if one has to reinstall a copy of Windows 7 and needs to use the product key to activate Windows. I believe on the non XFR version of the E6420, the COA is located under the battery, thus protecting the label against wear and tear. Which is just ironic to me.
I think they were against a rock and a hard place where to put it. Battery compartment door interior would be the only place I can think of but even then, that isn't enough room. Mylar sticker from the factory would probably have been the best idea.
These things aren't really an issue and the nature of the stickers is that they're pretty much disposable anyway, only really needing to be kept intact until the unit reaches the initial customer. Companies and organizations more than likely keep digital records of this information anyway. The service tag (serial number) on all Dell laptops is also embedded digitally and can be accessed through the BIOS/UEFI, so whatever happens to trivial items such as stickers means you don't lose access to the most important thing... the service tag.
I've been bouncing around a theory in my head for a couple days now and so far I cannot seem to find anything that would suggest me that it wouldn't work... E6430 models used the exact same case and motherboard design/layout as their older E6420 brethren...which share theirs with the XFR... so I believe an E6430 (standard or ATG) motherboard can be installed in an E6420 XFR case. I need to find out, for science.
@@LaptopRetrospective that's the thing.. I believe most of the hardware is built into the motherboard or dumb anyway so it won't care. I've looked at dozens of photos of all board revisions of the 5 models in question, schematics and maintenance manuals for most of them too... Still not finding anything glaringly obvious that says it wouldn't physically work. All down to software really, but I can't think of many reasons why that wouldn't work either; the normal/ATG/XFR of each series share the same firmware images.
I think it'll cost me around $350-400 to find out, and so far nobody has managed to dissuade me from trying with a good argument for why I shouldn't... My wife might think otherwise, but I tell her I could either be into collecting/fixing/modding retro laptops or classic cars, and the former are cheaper and don't leave oilspots on your driveway 😂
@@LaptopRetrospective might want to get your hands on for-parts XFRs and 6430 motherboards, if it works the value on those will go up just like T60/T61 parts 😂 Success or fail, I want to document it because I couldn't find even one account of someone attempting it.
@@LaptopRetrospective to bad, I love this laptop at first sight, but I'm not a collector so I don't have a reason to get it for my needs. Thankyou for answering.
Canadian flag..... I'm offended on behalf of America. It's George Washingtons biggest mistake. I am ashamed. Lol not serious. Interesting video. Can it survive a group of toddlers? 😂 Sticky fingers, toys dropping, dropping the laptop.... I can barely survive them, can it?
Can't wait! I used to own a normal E6420, but I've never heard of the XFR.
I think you'll find it fun.
"Duct tape that has gone out of hand" has to be one of my favorite lines of 2020. Great look at this tough machine!
Gun tape is serious business. That one roll is over 15 years old.
I always say that old ThinkPads are built like tanks. But this XFR is an actual tank.
Yeah, credit where credit is due. I can't think of a ThinkPad that would survive that as well.
Yeah I noticed that as well. I would hate to see the result it you hit someone with this thing
They'd think twice about getting back up. 9 pounds.
When you don't have a weapon, you can use a this laptop :D
Effective range is only limited by the length of your arm.
I got this thing a while back on ebay, found a seller that were selling them new, just sat in a closet. got 2 of em! For the price and features these are the tankyiest laptop I will ever own. I absolutely love it but still need to find a use for them. Nice vid!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Let us know what you decide to use them for.
The red keyboard backlight is a good color for night use. A lot of cockpits use red lighting when operating at night so you don't wreck your night adjusted eyes.
Yep, red light also tends to be less visible at a distance.
@@LaptopRetrospective jesus christ is not lol, light is light,
Do any reading on this by chance? Purkinje Effect for example.
Sweet find. I have a ATG that is similar but I think the XFR looks a lot beefier
I've looked at an ATG and they are rugged, but I wouldn't have driven over it with a car, permission or no.
I upgraded mine to an i7-2820qm quad core 8 thread, 16GB RAM, and is still performing like new.
That's a beastly machine.
I want to do a CPU upgrade on mine to an i7-2720qm seems like the only ones that can use this CPU are the ones with the Nvidia graphics does yours have an Nvidia graphics card?
@@elcoki34 Yes, it's an Nvidia K1000M.
Thanks.
You're welcome!
_that's not a ThinkPad competitor_
*it's Toughbook rival!*
I'd agree with that statement but not all tough books are equal.
Wow, the ultimate laptop for the zombie apocalypse! I have to admit the cracking sound gave me a bit of a heart attack, glad it was nothing serious!
Haha yeah, good thing I could hear it from the car or I would have been panicking. I saw the laptop was fine when I got out and then heard it on the replay.
Thanks for the review. Years ago I was I awe over this laptop, as it look rugged as a ruggedized laptop should look. Time to see if I can get it on a bargain deal.
PS... you're use of duct/gun tape...APPROVED! 👍🏼👍🏼
Glad you approve my temporary fix. It didn't stop it from being able to handle the car on top of it.
@@LaptopRetrospective the trick with duct tape is to cut a piece to cover more than the hole you are trying to patch, to add some tension. Also, heat makes the tape stick longer, so the more you use it, the tougher it gets.
Yeah the heat trick works great for regular duct tape, but for this crazy stuff you're fine. 😉
Hi, how would you compare these to more modern dell rugged laptops? Im torn between three laptops ive found. Rugged Dell Latitude E6420 XFR i7 ($350), Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged i7-8650U ($500), Dell Latitude 5430 i5-1145G7 ($850). I think the oldest cpu people should be getting these days would be an 8th gen but i cannot find many reviews on the newer models as in depth as yours.
Unfortunately I have no experience with newer Dell rugged machines. They are normally pretty rare here and are priced higher. The XFR is their more durable line though.
I wish this thing didn't cost a thousand bucks used. I'd 100% rock one of these, it doesn't even need a carrying case, it is its own carrying case.
Are you sure the little "arm" from the heat sink was the CPU? I think the GPU is under the heat pipes next to the CPU, the other chip being the chipset.
I'm not sure, it was a guess. 😁
I would love to see an upgrade list on this. I was gifted one of these yesterdays because its "useless" and I would love to update it enough to be viable
Sadly there isn't a huge amount of room for the hardware to be upgraded. The age of the CPU is the big piece.
hardcore!
edit: i see expresscard, i think eGPU! that second battery would be awesome too!
Very, if it has to survive, it has to be one of these.
The squished plastic clip make me laugh hard! Anyway great content, as always
Glad you enjoyed! When I replayed the footage and heard that sound I was nervous but then when I found the clip that gave out I couldn't help but laugh.
@@LaptopRetrospective yeah, when I heard the crack I was like "oh fuck", then I laugh hard later!
Yeah, my reaction was very similar.
I won one of these in an eBay auction yesterday. It was a bit of a guilty purchase and I almost hoped that I was going to be outbid at the last minute. But, it's mine. I've wanted one for ages now but couldn't justify paying what they usually go for when up for a 'buy it now' price. I actually got the i7 and 8Gb RAM, and an SSD.
Fantastic! I hope you enjoy it. It's a great conversation piece of nothing else.
@@LaptopRetrospective The laptop arrived today. I actually got really lucky. It's certainly been well used but the interior (screen and keyboard) is almost like new. Plus it's actually the Core i7 vPro version and has the touchscreen, webcam, and Bluetooth!
Very cool! Enjoy it.
Sir what is the procedure of touch callibration of this book I have this book but I face touch out
You're certain that the model you have has it? If so check Dell for drivers and utilities. I can't remember what exactly it might be.
@@LaptopRetrospective ok sir thank you I try my best
where can you buy the bag you got?
It's a very special bag that was made in collaboration with TAG and a Canadian Forces contracted company, only a handful were made. TAG might still sell that pattern of pack.
Counting down the time.....
I hope you find it worth the wait. 😁
The only thing I wish Dell had done differently would be hiding the labels on the bottom in a protective panel as that would prevent the labels from fading out.
Yeah, that was an afterthought. I didn't need to worry about the serial number on camera because even I couldn't read it.
@@LaptopRetrospective It boggles my mind they made such a mistake in a what would otherwise be considered a well engineered laptop. Some of the information present on those labels could actually be crucial, for example when taking the laptop to a service center for a repair (they need the serial number to check the validity of the machine's warranty) or if one has to reinstall a copy of Windows 7 and needs to use the product key to activate Windows. I believe on the non XFR version of the E6420, the COA is located under the battery, thus protecting the label against wear and tear. Which is just ironic to me.
I think they were against a rock and a hard place where to put it. Battery compartment door interior would be the only place I can think of but even then, that isn't enough room. Mylar sticker from the factory would probably have been the best idea.
These things aren't really an issue and the nature of the stickers is that they're pretty much disposable anyway, only really needing to be kept intact until the unit reaches the initial customer. Companies and organizations more than likely keep digital records of this information anyway. The service tag (serial number) on all Dell laptops is also embedded digitally and can be accessed through the BIOS/UEFI, so whatever happens to trivial items such as stickers means you don't lose access to the most important thing... the service tag.
Fair point.
How to overclock up to 2.7Ghz.
I've been bouncing around a theory in my head for a couple days now and so far I cannot seem to find anything that would suggest me that it wouldn't work... E6430 models used the exact same case and motherboard design/layout as their older E6420 brethren...which share theirs with the XFR... so I believe an E6430 (standard or ATG) motherboard can be installed in an E6420 XFR case. I need to find out, for science.
Interesting idea. Would the connectors for all the hardware be the same? Would be a nightmare if it didn't recognize the other hardware.
@@LaptopRetrospective that's the thing.. I believe most of the hardware is built into the motherboard or dumb anyway so it won't care. I've looked at dozens of photos of all board revisions of the 5 models in question, schematics and maintenance manuals for most of them too... Still not finding anything glaringly obvious that says it wouldn't physically work. All down to software really, but I can't think of many reasons why that wouldn't work either; the normal/ATG/XFR of each series share the same firmware images.
I think it'll cost me around $350-400 to find out, and so far nobody has managed to dissuade me from trying with a good argument for why I shouldn't... My wife might think otherwise, but I tell her I could either be into collecting/fixing/modding retro laptops or classic cars, and the former are cheaper and don't leave oilspots on your driveway 😂
Good argument. Let me know how it goes if you do it.
@@LaptopRetrospective might want to get your hands on for-parts XFRs and 6430 motherboards, if it works the value on those will go up just like T60/T61 parts 😂 Success or fail, I want to document it because I couldn't find even one account of someone attempting it.
Is it worth it buying it 2021?
If durability is the name of the game and average specs for basic tasks will meet your needs.
wow
Yep.
But can it run Crysis?
Hah, doubtful. At least not without an eGPU in that Express Card Slot.
Oh I see a Getac Rival 😁.
You do? Where? Oh, under the tire.
@@LaptopRetrospective Exactly!
I see this laptop in my local online store for 500 bucks. If this laptops processor can be upgraded to at least 4th gen, I'll get it without blinking.
Don't think it can go that high.
@@LaptopRetrospective to bad, I love this laptop at first sight, but I'm not a collector so I don't have a reason to get it for my needs. Thankyou for answering.
If you try to destroy it with your hand without any weapon, your hand will be destroyed by the laptop lol
No doubt it is tough.
Thanks for a good video.
Can I send you money to purchase one of these for me?
No, sorry I'm not a store. Best of luck on your search.
It is actually 16gb ram compatible
Probably a case of the modules not being around when they drew up the spec sheet.
Canadian flag..... I'm offended on behalf of America. It's George Washingtons biggest mistake. I am ashamed. Lol not serious. Interesting video. Can it survive a group of toddlers? 😂 Sticky fingers, toys dropping, dropping the laptop.... I can barely survive them, can it?
I think toddlers would put up a good fight, but this would come out on top. Hang in there. For Washington.