Just to provide an idea what all that processor generation jockeying means, compared to the 2nd generation "Sandy Bridge" family, equivalent 3rd generation Intel Core processors, based on 22nm instead of 32nm manufacturing, deliver up to 15% more CPU performance, up to 60% more 3D graphics performance, and up to 1.8x transcode speed via Quick Sync Video. Combined with native USB 3.0 and PCIe 3.0 support, 3rd gen-based systems can process higher data loads and provide quicker, richer and more complex visuals. Overall, "Ivy Bridge" offers increased efficiency, lower power consumption, and better graphics performance. But what about 4th generation "Haswell" chips? Are ATG customers missing out? Not necessarily. Haswell's primary benefits are in power efficiency, and as you'll see, the current ATG is not lacking in that department.

Dell often switches available processors, so what's available for the ATG when you read this may be different from our specs. As of this writing (August 2013), Dell's semi-rugged ATG laptops can be ordered with a choice of four processors. From bottom to top, they are the dual-core 2.7GHz (3.4GHz with turbo boost) Core i5-3340M, 2.9GHz (3.6GHz with turbo boost) Core i5-3380M, 3.0GHz (3.7GHz with turbo boost), Core i7-3540M, and the top-of-the-line quad-core 2.7GHz (3.7GHz with turbo boost) Core i7-3740QM. The dual-core versions have a thermal design power of 35 watts, the quad-core chip one of 45 watts, and all are what Intel calls "standard voltage" mobile processors, as opposed to the low voltage and ultra-low voltage versions. For a detailed comparison of these four processors, see here.

Our eval unit came equipped with a Core i7-3520M (one of the chips that have apparently been dropped), the optional nVidia NVS 5200M discrete graphics card, and a 256GB SSD. To see what kind of performance the so-equipped ATG can deliver, we ran our standard benchmark suite, Passmark Software's PerformanceTest 6.1. It runs about 30 tests covering CPU, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, and disk and then computes scores for each category and an overall PassMark score. We also ran our second benchmark suite, CrystalMark, for confirmation and additional information. For comparison, we included RuggedPCReview lab's most recent benchmarks for the fully-rugged Dell XFR, a business-class Fujitsu laptop, the also semi-rugged GammaTech SA14 which came to us with the same processor as the ATG, and as an example for an Ivy Bridge device with a ultra-low voltage processor, the Panasonic FZ-G1 tablet. The results are as follows:

Unlike most notebooks, the ATG doesn't have any removable doors in its bottom plate to provide access to RAM memory and internal expansion slots. So if you want to replace memory or one of the PCIe modules, or if maintenance becomes necessary, you have to take the entire bottom plate off. That means first removing the two rear corner guards (rubberized plastic), and then undo seven small Philips head screws. The bottom half of the housing then comes off, and there aren't any wires or connectors that connect the two halves to worry about.

The contoured and very light bottom half at first looks like thin plastic, but it's actually very thin magnesium. Here, it also becomes immediately obvious that the ATG is not a water- or dust-proof unit. There is no rubber seal around the perimeter of the housing, and there are several openings for the fan, heat exchanger, optical drive and mass storage.

The picture to the right shows the bottom inside of the ATG after the bottom cover has been removed. As expected, the internal layout is quite complex, with boards and modules mounted on the main board or onto the internal subframe, very precisely fitting into neatly allocated spaces.

Even though the internal layout is complex, components such as RAM memory, WiFi (ours had a Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 half-card), GPS, and other wireless modules, as well as the various antenna blocks, are easily accessible.

The curved copper tubing is part of the ATG's thermal management system. It serves as a conduit from the heat spreader plate sitting on top of the processor and chipset, and moves it to the quiet fan/heat-exchanger unit. We generally prefer fanless designs for rugged and semi-rugged systems, but even efficient components in this class of machine do generate a lot of heat that must be removed to facilitate longevity and performance under less than ideal thermal circumstances.

Overall, the interior of the ATG reveals careful planning and impressive execution. Note, for example, how some of the antenna wires have their own dedicated guides cast right into the magnesium chassis. That sort of detail adds expense, but also means the wires will never get crimped, adding to reliability.

The image to the right shows the solid state disk installed in our review ATG. It's a 256GB 2.5-inch Samsung SM841 Series that not only contributed to the excellent overall performance numbers of this machine, but is also much less prone to damage than any rotating hard disk can be. The SSD has soft rubber isolators on each side, adding further protection, and it's externally accessible for quick removal upon undoing two small screws, something enterprises and government agencies increasingly demand for security reasons.

For those interested in how the semi-rugged ATG compares inside to the fully-rugged XFR, the picture below shows them side-by-side. Even though the current ATG and XFR models stem from different Latitude generations, overall architecture is remarkably similar with many components found in the same place. The XFR is heavier and sturdier and its inside is sealed, but the ATG benefits from many of the same ruggedness principles and the same meticulous execution.

Makers of rugged and semi-rugged laptops have negotiated those trends in various ways. Some are still staying with the old 4:3 aspect ratio rugged laptops have been using for many years, keeping them compatible with docks and mounts. Since Dell's semi-rugged and rugged models are loosely based on the Latitude consumer laptop line, the ATG and XFR models have had wide-format displays for years. The ATG's measures 14 inches diagonally and has a 16:9 aspect ratio with 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution. That's a wider version of the 1024 x 768 XGA standard still very common in vertical market custom software. In this era of "retina" displays and smartphones with full 1920 x 1080 pixel 1080p resolution, however, the ATG's screen lis beginning to look a little coarse. We do wish the consumer E6430's optional higher resolution (1600 x 900 pixel) display would be available for the ATG.

With regard to LCD outdoor viewability, Dell has been a pioneer. As far back as 2007, Dell gave the ATG a display that had its screen cover optically bonded to the LCD, thus eliminating the reflections from the LCD surface, eliminating the need to AR-coat the bottom of the screen cover, and eliminating the air gap. The methods Dell applied reduced overall reflectivity and resulted in a very good effective contrast ratio. At the time, we termed it "definitely readable in sunlight." That was rare back then.

But time hasn't stood still, and by now outdoor-viewable displays are available from all of the major rugged laptop vendors. Some are offering screen brightness of up to 1,500 nits, and optical treatments are continually refined. Dell describes the current ATG's "Wide View" screen as an outdoor viewable display with anti-glare treatment. We don't know how that differs from the "DirectVue" display enhancements that come with the fully rugged XFR model.

A resistive touch screen is available as a US$375 option. Our review unit had it, but the ATG doesn't have the nifty stylus garage the XFR has. Those using the ATG with Windows 8 may want to get the touch screen; for Windows 7, the upgrade price is steep and resistive touch doesn't offer much additional value.

For illustration, the pictures below are a side-by-side comparison between the 14-inch ATG screen and that of another enterprise-class notebook we're currently testing, a Fujitsu Lifebook E733. Though designed primarily for indoor use, the Lifebook display is actually quite good, remains readable outdoors, and has, like the ATG, mercifully abandoned the glossy displays that bedeviled practically every consumer notebook the last few years.

The first picture below shows the two machines outside in very bright summer daylight, in a semi-shaded spot with lots of potential for reflections. Both laptops' anti-glare screens easily handle reflections, but the ATG's display is noticeably brighter.

The picture below shows the two laptops on an open meadow in bright sunshine. This is the worst possible scenario for transmissive displays, and it absolutely pushes the limit with what is possible today via combinations of direct bonding and optical treatments. The ATG handles the task somewhat better than the Lifebook. Years ago, laptop screens became totally unreadable under such conditions. Current display technology, while still far from perfect, does provide a degree of viewability even in bright sunlight.

Next a picture with the laptops still in bright daylight, but in a shaded area. Once again, there is a total absence of annoying reflections on both screens, indicating the superiority of semi-matte display surfaces for this sort of deployment. The ATG display, again, is a good deal brighter, making it easier to use and read.

We consider viewing angle to be an important spec of a laptop screen. A perfect viewing angle means you can look at the screen from any angle, horizontal or vertical, and the image clarity, brightness and color never changes. The ATG's screen has a perfect horizontal viewing angle. The picture below shows that you can also look at it from above without the image changing. Looking at it from below, however, results in significant color shifts.

Semi-rugged

How tough and rugged is the Latitude 6430 ATG? Considerably more so than a standard notebook. Drops from a desk or coffee spilled onto the keyboard won't faze the ATG whereas they can kill a lesser laptop. That said, "semi-rugged" means only IP5x sealing (protected against dust) instead of the IP65 rating (which would mean fully protected against dust and also to water spray from all over) of the XFR. Dell mentions additional MIL-STD-810G testing that, according to promotional materials, "helps ensure protection from extreme temperatures, vibration, dust and high altitudes," but Dell doesn't offer specifics on its web page.

Unfortunately, most vendors of semi-rugged laptops and other mobile computing gear are vague when describing just how much abuse a product can take.

Part of the problem is that there really is no official definition of what "semi-rugged" means. It's tougher than a consumer laptop, but not as tough as a fully rugged one (and the term "rugged" isn't really defined either).

The other part is that what generally falls into the "semi-rugged" category doesn't sound very impressive. Claims of surviving a 2-1/2 foot drop are common here, compared to the four feet and higher for fully rugged machines. But 2-1/2 feet means the device can fall from a rather tall desk without breaking. That's pretty good. Semi-rugged devices aren't sealed either. Dust can get in, and water, too. Primarily, the protection such devices offer is against accidental spills, and perhaps a bit of rain. That's all reasonable and acceptable, but since Dell does refer to MIL-STD-810G testing, the actual results should be available to prospective customers.

All that said, the fairly vague description of the ATG's toughness is unfortunate because it actually is a solid, very trust-inspiring machine. There's almost none of the creakiness and flex so common with plastic consumer laptops. And much to Dell's credit, for this latest ATG model, the company has scaled back the flowery prose in earlier ATG marketing materials and replaced it with more straightforward information about the materials and methods used to make the machine tougher. There are still many references to various trademarked Dell terms such as "Tri-Metal", "ExpressCharge" batteries, "StrikeZone," "ImageWatch" and similar, but that's what everyone does. As is, the new materials more clearly describe what those terms actually mean. Now all we'd like to see is easier access to the actual testing data.

Summary: The Dell E6430 ATG semi-rugged notebook

The Dell Latitude 6430 ATG is a fortified and toughened-up version of Dell's consumer and enterprise line of Latitude E6430 computers. It's designed to be a full-size workhorse computer for use in environments and conditions where a standard plain-vanilla laptop might not survive. It's not as extreme, heavy, and expensive as Dell's fully rugged Latitude XFR, but it's definitely much tougher than a standard Latitude. As such, the ATG is a strong direct competitor to semi-rugged laptops from Panasonic, Getac, GammaTech, and the like.

While the ATG version offers significantly more protection against damage than standard Latitude models, it also benefits from the timely inclusion of advanced and state-of-the art electronics mass market manufacturers like Dell have easy access to. The Intel 3rd Generation Core i5 and i7 processors available in the ATG provide excellent performance as well as remarkable battery life, especially with the extended life 97 watt-hour battery that came with our test sample. For even longer battery life, Dell offers a secondary media bay battery.

The ATG's 14-inch display is semi-matte. Combined with a variety of optical treatments, makes for good overall outdoor viewability with just a minimum of glare and muted reflection. We would like to see the 1,600 x 900 pixel option available with standard Latitude 6430 models.

The 6430 ATG is "semi-rugged," which means it can take some bumps and spills, and it feels very solid. Protective doors and bumpers keep ports and the housing from getting damaged, but keep in mind that spillproof doesn't mean waterproof. For really rough jobs you'd want the Latitude XFR version.

Design, finish, and execution of the Dell 6430 ATG are up to high standards, and it's technologically up-to-date as well. This makes the ATG a strong contender for uses and deployments where a standard business laptop may just not be quite tough enough.

Dell 6430 ATG highlights:

• An attractive and overall very competent contender in the semi-rugged laptop market
• Very solid and well-made
• Excellent performance with third generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors
• Impressive battery life
• Optional nVidia discrete graphics
• Bright display with good outdoor viewability
• Protective bumpers and protective doors for all ports
• Clean, uncluttered backlit keyboard
• Very responsive capacitive touch pad
• Resistive touch screen available
• Reasonable starting price

But keep in mind:

• "Semi-rugged" means just that
• Capacitive touch pad can't be used with gloves
• Attractive options can quickly boost the price
• Wimpy protective doors
• Otherwise nicely designed handle interferes with SD card slot and doesn't fold out of the way
• Vertical viewing angle limited
• Full ruggedness specs don't seem to be available

– Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, August 2013

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Dell Latitude E6430 ATG Specifications Added/changed Added 05/2013, full review 08/2013 Type Semi-rugged notebook computer CPU Intel Core i7 3740QM (2.7/3.7GHz, 6MB cache, 45 watts, 4 cores/8 threads) Intel Core i7 3540M (3.0/3.7GHz, 4MB cache, 35 watts, 2 cores/4 threads) Intel Core i5 3380M (2.9/3.6GHz, 3MB cache, 35 watts, 2 cores/4 threads) Intel Core i5 3340M (2.7/3.4GHz, 3MB cache, 35 watts, 2 cores/4 threads) OS Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium or Ultimate Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro 64-bit Chipset Intel Mobile QM77 Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000; optional discrete NVIDIA NVS 5200M w/ 1GB GDDR5 Memory 2GB to 8GB DDR3-1600MHz SDRAM Display Outdoor-viewable TFT with anti-glare coatings, LED backlight Display size and resolution 14.0-inch/1366 x 768 pixel wide, outdoor-viewable, anti-glare, impact-resistant glass Digitizer/Pens Resistive touchscreen optionally available Keyboard Integrated standard or backlit 87-key, 100% scale, multi-touch touchpad Storage 320, 500 or 750GB hard drive OR 128GB or 256GB Solid State Drive (256GB Samsung SSD SM841-Series in our test machine) OR 500GB hybrid hard drive Multimedia Pocket Select one from: DVD-ROM or DVD+/-RW, secondary hard drive, secondary battery, USB 3.0, extra ports Slots 1 ExpressCard 54, SD memory card reader, 1 full and 2 half mini card slots Housing Anodized aluminum display back, magnesium alloy wrapped corners, Magnesium bottom-plate, steel hinges, and powder-coated base Temperature refers to MIL-STD 810G Humidity refers to MIL-STD 810G Vibration refers to MIL-STD 810G Sand and Dust IP5x Salt Fog NA Enclosure Class IP5X Altitude refers to MIL-STD 810G Shock: Functional 2-1/2 foot drop Shock: Transit Drop refers to MIL-STD 810G Certifications Regulatory Type: P25G002 Size (inches) 14.1 x 9.75 x 1.14 to 1.48 inches (358 x 248 x 29-38 mm) Weight Starting at 5.9 lbs. with 6-cell battery; review unit with 9-cell battery and metal handle 6.8 pounds. Power 6-cell 11.1V 60Wh Li-Ion, optional 9-cell 97Wh Li-Ion (in our machine), optional 87Wh long life cycle Li-Ion, optional 3-cell 30Wh modular bay battery Communication Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 / Advanced-N + WiMAX 62503 / Ultimate-N 6300, Dell WirelessTM 1504 (802.11n 1x1) / 1540 (802.11n 2x2); Bluetooth 4.0; WWAN: Gobi 3G, Gobi 4G LTE mini-card Interface 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB/eSATA, 2 x USB 3.0, gigabit RJ-45, VGA, HDMI, audio in/out (all behind sealed, hi-insertion doors), SmartCard reader, legacy I/O module (serial, RJ11, RJ45), docking (VGA, HDMI, serial), optional contactless Smart Card/Fingerprint Reader Price Starts at US$1,628 (after US$542 savings on Dell website as of August 2013) Website Dell ATG/XFR page at dell.com/xfr Regulatory Dell E6430 ATG Regulatory Compliance report Brochure Dell E6430 ATG Warranty Standard 3-year next business day on-site service after remote diagnosis. Optional 3-year premium support with 24x7 global availability.