Considering the Precision 5510 but don't need the GPU...

I want to finally get rid of my desktop and make my main rig a laptop. I simply have too many devices.

I do require a quad core for my main rig (reasons: large scale conversions of audio/video/photo files, software development, computationally-intense statististical modelling).

To get to the point: I very much like the Dell Precision 5510. Very strong CPU, M.2 PCIe SSD + space for a second SSD, very thin-and-light for a 15" laptop, good build quality, Intel WiFi, etc.

The thing is: I have absolutely no use for its dedicated Quadro GPU. I don't game or do anything involving intense 3D graphics so I'd prefer an Intel IGP. (In fact, Intel IGP usually means fewer driver troubles in *nix, too.)

But, apart from the Quadro GPU, the Precision 5510 checks all the boxes I want. So should I go for it? Or wait for new Latitudes with Skylake quad cores? Or look beyond Dell?

 

Why not just get the XPS15? Unless you have a need for ECC DRAM?

 

The HP ZBook Studio offers Intel only graphics

 

Depending on what software you use the Quadro can massively speed up video conversions, photo editing and audio conversions. I know the difference in Adobe software can be a few hundred percent faster with the GPGPU processing.

 

It seems neither in my local Dell store nor in Dell's US store the XPS15 can be configured with a quad core but without the NVIDIA GPU at the same time. (The IGP-only model features a dual core i3.)
In principle, I like the XPS15. But why go for a 40W TDP GPU for which I have no use?

That's a fair point. But I don't use professional software. I do convert video in Handbrake. I convert audio in foobar2000 using qaac and Apple QuickTime. foobar2000 doesn't support GPGPU (well, at least not in the setup I prefer). Handbrake supports transcoding on the GPU but the quality is not as good as when transcoding on the CPU. And I want the best possible quality.
In any case, the primary reason I need the quad is for scientific computing/statistical software/number crunching. While there are scenarios in scientific computing where GPGPU makes sense (i.e., when single precision is sufficient), I am not employing such scenarios -- I need to develop code which runs on CPUs.

So, the bottom line is: Why put up with the higher price of a dedicated GPU, higher heat dissipation, larger cooling system, perhaps less smooth operation in *nix, etc.? I'm aware of technologies such as Optimus. I'd still rather not have a component which I don't need and which may give rise to issues.

 

Again, if you only need single-precision, why even bother with Precision 15? According to Intel's own site the P530 in the Xeon is virtually identical to the 530 in the Core i7. The Xeon is clocked 100MHz faster, so that wouldn't be a reason to pay a premium. Likely you could just remove the card and sell it on eBay, and disable the MXM port in BIOS. Plus the XPS15 can be ordered sans discrete graphics. So if your software is not in the ISV certification list then you won't get the benefit of optimized drivers which you already admitted is not of concern to your workflow.

 

Maybe you have already made your decision… Just let me tell you that some of your concerns do not apply. With Optimus, the GPU will mostly not be used at all with the internal display; it will thus draw zero power, produce zero heat.
The larger cooling system may help overall anyway.
Not sure about *nix. In Windows, you could probably not install the driver at all and disable the device if you really didn’t want it to be used ever.
As for the price… How much of it can really be attributed to the GPU, and how much to other differences from a similar XPS?

 

Well... almost zero. A dGPU always pulls a little bit of power, even when basically shut down.

Also, you're stuck with the big-ol-brick of a 130W supply, even if you don't need it (although the other precisions with 180W/240W supplies are even worse.)

Price varies by channel, promotion, configuration and sometimes it seems like the phase of the moon. With the M3800/XPS 15 9530, the M3800 could end up cheaper especially if you want an otherwise maxed-out system but don't want Dell's overpriced 512GB SSD. Right now the discounts on the 5510 are pretty terrible

 

Well, this is an old message, but I'd definitely look at the 5470/5570 now that they're out. Not as thin, and the 5570 is not as light while the 5470 loses some screen size. Plus only one SSD (m.2 OR 2.5").

But same quad-core CPU option, same Wifi options, docking if you ever need it, and uses a normal 65W (5470) or 90W (5570) supply rather than the higher wattage supplies on the bigger XPS/Precision models.

 

Thanks for the replies, folks. I did in fact end up purchasing a Latitude E5470.