Dell Precision 3520 VT-x VT-d vPro Virtualization

Dell does not seem to have a good answer to this.

I understand that you can purchase a vPro motherboard/compatible chassis for a range of Dell notebooks. vPro in the branding-confusing sense of the umbrella term and all sub-features (such as remote management, VT-x, VT-d, etc.), however, rather than specifically remote/enterprise system management, or, as on Dell's website, "Out-of-Band Systems Management."

I want VT-x and VT-d to be enabled, but have no need for remote management. Also, it would be nice to have a non-vPro motherboard and chassis (also with a Qualcomm card, rather than being relegated to using Intel WiFi).

I got into contact with Dell, and, they stated (after repeated escalations attempting to find someone knowledgeable on the subject, mind you), as I have found is typical with notebook sellers, that even though the Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor supports VT-x and VT-d (as I obviously know about from Intel's website), Dell's non-vPro motherboard firmware currently does not support VT-x, but they are allegedly working on a firmware update for this.

Once again, notebook companies are apparently deceptively selling chipsets that are handicapped by motherboards and/or firmware. (I have experienced similar issues with other vendors in the past)

I am wondering, however, if anyone has a Precision 3520 without having purchased the vPro Out-of-Band Systems Management option. Do you have VT-x and/or VT-d options within your BIOS? If so, are they selectable? If enabled, does the operating system register as them being enabled, for example, such as with HAXM?

Thank you in advance for your replies!

 

VT-x is just intel's regular virtualization technology; I haven't seen a system without it in years. It shows up as "Virtualization support" in the BIOS without the VT-x branding, but it's there.

Plenty of non-vPro systems (like my XPS 9560) support VT-D -- I've never seen Dell disable it in the BIOS just for lack of having vPro -- if your CPU supports it, you should be able to turn it on in the BIOS.

I can't speak specifically to the M3520, but it would be very strange to have them disable either or both of those two features on that one model when they've otherwise not tied it to the vPro/AMT enable.

Can't see why you'd want the Qualcomm card; I've had nothing but trouble with them and pitched the "Killer" from my 9560 in favor of an Intel 8265 with better Linux support and better WPS enterprise compatibility.