Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

OK, my answer is due to the fact that 256GB SSD in this moment is exclusive for M3800 and 512GB SSD is exclusive for XPS15 at least in many countries, but maybe in US the situation is just changed.
Obviously being XPS15 and M3800 the same machine when both SSDs will be available on both XPS15 and M3800 they will be the same.

 

So K1100M memory runs @ 2800Mhz?
How far can it be pushed? And what about core clock?
Can the CPU be OCed some way?

Thanks

 

CPU overclocking is built into the chip; it goes by the name "Intel Turbo Boost". But other than that, no.

As for the GPU, I haven't seen any posts about it (nor do I know whether it's even possible), but given that people are already seeing throttling on the XPS 15, I really wouldn't advise experimenting too much. If Dell set the base clock on the Quadro GPU lower than the XPS (despite the fact that the Precision is targeted at pros), then I imagine there's a good reason for that, probably that the extra silicon areas used by the Quadro cause it to draw more power and thus generate more heat at a given clock speed. It's pretty clear that this system's hardware pushes its cooling capacity pretty hard.

 

I was just wondering since there is a massive difference in memory speed 2800mhz vs 5000 (!) in the XPS15.
So it would be nice if someone could comfirm we atleast get to 4000mhz.
I dont have the time to look through all 168 pages now, but atleast SOMEONE should have tried to OC the GPU?

EDIT: I also read there is a version with a larger battery instead of a HDD/SSD bracket? Which one

 

If I bought the low end configuration with the hybrid drive, can I install a 256-512 gb ss mini in the extra slot, or is there not an extra slot? Is this just a dumb idea to begin with? I would then boot off the hybrid, and boot programs and cad files off the second drive? I want fast turn on times, so the hybrid may be too slow to begin with. Only reason I am thinking this is I don't have the skill level to reformat drives, find all the drivers, load new operating systems in. It will not go smoothly. This way I could plug and play a new additional drive without reinventing the wheel.

 

I'm in the same boat, bought the lowest model and now want an SSD because I'm spoiled

I could be wrong, but I think there is only room for one 2.5" drive. I believe the higher end models with the larger batteries have an mSATA drive.

 

All three of the SSDs known to be supplied with the M3800 (Lite-on, Hynix, and Samsung) support TRIM. The Windows 8.1 image supports TRIM. I can't confirm that the Windows 7 image is set up properly, but I'd be terribly surprised if it does not -- Latitude images that came with a regular disk still handled it fine once imaged to an SSD. In the worst case, you could reinstall.

That said, with a normal workload, the longevity of the SSD is a total non-issue. TRIM is more important to keep a consistent higher write performance (which also requires that you don't completely fill the drive; a 90%+ full SSD, trim or no trim, will be slower than once with at least 10% free space.)

Yes.

It is quite possible that Dell will change suppliers at a given size, and the supplier for 256gb (so far always Lite-on or Hynix) is likely to be different from 512gb (Samsung, so far as any of us have seen) but they all support TRIM, and it's absolutely inconceivable that a modern drive won't. That's a 2009-2011 issue.

There may be some performance and reliability differences between the drives, but it will be a lot smaller differences than "does it support TRIM."

Self-encrypting 256gb SSDs are available on Premier, although only 2.5" and not minicard. They're also badly overpriced.

For minicards, the Crucial m500 supports it, and is also one of the least expensive aftermarket models (although write performance is underwhelming.)

...although if you've got an existing Dell Windows 7 Pro (or Ultimate) install disk from an older system, it will work with this one.

No differences at a given size. All the drives seen with the M3800 so far are regular OEM-grade drives. The Hynix (256gb) and Samsung (512gb) drives are probably better than the Lite-on (256gb) drives; I got lucky.

As noted above, the 256gb can be either Hynix or Lite-on.

Does your low-end configuration have the 32gb cache card, or just the Seagate SSHD? If the latter, you have an open mSATA slot. I recommend the Intel 525 if you want an "as fast as possible" SSD, or the Crucial m500 if you want a reliable inexpensive one.

The Samsung EVO is worth considering if you can find an mSATA one in stock anywhere.

There's only room for one 2.5" drive, and none at all if you have the bigger battery.

The mSATA slot should be open on lower-model M3800s; so far as I know it's only the XPS15 which comes with the 32gb caching drive.

 

I am looking at the document on how to remove things to check the SSD and ribbon canle to the motherboard. If I look at the user guide at
Manuals and Documents for Precision M3800 | Dell US
I don't see any directions for a second SSD. Where is it in the chassis?

 

I'm confused, you're not saying that you can have a 2.5" drive AND an mSATA drive at the same time, are you?

Or are you saying that you can have one or the other? (in which case, why would you go with an mSATA drive over a cheaper 2.5" one?)

 

You can have both, IF you have the smaller battery. If you have the larger battery, your only drive is the MSATA.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk