Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

Hi.
I'm looking to buy the Dell M3800 as a mobile workstation.

I exclusively work in Solidworks and am very curious on how the M3800 handles assemblys.
I'm planning to connecting the workstation to a 27" Dell monitor.

What I am asking is if the M3800 is powerful enough to handle small to medium sized assemblys (nothing in the thousands) to be a reliable workhorse I can do day to day operations on.
Any solidworks experience you can give me I would appreciate alot.

Thanks!

 

Within a certain period of taking delivery (not sure how long), you have the option to get a replacement system if you don't want a part swap. I believe all XPSes and M3800s include on-site service, so no mailing away required if you just want a part swap. The replacement parts themselves aren't guaranteed to be new, but with these panels at this stage it's a safe bet they will be. I don't really see the concern even if it is a refurb though. Even then it wouldn't have much usage on it considering how new these panels are in general, and that display isn't something that would have been repaired, so refurb in this case would simply mean lightly used.

 

A tech comes to my office, sits at a table with an anti-static mat and performs the work. Normally its next day service, though part shortages can delay it. For me, this rapid response is one of the selling points of these systems as downtime costs me money.

They will just replace the display. Looking at the manual, I think this actually means the whole top half plus hinge is replaced as a kit... but I could be wrong. I doubt there are any refurbs floating around out there... if anything, early displays have QC issues while newer ones don't. I intend to do a thorough check before he leaves though.

 

Definitely check things before they leave - I had a tech forget to replace the (admittedly small) Bluetooth module once.

That said, all the work was performed at my office too, so I was fairly pleased overall.


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Hi, have a new M3800. I cannot get full resolution from the U3011 Dell monitor I wanted to attach to it. It only goes up to 1920. My old M2400 ran it at 2560.

There appears to be a limitation internal to the monitor that sets it to this level for HDMI and DVI, but not Displayport (which I had with the M2400).

Anyone have similar problems? With a solution ....

 

I think IIRC you may need to "extend" the display instead of duplicating it, which allows you to make the resolutions different.

 

Thanks for the comments. Display is set to Extended. If you are familiar, the EDID parameters of the monitor for HDMI and DVI are set low and the display control do not seem to be able to get around this. Have spent hours with Dell.

Some software called Powerstrip may make it possible to change the monitor settings.

Hoping someone is familiar with these issues.

 

How do you have the monitor attached? You should be able to get a mini-Displayport to Displayport adapter/cable.

 

Use a Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter/cable. HDMI 1.4 actually does support 2560x1600 @ 60 Hz and the XPS's HDMI port is a 1.4 port (confirmed in the first post of this thread where a U3014 is running this way), but I don't think the U3011's HDMI connector is 1.4. Dual-link DVI would also work with that display, but a MiniDP to dual-link DVI adapter is much more expensive.

Best site in the world for cables and adapters is Monoprice.com if you need to buy one, fyi.

I can't believe you spent hours with Dell on this before trying the same type of connection that worked with the M2400, though -- or even before reading the U3011's manual, where it says that HDMI only handles up to 1920x1200. But then again I'm surprised that Dell didn't tell you right away that HDMI just won't carry that resolution on that display, which is why the EDID information is lower there. Apps like Powerstrip won't magically allow the display to accept more bandwidth. The closest they'd come would be allowing you to run the external display at 2560x1600 @ 30 Hz rather than 60.

 

How is the rubberized finish holding up on these? Does it wear off after a while leaving shiny spots on the palm rest and touch pad?