Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

I wanted to update everyone on my "Disappearing Drive D" problem. I replaced the original drive with a Samsung 840 SSD 1 TB and the problem remained. I updated Windows, drivers, Dell software/drivers, BIOS, no change. I tried without Intel RST, and with; I tried Samsung Disk Magician, without.

Well what helped me was I installed an app I have that does very intensive disk accesses with SQLServer, and I ran everything on D. It would disconnect always within 30 minutes. So I figured what is next in the chain, it's the SATA cable (Picture below) - I couldn't get it from the Taiwan manufacturer, but I called Dell and was able to order it (fastest way to get it, I convinced a sales guy to just write the order) and it only cost $12 with shipping and tax. I put it in, and I have been running the SQLServer disk intensive test AND system image backups simultaneously, almost continuously for over 24 hours straight with no problem! I am ready to declare victory! So if you read this and have disconnecting drives, check the SATA cable - it could be the problem.

 

Hey Bokeh,

If you don't mind listing them, what apps and services did you disable? Also, did you leave these disabled permanently, or just for "power saving mode?"

Thanks.

 

Nope, that was true for the Server 2008 version but fixed as of the version included with Win8/Server 08 R2. The host OS will still report that the CPU is running at max clock speed all the time because a Type 1 hypervisor even virtualizes part of the primary OS, but if you use an app like CPU-Z, you can see that the clock speed is still being adjusted on the hardware level.

The only other quirk of having the host OS partly virtualized is that CPU-Z sometimes can't pull some of the details for its Memory and SPD tabs. No idea why it's only intermittent, but there you go.

 

Wow, my XPS 15 has all of those plus Power Saving Technology. Fwiw, I'm running the latest Intel GPU drivers available from Dell's site (in the XPS 15 section). I wonder if they just adjusted the driver to remove that or if there's a GPU BIOS/hardware difference that removes that capability. Interesting!

Well trust me, you're not missing out. In fact not having that probably saves a lot of customers from thinking their display is defective or just plain crap.

 

Hi have a presentation in a couple of weeks and I have just realised that the computer doesn't have VGA or DVI output; only Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. As I don't know what the projector will use, I need to buy adapters for both. In the future I may have a multi-monitor setup at home, so I might be able to reuse some of this.

What should I rather get, HDMI to VGA/DVI, or Mini DisplayPort to VGA/DVI? Does it make any difference in the features or quality, or does it matter having one port free or the other?

Finally, should I rather get 2 separate adapters or one combo adapter?

 

I find HDMI to DVI cables really useful - I probably have about as many of those as regular hdmi cables.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Do these Precision M3800s come with Windows product keys affixed to/included with them anywhere? I know that Dell includes a recovery USB, but I am assuming that it comes loaded with all of the usual Dell bloatware mess. I would prefer to install a stock Windows build fresh and then enter in a product key. I know in the past that Dell has made it where the product key is somehow tied to the BIOS, and you HAVE to use the default Dell Windows recovery build in order to do a OS reinstall.

 

I'd say look under the battery, but...

I have heard it's coded into the BIOS and Win 8 can just detect it, but I don't know anything for sure, sorry.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

If it is coded into the BIOS and Windows can just detect it, then that is perfectly fine. If it If it is coded into the BIOS and only a Dell Windows build can just detect it, then that kinda sucks.

 

VGA output from HDMI or DisplayPort would be identical. DVI output from those two would also be identical EXCEPT if you bought a DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter -- but those cost something like $100, which is a pretty poor value proposition given that DisplayPort can natively push dual-link DVI bandwidth and above without an adapter, so unless you have a display that requires dual-link DVI and won't accept anything else, forget about it. I would buy an adapter from either DP or HDMI to VGA and then another from either DP or HDMI to DVI. That way you've got all of your bases covered. As long as your output is 1920x1200 or lower, HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI will all offer equal-quality signals since they're all digital, and VGA is your last resort if your presentation display doesn't offer a better option.

And fyi, if you've never heard of them, I strongly recommend Monoprice.com for all of your cable and adapter needs -- great service and amazing prices. They were selling HDMI cables for $3 even back when Best Buy was selling them for $60. I've frequently paid more for shipping than the cable itself when I had to buy just one thing, but that was because their cable prices are so great -- and even with the shipping it was still cheaper to buy from Monoprice than somewhere local.

It's embedded in the BIOS and can be used by any Windows 8.1 media, as long as the media you have can install the edition for which the key is intended (Core or Pro). Some 8.1 media can install either version, some can't.

Catch #1 is that apparently even M3800s ordered with Windows 7 installed and the free upgrade to 8.1 come with an embedded Windows 8.1 key, and I've read that if you want to reinstall Win7, you need to use some custom Dell media or the installation won't activate. Installing Windows 8.1 does not trigger this issue. It's also technically possible to order the M3800 with Windows 7 WITHOUT a free upgrade to 8.1. I don't know what happens with the embedded key in that scenario if you decide you wish to decline a free upgrade.

Catch #2 is that if you want to install a different edition of Win8.1 than the edition for which your key is intended (e.g. you have an embedded key for Core and want to install Pro that you purchased elsewhere), then you either have to use media that ONLY supports Pro or modify your installation media to either have an unattend file that supplies the desired key or removes support for installing Core. Otherwise, if you use media that can install either edition, it will automatically detect your embedded Core key and install Core; you won't be given a chance to supply an alternate key. But since I believe the M3800 only comes with Pro, you probably won't encounter this issue.

Fyi, this and other great information is documented in the XPS 15 Wiki.