Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

Currently waiting for my new M3800 to arrive Fully loaded with 2xSSD (256GB+512GB).

Has anyone tried Windows 10 tech preview (build 9879) on it? Any issues to report?

 

Congrats on the purchase! You buy new from Dell store online? I haven't tried the new W10 - do let us know how you get on with it if you give it a go!

 

So it seems reducing the default sound format from 24-bit 192000hz to 24-bit 96000Hz has sorted out the crackle issues.. fyi for anyone who comes across the problem. Audio doesn't sound as full as before, but it's less annoying that it used to be!

 

The default setting on my E7440 is 48000Hz. HWiNFO says that it has the Intel Lynx Point HD Audio controller with the Realtek HD Audio driver.

Perhaps someone thought that the more potent hardware in the M3800 would let the audio be better through a higher sampling rate. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same audio chip which trips up (hence the crackle) when pushed too hard.

Anyway, it's good that you pinned down the source of the problem without having some service technicial change the hardware without actually fixing anything (and maybe breaking a few parts).

John

 

Thanks! It's my company who bought it, directly from Dell (Sweden). Looking at their online config site I see the same spec would've cost me $3566

I might give Windows 10 TP a go when it arrives next week, and if I do I'll report back! But it has to be stable for me to keep using it. So far I've only tried it in a Hyper-V VM, and for a very short time on my old Fujitsu laptop.

 

Is coil whine still an issue with these machines? I had a M3800 about 6 months ago and returned it due to this issue, just wondering if it's been solved yet.

 

Hey guys I was wondering if you could give me some advice:

I have a M3800 since July and it is on the 1yr warranty from Dell.
Recently there are 2-3 sets of dead pixels in 2-3 locations on the screen they are really small but are visible on a white background.
The problem I have is that I really need the laptop for my work at the moment, what is their standard procedure if I claim my warranty and ask for a replacement?
Also are they going to issue a new laptop or just replace the screen?

I could really use your advice

 

I think standard procedure would be to collect, assess, and fix then return. Might be worth taking out the ssd and using it in another space unit if you have one.

As an aside, which screen did you have? 1080p I assume..?

 

Nope, I have the 3200*1800 the 4K or however it is called.

I have found that a lot of design programs don't adjust to the screen resolution and sometimes they can be a handful to use efficiently.
Also the display is amazing at 3200*1800, if you use any lower setting it is not as crisp.

 

Win7 or Win8/8.1? I have the same high res screen, on win7. Its known there's scaling issues. Sadly its not just up to MS to fix that, vendors have to also consider scaling and cater for it in their code.

On Win7 I scale everything 150% larger, it works nicely for 90% of apps I use.

Are the dead pixels really that much of an issue on the 3k screen? I know most manufactures had a tolerance (they wouldn't replace the screen if up to 3 or 4 pixels were gone), that was back in the day of 768/1080p screens. With 3.2k though, I wonder if their tolerance is also proportionally higher for screens that they won't repair.

Give them a ring and ask, that's the best way to find out. I'd want a replacement personally. That sort of stuff bugs me! But I could also understand if they questioned the economic cost and benefit to repair 3 pixels for you...