Dell Precision M3800 Owner's Review

With 2 RAM slots in the M3800, 16GB (2 x 8GB modules) is the max, unless 16GB modules can be purchased at reasonable prices.

(Other workstation-class notebooks, such as the ThinkPad W530, support 4 RAM slots in configurations with quad-core CPU.)

 

Thanks, it seems that all the new XPS 15 have such issue.(the high pitch noise). Hope it will not appear on m3800.

 

Will the current stepping i7-4702HQ shipping in the M3800 support 16GB SO-DIMM modules?
Intel states in their datasheets that Mobile H & M Haswells only support 16GB maximum of memory in 2 Ch - 1 DPC configurations, and x16 DRAM organizations are not supported.
So you can't use dual rank 512 Mbit x 16 SO-DIMMs to get to 32GB.
The question will be if the i7-4702HQ can work with 1024 Mbit dies without a new revision?
And if it can't, then you have to swap the whole system board.

Not saying it may not unofficially work someday, but published technical spec's from both Dell and Intel currently state 16GB will be the maximum configuration for the M3800 / i7-4702HQ.
The OP had stated he didn't see it covered anywhere, so I was only trying to point out what information is available in case, like myself, a 16GB limit is a factor in purchasing decision.

 

The Dell rep told me W8.1P would be an option eventually but no ETA.

 

Glad I waited to order this.

CPU was not customizable
Display was between 1080p or 3200x1800
Ram was between 8GBx1, 2X4GB, or 2x8GB
HDD was between 500GB Hybrid, 512GB SSD 2.5", 512GB SSD (mSata), 256GB SSD (mSata), 256GB SSD Encrypted with Opal (mSata), 128GB SSD (mSata)
HDD2 was between 500GB Hybrid, 512GB SSD, 128GB SSD
Battery was either 6cell or 9cell - if you choose 9cell, you can't have the 2nd HDD

I opted for the 3200x1800 display with 1st HDD 256GB, 2nd HDD 500GB Hybrid, 6 cell battery - wish i could have opted for the extra battery power with the 2nd HDD. I also maxed out memory to 16GB.

Came out to 2498+ change, free shipping, no tax for government.

 

The QHD+ should be an automatic choice unless you are 100% sure that you will run W7 for the life of the machine.

I tried to run W8 several times. Never stuck with it. Have moved to W8.1 on all of my systems now. It really is a great to see the 3200x1800 panel working so well. In a year (or less), I expect all of the software I run to be caught up with the high dpi revolution we are seeing. Lightroom 5 looks great.

 

I'm really close to pulling the trigger on this, but I probably will want to dual boot with Ubuntu. How much trouble is that going to give me?

Does anyone have the 4800 running Ubuntu? I assume the high res screen and the quadro would be the biggest pain points for support?

 

The Dell M4800 and M6800 both have 4 ram slots and options for 57 watt quad cores.

The M4800 has the same 3200x1800 (400 NITS Brightness) QHD+ screen as an option. The ThinkPad W540 has a 2880 x 1620 (300 NITS Brightness) screen as an option. The screen pixel war appears to have begun

 

Is there a difference in battery size for the least expensive option and second least expensive option for the US? They both say 6-cell 61WHr. It sounds like you guys are saying since in the second version there are two hard drives, it has to have a smaller battery, yet I'm not seeing any difference.

 

It would seem that the premier site has changed since I had ordered mine this morning at 1PM CDT USA. It was customizable this morning for all preferences, now they have it split with pre-configured options (up to 4 options available).

The config is that if you choose to have a 9-cell, 91Whr primary battery - it would require you to use the mSATA SSD and take up the 2.5" ssd slot. If you choose the 6-cell battery, you can have up to 2 hdd - mSATA + 2.5" HDD.

Hope that helps.

View attachment Dell Precision M3800 — 15_ Mobile Workstation _ Dell.pdf