Dell Precision M4700 and M6700 - Preliminary Info

Hey

some questions about the m4700.

Do all m4700 come with an RAID Chips, because i want to swap the optibay later and add a RAID System?
How about the standard base without fingerprint reader. The m4700 had a plastic cover instead of an plain base, when you buy it without the fingerprint reader - how about the new one?
Last maybe obsoulent question because the m4700 is also shipped with 32 Bit Systems - does it hafe UEFI BIOS or any way to upgrade later?

Thanks

 

Does anyone know if optimus is supported on the IPS panel? I wouldn't think so unless dell has developed some proprietary solution to deal with the lack of 10-bit panel support with the Intel HD4000 integrated graphics but it can’t hurt to ask.

 

To please some small group of diehards I assume. This is one of the most advanced laptops made. Don't even order one with an obsolete 32bit system.

I noticed that as well and wondered the same thing.

 

Is there an option on the website to order the covet edition???

 

Yes, although when I looked yesterday it was only on the "Large Enterprise" section of their site. The "Home Office" and "Small Business" sections didn't have it listed. Interesting to see there's also a Linux option, the M6700n. I wasn't expecting that but then I never really looked at the older Precision lines so maybe it’s been an option all along.

 

Optimus is not supported because the Graphics Card and built in GPU on the chip have to share addressing space with each other. This means both graphics units have to operate at the same bit depth. Since the IPS solution Dell has always runs at 10 bits, the Intel HD4000 would also have to run at 10 bits, but it can't.

But there is good news.

First, the K5000M can now drive 4 displays. This means 4 external or 3 external + the laptop panel.

Second, the machine overall pulls less power. The 2720QM + 5010M M6600 with an IPS panel would pull anywhere from 25-32 watts on battery. Usually around 28 - 30 watts. The 3920XM + K5000M pulls 18 - 25 watts and usually stays between 20 - 21 watts.

With a 97Whr battery, 30 watts means about 3:15 minutes run time. I was able to get around 3:30 on the M6600. At 21 watts, you are looking at 4:40 minutes. Keep the power brightness down and you can do around 5 hours on the M6700 if you are careful with your OS build and use the Extended Battery life power profile.

The biggest power savings seems to be coming from Nvidia.

Don't get me wrong, if you are running a high processing load on the workstation, you can drain the battery in an hour.

 

Just wanted to post an update here about mSata speed.

In HWINFO it shows the mSata drive as being Sata3, but when I test it I am getting Sata2 speeds. Fully pegged out Sata2 speeds, but still Sata2.

I may have misread what I saw in HWINFO and the Owner's Manual may be right. Sorry about the confusion. I have gone back and updated my older posts. I will keep testing, but everything currently points to the mSata drive being Sata2.

 

What about other smaller NVidia chips in this relation? How many screen can they drive and on which resolution?

 

I just checked out the Dell site for the 6700, and it seems to me that in the past once you selected the computer you were interested in to see if you wanted to customize it, it will give you a projected ship date right then., This does not seem to be the case now. Do we know when the 6700s are shipping, or is there a way I can check before I order one, or do I have to actually order it to get an estimate?
Thanks!

 

I just placed my order and the rep gave me an estimated ship date of August 10. He told me that the "official" estimated ship date was probably inflated, and that it would likely ship in about 5 business days.