Hands on Dell Precision 7710

For the third bay of the 7710: What's the best 2.5" PCIe drive?

I am considering the Intel 750 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167362

Is it compatible with the 7710?

Is there a way to fit a Samsung 950 pro in that bay?

 

I did not want to be unkind, however every web search engine could told you that PCIe-NVMe drivers are faster in a minute.

RAID 0 (stripping) almost doubles write-read speed, but also access time and data lost probability. For non-specialized usage scenario it is highly recommended to avoid RAID 0 with so fast drives as Samsung 950 PRO.

I am afraid Intel 750 2,5" PCIe could not fit to Dell Precision 7510 or 7710. Do you need three PCIE-NVMe driers? Two M.2 2280 divers fit perfectly without any cables or adapters.

Samsung 950 PRO is the best choice for M.2 2280 slots.

 

So what kind of 2,5" drives fit in the 7710? The old 2.5" SATA SSDs like the Intel 730 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167190? Is the interface PCIe or SATA?

I intend to have 2 x Samsung 950 PRO (likely in Raid 0) for operating system and programs and one extra drive in the 2.5" slot for data

 

2,5" slot is a SATA slot. You won't be able to put in a PCIe drive in there (unless you use an interposer card, which doesn't really make much sense as the SATA interface has limited speed anyways).
If I were you and I really had a need to extra space for the data, I'd put in a SATA SSD drive in the 2.5" slot. It doesn't make a lot of sense to throw in a non-SSD drive into such a machine these days.

The Intel 730 you've listed is a SATA drive which will fit in. But you've listed the 240 GB version. Doesn't make a lot of sense, 480 GB version is less than $100 more expensive. Given that you are getting 2 x 950 Pros, which cost over $650 on Newegg and give you a total of 1TB, I'd say the extra buck there for double capacity shouldn't be a problem for you.

 

Anyone try running linux on one of these with ATI graphics? Just wondering if it has some kind of Optimus equivalent that's going to be a pain to get working under linux. I currently have a W520 and Zbook 17 (both with Quadros) and if you want to use an external display, you have to sacrifice brightness control for the built in panel. Wondering if it works any better with the ATI stuff.

EDIT: Just tried to build up a 7710 online and two things were really wierd:
* it says you can't choose the 4k display if you pick Ubuntu
* it says you have to pick a smartcard reader (or fingerprint reader) if you up the processor from the base config

WTF Dell... can't I just spec one with FreeDos and no security crap and call it a day

 

Scam. Shouldn't have to get other crap that I don;t need to get a better CPU.

 

I'd try talking to sales rep. you can probably get a more flexible configuration than what the website locks you into

 

Okay, time to talk about external displays. I am currently using a 27" display (Asus PB278Q 2560x1440) that I really like alot and have had it for about 2.5 yrs now.

With the 3840x2160 display of the new laptop, my current 2560x1440 external display (although it is great!) is lower res than the laptop itself. SO I'm considering upgrading external display too. What are your suggestions? I mostly code (my job), but I create videos and edit non professionally (hobby).

Here is what I am looking at:

-Dell P2715Q 27"

-Asus PB279Q 28"

both are excellent and both are IPS. They match the pixel density of the laptop (3840x2160). The Dell is about $130 USD less than the Asus when comparing on Amazon. But the Asus has faster refresh speeds (important in games, but not in my office work). The Asus has a little better stand. The Asus stand can adjust height, swivel, tilt and it can rotate into portrait. The dell can tilt and adjust height but cannot swivel or rotate into portrait (rarely used). These are otherwise identical as far as office work.

The Dell can be ordered at same time I get the laptop and I may be able to work a deal with sales rep to at least match the Amazon price. The Dell gets my nod.

The other display I was looking at it is the LG 34" with curved 34UC98 3440x1440. But it was over $1000 USD. The advantage with this giant LG display is that, even if the pixels aren’t as dense as the Asus or Dell described above, the LG display is physically much larger at 34”. The fonts will be easier to read but not as much content will be displayed. I've ruled the LG out because it was too expensive and it would also consume my entire desk practically.


what external displays are you considering?

 

I was thinking that same thing, so I asked the Dell Precision project manager about it. I asked if a PCIe drive installed in the 2.5" bay using the interposer would cripple the drive because of SATAIII. He assured us that it would not. So I presume it is an interposer that bypasses the SATAIII connector in some way. I think @Bokeh installed a 3rd PCIe SSD into the 2.5 bay. Bokeh should be able to confirm.

 

I have the dell's (x2) at work. Not sure if same model but qhd. Our whole office uses dell's minus a very few random other monitors but mostly 1080p. I really like the Dell, especially with pass through USB ports, make flash drives alot easier to plug in. Never a problem, had 3k Dell before this.

My 2 cents tho, wait for dell's 4k USB c monitor to come out. That way your not having to use an adapter cable, plus, with USB c slowly making its mark it'll come in handy. Phones and other perifials are becoming USB c, and the Dell has the ability to charge through USB c connection as well. Not enough to charge your workstation laptop, but enough for xps 13 and MacBook for now. But that's my 2 cents.

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