Hands on Dell Precision 7710

I did not have any issues after the update to 2.0. It did require clearing out the TPM.

 

Ok thanks. I had loads of problems even before that. Called Dell and was advised to update Bios to 1.14.4 which I did and PC cannot restart. Then I booted into a blank screen. Dell's advice was to downgrade back to previous Bios. Anyone here have this issue ? Do take note of the Bios 1.14.4 guys.

 

I installed BIOS 1.14.4 (on 7510) yesterday morning, no issues with that either...

 

OK I downgraded bios back to 1.13.6 and it can restart now, and also the TPM 1.2 is working ?!? No need to flash to 2.0 (or should I ?) Guess it is lucky, looking at how to upgrade the bios back to 1.14.4 without the restart problem.

 

I have received an offer to buy 7710 that seems to fit my needs, but there is one thing that troubles me: USB-C and Thunderbolt. According to the provided service tag there is only one element that relates to the interface:
R7JMV - ASSEMBLY, BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP), I7-6820, W/T-C, 7710
The owner reports lack of USB-C interface on the laptop itself.
Does it mean that the MB supports USB-C and Thunderbolt but just the left side circuid board as well as the case are not fited with the port? Maybe it is just possible to buy needed circuit board and laptop case (or maybe even drill a hole) to equip this model with USB-C and thunderbolt?

Spoiler: Full specs from Service Tag

Y7H78
1
MODULE, INFORMATION, BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM, HASH, ENABLE
5NGR0
1
MODULE, INFORMATION, CHAIN, CUSTODY
9872G
1
LABEL, SVC TAG/EXPRESS CODE, ANW
07G14
1
SSDR, 256G, P34, 80S3, SAMSUNG, PM951
TD3KX
2
DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 8GB, 2133, 2RX8, 4G, DDR4, S
2VRYX
1
LABEL, GML INC, MICROSOFT, OPERATING SYSTEM, WINDOWS, PROFESSIONAL
YWKX2
1
GUIDE, PRODUCT, MULTIPLE USER INTERFACE, SERI, EMEA 2
HMFF8
1
LABEL, INTEL, CI7, 6, SMALL
VNPPK
1
ASSEMBLY, HEATSINK, AMD TYPE A, FAN, 7710
G451F
1
LABEL, SETTING/SETTINGS, MANAGEMENT, MEBX, DISABLE, 3
NN230
1
SHIPPING MATERIAL, BAG, NOTEBOOK, 14.5X20, POLY FOAM
MXF79
1
SHIPPING MATERIAL, PAD, LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, M17, WORLD WIDE
9RW3M
1
SHIPPING MATERIAL, BOX, SYSTEM, M17, MINUTE, WORLD WIDE
868FM
1
SHIPPING MATERIAL, BOX, ACCESSORY, M17, WORLD WIDE
2F0M6
2
SHIPPING MATERIAL, CUSHION, CORR/EPE, M17, MINUTE
6NWDG
1
SHIELD, SHIELDED, KILOBYTE, EUROPE/EUROPEAN, 107, 7710
0JX78
1
KEYBOARD, 107, UNITED KINGDOM, M14IXFP
16583
1
CORD, POWER, 1.8M, IRE/UK
VYCDJ
1
PLACEMAT, QUICK START GUIDE, 7710, WIN10, EMEA2
1FH94
1
LABEL, MICROSOFT, NO BIOS, WIN7
N34RW
1
LABEL, REGULATORY, WIRELESS, 8260AC, WORLD WIDE, BC-3
8XG1T
1
CARD (CIRCUIT), WIRELESS, M.2, INTEL8260, WORLD WIDE
MM4Y2
1
BEZEL, LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, CAMERA, FHD, UHD-AUO, 7710
J8NNP
1
ASSEMBLY, CAMERA, HARD DRIVE, X7
942J9
1
ASSEMBLY, COVER, UHD, CAMERA, WL/WW, 7710
8XGJH
1
BUMPER, LVDS RBR, GOLIAD/ALPINE14
58GXG
1
COVER, HINGE, FHD/UHD, R, 7710
4270E
4
SCREW, M2X3, K SCREW HEAD, MICROSOFT, BLACK OXIDE
2RCX9
1
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, 17.3UHD, AG, EDP1.3, AU OPTRONICS CORP
1DFX1
1
COVER, HINGE, FHD/UHD, L, 7710
WCK7W
2
SCREW, M2.5X5, 5D, 1.5T, NL
R7JMV
1
ASSEMBLY, BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP), I7-6820, W/T-C, 7710
MX92V
1
PLATE, LVDS CBL, M6700
H66N5
1
SCREW, M2.5X4, K SCREW HEAD, BLACK OXIDE
7YFWC
42
SCREW, M2.5X5X4.6, ZK NL+CR3+
4270E
3
SCREW, M2X3, K SCREW HEAD, MICROSOFT, BLACK OXIDE
3HTGG
8
SCREW, M2X2.5X3.5, ZK NL
K422C
1
CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, TROPO XT
22C12
1
DPK, WIN10, PROFESSIONAL
GR5D3
1
BATTERY, PRIMARY, 72WHR, 6C, LITHIUM, SAMSUNG POWER DIVISION
GXMMH
1
ASSEMBLY, PALMREST, FP-D, NFC, SINGLE CHANNEL, 7710
18CV7
1
LABEL, REGULATORY, NOTEBOOK, RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION, WORLD WIDE, M15/17

 

Ask if the seller can take a quick photo of their BIOS as shown. If the laptop has built in Thunderbolt controller than it will look like my photo.



Else it will look like the screen capture from this dell knowledge base doc



My 7710 has Thunderbolt via USB Type C port and it also as the W/T-C tag but I'm not positive that is indication of Type C Thunderbolt or something else.


ask the seller if they can also take photo of the left side of the laptop wherethe mDP, HDMI and Type C would be. As to drilling if the BIOS shows the Thunderbolt Controller is there but port is not accessible, for me I'd rather look for a different laptop than to drill.

 

This laptop is brand-new at seller's internet store and I have already received Service Tag for it and confirmation that there is no USB-C port on the left side.
Information that "W/T-C" is Thunderbolt-related is based on information in this thread - I could not confirm it in any other place, but it seems credible.
Of course drilling makes no sense before actually changing the left-side circuit board and confirming it works. I'm just trying to find out that the motherboard actually supports Thunderbolt before buying the machine itself, but it seems that available documentation is much more scarce compared to HP service guides where you can usually find list of all codes for all MB versions with explanation.

 

ah, I understand you now.

The big question "Will the mobo support thunderbolt daughter board?". Hopefully someone else here will respond /confirm

If the mobo supports thunderbolt there is this 7710 base part for about $45 USD (not sure if they can ship to poland, but part# is :

https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=22690

They also sell the left side daughter boards with thunderbolt. Appears they have two parts with thunderbolt which are dated 2015 and other 2016. Not sure of their differences or maybe one is just a later build and either one might be okay, see here:
https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=142&subid=563&refine=circuit+board

 

OK, problem solved. Explanation is easy:
I have the laptop in my hands now and... it just has the USB-C connector on the left side. Thunderbolt is just there happy to be used.
So you cannot be sure if the seller knows what is in his hands. Even the provided image was not the correct one.

Thanks for working with me on this

 

When going to the Dell support site and looking for downloads for my 7710, it says "The product you’ve selected does not have or require updates.." I tried three difference browsers and looking under my Tag and no tag for the 7710. I do see downloads for my 7910. Anyone else see no downloads for the 7710?