Hands on Dell Precision 7710

CPU temps average about 50 degrees on all 4 cores at idle (5-10% load). Core #1 usually runs 5-10 degrees hotter than the other 3 cores (and load looks about the same). Not sure if that's an issue???

I think I might solve the "problem" by getting a second desktop. The encoding/rendering effectively bogs down the laptop for a few hours at a time, even when I offload the work to Media Encoder. The heat issue was just a better justification...

Thanks for your response.

 

Dell Pro Support chat was great. Here is the chat dialog via Pro Support if anyone wondering what that experience is like. Should be seeing the parts arrive tomorrow.

Hi- two items:
Keyboard - F3 key has broken off and will not re-attach.
Touchpad - The surface coating has flaked/peeled off making use very difficult as the fingers stick to non-coated surface.
Thanks

Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:33:44 AM): Hi Ben. Thank you for contacting Client ProSupport Chat. My name is Robert. Please allow me a moment to review your case details.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:34:18 AM): Hey good morning Ben
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:34:21 AM): I have your phone number as , and your email address as . Are these the best ways to reach you should we need to follow up after this chat?
Me (4/15/2019, 11:35:04 AM): Hello. Yes that info is correct and you may contact me using those if needed as a follow up.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:35:38 AM): Roger that! I appreciate It
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:35:54 AM): Just read the notes here, sounds like we need to create a dispatch here.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:36:02 AM): Do we have any damage to the machine at all?
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:36:08 AM): Liquid damage drops etc?
Me (4/15/2019, 11:36:25 AM): Robert, if okay, I would be prefer to the make part changes myself.
Me (4/15/2019, 11:36:41 AM): no liquid damage or any other damage exists.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:37:26 AM): You bet!
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:37:31 AM): What's a good address Ben?
Me (4/15/2019, 11:37:47 AM): excellent. My address is:
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:39:20 AM): Good deal setting this up now while we are in warranty
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:39:26 AM): One moment please.
Me (4/15/2019, 11:39:34 AM): great, thank you.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:39:53 AM): So this Is going to be the keyboard and palmrest Ben
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:40:03 AM): You all set to make the repair?
Me (4/15/2019, 11:40:15 AM): okay, yes. That is what I expected. Yes, I am proficient to make this repair. Thanks.
Me (4/15/2019, 11:40:44 AM): Just to confirm, this will be for backlit US language keyboard.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:40:50 AM): Hey good deal!
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:42:07 AM): Alright Ben the dispatch email Is on the way!
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:42:12 AM): Do you have any further questions or outstanding issues I can assist you with today?
If no, have Dell and I provided excellent service today?
Me (4/15/2019, 11:42:51 AM): Thank you Robert. Yes, you've been great to work with. When do you think the parts may ship out and arrive?
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:43:59 AM): They should be out today for tomorrow!
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:44:12 AM): Looks like everything Is available
Me (4/15/2019, 11:44:27 AM): excellent. Thanks for checking. That's all I can think of. Have a great day!
Me (4/15/2019, 11:44:53 AM): Good bye.
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:45:00 AM): Take care!
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:45:06 AM): Reach out If you need anything Ben
Robert E (4/15/2019, 11:45:08 AM): If for any reason you need to reach me regarding this chat, please send me an email at . My hours are 8:30am - 5:30pm CST Monday-Friday
​

 

Yes! Its like brand new again.

The surface coating on the replacement touchpad feels coarser than the original. I wonder if they improved the coating from my original which flaked.

The number 4 and 5 keycaps have script printed that were not on the original.

There were many screws involved but thats mostly just for the palmrest (21 screws) and the keyboard (8 screws). The other 6 screws were for the HDD caddy and backplate.

Very happy and the parts arrived the day after chatting with Pro Support. Maintenance on these are pretty easy. Heatsink/fan assembly or display assembly is probably the most involved but even that isn't bad.


*edit: first time boot up after replacing the parts, the system automatically began windows update for latest dell control vault firmware (the security smartcard/thumbprint circuit board which comes with the new palmrest needed firmware update and this update occurred automatically).

 

Anyone here with a 7710 or 7510 and tried the newWindows 10 version 1903 Update? Any major gotchas? I'm on 1809 currently.

I'm very tempted to try it, but thinking to wait another month.

 

Yes I have 7510 with 1903. If you have Dell TB16 dock maybe you should read this first:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/precision-7510-owners-thread.783108/page-181
Anyone with 7710 , TB16 and 1903?

 

Hi heiikuri. Thank you for the reply. I do not have a TB16 however I may still hold off on upgrading to 1903. I've upgraded a few windows 10 VMs in my ESXi server though and no problem. But I think I'll wait before upgrading my laptop to 1903.

Cooling in my 7710 has been awesome. It's quiet and currently only at 35c (although I'm not doing much at the moment, just typing in Chrome browser). But overall it keeps cool and runs quiet. If I startup three VMs at same time on the laptop (one VM having 4 vcpus, and the other two have 3vcpu each), each running windows, it will climb into the mid 50s as they are booting up but temps settle back down into low to mid 40s after they initially boot up.

My M5000M gpu is almost always around 40c and I hardly ever use it except in gaming (I don't use gpu intensive games). Chrome browser probably uses more of that gpu than anything I throw at it.

 

I'm overseas at the moment and I think my 7710 screen just went out. An external monitor works fine, but the laptop screen is blank with some vertical lines that change location from time to time.

My 3-year pro-support ended in June. I'm just starting the process of trying to find the part, but thought I'd reach out in case anyone can give advice.

Is it simple to replace myself? I've built some desktops, but never got into a laptop.

This is the part number on the order spec sheet (purchased 6/20/2016):

391-BCFL - 17.3" UltraSharp UHD IGZO (3840x2160) Wide View Anti-Glare LED-backlit

Thanks for any advice.

 

The screen is not hard to replace. You can find directions in the manual at support.dell.com, but basically you remove the plastic bezel (pry it off with your fingers or a plastic wedge tool from a phone fix-it kit), remove a few screws, and the panel is free. Disconnect the cable from the back, connect it to your new panel, put the screws back in and bezel back on and you are done.

As for finding a panel, you can find them on eBay or other online panel shops. eDP panels are pretty standard so it doesn't have to be one specifically for the Precision 7710; it just has to be 17.3" and have the screw holes and cable connector in the same place, which most do. Finding one without dead pixels might be a trick.

 

Thanks for the timely reply Aaron. I downloaded the manual and took it apart just to make sure the screen's cable was ok (thinking it gets pinched in the hinge), which it was. Then I found a local shop that had a panel and they installed it in 10 minutes (a lot faster than it took me to disassemble it for sure).

Funny, I checked out the screen before they put the bezel back on. It didn't seem that vibrant, but I almost always attach a monitor so it didn't worry me much. Then he removed the protective film, haha, didn't even notice that at first. Now it seems better than my original screen (which was 3 years old).

All good, and saved me a bunch of time, so thank you.