Latitude 5580 vs Precision 7520 (or simply Latitude vs Precision)

So I'm buying a new laptop, more focused on work tasks than gaming.

The Precision I specced out is about 40% more expensive than the Latitude (around $600 more). While the Precision is more powerful, I don't really need that extra power (mostly VBA coding in Excel and lots of web browser tabs open).

How have people found these laptops to compare to each other? Barring the improved components, is the build quality of the Precision that much better than the Latitude? If the Precision is leaps and bounds ahead of the Latitude from a build quality perspective, I wouldn't mind shelling out the extra cash.

 

The Latitude chassis is mostly plastic, while the Precision (7520/7720) has a good amount of magnesium alloy (on the bottom and around the edge)... So it will be a more "sturdy" system. It's also a little easier to get inside to access drives, RAM, Wi-Fi card, etc. (just remove the battery + two screws and the entire bottom panel comes off). And it has better cooling, so that you should be able to maintain the CPU's maximum "turbo" frequency indefinitely.

 

The Precision 7000 line can be used as an impact weapon if needed. I am being sarcastic of course but the build quality is awesome on these machines. Also, as Aaron mentioned, the Precision line has really good cooling and I would be comfortable in running the CPU+GPU at max levels for hours at a time.

The only reason I would go for a latitude is if weight is concern for you. As long as you stick to the Latitude 5000 or 7000 series, you should be good in that regard.

 

Weight isn't really a concern, as it will spend most of its in-transit time sitting on the seat next to me. It appears the Precision is about 1kg (2lbs) heavier than the Latitude, which is really nothing to me. It's mostly the extra $600 that makes me question if the build quality is really worth that extra cash. I enjoy a cool-running laptop (I'm quite sensitive to surface temperatures).

Any thoughts on the Thinkpad T570 vs the Latitude?

 

I have a 7510 which has the same layout as the 7520. It does shoot all of the heat it can from the two jets on the rear, anything in front of those two jets will get warm. And it does get warm at the bottom where the the GPU is located which I notice when its on my lap.

Speaking of lap, I don't know if its because of the shape of my thighs but I have to be careful when using the laptop with high resource tasks when its on my lap. My thighs would sometimes block the air intakes and interfere with the cooling.

As for the keyboard, I don't notice it getting warm even I accidentally blocked the air intakes with my thunder thighs (squats and leg presses FTW).

If you are just doing word docs or internet surfing, the lap issue is not present. It only happens when I am editing or playing games.