M4800 Owner's Thread

I still don't get why they're able to have optimus working on the M3800 with a QHD+ display but not the M4800.

 

Different system board design.
Since the QHD+ display requires an eDP connection, the CPU has to by physically wired to the eDP port for Optimus to work.
Apparently this was done on the M3800 system board and not implemented on the M4800.

It's very likely the QHD+ display wasn't being considered as an option while the M4800 was initially being developed and only became available too late for them to make a system board revision.
A new board spin with the necessary traces will be required, along with the subsequent testing and validation, so not an easy or cheap change.

There is a chance that the traces are there and it just hasn't been fully tested and implemented in the bios, but someone would have to crack one open and investigate...

 

Wild guess, they have left over parts for ips m4700 motherboard.
Someone says, why don't we put hasewell socket on them and call it a day.

 

HI Changt34x,

thank you for the info... You did help, but now I have to think about the QHD+ on battery. I do use my laptop on battery about 20% of the time

Humm.. well, I have been OK with 1080 for a few years, so even though I would like to get the QHD+, I might just skip that screen in order to maximize my battery ( I always need more battery time when I least expect it )

oh well, it just seems like a high end laptop like the m4800 shouldn't have some of these problems, like someone said, it seems like they threw some parts together.


Thanks everyone who wrote

 

I know that feeling. Now, when there are very many options in the price range that have very high resolution screens, it is difficult for me to buy another 1080p 15" laptop. After having seen the screen in person, I wouldn't ever order another M4800 with the other screen (I would just have to hope all the scaling issues are solved).

I think one thing you should consider is how much time you need on a charge. I used the computer the same way I use my cMBP, which I can now get seriously 11 hours out of. Pretty much it is 20-30% brightness, make sure all background tasks (like VirtualBox services) are closed, close all unused programs, lock CPU to minimum speed, lock GPU to minimum speed (or switch to iGPU), and disable keyboard backlight. On the M4800, with nearly a 100wHr battery, these steps, and just taking notes in class, I can only get 4.25 hours. That is sad.

A lot of reviews are praising "tried and true" design. I agree with baii with it being thrown together. With nearly every competitor getting full redesigns (HP and Lenovo) maybe they realized that the last generation design is no longer applicable with new technology. I am waiting for W540 (likely will have way better battery life), or will just upgrade/overclock desktop to 24GB RAM and 4.2GHz and get like a X230 or XPS 12 refurb for portability with the money I save.

 

Dear Customer,
We wanted to let you know that there is a delay with one or more items in your order.

Awesome. Another week to wait.

 

i was assured by the csr that it i will receive it by the 20th but we'll see after it being cancelled twice and waited a month lol

 

Who knows, maybe you're lucky and Dell changes the setup of the machine to allow Optimus in the meantime. By now they must have realized that they are making their users and especially potential customers unhappy with their previous decision.

 

HI,

Thanks again,

hummm... my m4600 is still a great laptop, I added an SSD about a year ago and this thing still rocks. Maybe I will just upgrade to a newer & faster SSD and mSATA drive in my current m4600, then next year maybe dell will figure out what they need to do to make people happy with the m4900.. I also really like the finger print reader option on my m4600.


I'll keep thinking


thanks

 

Will this thing ever be offered as customize-able?