M4800 Owner's Thread

You probably know that Windows 7 does not fully support UEFI—only with legacy “OPROMs” and thus without “secure boot”. (Or maybe you just didn’t change anything in the BIOS before clean-installing 8.1 instead of the pre-installed 7…)

 

My guess is that it's a normal mobile Skylake part with ECC support in the memory controller (so same socket/TDP as a i7/i5) and potentially higher chip bins.

 

Just bought an M4800 on eBay with FHD, i7 4800MQ, warranty until 2016. Also got 32GB RAM, a 750GB 7200RPM drive + caddy for it to replace the DVD drive with as well as a Samsung 850 Evo 256GB SSD.

it comes with a 180W adapter and I bought a docking station that comes with a 210W adapter for it as well. I don't need the 240W one, do I? 210W for the docking station would suffice? Thanks.

According to the service tag, it comes with the LG screen... I'm coming from a ZBook 14 with 14" FHD IPS display so I know I am sacrificing that gorgeous screen for more power, but is it really *that* bad as I've read? Worst comes to worst, I could swap out the display for a better one.

 

If you have the service tag, check if it use LVDS or eDP. If it has edp motherboard, you can swap in a FHD IPS/AHVA(or possessively the QHD one, haven't confirm yet) .BUT, if it is edp version, it should come with a ahva/ips screen already~~
If it is lvds, you are out of luck unless you are willing to swap a motherboard.

 

You'll be fine with the 180W adapter. Anything higher will obviously work too. The docks usually come with a 210 or 240W adapter, in case it's being used with something like an M6800.

I doubt you can upgrade to QHD from FHD - my understanding was that the motherboards are different (QHD = no Optimus).


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I don't want to upgrade to QHD, I hate scaling and all that. I was hoping to be able to swap to a better FHD monitor.

If I PM'd one of you my service tag, would you be able to tell for me? Thanks

 

You can swap one FHD for another, no issue, as long as it is compatible (same connector, connector in roughly the same place, screws in the same place). You won't be able to install an IPS display, those have a different connector.

 

Do you guys think this is a decent time to buy a nearly max optioned M4800? I'd like to wait for the M4900, but I need a new computer by the end of September, for my heavy work season. I was also hoping they'd start shipping with Windows 10 installed soon. The instant savings seem pretty good right now compared to previous years when I've bought similar max spec'd Mobile Workstations. Wondering if there are heavier discounts coming in the near future, or any processor upgrades becoming available within the next few weeks? Thanks everyone!

 

We're getting to the point when new workstations could be announced, seriously, any time. If you could wait until November, I'd say wait for the new workstation announcement, but I'm not sure about September. If you buy a new M4800, it could take a week or more for it to arrive, so keep that in mind as well.

For past Dell workstations, they have been available for purchase very soon after the announcement, but they don't start shipping out for a few weeks.

In any case, the M4800 is a really good machine, so you'll do well to get one. Just always stinks when you buy something fancy and then the new fancy thing comes out right afterwards.

 

I'd recommend purchasing w/ minimal RAM and a HDD, and upgrading those yourself - you'll save a lot, and it won't affect the warranty at all.

Since these machines are marketed toward businesses, I'd also expect these to ship w/ 7 Pro installed, w/ upgrade rights/install media for 8.1 or 10. Just FYI.