M6800 Owners' Thread

It shouldn't be surprising that there are less of these units being sold. There is so little money in selling new computers as it is, combined with the fact that it is expensive for companies to upgrade very often, and outsourcing means that Europe and the US are not buying as many corporate computers anymore.

Your general consumer isn't buying this much power in any form (20 years ago are the days of a basic computer for $2000), when all they need is a tablet or $400 laptop. Excluding those that want performance, I would say that the majority of people could not even afford to buy a computer above the $1000 mark. If you don't game, audio/video, or work 3d models, all that is left is youtube, social networking, and internet surfing.
But this is going off topic.

At least for now we still have sturdy systems that are capable of doing whatever we need them to do while still being portable, if not being particularly innovative.

 

I probably would have bought a 6800 as a second laptop, to go with my 6700. But i gave up about 2 weeks before the opened up the ability to full configure it. I got an HP ZBook 17, and I am very impressed by it. I needed and got a high end ZBook - i7-4930, 32GB/1600, Quadro 5100.

Compared to the 6700:

- keyboard is almost a chiclet style, low travel keys - but high quality composition. Toook a little getting used to but I can type much faster on it because I Barely touch the keys now to type
-sound is tinnier, but acceptable. 6700 has awesome speakers I think
-display calibrated fine, as I recall full gamut using Spyder. SIde by side they look the same, I am not a guru of displays. Viewing angle is very wide, just like the 6700.
-the laptop itself is elegantly "workstation-like" - you can tell it's not a toy, but it's not a bring - sleek design, very nice looking
-the area around the keyboard is the slicker black that I recall the 6500 had, not the buff type of the 6700. BOth are ok, I got used to the 6700 material but it was hard to keep clean. This wipes/brushes off easier.
- getting into the laptop is easier - one switch is pulled like the ones laptops have holding a battery in, and the whole bottom pops off exposing the SSDs, mSata, and memory )(maybe more I am not sure). I swapped out the two minimal SSDs I got and replaced with 2 1 TB Samsung 840's, and installed from scratch.
-More HP bloatware - kinda like Dell was 10 years ago. I started over, and just added some stuff back. Very nice software to check for drivers, updates etc. But I found it easy to update the 6700 as well.
-Dell technical support is better - I had one small problem with th ZBook 17 that I fixed myself, but to this day the case is still open, I Have a replacement part sitting here, and they have not contacted me. IDell i smuych better than that.
-Fans are much quieter than the 6700 - I really have to focus on it to hear if they are on or not. I don't have anything handy here, but it runs cooler when I tested it a couple weeks ago.

I don't know if any benchmarks have been posted, I got on Passmark:
Passmark overall - 4857
CPU-10234
2D Graphics - 1019
3D graphics - 3056
SSD disk perf- 3854

I since overclocked the K5100 a bit as I did the K5000 on my 6700.

 

At this point, the Dell offers better value with the Firepro option, while HP is generally seen as having better fit and finish (to borrow a term from the automotive world).

FYI: If HP sent you a replacement part, that's because it is judged to be "user replaceable." They expect you to do it your self (or call in for guidance) and then ship back the broken part. They will contact you eventually about returning the broken part.

I replaced the keyboard (user replaceable) on my 8740w countless times and just gave up on the idea of getting a solid keyboard. Glad to hear they have improved on that front.

 

Actually, isn't wasn't because it was user replaceable - the part they sent was the webcam module, as the internal microphone did not work. They were waiting on delivery of the cable that connects it to the system board. It requires disassembly of the display. I eventually took the display bezel off, and just examined/pressed etc. the parts in place. I put it back together, and the mic has worked fine ever since. Must have been loose, crimped, or whatever. Last time I called about 10 days ago the cable was still "escalated". Very poor. But the laptop is a good one.

Since I have reloaded/updated drivers etc. and have the Samsung SSD installed, I re-ran the Passmark tests:

Overall-4906
CPU-10226
2D Graphics - 1050
3D Graphics - 3065
Memory - 2564
Disk-4921

 

Hi Guys

I configured my first mobile/Dell workstation like this: ($4,153.50)
Intel Core i7-4930MX (Quad Core Extreme 3.00GHz, 3.9GHz Turbo, 8MB 57W, w/HD Graphics 4600)
Windows 8.1 Professional, 64-bit English
32GB (4x8GB) 1600MHz DDR3L
17.3" UltraSharp™ FHD(1920x1080) Wide View Anti-Glare LED-backlit Multi-Touch with Premium Panel Gua
Nvidia® Quadro® K4100M w/4GB GDDR5 (K5100M is too expensive for me)
Hard Drive: 1TB Hybrid 2.5in, SATA3 with 8GB SSD Flash
Secondary Hard Drive: 2.5” 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive Slot Load
Dell Wireless 1601 2x2 802.11n+BT+60GHz (WiGig)
FIPS Fingerprint Reader and Smart Card Reader (Contact and Contactless) Palmrest
--------------------------------------------------
I have questions about some components (may save me $531 + $100 extra shipping cost, After I read your experiences and suggestions):

1. I want this workstation to do 3D render, video render and 3d sculpting (+ apps development), Is the performance of 4930MX compared to 4900MQ worth extra money and make noticeable difference to a 3D designer?

2. Which one of Optical Drive options is better? (Slot Load known as full of problems like scratches CD and it got stuck in system)
8X DVD-ROM Tray Load
8X DVD+/-RW Drive Slot Load [add $55.30]

3. Which one of Fingerprint Reader options is works better?
FIPS Fingerprint Reader and Smart Card Reader (Contact and Contactless) Palmrest [add $56.00]
SWIPE Fingerprint Reader and Smart Card Reader (Contact and Contactless) Palmrest [add $7.00]

Usually, If I can't make a decision, I select the the most expensive option thinking it is better, but after I search about it I found many complaints about it, So sorry if these question is repeated but I couldn't find any convincing answers.

I will ship this workstation to outside the US, so I want to reduce the possible problems or replacements as much as I can because I think the only way for me is sending back any component to the US, And I don't want to regret later especially with the Processor?
(Any other suggestions about anything else?)

Thanks

 

I have the FIPS reader in the M6700 and it works great for me with Windows 8.1. The FIPS reader has a pad that you just hold your finger on for a couple of seconds. The SWIPE reader requires you to swipe your finger across a slot, but I haven't had a chance to try it for comparison.

 

I just noticed that my estimated delivery date is the first day of my spring break. I'm not sure if that would interfere with vacation plans or not (and it's an apartment, so the office can take it if I'm not here). That being said, how long did your systems stay in production? Were the delivery estimates valid?

 

1. I want this workstation to do 3D render, video render and 3d sculpting (+ apps development), Is the performance of 4930MX compared to 4900MQ worth extra money and make noticeable difference to a 3D designer?

-- I would say not worth the additional cost but that is a matter of preference. The performance difference (not overclocked) between the 2 processors is less than 5% at max load. If you plan to overclock, the upward potential of the 4930mx might mitigate some of the cost. But you could always upgrade on your own later when the price spread between the 2 processors is less. Extreme processors also command slightly more resale value later on.

-- The m6700 had a way of running of essentially overclocking an extreme CPU automatically as long as the thermal profile held, someone will have to say if this is retained in the M6800.

2. Which one of Optical Drive options is better? (Slot Load known as full of problems like scratches CD and it got stuck in system)
8X DVD-ROM Tray Load
8X DVD+/-RW Drive Slot Load [add $55.30]

-- This is also a matter of preference. Sometimes a slot load can be quieter, since the main moving parts are not on a movable tray. But this is splitting hairs. For the reason you mention I prefer the tray load, but the appearance of a slot load is nicer. If that doesn't matter, go tray load if it is RW. But if the tray load is only a reader go with the slot load.

3. Which one of Fingerprint Reader options is works better?
FIPS Fingerprint Reader and Smart Card Reader (Contact and Contactless) Palmrest [add $56.00]
SWIPE Fingerprint Reader and Smart Card Reader (Contact and Contactless) Palmrest [add $7.00]

-- This is also a matter of preference. The only thing I will add is that the FIPS looks like a 2.5x1.5cm solar cell sitting on your computer. Also it is less durable if you have like a ring or something and smash it. The Swipe looks much more discreet and is a bit more durable. But it is also less convenient and sometimes less accurate occasionally requiring multiple swipes to register if your hands are not clean or if they are wet.

 

Thanks a lot for the reply and the clarification

-- I didn't try overclocking a CPU before, but I don't think I will risk with $4000 machine anytime sooner, So, I want to go with the 4900MQ now and upgrade later to Core i7-4940MX (Released Jan. 2014, 3.1 GHz, I can upgrade without problems, right?)

-- I believe that the DVD-ROM Tray Load is read only, so I will go with the slot load.

Thanks for the reply! you helped me a lot

 

I honestly think the 4800qm is the sweet spot. You pay what, 200 dollars or so more for the 4900? You only get at MOST 5% more performance. I really don't think that's worth it.

Upgrading wouldn't be much of a problem, it's very similar to upgrading a desktop CPU, just with a little less space to work.

It's also worth mentioning that you can get a Blu-ray reader and DVD reader/writer for about 100 bucks on Ebay, so you're already halfway there going with that slot load.