Precision 7530 & Precision 7730 owner's thread

My understanding is that basically they add an "EnergyStar" sticker on the case next to the Intel sticker, and make some changes to the power settings in the bundled Windows install. Some older systems also had the EnergyStar logo show up on the BIOS boot screen, but this hasn't been the case since they switched to UEFI seamless boot with Windows 8 machines, it just shows the Dell logo. In any case, you can change the power settings to whatever you like after you get the machine, or if you roll your own OS install, it makes no difference if you chose EnergyStar or not.

 

Hi Everybody,
I'm planning to buy a new 7730 do you think it will be possible to buy with ubuntu linux and after install win 10 as i already have a win 7 pro license with the upgrade to win 10 pro.
I can save about 140 euros by buying it with linux ubuntu.
Is there any setting that change between the win and linux configuration?
Thanks in advance.
Marco

 

You can buy the laptop with Linux (to save money) and install Windows later. The machine that you get is exactly the same.

If your Windows 7 license is OEM (i.e. it was included with a previous PC) then it is not transferable. Only retail licenses can be moved between PCs.

 

yeah man, i agree with you. But some guys tell me that energy star means the hardware will have difference and performance will be limited. I just cannot believe them.

 

Thank you i was worried that the system will be different..
The license is not OEM.
Thanks,
Marco

 

Windows Update served my 7530 a new BIOS, version 1.2.5. It's not available directly from Dell yet. Can't see any differences, but it says that the embedded controller has been updated from 1.0.8 to 1.10.0

Whatever that means.

 

Have you found the new BIOS?
it will be not so happy to buy and have problems to install windows...

 

I haven't had any issues with the BIOS, but the preview release of Windows that came with it crashed every time I plugged in my Thunderbolt 3 eGPU, so I rolled back to the current release.

 

I was going to ask if you have enrolled yourself in the insider program... I can't find the BIOS that you mention on Windows Update or in the Windows Update Catalog.

Tangentially... More generally, for those more interested in stability than the latest features, I recommend visiting Windows Update advanced settings and setting the update branch to "Semi-Annual Channel" (without "Targeted"). I've been bit by early issues with the latest Windows 10 major updates recently that were resolved within the first few patches, so I am moving all systems that I manage over to this. You'll get the major updates about three months later and by then usually the big issues are taken care of. It also gives times for driver makers to catch up, in the case that there are changes that need addressing. (Access to security updates is not impacted.)

 

The 'energy star' label requires the hardware to reach certain efficiency requirements. It's similar to the "80 Plus" label for power supplies, but for the entire device. AFAIK, the customisation option only chooses whether the sticker is put on or not.