Precision 7730,5530,7530 (Coffee Lake) pre-release

Can you provide documentation this is the case for the 1TB/2TB drives? I can’t find the exact model tech specs and was too considering buying the cheapest nvme and replacing with Samsung evo 970. Thanks!

 

You MIGHT get a PM981, or you might get a Toshiba, or whatever else they had in the bin at the assembly line. They use those non-descriptive categorizations so they can use various suppliers, whoever is most available or best deal for them. My Alienware shipped with a 512GB NVMe drive - has this installed: THNSN5512GPUK. I do not think they were using the Class 40/50 designation yet back then (fall 2016) but this would have been one or the other. I honestly have to say I am surprised at how similar the results are - granted this is a pretty simple performance test. Things like performance consistency, garbage cleanup, performance once the drive is full or cycled fully through a few times, etc may tell a different story between the 2.

 

Contacted Dell support last Friday. By then, the TB18DC dock is still not available on UK website. (nor was it on 7730 configuration page).

Dell support assured me he can add it in, and provided me a quote, with a discount (£100+ less)

But I didn't pay on Friday, cause I wasn't sure of some configuration on the quote page.

Today, the TB18DC option is available in UK website. Anyone can configure it. But that sales rep still give me the discounted quote

Anybody want to buy the same rig may want to try the same? Good luck!

 

https://www.anandtech.com/show/12670/the-samsung-970-evo-ssd-review

In the review the 970 EVO performs equivalent to PM981 and lead all others except the Optane parts.

 

I think 970 Pro has the advantage though, quite visible in some cases
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/samsung_970_pro_m_2_512gb_nvme_ssd_review,1.html
http://www.thessdreview.com/our-rev...view-1tb-the-cost-of-being-the-worlds-best/4/

 

Here's quick links to the service manuals if anyone is interested:
http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/precision-17-7730-laptop_service-manual2_en-us.pdf
http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/precision-15-7530-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

Is anyone else disappointed with the latest revision of the precision series? These look Inspiron-ified and not long term machines.

I have a precision m4600. These look like a downgrade in many ways.

Disadvantages:
-even smaller heatsinks
-prismatic square pack battery (no more 18650 packs). Wear out faster, bloat when fail causing potential mechanical damage (see photos of failed battery macbooks)
-7530 no longer has quick release bottom cover
-Fans are not serviceable from bottom. Can't clean the fans every month without full laptop disassembly. heatsink directly attached to fan, makes full teardown cleaning even more challenging.
-no more dock port

Advantages:
-M.2
-Thunderbolt
-slightly better CPU, much better GPU.
-not sure how much key travel, but probably less

The new HP Zbook machines look like a better value
They have removable bottom cover at least. I am not finished researching them, but I'm a bit frustrated with these new designs. I am purchasing a desktop replacement for performance. I don't want a thin and light POS. I want the machine to be 1in thick. I'd rather a 14in 1in thick machine that actually fits in any backpack and has a nice tangible feel, rather than some flimsy thin derpy laptop.

 

that heatsink on the 7730 seems really weak

I really wonder if they're showcasing the lower tier heatsink on the manual, that doesn't seem right for a Quadro P5200 (GTX1080 notebook core but without G5X)

 

Definitely, very very much.

Thanks for service manuals, I have not realized 7530 no longer has a quick release bottom cover and hence you cannot easily remove its battery. That is another big disappointment. By the way, you could add "Only 2 USB ports" to your disadvantage list.

My love for Dell unfortunately is ending with 7520.

 

Check my post a few pages back or the 7730 product page on Dell's site. There is a better heatsink than what is shown in the manual. I suspect the one in the manual is what you get if you buy the system with no dGPU.

 

Wow, I didn't realize that. Man. What a bummer.