dell xps studio x16 and nvidia video

you wonder why a large company like dell makes a decision not to include nvidia video chipset as an option for configuration for the xps studio x16. there are many out there that likes to dab in linux, unix, opensource, and usually those folks demand nvidia video, and will not even think twice about a rig unless the nvidia option is available.. ati video cards are very hard, if not impossible to configure with linux..i know, i have tried.....i just wonder who makes these decisions for dell, and if they even smart enough to realize this...

i went to dell laptop sales chat ,and asked them about the nvida choice -

1. don,t have info
2. might be a product shortage
3. design team made the ati decision
4. will pass along the info

the replys were what i expected....no idea

 

Maybe it has something to do with entire lines of nvidia chips heating up and breaking down. Or maybe it is their lack of a new laptop product for close to 2 years. Just some ideas. TBH if u want to run linux buy something with nvidia quadro from dell's business line. XPS16 is a multimedia laptop, and I think very few people use linux for multimedia purposes. I'm a big linux fan but I can't blame dell on this one.
I am very happy with my 4670 equipped XPS 16 coming from nvidia 8600 and 8400 cards that were very hot, not very fast and most of them are dead already from a manufacturing issue that nvidia was too lazy or hypocrite to make a recall over.

 

I will be installing Ubuntu on the SXPS once it arrives over the next few days. And will post a review.

The ATI 4670 was troubling me at first because I too have always gone for nvidia in the past due to linux support but it seems that ATI and AMD have released a very capable driver for linux lately that has had very good feedback.

Regarding your question, as to why Dell do not have various cofigurations options for graphics cards as well as some other components is simply due to the fact that it is not cost effective plus there would be a much higher probability that hardware/software issues could escalate.

I am sure that when Dell or any other manufacturer releases a new model, and specifically laptops a lot of research has gone into which parts would go into the model and most importantly be within budget.

 

Those folks probably make up .0000001 percent of laptop sales.

 

To include a nvidia option would create the need for a new motherboard and thus would provide Dell with quite the problem, effectively designing two separate laptops for the sole purpose of those who want to code in linux and others. Unfortunately not everything can be customized, however, there are a large amount of other options out there like, despite the change in size, the SXPS 13 has Nvidia if that is a dealbreaker.
Also, while it would be wonderful if the sales associates were well versed in all the design and just simple comprehension of the products their company is selling, on the whole I would say that it is unrealistic

 

I haev one question, why complain to Dell for including an ATI GPU rather than complain to AMD/ATI for not having proper Linux support?

As said above, they can't always customize everything for everyone in mind.

 

well..quess i would have to go somewhere like ibuypower , and get a lappy from them..they have nice selection with nvidia video.


and take cyberpower, they have in the 15 inch size laptop versions, 5 different video versions you can use....... as for the studio xp 16, dell should have at least a couple of choices...dell is just too cheap...

 

Or Dell had too many problems from Nvidia, and they won't risk for another one :-?

 

i am sure nvidia will not make the big $ mistake again.

 

If you look at Cyberpower's site properly, you'll notice that they just use the same naming for 4 different laptops. For example their Explorer X5 comes in versions with an HD4650, a 9600M GT, GTS 160M and GTX 260M, but all of those have different bodies, i.e. they're different barebones.
- The one with the HD4650 is a Sager NP2098
- The one with a 9600M GT is a Sager NP2096
- The one with a GTS160M is an MS-1651 ID2(i.e. MSI GT628)
- The one with a GTX 260M is a Sager NP8662.

So I really odn't see how Dell is "cheap" compared to CyberPowerPC in that sense. Just as Dell has different models with different GPUs, CyberPowerPC has different models with different GPUs, they just name them all the same.

At the end of the day, even barebones are only made with one GPU selection in mind. GPus are more likely than not soldered onto the motherboard so you'd need another motherboard to change GPU selection.

I suggest rather than complain about GPU selection, why not complain about ATI Linux support? Seems to me ATI loses marketshare to Nvidia by not providing proper Linux support(which can't be impossible to do considering it's feasible on Nvidia cards).
Basically, this lack of support by ATI forces you as a consumer to limit your buying options and that IMO is a bigger problem than one company not offering you a given variety.