Dell 17r N7720 SE - user review

The new version of bios a03. The official website of my broken link, but here's an alternative ftp://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER00730411M/1/7720A03.exe . Now the graphics card itself accelerates to 835 MHz. Suggest screenshot 3d mark 11. My videocard + 10 % perfomance ))

 

The boost bug is still there, try this:

When using nvidia card, disconnect power, and then reconnect it again, now you will get max 745MHz and no boost until you turn computer off.
On the other two computers I had with GT650M (Asus N56VZ and samsung 700Z7C) this was not an issue.

Edit: your physics score is very low, guess you are running an older nvidia driver.

With latest driver I get his:

 

It's only on this Dell as far as I can tell and it's a thermal protection.

 

Well yeah, I have no problems with that, if temps were too high. But they are not, and it bugs out if you just disconnect power and reconnect it.

 

My physics score low , Maybe because I use core i5

 

OC-Freak Immediately after installing the new bios it overclocked to 835 MHz. But after restarting not lift more 745 ((

 

Aye, the bug is still there. The only way I've found that always works to get 835MHz again is to turn it off, unplug power, remove battery, wait a minute, insert battery again, plug power back in, start it. Now you should get 835MHz again until you disconnect power or load exceeds certain level.

Restart sometimes works to get 835MHz again, but not always.

 

OC-Freak What do you think dell will fix this bug?

 

Personally I don't think dell will fix it.
99% of buyers will never know the issue is there since they do not monitor the clockspeeds of the GPU.
The other 1% that notice the bug (us) they won't care about.

 

.......i think DELL fix this soon..........or more to say..... Intel fix it for DELL with a new driver....i think thats enough...i dont think you need to rewrite the whole bios to fix this.

either they adjust the old HM77 Chip driver or something with the Turbo boost feature.


the "problem" (if we call it so...not really a problem i think)...is that the CPU gets little to warm during +3GHz speed...and GPU core-speed goes down a little bit.....yes ?

so, just rewrite some parameters inside the CPU....done !

 

This has nothing to do with CPU. CPU turbo boost works just fine.

I'm fairly sure the bug is within the bios. Probably programmed to this way to get lower temps/power usage under heavy loads.
But it just doesn't work as intended.

 

That is were the bug is, the protection gets active during battery use and stays that way.

 

he he...i never said the cpu was faulty...i saying WHEN the CPU reach ~3 GHZ it somehow tell the GPU to not run in 835 MHZ...sometimes...not all times...thats the funny thing here.

LOOK HERE:
if i have the CPU at 99% (no turbo 3GHZ boost) i have 835MHZ when i play games.

but if enable the CPU turbo...i sometimes have 835MHZ...

i played some hours ago with full 835MHZ CORE speed on the GPU..no problems at all...so as i said...sometimes.

im not sure if its the bios or it need a new driver...........i bet on the driver....i think its driver-software related.....simma lugnt

 

Maybe we will not speculate, and ask the dell. They probably do not know about this bug. I would have asked myself, but bad know English. Who can ask dell. As I understand it, you should leave questions in this section: dell inspiron 7720 - Dell - Search - All Dell.com

 

Done, but I doubt Dell care.

 

they will care...im sure.........why ??? because ive been using DELL PCs a long long time now and i have been around with smaller bugs/cracks and they have always solved this.

sometimes in newer software-updates.......but also sometimes they replace a certain hardware..........(im not saying they will replace hardware in this case......BUT they have done it many times in the past)

The thing is this. As long nobody call the support and DEMAND a 100% working gpu (becuase you bought this laptop for gaming, etc, etc) they will might not think its a issue we pc-nerds really have.
Just call them and tell them. Its the Only way
I told them a month ago. But its of course better that 50 persons call them then 2.

 

Dell support is excellent when it comes to fix hardware faults (like broken mainboard, faulty screen etc). But when it comes to small bits like bios issues, or minor software issues, they are too large to care, and even more so the least two years (probably due to dell computer business not doing too good).

Still the inspiron 17r SE is an good computer and the GPU bug is not an deal breaker, just a minor annoyance.

 

Dell knows at least from 3 different people in here, with examples. I am one of them.

 

i suggest everybody 7720 owners here on NBR call dell support.......we are all living in different countries and when DELL get calls around the world, its a way higher chance they grab into this minor issue ..........im sure

NEVERTHELESS....my 7720 works AWESOME in games.........i mean.....high settings in BF3 with a FPS on 45 in 1080p............what more can this gt650 card produce ??? im not sure it can really.

 

From where can i download the latest drivers?Can i do it from dell.com?

 

Drivers for Nvidia GPU I'd suggest getting from nvidia.com, fresher than those from Dell, rest is probably okay from Dell.

I also grabbed latest chipset drivers from intel.com, but not sure if it's really needed.

 

From Dell you get Dell's latest drivers. From LaptopVideo2Go you get generic Nvidia latest drivers. From Nvidia you still get betas for laptop, but there are new drivers for desktop, so I hope the 6xxM drivers will be out soon. Intel has some new drivers as well.

@ KSMB - I told you BF3 plays nice

 

Mine's supposed to be here in a couple days. I'm thinking I'm going to limit the CPU to 99% so it won't trigger throttling and overclock the 650M as much as I can. Good plan?

 

Thank you,
is it important to update my drivers when a new release is out?Are there differences?

 

Apart from that, my laptop was supposed to have 750GB hard disc.If i click on my computer, only 682 shows.Why that?

 

1 GB=1024 MB
1 MB=1024 KB
1 KB=1024 Bytes

1 GB=1024*1024*1024 bytes =1073741824 bytes

750,000,000,000 Bytes ≈ 698 GB.

I don't know where you're losing the other 17 but it could be partitioned or something. You should have 750,000,000,000 Bytes available to you

Edit: I figure the extra 17GB missing is because a formatted drive also has less space than an unformatted drive. NFTS or FAT32 formatting will likely use some space for metadata etc.

 

The last gigabytes that are missing is used for the hidden recovery partition.

 

yes but, when i ordered the laptop it said 750GB not 750,000,000,000 Bytes.Sorry, i don't get it.

 

it always like this.......if you order a 750GB hard drive.....then it says around 750GB inside disc-management (its hidden data).
every computer in the world has the same.

 

Dell sold you an laptop with an 750GB HDD, og let's first see what one GB is.

wikipedia for example has a lot on this matter: Gigabyte - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Let's quote;

So Dell should have sold you an HDD with 750000000000 byte. correct?

Also worth reading:

Binary prefix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Conclusion: You have an 750GB HDD as defined per the international system of units, but in the binary system you have an harddisk that holds (at least) 698GiB as already explained by AngryBambi.

 

I am considerign buying the 17r se and have been following this forum:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1928443
They report that the integrated graphics card for the 3D (top version) is not available, therefore the top model is always operating using the GT650m GPU. This is of concern to me as it may result in shorter life of the GPU and also a shorter battery time.
Can anyone here on this forum (i.e. owners outside of OZ) verify that this is also true for them? What pros and cons does it present?
I find it strange that one pays top dollar for all the features yet there seems to be a possible limitation.

 

Thank you all ! i get it now!
i really appreciate your help

 

Can anyone possibly link me to a site or teach me how to use an ssd as a boot drive then use the hdd as a datadrive with msata cache?

 

+1

Yeah it would be cool if someone who has already done it could give step by step instructions. I'm sure it's not difficult but it would be nice to know what steps someone else has taken already.

Ah there it is!

 

I have a question...
if i fill my hard disc with movies,songs etc, will the laptop lose some speed?i mean from 700GB to fill the 650...or there is no problem?

 

If you get closer to it being full I would say that it will slow down a little. You should always keep some space in my opinion. As long as you can keep it to 650GB out of 700GB it shouldn't slow down.

What I do is keep the more important files on the PC, like music and pictures, whereas more bulky, "watch once" files like movies etc. stay on my external hard drives.

You should also run disk defragmenter now and then on a hard disk drive, but never on a solid state drive.

 

ok, i run disc defragmentation once a week...do you think that it needs frequently?
im really sorry for my english, im from greece.

 

No that's loads, even once a month would be loads. Once a week might be overdoing it. I recommend using Defraggler by Piriform. It's free, easy to use and works well for me

Your English is a lot better than my Greek so I wouldn't worry about it

 

I downloaded it, it seems a bit better from Windows' disc defragmenter.My disc health is good.I adjusted it to run the test every month.Thanx for help.!

 

Optimus and 3D do not work together, no matter who makes the laptop.

 

Thanks.

If 3D is not enabled on these laptops (i.e. feature turned off) can the HD 4000 then be enabled?

I want the nicer screen this laptop provides but not sure what the limitation means.

 

you misunderstand................................when you use 3D for example games or movies..........you use your GT650M

the 3D process needs quite much power from the video card... i really doubt a Intel 4000 video card handle that.

just go for the True life screen if you want


@nikos.panorama......... the Windows' disc defragmenter in Windows.7 defrag very very good & clean/smart............(not like in older XP)....this one is very good.

 

i just installed my Vostro 3750 Backlit Keyboard..........wow.......its (believe or not) more solid then my original non backlit keyboard 7720..........maybe its because the backlit i dont know.

buttons are more solid as well.....

 

Thanks again.

I just want to know if I can use the Intel 4000 when not engaging 3D.
Reports on that other forum suggest the 650m is running full time, the Intel 4000 is not available at all. I would very much like if someone who owns the laptop can confirm this is the case.

 

thats crazy............my 4000 works in ordinary use and then gt650 in harder use............works as it should

 

Do you have the 3D version?

I'm just going on what was discussed on the whirlpool australian forum, where it is mentioned the nvidia GPU is engaged full time for the 3D models. The link is above in my first post.

 

yes i have....see my reviews

 

Have the top-spec model as well (3D); and while the Nvidia chip clocks down to a very comfortable 135MHz in idle, it never appears to switch off...

Also, if I try and install the "Intel HD Graphics 4000" Drivers from the Dell web site (I have to select 'All files for Inspiron 17R SE 7720'; it's not available under my Service Tag - the executable is 'Video_Intel_W74_A00_Setup-M5G59_ZPE.exe'), I get an error stating
"This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software."

So I'm not 100% sure that the Intel 4000 is actually available on the top-spec 3D model... (I also don't see it in Device Manager or anywhere else; it's not detected by GPU-Z either, even with Stereoscopic 3D turned to 'Off'). Don't know where the limitation lies (Chipset?) because the processor model definitely does include it...

That said, at 135MHz when doing regular Windows tasks, I doubt the discrete Nvidia chip will fail in a hurry at all. It also maintains a very cool sub-50-degree (Celsius) temperature - so overheating under regular use is very, very unlikely.

The only con, then, is that it does detract from battery life (I get around 2 hours with regular use), but as a desktop replacement, this suffices.

That said, it's a great machine My only significant gripe with it is as the OP mentioned in his list of cons: "Space key not so good". It isn't! (I don't get good response from it when tapping it from the bottom of the key on the backlit keyboard; though I've now become used to pressing it more firmly).

@Jimmy: Regardless, I'd say if you can pick up the top-spec at a good price, go for it...

 

No. If a laptop has 3D, it will not have Optimus at all, no mater if you use 3D option or not.

 

Thanks this is what I was seeking, really appreciate your input. I can get the top model for 1399 Swiss Francs. The other alternative for the same price is the new acer v3771g which has 16 gig on board and an SSD in the first slot but no 3D, but also has the 3630qm CORE and has Full HD but i expect the dell screen to be better. I am not a huge fan of the acer case design though.

Ultimately i am looking for a great photo and video editing unit.