The M1710 is a high performance laptop with the latest in high end components under it's hood..
Since there have not been any reviews of the M1710 since last year I decided to provide an updated review based on the more recent additions to the M1710 performance line.
SPECS
(* Right click on pictures & select open in new window/tab for larger view)
I purchased my latest machine in March of this year. This is my 6th XPS system, all of them being laptops. The specifications of my build were as follows:
· M1710-Black
· 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600G (unlocked multiplier) 3.16GHz Max OC.
· Nvidia 7950GTX 512 MB
· Sigmatel Stac 9200HD Audio (2 main speakers 1 subwoofer)
· 160GB Seagate 7200 RPM HDD (ST9160823AS)
· 2GB 667 Samsung stock RAM
· DVD-RW (did not opt for Blu-ray)
· Intel Pro Wireless 3945 ABG
· Sigmatel Audio chipset
· Dell (True mobile) 355 Bluetooth module
· Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
· 17” 1920x1200 WUXGA (Samsung 3155 LCD)
BUILD QUALITY & EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS
At first glance you can already tell this computer has to be powerful. Some people do not care for the design that has been continued through several generations & includes the much debated XPS LEDS.
There are 4 main lighted areas, including the top bezel, the side fan vents, the speaker vents, as well as the XPS touchpad with lighted red logo. These lighted areas, excluding the touchpad can be configured independently of one another using one of 16 color options. This can be controlled through the BIOS as well as through the included Dell Quickset application.
The keyboards on these machines are very comfortable. It uses standard full size keys with the exception of the top row of “F” key, the directional keypad, as well as a few other task specific buttons.
A number pad was not included. Key travel is perfect & the keys have just the right “spring”.
Some people have concerns regarding the absence of a numeric keypad. My own personal experience with 17” laptops with numeric keypads has been unpleasant. The keys on the keyboard feel scrunched together & the key travel is limited & feels cheap.
Another small area of debate is the palm rest area. A few people have reported “fading” over time. I have not experienced this, even with my older laptops. I believe this is simply a matter of people with PH levels that eat away at the painted surface.
Heat is minimal; the palm rest does get slightly warm but remains comfortable. I would not suggest putting it on your lap while gaming. The base is not too bad during low intensity operations such as writing documents or searching the web.
The base chassis is made of magnesium. I have not noticed any flex in this machine at all. It seems very stiff & the monitor opens up with a stiff reassurance. Latching the lid is easy & secure
The rear bezel which is offered in either black or Red is a thin aluminum that has a “ribbed” appearance that can be scratched with ease.
I would have preferred a painted surface that was scratch resistant. If you are concerned about this you can look in the forums for Dell Quicksnap covers to protect the bezel & insert your own graphics
Continuing with the exterior of the machine you will find the following- (looking from the front of the machine)
· 6 USB connections (2 on the left/4 on the rear panel)
· DVD tray (left side)
· Laptop lock
· 1 mini fire Wire port (right side)
· Express card slot (right side)
· Smart card reader slot (right side)
· Headphone/mic Jack (right)
· 5 in 1 memory card reader (right side)
· Single link DVI port (rear)
· VGA Port (rear)
· S-Video port (rear)
· *S-Video port has a separate breakout cable that has a digital audio (SPDIF) connection as well as component video outputs.
· Gigabit Ethernet port (rear)
· Modem port (rear)
· AC port (rear)
On the keyboard level you will find-
· Media direct button (Dell’s Media Center)
· Power button
· A collection of 8 LED’s indicating Status for:
· Caps lock/Scroll/num/Wifi/Bluetooth (directly between the Media direct & power button)
Power/HDD activity/Charge indicator located on the right monitor hinge.
Turning the unit over will provide you access to the battery, which has its own internal meter with 5 LED’s indicating the charge state of the battery in 20% increments.
In addition you will find access for
· Memory modules
· HDD Tray
· Wi-Fi/Modem cards
· Bluetooth card
· DVD tray removal screw
· COA for Windows
· Express service code & Service Tag
· D dock port for a docking station
· view into the 5w subwoofer
Centered between the 2 front speakers are your media keys. These are perfectly placed for easy access.
It also allows you to use the keys for listening to music while the lid is closed. Pushing any of these buttons activates a blue toned backlight for several seconds. I use these keys in Winamp & iTunes.
· Keys include mute/Volume/play/previous/next track/stop
As you can see this unit has every connection a person could want. The only point of debate would be the Express card slot which has limited use up until now. Manufactures are finally beginning to market express card & I expect the trend will start to move quickly towards this newer standard.
The Screen is a 17” WUXGA with a resolution of 1920x1200. The screen is very bright & has a good viewing angle. There is a heated debate on the best LCD for this laptop. This is based on the “light leakage” issue… I have seen posts on the forum where people have had 3 LCD’s replaced w/o achieving satisfaction.
I have had 6 separate machines, 3 with the Samsung screen & 3 with the LG screen. From personal experience I have not noticed this issue & chalk the complaint up to personal preference for the most part.
The speaker system is not the top of the line bose home stereo system but with the proper EQ adjustments it provides full sounds both in gaming & media playback. There are no issues with low volume playback you find on some machines. The 5 watt subwoofer is a blessing. Just disable it for 5 minutes & try listening to music & playing games. The system has a SPDIF output for DVD's.
Weight comes in @ 8.8 Lbs for this powerhouse. Add the power brick (1.4Lbs) & you have 10.2 pounds of pure power. Some people say that 10 pounds is too much… I’ve had the opportunity to carry this laptop around with me just about everywhere. If you have a decent bag you will be fine. It is well worth the extra few pounds. If you compare it to other laptops that are in the ball park of this machine’s performance you will find this is one of the lightest machines around.
PERFORMANCE
This machine has no shortage of performance. With the option to have an over-clockable processor capable of ramping up to 3.16GHz & a Video card that has been successfully over clocked to performance levels rivaling the mainstream desktop cards such as the 7900GTX when Over-clocked & used to its full potential.
(OC steps: 2.33à2.50à2.66à2.83à3.0à3.16)
The processor on this system is no slouch. Even at its stock 2.33GHz base it is one of the top performers when benched against the Desktop 6xxx series processors.
It pulls an impressive 21,000 Dhrysones. Not even the AMD FX2-62 DC can match it. When you up the processor to 3 GHz no dual core processor can compare to it. Granted the X6800 is known for over-clocking, however it is nice to see such impressive scores on a laptop platform.
29,214 Dhrystones T7600G @ 3.16GHz -Updated 6-11-07
28,633 Dhrystones T7600G @ 3.0 GHz
26,501 Dhrystones X6800 2.93GHz
21,000 Dhrystones T7600 2.33 GHz
20,224 Dhrystones AMD FX2-62DC 2.4GHz
I usually keep my system at 2.83GHz. Anything above that & the fans are forced on high at all times.
SuperPI results:
I have overclocked my 7950GTX up to 659 core/837 memory & pulled the following scores.
659/837 3DMark05-11,434 (9,500 default score)
3DMark06-6,366 (5,300 default score)
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/re...=0&UID=9153231
You can see the graphics performance is excellent considering it is a laptop platform.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE
Here are my PCMark05 Scores @ 3.0GHz
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/resultanalyzer.jsp?projectType=13&XLID=0&UID=9001929
@3.16 GHz
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/resultanalyzer.jsp?projectType=13&XLID=0&UID=9123462
Keep in mind this score also includes subsystem benchmarks as well.
BATTERY LIFE
Battery life on this laptop varies. Using the laptop in normal conditions w/ 7/8 LCD brightness Wi-Fi on/BT off, with casual web surfing or word processing expect around 2.5 hours of battery life. Under heavy gaming it lasts an amazing hour. Understand when you switch to battery power the CPU is dropped to its default 2.33 GHz if you are doing a cold boot. If you are in Windows when you disconnect the AC it remains at the speed you set in the BIOS. Operating at minimum power levels I squeezed out 2 hours and 49 minutes. Max battery (1000MHz) No WI-Fi/BT LCD 5/8 running Word.
THOUGHTS…
If you are looking for a top of the line system with portability in mind this is the way to go. I understand there are a lot of people interested in DX10. DX10 will be great for people that are looking for a small portable system with the latest technology, better battery life, & basic gaming. The 8XXX series are expected to be placed in the new Santa Rosa platform machines, the highest level cards being the 8600 series. There are a heat & power issues surrounding the 8800 so do not expect a high performance card in these macines for some time, possibly around Q3.
Here is a benchmark showing 3DMark scores comparing the 7600 & 8600...
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=637&p=1
You will see the 8600 has decent scores on 3Dmark, but on the next page you will see the real-life performance of the card. That is where the card shows its true colors & performs considerably worse than the 7600.
EDIT: a recent review of the 8600M GS/GT mobile video cards provided us with some 3DMark06 scores.
8600M GS- 2,100
8600M GT- 3,600
Thread with discussion on this issue:
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread195663.html
In closing I would like to say that this is one of the top performers in the mobile market.
If you decide this is the laptop for you I would suggest taking a serious look into the warranty offered by Dell when making a purchase. The Complete Care warranty with Next Business Day on site service & Accidental Damage Protection is worth every penny & offers peace of mind.
For those wondering, I purchased mine from a online retailer. Send a PM if you would like more information on them.
My setup...
Edit: Added a few more pics including pics of the motherboard, back of the motherboard, & my microphone mod, and black keyboard mod
Additional XPS wallpapers I have found:
Since there have not been any reviews of the M1710 since last year I decided to provide an updated review based on the more recent additions to the M1710 performance line.
SPECS
(* Right click on pictures & select open in new window/tab for larger view)
I purchased my latest machine in March of this year. This is my 6th XPS system, all of them being laptops. The specifications of my build were as follows:
· M1710-Black
· 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600G (unlocked multiplier) 3.16GHz Max OC.
· Nvidia 7950GTX 512 MB
· Sigmatel Stac 9200HD Audio (2 main speakers 1 subwoofer)
· 160GB Seagate 7200 RPM HDD (ST9160823AS)
· 2GB 667 Samsung stock RAM
· DVD-RW (did not opt for Blu-ray)
· Intel Pro Wireless 3945 ABG
· Sigmatel Audio chipset
· Dell (True mobile) 355 Bluetooth module
· Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet
· 17” 1920x1200 WUXGA (Samsung 3155 LCD)
BUILD QUALITY & EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS
At first glance you can already tell this computer has to be powerful. Some people do not care for the design that has been continued through several generations & includes the much debated XPS LEDS.
There are 4 main lighted areas, including the top bezel, the side fan vents, the speaker vents, as well as the XPS touchpad with lighted red logo. These lighted areas, excluding the touchpad can be configured independently of one another using one of 16 color options. This can be controlled through the BIOS as well as through the included Dell Quickset application.
The keyboards on these machines are very comfortable. It uses standard full size keys with the exception of the top row of “F” key, the directional keypad, as well as a few other task specific buttons.
A number pad was not included. Key travel is perfect & the keys have just the right “spring”.
Some people have concerns regarding the absence of a numeric keypad. My own personal experience with 17” laptops with numeric keypads has been unpleasant. The keys on the keyboard feel scrunched together & the key travel is limited & feels cheap.
Another small area of debate is the palm rest area. A few people have reported “fading” over time. I have not experienced this, even with my older laptops. I believe this is simply a matter of people with PH levels that eat away at the painted surface.
Heat is minimal; the palm rest does get slightly warm but remains comfortable. I would not suggest putting it on your lap while gaming. The base is not too bad during low intensity operations such as writing documents or searching the web.
The base chassis is made of magnesium. I have not noticed any flex in this machine at all. It seems very stiff & the monitor opens up with a stiff reassurance. Latching the lid is easy & secure
The rear bezel which is offered in either black or Red is a thin aluminum that has a “ribbed” appearance that can be scratched with ease.
I would have preferred a painted surface that was scratch resistant. If you are concerned about this you can look in the forums for Dell Quicksnap covers to protect the bezel & insert your own graphics
Continuing with the exterior of the machine you will find the following- (looking from the front of the machine)
· 6 USB connections (2 on the left/4 on the rear panel)
· DVD tray (left side)
· Laptop lock
· 1 mini fire Wire port (right side)
· Express card slot (right side)
· Smart card reader slot (right side)
· Headphone/mic Jack (right)
· 5 in 1 memory card reader (right side)
· Single link DVI port (rear)
· VGA Port (rear)
· S-Video port (rear)
· *S-Video port has a separate breakout cable that has a digital audio (SPDIF) connection as well as component video outputs.
· Gigabit Ethernet port (rear)
· Modem port (rear)
· AC port (rear)
On the keyboard level you will find-
· Media direct button (Dell’s Media Center)
· Power button
· A collection of 8 LED’s indicating Status for:
· Caps lock/Scroll/num/Wifi/Bluetooth (directly between the Media direct & power button)
Power/HDD activity/Charge indicator located on the right monitor hinge.
Turning the unit over will provide you access to the battery, which has its own internal meter with 5 LED’s indicating the charge state of the battery in 20% increments.
In addition you will find access for
· Memory modules
· HDD Tray
· Wi-Fi/Modem cards
· Bluetooth card
· DVD tray removal screw
· COA for Windows
· Express service code & Service Tag
· D dock port for a docking station
· view into the 5w subwoofer
Centered between the 2 front speakers are your media keys. These are perfectly placed for easy access.
It also allows you to use the keys for listening to music while the lid is closed. Pushing any of these buttons activates a blue toned backlight for several seconds. I use these keys in Winamp & iTunes.
· Keys include mute/Volume/play/previous/next track/stop
As you can see this unit has every connection a person could want. The only point of debate would be the Express card slot which has limited use up until now. Manufactures are finally beginning to market express card & I expect the trend will start to move quickly towards this newer standard.
The Screen is a 17” WUXGA with a resolution of 1920x1200. The screen is very bright & has a good viewing angle. There is a heated debate on the best LCD for this laptop. This is based on the “light leakage” issue… I have seen posts on the forum where people have had 3 LCD’s replaced w/o achieving satisfaction.
I have had 6 separate machines, 3 with the Samsung screen & 3 with the LG screen. From personal experience I have not noticed this issue & chalk the complaint up to personal preference for the most part.
The speaker system is not the top of the line bose home stereo system but with the proper EQ adjustments it provides full sounds both in gaming & media playback. There are no issues with low volume playback you find on some machines. The 5 watt subwoofer is a blessing. Just disable it for 5 minutes & try listening to music & playing games. The system has a SPDIF output for DVD's.
Weight comes in @ 8.8 Lbs for this powerhouse. Add the power brick (1.4Lbs) & you have 10.2 pounds of pure power. Some people say that 10 pounds is too much… I’ve had the opportunity to carry this laptop around with me just about everywhere. If you have a decent bag you will be fine. It is well worth the extra few pounds. If you compare it to other laptops that are in the ball park of this machine’s performance you will find this is one of the lightest machines around.
PERFORMANCE
This machine has no shortage of performance. With the option to have an over-clockable processor capable of ramping up to 3.16GHz & a Video card that has been successfully over clocked to performance levels rivaling the mainstream desktop cards such as the 7900GTX when Over-clocked & used to its full potential.
(OC steps: 2.33à2.50à2.66à2.83à3.0à3.16)
The processor on this system is no slouch. Even at its stock 2.33GHz base it is one of the top performers when benched against the Desktop 6xxx series processors.
It pulls an impressive 21,000 Dhrysones. Not even the AMD FX2-62 DC can match it. When you up the processor to 3 GHz no dual core processor can compare to it. Granted the X6800 is known for over-clocking, however it is nice to see such impressive scores on a laptop platform.
29,214 Dhrystones T7600G @ 3.16GHz -Updated 6-11-07
28,633 Dhrystones T7600G @ 3.0 GHz
26,501 Dhrystones X6800 2.93GHz
21,000 Dhrystones T7600 2.33 GHz
20,224 Dhrystones AMD FX2-62DC 2.4GHz
I usually keep my system at 2.83GHz. Anything above that & the fans are forced on high at all times.
SuperPI results:
I have overclocked my 7950GTX up to 659 core/837 memory & pulled the following scores.
659/837 3DMark05-11,434 (9,500 default score)
3DMark06-6,366 (5,300 default score)
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/re...=0&UID=9153231
You can see the graphics performance is excellent considering it is a laptop platform.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE
Here are my PCMark05 Scores @ 3.0GHz
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/resultanalyzer.jsp?projectType=13&XLID=0&UID=9001929
@3.16 GHz
http://service.futuremark.com/orb/resultanalyzer.jsp?projectType=13&XLID=0&UID=9123462
Keep in mind this score also includes subsystem benchmarks as well.
BATTERY LIFE
Battery life on this laptop varies. Using the laptop in normal conditions w/ 7/8 LCD brightness Wi-Fi on/BT off, with casual web surfing or word processing expect around 2.5 hours of battery life. Under heavy gaming it lasts an amazing hour. Understand when you switch to battery power the CPU is dropped to its default 2.33 GHz if you are doing a cold boot. If you are in Windows when you disconnect the AC it remains at the speed you set in the BIOS. Operating at minimum power levels I squeezed out 2 hours and 49 minutes. Max battery (1000MHz) No WI-Fi/BT LCD 5/8 running Word.
THOUGHTS…
If you are looking for a top of the line system with portability in mind this is the way to go. I understand there are a lot of people interested in DX10. DX10 will be great for people that are looking for a small portable system with the latest technology, better battery life, & basic gaming. The 8XXX series are expected to be placed in the new Santa Rosa platform machines, the highest level cards being the 8600 series. There are a heat & power issues surrounding the 8800 so do not expect a high performance card in these macines for some time, possibly around Q3.
Here is a benchmark showing 3DMark scores comparing the 7600 & 8600...
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=637&p=1
You will see the 8600 has decent scores on 3Dmark, but on the next page you will see the real-life performance of the card. That is where the card shows its true colors & performs considerably worse than the 7600.
EDIT: a recent review of the 8600M GS/GT mobile video cards provided us with some 3DMark06 scores.
8600M GS- 2,100
8600M GT- 3,600
Thread with discussion on this issue:
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread195663.html
In closing I would like to say that this is one of the top performers in the mobile market.
If you decide this is the laptop for you I would suggest taking a serious look into the warranty offered by Dell when making a purchase. The Complete Care warranty with Next Business Day on site service & Accidental Damage Protection is worth every penny & offers peace of mind.
For those wondering, I purchased mine from a online retailer. Send a PM if you would like more information on them.
My setup...
Edit: Added a few more pics including pics of the motherboard, back of the motherboard, & my microphone mod, and black keyboard mod
Additional XPS wallpapers I have found:
You might want to check out the Vista forums as well though. THere are a lot of folks on here that can provide you with valuable information
