Dell M5Y0X
Review Dell Precision M4700 Mobile Workstation
Mobile workstations are in a class of their own, and are not widely
represented in the market. Along with their powerful performance, good
ergonomics and comprehensive configuration possibilities, the other
features that stand out as important are reliability, the provided
service and compatibility. DELL Vostro 3360 charger
Alone the extended warranty periods, and the long-term availability of
replacement parts drive up prices. The Dell Precision M4700 is the new
version of the M4600, whereby the new edition is also only available at a
price starting from 1199 Euros plus VAT. One thing that remains
constant is the 15.6 inch display, which provides a resolution of 1920 x
1080 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Dell hereby distinguishes between
an average panel, and a guaranteed premium panel. DELL Vostro 3460 charger
One reason for the elevated price segment, apart from the aforementioned reasons, are surely the integrated components. The model tested by us had an up to date Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor with vPro support, a special Nvidia Quadro K2000M graphics card with 2 GBytes of GDDR3 memory, 16 GBytes of RAM and 256 GBytes of SSD memory. This configuration already costs over 3000 Euros in the online store. DELL Vostro 3560 charger The pinnacle of performance and price still isn't reached yet though. Depending on preference and budget, the notebook is also available with an Intel Core i7-3920XM (619 Euros extra), 32 GBytes of RAM, or an additional docking station. On the other end of the spectrum are the more affordable versions with Intel Ivy Bridge dual-core processors and Nvidia Quadro K1000M. Read about what has changed, and which advantages and disadvantages this workstation provides in this review. DELL Latitude E5430 charger
For the sake of comparison we also received a second more affordable
version of the Dell Precision M4700. This variant is equipped with an
Intel Core i7-3520M and a AMD FirePro M4000 graphics card. A
corresponding comparison of the two configurations was also carried out
during the review.
Case
DELL Latitude E5530 charger
The umbra brown case color has been kept by Dell and hasn't been
changed. It makes a high quality and robust impression thanks to the
materials used. One point of criticism of the identically constructed
Dell Precision M4600 was the loose battery. In the case of the reviewed
model, this now sits firmly in the case, whereby one of the four feet is
still located on the battery. DELL Latitude E6430 charger
When using the workstation without this, it is no longer possible to
guarantee the stability of the device. When considering the combined
weight of the device, one thing that stands out is that the new model is
now 280 grams heavier with the same battery. With a total weight of
3.44 kilograms and its hefty dimensions, the M4600 is unlikely to be a
daily guest in your briefcase. One reason for the clunky look is also
the straight line design of the chassis. Rounded edges and slanted
surfaces usually make notebooks look slimmer. DELL Latitude E6430s charger
Connectivity
The positioning and quantity of interfaces hasn't changed with the new model either. All around the notebook there are a multitude of interfaces available, which live up to the requirements of a professional device. HDMI, USB 3.0 and a card reader already belong to the standard repertoire of almost all notebooks these days. A little more special is an eSATA USB combination, FireWire 1394, a docking port hub on the bottom, a shaft for an ExpressCard (54 millimeters), or a SmartCard reader. DELL Latitude E6430 ATG charger
Looking at the case a few small changes are noticeable. For instance,
there is now a slot-in DVD drive on board, and the shaft for a 2.5 inch
drive on the right side is now labeled. For a more rounded impression,
Dell could have also provided this model with a Thunderbolt port and
FireWire 800 integrated. A Blu-ray drive is available as an option in
the online store. The additional cost of 511 Euros plus VAT is however
on the excessive side. Further details regarding the interfaces can be
found in the review of the Dell Precision M4600. DELL Latitude E6430 XFR charger
Communication
When it comes to the communications features no wish is left
unfulfilled, whereby the features can be selected according to
preference. Our reviewed sample supports the current wireless
technologies in the form of WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g/n (Intel
Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN) and Bluetooth 4.0. The latter of which is
located directly next to the battery and can be reached quickly. DELL Latitude E6530 charger
Hard-wired Gigabit communication is also performed with the help of an
Intel module. The corresponding socket is located at the back of the
device, which should help to avoid cables getting in each others way. A
UMTS module is offered by Dell for 134 Euros plus VAT. The matching
antennae are already included as standard. Upgrading retrospectively is
therefore not a difficult task. DELL XPS 13 charger
Security
Security features are obligatory in the professional field, or in any
enterprise in which sensitive data is handled. The device itself
provides a fingerprint reader for this purpose, as well as a Trusted
Platform Module (TPM), a SmartCard reader, and various password options.
DELL XPS 13-L321X charger
For bigger companies Intel vPro, which is provided in conjunction with
the processor, could also come in handy. Using this, IT staff can for
example access system information, configure or change the system, or
switch the system on or off remotely. These features are titled "Intel
Active Management Technology" (AMT). Dell in addition also provides
other Value-Added-Services. Among these are backup, data destruction and
recovery functions, as well as Anti-Theft markings. DELL XPS 13-L322X charger
Accessories
The accessories included with this back to basics device are within
the usual scope. Along with the workstation itself, we were also able to
find a 97 watt-hour battery, a 180 watt AC adapter, some documentation,
two software DVDs and a recovery DVD. DELL XPS L321X charger
Further additions have to be purchased separately. As for the docking
station port, Dell provides several solutions which are available
starting from 58 Euros. The extended Dell E-Port II with a 130 watt PSU
and USB 3.0 at the other end of the scale costs 169 Euros. As far as the
pre-installed software is concerned, Dell is more or less providing a
completely clean install. Along with the system and proprietary tools,
there is merely a test version of Trend Micro (15 months) installed. DELL XPS L322X charger
Maintenance
One area of criticism with the Precision M4600 was that some of the
components were relatively difficult to access. The base plate also
serves as a large maintenance panel in this case, which can be slid open
after removing the battery and two screws. Even though the processor
and graphics card may still not be immediately accessible, the other
relevant components are. Dell Precision M4600 charger
Underneath the base plate are the two banks for DDR3 RAM, a socket for the mSATA-SSD tested by us which could also be used for a UMTS module, one free socket for a half-size card, and two directly accessible cooling fans. These can be easily removed and cleaned. The 2.5 inch drive is located towards the side, and is attached by four screws. A further screw secures the latching mechanism in position. Dell Precision M6600 charger Once all the screws are removed, the storage device can be replaced while the device is switched on (hot swap). In order to release the latching mechanism the battery has to removed first though. In this case a direct access solution would have been preferable.
Warranty
A simple warranty option of only 12 months is not available with this
class of device. Dell provides the Precision M4700 with a warranty
period of 36 months including next day on-location service. For an
additional sum, this service can be upgraded to the so called
ProSupport. The time period covered is also 36 months in this case (217
Euros), or even 60 months for 651 Euros (RRP). DELL Vostro V131 charger
Performance
Under the hood of our reviewed device thoroughly high quality and
especially high performance components can be found. The heart of the
device is the Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor from the current
Ivy Bridge family, which is made using the 22 nanometer manufacturing
process. With a basic clock speed of 2.6 GHz and a maximum Turbo Boost
of a whole 3.6 GHz, this chip operates in the upper part of our test
database, as can be seen in our CPU benchmark list. Furthermore there is
also a Nvidia Quadro K2000M professional graphics card with 2 GBytes of
GDDR3 RAM. Compared to the consumer GPUs from the GeForce family, the
Quadro family models are specially optimized for CAD applications. DELL Vostro V131D charger In this case 16 GBytes of DDR3 RAM, as well as a mSATA SSD and conventional hard drive combination round off the whole package.
The memory devices as well as the rest of the components can be
configured as required in Dell's online store, whereby there is only one
shaft for a 2.5 inch drive available. One change compared to the Dell
Precision M4600 is the exclusive use of Nvidia graphics. The processor
graphics unit Intel GMA HD 4000 is deactivated in this system, and
cannot be used with the automatic switching provided by Nvidia Optimus. DELL Vostro V131R charger
Processor
At the beginning of our test course are the usual CPU benchmarks. The
Intel Core i7-3720QM doesn't have to be shy, and secures itself top
positions in our database. The multi-thread calculations with CineBench
R11.5 (64-bit) are completed with 6.82 points, and with wPrime (1024M)
the system needs 351 seconds. DELL Vostro 1440 charger
The Lenovo ThinkPad W530 as a direct competitor was equipped with the somewhat faster Intel Core i7-3820QM in our test. With CineBench this resulted in 6.94 points. The difference of only two percent is certainly very marginal. Looking back to the predecessor of our reviewed device, a difference of 15 percent in favor of the newer model emerges in this case. The Dell Precision M4600 had an Intel Core i7-2920XM on board. DELL Vostro 1450 charger
Altogether the M4700 is well equipped with the tested processor,
since the additional cost of 251 Euros doesn't present an excessive
price. The Intel Core i7-3920XM which is also available belongs among
the extreme-processors from Intel, and is likely only interesting for
performance aficionados that are willing to pay any price for the
maximum performance. DELL Vostro 1540 charger
The additional cost associated with this, compared to the basic model
with an Intel Core i5-3320M, lies at a staggering 1126 Euros plus VAT.
System Performance
The performance provided by the whole package, and the subjective
impression are an important point - who wants to get held up by eternal
waiting times these days? The system benchmarks from Furmark provide a
good point of reference in this respect. DELL Vostro 1550 charger
With PCMark 7 for example, the M4700 reaches an impressive result of
4647 points. Comparative results were achieved by the slim Lenovo
ThinkPad X1 Carbon and the Schenker XMG P722 PRO. The Solid State Drive
tested by us makes a significant contribution to the good rating of the
system performance. For this reason the upper third of the test database
also contains several Ultrabooks with a power saving CPU.
Dell 312-1163 Subjectively there are no wishes unfulfilled: The system quickly boots up, loading times are minimal, and delays hardly ever occur. A closer look in this respect is taken at the latencies with Windows 7. The DPC Latency Checker shows that most values are within the green area, even when the WLAN module is active. When a download is running simultaneously though, then clear spikes into the red area are visible, and the values are generally increased. A known problem is the crackling of audio from external sound cards when the latencies get too high. Dell 312-1242
Battery Powered Performance
The Dell Precision M4600 was unable to reach the full performance
while battery powered, that is available when the power lead is
connected. For this reason we performed various benchmarks with the
verdict, that the new M4700 also has this problem to contend with. The
CPU results however remain on a consistent level, and only the
performance of the GPU isn't able to be fully utilized. Dell 86HGX HCJWT
Using the OpenGL calculations from CineBench R11.5 results in a
difference of 12 fps. This corresponds to a performance deficit of 30
percent. Similarly the rating by 3DMark 06 also results in a difference
of 28%, with 8667 points compared to 11965. Considering the results
compared to those of its predecessor, Dell hasn't been able to improve
in this respect.. Dell KJ321
CAD Performance
The tool SPEC ViewPerf 11 uses the most popular CAD applications and
measures the achieved frame rates. The configuration with the Intel Core
i7-3720QM combined with the professional Nvidia Quadro K2000M is able
to make a good impression in this case. The older Precision M4600 is
significantly outperformed in almost all the tests. The percentage
difference meanwhile lies at up to 25 percent, depending on the
application. Dell M5Y0X NHXVW
The Lenovo ThinkPad W530 with the same graphics card and a more
powerful processor meanwhile performs on more or less the same level in
most tests. A further comparison can also be made to the weaker M4700
model, with an AMD FirePro M4000 GPU. The difference works in favor of
the Nvidia GPU in some cases, while working in favor of the AMD GPU in
other cases, depending on the program. CAD users should consider their
individual software in this case, and should test this if in doubt. Dell PRRRF
Summa summarum the M4700 provides an impressive performance, which can only be improved upon by bigger mobile workstations. Dell for example also provides the Precision M6700 with an Nvidia Quadro K5000M in this case.
Gaming Performance
A short gaming check, and the comparison between the Nvidia Quadro
K2000M and the AMD FirePro M4000 shouldn't be left out at this stage in
any case. Both GPUs reach frame rates on the level of current mid-range
graphics units in normal notebooks. Dell T54F3
Both models operate in the region of the previously mentioned GeForce
GT 650M, whereby the variant from AMD at least manages to eke out an
advantage when it comes to Anno 2070 and Battlefield 3. This slight
performance enhancement was already noticeable during the gaming
benchmarks.
It is worth stating that a mobile workstation is surely the wrong
device for gamers. For prices upwards of 1500 Euros there are
significantly more powerful systems available with suitable graphics
cards. Professional solutions on the other hand are aimed at other
application areas. Dell T54FJ
Emissions
System Noise
"Never change a running system." This statement is well suited to the
cooling system in the workstation. Already the M4600 was able to provide
a good impression with two cooling fans combined with heat pipes. In
our case the cooling fans are also accompanied by a hard drive, which
also represents a source of noise. With a measured value of 31 dB(A)
this is hardly audible. During office use the notebook operates quietly
throughout, and merely the decent humming of the HDD can be heard.
Swapping the storage device for a modern Solid State Drive would also
cause this noise to be prevented. Dell 312-1163
With a high processing load the device makes itself noticeable. With noise measurements between 42.6 and a clearly audible 48.1 dB(A), this can become annoying over time. The low frequency noise emitted by the cooling fans, as well as the quick reduction of speed, are both advantages. Compared to the predecessor the cooling fans now seem to react much more quickly in order to keep the hardware well climatized. With a medium operating load we were only able to measure 36.6 dB(A) with the Precision M4600, whereby a difference of 10 dB(A) corresponds to a subjective doubling of the volume. Dell 312-1242
Emissions
System Noise
"Never change a running system." This statement is well suited to the
cooling system in the workstation. Already the M4600 was able to provide
a good impression with two cooling fans combined with heat pipes. Dell HCJWT
In our case the cooling fans are also accompanied by a hard drive,
which also represents a source of noise. With a measured value of 31
dB(A) this is hardly audible. During office use the notebook operates
quietly throughout, and merely the decent humming of the HDD can be
heard. Swapping the storage device for a modern Solid State Drive would
also cause this noise to be prevented. Dell KJ321
With a high processing load the device makes itself noticeable. With
noise measurements between 42.6 and a clearly audible 48.1 dB(A), this
can become annoying over time. The low frequency noise emitted by the
cooling fans, as well as the quick reduction of speed, are both
advantages. Compared to the predecessor the cooling fans now seem to
react much more quickly in order to keep the hardware well climatized.
With a medium operating load we were only able to measure 36.6 dB(A)
with the Precision M4600, whereby a difference of 10 dB(A) corresponds
to a subjective doubling of the volume. Dell M5Y0X
Speakers
The speakers located above the keyboard deliver an acceptable audio
quality. Even mid-range and lower frequencies as well as bass can be
represented to a certain extent, despite the quality not being as good
as high quality speakers or headphones. The maximum volume is more than
sufficient, whereby the sound starts to distort at the limit. This is a
good result for this class of device without any big surprises, since
the system was already familiar to us from the M4600. Dell NHXVW PRRRF
Battery Life
Power Consumption
The power consumption is certainly an important criteria for mobile
devices in this day and age. Thus the processor for example only
operates at 1.2 GHz in an idle state (SpeedStep), whereby power is
saved. In an idle state the M4700 uses between 21.1 and 34.4 watts. The
Lenovo ThinkPad W530 however has an efficiency advantage thanks to the
use of the graphics integrated into the processor. Dell T54F3
The minimum power consumption with this configuration lies at 11.4
watts. The maximum consumption during office use lies at 20.9 watts,
which is approximately equivalent to the entry value of the M4700,
meaning that the reviewed device has a higher power consumption in a
device class comparison.
With a high processing load there are only marginal differences
between the two workstations. With a maximum of 130 watts the power
consumption lies within the boundaries for the tested configuration. Dell T54FJ
The included AC adapter is also sufficiently dimensioned. It provides a
maximum performance of 180 watts, which also leaves enough spare
capacity. Depending on the buyers wishes Dell also delivers the M4700
with a 65, 87 or 97 watt-hour battery. We had the biggest version for 99
Euros for the test.
Battery Runtime
The battery runtime is decent, even if the ideal results during office
use are missing the internal graphics in the CPU. The Reader Test tool
from Battery Eater simulates the reading of text documents with the
minimum display brightness, deactivated wireless modules, and the
maximum power saving functions enabled. Dell X57F1
After a good 6 hours and 23 minutes the power has to be reconnected in
this scenario. The opposite scenario is tested using the Classic Test,
whereby the system is used with the maximum brightness and wireless
modules activated. The large battery provides a battery life of 82
minutes in this case.
The measurement "surfing via WLAN" represents a realistic measurement
without the power connected. With 150 cd/m² of display brightness
different websites are loaded every 40 seconds. After around three hours
this came to an end.
Verdict Dell Y9N00
The Dell Precision M4700 mobile workstation is built on a tried and
tested chassis. Many positive aspects were able to be reconfirmed during
the course of the review, and could be attested to as being good. Among
these is for example the robust case, the comprehensive connectivity
and the cooling system.
The high price and the limited mobility are no novelty either. The missing graphics switching for better energy efficiency, and the slight throttling of the GPU when battery powered, are all big disadvantages. Dell 0TN1K5
As far as the performance is concerned there isn't really any cause for criticism. The combination of an up to date Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor with an Nvidia Quadro K2000M graphics card is perfectly suited to CAD applications. Depending on the budget and wishes, the workstation can be more or less configured exactly as required in the online store. Dell FV993 From the simplest entry-level device for 1200 Euros, right up to the most powerful configuration for in excess of 4000 Euros, everything is possible. A look at various online retailers without the Dell configuration options can be worth it due to the many pre-configured systems.