Dell XPS M1710 - GeForce Go 7900 GTX 512 Mobile Gaming, Part 1
by Jarred Walton on April 18, 2006 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
Basic Features
We've already stated that this laptop comes equipped with some of the most powerful mobile components on the market. Even within the high-end mobile gaming segment, though, there are still options for customizing performance. Dell allows the end user to select parts for their M1710 from a variety of components in all the key areas. The basic platform -- motherboard, keyboard, chassis, and display -- is standardized, but the processor, GPU, memory, hard drive, optical drive, and some networking features can be tweaked to fit your needs.
Starting with the standard features, the laptop comes with everything most people will need. About the only things that could be added are CompactFlash support and a 6-pin powered FireWire connection, neither of which are really required. Counting the power adapter, the entire system weighs in at just over 10 pounds, and while that's a bit heavy for someone that's carrying their computer around a lot, it's far less bulky than any SFF + LCD + keyboard + mouse setup (let alone a typical desktop computer). If you're looking for a high-powered system that you can easily take to LAN parties, or perhaps a mobile workstation you can take to and from work, this laptop should fit the bill.
The minimum configuration starts at $2600, and comes with the black chassis, 80GB 5400 RPM hard drive, Core Duo T2400, GeForce Go 7900 256MB graphics chip, and 1GB of RAM. (There's absolutely no sense in thinking about building a system with a 256MB GPU coupled and only 512MB of system memory, and we're glad to see that's not an option.) The Special Edition Ferrari Red has a higher base configuration and starts at $3400. The minimum components are upgraded to a Core Duo T2500, GeForce Go 7900 GTX 512MB, and an 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive. While the price difference is pretty sizable, the relative performance increase is also noticeable, and it's doubtful that anyone seriously considering such a high-powered laptop is going to be ultra concerned about price. These are luxury laptops, and they have the performance and features to match the price. Naturally, a $3500 desktop system should easily smoke a $3500 laptop in performance, but miniaturization is a costly process.
We've already stated that this laptop comes equipped with some of the most powerful mobile components on the market. Even within the high-end mobile gaming segment, though, there are still options for customizing performance. Dell allows the end user to select parts for their M1710 from a variety of components in all the key areas. The basic platform -- motherboard, keyboard, chassis, and display -- is standardized, but the processor, GPU, memory, hard drive, optical drive, and some networking features can be tweaked to fit your needs.
| Dell XPS M1710 Specifications | |
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2400/T2500/T2600 (1.83/2.00/2.16 GHz) |
| Chipset | Intel 945PM 64-bit Dual-Channel |
| FSB Speeds | Up to 667 MHz |
| Memory Speeds | DDR2-400, DDR2-533, DDR2-667 |
| Memory Slots | (2) x SO-DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR2, Dual Channel supported |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 256MB or 7900 GTX 512MB GDDR3 |
| Display | 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) UltraSharp with TrueLife |
| Expansion Slots | One ExpressCard 54mm slot supporting 1.5V and 3.3V, ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54, 26 pins |
| Hard Drive | 80/100/120GB 5400 RPM or 60/80/100 7200 RPM |
| Optical Drive | DVD-ROM/CD-RW or DVD+/-RW with Dual-Layer DVD+R Write Support |
| USB2.0 | (6) USB2.0 ports (four rear ports, two ports on left) |
| Networking/Communications | Integrated 10/100/1000 PCIe Gigabit Ethernet and 56K Modem (Optional) Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (Optional) Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Mini Card (Optional) Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Mini Card |
| Audio | 24-bit High Definition Audio with 2.1 Speakers |
| Firewire | 4-pin Unpowered IEEE 1394A (right side) |
| Back I/O Ports | 1 x RJ45 LAN 4 x USB 2.0 1 x RJ11 Modem 1 x DVI-D 1 x VGA 1 x S-VIDEO Out |
| Keyboard | 87 Key QWERTY (US) |
| Battery | 9-Cell 80WHr "Smart" Lithium Ion |
| Dimensions | 1.7"x15.5"x11.3" (HxWxD) 8.8 lbs. (Display, 9-Cell battery, DVD-Combo drive) |
| Power Adapter | 130W 1.42"x2.56"x6.67" (HxWxD), 1.68 lbs. with cables |
| Chassis | Metallic Black Dell XPS M1710 or Special Edition Formula Red Dell XPS M1710 |
| Other Features | 5-in-1 Flash Reader (MS, MS Pro, SSD/SDIO, MMC, xD Headphone/Speakers and Microphone connectors XPS 16 Color Configurable Accent Lighting Trackpad with scroll bars |
Starting with the standard features, the laptop comes with everything most people will need. About the only things that could be added are CompactFlash support and a 6-pin powered FireWire connection, neither of which are really required. Counting the power adapter, the entire system weighs in at just over 10 pounds, and while that's a bit heavy for someone that's carrying their computer around a lot, it's far less bulky than any SFF + LCD + keyboard + mouse setup (let alone a typical desktop computer). If you're looking for a high-powered system that you can easily take to LAN parties, or perhaps a mobile workstation you can take to and from work, this laptop should fit the bill.
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| Click to enlarge | |
The minimum configuration starts at $2600, and comes with the black chassis, 80GB 5400 RPM hard drive, Core Duo T2400, GeForce Go 7900 256MB graphics chip, and 1GB of RAM. (There's absolutely no sense in thinking about building a system with a 256MB GPU coupled and only 512MB of system memory, and we're glad to see that's not an option.) The Special Edition Ferrari Red has a higher base configuration and starts at $3400. The minimum components are upgraded to a Core Duo T2500, GeForce Go 7900 GTX 512MB, and an 80GB 7200 RPM hard drive. While the price difference is pretty sizable, the relative performance increase is also noticeable, and it's doubtful that anyone seriously considering such a high-powered laptop is going to be ultra concerned about price. These are luxury laptops, and they have the performance and features to match the price. Naturally, a $3500 desktop system should easily smoke a $3500 laptop in performance, but miniaturization is a costly process.
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JarredWalton - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
I personally hate laptop keyboards -- I don't care too much about the gaming aspects, but for more regular typing the cramped space doesn't help me out at all. At least the key positioning is decent, with the home/insert/delete/and/page up/page down keys all having the same arrangement as most desktop keyboards. I wish they would move the Fn key to the top left -- not just on this laptop, but on all laptops. I'm also in complete agreement about the usefulness of a number keypad, and certainly on a laptop of this size, they have ample room to add one.Kougar - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
I thought about that, and I figured there just wasn't room underneath the keyboard to enable a full size keyboard? And there are two air intacts on either side of the keyboard as well.They DO however provide a FN key activated "numpad" over the 789, UIO, JKL and other keys as a sort of compensation, although I found it faster to use the basic number keys in place of it.
Odeen - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
I've taken a few laptops apart, and the underside of the keyboard module is always FLAT, save for standoffs. You don't need any room under the keyboard. Unless there's something useful around the keyboard, it can be expanded to the sides.The FN-activated numpad is of little consolation, because all laptops have that feature, even the ones that cost 1/5 that this one costs.
Incidentally.. how the heck do you test a modern desktop system with a Geforce GTX Go, exactly? Take the laptop apart, pry out the PCI-E card and VGA connector, and stick it into a desktop motherboard?
JarredWalton - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
The clock speeds of the GeForce Go 7900 GTX are 500/600 MHz for the core/RAM. I downclocked the desktop graphics card to the same clock speeds, and that's about as close as we can come to doing a direct comparison between the two. It's somewhat interesting to note that there are a few GPU Ltd. benchmarks were the laptop actually comes out ahead by a small margin.3zero2 - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
any comments about fan noise? is it noticable/annoying?Kougar - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
This machine is still identical in chasis to the XPS notebook I picked up late last year, so I'd assume the fans are still the same. On mine they can only be barely heard if you load up a game and play for a bit, but if you play with headphones on you won't hear them anyway.I had a question on the battery life though! How long would this laptop last with just simple internet browsing or Word doc typing, or something similarly light? In performance terms my own notebook wouldn't even make it within the ballpark so I'm curious! Does the Core Duo processor allow you to reach .700 volts at 800mhz as with a Pentium M, for egging out another half hour of battery life for when it's needed?
IntelUser2000 - Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - link
No, the lowest for Core Duo's are really 1GHz. All the Pentium M generations can reach as low as 6x multiplier so:
Penitium M Banias: 100x6=600MHz
Pentium M Dothan: 133x6=800MHz
Core Duo: 166x6=1GHz
I heard that Intel put a lock on the Core Duo's so you can't lower it from the default lowest, just like AMD did with C&Q on the later revisions.
JarredWalton - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
I'll look at some other areas of battery life in part 2. Needless to say, charging up the battery and then letting it sit 2+ hours at a time doesn't help much with deadlines. LOL I will try to tune the system for better battery life as well. I think the minimum clock speed of the T2600 is 1.0 GHz, but I will need to verify that.Kougar - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
lol! I am very sure it doesn't! I'm certainly in no rush, and I figured part 2 might expand upon the battery tests... I just wanted to provide some extra Qs to answer for it! So maybe I'll toss in another... ;) Does the GPU TDP fit within the previous GO 6800 Ultra/Go 7800 GTX envelope limits? Replacing my 6800 Ultra for a 7900GS and getting better battery life in the process has a certain appeal! Suppose I can keep my desktop 9600XT around just a bit longer instead...And btw, should have said so above! Thanks for the very interesting article on this "notebook"! I appreciate it :) And that tidbit on the Core Duo too!
JarredWalton - Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - link
Audible but not terribly loud. Will have details in part 2.