MyPC8MyBrain

indeed, i read up on that link, you just quoted my response before i re-edited it. its somewhat of a 30% upgrade id say between the cpu and the gpu overall, it would been nice if intel didn't completely messed up 14 gen line and dell at least integrated with the 14900 for the last precision gen, but it still be lagging way behind the 285H or the 5090/6000 you could (potentially) fit in it now, still I'd grab a 7780 over the newer 18 pro max plus which im about to do to replace a 7770.

@yslalan In JEDEC-standard terminology you are correct, the “C” in CSODIMM and CUDIMM stands for “Clocked”, referring to the presence of a Client Clock Driver (CKD). In Dell/OEM usage, "cSODIMM" has also been used to mean "CAMM-based SODIMM", which adds to the confusion, but is technically inaccurate by JEDEC standards.

@yslalan as in XMP? (Extreme Memory Profile) that is true with a very big distinction, cSODIMM (CAMM-based SODIMM) = Laptop DDR5 SODIMM cUDIMM (CAMM-based UDIMM) = Desktop DDR5 UDIMM both are still essentially a CAMM adapter/interposer that allows you to plug in SODIMM modules into a CAMM memory slot, both of which are Dell-specific (and somewhat confusing) terminologies built around the CAMM platform.

@ceasar2k6 simple decision, get a Precision platform while you still can.

really, i didn't think they could find another superlative to string along, so there might be a pro max plus premium, then what? pro max plus premium supreme... with cheese 😄

@SvenC The "c" in cSODIMM stand for CAMM, or more precisely, "CAMM-based SODIMM". It's not a new memory standard — it’s standard SODIMM modules mounted on an interposer or conversion board that fits into a CAMM socket. Dell developed this to allow backward compatibility with regular DDR5 SODIMMs on motherboards designed for CAMM — mainly because JEDEC has approved CAMM2 as the future, but most users still rely on SODIMMs. as i mentioned above Camm isn't actually working yet on these boards, at this point in time Camm is mainly theoretical and more of a marketing hype, SoDimms performs as fast as Camm modules do on the same system and can run high density sticks, and they dissipate heat better, but Dell doesn't want people to know as they initially were set on pushing camm modules until they realized some of us are educated and don't just judge marketing hypes by the cover. edit: its important to note that Camm modules are more expensive then Sodimm modules with no actual benefit in this format.

it kind of starting to make sense now, i get why they renamed the line to pro max plus instead of precision, its illegal to call this crap precision. "you can roll manure in powdered sugar, but it still ain't a jelly doughnut" 😅

@Aaron44126 Thanks for the images, first time i see the 18 pro max plus insides, i don't think they are double stacking NVME's that's not feasible with the heat one NVME is dissipating, two in the same spot without dedicated heat spreader or fan will melt the chassis, this whole new engineering seem arbitrary without much thought put into it, its as if they learned nothing from earlier designs, grouping two (or 3) NVME's on each side of the SODIMM module is just fantastic to ensure a good heat spot. that new sliding door while very cool will likely effect the chassis overall rigidity at 18'. Edited: after inspecting your images closer it seems that they do stack two NVME's one on top of the other in slots 9 and 10 🤯

@Aaron44126 little typo there (corrected), Plus or not i still don't find it very attractive at this point in time, i heard from our Dell sales rep that there are 4 bays, but so far i cant find any images or literature that indicates 4 bays are still there. one other gripe i forgot to list up there is there's no Oled or 4k and or touch screen options even with these new pro max plus. its not like these options don't exist, they exist on other other models for many years yet they refuse to offer these for their latest so called new flagship models. i mean they do have Pro, Plus, and Max in the name it has to mean something 😆

So Dell has officially closed the book on the Precision mobile workstation line as we knew it. The new replacements? The “Dell Pro Max Plus 14/16/18” series — with the 16 and 18 clearly positioned as successors to the Precision 7680 and 7780. But let’s not kid ourselves: these are not Precision workstations in anything but name. These are consumer-tier designs masquerading as professional machines, targeting a different class of user entirely. The Pro Max Plus 18 has a larger chassis, yet Dell gives us only three drive slots. Worse, they play games in the configurator they list "3rd" and "4th" drives — conveniently skipping the "2nd" to make it sound like there are four bays, when in fact there's only 3 physical bays, while only 1 is shown clearly in documentation. This isn’t an oversight — it's marketing sleight of hand. In contrast, the 7780 gave us four full-featured bays, properly laid out and user-accessible. CAMM Reversal — Why? Remember when Dell pushed CAMM (Compression Attached Memory Module) as the future of mobile workstation memory? Now in the Pro Max lineup, they’re quietly walking that back — reverting to standard SODIMM slots in many configurations. What happened? And even when CAMM is present, we’re still looking at dual-channel limitations imposed by the mobile chipset. The “quad channel” claim is mostly theoretical — there’s no real-world advantage here. Just more thermal load, tighter spacing, and no tangible gain over high-density SODIMMs. Memory Capacity Quietly Suppressed The chipset on these machines easily supports dual 64GB or even 128GB SODIMMs — but Dell doesn’t mention this anywhere in the Pro Max specs or Precision 77xx/76xx. Why? Because they want to steer buyers toward lower-spec configs, or upsell you on proprietary CAMM options instead of allowing user-driven expansion. USB-C Power Delivery — A Downgrade Replacing the classic barrel power jack with USB-C PD might be trendy, but it's not durable. The barrel connector was rock solid — especially under heavy workstation loads. Now we’re expected to hang 280W power brick off a USB-C port? That’s asking for long-term trouble on machines meant to endure years of field use. Let’s Call It What It Is The Precision line used to mean something — high-end mobile workstations with expandability, durability, and pro-grade features. The Pro Max Plus 16/18? They’re not successors in spirit — they’re rebranded watered down consumer machines chasing a broader market by hijacking iPhone naming convention!? as if that bandwagon is synonymous with performance the precision line brought to the table for almost 3 decades. The sad reality is: the Precision 7680/7780 were likely the last true professional mobile workstations from Dell. What we have now is branding — not legacy.

found it https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/workstations/technical-support/dell-pro-max-18-plus-laptop-spec-sheet.pdf.external

just received a quote for Dell Pro Max 18 Plus from our sales rep, they are now officially available but i haven't seen any info on Dell site yet,

@Mr. Fox I couldn't agree more, I hate that millennials MS execs think that a personal computer should behave like a smartphone. I have to spend so much time on a brand new system just to get it working right. my prospective is not how much time I spend to get it to work rather afterwards when it is setup to my liking. and the fact that undoing the nonsense MS is doing is possible in win11 while retaining latest technology and compatibility.

personally i don't get the point in deleding then slapping IHS back on instead of direct die application. in the past i used this Permatex 22072 Ultra Black Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker, small drop in each corner same as Mr. Fox advice. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HBIBOY all laptop these days use direct die for additional 20c savings over having an IHS, the main reason people placed the IHS back on is to compensate for the height, today there are plates specifically for that, click the video below to see a bench with one of these applied to a recent desktop 13900 cpu.