7680 or 7780

[tolnep]

im in in the market for a new laptop. Current laptop is precision 4800 with 32 gb memory and 2.5 TB diskspace. It runs Windows Server Datacenter 2022. its main purpose is to back up a desktop workstation running windows server datacenter. My main dev efforts are multiple VMs (its one reason i run  datacenter) and various database systems, sql server, oracle, postgres on windows, rhel, unbuntu , debian. 

 

screen resolution  is 3200 x 1800. 

 

l like the current size of the 4800. so i'd like to get a new laptop of approximately the size. its unclear with the 7680 what you give up compared to the 7780 and there appears to be a 'performance' version of the 7680 which is  thicker and  provides acess to an m2 drive. 

 

config target would be the top end cpu, 64 gigs of memory, 1TB drive, highest end resolution, biggest power supply, medium GPU since graphics is not something i need in a  laptop.

 

when i get it, im gonna try installing windows server datacenter 2022. dunno if it will work. but my latops going back  to older 32 bit configs always ran windows server. i have an enterprise developer license that allows me to install any windows os i want.

 

looking for a little help here. since i cant find details about the so-called performance case for the 7680. im not looking forward to not being able to carry extra batteries if i go  somewhere, and  i will miss my mouse buttons and full keyboard but it is  what it is.

 

thanks  for  any info.

[vooze]

Why not install Windows LTSB/LTSC? https://www.computerworld.com/article/3250464/faq-windows-10-ltsb-explained.html

 

It's basically Server (clean OS) without Server roles.

[Aaron44126]

Windows LTSC is definitely closer to regular Windows 10 than it is to Windows Server.  It does exclude a lot of "fluff" though, basically all of the bundled UWP apps and related background services, and it is my choice whenever I can swing it.  (I have my own article about it, linked in sig.)

 

I have tried Windows Server on a laptop before and I recall running into some things like it being difficult to get Bluetooth working because required components weren't included and it wasn't obvious how to install them.  I've also run into situations where some software (i.e. backup tools) will want you to pay more for a license because you are running on a server OS.  But, if you can get past that sort of thing, it should be fine to use.

 

Dell will support Windows 10 LTSC but I doubt that they will support Windows Server, if you have some issue with it.  (Sounds like you're comfortable supporting the OS on your own, though...?)  I do not think that you would have any trouble setting up Hyper-V VM workloads on Windows 10 LTSC.

 

Regarding 7680 vs 7780, it is basically as you say.  The systems are very similar.  The main difference is the physical size and 7780 getting an extra NVMe slot.  There is a modest performance difference as well, with 7780 getting higher power limits and a slightly beefier cooling system, allowing for both the CPU and GPU to run at slightly higher speeds.  One other thing to note is that 7680 has a 16:10 display while 7780 has 16:9, so you get a bit more "desktop working space" on the 7680 even though the screen is technically smaller.

 

With Dell slimming up the bezels and everything, you will see Precision 7680 being a bit smaller than your M4800.  Precision 7780 would be larger, but not as large as a Precision M6800.

[zhongze12345]

I wholeheartedly agree that the M4800 is the last of its kind. It has been 2 years since I have last used an M4800, and I'm itching to get my hands on one again, especially since my 7760 is having some issues... Anyway, I digress.

 

The 7x80 systems have the same chassis as the 7x70 chassis, so the difference between the thin/performance 7680 chassis will be the same difference as with the 7670. The RTX 3500 and up will give you the performance chassis.