Dell Precision 7690/7790 Pre-release Thread

[yslalan]

On 2/5/2024 at 12:31 PM, Aaron44126 said:

Wouldn't be surprised if there are select versions of the CPUs that do have the pro features (i.e. 14950HX) that just have not been announced yet.  Or, they could brand them differently...  Before 12th gen these CPUs were released under the "Xeon" brand.

I heard from a reliable source that there will be no ThinkPad P16 Gen3 this year due to the lack of the vPRO HX CPU product line.

 

Probably, this may also apply to Dell and HP workstation lines.

 

Not surprised at all, Both Nvidia and Intel didn't refresh their products this year. 

[Aaron44126]

12 hours ago, yslalan said:

Probably, this may also apply to Dell and HP workstation lines.

 

Huh.  Yeah, maybe, this makes sense.  I do doubt that there would be a Precision 7000 system without vPro and ECC and such features.  And yeah, NVIDIA doesn't have anything new to offer yet, and I doubt that you could get much more out of a 14th gen HX CPU than you could get out of a 13th gen given the power constraints in these systems.  So it could be a good year to skip, and that could explain why there has been no mention of "7690"/"7790"/"7890" showing up on certification sites or in the Dell parts list.

[1610ftw]

On 2/18/2024 at 3:51 PM, Aaron44126 said:

 

Huh.  Yeah, maybe, this makes sense.  I do doubt that there would be a Precision 7000 system without vPro and ECC and such features.  And yeah, NVIDIA doesn't have anything new to offer yet, and I doubt that you could get much more out of a 14th gen HX CPU than you could get out of a 13th gen given the power constraints in these systems.  So it could be a good year to skip, and that could explain why there has been no mention of "7690"/"7790"/"7890" showing up on certification sites or in the Dell parts list.

 

Or it just means that Intel is late to announce the special CPUs that are needed for workstations. But I agree that it is more likely that this CPU cycle we will see that the big manufacturers release nothing.

 

MSI obviously does not wait for special CPUs so they have already announced a few workstations including the CreatorPro X18 HX with a 270W power envelope but nothing so far from Dell, HP and Lenovo and those are all companies that would wait for somethink like a 14850HX.

[yslalan]

15 hours ago, 1610ftw said:

Or it just means that Intel is late to announce the special CPUs that are needed for workstations.

Most likely not.

 

It can be said with certainty that Lenovo won't update their P16, and the P16 Gen 2 will be an SKU lasting 2 years.

 

[1610ftw]

7 minutes ago, yslalan said:

Most likely not.

 

It can be said with certainty that Lenovo won't update their P16, and the P16 Gen 2 will be an SKU lasting 2 years.

 

 

Yep, it is unlikely that Intel will make a separate announcement just for that.

 

It would also see more tempting for the development teams of all manufacturers to work on a new chassis when they really can go with new technology for a lot more components / parts.

 

There are new developments with regard to memory, SSDs, screens and screen sizes already but it makes more sense to put it all together when some of that has matured / becomes more widely available and then it can be paired with next gen CPUs and GPUs. It also seems that with next gen we may finally see Thunderbolt support in high end mobile AMD CPUs so that will be another option for manufacturers that is not available this year.

[Aaron44126]

https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/the-new-precision-workstations-are-here/

 

Precision 3000 and 5000 refresh announced.  7000 is MIA.

[KMikhail]

On 2/26/2024 at 5:52 AM, Aaron44126 said:

https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/the-new-precision-workstations-are-here/

 

Precision 3000 and 5000 refresh announced.  7000 is MIA.

Perhaps they think 16" may replace 17", given rtx 5000:

 

Our Precision 5000 Series mobile workstations take creative application performance to the next level with the world’s smallest footprint 16-inch mobile workstation,² Precision 5690, that gives you a vast viewing area, combined with mobility and amazing application performance with up to an NVIDIA RTX™ 5000 graphics card.

[Aaron44126]

4 hours ago, KMikhail said:

Perhaps they think 16" may replace 17", given rtx 5000:

 

Nothing new here, they already have a 16" Precision 5680 with RTX 5000 and Intel 13th-gen CPUs which has been available for about a year.  The 5690 is basically the same thing with a CPU refresh.

 

Since we haven't seen any hint of 14th-gen HX workstations from Lenovo or HP either, I think that @yslalan has identified the reason...  Intel is not producing workstation versions of their 14th-gen HX CPUs, so everyone has to skip this generation.

[yslalan]

https://press.hp.com/us/en/press-releases/2024/hp-unveils-largest-portfolio-ai-pc.html

 

HP refreshed their ZBook line. That's so funny, they keep both 13th and 14th-gen HX.

13th Gen Intel Core (with vPro) or 14th Gen Intel Core (non vPro)

 

[Light]

A better thermal solution would make a 7790 a good upgrade. Right now it's got great acceleration for short runs, but long tasks such as simple AV scan seems to result in many of the cores not running at 100% now so the last cpu generation didn't result in much of a speed up over the previous. If we could get a higher performance thermal solution, I think the existing cpu could have a nice performance increase.

[Lippy_Kailua]

(yeah...bump)

any word on when these might be released and what'd be included? Assuming it should be any day now... 

[Aaron44126]

2 hours ago, Lippy_Kailua said:

(yeah...bump)

any word on when these might be released and what'd be included? Assuming it should be any day now... 

 

If they haven't done it by now, I think it's not likely to happen at all, most likely because Intel did not offer "pro"/business versions of 14th-gen CPUs and that is all that Dell offers in these things.  We'll have to wait for next year / 15th gen and see what happens.

 

Doesn't seem like a big loss to me.  14th gen and 13th gen are very similar in terms of what performance you can get out of a thermally-constrained laptop, and NVIDIA doesn't have anything new to show either...

[Avatec]

Will dell launch Precision 7690/7790？

[Aaron44126]

53 minutes ago, Avatec said:

Will dell launch Precision 7690/7790？

 

Looking like a no go since Intel is not releasing "business" "HX" CPUs for 15th gen.  (And there's nothing new from NVIDIA, either.)  We will have to wait and see what they have for 2025.

[ceasar2k6]

On 7/16/2024 at 6:34 AM, Aaron44126 said:

 

Looking like a no go since Intel is not releasing "business" "HX" CPUs for 15th gen.  (And there's nothing new from NVIDIA, either.)  We will have to wait and see what they have for 2025.

This is a good thing. We do not need a refresh every year with minimal upgrades. Hopefully, the 2025 will have new cam stuff, new other stuff, and especially an option for a non-business graphics as well. My precision will be 4 years old next June, so might e time for an upgrade, if it's worth it.

[Aaron44126]

2 hours ago, ceasar2k6 said:

and especially an option for a non-business graphics as well

 

Since Precision 7X60 (2021) you have been able to order systems with a GeForce GPU.  You must order through a sales rep to get this option... they don't offer it on the web site.

[ceasar2k6]

On 7/30/2024 at 1:34 PM, Aaron44126 said:

 

Since Precision 7X60 (2021) you have been able to order systems with a GeForce GPU.  You must order through a sales rep to get this option... they don't offer it on the web site.

ahh, great to know, my last machine is 7x60. it's like a 10 year old non-stick fry pan, all peeling the non-stick on sides left and right of the mouse pad and they had to replace keyboard at least 3 or 4 times now, but otherwise, it has performed well. thank god for the promo of 5 year accidental warranty at the time of order

[Ionising_Radiation]

Might be a good time to resurrect this thread... We are probably going to see a 7690/7790 next year given the Blackwell micro architecture release. And given Arrow Lake's extremely lacklustre performance I would not rule out AMD CPUs this time around. 

 

But I doubt I'll be in the market for a new workstation laptop although I'm still interested in seeing where the market is headed.

 

I intend to sell my current 7560 and upgrade to a self-built desktop workstation with a 9950X3D CPU and an RTX 5090 GPU. I might get one of the fancy Surfaces or slim-line notebooks for on-the-go work by remoting into the desktop at home. 

[Aaron44126]

10 hours ago, Ionising_Radiation said:

And given Arrow Lake's extremely lacklustre performance I would not rule out AMD CPUs this time around.

 

Ehhh.  I'd love to see them offer an AMD version, but I feel like Dell is pretty set in their ways with the business systems, and I feel like they're going to want to continue supporting things like vPro in these systems, so I am not holding my breath.

 

I'm also underwhelmed with Intel's offerings lately.  And, I wrote about it before...  The thermal and CPU/GPU power contention issues on the Precision 7770 (which I see as a combined fault of Dell, Intel, and NVIDIA) plus the overall situation with Windows 11 have pushed me over to the MacBook side, something that I would have thought me completely crazy to be considering a few years ago.  And while there are some things about the MacBook that I wish were different (modular RAM and storage at the top), I can't deny that it is the best "laptop" that I have ever had.  I could write about that more, but I already have in other threads.  I'm looking to have my "work" Precision 7560 replaced by a M4 Max MacBook Pro next year.

 

Back to Dell.  I am still interested to see what they do with the high-end Precision systems.  We're due for a chassis refresh, so hopefully they will beef up the cooling solution a bit, and hopefully switch back to the "hot chips in the center / fan on both sides" design.  Since Precision XX90 systems have already released (in the 3000- and 5000- line with 14th-gen Intel CPUs), I think we're due for a branding shakeup as well or at least a change to how model numbers work.  (Maybe they'll just start using 4000 / 6000 / 8000.)  They've got to have the design finalized or nearly finalized by now, but I haven't seen anything new pop up on things like hardware certification sites yet.  Other than throwing in the latest CPUs from Intel and the latest GPUs from NVIDIA ... will they switch the bigger system to a 16:10 display (18" maybe)?  Or will they dump the 17" offering altogether like the competition has?  Will they make everyone start using CAMM2 modules and ditch SODIMM?  I'm not really thinking we'll get any answers at CES, but certainly in the next few months.  CES should bring some details about the new laptop CPUs and GPUs, though.

[PHVM_BR]

5 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

 

Ehhh.  I'd love to see them offer an AMD version, but I feel like Dell is pretty set in their ways with the business systems, and I feel like they're going to want to continue supporting things like vPro in these systems, so I am not holding my breath.

 

I'm also underwhelmed with Intel's offerings lately.  And, I wrote about it before...  The thermal and CPU/GPU power contention issues on the Precision 7770 (which I see as a combined fault of Dell, Intel, and NVIDIA) plus the overall situation with Windows 11 have pushed me over to the MacBook side, something that I would have thought me completely crazy to be considering a few years ago.  And while there are some things about the MacBook that I wish were different (modular RAM and storage at the top), I can't deny that it is the best "laptop" that I have ever had.  I could write about that more, but I already have in other threads.  I'm looking to have my "work" Precision 7560 replaced by a M4 Max MacBook Pro next year.

 

Back to Dell.  I am still interested to see what they do with the high-end Precision systems.  We're due for a chassis refresh, so hopefully they will beef up the cooling solution a bit, and hopefully switch back to the "hot chips in the center / fan on both sides" design.  Since Precision XX90 systems have already released (in the 3000- and 5000- line with 14th-gen Intel CPUs), I think we're due for a branding shakeup as well or at least a change to how model numbers work.  (Maybe they'll just start using 4000 / 6000 / 8000.)  They've got to have the design finalized or nearly finalized by now, but I haven't seen anything new pop up on things like hardware certification sites yet.  Other than throwing in the latest CPUs from Intel and the latest GPUs from NVIDIA ... will they switch the bigger system to a 16:10 display (18" maybe)?  Or will they dump the 17" offering altogether like the competition has?  Will they make everyone start using CAMM2 modules and ditch SODIMM?  I'm not really thinking we'll get any answers at CES, but certainly in the next few months.  CES should bring some details about the new laptop CPUs and GPUs, though.

https://www.notebookcheck.com/Dell-Pro-Max-16-und-Pro-Max-18-Plus-leaken-als-Flaggschiff-Laptops-mit-Tandem-OLED-und-drei-Lueftern.930490.0.html

[Aaron44126]

OK, now that's interesting.  If they are dropping the "Precision" branding altogether, then that is why nothing has shown up on my feeds...

 

16" and 18" 16:10?

Three fans?  Still with the same number of M.2 ports?

256GB CAMM2?

New keyboard design?   ([Edit] - New appearance with lighter color and keys more "squared off", but the layout appears to be exactly the same as before... with the possible exception of dropping either the right "alt" or "ctrl" key in favor of a "Co-pilot" key)

Tandem OLED?

@song_1118 is the source?

MacBook Pro inspired design, it seems – at least the part that you see when it is open.  (Seemingly all-metal palmrest – though it could be the same rubbery top material, just a lighter color – and curves and angles of the front, including that notch thing right in front of the trackpad...)  "Pro Max" is a very Apple-like way to name something, too...  Very creative things coming out of Dell marketing 😕

The sides and bottom look more like the previous-generation Precisions.  It still has that Ethernet port with the piece that you have to move to insert a cable, too...

 

Arrow Lake HX - 55W (not AMD).

 

CES announcement?  Not that far off.

 

I mean, it's not making me want to switch back, but if this is "real" (and I think that is likely) then it is a bigger change than I was expecting.

 

[Edit]

No barrel power connector, so... USB-C charging only?

Can't quite tell where the speakers are.  I think they are on the front/bottom like Precision 7X70 and 7X80.

Looks like you can't easily remove the keyboard, or take the display panel out of its enclosure; those changes are permanent, I guess.

Hard to tell from the picture but it looks like it might have some vertical support at the back/bottom that is a little more substantial than before, to make it "stand up" at an angle a little bit and allow some air to more easily move in through the bottom, plus more surface area on the rear exhaust fins.

 

I wonder if the Precision 5000 series will now just be called "Pro".

[yslalan]

It looks like they use 'Pro' to indicate their laptops for business purposes

[yslalan]

40 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

@song_1118 is the source?

Absolutely, he is the source. It was originally posted on https://weibo.com/7632744038/5110144742721072.

[Aaron44126]

"Pro Plus"

"Pro Premium"

"Pro Max Plus"

"Pro Rugged"

 

Can't tell what's what yet.  I wonder if they are dropping the Latitude branding too...?  That could be what "Pro Premium" is, with "Pro Plus" being the XPS-like Precision 5000 systems.  Or maybe "Pro Premium" is actually the replacement for the Precision 3000 line.

 

The Weibo post calls it "DELL Pro Max 18 Plus".  (So does that image with the specs, now that I look.)  I missed the "Plus" part when looking at the Notebookcheck article.  How many premium-sounding words can you slap on your product...?

[yslalan]

49 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

USB-C charging only

That would be a disaster if Dell does so using a 240-watt PD 3.1 adapter. I suffered using the Precision 5760/5770 models because the battery would drain quickly under heavy load, even when plugged in with the adapter.