XPS 17 or Precision 5770?

[Pongo]

This is my first post here..

 

I am currently researching what I should get to replace my 5 year old HP ProBook 450 G4. My laptop usage has changed significantly in the past year and I now need something with more performance. The primary apps that I use, in order of most important to least is:

 

PixInsight ( like Photoshop, but for Astrophotography )

Lightroom

Sketchup

Photoshop

 

PixInsight does not use the GPU yet, but can use all the CPU cores and RAM I can give it and the image files are large (100MB+) and I process hundreds of them at a time. I mostly use my desktop for those application, but sometimes I need to process data at a remote site. So, the new laptop will supplement my desktop when I am home, but I also will process some data while I am remote.

 

I started looking at the top of the Dell Mobile Workstation line, the 7760.

The 7760 only has one Gen4 M.2 slot and the other 3 M.2 slots are Gen3, even though the Dell configuration website only allows me to buy a more expensive Gen4 SSD for those Gen3 slots. The fact that Dell is doing this is a real turn-off for me.

 

So, I started looking at the 7770. I have read through the 7770 pre-release discussion thread and spec sheet. I am concerned about the price once it is released next week, but I also do not like the proprietary CAMM memory.

 

So, I went looking at the 5770. It looks like it would fit my needs but the price is a bit high. I read here that the 5770 is basically the same as the XPS 17. Is that correct? What are pros/cons between the 5770 and XPS 17 for my usage?

 

I am very glad I found this forum. The information here has been extremely useful.

 

Thank You in advance for any help in my decision making.

 

 

[Aaron44126]

The difference between XPS 17 (current model) and Precision 5770 basically just lies in the GPUs.  Precision 5770 offers pro GPUs and XPS 17 uses consumer/GeForce GPUs.  I do not think GeForce vs. pro RTX will make any serious difference for the applications that you mention.

 

The GeForce and pro RTX GPUs use the same chip, but there are some minor differences in their specs; the GeForce and pro RTX GPUs on offer don't line up exactly.  (You can confirm the specs for any particular GPU at the TechPowerUp database.  Type the name into the filter textbox and just look at the values that show in the table.  Note to pay attention to mobile GPU specs when there is a desktop GPU with the same name.)  Also, NVIDIA applies artificial limitations to the GeForce to keep it from performing as well with certain features that tend to be used by professional applications but not games.  (Wireframing, double-sided polygons, ...)  As such, the only reason to go out of the way to get a pro RTX card would be if you are using those sorts of applications (AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, ...).

 

You can search for things like "will (application) benefit from nvidia quadro" to see what people have to say on the matter.  Even though NVIDIA does not brand these newer GPUs as "Quadro", that's basically what they are...

 

Otherwise, you are looking at largely the same hardware and software setup — same chassis, same display, same keyboard, same port arrangement, same BIOS/drivers, and so on.  So, pick whichever you can get a better deal on, for the configuration that suits your needs.

 

You should also check out the warranty options as the stock offering may well be different between the XPS 17 and Precision 5770 (depending on how you purchase).  You can get the XPS 17 from the Dell consumer store or business store, but Precision can only be purchased from the business store.  (You can still purchase things from the business store as an individual.)

 

1 hour ago, Pongo said:

The 7760 only has one Gen4 M.2 slot and the other 3 M.2 slots are Gen3, even though the Dell configuration website only allows me to buy a more expensive Gen4 SSD for those Gen3 slots. The fact that Dell is doing this is a real turn-off for me.

 

It was not this way originally; I think that Dell has stopped stocking Gen3 drives.

 

If you are at all comfortable with it, just buy the system with the cheapest drive available and replace it aftermarket with a drive of your choosing.  Dell's SSD prices are crazy.  For whatever Dell is offering for a particular SSD upgrade, you can normally find drives with double the capacity for less just off of Amazon.  (Not talking about cheap-o drives either.  Top-rated drives like Samsung Pro are still much cheaper than Dell's offering.)

 

1 hour ago, Pongo said:

So, I started looking at the 7770. I have read through the 7770 pre-release discussion thread and spec sheet. I am concerned about the price once it is released next week, but I also do not like the proprietary CAMM memory.

 

For pricing, contact a small business rep in your territory.  They pretty much always beat the web price, and they might be able to be more flexible than the web site is with configuring an XPS or Precision 5000 system.  (As an example, I ordered a couple of XPS 15's last year and the rep was able to select an SSD size that the web site was not allowing me to choose without changing other specs.)

[Pongo]

I will go with the XPS 17 (2022 model).

 

Thank You.

 

[serpro69]

In addition to what Aaron mentioned, in the past precision was said to have better build quality control. Also the keyboard, while looking the same, feels slightly different - precision has more "firmness" to it. I don't know if that's the case with latest models though, and the price difference is probably not worth it anyways if you're good with the rest of what XPS has to offer.