Dell M3800

[Brian Stirling]

I'm looking at a replacement for my current laptop and the Dell M3800 seems a good fit for my needs. I will be using it for CAD and Photoshop work in addition to other uses. I do have a few questions about it though...

First, the website indicates that the display is full UHD at 3840x2160, however. many of the reviews indicate the resolution is actually 3200x1800 -- which is it?

Assuming it's full UHD does it output full UHD through it's HDMI port?

There's also some question about the HD options as it relates to the battery choice. I want a primary drive of 512GB in SSD and also a 2TB drive for image storage (PS). But, the primary drive appears to be a PCIE and it also looks like you can only add a second HD if you stay with the 61 WHr battery so if you choose the 91 WHr battery you can not have a second HD.

I've looked at the Toshiba Satellite P50t 4K and the Lenovo Y50 4K but they will only handle a single HD as best I can tell.


Brian

 

[Accord99]

First, the website indicates that the display is full UHD at 3840x2160, however. many of the reviews indicate the resolution is actually 3200x1800 -- which is it?

The initial version released in late 2013 had the 3200 x 1800 display. The recent update now gives it the 4K screen.

Assuming it's full UHD does it output full UHD through it's HDMI port?

I have an XPS 15, the near twin to the M3800, and tried to connect it to a P2715Q using HDMI. While it detects the monitor and correct resolution, I couldn't get any picture to display but I don't know whether its the laptop, monitor or cable. It does work with displayport and from what I can tell, at 4K/60 Hz SST.

There's also some question about the HD options as it relates to the battery choice. I want a primary drive of 512GB in SSD and also a 2TB drive for image storage (PS). But, the primary drive appears to be a PCIE and it also looks like you can only add a second HD if you stay with the 61 WHr battery so if you choose the 91 WHr battery you can not have a second HD.

That's correct. The larger battery extends into the space that would be used for the 2.5" drive. With the smaller battery, you can fit a 2.5"/7mm drive in it. The other drive is MSATA, at least for the late 2013 model.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I think I'll hold off on the M3800 for now -- I hope more 4K options develop soon. Of course, maybe the PC makers are holding back until Win10.


Brian

 

[Brian Stirling]

It looks like Dell has discontinued the M3800.

The XPS15 does appear to be nearly identical, but when I went to there website to configure one to my liking they seem to have eliminated the "configure/buy" option and now they have only "Add to cart" with limited option selection.

Looks like Dell doesn't want my business...


Brian

 

[Accord99]

Perhaps it was just a website error?

I see that it's still available here:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-m3800-workstation/fs

The ability to configure the XPS 15 is very limited; though if you're still going to replace the drives it's going to be much cheaper buying them yourself.

Note: It looks like the M3800 has received the 4K update and additional options and Thunderbolt connectivity.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Perhaps it was just a website error?

I see that it's still available here:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-m3800-workstation/fs

The ability to configure the XPS 15 is very limited; though if you're still going to replace the drives it's going to be much cheaper buying them yourself.

Note: It looks like the M3800 has received the 4K update and additional options and Thunderbolt connectivity.

Yeah, I went back a few days ago and it's back and available for configuration. Not sure what the deal was a week or so ago.

Brian

 

[Brian Stirling]

Well I went ahead and ordered the M3800 and received it a couple days ago. Received it with 8GB RAM and 500GB HDD but I also separately ordered a 1TB mSATA drive, another 8GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD all of which have now been installed. Cloned the original 500GB HDD to the 1TB mSATA drive using Samsung Data Migration -- took about 20 minutes.

Interestingly and unpleasantly I had the double green underline AdChoices crap in Chrome right from the get go and I've downloaded nothing much. Using MS Security Essentials and added Malwarebytes but I had to uninstall Chrome then reinstall to get rid of the AdChoices crap.

The only other problem I've seen so far is that TurboCAD 21 Deluxe doesn't seem to like 4K displays and I've had to switch to there older "classic" view to avoid an entry field truncation problem. The icons are also too small and I've selected the largest size possible. It appears that IMSI/TurboCAD didn't know 4K screens were on the way.

Anyway, my setup with 24 inch external 4K monitor is great and makes for very crisp text.


Brian

 

[sze5003]

Well I went ahead and ordered the M3800 and received it a couple days ago. Received it with 8GB RAM and 500GB HDD but I also separately ordered a 1TB mSATA drive, another 8GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD all of which have now been installed. Cloned the original 500GB HDD to the 1TB mSATA drive using Samsung Data Migration -- took about 20 minutes.

Interestingly and unpleasantly I had the double green underline AdChoices crap in Chrome right from the get go and I've downloaded nothing much. Using MS Security Essentials and added Malwarebytes but I had to uninstall Chrome then reinstall to get rid of the AdChoices crap.

The only other problem I've seen so far is that TurboCAD 21 Deluxe doesn't seem to like 4K displays and I've had to switch to there older "classic" view to avoid an entry field truncation problem. The icons are also too small and I've selected the largest size possible. It appears that IMSI/TurboCAD didn't know 4K screens were on the way.

Anyway, my setup with 24 inch external 4K monitor is great and makes for very crisp text.


Brian

I want this with Linux installed. Got it down to $1530 for the i7, 8gb and 500gb Hd. There is a coupon around until April for an extra 5% off. I plan on using a 256gb ssd anyway. Did you have to buy it from their business site? Looks like I have to create a business account in order to buy it. Technically my buddy and I have a website we are working on and I could use that company name to put that in there if its required.

 

[Brian Stirling]

No, didn't open a business account to order though I do have a business.

I think mine came to about $1600 but I did add MS Office so that added another $181 if I remember correctly.

I knew I wanted a 1TB mSATA SSD but Dell wanted over $1K for that upgrade alone -- not happening. The premium they wanted for 16GB was too much as well so I ordered the basic package with office then added the SSD, additional RAM and 1TB HDD afterwards. All told I probably saved about $600 ordering those upgrades separately.


Brian

 

[sze5003]

No, didn't open a business account to order though I do have a business.

I think mine came to about $1600 but I did add MS Office so that added another $181 if I remember correctly.

I knew I wanted a 1TB mSATA SSD but Dell wanted over $1K for that upgrade alone -- not happening. The premium they wanted for 16GB was too much as well so I ordered the basic package with office then added the SSD, additional RAM and 1TB HDD afterwards. All told I probably saved about $600 ordering those upgrades separately.


Brian

Yea I may want to use their credit though so ill have to apply for it which should not be an issue. I will most likely do the same, get a 256 or 512 ssd on Amazon and another 8gb of ram later. I like that it's fully compatible with Ubuntu support. Im a full time developer but at home I like to mess with tech we don't use at work.

I was waiting for the xps developer edition refresh which should be coming in a few weeks but it was supposed to be out in February and they have been ironing out issues. So a release date is not definite.