Dell salesman doesn't recommend the M6400 because it doesn't have a Core i7 CPU

I was just about to order a M6400 with the QX9300 processors, untill the Dell saleman on the phone told me to get any other laptop as long as it has a Core i7 chip in it. He said in the pas it didn't make much difference if you buy a laptop with a 2.6Ghz core 2 duo and a month later a newer 2.8Ghz core 2 duo came out. The difference in speed is very marginal. However, the difference between the Core i7 and the q9300 is so big that it's like buying a pentium 4. He was dead serious. At the same token, he couldn't tell me when the new m6500 is coming out and if it is equipt with the core I7 chip. In eithercase. the m6400 is in his eyes to expensive for a model that is outdated already. However, because he is from Dell, he advices me to get the XPS studio 16 with the Core i7eventhough i'll be using it for heavy cad/bim/3d work.

 

While that salesman is technically right and core i7 does pack a whole lot more punch per clockspeed, you have to remember that the QX9300 is 2.53ghz and the Core i7 920XM is only 2.0ghz.
In artificial benchmarks, the QX9300 is usually similar in performance to the Core i7 820 at 1.73ghz.

The 1.73ghz i7 is the highest you can get in the SXPS 16, so if you're going to get a QX9300 in your M6400, there shouldn't really be any difference. Plus, the M6400 has like 5x more powerful graphics, which is more than worth it.

Yes, the M6400 is overpriced, and yes, the processor is last-gen, but in this case, it doesn't really make a huge difference.

 

That's interesting... you'd think the Dell rep would want you to buy the more expensive machine, as they'd be making more money off you. At any rate, it's indeed true that you won't see that big of performance difference between a QX9300 and a 920XM (gawd, why'd they gotta mess with the names like this), but the 920XM might actually give you a little better idle battery life.

 

As with all technology, newer and better is always around the corner. I wouldn't bother to wait if there's a need to have the laptop.

 

Well, I went ahead and ordered it anyway. While technology keeps renewing, it's quite strange though that the M6400 has the same specs for over a year and an half.

I hope I get a good laptop. Many people seem to have issues with the m6400. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kw8C7fWjYM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PU-XTla2T4&NR=1

 

Because the Precision M6500 will be the refresh in Q1 2010. They're probably waiting for the HM/QM55/57 motherboards as opposed to the PM55 for support of Arrandales (as well as Clarksfield).

 

The guy in the 2nd video sounds pretty ignorant. He doesn't realise leaving it plugged in 24/7 and charging it all the time could actually hurt the battery, if he would just send in the battery he'd get a new one...done.

 

M6400 has quaddro fx - and that is expensive video for professionals.
Please check this review on more details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIChSTJK1IU