Does Dell make a 15" laptop with 16GB RAM?

I am uninterested in the 17" Precision laptop. Does Dell make a 15.6" laptop with 4 SoDIMM slots like the HP 8540w or the Lenovo W510?

Anyone else other than HP and Lenovo have a 15" machine I should consider?

 

Why do you need 16GB RAM?

You could always use ReadyBoost with an SD card or something to give Vista/7 some more memory, but 16GB RAM is utter overkill for any kind of normal computing. 32-bit applications aren't even capable of addressing more than ~3.5 GB RAM, and unless you're doing something like rendering your own version of Avatar, I doubt there are any normal 64-bit applications out there that would actually use that much RAM.

If you need to do super resource-intensive computing, you're better off getting a desktop - you'll have higher-end options for memory, CPU, and GPU, and the cooling will be significantly better (which is critical when you're doing things like that).

 

That's the wrong way to go at it. We're here to help other users, not to criticize or judge their options. If he wanted to ask what notebook he should get, he'd post just that.

As for halobox's original question: no, Dell doesn't offer such a laptop. The Dell Precision M4500 is the closest to the 8540w and W510, but has a maximum of 8 GB of RAM, as shown here.

 

Eventually 16GB will arrive in the form of 2x8GB, but laptops with four slots are uncommon. I do agree with shifuimam though, is there any particular reason for it? You may be better off looking for a desktop if there is a need for that much performance.

 

Hi

Asking for a 15'' with 16GB RAM means for me that the Desktop alternative is a no go for the Thread Starter.

Using my M6400 with 16GB for CAD Development (ArchiCAD, AutoDesk and Bentley) and i am glad to have such a amount of RAM to do that. Debugging my Addons together with large projects load in the CAD Environment is using the RAM very well on my Windows 7 64. So questioning for 16GB is in my sight (Developers Sight) not a such uncommon question. For me (using CAD and Dev IDEs like VS2008 and Eclipse) a 15'' Display is to small for my needs.

The 15'' M4500 has only two slots which means max load is 2x4 = 8GB

Thats it, maybe next generation 15'' Precisions have this option.

Regards
Christopher

 

You might consider (as others have) that I know what the hell I'm doing and it's a valid need. Here's your clue:

VIRTUALIZATION

Trust me, even 16GB isn't going to cut the mustard with some of the stuff I want to do on a single portable machine.

Ever heard of MOSS, Exchange, SQL, etc.?

 

My question is why are you doing that on a laptop? If you need that much performance, you should go with either the Precision M6500 (which you said you are uninterested in) or a desktop.

 

Although the original poster certainly knows his needs best, I can think of several things, including the need to take the work to clients, or being on the move a lot of the time (i.e. ability to work in hotels, airports, etc).

 

I've done some research here since the beginning of the year, as I also 'need' a laptop to support 16gb and have a small form factor - which will support virtualisation running multiple OS/Apps, and away from the office (travel and client site).

The first 15" I looked at was the Lenovo W510 (not yet available but promised by them to be available in May...failed....now promised in June...?)

The only other 15" is the HP 8540w that i have found is shipping now (most suppliers have no stock in the UK due to logistic issues with the airlines being close a few weeks back with the icelandic volcano ash.

Both the above will scale to 16gb, Lenovo's seem to have a 25% price premium on their kit above HP - Though this is not like-4-like comparison as for example, the Lenovo is 'touch screen' the HP isn't, but HP has blueray drive (Lenovo hasn't as standard).

As has been mentioned, disappointingly, Dell don't offer 16gb in their 15" range, so you'd have to buy their 17" beasty...in which case Lenovo, HP, Dell will supply you one now (if you can find a sub-supplier that has stock that is)

 

15 inch models with 4 sodimms, some models are with high resolution
HP ENVY 15
MSI GX660
ASUS G51jx
upcoming ASUS G53 - wait for this one