The Dell XPS 17 3D with Sandy Bridge Has Arrived! Recommended Specs?

So it looks like the wait is finally over and the Dell XPS 17 3D has arrived with sandy bridge processor in tow.

I wanted to open this thread for discussion on the different spec options and hear thoughts on what people consider 'must' upgrades vs upgrades only for the heavy gamer etc etc. Which Intel processor? Are their 3D glasses worth it? Which wireless card option is the best? To 9-cell or not to 9-cell? the list goes on..

Also, all models support WiDi 2.0 and Netgear Push2TV PTV2000?
I'm excited it is finally here


XPS 17 Laptop Details | Dell

 

I'm interested in the WiDi but I came across this in the Tech Specs of the XPS 17 3D:

Intel® Wireless Display (not available on 3D panel)

Dell XPS 17 Laptop Details | Dell UK

Do you reckon this means that I cannot use WiDi if I select the FHD 3D screen?

 

Anyone knows if the xps 17 has any sata 3 port for the HDDs?

 

Are you SERIOUS?! I thought basically ALL Sandy Bridge processors would be widi compatible and i was just trying to confirm. How can this be? If true, this is so god awful...but i was under the impression that all you needed was the proper i5 or i7 SB processor?


Update: I just spoke to a dell rep who said he was 100% sure you are wrong about this. Where did you get this information? Are you sure it doesn't just mean you can't display 3D stuff?

 

I think you are correct in thinking that all Sandy Bridge processors would be WiDi compatible as they now have integrated graphics. However, I do remember reading that Optimus would be disabled on laptops with the 3D panel as well. This would explain why WiDi is not available as there would be no access to integrated graphics without Optimus.

I do hope my memory is failing me and there is both WiDi and Optimus on the XPS 17 3D. I have asked a Dell rep the question and he said he would get back to me tomorrow with the answer.

Edit: Quoted from Direct2Dell blog:

'The i7 version now supports Optimus, unless configured with the optional 3D FHD panel – this uses the discrete GPU full time.'

http://en.community.dell.com/dell-blogs/Direct2Dell/b/direct2dell/archive/2011/01/06/dell-news-from-ces-streak-7-tablet-venue-smartphone-enhanced-dell-stage-and-more.aspx

 

Thanks for the info. I am not overly tech savvy so you can translate that last part? Are you now SURE the dell rep i spoke to was wrong and that it will be impossible to have both a FHD panel and widi?

 

If the information in the Dell blog was correct then I am pretty sure that the Dell rep is wrong. I couldn't be 100% sure unless I had the laptop and had tried WiDi.

My understanding is that if Dell do not enable Optimus on the XPS 17 3D, as stated in the Dell blog (linked previously), then WiDi will not be available as there will be no access to integrated graphics and only the discrete graphics (Nvidia GT 555M) will be used. No integrated graphics = no WiDi.

I am awaiting a response from a Dell rep to clarify this but if this is the case I will be steering clear of the FHD 3D panel.

 

why is there no option for a 1080p screen WITHOUT 3D??

That would solve people's problems of no optimus or widi ...

 

Exactly.. like the 1080p B+RG that used to be served in the Studio 17.
So we could have gorgeous color FHD AND optimus topped with a little widi.

 

I saw the same thing. I would want a 1080p screen with no 3D. Maybe its early and they just haven't configured that on the website, but it seems to me that offering 1080p on a 17" consumer laptop ONLY with 3D is a monumental screwup.

 

+1
Guess I'll try and wait to see if they add the 1080p with no 3D in the near future

 

ding ding ding.

the roll out of the xps line has been one giant disappointment for me. first, there was no 17" with FHD which was absolutely idiotic (a high performance desktop replacement that doesn't even give the option for a high res upgrade), then rumors of the SB model coming feb 1st with FHD. And now it hits the market and you are being forced to go with a 3D laptop if you want FHD which means no integrated graphics at all (why?) and worse battery life for a stupid gimmick.

all i wanted was a FHD 17" laptop that used SB and supported WiDi. i assumed dell would offer this and am in shock how terrible they are for not.

 

I think I shall be purchasing the XPS 17 without the 3D panel and then installing the FHD AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4 panel mentioned in the L701x screen swapping thread. I would prefer Optimus and WiDi to 3D.

Something else I have discovered in the Dell tech specs page is that if you dont opt for the 3D panel then the memory is only upgradeable to 8GB. I would have liked the option to upgrade the memory to 16GB in the future.

 

Umm I still don't even see the 1080p for either the 3D or non-3D for the L502x on the US Dell website, am I missing something here?

 

can someone explain to me why they arent offering for a $ upgrade the ability to have FHD and optimus and no 3D?

 

I think we would all like to know that, lol. Makes about as much sense as their last generation did, not offering a 17" 1080p screen on a "premium" 17" laptop.

 

To make this seems more ridiculous, they are offering a 1920x1080 B+RGLED TL screen on the new XPS 15, just not the XPS 17. I don't get it.

 

And on another note, when you select the graphics card, it lists it as 555M 3GB with Optimus, so that's a pretty horrible description if Optimus really is disabled on that unit.

 

can´t understand your criticism for 100%... for the 1st generation of XPS 15, the upgrade to 15.6" non-3D-FullHD had/has a price of +200€ (sorry Germany here). Now the 17.3" upgrade to 3D-FullHD has a price of +235€. This is adequately in relation to the 15.6" price in my opinion. Or what do you estimate from Dell, a 17.3" non-3D-FullHD for only +120€? I really don´t believe that you get this.

@Topic: for German/Austrian/Swiss XPS-Fans, I recommend the XPS 17 (N00X7M06) at the moment. Today Dell upgraded it from only 3 GB to 4 GB for the same price, also it´s the first config here with an optionally backlit keyboard - and, of course, for free, price for upgrade is €0.00.

 

The problem isn't one of price, it's that they aren't even offering a 1080p screen right now on the XPS 17 that isn't 3D. A lot of people that would consider this laptop don't want 3D, they just want a normal 1080p screen. They are offering a backlit keyboard here as well (it's not a free upgrade though), but they offered one on the last gen as well.

 

can´t believe that real-3D-illustration on this Display is the only operating mode. I´m pretty sure that you can use it with normal 2D and "flat-3D" mode, too, and real 3D mode as an detachable option?

 

now a dell rep is telling me it DOES support optimus????
CAN ANOYNE CONFIRM THIS WITH A LINK EITHER PROVING OR DISPROVING THIS?

 

Their featured screen shows that it supports optimus, and the screen where you select the graphics card says it includes optimus. I would be very surprised if it didn't since they are plastering advertisements for it all over the place, but stranger things have happened.

 

In the Direct2Dell blog from CES 2011 the following is stated in the New XPS 17 section:

'The i7 version now supports Optimus, unless configured with the optional 3D FHD panel – this uses the discrete GPU full time'

You will need to scroll down the blog to find it.

Dell News from CES: Streak 7 Tablet, Venue Smartphone, Enhanced Dell Stage and More - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community

Since this blog was written I am unaware of any further information that proves or disproves this statement.

 

thanks. but when you select the xps 17 3D and it gives you the nvidia video card options, they ALL say they support optimus. so what do we make of this?

 

When I ordered my L701X, I ordered the first generation i7 which didn't have integrated graphics, but the 445m still showed it supported Optimus. Technically they do all support Optimus, but something else in the configuration (first generation i7 or 3D display) doesn't support it.

 

so what is it that leads to WiDi not being supported? I mean I get that you are claiming it is "3D" that is the cause, but what is actually the specific cause? What about a '3D' machine makes it (possibly?) not support optimus?

 

My question is even if you couldn't use Optimus with the 3D display, why couldn't you still use the integrated graphics to run a wireless display.

 

I think this is what I'm ordering:

i7-2720QM
1 pair nVidia 3D glasses
4GB DDR3 (I'll add another 4GB myself, Dell confirmed it's 2GB x 2)
nVidia GT 555M 3GB (I'm kind of torn on this, is it really worth $150?)
500GB SATA (going to add SSD myself, waiting for C400/M4 or Vertex 3)
9-cell battery
Advanced-N 6230 and Bluetooth 3.0
Backlit Keyboard
DVD-RW (Is it silly to not get BluRay when having all these other specs? I guess I should probably pony up the 100 bucks)

The 2.7Ghz base frequency of the i7-2620M looks pretty nice. i7-2720QM is only 2.2Ghz.

 

The 3D panel is 120hz but I can see why people wouldn't want 3D.

 

I think confused WiDi only works with the integrated GPU...and if it's running discrete the whole time, the integrated GPU is never utilized so it's essentially disabled.

 

but where does it say that it will be running discrete the whole time? even when the computer is not showing 3D stuff?

 

Been purchasing Dell computers, laptops and desktops, for over 20 years. I've put up with their ridiculous website year after year because on the whole I've liked their products.

But I have to say that trying to purchase the XPS 17 is finally the straw that breaks the camel's back. Twice in the last 24 hours I have tried to purchase a laptop without 3D. Just a 1920x1080 screen with a second generation quad core processor. Twice I finally succeeded in configuring a system only to find that an hour later the website would not allow me to complete the purchase (after putting the system in my cart).

I was even willing to put up with what I suspect is the loss of integrated graphics if I could just purchase the laptop without the silly 3D glasses and still get an FHD screen.

I've given up. I'll move to another brand. Dell has finally driven me away after 20 years.

 

I know little about displays. Can someone tell my why a non 3D 1920x1080 display is more desirable than one that has 3D?

 

would have something to do with the fact that the Dell XPS 17" sandy bridge model with 3d screen disables the optimus graphics switching technology because the discrete graphics card runs all the time. 3D is a bs gimmick as far as I'm concerned, but optimus is not.

 

I don't really want 3D either. Does the display's picture actually look any worse or are they at least the same visually?

 

your guess is as good as mine - they haven't been released as yet (afaik), so we'll just have to wait for reviews, or early buyers. I must say that going from only a 900p option to a 1080p 3D which screws up a key feature of the Sandy Bridge Platform is consistent with laptop manufacturers always seeming to include at least one stuff up in their design.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Does anybody know why they offer only 8 gb ram.Is that mean new xps 17 has 2 slot for ram not 4 as old.

 

you people make me sick, just because of one stupid option like optimus technology you making this laptop bad, that stupid optimus is useless.

 

For me, the graphics card is useless, since I have no need of a 3D screen or of any regular 3D graphics. So I'd prefer to save the power and heat the graphics card causes, and if I had my choice, to save the money it costs as well.

 

I agree. This is one of the dumbest gimmicks I've seen put out by Dell yet. And to lock ppl into 3D only is ridiculous. It will probably take Dell another iteration to realize not everyone is extatic over their latest brain child.

Although I've used Dell for quite a while both at work and at home I'll probably go with another manufacturer this time around - most likely ASUS or Sager. At least they seem to get what people in this market segment are looking for - less gimmicks and better quality components.

Derek

 

3D is ok, but on a 17" ummm no. Also don't expect the 3D gaming to be good on that screen. If you really want 3D then buy a dedicated TV or Gaming Monitor else you are just wasting your time.

 

ithink 3D screen would be greate.
but i have questio nabout 3D glasses, they cost realy big money - 109Pounds on UK site, but on USA its for free, the question is i can watch 3D movies on 3D glasses witch i go to cinema or these are some ind of special properties?

 

No you can't use just any. This is probably why Dell are not selling the 1080 screen by itself as they have a contract with Nvidea.
Put a normal 1080 screen on this with Optimus and 3D just wouldn't sell.

 

well since they are a business and SALES should be what they care about, wouldn't it make sense they offer what DOES sell instead of restricting people to what won't sell as well?

this all just makes no sense. 3D should just be some small option people who actually want it pay an extra cost for. taking away optimus, which is a GREAT thing to have when just browsing or watching movies or typing on this forum is so dumb it's insane.

 

This sounds like their marketing strategy at least so far. Unfortunatey this is going to backfire on them when the majority of potential Dell customers don't care to buy the stupid 3D glasses or screen. And we end up buying from someone else.

 

Is there any reason why manual switching to the integrated graphics wouldn't work in lieu of Optimus? If that would work, would WiDi work?

 

On Dell's site it says that WiDi won't work with the 3D panel. Doesn't say that Optimus won't work.

 

Yeah, it does:

"The i7 version now supports Optimus, unless configured with the optional 3D FHD panel on the XPS 17– this uses the discrete GPU full time "

Updated Dell XPS 15 and 17 Laptops Bring New Levels of Performance - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community