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    XPS 17 3D, no Optimus?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by piero, May 11, 2011.

  1. piero

    piero Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've ended up to buy the XPS 17, 3D version.
    The configuration is the following one:

    i7-2630QM
    16GB, DDR3, 4 Dimm
    17.3in FHD WLED TL (1920x1080) 3D
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 3GB graphics
    1.0TB 500GB 7.2k HDD x 2
    Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
    Tray Load Blu-ray Triple Writer
    Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030
    90 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

    Now, if I'm not wrong this laptop doesn't come with Optimus.
    If so, what I'll miss? Is it Optimus just about saving power when the laptop is not overloaded?

    Besides that I'm reading that the cooling fan it's pretty noisy and the heat is not that low. How much is this annoying for who is already using it?

    Thanks for any info.
     
    piero, May 11, 2011
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  2. adi9

    adi9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, the 3D version needs nVidia chip all the time to drive the 120MHz LCD.

    The laptop will be probably more hot ( most likely fan will be more noisy), but depends also of the load. You also loose all new features introduced in Sandy Bridge (related to video) like Intel Wireless (WiDi 2.0) and Intel Sync (fast resolution convesion of video for portable devices).
     
    adi9, May 11, 2011
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  3. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Given the driver headaches with Optimus, you won't be missing much.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, May 11, 2011
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  4. piero

    piero Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't know what's the WiDi and the Intel Sync.
    I'll search on google...
     
    piero, May 11, 2011
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  5. piero

    piero Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wait, the Intel Sync looks quite interesting for my job.
    I'm wondering why is not available in the XPS 17 3D.
     
    piero, May 11, 2011
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  6. adi9

    adi9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Because is done using Intel integrated graphics.(same as the WiDi).On the 3D system that is disabled allways as it can not drive the 120Hz LCD.I remember reading that Intel Sync is quite good on Sandy Bridge, twice as fast as done by the fastest nVidia cards in fact.
     
    adi9, May 11, 2011
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  7. piero

    piero Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hm.. I see, thanks for the explanation.
    Well at the end the decision could have been between Intel or Nvidia: couldn't avoid Nvidia due to Cuda and other supported apps. I think I didn't have choice.
     
    piero, May 11, 2011
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  8. adi9

    adi9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    The Non 3D system is using nVidia Optimus mode.In other words Intel graphics for usual stuff and nVidia for 3D intensive applications and games.(3D processing, not 3D LCD). Best of both worlds, even if for my taste would have been a button to switch the graphic card as AMD is duing, and not automatically done by the driver.
     
    adi9, May 11, 2011
    #8