Dell Studio 17 Review

Any real world gaming feedback anyone can give on this notebook would be really appreciated. I am seriously considering getting one - the only thing holding me back is the 3650 GPU. If only it had a 3850 for an extra $200 or $300. I don't game much on my notebook but when I do I want to play something current and enjoy it. Any current game feedback would be really appreciated eg The Witcher, Bioshock, COD4, HL2, UT3, C&C3, Supreme Commander...whatever you're playing your Studio 17 with the 3650 I want to know if it's playing well and at what res you run it at to get it to play well.

 

Crysis
Resolution: 1024 x 768
Settings: Shaders and Shadows Low, all other settings high
FPS: 10-30

Command & Conquer 3
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Settings: Maximum
FPS: 25-35

Call of Duty 4
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Settings: High
FPS: 50-65

World in Conflict
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Settings: Medium
FPS: 45-65

In short, performance is VERY similar to the Nvidia 8600M GT (only Nvidia's GPUs might behaving some problems right now while ATI seems safe ... for the moment)

 

Maybe there is a heat issue with a better performing video card that the new design can not handle!

 

Hi JerryJ. THanks for that! So definitely playable - except for the Crysis. Looks like Crysis on Medium at 1280 x 800 would be playable though- eg FRAPS 30+ Frames Per Second? Can you confirm that? I definitely don't mind playing on medium for any game - would rather better FPS than pretty slideshow. I draw the line at playing on LOW though. I don't want to have to do that anymore (have to on my current notebook with a number of games)

 

All of those readings were done with FRAPS on the Studio 17. Cyrsis seemed somewhat playable on the settings I described, but certainly not as playable as COD4 or World In Conflict. Unfortunately, I can't perform additional tests at this point. We no longer have the Studio 17 review unit in our offices since it was on loan from Dell and had to be returned.

 

In my Studio 17, T9500, 4GB DDR2 800Mhz, 2x 320GB 7,200RPM
(installed RAM & HDD's myself) 256Mb 3650 HD
(Overclocked 750 core/ 812 MEM)

I get 42-44FPS at 1440 x 900 and 35-38FPS at 1620 x 1020
with the same settings, as JerreyJ

I play COD4 at 1920x 1200 and have mostly high settings.

I'll admit it doesn't play as well as my Qosmio G50 with the 512MB 9600GT
but I still like it alot. I'm hoping it will take a T9600, or any of the slower 1066Mhz C2D's It does take DDR2 800 no reason to think it work take the faster CPU, unless Dell won't let it!

If your still lookng for an awesome notebook,(that's not the Studio 17) check it out:

http://electronics.hsn.com/toshiba-18-4-qosmio-high-definition-notebook-bundle_p-4499098_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=4499098&sf=ec&attr=71&ocm=EC|71&prev=hp!71&ccm=EC|71

I upgraded it with the T9600 C2D, and it rocks. while this pushes the overall price to 2,319 plus tax & shipping(from both there & newegg)
it is a great gamer, and all the Toshiba Apps, use the 4 cell CPU, &
it's DVD maker, blows the doors, off any other.
I make mybackup copy in 10 minutes plus burntime

Dejavu

 

Spec wise the Studio 17 looks impressive. I'm especially tempted by the high resolution.

However it's been mentioned before but I'll say it again Dell has a tendency of releasing alright products in ugly packaging.

Just the side view alone made got, "***". It just doesn't look as good as the dv7t.

 

did anyone purchase this laptop with the 6x slot load blu-ray combo drive. If im correct the drive does not burn blu ray disc but can burn regular dvd-r and cd-r.

 

jerry can you tell me the model of the screen used in the studio 17? is it the lg or samsung etc? and the hardware id? thanks

 

Heya Jerry ... Dell is currently offering a build of this that comes with the Intel X3100 video card. How significantly would this impact the battery life with either the 6 or 9 cell battery?

Last I saw it was a 2 1/2 battery life with a 6 cell and the ATI card....

 

My dell studio 17, arrived this morning, and I would just like to add that it is a handsome thing indeed. Instead of having one of the plain colours I have chosen one of the product red, artist backplates; which is very easy on the eyes. Set up was quick and painless, and that was including setting up the biometrics, which I thought would be a tad tricky. Screen quality was very impressive having opted for the higher priced screen and combining this with the blu-ray drive. My only complaint with the disc drive is, the new slot drive does tend to snatch the cd's a bit too fast for my liking. The new full size back lit keyboard is very impressive, it is probably one sturdiest laptop keyboards I have ever used, and it also does not drain the battery as it is only lit when the keyboard is in use. I understand that I would have been nicer for a choice of a more powerful graphics card but to be honest I have ran some very new power hungry games on it and it has not struggled as of yet. So all in all I give the dell 9/10, a great buy!

 

What games did you run on it?

 

I also want ot know more about the build quality. Does it have a metal chassis ? Does it have a metal lid ? How do th plastic components feel ?

I believe it does NOT have creaks ?

Does the paint job wear off ?

Also, if I'm reading http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html right, the FX 770M GPU used in the 15.4" dell precision M440 is 70% more powerful than the HD3650 GPU ???

 

I'm having a very hard time beliving this.
Unless you are assuming a very thick carpet on the floor ?

I'm skeptical that even my precision could take a fall to a hardwood floor without mch damage.

PS: Anyone care to compare the build quality of studio laptops with the precison line ?

 

I have seen and used both latptops, to be honest, there is no comparison, these new laptops simply cannot compare to the build quality of the previous inspirons ( 9300/9400/E1705 and Precision M90 and M6300). Dell has changed it's focus from a well built chassis to a cheap plasticy thing of Bling.

 

If I remember right, the inspiron E1705 had a metal chassis, the same as the precisions, its just that the lid was plastic.

Do the studio 17 laptops also have a metal chassis ?

How is the build quality of these laptops inferior to the older inspirons ? JerryJ said there were no creaks etc ?

 

I have the Studio 17 and I only have one complaint, but it's a pretty big deal to me. The speakers are POOR. I've had better sound quality on my son's toys, and I'm a little annoyed that Dell put such cheap speakers in an otherwise nice laptop. I can't listen to sound at all unless I have my headphones plugged in. If you are interested in buying this machine, see if you can get a speaker upgrade.