Dell Precision Mobile workstations review
Published Thu 18 Jun 2009
High performance mobile workstations from Dell with the age-old factor of size versus speed
Dell Precision M6400 €3,371
A high-performance mobile workstation with desktop features, but like all machines in its class, it’s not particularly ‘mobile’
It would seem someone at Dell has been taking industrial design night classes as the new Precision M6400 mobile workstation is like nothing you’ve seen before – well nothing you’ve seen before from Dell anyway.
The brushed aluminium chassis gives the machine a clean look and you’ll be pleased to hear there’s no ‘in your face’ Dell logo to detract from its sleek lines. Despite its good looks there’s no hiding the fact that the M6400 is a beast of a mobile workstation. Weighing in at around 4kg and with a power supply that feels as heavy as a MacBook Air, Dell’s top end mobile workstation is not one for the road. It’s a desktop replacement with the emphasis on desktop but it is kitted out with some extremely powerful technology, including Intel’s Core 2 Extreme Quad Core QX9300 (2.53GHz) processor, a 1GB Nvidia Quadro FX3700M graphics chip and 8GB RAM.
With a concentration on multiple cores, rather than GHz, our review machine’s strength lies in its ability to cut through multi-threaded calculations with ease. This was attested by the incredibly fast time put in under our 3ds Max Design rendering benchmark, though the CPU should be equally adept at handling analysis calculations. The M6400 is unique in that it features four DIMM slots so it is able to get up to 8GB RAM without breaking the bank. If, for some reason, that’s not enough, then the M6400 can even support 16GB with 4GB DIMMs, but expect to pay a premium.
The machine also makes light work of manipulating large 3D models and this is down to the powerful 1GB graphics chip, which is one of the reasons for the giant power supply as it literally eats electricity. As a result, battery life is limited when running 3D apps. The desktop class features continue with the storage options as the M6400 offers full RAID support, and can accommodate two hard drives without having to sacrifice the slot load DVD burner.
The 17-inch 1,920 x 1,200 screen is one of a new generation of RGB LED backlit displays and is crisp and clear with vibrant colours and a wide viewing angle. An external monitor can be connected through DisplayPort, and with the optional docking station you can even run an additional monitor. In terms of layout the machine looks surprisingly familiar, and with a full-sized keyboard and glowing control buttons, it’s hard not to draw comparisons with HP’s Elitebook 8730w. However, the keyboard does not have the same solid feel as the HP and flexes in use, which was disappointing.
The M6400 has all the features you’d expect to find in a desktop workstation and delivers exceptional performance in both CPU- and graphics-intensive tasks. However, due to the size and weight, portability is not exactly its strong point.
Specifications: Intel Core 2 Quad QX9300 (2.53GHz) processor, 8GB (4 x 2GB) memory, 250GB 7,200RPM hard drive, Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M graphics (1GB), Windows Vista Business 64-bit with XP 64 Professional downgrade, 17-inch LED display (1,920 x 1,200), weight from 3.88kg, size 35 x 393 x 286mm, three year basic warranty (NBD)
Benchmarks:
Graphics (bigger is better): 3ds Max Design 2009 – 156; Inventor 2009 – 2.7
CPU (smaller is better): 3ds Max Design – 1,155 secs
Dell Precision M2400 €2,186 (€1,428 with 2 x 2GB)
Unrivalled portability for a workstation-class laptop makes it a true ‘mobile’ CAD platform for Inventor
Dell’s Precision M2400 bucks a trend in mobile workstations where they’ve become so big they’re impractical to use as an everyday laptop. While most mobile workstations come in two sizes - ‘big’ and ‘bigger’ - by keeping three models in its range Dell is able to offer a machine with a 14.1-inch widescreen display as well as the standard 15-inch and 17-inch.
Just because the M2400 is compact and lightweight, it doesn’t mean it’s low on power, not in terms of processing anyway. While the Core 2 Duo T9800 (2.93GHz) doesn’t offer the multi-core performance of the Core 2 Extreme Quad Core QX9300 (2.53GHz) processor featured inside Dell’s M6400, it is a much better (and faster) choice for straight CAD work. In terms of memory, our review machine was kitted out generously with 8GB, but 4GB would be much better matched to a machine of this type. This would also bring the price down considerably as 4GB DIMMS are still expensive and 2GB DIMMS can be used instead.
The limitations of such a compact machine are apparent when it comes to graphics. The Quadro FX 370 is a good choice for Inventor but performance in more demanding 3D applications, such as 3ds Max, can be disappointing.
Some will also see the screen as a hindrance, not so much due to its size, but its resolution, which at 1,280 x 800 is not ideally suited to detailed CAD work. However, an optional LED lit 1,440 x 900 display is also available and with DisplayPort and VGA ports fitted as standard, external displays are also fully supported.
The upside of having a smaller screen and lower powered graphics is that battery life is considerably better than the M6400. It is this, plus its compact chassis that put the M2400 in a class of its own for a workstation-certified laptop. You probably wouldn’t want to use this as an everyday machine, but for those that need a certified platform for CAD that easily pops into your bag during those business trips, the M2400 is well worth a look.
Specifications: Intel Core 2 Duo T9800 (2.93GHz) processor, 8GB (2 x 4GB) memory, 250GB 7,200RPM hard drive, Nvidia Quadro FX370 graphics (256MB), Windows Vista Business 64-bit with XP 64 Professional downgrade, 14.1-inch TFT display (1,280 x 800), weight from 2.16kg, size 26 x 335 x 244mm, three year basic warranty (NBD)
Benchmarks:
Graphics (bigger is better): 3ds Max Design 2009 – 97; Inventor 2009 – 3.2
CPU (smaller is better): 3ds Max Design – 2.005 secs
