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M4800 and Optimus?
A few of my colleagues are now beginning to receive their M4800s now. Mine is coming in a few days, but after using their systems, I have found that even after updating everything, there is no graphics switching. Their configurations are all essentially the same, either a 4800MQ or 4900MQ with the K2100m and QHD+ screen. I don't see any hardware limitations (like the M4700 with IPS) that could disable Optimus.
I have asked order support and tech support but no one knows the answer to this question (does K2100m and QHD+ screen support Optimus?). If any of you have a configuration with these parts, and can tell me whether your system has Optimus or not, that would be great. Also if a Dell rep could confirm that the system either currently supports Optimus, will support it with a future BIOS update, or will not support it, that would be great.
changt34x
4 Posts
0
December 4th, 2013 17:00
Thanks for all the great information. I hope our returns and order cancellations make Dell think again for their M4900, if that will ever exist.
One thing I just want to point out is the T540p is not a competitor to the M4800. The T440p/T540p compare to the E6440/E6540; the W540 compares to the M4800. Don't even get me started on how much better the Tx40p are better than the E6x40 series.
For those worried about the single fan on the W540/T540p, I would suggest looking at older reviews for similar models like the W530. It is very capable of cooling the entire system without throttling. It just may be louder than the M4800's dual fan, but there is TPFanControl to solve that.
When I returned my system the agent asked me what I was going to do, and I said wait for the W540. He took note of it. I hope this makes them listen up.
slalomstyle
3 Posts
0
December 4th, 2013 19:00
We had out M4800 now for over a month, and after an initial hick-up with one of our applications working after as simple as turning of this Aero Theme we have only had good results. Very stable good machine. Some apps are still having problems with the QHD+ but that's not Dells problem. OK, if you are dependent on your battery - point taken, but else I cannot see this (aka no Optimus support) as being a show stopper as it gives us enough battery time for the business we need to do and else we are on power anyhow, ... and isn't the max pixels of the W540 just 2880x1620 ?
Michael Neuffer
16 Posts
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December 9th, 2013 02:00
How does the M4800 heat up?
Is it possible to have the laptop on your lap (while beeing on a train for example) for extended periods of time? (>2h) or will it burn limbs and/or overheat due to blocked vents?
alexhawker
10 Posts
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December 9th, 2013 16:00
Take a look at this review - http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Precision-M4800-Notebook.104416.0.html - there's a lot of good info. there, and some good photos, too.
alexhawker
10 Posts
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December 9th, 2013 16:00
The vents are on the rear rather than the base, so using the machine in your lap shouldn't block too much airflow.
I haven't had the chance yet to do any CPU intensive computing sessions with it on my lap, but I haven't found that it gets uncomfortably hot under normal use.
Michael Neuffer
16 Posts
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December 9th, 2013 16:00
Cool ;-)
This is a problem with my trusty old Latitude D830.
If you have it on your lap, chances are almost 100% that you will block ventilation with your left leg.
truthrevealer
2 Posts
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February 14th, 2014 13:00
reasons for not having optimus in M4800 http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/04/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=627037
good machine but now I have it and think its not as good as adverts say (good built otherwise sharp corners but if it worked id be happy)
Hers another problem with QHD 3200x1800 screen on Dell M4800 http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/742205-dell-precision-m4800-screen-stays-black-after-closing-opening-lid-windows7-x64.html
Frankenstein screen?
RLTeck
8 Posts
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November 12th, 2014 17:00
It was a conscious design decision. The M4x00 line is Enterprise oriented. They come with BIOS firmware options to direct all graphics output through the NVIDIA card -> effectively bypassing the discreee graphics processor and Optimus option behavior altogether. Enterprises with sizable engineering departments require this because many of them run several pieces of rendering software that don't react well to graphics switching behavior and need all output to go through the advanced graphics card at all times in order for them to behave robustly.
These key clients don't give a fig about the battery life benefits of Optimus and Haswell, they want their 3D apps to perform .. robustly. They'll take the weight drop Haswell provides, and accept any battery life savings it delivers too ... but only as long as their apps continue to work well.
alexhawker
10 Posts
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November 12th, 2014 18:00
I call . This is the weakest argument I've ever heard.
If that were the case, why enable it on the 1920x1080 screen? I appreciate the desire for an option to disable it, but that's not universally available. More of a case of I can't be bothered to properly redesign the motherboard to accommodate this high-resolution screen.
Engineers value battery life as much as the next person - why not get a Precision desktop otherwise?