Dell teases with 17-inch quad-core laptop sporting 16GB of memory
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Sep 22nd 2008 1:16AM
posted Sep 22nd 2008 1:16AM
This is going to be huge. Unfortunately, we're talking size not marketplace impact when Dell's 17-inch Precision "mobile workstation" rolls out this fall. This portable desktop replacement promises up to 1TB of storage configured in a dual-drive RAID configuration, quad-core processor, and 16GB of Update: Heh, this is the same Dell leaked last month carrying the M6400 moniker.
[Thanks, Gaurav S.]
16GB of video memory can't be correct...
It isn't. The video says 1GB of VRAM, 16GB of System RAM.
16gb ram, 1gb video ram (quadro fx?)
Yeaaaah, Ricker... 16GB of graphics memory? We sure about this?
Uh, that's 1GB of graphics memory, 16GB of system memory, if the video is correct.
16 GB of graphics? Is that a typo or was I living under a rock and nVidia or someone released such cards? o_O
You must have been under a rock. ATI realeased these cards a LONG time ago.
/end sarcasim
Jesus. And here I was about to slap 8GB of RAM into my system, thinking that'd be enough, but nooo... Dell's gotta up the bar and throw it to 16GB. My motherboard doesn't even support that much.
Right... because you really need more than 4gb, let alone 8 or 16.
Ha! I only had 1GB for the longest time. Just upped to 2GB. I'm poor. College sucks. I need a job. Or two. And a cat. That is all.
Pagefiling... begone!
who?: I could use more than 4GB. In 3D-modeling applications, I'll take as much RAM as they'll throw at me - I'm always running out. Apparently there's others like me - or else there wouldn't be enough market for dell to bother.
Anyways, 4GB is so 2003.
Hehe.....I just got a new dual core computer for $450. 3ghz, 4gb of ram, and 512mb video memory. it rocks!
@Dizznizzle
Did I say I couldn't use more? Did I say I had 4GB? Are you sure you were replying to me? Did you even read my post?
No 4x. So go away.
Either way, this still sounds very cool. (16GB system RAM and 1GB VRAM)
its nice, prolly expensive, and yeah, i'll keep working on my desktop thankyouverymuch. dell always makes things very huge. not my aesthetic.
The Latitude X1? The Mini 9? The Studio Hybrid? Even their Inspiron 15 is slim now.
The Studio Hybrid is the smallest (with the best guts) desktop that I know of. If I had the money, I would buy one with all the specs maxed out. :)
And...16GB of RAM? Thats insane! Unless you are a graphic designer or are an extreme gamer, you wouldnt need that much. When I get my next computer, it will probably have 4GB....
As for the 1GB of video graphics? I would take that in an instant...just for kicks. :P
you mean 16GB of "SHARED" graphics memory =D
Howly mother of god!!!!!!!!!!! I will work my ass off for this laptop!!!!
THANK YOU DELL!!!!!!1
YOU ARE THE BEST!
Its God and not god.
It's not correct. Check out the video, it says 1GB of video, 16GB of RAM. MUCH more believable.
that music is sooooo 15 years ago
Well, I expect this to be reasonable price at the 800-1200 range.
Also, it'll let me sprout wings out my ass and fly away.
I am no Dell fan but that actually doesn't look that bad.
It is just a rebrand of the Clevo D901C with the Nvidia Quadro FX3700.
isnt every computer just a rebrand of a previous computer anyways
it is NOT a clevo re-brand, where did you get that idea from anyways?
Nope.
For once an uber not-on-the-lap-top thats not a cleveo rebrand. Wow
Wow, that thing'd scorch your balls.
That must be the version for people with short attention spans...
Actually, this web page and the movie have been out for over a month. I've been asking my Dell rep what "soon" means, but I have yet to get a response. I think they may have hit a snag because it's getting old...
Maybe they're trying to improve battery time to 10 minutes without having to use an external battery :-)
*in Irish accent*
"I heard its about seven foot tall and can shoot fireball out its arse!"
William Wallace was Scottish and so was the guy that said that in the movie.
your wrong, Wallace was Scottish, the dude who said it was Irish, dick
Hmm maybe, two opinions probably outweigh one. Thought it was the dorky-looking highlander but maybe not.
Scottish and Irish are the same thing to anyone not living there.
@ Team Louish: Sure, it's not as though the Scottish or the Irish ever immigrated anywhere else is it?
William Wallace was Scottish and the line in the movie was his. Spoken by an American called Mad Max.
Like Dell, he was also uncompromising. But then the English did murder his secret wife and pillage his land.
I wonder if similar motives were behind this laptop.
The Actor was Mel Gibson, and I think he's generally considered Australian.
And thus concludes this week's episode of "Geography and Cultural Misunderstandings With Engadget and Friends."
Silly piece.
It may be the first of its' kind, and marketed well (what with the whole "You Need" bit they've got going), but COME ON!
It's just bragging about the next gen of laptop motherboards.
Oh wait, there's a jog dial for video editing, I'm sold :P
damn. well done Dell; maybe ill pitch my latitude and move on up
That lappy is beyond beast. I think it could actually say 'yes' to Flashpoint's normal question.
So with those specs we can expect what, 10 minutes of battery life?
Is 1 Gig of video memory really that big of a deal now? My year/year and a half old Alienware mALX has that in the form of 2 PCIX graphics cards in SLI, each with 512 MB. Anyway, Quad-core and 16 GB of RAM is sweet.
Oh man, 16GB to hibernate? heh, wonder how long that will take ;)
16 GB of RAM in a laptop? WOW!
and here i thought 2 GB was enough....
it's going to have a pro level graphics card though .. bleh. sux for 3dmax users.
This is a major regurgitation of old news. Engadget, you already posted this back in mid-August ... remember? .... Dell rolls out new mobile workstations, M4400, M6400, specs, etc ... and that same video was even there 'after the jump'.
So other than reminding us that there's this bad mofo notebook coming on some mysterious date this fall, what's new?
I'll be ordering a few of these the second they come on the market, but why is this such big news and deserving of a post?
This video has been on Dell's site since August 12th. You guys even posted more specs and prices about it then too.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/dell-lets-slip-new-sexy-precision-m4400-and-m2400-mobile-workst/
Why can't people get the aspect ratio of their video right??
And I have to ask... but which OS are they going to use that can actually take advantage of the 16gb of RAM??? Surely not Windows XP / Vista.
Windows XP 32 is limited to 4GB RAM
Windows Vista 32 is limited to 3GB RAM
WIndows Vista 64 Home is limited to 8GB RAM
Windows Vista 64 Home Premium is limited to 16GB RAM
Windows Vista 64 Business (and above) is limited to 128GB RAM
Given that this is a Precision model, sold through Dell Business, Vista 64 Business is likely to be the primary factory installed OS.
Considering that many applications used by the target market have already started releasing 64-bit versions (if they haven't already been doing so for some time), this move makes sense.
i don't think dell is compromising
So,,, how many 24v aircraft batteries will this need?
in pure scientific terms, a shit load
As much as I dislike dell i think i'll go ahead and starting working on the IT request here at work. I've got a 17" HP "engineering laptop" whatever that means. and its HUGE, so much I just leave it on my desk unless I HAVE to take it somewhere. Its got the same processor as my 13" macbook 512 graphic memory 4 system and running a large assembly in Autodesk is about a 5 min operation just to bring it up. Almost everyone else on my team has the same gripes (mine moreso with inventor) and talking about going to 64bit. So this would be a good option, though I would need to reinforce my desk probably. And fireproof it.
I don't know why someone can't come out with a 15" with slightly less diesel specs so you actually can have a mobile workstation. That's the real niche no one is filling. I'd rather have something I can work off site with, not something I need a site to work from.
Wonder how many seconds of battery life? Are they going to put a couple roller wheels and one of those extendable luggage handles on it? I want one anyway. Many moble users are mostly in a hotel room anyway, and like the big screen and desktop performance. If you can afford this, you can buy a netbook for the coffee shops.
I'm a documentary animator currently spec-ing out my next work system (eagerly awaiting tomorrow's CS4 announcement before I buy). I'm looking to go portable, and, while I've never been a Dell fan, this is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for: powerful enough for solid in-office use, able to move if necessary (say for final graphic touchups at a post house, or even just the ability to work from home on occasion). Battery life certainly isn't an issue -- there's pretty much zero chance of me ever using it not plugged in. The jog-shuttle wheel is a huge bonus, and 16 gb of ram really isn't that ridiculous when you're rendering in HD.
READ !!!!!! 16GB OF SYSTEM MEMORY, 1 GIG OF VIDEO RAM, 1TB OF STORAGE, CONNECT TWO 30" LCD'S. CAPISH.
What is the point of 16GB RAM when DELL refuses to support 64bit systems? try to call their customer support and tell them you are running 64bit windows, and have a problem - they will hang up on you so fast you will have a ringing in your ears for years.
They have no problem selling laptops with 4GB RAM today, but will not support you if you actually try to use it all.
How do they plan on using that 16gb or ram? As 32-bit Applications like XP and Vista are limited to 4gb.
Will this laptop be based on a 64-bit system... or Linux to pull off that much ram?
I'm a newby 3D modeller and always run out of mem. Tell me will a laptop handle 3D apps like Blender etc smooth enough without freezing, how about these new quad core machines?