Dell Precision M6500 gets upgraded with USB 3.0, Core i5 options

Back in the beginning of December, when Dell outed its business-oriented, 17-inch Precision M6500 laptop, it boasted some pretty meaty specs: Core i7 CPU, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, a choice of ATI FirePro M7740 or NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M graphics chips, plus support for up to three storage devices, and a 1920x1200 LED-backlit display. Well, it's added some new configuration options today, including USB 3.0 and a Core i5 processor, making this one bad boy all around. There's no word on the pricing yet, but the previously available Core i7 configuration runs around $2,700. We'll let you know when we find out what these new options will cost you.

[werty1432k Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:28PM]

USB 3.0 :)

[Leindurstit Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:34PM]

Can't wait to see what the refreshed 17" W-series ThinkPad brings to the table. This segment would be great if it had a bit more competition in the pricing.

[Ebonwumon Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:36PM]

This thing is a beast.

[BuryTheCastle Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:40PM]

@Ebonwumon

It's a BOSS.

[bolezhinkov Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:58PM]

@Ebonwumon

theres something so arrogant about having a bright orange business laptop . . . I want.

[gerrrg Posted Feb 6th 2010 3:52AM]

@BuryTheCastle

It's pretty.....expensive.

[Jamesg Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:37PM]

That a nice new look for Dell. However, the vga is really an eye sore for me, though its convenient at times, I still prefer integrated hdmi or minidisplayport

[yejun Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:50PM]

@Jamesg It has displayport.

[Blair Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:33PM]

@Jamesg Agree on the VGA front. I recently got one of the DisplayLink USB to VGA adapters, no need for VGA port on the device. Save the space and the eyesore.

[sgard Posted Feb 5th 2010 3:27PM]

@Jamesg New look for Dell, old look for Lenovo ideapad y700 series.

[Ducman69 Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:38PM]

That is one seriously bad ass machine, here's hoping that some crazy coupons and/or bing cashback stuff shows up on slickdeals for me soon!

[Giac Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:41PM]

Why don't they offer a mobile 5000 series ati card??

[Nitesh Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:53PM]

@Giac Its a portable workstation, hence the workstation cards.

[Alex Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:43PM]

Yowza.

[JeremyDallasTX Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:45PM]

SWEET!!! BUT, this is a Mobile Workstation and not your everyday laptop. I wouldn't be looking for too many discount codes in the near future and you're certainly not going to see it at Best Buy.

[Dezoris Posted Feb 5th 2010 1:52PM]

There are still a ton of people waiting to take delivery of the machine, because they are so back logged. Now the people who have the machine on order get screwed out of two key features like this?

Who makes a major change to their systems in less than a month from launch, I hope Dell has some plans to make it right with the people who already bought this machine.

[JeremyDallasTX Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:00PM]

@Dezoris

Uh, you don't pay until it ships (same with HP). Cancel an order and re-order if you want the new features. It always kills me when people say stuff like this, because you know you would bitch if they delayed the initial launch to include these features. New stuff is going to be coming out all the time, just order when it fits your needs!

[Ducman69 Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:10PM]

@Dezoris They won't be able to change your order (simple task, but they seem to be mentally challenged), but they can cancel it and even up to a month after receiving it there is no restocking fee if you just call and tell em you want a different machine.

The only downside would be waiting if they are really backlogged.

[John H Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:19PM]

Laura, there's another press release about the M6500 that mentions it will also support RAID 5, which is the only laptop I know if that's able to do so. That claim is corroborated on Dell's product page for the Precision M6500 in the highlights section, though the configurator does not (yet) allow that configuration. Link to announcement coverage: http://hothardware.com/News/Dell-Announces-Latitude-13-And-Updated-Dell-Precision-M6500/

[supadupa Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:21PM]

Maybe I'm out of it, but I thought Intel wasn't rocking USB 3.0 support till 2011, what with their "light peak" plans and all. Could someone explain?

[Jacob1 Posted Feb 5th 2010 3:50PM]

@supadupa Intel won't put USB 3.0 in their chipsets, but that won't stop computer makers from using a separate USB 3.0 chip right on the motherboard in the meantime. Though you will only see USB 3.0 in high end laptops and motherboards pretty much until Intel puts it in chipsets.

[supadupa Posted Feb 5th 2010 3:57PM]

@Jacob1 Thanks Jacob! Do you know if the performance will be affected?

[Jacob1 Posted Feb 5th 2010 4:15PM]

@supadupa The performance should be standard USB 3.0 speeds. I think it connects to the chipset using standard PCI Express, which is more than fast enough, but the USB 3.0 chips can only handle two ports, so don't get your hopes up for 4 USB 3.0 ports in a laptop.

[jinushaun Posted Feb 5th 2010 2:57PM]

Dell, thanks for dropping the damn circular logo on the top cover. I always hated that thing.

On a related note, this thing is a beast--visually and in terms of tech specs. Looks like it weighs 10 lbs.

[MacKat Posted Feb 5th 2010 6:17PM]

Haha, my dad has the i7 version, in the bright orange. He loves it, and yes, it's very arrogant-looking, next to his MacBook Pro.

[The REAL Lol Posted Feb 5th 2010 6:31PM]

i7, 16gb ddr3, good graphics for $2700? I really should have waited to get a new laptop.