Dell Precision M4600 Overview

Dell Precision M4600 laptop is a 5.6 inch mobile workstation designed to deliver a desktop replacement experience that travels wherever you need to go.The Precision M4600 is the entry level Dell mobile workstation, but there's nothing entry level about the specs and features. The bigger version, with more advanced graphics options is the Dell Precision M6600.

Specifications of Dell Precision M4600:

• Processor : Intel Core i7 2920XM 2.5 GHz
• Mainboard : Intel QM67
• Memory : 8192 MB, 2x 4 GB PC3-12800, 2 slots free, max. 32 GB
• Graphics adapter : NVIDIA Quadro 2000M - 2048 MB, Core: 550 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, Optimus/ Intel HD Graphics 3000, nvlddmkm8.17.12.6883(Forceware268.83)/Win7 64
• Display : 15.6 inch 16:9, 1920x1080 pixel, LGD02D9, MC6JN_156WF1, 94% sRGB, 141 dpi, glossy: no
• Harddisk : LiteONIT LAT256M2s, 256GB
• Soundcard : HD Audio
• Connections : 1 Express Card 54mm, 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Firewire, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 eSata, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Headphones, microphone, Card Reader: SD, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader
• Networking : Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000MBit), Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN (agn), Version unbek. Bluetooth, Dell 5550 HSPA+
• Optical drive : Matshita BD-RE UJ242
• Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 37 x 376 x 256
• Weight : 3.16 kg Power Supply: 0.85 kg
• Battery : 97 Wh Lithium-Ion, 11.1V
• Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
• Additional features : Webcam: 2.1 MP, Cyberlink Power DVD, Roxio Creator Starter, 36 Months Warranty, Bios A05

After a very long wait, I finally received my new company laptop this past week, which is a very fast Dell Precision M4600. This particular unit has the 2.3GHz Core i7-2820QM quad-core processor, with 8MB of L3 cache. It uses Turbo Boost 2.0 to increase the clock speed to 3.4GHz. There is one slightly faster processor available, which is the 2.5GHz Core i7-2920XM Extreme quad-core with 8MB of L3 cache. The Extreme i7-2920XM processor is roughly 5-10% faster than the i7-2820QM, yet it costs slightly over twice as much, and it requires more power, so I don’t think it makes sense for a laptop.

Moving on to battery of M4600, we could use the laptop for a variety of tasks for about 3 hours on a single charge, which wasn’t that great when comparing this device to others. But what we liked about the 97Wh Dell Precision M4600 battery was the fact that it didn’t make this product heavier than it already was.

Well, if you need to know what is my story is. I’m happy to tell you about it. First I order my new laptop from dell this may 18, 2011 and order went through just fine. Dell representation called me to confirm my order is legitimate, everything went through just fine. Microsoft came along and offers a back to school program for any students who purchase a new computer with windows 7 with a valid .edu email or a student id. I have both, so apply the campaign on Dell University and received a promotional code from dell. I called dell to receive my offer with my new dell laptop that is in process of doing something that some pre-production (meaning not start yet). A representative said surely, but I need to cancel my previous order and put in a new order with the new Xbox 360 bundle together. Surely, if you the way to do, go ahead to do it, everything when fine.

The M4600 is a thick, heavy laptop. Chances are if you're shopping for a mobile workstation, you already know this is pretty much a given for the category. The starting weight is 6.2 pounds plus about a pound for the large power brick; add-ins and extras can drive that up to more than a 9-pound travel weight. Made from an aluminum and magnesium alloy, Dell Precision M4600 AC adapter inconspicuous design should be suitable for just about any environment. It's basically just a big rectangle with rounded corners. The chassis is MIL-STD-810G-tested for extreme temperatures, humidity, vibration, dust, altitude, and shock, and it certainly feels sturdy. Well, except for the left side of the screen bezel on our review sample, which was pulling away slightly from the cover.

Dell’s Precision M4600 is a stout contender, with its mil-spec resistance to the elements and aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis. Of course you have the latest Intel Sandy Bridge platform, with Core i5 processors coming standard. A standout spec that you won’t find in consumer notebooks is the inclusion of four DIMM slots, compared to the two one usually gets. This allows for a maximum of 32GB of DDR3 RAM, if you were to spring for the pricey 8GB modules that are now available.

Battery life is fortunately very well when using a moderate during the execution of tasks with a low load, with very high capacity Dell FV993 battery. In Battery Eater Reader's test (minimum brightness of the screen, the battery life up to Dell, all wireless modules disabled), we achieved a maximum range of 646 minutes.

The Precision M4600 15.6 inch notebook and Precision M6600 17.3 inch notebook also equipped with two USB 3.0 port, one combination USB 2.0 and eSATA, two USB 2.0 port, DisplayPort, VGA, and HDMI port to connect with external monitor. Dell Precision M4600 and Dell Precision M6600 Workstations Laptop is expected will be release on May 10, but yet not exposed its pricing information.

Performance with the Dell Precision M4600 was very impressive, but still not the top of the line (but not too far off). It well-outdid what we'd call the category average for Dell Precision M4600 charger, mostly thanks to the speedier CPU option as well as the discrete, non-integrated graphics. You'll find no problems with multitasking and doing CPU-intensive tasks with this computer, which makes it a definite contender for users who want impressive performance and customizability, but also have the money to pay for it.

The maximum temperature of 49.7 °C on the base plate of the case of the Dell Precision M4600 battery after one hour of full load may be a little warm, but this won't cause concern on a desk. Depending on the requirements it is possible to use preconfigured power plans from Dell, which provide for an especially cool case (clock speed reduction to maximum 1.8 GHz) or Ultra Performance (maximum cooling level). As already previously mentioned in the section on performance, there was no thermal throttling at any point detected by us. When carrying out tasks with little load the temperatures with a maximum of 33.8 °C are significantly lower, and even allow for using the notebook on the laptop.

You can choose up to 32GB of DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz, or alternatively 16GB of DDR3 at 1600MHz SDRAM. Operating system choices are Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, 64-bit. Since graphics performance will also be important to professionals, Dell offers both NVIDIA Quadro and AMD FirePro graphics cards. Each system will also come with a 3-year limited hardware warranty from Dell and are ISV-certified.

This Dell Precision M4600 comes with several options for the screen, including the premium PremierColor screen. This $450 option has an impressive color display. This IPS screen with LED backlight has 100 percent Adobe RGB color gamut. It should be more than enough for work on the road. While the Dell Precision M4600 is bulky, it is also powerful. It is protected by Dell’s three years warranty. It should give you peace of mind compared to regular non-workstation Dell FV993 battery. You can buy this laptop now, starting from $1,100 for minimal system, and fully configured system will cost you $4,400.