The Dell Precision 7730 is a high-performance laptop tailored to meet the needs of professionals. It’s equipped with an Intel i9 processor, top-notch graphics, ample memory and storage, enabling it to tackle demanding tasks such as 3D rendering and video editing with ease. However, the question remains, is it a worthwhile investment in the current market?
Design and Build Quality
The Precision 7730 presents a stylish and polished appearance, thanks to its robust aluminum build. The laptop exudes a sense of durability and robustness. Though some people might find the design too bulky, especially when you compare it to Macbook computers.
Performance
The Precision 7730 is equipped with an 8th-generation Intel Core i9 processor (available in various configurations, from i5 to i9) and can support up to 128GB of RAM, making it highly capable of handling heavy workloads and multitasking effortlessly.
The laptop also features a dedicated NVIDIA Quadro graphics card, allowing for smooth and efficient rendering, design work and VR applications.
Here’s a list of configurable graphic cards.
- Intel HD
- Radeon Pro WX 4150 w/4GB GDDR5
- Nvidia Quadro P3200 w/6GB GDDR5
- Radeon Pro WX 7100 w/8GB GDDR5
- Nvidia Quadro P4200 w/8GB GDDR5
- Nvidia Quadro P5200 w/16GB GDDR5
Display
The Precision 7730’s 17.3-inch display boasts a 4K resolution that offers outstanding color accuracy and brightness. Additionally, the viewing angles are wide, making the display easily readable from various positions. However, it should be noted that the display does not feature touch input.
It’s worth mentioning that the Precision 7730 can also be configured with a 1080p display (1920×1080). Though not as impressive as the 4K display, it does have the advantage of consuming less power.
Battery Life
The Precision 7730’s battery life is below average, lasting anywhere from 2-5 hours on a single charge.
The fans are loud when running demanding apps, and it often gets hot. Fortunately, the laptop can be used with a dock on a desk setup.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Precision 7730’s keyboard has a comfortable and responsive feel, with a backlit design that makes it easy to type in low-light conditions. The touchpad is large and responsive, with a smooth and accurate tracking experience.
Connectivity
The Precision 7730 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, and Ethernet ports, as well as wireless options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Security and other features
The Precision 7730 has a built-in fingerprint scanner and an HD webcam, which makes it easy to log in and stay connected with colleagues and clients.
Price and Value
Precision 7730 is on the higher end of the price spectrum for laptops. Its powerful performance and sturdy construction make it a worthwhile investment for professionals requiring a robust workstation.
At this price range, there is a lot of competition, especially considering other options such as Apple’s energy-efficient laptops. However, it is possible to find a used Dell Precision 7730 at a competitive price.
Is the Precision 7730 good for gaming?
A spec’d out Precision 7730 can handle most modern titles, but don’t expect the same level of performance as a gaming laptop.
Specifications of the Dell Precision 7730
Processors
- Intel® Xeon E-2186M, 6 Core Xeon, 12M Cache, 2.90GHz up to 4.80GHz Turbo, 45W, vPro
- Intel® Core™ Processor i9-8950HK, 6 Core, 12MB Cache, 2.90GHz up to 4.80GHz Turbo, 45W
- Intel® Xeon E-2176M, 6 Core Xeon, 12M Cache, 2.70GHz up to 4.40GHz Turbo, 45W, vPro
- Intel® Core™ Processor i7-8850H, 6 Core, 9M Cache, 2.60GHz up to 4.3GHz Turbo, 45W, vPro
- Intel® Core™ Processor i7-8750H, 6 Core, 9M Cache, 2.20GHz up to 4.1GHz Turbo, 45W
- Intel® Core™ Processor i5-8400H, 4 Core, 8M Cache, 2.50GHz up to 4.2GHz Turbo, 45W, vPro
- Intel® Core™ Processor i5-8300H, 4 Core, 8M Cache, 2.30GHz up to 4.0GHz Turbo, 45W
Memory
- 4 DIMM slots: Up to 64GB 2666MHz DDR4 NECC
- Up to 128GB 2666MHz DDR4 NECC
- Up to 32GB 3200MHz SuperSpeed DDR4 NECC
- Up to 64GB 2666MHz DDR4 ECC
Display options
- 17.3” HD+ 1600×900 Anti-Glare, non-touch, 42% color gamut.
- 17.3” UltraSharp FHD IPS 1920×1080 Anti-Glare, non-touch, 72% color gamut.
- 17.3” UltraSharp UHD IGZO 3840×2160 Anti-Glare, non-touch, 100% Adobe color gamut.
Storage
- Support for 4 storage devices: Four M.2 PCIe solid state drives or three M.2 PCIe solid state drives and one 2.5” SATA SSD/HDD drive:
Ports and connectors
- 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports w/PowerShare
- 2 x Thunderbolt 3 type C ports
- SD Card reader
- mini Display Port 1.4
- HDMI port 2.0
- Ethernet Port
- Headphone jack
- FPR (optional)
- IR camera (optional)
- Smartcard reader
- Contactless Smartcard reader (optional)
Battery
- 4-cell 64Wh Lithium Ion battery
- 6-cell 97Wh Lithium Ion battery
- 240 Watt AC adapter
Wireless
- Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 9260 802.11ac MU-MIMO 2×2 + Bluetooth 5.0 vPro
- Qualcomm QCA61x4A 802.11ac Dual Band 2×2 Wireless Adapter + Bluetooth 5.0
- Qualcomm QCA6174A Extended Range 802.11ac MU-MIMO Dual Band 2×2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.0
- Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X7 LTE-A DW5811e – CAT 6 LTE (Optional)
- Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X7 LTE-A DW5816e – CAT 6 LTE (Optional)
For a full list of specs, head over to this page.
The negatives of the Dell Precision 7730
Potential negatives of the Dell Precision 7730 include:
- High cost: The Dell Precision 7730 is a high-end workstation laptop, so it may be more expensive than other laptops on the market regardless of its age.
- Heavy and bulky: The Dell Precision 7730 is a large and heavy laptop, making it less portable than smaller laptops.
- Poor battery life: The Dell 7730 has horrible battery life.
- Loud cooling fans: Some users have reported that the cooling fans on the Dell Precision 7730 can be quite loud, which may be disruptive.
- Limited upgradability: The Dell Precision 7730 has limited upgradability options.
It’s worth noting that the above-mentioned points may vary based on a user’s usage and personal experience.
Known issues of the Precision 7730
- Display quality: Some users have reported issues with color accuracy and viewing angles.
- BSOD issues: Some users have been plagued with BSOD errors. Some of these problems start after upgrading the RAM and storage.
- Touchpad issues: A few users have reported issues with the touchpad on the Dell Precision 7730, such as cursor jumpiness or unresponsiveness.
- Heat: Users have reported heat issues when running demanding tasks or playing games, which may make it uncomfortable to use on the lap.
- Discrete GPU may fail: While this is rare, if the discrete graphics fails, you won’t be able to connect to a display through HDMI.
- Sleep and wake-up issues: A Reddit user reported the wake feature not working while on the performance dock. But this was probably fixed with a Windows update.
It’s important to note that these issues may not be encountered by all users and may also vary depending on the specific configuration of the laptop.
Is the Precision 7730 worth buying today?
The Dell Precision 7730 is a powerful workstation laptop designed to meet the needs of professionals. Some of the key features that make it a good laptop include:
- Processor: The laptop can be configured with Intel Xeon processors, which are designed for high-performance computing and provide multi-core processing power. This makes the laptop well-suited for running demanding applications, such as CAD software or video editing software.
- RAM: The laptop can be configured with up to 128GB of RAM, which allows for smooth multitasking and the ability to handle large data sets.
- Graphics: The Precision 7730 can be configured with dedicated graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD, which provide powerful graphics performance for tasks such as 3D rendering and video editing.
- Display: The laptop has a high-resolution display, which allows for clear and detailed visuals, making it well-suited for tasks such as architectural design or video editing.
- Durability: The laptop has a durable build quality, which makes it well-suited for use in a professional environment, and can withstand the wear and tear of regular use.
- Customization: The laptop offers a variety of customization options, allowing users to configure it to meet their specific needs.
If you can look past the outdated hardware, heating issues, and poor battery life, the Precision 7730 may still be a suitable option for certain individuals. Moreover, it can be obtained at a budget-friendly cost.
Before making a purchase, consider looking at a newer model such as Apple’s M2 Macbook Pro.
Overall, the Dell Precision 7730 is a reliable and efficient choice for professionals who require a mobile workstation with the power and capabilities to handle demanding tasks. However, it's held back by aging hardware, poor battery life and thermal issues. Despite this, if you can find it at a discounted price, it may still be a worthwhile investment.
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