Dell Precision Laptop Price Guide

Price research started on Feb 1st, ended around Feb 12th 🙂
Just in time for Valentine’s day.

Finally, I’ve made a price guide for the Dell Precision! I pulled info off of wikipedia and a wikiwand thingie.

Yes, I do prefer ThinkPads, but Latitudes are next and then probably a Macbook or Elitebook after that. However when it comes to the workstations, Dell Precisions can be a better purchase overall than a ThinkPad W5xx or even P Series. I bought a 7730 to replace the Thinkpad T460p (and the Zbook 15 G3 that wasn’t all that). The machine is seriously fast, though doesn’t feel as epic as my W700ds or T60p of the past (shit fucking keyboard feel & layout).

Uh yeah lets get into it.

All systemd

Timeline of Dell Precision

Graphics Card Options

Socketed Processors (mostly)

Soldered Processors

Memory Types & Costs

Comparing Precision to ThinkPad

Honestly, if you don’t care about this, then skip it. However as great ThinkPads are, Precisions can be great prices with similar performance. Fuck at this point I should make a comparison to Elitebook/Zbook too… damnit, thats for another day.

• For the most part
  • Mxx = old systems
  • M6xxx = 17″
  • M4xxx = 15″
  • 77xx = 17″ top of the line
  • 57xx = 17″ high end (XPS based)
  • 75xx = 15″ top of the line
  • 55xx = 15″ mid tier, missing top 2/3 CPU options, but GPU ranges are smaller
  • 35xx = 15″ entry tier
    • 3540 & later = Low voltage CPUs, lesser machines
    • 3541 & later = full power, like 5530 & before (fucking IDK why dell did it this way)

15″, 15.4″ *& 15.6″ Precisions A tier

• Dell Precisions have nVidia Quadro Graphics instead of ThinkPad’s ATI during this era.
• M40 = Latitude C840, like A22p, but 32MB dRAM vs 16MB, & other things
• M50 = Latitude C810, like A31p, but 2 dGPU options, same dRAM, 2nd ODD is in front (fucking why)
  • Dell UltraSharp IPS screen, but WUXGA 🙂
• M20 = Latitude D610, like T30 but overpowered dGPU, not comparable.
• M60 = Latitude D800, like R50p/T42p, but in 16:10 form
• M70 = Latitude D810, like T43p but in 16:10 (also idk if you can SATA mod the main drive)
• M65 = Latitude D820, like T60p, in 16:10 form only (yeah idk why they went back)
  • IMO latitudes here on look better
• M4300 = Latitude D830, T61p, but with worse GPU (both were nVidia types)
• M4400 = E6500, Like W500, except better, can do Core 2 Quad and Extreme! but DDR2! lmafo
• M4500 = E6510, like W510, except had an optional OC’d FX 880M, but didn’t have 4 RAM slots
• M4600 – like W520, but w/ an AMD GPU option & an FHD IPS RGBLED screen option
• M4700 – like W530, but w/ an AMD gpu option
• M4800 – like W540, but w/ an AMD gpu option, but QHD+ vs 3K option
• 7510 – like P50, similar dGPUs, & screen options
• 7520 – like P51, similar cucked dGPUs (seriously 4GB only?)
• 7530 – like P52
• 7540 – like P53, similar dGPUs (like P73, & 8840), except no OLED screen options
• 7550, 7560 – like P17 G1 & G2 respectfully

17″ & 17.3″ Precision A/B Tier

• M90 = XPS M1710, None, 17″ behemoth
• M6300 = XPS M1710; incomparable, before the W700, like w/ T61p internals (but w/ XE CPUs)
• M6400 – like W700, w/ ATI dGPU option, RGB LED screen option & Covet edition (orange color)
• M6500 – like W701, w/ ATI dGPU option, idk other stuff (limited info)
• M6600, M6700, M6800 – None because no ThinkPad 17″ 🙁
• 7710 – like P70, but w/ an AMD GPU option, similar screens
• 7720 – like P71, but w/ 2 AMD GPU options
• 7730 – like P72, but w/ an AMD GPU option, & 1 more m.2 slot
• 7740 – like P73, but yeah AMD, & 1 more m.2 slot
• 7750 – like P17 G1, similar GPUs, base screen brighter, but 4K screen worse contrast ratio
• 7760 – like P17 G2, similar GPUs, slightly better screens (because Lenovo cucked G2’s 4K)
• 5750 = XPS 9700, no comparison
• 5760 = XPS 9710, no comparison

• M2800 = E6540, like T540p, but dGPU standard & more $$$
• M3800 = XPS 9530, no ThinkPad comparison (maybe to W550s, but that’s 1 year newer
• I got lazy with the rest, will update later

Old Systems – Pentium III-M To Core 2 Quad

yeah they are not sorted well… fuck it honestly

• Biased picks
  • M4400 – Way fucking cooler than a W500 despite DDR2
  • M70 – because of the lid says Precision, totally not a Latitude
  • M20 – actually a PowerBook 12 is cooler & so much more sexier than an X61

I find it crazy how some of these sold, but they are cheaper than IBM ThinkPads of this era. Fuck trying to get an A30p or A31p under $100, so grab a M40 or M50 instead. I think these WUXGA displays from M60 to M4400 are IPS, however the few UltraSharps I’ve gotten which aren’t, have nice fucking colors on them. I dont think any of these have LED backlights, so over time they’ll die away.

Guide Things

• M6500 – Laptop model (ofc), link goes directly to sold listings & may have some search modifiers
  • because of modifiers, it will omit listings, I am aiming for the exact system, not $$$EO crap
• #Sold – How many units sold in the past 3 months (of February)
  • The following prices are based upon 200 listings or less. This is the method I used & for price accuracy. If there was more sold listings, I adjust accordingly.
• Low – Low average price, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the page, I don’t include obv broken or gutted ‘tops
  • CTRL F “no “, so I can highlight “No HDD, No OS, No Power, etc” to skip & take notes on
  • a lot of “as is” or no returns used laptops here, mostly from eWaste sellers
  • some of these systems may need a drive and/or an AC adapter
  • However BIN deals are in here too, those with alerts will catch high end configs for cheap
• Mid – 1/2 to 3/5 of the page, most systems here should be working condition or with no OS
  • You’ll find “as is” machines here, but usually are well spec’d, drive wiped, & good condition
    • Sellers don’t want to hassle with returns, test battery health or even install OS & drivers
    • It’s detrimental to some sellers to sell it a higher price fully tested, bc it takes more time
• High – 3/4 to 4/5 of the page, should be fully working machines
  • Systems up to 3 years/generations old can still be bought brand new
  • Yeah you can find some as is machines, either high demand, or its top’d spec’d
  • auction frenzies happen
  • refurbs, top rated sellers and warranties are here, which add to the higher price
• EX+ – 9/10 to top 5th of the price range
  • idk why they are so expensive, some come with meh options
  • YOU WILL SEE i5 SYSTEMS HERE WHEN YOU CAN GET AN i9 AT LOW PRICES
• Avail – Currently available units, I don’t have a price guide here, but in the Notes area I will say something about it
• BIN – Buy it now
• w/ or w/o – with, or without (idk if y’all know that but just in case)
• BNIB – Brand New In Box – ofc it should be unopened when you obtain it

Socketed i5/i7 Workstations, Mostly

17″ Classic Desktop Replacement

The M6800 can be had with an 8GB video card! It wasn’t until the 7550 when it came into 15″ form factor. The problem some stated with that machine, is the palmrest is a straight edge, not rounded, which can be uncomfortable for some. Almost all of these Precisions’ exterior (lid/bottom), are basically a rounded rectangle except the left/right sides. I like that design, & I do like the keyboard on the M6400, but since I haven’t used these, I can’t speak about these machines…. I think all of these have MXM gpus and can be upgraded from Alienware machines, please research though, because heatsink fittings & bios mods might be needed.

15″ Classic Workstation

I’m salty on these because I have 2 of these I bought for parts and couldn’t just flip them. Parts are not interchangeable, despite them all looking the same, they have different chassis (as opposed to W520 & W530 interchangeability), same with the keyboard, & fucking damnit i gotta get rid of them. That said, these are fairly decent w/o breaking the bank.

15″ Entry Workstation

As stated M3800 is an XPS, and M2800 is a E6540, both are in two different leagues, the former is thinner, sleeker machine, but the latter is more robust. Though I’ve never had a M2800, I’ve been quite fond of Dell’s E6420 & E6520, despite them not having mSATA like comparable T420, T430, these machines feel more durable than ThinkPads were, & had a much easier access to internal components. The T540p was a drastic change from the T530, but with Dell, the E6540 was basically like the E6530, but now with mSATA support and I believe IPS display options too. With the M2800 being basically a quadro version of the E6540, I would argue it would be a better workstation than the W540p, EVEN if it only has 2 RAM slots, just purely by it’s build.

17″ Modern Desktop Replacement

57xx is based off the XPS 17, dat 16:10 screen, glad there are more laptops like this. I own a 7730 and its awesome :), however 7710 and 7720 look to be the ones to get due to sheer volume.

15″ Workstation

There are PLENTY of 7510’s, holy shiiet, then next are 7520’s. Buy in the dip! 7550 might be decent if those avail units start getting price cuts or best offers accepted.

Tier B 15″ XPS Based

Couldnt find jack shit for the 5530 2-in-1 fucking, god fUCKshit FUCKing just call it a tablet, jesus fuck, 2-in-1 because ur a fucking dumbshit can’t comprehend the fuck is a fucking tablet laptop, “huurrr so it has no keyboard” fucking boomer cuck dumbshit fucks. Nab the 5540 i guess, idk, idc

Tier C 15″ Latitude Based

Dell, why didn’t you JUST FUCKING MAKE THE UNITS WITH THE 1 IN THE END, THE LOW VOLTAGE CPUS. jesus fuck, go from 3530, then to 3541, not the 3540. Fuckng fuck them. best bet is the 3541 or 3540, otherwise get something better.