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Due to its color-accurate show, glossy design, and stable photograph modifying efficiency, the Dell XPS 17 is without doubt one of the hottest “creator” laptops for Home windows customers in the marketplace.
Dell’s XPS laptops have turn out to be a best choice for creators over the previous a number of years. Ever for the reason that XPS 15 and XPS 17 moved to the brand new, sleeker design with a gorgeous “infinity edge” show, they’ve turn out to be favourite Mac alternate options for PC customers who care extra about display screen high quality and portability than gaming efficiency.
The XPS 17 particularly – with its extra highly effective graphics choices, ultra-large 16:10 show, and the (non-obligatory) energy of a top-performing eleventh Gen Intel Core i9-11980HK CPU – is an attention-grabbing choice if you happen to’re on the lookout for a laptop computer that may do double obligation as a desktop substitute.
So for the previous month, I’ve finished simply that: once I’ve not been testing the brand new Apple M1 Max MacBook Professional, I’ve used the Dell XPS 17 9710 as my each day driver. And whereas it may’t fairly match the specs of probably the most highly effective PC laptops in the marketplace, it affords a mix of efficiency and portability that is uncommon for a 17-inch machine.
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Design, construct and value | Display screen high quality | Efficiency benchmarks | Conclusion
Key specs:
To Dell’s credit score, they didn’t ship me the most costly variant of the XPS 17 for testing. For apparent causes, most manufacturers select to ship the spec that is going to generate the most effective benchmarks, however Dell selected a variant that makes a bit extra sense for the photographers and video editors within the room who aren’t belief fund children.
There XPS 17 affords a mix of energy and portability that is uncommon for a 17-inch laptop computer.
You’ll be able to spend as much as $5,200 on this laptop computer if you happen to max out each single choice, however our variant with its Core i7-11800H, an RTX 3060, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage is available in at a way more cheap $2,800. Beneath are the total specs of our machine, in comparison with a extra highly effective variant that skilled creators could want, and the maxed-out-to-the-max model:
As Examined
Extra Highly effective
Maxed Out
CPU
Intel Core i7-11800H
Intel Core i9-11900H
Intel Core i9-11980HK
GPU
NVIDIA RTX 3060
6GB VRAM
NVIDIA RTX 3060
6GB VRAM
NVIDIA RTX 3060
6GB VRAM
RAM
32GB RAM
64GB RAM
64GB RAM
Storage
1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
8TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Show
17-inch 4K UHD+
100% AdobeRGB
17-inch 4K UHD+
100% AdobeRGB
17-inch 4K UHD+
100% AdobeRGB
Worth
$2,800
$3,400
$5,200
If I had to decide on, I might in all probability improve to the “Extra Highly effective” mannequin above, primarily for the 64GB of RAM. It is an choice that we do not see fairly often within the PC house since most $3,000+ laptops high out at 32GB of RAM out-of-the-box, choosing a extra highly effective GPU as an alternative. (Aspect Notice: the laptops I am referring to can assist as much as 64GB of RAM, however we’re speaking about configurations accessible from the producer).
When you’re feeling adventurous, you possibly can choose up the Core i9-11900H variant with solely 16GB of RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD for $2,500, after which improve each the RAM and storage your self. Two DIMM slots and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots are simply accessible by merely unscrewing eight T5 Torx screws that maintain the bottom cowl in place.
Notice, nonetheless, that the 512GB variant appears to return with a barely completely different warmth spreader on the M.2 slots, as a result of the bottom mannequin makes use of a smaller M.2 2230 drive (see Web page 21 of the service guide) as an alternative of the usual 80mm lengthy 2280 sticks you could be used to. I spoke to Dell about this they usually’re assured that you may nonetheless improve to a full-sized M.2 drive no drawback – it is the identical motherboard, only a barely completely different warmth spreader with an indentation within the center – however if you wish to be protected, get the 1TB mannequin for $150 extra and you will get the total sized warmth spreaders as seen beneath:
Two RAM slots and two M.2 slots are simply accessible by eradicating the bottom cowl of the laptop computer. My hand is masking the opposite M.2 slot, which is positioned above the second fan.
No matter the way you configure or improve the Dell XPS 17, you may get a fairly highly effective machine that may put up spectacular benchmarks in photograph and video modifying functions. However the factor I’ve appreciated most concerning the XPS 17 is not the efficiency and even the upgradability, it is the design, the construct high quality, and particularly the show.
Let’s dive into the entire above.
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Design, construct and value
Within the advertising supplies, Dell actually leans into the concept that the XPS 17 delivers “colossal energy.” But when I have been on their PR workforce I would encourage Dell to spend extra time touting the design and fewer time on efficiency. The efficiency, which we’ll get into shortly, is sweet. Perhaps even nice. However the design is what makes the XPS 17 stand out from different 17-inch laptops in the marketplace.
It begins with the construct high quality. In contrast to all-metal laptops just like the Razer Blade 17, MSI Creator 17, or Apple’s MacBook Professional 16, Dell paired an aluminum chassis and display screen enclosure with a soft-touch carbon fiber on the keyboard deck. That is in all probability slightly extra susceptible to breakage, and it is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, however feels downright luxurious and is way extra comfy than the competitors. It is also lighter, contributing to the laptop computer’s portability.
The factor I’ve appreciated most concerning the XPS 17 is not the efficiency and even the upgradability, it is the design, the construct high quality, and particularly the show.
This plastic surrounds the most effective keyboards I’ve used, proper up there with the low-profile keys on the most recent Macs and Razer gadgets, and the biggest trackpad I’ve seen on a non-Apple laptop computer. Talking of the trackpad, I did not expertise any of the notorious “trackpad wobble” that apparently plagued the earlier model of the XPS 17 (mannequin 9700), though it did glitch out on me just a few occasions when my fingers have been significantly dry.
I understand that is an odd description, but when there was little or no moisture within the air and my palms turned very dry, it appeared just like the trackpad could not register sufficient conductance to correctly monitor my finger motion. Perhaps this can be a Home windows difficulty, or possibly it is the coating Dell selected for the glass trackpad, however because it solely occurred two or thrice in as many months I wrote it off as a non-issue. In any other case, having a lot trackpad actual property was a bonus for me since I am continually switching between Mac and Home windows.
The XPS 17 has a superb keyboard and an enormous glass-topped trackpad, each set inside a soft-touch carbon fiber keyboard deck.
Shifting on to ports, the Dell XPS 17 comes outfitted with 4 full-featured Thunderbolt 4 ports with Energy Supply and DisplayPort – once more, one thing I do not suppose I’ve ever seen outdoors of an Apple machine – a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an SD card slot.
Any of the 4 TB4 ports can cost the machine, though the comparatively small 130W energy brick that comes within the field struggled to maintain the battery totally charged throughout heavy workloads. Just a few hours of heavy benchmarks would usually go away me with 85% – 90% battery regardless of the pc being plugged in your entire time. I requested Dell about this they usually confirmed that that is anticipated conduct: at full bore the power-hungry CPU and GPU by themselves pull 115W, leaving solely 15W for … every little thing else. Most gaming laptops include 180W and even 230W AC adapters and devoted barrel ports for this precise cause, however Dell needed to maintain the laptop computer as skinny, gentle, and moveable as potential, so that they opted for USB Energy Supply as an alternative.
It should not have an effect on efficiency, and the I do not suppose that it slowed something down for me, but it surely’s one thing to notice if you happen to have been contemplating the XPS 17 for day-long rendering classes and 3D CAD design. This is not the laptop computer for you.
Notably lacking from the port choice are any USB Sort-A ports or different show inputs, which suggests no HDMI port. Dell does ship slightly USB-C dongle that will get you one USB-A 3.0 port and an HDMI 2.0 port, but it surely’s small and dinky and it is already disappeared into the bowels of my desk drawer… I believe.
On the left aspect of the laptop computer you may discover a lock port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports that can be utilized for information switch, energy supply, and DisplayPort.
On the suitable aspect you may discover two extra full-featured Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack.
In the end, I can not fault the Dell’s design aesthetic. Particularly the thinness, which was made potential not less than partially by leaving larger and bulkier ports like HDMI out of the equation.
Notably lacking from the port choice are any USB Sort-A ports or different show inputs, which suggests no HDMI port.
That is positively the thinnest and sleekest laptop computer in the marketplace that may nonetheless sport Intel’s flagship eleventh Gen H-series CPU, and its sharp edges, clean-cut exterior, and practically bezel-free show are an engineering marvel. At 17 inches on the diagonal, it is nonetheless a big laptop computer, however Dell has finished every little thing in its energy to make it as moveable as potential with out compromising on upgradability by soldering the RAM or storage to the motherboard. Because of this, the corporate’s engineers have nearly nailed the stability between desktop substitute and moveable powerhouse.
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Display screen high quality
The XPS 17 might be configured with a 4K UHD+ 16:10 show that is large, brilliant, and color-accurate.
The Dell XPS 17 might be configured with considered one of two shows. You’ll be able to both equip it with a Full HD 1920 x 1200 display screen with a max brightness of 500 nits and a assured minimal 100% sRGB protection, or you’ll be able to improve to the 4K UHD+ 3840 x 2400 show with the identical max brightness, 100% AdobeRGB minimal, and 94% DCI-P3 “typical” protection.
In our testing, the show greater than lived as much as its advertising, hitting 100% AdobeRGB and overshooting the marketed DCI-P3 spec to the tune of 95.9% protection. All of this at a most Delta E 2000 of simply 0.75.
The show’s native white level is a tiny bit farther from the daylight locus than I would like – Delta E of two.1 – however that is typical in my expertise with Dell shows on the whole, they have a tendency to skew barely inexperienced. The measured vs show profile white level is properly inside spec at a Delta E of 0.05, so you recognize the colours are correctly calibrated in reference to the show’s precise white level.
In our testing, the Dell XPS 17’s show covers 100% of AdobeRGB and 95.9% of DCI-P3 at a Delta E of 0.75.
For a lot of laptops, particularly 13- and 14-inch fashions, you may get away with a Full HD show with out noticing a distinction at common working distance. However on a laptop computer of this measurement, it’s positively value the additional $200 to improve to the 4K show, particularly given the additional shade gamut and glorious shade accuracy we measured in our overview unit.
The show greater than lived as much as its advertising, hitting 100% AdobeRGB and 95.9% DCI-P3 protection at a most Delta E of simply 0.75.
With so many shows favoring the DCI-P3 shade gamut with a purpose to woo the video crowd, it is good to see Dell prioritizing AdobeRGB whereas nonetheless managing practically 96% protection of the popular cinema shade house. This can be a bigger native panel gamut than Apple’s MacBook Professionals, and it solely barely falls in need of the most recent 4K OLED shows that may cowl 100% of each AdobeRGB and DCI-P3.
It is nonetheless a laptop computer, so you’ll be able to’t do a correct {hardware} calibration or modify your RGB features to dial in that white level as you’ll on a good-quality photo- or video-editing show, however with this sort of efficiency out of the field, I’ve no drawback recommending the XPS 17 for color-critical work.
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Efficiency benchmarks
We examined the XPS 17’s efficiency in Photoshop, Lightroom Basic, Premiere Professional, and Seize One to see the way it fared in opposition to a few comparable PCs with comparable specs.
When you’ve been following high-end PC laptop computer evaluations for any size of time, the efficiency of the Dell XPS 17 should not come as a shock. When you recall, our overview unit sports activities an eleventh Gen Intel Core-i7-11800H CPU, and NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU (70W), and 32GB of DDR4-3200 MHz RAM organized in a dual-channel configuration. Cooling is dealt with by twin followers that pull in chilly air from the underside of the machine, push it by means of a vapor chamber that encloses the CPU and GPU, and exhaust it out the again.
For our comparisons at this time, we’re pitting the Dell in opposition to the Intel-powered MSI Creator 17 and the AMD-powered ASUS Zephyrus G14 to get you a way of the efficiency you’ll be able to anticipate from laptops which might be each above and beneath this worth level. Full specs of our check machines beneath:
Dell XPS 17
MSI Creator 17
ASUS Zephyrus G14
CPU
Intel Core i7-11800H
Intel Core i9-11900H
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
GPU
NVIDIA RTX 3060
6GB VRAM
NVIDIA RTX 3080
16GB VRAM
NVIDIA RTX 3060
6GB VRAM
RAM
32GB DDR4-3200MHz
32GB DDR4-3200MHz
32GB DDR4-3200MHz
Storage
1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD
2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD
1TB PCIe 3.0 M.2 NVMe SSD
Show
17-inch 4K UHD+ LCD
HDR 400
100% AdobeRGB
17-inch 4K UHD miniLED
HDR 1000
100% AdobeRGB
14-inch 2K QHD LCD
SDR
100% DCI-P3
Worth
$2,800
$3,800
$2,000
Given the specs above, we anticipated the Dell to carry out barely worse than the MSI Creator 17 and barely higher than the ASUS Zephyrus G14. That is just about what we noticed throughout the board.
Adobe Lightroom Basic
Our Lightroom Basic benchmarks are run utilizing 100 copies of the studio scene check picture from 4 completely different cameras: the 20MP Canon EOS R6, the 47MP Nikon Z7 II, the 61MP Sony a7R IV, and the 100MP Fujifilm GFX 100. First, we time how lengthy it takes Lightroom to import and generate 1:1 previews for every batch of 100 Uncooked recordsdata; then we apply a customized preset that features heavy international edits and export those self same recordsdata as full-resolution JPEGs at 100% high quality.
Lightroom does not actually reap the benefits of GPU acceleration for import or export, so this check provides us a very good gauge of uncooked CPU and RAM efficiency, respectively.
Import efficiency was surprisingly robust, coming inside just a few seconds of the dearer MSI Creator 17. Since this can be a CPU-bound job that does not actually need to lean on some other {hardware}, it is a good indication that the dearer Intel Core i9-11900H contained in the MSI is probably not value the additional money over the Core i7-11800H within the Dell. It is one check the place the ASUS G14’s extra environment friendly AMD Ryzen processor is a legal responsibility, since it may’t attain the identical single-core clock speeds because the Intel chips inside the opposite two computer systems.
Canon EOS R6 Import
Nikon Z7 II Import
Sony a7R IV Import
Fujifilm GFX 100 Import
Dell XPS 17
1:26
2:25
2:39
5:51
ASUS Zephyrus G14
1:38
2:59
3:30
7:35
MSI Creator 17
1:23
2:24
2:37
5:44
Exports performed out equally, with the Dell displaying robust efficiency throughout the board. All three of those machines sport 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz dual-channel RAM so the distinction in efficiency right here might be right down to the precise RAM getting used or some mixture of CPU optimization and cooling.
The large GFX 100 recordsdata are all the time a little bit of a wild card on this check, and that is one check the place the Dell constantly scored decrease than anticipated throughout export. If this have been half of a bigger sample, I would blame that energy supply difficulty talked about above, however I believe this will have extra to do with warmth administration in such a skinny chassis.
Regardless of the case, the Dell made a really robust displaying in Lightroom, clocking in a lot nearer to the MSI Creator 17 than the ASUS G14 within the majority of our assessments.
Canon EOS R6 Export
Nikon Z7 II Export
Sony a7R IV Export
Fuji GFX 100 Export
Dell XPS 17
3:42
8:03
10:19
25:45
ASUS Zephyrus G14
3:58
8:55
11:41
23:40
MSI Creator 17
3:34
7:55
10:08
22:50
Seize One Professional
We run the identical precise import and exports assessments in Seize One Professional, with just one exception: since Seize One does not have a 1:1 choice, previews are generated on the default decision of 2560px. In contrast to Lightroom, Seize One Professional does reap the benefits of GPU acceleration for each import and export, so the outcomes might be very completely different from Lightroom relying on the type of discrete or iGPU getting used.
Sadly, the tables flip in opposition to the Dell on this specific benchmark. We’re not speaking about large variations right here – solely 10-30 seconds on the most – however the Dell falls behind the extra highly effective MSI and the AMD-powered ASUS as soon as we get right into a {hardware} accelerated app like Seize One.
The Canon import is actually inside the margin of error on these three computer systems, however as soon as we get to larger recordsdata, the MSI’s beefier RTX 3080 GPU can actually flex its muscle and velocity issues up and the AMD-powered ASUS G14 is ready to preserve a stable 10 – 20 second lead
Canon EOS R6 Import
Nikon Z7 II Import
Sony a7R IV Import
Fuji GFX 100 Import
Dell XPS 17
00:43
1:08
1:29
2:03
ASUS Zephyrus G14
00:40
00:59
1:12
1:50
MSI Creator 17
00:41
00:52
00:59
1:26
This identical sample performs out on export, the place the hole between the Dell and the MSI will get bigger as file sizes get larger. The ASUS, in the meantime, very practically matches the MSI regardless of its a lot smaller measurement and extra environment friendly processor.
Canon EOS R6 Export
Nikon Z7 II Export
Sony a7R IV Export
Fuji GFX 100 Export
Dell XPS 17
1:40
3:33
4:14
6:54
ASUS Zephyrus G14
1:35
3:12
3:50
6:53
MSI Creator 17
1:30
3:08
3:48
6:10
Adobe Photoshop
To check Photoshop efficiency, we use Puget Programs’ Puget Bench benchmark. Nevertheless, not like most different evaluations you may see on-line, we use an older model (v0.8) as a result of it was the final model of this benchmark to incorporate the PhotoMerge check. Being a pictures website, testing how rapidly a system can merge giant multi-Uncooked-file panoramas looks as if a related information level.
The benchmark runs by means of a full suite of assessments thrice in a row for each run, and we run the benchmark a minimal of three consecutive occasions to compute the common scores beneath. Every class rating is assigned based mostly on how rapidly the pc can full sure duties, and the General rating is computed based mostly on the outcomes of every particular person class.
There isn’t a most rating (that we all know of) however larger is healthier, and something over 900 is great for a laptop computer. In reality, solely a few PCs have ever damaged 1000 General on this check in our benchmarks thus far:
General
Normal
GPU
Filter
PhotoMerge
Dell XPS 17
959.9
104.7
102.4
80.0
110.4
ASUS Zephyrus G14
973.6
99.0
97.3
86.9
115.0
MSI Creator 17
1019.6
111.4
113.8
84.5
117.9
No complaints right here. Efficiency in Photoshop is about on par with the ASUS, buying and selling blows throughout the class scores and dropping the General rating by lower than 15 factors.
Adobe Premiere Professional
Lastly, our Premiere Professional benchmark is predicated on rendering and exporting a 4K undertaking based mostly on 8K Sony a1 supply footage. That is the video in query, and we have been utilizing it to check Premiere Professional since we did our Premiere vs Ultimate Minimize comparability again in June.
Once more, efficiency right here is great, practically matching the dearer and rather more highly effective MSI Creator 17 throughout the board. Regardless of its weaker CPU and GPU, and a a lot thinner and lighter body that have to be more durable to chill, the Dell XPS 17 by no means fell greater than 22 seconds behind the Creator 17.
The ASUS, in the meantime, merely cannot sustain. We intend to check this assumption additional, however on this specific case, Premiere appears to favor an Intel/NVIDIA combo over the AMD/NVIDIA combo contained in the ASUS G14. {Hardware}-wise, that is the most important distinction between the Dell and the ASUS, which each sport the identical NVIDIA GPU and the identical quantity of RAM.
Render All
Export Grasp File
Export H.264
Export HEVC/H.265
Warp Stabilize
Dell XPS 17
4:01
00:08
3:56
3:52
2:48
ASUS Zephyrus G14
6:40
00:15
6:06
5:59
2:33
MSI Creator 17
3:45
00:06
3:35
3:30
2:32
Efficiency takeaways
It is actually very spectacular that Dell is ready to get this sort of efficiency out of a chassis that is this skinny and lightweight. The laptops I have been evaluating it in opposition to are considerably thicker and use beefier AC adapters that have to be plugged into devoted barrel plugs if you wish to get the total increase efficiency out of your {hardware}.
It is actually very spectacular that Dell is ready to get this sort of efficiency out of a chassis that is this skinny and lightweight.
That is to not say there aren’t penalties to Dell’s dogged pursuit of thinness. You may be hard-pressed to search out one other 17-inch laptop computer that maxes out at a 70W NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU regardless of having the ability to home Intel’s flagship CPU and as much as 64GB of RAM. I additionally marvel how properly this chassis can cool that flagship Intel chip: the Core i9-11980HK. Likelihood is good that it will not carry out on a par with the identical chip in a better-cooled choice just like the Alienware X17 or Lenovo Legion 7i, however I can solely speculate since I have never been in a position to check that specific configuration.
In the end, the efficiency of the Dell XPS 17 is sweet, if not fairly mind-blowing. It is precisely the place you’d anticipate it to be given the {hardware} inside, and the most important praise we will pay Dell is to say that it has managed to ship all of that efficiency regardless of placing such a powerful emphasis on protecting the laptop computer moveable.
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Buying and selling efficiency for portability
The Dell XPS 17 is stable performer with a improbable show. It is an incredible choice for inventive work, simply so long as you do not thoughts carrying round such a big laptop computer.
What We Like
What We Do not Like
Nice design and construct high quality
Colour-accurate 4K 16:10 show
Strong modifying efficiency
Surprisingly skinny, gentle, and moveable
(Comparatively) small footprint
Person upgradable RAM and Storage
No USB-A or HDMI ports
Energy brick is just too small to maintain it charged throughout heavy workloads
Trackpad might be inconsistent
Cannot substitute the WiFi card
Max GPU choice is an RTX 3060
The Dell XPS 17 is a good laptop computer with loads of efficiency on board, stable construct high quality, and a design language that has made the XPS collection probably the most widespread choices in the marketplace. It delivers efficiency that may nearly match the opposite 17-inch laptops in the marketplace and that’s frankly astonishing given how a lot thicker and heavier most of these computer systems are.
It will in all probability come as a shock, then, once I say that the most important factor working in opposition to the XPS 17 is its measurement.
Any 17-inch laptop computer, even probably the most compact and well-designed, has to aggressively justify its existence by offering considerably extra… one thing… than the various glorious 15-inch laptops in the marketplace. That “one thing” is normally efficiency and connectivity. Due to the bigger chassis, most 17-inch laptops pack probably the most highly effective CPUs and GPUs accessible, a ton of additional ports, higher cooling options, and a few RGB lighting as well. The MSI Creator 17, for instance, comes with an RTX 3080, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a pair of.5 Gigabit ethernet along with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and an SD card slot.
Mockingly, the most important factor working in opposition to the surprisingly moveable Dell XPS 17 is its measurement.
Given the truth that you’ll be able to configure the smaller XPS 15 with comparable specs to the XPS 17, I discover myself questioning if Dell has finished sufficient to persuade individuals to purchase the larger laptop computer.
My private take is that the Dell XPS 17 is sensible if and provided that you’ll reap the benefits of the larger display screen – if you happen to intend to make use of it as each desktop substitute and on-location workhorse. It walks that specific line higher than some other laptop computer I’ve examined, particularly for creators who don’t desire or want high-refresh price shows or RGB lighting or any of the opposite stuff you may discover on lots of the different laptops on this class.
However if you happen to primarily work from an exterior monitor at house otherwise you depend on a desktop laptop for the heavy-duty stuff, then take a detailed have a look at the XPS 15 and ask your self if the slight variations in accessible {hardware} and efficiency are value shopping for the bigger laptop computer.
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