New Computer: Dell Precision 5530
It was about time. My old Xi was probably 8 years old. It was starting to not boot up because of low fan speed. And fans are easy to replace, but then the video card threw a rod, and it was all over. Fortunately I had an even older Boxx still sitting around the office with enough of a video card to get basic graphics. So that helped me limp home while I got the new computer ordered.
Having been out of the hardware world mostly for the last several years, I was kind of overwhelmed with all of the choices. Processors, mysteriously, haven’t changed all that much, but port connections to a laptop and laptop displays have.
I searched the SW forums, of course, and I had the selection trimmed down to the Lenovo 52p, HP Z, and a Dell. The Dell didn’t offer ECC memory, and at first I couldn’t find a touch screen for it, and a few small annoyances, like no num pad, and the lack of a “real” docking station. But then I remembered that 20 some years ago, I used to always get stuff from the Dell Refurbished site. And sure enough, there was a computer with everything I wanted (minus a fingerprint reader, num pad, second solid state drive, and ECC memory) for an extremely reasonable price. I think it was a ~$3500 retail machine for ~$2200). Xeon 2176 with 32 gb RAM, nVidia P200 card, 1 Tb ssd, and the best screen they had. Plus, it’s almost as small as one of those coffee shop computers.
The second drive has been a staple for people ordering CAD computers for a long time. Small primary drive for the OS, and a second drive for programs and data. BUT, because I went for the fancy screen and fancy video card, I had to get a bigger battery, and that took up the space for the second hard drive. Bummer. I didn’t want to get the 7xxx series, because that was just too big to carry around. I’ve had 17″ laptops before (when they were about 15 pounds), and have bad shoulders to prove it. Not something you want to carry around to customers or CAD conferences, much less coffee shops.
I ordered a docking station, which was back ordered, so connecting to stuff has been tricky. My main monitor is from 2006, so I don’t have any way to connect to that (yay for next day Prime!). And there’s no where to plug in a network cable (?!?!?)
And of course Microsoft OneDrive is a sleazy hard sell (installs itself and then uploads gigs of new software I installed and then complains that it’s out of space and I have to pay for an upgrade – grrr.)
The reviews for this machine were all very positive, but I think that’s mainly because they could tell it was a technical machine, but didn’t really know what to make of it. It’s clearly not a consumer machine, and the only application they could come up with was “developer”. It isn’t really a machine for Photoshop because the pen options – well, it doesn’t come with a pen. There is a 2-in-1 version of the 5530, but that doesn’t come with the jacked up video card, and some other things were lacking.
Anyway, great computer, I would have added a few ports or connections to it, like maybe a network port, some extra USBs, and maybe something for the retro-grouches out here like a DVI or display port even. I have the proper adapters on order, so I’ll be back on the big screen in a few hours.
The reviewers really like the keyboard, but as someone who actually types, I’ll take my USB Logitech. I guess I keep tapping the touch pad with my thumbs, and wind up typing where I don’t mean to.
Also, the reviewers keep referring to a thermal throttling of the CPU with previous versions of this machine which has been improved but not completely fixed. I can see that the fan turns on high when SolidWorks is running. It might be a good idea to run this with some sort of cooling pad for it, which I will do as soon as I can.
The next thing to work out is the interface resolution size. I thought this would have been something that was automatically adjusted by now. I’m over 50, so my eyesight which has been really excellent for a long time, but now subjected to too many devices, is now deteriorating. The icons in SW (and other software) by default come up about this big => o. They do have tools to adjust, but you’ve got to bounce between several locations in SW and Windows to get everything just right. I was hoping this would be something that could be standardized.
Anyway, no hiccups with the hardware. Build quality is excellent, materials are great.
Not enough USB ports is a problem for me. I solved it by getting a USB hub from Walmart for less than $10. It converts one USB port to four. They can be daisy chained to get as many as I need.
Hey Matt-
For the past 10 years or so, every computer I’ve purchased gets the hard drive formatted, Step 1. Then I either recycle an approved version of Windows or purchase new license. These days new Windows 10? $60.00. Then I have control what is put on the hard drive and the location folder(s). I leave off all the fluff and games, desktop backgrounds, and “optimize” Windows for “performance”. Next I add the un-used CPU Threads to the CPU array.
Cheers,
Devon Sowell
I’v always had great luck on the Dell refurbished site. In fact, there were items on this computer that I don’t think were available on the customization site. You get the same service on them. I think they’ve been gone over more because they’ve been returned by someone.
As far as Boxx, I just think the computers are severely over-spec’d and way over priced. I got a lot of stuff with my Boxx that I had no idea what it was or what it did, and I certainly never used it. I imagine I paid for all of that. It was a good product, with good service, but I didn’t really have any use for what I paid for.
“I’m over 50, so my eyesight which has been really excellent for a long time, but now subjected to too many devices, is now deteriorating.”
It’s normal for your eyes’ lenses to harden at around your age. It’s called presbyopia and is not caused by using your eyes.
Anyway, interesting about your new “companion”.
I take it you’ve had good experiences buying Dell refurbished?
I’m in the same boat with all the available choices and being out of touch with hardware. What made you decide against buying another Boxx where they’ve already got them spec’d to run SW well?