Dell Precision 5520 Review (2017)

Dell’s Precision notebooks are mobile workstations, which has meant that performance used to take precedence over aesthetics – but these days that’s not the case.

This machine serves up high-quality components inside a system hewn from slick metal and carbon fibre, and it’s slim and light.

We’ve reviewed the entry-level Precision 5520, but don’t think this machine is weak – it’s still got one of Intel’s latest processors and Nvidia graphics.

SPEC SHEET

Here is the Dell Precision 5520 configuration sent to Techradar for review:

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro M1200
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Screen: 15.6-inches, 1,920 x 1,080 non-touch IPS
Storage: 256GB Toshiba XG3 SSD
Optical drive: No
Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, Combo audio jack, HDMI, SD card reader  
Connectivity: Intel Dual-Band Wireless – AC 7260, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.1
Camera: 720p Webcam
Weight: 3.9 pounds (1.78kg)
Size: 0.86 x 14.1 x 9.2inches, 22 x 357 x 235mm (H x W x D)

Pricing and Availability

The model we’ve reviewed is the UK’s entry-level notebook. Its Core i5-7300HQ has four 2.5GHz cores Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz, but there’s no Hyper-Threading – so Core i7 machines will be better for multi-tasking.

The memory is mixed. There’s 8GB installed, but it’s only single-channel, and it doesn’t have ECC certification.

The CPU is joined by an Nvidia Quadro M1200, which has 640 stream processors, a 1,093MHz core and 4GB of memory – and, importantly, it’s ISV-certified.

Elsewhere, there’s a 256GB SSD, the machine is protected by a three-year warranty, and it’s got TPM 2.0.

It’s a fine specification, but rivals offer more. The HP ZBook Studio G3 has a Xeon processor, 32GB of memory, a 4K screen and a larger SSD, and the MSI WS63 has a better Quadro GPU, a Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. Both are beefier, although they cost around £400 more than the Dell.

Our Precision costs £2,101, and every component can be customised. Several Core i7 chips are available and there are Xeons, with the E3-1505M adding £270 to the price.

Doubling the memory costs £130, and there are a dozen storage options. Upgrading to a 4K screen adds £253, and the battery can be doubled for £37.

Dell’s US approach is different. The firm sells four basic Precision models, with less fine-tuning.

The most affordable machine costs $1,399 and has a Core i5-7440HQ, integrated graphics, a basic hard disk and a 1080p screen. The $1,649 version upgrades to a Core i7-7820HQ and the Quadro M1200, and the $2,279 machine adds more memory, a 256GB SSD and a three-year warranty.

The priciest US version costs $2,979 and it’s got a Xeon processor, 32GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and the Quadro. Despite that, it retains the 1080p screen.

To get 4K you’ll have to spend $299. A few tweaks are available to storage and battery capacity, but that’s it for customisation.

Design

The gunmetal lid extends to the panel’s bevelled edges, and the interior is lined in carbon fibre. the 2-tone layout seems remarkable, and build exceptional is right: the wrist-relaxation and the base slightly flex, and the slender display famous sudden strength.

Dell has constructed this sturdy gadget with out making it cumbersome. its 1.78kg weight undercuts each competitors, despite the fact that its 22mm frame makes it a tad thicker. it’s infrequently a dealbreaker, although – this gadget can nevertheless be easily carried.

It’s additionally worth noting the precision’s width of 350mm, which makes it multiple centimetres narrower than opponents – achieved by using cramming the 15.6in screen internal a 14in chassis.

The precision 5520 has usb three ports and a thunderbolt connection along a battery indicator and card reader, however no displayport. there are accessible applications to manipulate battery and electricity, and the precision optimizer has profiles for commonplace work tools, like cad and image design utilities.

Much less impressively, there isn’t any internal get right of entry to and the battery can’t be removed.

Ergonomics

The dell has a backlit keyboard with a fantastic movement: the buttons depress with consistency and luxury, so it’s clean to stand up to speed. there’s not a good deal travel, but that doesn’t be counted – the rock-stable base and snappy motion provide ample feedback.

It’s no longer ideal; there’s no room for a numberpad, the return key is simplest unmarried-height, and the cursor buttons are tiny.

Dell has set up a precision touchpad right here, this means that it supports the overall variety of two- and three-fingered gestures. the floor is clean and unique, and the buttons are satisfyingly clicky.

The core i5 processor and nvidia gpu will deal with nearly all obligations, but they’re not the quality components we’ve seen inside computing device notebooks.

The dell precision 5520's geekbench unmarried-center result of four,004 is fine, as an example, however the msi ws63 and its core i7-7700hq turned into higher via around 800 points.

The shortage of hyper-threading affects at the multi-middle take a look at, where the dell scored a middling 10,404 – the msi was 5 thousand factors faster, whilst the hp zbook studio g3 and its quad-center cpu become nearly three thousand points faster.

The nvidia gpu gives a boost to graphical obligations. in the cinebench pics check the precision controlled 89.65fps, but the msi and hp machines have been faster. greater pleasingly, the dell’s 3dmark hearth strike score of 3,889 is 500 points higher than the hp.

The dell precision 5520 doesn’t match opponents in most benchmarks, however it’s hardly ever a slouch. the middle i5 processor has enough electricity to handle all however the maximum intensive programs, and the quadro gpu nonetheless brings image-modifying and video paintings into view.

It’s were given strong durability, too. its pc mark battery end result of hours and 40 mins snuck beforehand of the hp, and it lasted for almost seven hours in a video check – so with a bit of cautious energy control, this gadget isn’t some distance from a full day far from the mains.

Dell’s gadget ran without thermal troubles. the processor’s peak temperature of 91°c is simplest a tad high, and the warmth become nicely disbursed – the exterior remained cool. the cpu in no way throttled, and the noise never have become intrusive. that’s a miles better invoice of fitness than the recent, whining hp.

Screen and Speakers

The 1080p IPS panel served up solid benchmarks. Its 1,718:1 contrast ratio is stunning, and the factory brightness level of 378cd/m2 is incredibly bright. Dialling the brightness down to a reasonable 150cd/m2 saw contrast remain excellent at 1,666:1, and black levels are fantastic.

The Dell Precision 5520 delivered an average Delta E of 2.21 – another solid figure that demonstrates highly accurate colours.

Drill down, though, and the Precision 5520’s color performance becomes a little wayward. The temperature of 7,627K is chilly and robs the screen of warmth. The uniformity levels aren’t great, either – the backlight lost 13% of its strength along its bottom row and 12% across the middle.

The final test, color coverage, proved that the Precision 5520 can render a solid 91.8% of the sRGB gamut but only 66.8% of the Adobe RGB gamut.

Those results aren’t reasonable, but they do mean the Precision 5520 isn’t quite good enough for color-sensitive work. It’s still a fine screen, and remains capable with most types of work – and it’s got the chops for after-hours movies and games, too.

The speakers are mediocre. They’re loud and voices are clear, but the mid-range lacks width and clarity – so it sounds muddled whenever there’s a busier moment. There’s hardly any bass, either.

We liked

There’s an awful lot to admire about Dell’s professional portable. It’s a stunning bit of kit, from its carbon-fibre interior to its metallic shell, and it has great build quality and ergonomics. It’s light, and barely thicker than the competition – so it’s easy to use on the road.

The comfortable, classy exterior is paired with good performance. The screen offers decent quality, and the Core i5 processor and Nvidia Quadro GPU have enough power to handle most work applications.

The battery is good, too – almost offering a full day of use away from the mains.

We disliked

The Precision isn’t without issues. Its value, for starters: the MSI WS63 with the same core components is around $500 (£500, around AU$630) cheaper, and the MSI WS63 and HP ZBook machines that we reviewed cost £2,500 and £2,582 – but offered much more.

The Precision’s £2,101 (around $2700, AU$3400) price is high for a machine with a Core i5 chip, and customisation continues to illustrate its high cost: kitting the Dell out with a Core i7-7700HQ, 4K screen, 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD ramps the price up to a whopping £2,620 (around $3400, AU$4300).

Costs aside, its performance is beaten by rivals, and the screen could have better colour accuracy – especially important for photo work.

Final verdict

The Precision offers solid performance and high quality in almost every department. The Core i5 processor and Quadro GPU are good, the screen is bright and has reasonably accurate colours, and the Precision is sturdy and ergonomically sound. Its battery life is great, too.

It’s expensive in any configuration, though. £2,101 (around $2700, AU$3400) is a high price for a Core i5 laptop, and kitting the Precision out with components to match rivals makes it more expensive than the competition. It’s a classy bit of kit, but only those with the beefiest IT budgets need apply.