nominal performance numbers put the 65W part on par with a 1050 Ti and the 100W one with a 1060. AMD's claimed gaming benches have it beating those cards by reasonable thresholds but I take any hardware vendors benches with large grains of salt; even if AMD was cherry picking games and settings though they should be competitive at those levels. For laptop gaming beyond that initial threshold thermal management decisions by the OEM matter at least as much as the raw hardware specs.
Apple has gone to Vega graphics with their IMAC Pro computers, so much of your designer and 3d rendering software will be very compatible. Also, many people said the same exact thing about ryzen compatability, however, I never ran into any issues.
@KateH , not for this laptop. The i7-8705g uses the weaker of the two AMD GPUs. The Vega GL not the GH. So 2.6TFlops instead of 3.7TFlops of the GH and ~4TFlops of the 1060. So a bit faster than a nVidia 1050. Could pay more and get a MSI GS63VR 4 pound laptop with a 1070 max-q.
I personally think it would be best to wait for 2nd generation of this technology - I believe that most of credit can be attributive to Intel's "Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB)" but keep in mind these comparison are only being compared to NVidia's low end graphics card.
It would be interesting to see NVidia 1050 using the same "Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB)" which if possible likely would be different story.
Am I reading this correctly that there will be both a wireless Killer NIC and a wireless Intel NIC in the system? It sort of looks that way which makes it a strange configuration.
Certainly an interesting device. It is probably very similar footprint to the 2026 15” MacBook. Having the same performance and similar io and costs quite a bit less. More information will be needed about this laptop for sure.
I wish they had option for such 2in1 with a NVidia GPU instead of Vega GPU - Hopefully in 2018 Intel will work with NVidia with such option in same package - and give uses that option. Professional Graphics programs work with NVidia GPU's better in my experience.
"USB 3.0 3 × Type-A" -- seems to be a mistake. All other sources mention 2x TB3 plus 2x USB-C only, with NO type-A. And videos show 2x Type-C on each side, with no Type-As.
One correction about this article that should be made - this is not an "Update", Dell has never made a XPS 15 2in1 -the 2in1 is 13 in and all XPS 15 have been regular notebook form factor.
The biggest news about this 2in1 is actually related to keyboard - it uses something new with magnetics
A couple of other things I notice as own of Dell XPS 13 2in1
1. The stylus pen will likely be extra cost 2. It battery life is longer ( larger battery ) and CPU speed is more that exiting U processors
At $1299 this 2in1 is suppressing cheap especially with it having basically a supercharge U based mobile CPU. AMD must not be getting much money from Intel on Deal - especially with lower clock 8550U cost $409 and with out external graphics - a dell XPS 13 with 8550U and 1920x1080 is $150 cheaper - Intel does not have official price of chip combo on ARK yet.
I been thinking about getting one of these notebooks when they come out this spring - I been reading up and very impressed with functionality - but my biggest concern is the graphics of unit. How compatible Vega M with older games and applications. It is compatible with older Radeon GPU and which ones. My biggest concern with Vega graphics is compatibility - especially with applications that run with NVidia. But I be honest, it over a decade I try using Radeon graphics and that was back with original ATI cards.
I notice on Dell's site that XPS 15 2in1 is available for purchase. The prices are more expensive that originally noted base price is $1499 and one I order with 16G memory i7 512G storage and 4K video was just under $2500.
I like the specs on this 2in1 and I have not try AMD GPU's in over a decade - so I decided to give it a chance. I really like CPU on this thing - it should be significantly faster than my Lenovo Y50.
My XPS 15 2in1 - has 16G memory, 512SD and 4k screen
Relative no problems in hardware - except interesting bios update where TB ports lost support - but I was able to get fix with any repairs - via support.
Software compatibility, newer games appears to work - but hold games have trouble - but this maybe something in common with AMD based cards - or could be something in general with DX12 cards
Professional graphics applications appear to not detected GPU - too well - especially VUE 2016, also Steam VR test utility - it does not recognized the card and uses the Integrated gpu. Also Photoshop CS 5 had screen issues - too small fonts - but I believe this is a common 4k problem.
The portability is not as good as my XPS 13 2in1 but the speed is fastest machine in my house. It is amazing that you have so much power in a machine this thin. I used it connected to my LG38U88 Ultra Wide monitor and it great.
TB issue - was because driver / bias update and was fixed with reload of drivers/bios update - possibly because I had it hook up to docking station - lost connection and charging
No problems with TB - only things is that most USB-C charging docs don't work because laptop needs more power.
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24 Comments
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Ikefu - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
I'm really curious where the onboard Vega GPU compares to the Geforce 1050 option currently available.DanNeely - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
nominal performance numbers put the 65W part on par with a 1050 Ti and the 100W one with a 1060. AMD's claimed gaming benches have it beating those cards by reasonable thresholds but I take any hardware vendors benches with large grains of salt; even if AMD was cherry picking games and settings though they should be competitive at those levels. For laptop gaming beyond that initial threshold thermal management decisions by the OEM matter at least as much as the raw hardware specs.Azix - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
werent those intels numbers? not AMDHStewart - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
This is not the same as the normal XPS 15 2in1 - it is lower performance in both CPU and GPU.But not having NVidia GPU in such a class machine is a deal killer for me.
piesquared - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
It's a deal MAKER for me.HStewart - Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - link
Application compatibility, I love the features of this tablet - biggest concern is the Vega GPU.gggplaya - Monday, April 9, 2018 - link
Apple has gone to Vega graphics with their IMAC Pro computers, so much of your designer and 3d rendering software will be very compatible. Also, many people said the same exact thing about ryzen compatability, however, I never ran into any issues.KateH - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
3rd-party benchmarks aren't out yet, but information supplied by Intel suggests around GTX 1060 levels of performance.danwat1234 - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
@KateH , not for this laptop. The i7-8705g uses the weaker of the two AMD GPUs. The Vega GL not the GH. So 2.6TFlops instead of 3.7TFlops of the GH and ~4TFlops of the 1060.So a bit faster than a nVidia 1050.
Could pay more and get a MSI GS63VR 4 pound laptop with a 1070 max-q.
HStewart - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
I found the following link and it gives some more information about performancehttps://hothardware.com/news/intel-8th-generation-...
I personally think it would be best to wait for 2nd generation of this technology - I believe that most of credit can be attributive to Intel's "Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB)" but keep in mind these comparison are only being compared to NVidia's low end graphics card.
It would be interesting to see NVidia 1050 using the same "Embedded Multi-Die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB)" which if possible likely would be different story.
PeachNCream - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
Am I reading this correctly that there will be both a wireless Killer NIC and a wireless Intel NIC in the system? It sort of looks that way which makes it a strange configuration.CheapSushi - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
I think the new Killer NICs are Intel IC powered. So you basically get a router function software wise in the stack with the Killer. Not a bad thing.Zeratul56 - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
Certainly an interesting device. It is probably very similar footprint to the 2026 15” MacBook. Having the same performance and similar io and costs quite a bit less. More information will be needed about this laptop for sure.HStewart - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - link
I wish they had option for such 2in1 with a NVidia GPU instead of Vega GPU - Hopefully in 2018 Intel will work with NVidia with such option in same package - and give uses that option. Professional Graphics programs work with NVidia GPU's better in my experience.bolkhov - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
"USB 3.0 3 × Type-A" -- seems to be a mistake.All other sources mention 2x TB3 plus 2x USB-C only, with NO type-A.
And videos show 2x Type-C on each side, with no Type-As.
CxohV - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
4 type-C and no type-A, not so good. Also I'm interested if it can hackintosh.HStewart - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
One correction about this article that should be made - this is not an "Update", Dell has never made a XPS 15 2in1 -the 2in1 is 13 in and all XPS 15 have been regular notebook form factor.The biggest news about this 2in1 is actually related to keyboard - it uses something new with magnetics
HStewart - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - link
A couple of other things I notice as own of Dell XPS 13 2in11. The stylus pen will likely be extra cost
2. It battery life is longer ( larger battery ) and CPU speed is more that exiting U processors
At $1299 this 2in1 is suppressing cheap especially with it having basically a supercharge U based mobile CPU. AMD must not be getting much money from Intel on Deal - especially with lower clock 8550U cost $409 and with out external graphics - a dell XPS 13 with 8550U and 1920x1080 is $150 cheaper - Intel does not have official price of chip combo on ARK yet.
HStewart - Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - link
I been thinking about getting one of these notebooks when they come out this spring - I been reading up and very impressed with functionality - but my biggest concern is the graphics of unit. How compatible Vega M with older games and applications. It is compatible with older Radeon GPU and which ones. My biggest concern with Vega graphics is compatibility - especially with applications that run with NVidia. But I be honest, it over a decade I try using Radeon graphics and that was back with original ATI cards.HStewart - Thursday, March 29, 2018 - link
I notice on Dell's site that XPS 15 2in1 is available for purchase. The prices are more expensive that originally noted base price is $1499 and one I order with 16G memory i7 512G storage and 4K video was just under $2500.I like the specs on this 2in1 and I have not try AMD GPU's in over a decade - so I decided to give it a chance. I really like CPU on this thing - it should be significantly faster than my Lenovo Y50.
HStewart - Friday, January 4, 2019 - link
8th Month UpdateMy XPS 15 2in1 - has 16G memory, 512SD and 4k screen
Relative no problems in hardware - except interesting bios update where TB ports lost support - but I was able to get fix with any repairs - via support.
Software compatibility, newer games appears to work - but hold games have trouble - but this maybe something in common with AMD based cards - or could be something in general with DX12 cards
Professional graphics applications appear to not detected GPU - too well - especially VUE 2016, also Steam VR test utility - it does not recognized the card and uses the Integrated gpu. Also Photoshop CS 5 had screen issues - too small fonts - but I believe this is a common 4k problem.
The portability is not as good as my XPS 13 2in1 but the speed is fastest machine in my house. It is amazing that you have so much power in a machine this thin. I used it connected to my LG38U88 Ultra Wide monitor and it great.
HStewart - Friday, January 4, 2019 - link
TB issue - was because driver / bias update and was fixed with reload of drivers/bios update - possibly because I had it hook up to docking station - lost connection and chargingNo problems with TB - only things is that most USB-C charging docs don't work because laptop needs more power.