Dell XPS 9510 vs 9520?
Dell XPS 9510 vs 9520?
I am working with an older Dell XPS 15 9550 that has the specifications you mentioned. The system includes an i5-6300hq processor, 1TB NVMe SSD, 32GB RAM, a 84-watt battery, Intel HD Graphics 530, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 M. Currently, Dell offers both the 9510 and 9520 models online, with prices starting around $1600 plus taxes for the 9510 and at least $2049 for the 9520 if you plan to upgrade several components. Is it worth spending significantly more on the 9520? The OLED screen on that model is a point of concern—can you find a way to change that setting on the Dell website? This suggests the OLED display might drain battery much faster than a standard screen. For the graphics card, I’m wondering if the 3050 or 3050 Ti are suitable options. It seems surprising that such high-end cards cost so much and aren’t available at least at $3060. Does opting for a 3050 or 3050 Ti provide better battery life compared to a 3060? Could you share the typical battery hours for each model? Additionally, if I want to connect two external monitors, can I do it without a dock station? Right now, I’m using a USB-C to display port cable for a 32-inch 4K monitor and an HDMI to DVI cable for a 24-inch monitor. Would this work on the 9510 or 9520 as well? If I need two 4K monitors at 60Hz, do these laptops support it without a docking station, or would I still need one?
I see that the 9510 only supports oled screens, which isn't ideal if you're looking for longer battery life. Changing the processor, ram, or ssd isn't possible. The xps 9520 allows some configuration adjustments but comes with a high price tag. If you need at least an i7 processor, windows 10 pro, 32gb ddr5 memory, and a 1tb ssd, it would cost more than 2k. You might consider choosing the 1920x1200 resolution, which is likely the best option. Using it with two external monitors would be fine.
The main difference between not upgrading the video card and using just the intel xe or uhd graphics versus the 3050 is significant. However, if you opt for the 3050 but disable the graphics card and use the integrated one, you'll get similar battery life as if you didn't install it at all.
You're asking about the distinction between intel video cards and nvidia or amd cards. You seem to be referring to more affordable options without upgrading.
Connecting to two monitors is straightforward. If each monitor is 4k resolution at 60hz, it shouldn't pose any issues. You wouldn't need a thunderbolt 3 displayport or docking station unless you have specific requirements.
You also mentioned using the old PW7015L barrel powerbank. It seems to be sold out on the Dell site, but it might still be available soon. If not, you could consider another adapter, though it appears to be a newer model like the PW7018LC. You previously bought two PW7015L units, but they now use USB-C instead of the barrel type.
You're aiming for a fast laptop that can run smoothly with two external monitors connected while it's plugged in.