Dell XPS M1730 (Core 2 Extreme T7700 Processor 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM)

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By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
Oct 31, 2007

For too long, extreme gaming rigs from Dell, Alienware, Falconware, Voodoo, etc. have been denied to Asia consumers. We have had to contend with shooting and looting on what are essentially entertainment desktop replacements like Sony VAIO VGN-AR48GP and Toshiba Qosmio G40. Though the ASUS G2S is one of the few gaming-focused rigs, nevertheless dual graphics cards in portables were unheard of.

All these changed when Dell decided to bring in the XPS M1730. Possibly the first in Asia to offer two Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT video cards in the base configuration, this XPS ups the ante by also making it one of the few to include an option for PhysX graphics support. If the graphics processing unit (GPU) is the cream giving the game its pretty looks, then the PhysX engine is the cake which changes the way we interact with the virtual world. Though it's by no means a budget system like the Inspiron series, we were surprised that this XPS came at a competitive price point.

Editors' note:

With the conclusion of benchmarks tests, we have given the Dell XPS M1730 a CNET Asia Editors' Choice award for its impressive 3D Mark 06 scores as well as its unique dual-SLI Nvidia graphics system.

Design
At first blush, it seems like the XPS M1730 uses more LED lights than a Christmas tree. Every where we turn, we can see a soft glow coming out of the system. Based on a black theme with a carbon fiber pattern, the glowing Dell logo on the top cover is flanked with two LED-lit panels (which are available in blue, red, white and gray). Open the laptop and enjoy a similar light coming out if the speaker grills, with even the XPS-embossed touchpad and mouse buttons joining the fun. Unusual for a portable is the backlit keyboard which also includes a discrete numeric pad. Suffice to say, this is one gaming rig which is very usable in the dark, though the LEDs which change colors over time can be a little annoying. Fortunately, the built-in LightFX application makes the latter programmable.

The XPS M1730 side panels are available in four colors.
(click for larger image)

The decorations may be pretty, but we felt that more care could have been given to the build quality. The plastic body, especially the area around the display creaks and flexes too much for comfort. Even the top portion of the keyboard around the power button sinks a little when pressed. The glossy paint job is also quite a hassle to maintain. To be fair, as a desktop replacement weighing almost 5kg, it is certainly not meant for frequent commuters. Its thick 50.7mm body covering a surface area of 406 x 302.6mm also means that few bags have the physical capacity to hold it.

Like its Inspiron brethren, the M1730 has Dell's MediaDirect features which allow access to multimedia files on the harddisk without having to boot into Windows Vista. At this point, we should mention that this machine eats up Vista's resource requirements for lunch and gave one of the smoothest experiences we had. Nevertheless, MediaDirect is still a faster way to watch a quick movie or view some photos. Besides the front row of multimedia buttons, a mini-remote control (which hides in the ExpressCard slot when not in use) provides playback controls.

Features
Besides the lack of a modem and HDMI output, the Dell 1730 has almost every feature one expects from a competent desktop replacement. Unique to this XPS, however, is the use of a CCD sensor instead of the more common CMOS technology for the 2.0-megapixel Webcam as well as the integrated Logitech GamePanel above the keyboard. First seen in the G15 gaming keyboard, it allows quick access to vital information for supported games, while more mundane data like time and email status can also be access with a touch of a button. Of course, the killer feature is under the hood which roars with a Core 2 Duo processor and dual Nvidia graphics cards.

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