If you are torn between a Lenovo W550s and a Dell M3800

Question

I am sharing my Lenovo W550s and Dell Precision M3800 experiences and testing results with you.
My Laptop Configurations:
Lenovo W550s with Intel dual core 17-5600 CPU @2.60GHz, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro K620M, 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SATA SSD (user upgrade from HDD) with RAPID enabled
Dell Precision M3800 with Intel quad core i7-4702HQ CPU @2.2GHz, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro K1100M, 512 GB Samsung SM841 mSATA SSD
Applications Used for Performance Ratings/Testing:
- Windows 7 Performance Information and Tools
- Photoshop CS6 (Image Processor activated from Bridge)
Applications Used for Work Testing:
PTC MathCAD for structural engineering calculations (some over 200 pages long)
Adobe Photoshop CS6 for photography image processing
Core Temp 1.0 RC6
Vendor’s diagnostics applications
My Computer Testing Experience:
I have owned, used and tested laptop computers since IBM announced their first model. I used IBM ThinkPads for a number of years until IBM sold the division to Lenovo. I owned and used Lenovo T-model laptop before switching to the Dell M3800 in January 2014. I bought a Lenovo W550s when my Dell failed, and it took Dell over a month to successfully repair the unit. The Dell is now working fine and allowed me to do the tests and get the results you see below. I upgraded the Lenovo from a 500 GB HDD to a Samsung 850 Pro 1TB and Samsung Magician (RAPID enabled), and that is the configuration I used to do the following tests.
Windows 7 Performance Ratings:
Let’s get right to it and admit the Lenovo is not as powerful a work machine as the Dell when it comes to pure calculations. Windows rates the Dell processor at 7.6, whereas, it rates the Lenovo at 6.5 calculations per second. I did not feel that difference when using the two computers and most people will not, but for intense calculations with applications that actually use quad core processors to their max, Dell will win the day. I felt no difference in image processing nor MathCAD calculation manipulation when working on one image or modifying a computer model because human intervention and decisions were almost always the limiting factors. However, running batch processes shows a difference in the laptops. Lenovo took 34 minutes batch processing 1215 images (converting to smaller size) and Dell took 31 minutes. This tells me that disk I/O bottlenecks can actually make the Lenovo perform almost at the same level with the Dell but with half of the CPU cores and thus, lower internal temperatures. RAPID was turned on for Lenovo, but not available for Dell which makes a big difference in I/O speed. Without RAPID, the Dell would run circles around the Lenovo.
Dell also won on graphics at 7.0 compared with 6.7 for Lenovo (Lenovo Turbo Boost enabled makes an improvement from 5.9). While processing photo images, I could not feel any speed difference between the two computers while using Photoshop. There are often delays when going to and from plugin filters such as Nik and OnOne when using any processor. Those delays felt the same with both Dell and Lenovo.
Windows rates the Dell at 7.8 for memory but the Lenovo at 7.6. Since both of my machines have 16GB of RAM, the access speed for the Dell must be a little faster.
Display:
I use the Intel built-in Intel HD graphics adapter for both laptops because my applications do not play well with the NVDIA adapters in the units, and I do no gaming. I disable the NVDIA adapter in the Lenovo to get longer battery life and lower internal temperatures. Disabling the NVDIA adapter in the Dell seemed to make no difference in internal temperature nor battery life.
I use both computers in 1920x1200 pixel resolution so I can see the Photoshop and MathCAD icons and controls well enough to not make mistakes. Even though both Dell and Lenovo provide higher resolutions, they both work well scaled to 1920 pixels. Although both screens have excellent contrast and color saturation, the Lenovo screen has less glare than the Dell and, as a result, is easier to use for image processing using Photoshop when there are unshaded windows nearby.
I did notice a color and contrast shift when viewing the Dell screen off center by just 15-20 degrees. The Lenovo contrast shifts also but not as much and the colors do not appear to shift even with large viewing angle changes. More care has to be taken to view the Dell straight on when processing photo images.
I calibrated the screen for both computers using Spyder3 Elite and got results that were comparable. After calibration, Dell provides close to 100% sRGB gamut while the Lenovo is about 90% and the brightness of both work well for photo editing and production. The Dell was slightly better for color control, but the screen glare can be an issue when working in a building that has windows nearby.
Keyboard:
Both keyboards are excellent, but I like the Dell keyboard a little better. However, I have used Lenovo TrackPoints for many years, and I like that feature. It find it much easier to use than a scratch pad and it works well as a pointer control.
The Dell keyboard backlighting turns on as soon as you start to type and illuminates the keys well. The Lenovo keyboard backlighting has three optional settings, but the brightest setting does not produce the same level of lighting the Dell produces. The Dell keyboard is thus easier to use in low light.
I will not address the Numeric Key pad. Lenovo has one and Dell does not. I don’t use numeric keypads, so it makes no difference to me.
Connectivity:
USB Ports: Dell has two USB ports on each side. One on each side is powered (always on) and one is USB 2.0. Lenovo has two USB 3.0 ports on the right side and one USB 3.0 port on the left. Only one of those ports is always on. In both cases, you have to look careful to see which port is always on.
Video Output: Dell has an HDMI port in addition to a Thunderbolt port. Lenovo only provides a Thunderbolt port; you have to use an HDMI converter to get HDMI output.
Ethernet: Dell has no Ethernet port; you have to use an Ethernet dongle to get the conversion from USB. Lenovo has an Ethernet port. I seldom use Ethernet ports anymore since most motels have wifi, so the lack of an Ethernet port is not an issue for me.
Battery Power:
Dell has one internal batter. You can get it with a 91Wh or 61Wh, but you cannot easily change the configuration—you have to take the computer apart. I have the 91Wh version, and it lasts about 3 hours for me on an airplane. The Lenovo has one internal 44Wh battery and three optional rear batteries: 23, 48 and 72 Wh. You can swap out those rear batteries in the Lenovo without shutting the unit down. The Lenovo also provides an excellent power management application that enables you to select the performance level you wish to use and predicts the remaining battery time that you will get based on that selection. So, if you plan to be in a base camp in the Serengeti where you have limited access to charging stations, the Lenovo with extra batteries is the machine for you. I seldom have that type of scenario, but it is good to know I have the option.
Heat Emission:
The Dell has two internal fans that blow out the bottom of the unit. You can get a hot lap or do damage to the computer if you actually use it in your lap or block that vent in any way. The Lenovo has one internal fan, and it blows out the side of the unit. The Lenovo does not get as hot on the bottom. The Core Temp application indicated the Lenovo CPUs ran about 12C cooler than those in the Dell (72C versus 84C) under stress diagnostic testing at 90-100% CPU load using the vendor’s own diagnostic application. In my own experience while using the Dell for a year, heat can be an issue and probably contributed to a system board failure in my unit.
Size and Weight:
Dell wins the day in both categories. It is about ¼ inch thinner (not counting the height of the feet) than the Lenovo with the 23 Wh battery attached and about 0.25 pounds lighter including the batteries. Both the size and weight make the Dell feel more like an iPad than a workstation. The aluminum top and carbon-fiber base are both high tech, look good and keep the weight down. However, the lack of heat conduction in the base may contribute to over-heating issues…as it did in my case.
Conclusions:
There is no doubt that the Dell laptop has sex appeal with the thinner body and lighter weight. It also packs a lot of power. However, my own experience has shown that the Dell can be a high-maintenance machine. The Lenovo may have warts as well…only time will tell. However, it feels more like a reliable work horse while the Dell feels like a temperamental race horse. It will be difficult picking just one of them for treks that limit me to one laptop, but the Lenovo will probably win the day. I will take both with me when I can so I have a backup computer in my bag. Maybe I will get my wife to lug the Dell along on long international trips, and I will take the Lenovo in my bag. That would be a win-win…but at a price of course.
W550s: i7-5600U, K620M, 16 GB RAM, 1TB 850 Pro SSD, Win 7 Pro

Answer 1

The folks at NotebookCheck do the kind of benchmarks you reference. You can see their results at:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-W550s​-Workstation-Review.137989.0.html
The tests I ran were just to help me decide which laptop to use since I now have both.
I do use ATTO as well as CrystalDiskMark for disk/SSD read and write testing. Of course both go off the map when you enable RAPID in the Lenovo with the Samsung 850 Pro installed. RAPID does actually speed up work processing...not just wow the I/O test software.
I was getting about 550/450 MB/s read/write with both laptops before I enabled RAPID. With RAPID I get 3345 read and 1833 write with the Lenovo.
Too bad RAPID does not work with all Samsung SSD storage devices.
W550s: i7-5600U, K620M, 16 GB RAM, 1TB 850 Pro SSD, Win 7 Pro