Can you create a 17-inch mobile workstation that is smaller than a 15-inch workstation? Dell can.

In 2013 Dell created the thin and light category for Precision with the introduction of the Precision M3800. This model defined the Precision thin and light workstation for three years before Dell replaced it with the first of the 5000 series, the Precision 5510. 

15-inch models defined the 5000 series for eight years - until now. The Dell Precision 5750 joins the newly redesigned Precision 5550 and redefines the 17-inch mobile workstation category.

The smallest Dell Precision 17-inch mobile workstation ever

If the Precision 5750 isn’t sitting next to its smaller sibling, the new Precision 5550, then you could be excused for believing that you had a 15-inch mobile workstation in your hands. The 17-inch Precision 5750 is about 10% smaller than the original thin-and-light 15-inch Precision M3800 model.

Dell is right to boast about the advanced thermal design of the 5750. Team Austin applied advanced cooling inside yet managed to pull it together in a beautiful package. Inside you’ll find tricks like dual heat pipes. And on the outside, you need to search to find the venting that is hidden in the hinge.  

The Dell logo at theDell 5750 - the first thin and light 17" mobile workstation bottom of the display is no more

It is easy to forget that this is a seventeen inch mobile workstation

But it is still a mobile workstation. Even with an extra small, very stylish package, the Precision 5750 delivers performance and capacity.

From the inside out: full of tech, full of class

The Precision 5000 series has always targeted users that want thin and light style in a performance-level workstation. The 15-inch model is the newly redesigned Precision 5550. Now, Dell has added this 17-inch model to the lineup.

The Dell Precision 5750 offers four Thunderbolt ports

The Dell Precision 5750 offers four Thunderbolt ports

The styling on the 17-inch 5750 is identical to the Precision 5550. It has similar angles, edges, and a compact, high-quality touch.

The Precision 5750 has a very nice maximum configuration. The key specifications are found in our Quick Look article.

The 17-inch display is a 16-to-10 ratio 3840 x 2400 touch display. Memory capacity is 64 GB. Storage capacity is 4 TB of SSD storage. CPU support goes up to 8-core Core i9 or Xeon W CPUs. The graphics support includes a Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q Design GPU. 

On the outside, … honestly, I can’t say it often enough, you will forget that you are working on a 17-inch workstation. This machine has nothing to do with the 17-inch desktop replacement designs. 

To achieve this design feat, one of the obvious design trade-offs appears to be the Dell marketing team taking it on the chin with the ousting of the Dell logo below the display. (Do I hear you crying?)

Another trade-off is going to 100% Thunderbolt ports for connectivity and for power. Don’t worry, Dell won’t force you to buy their Thunderbolt hub (although you could) as the Precision 5750 ships with a nicely designed Thunderbolt adapter with USB and HDMI ports.

Taken altogether, this is an impressive package for a thin-and-light mobile workstation.  

And how is the performance?

I thought you’d never ask. The numbers are below, but it is worth noting that I specifically ran the 5750 through continuous testing loops. My test system delivered consistent performance. It did not “throttle-back” at any point. For me, that is the proof in the pudding of Dell’s thermal design.

The comparisons in this article are between the Precision 5750 and its 15-inch brother, the Precision 5550. The 5750’s Quadro RTX 3000 gives it a tremendous advantage in graphics performance.

The Precision 5750 workstation has an advantage with it’s 8-core i9 CPU compared to the 6-core i7 in the 5550 test unit. The 5550 can be configured with the same CPU although not with the same GPU. 

A Quadro RTX 3000, Core i9, 64 GB of memory, and 4 TB of SSD storage deliver performance

A Quadro RTX 3000, Core i9, 64 GB of memory, and 4 TB of SSD storage deliver performance 

Viewperf 2020 isolates workstation GPU performance well. The performance lead for the Precision 5750 is due to the faster Quadro RTX 3000.

Dell’s Precision 5750 beats the Precision 5550 in Viewperf 2020 by 50% to 150%

Dell’s Precision 5750 beats the Precision 5550 in Viewperf 2020 by 50% to 150%

In application testing with Premiere Pro, the Precision 5750 has a performance advantage that ranges from 15% to 30%. The most important news here is that the greatest performance advantage for the Precision 5750 appears on the most complex rendering projects.

In other words, the more demanding the workload is, the greater the benefit of a Precision 5750 is for that workload. 

In these application tests, the Precision 5750 delivers 15% to 30% better performance

In these application tests, the Precision 5750 delivers 15% to 30% better performance

The 5750 ships with a compact Thunderbolt to HDMI and USB adapter

The 5750 ships with a compact Thunderbolt to HDMI and USB adapter

The Dell 5750 ships with a very small, clever adapter. It connects you to one USB device and to one HDMI display. 

The adapter lets you be productive as soon as you power on the 5750. If you need more port compatibility, Dell offers two other devices.

While on the road, the Dell USB-C Mobile Adapter DA300 provides six outputs including Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, USB, and Thunderbolt.

For the office or home office, the Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD19TB is a compact brick which is loaded with ports.

A Final Perspective

This Precision 5750 creates a new category of 17-inch, thin-and-light Precision mobile workstations. It fits perfectly into the 5000 series. It has the 5000 series good looks and performance in a compact design - even smaller than the original 15-inch Precision M3800.

The Precision 5750’s compact design will make you forget that you are working on a 17-inch workstation and the performance that will remind you that you are.  

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