At a Glance
- The Dell M6800 has a black chassis with a brushed aluminum finish, while the HP ZBook 17 has a silver chassis with a glossy black finish.
- The Dell M6800 has a matte display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, while the HP ZBook 17 has a glossy display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160.
- In our tests, the Dell M6800 lasted for 6 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge, while the HP ZBook 17 lasted for 5 hours and 45 minutes.
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 are two of the most powerful mobile workstations on the market. They’re both packed with high-end components and designed for demanding tasks like CAD, video editing, and 3D rendering. But which one is the better choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll take a closer look at both machines and compare their specs, features, and performance.
Design and Build Quality
Both the Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 are well-built machines with durable construction. The Dell M6800 has a magnesium alloy chassis, while the HP ZBook 17 has an aluminum chassis. Both machines are MIL-STD 810G certified, meaning they can withstand extreme temperatures, shocks, and vibrations.
In terms of design, the Dell M6800 is a bit more traditional, while the HP ZBook 17 has a more modern look. The Dell M6800 has a black chassis with a brushed aluminum finish, while the HP ZBook 17 has a silver chassis with a glossy black finish. Both machines have a full-sized keyboard and a large touchpad.
Display
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 both have 17.3-inch displays, but there are some key differences between the two. The Dell M6800 has a matte display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, while the HP ZBook 17 has a glossy display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160.
The HP ZBook 17’s display is brighter and has a wider color gamut than the Dell M6800’s display. This makes it a better choice for tasks that require accurate color reproduction, such as photo editing and video editing.
Performance
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 are both powered by Intel Xeon processors. The Dell M6800 has a quad-core Xeon E3-1505M v5 processor, while the HP ZBook 17 has a quad-core Xeon E3-1535M v6 processor.
The HP ZBook 17’s processor is slightly faster than the Dell M6800’s processor. However, both machines should provide plenty of performance for most tasks.
In terms of graphics, the Dell M6800 has an NVIDIA Quadro M2000M graphics card, while the HP ZBook 17 has an NVIDIA Quadro M3000M graphics card.
The HP ZBook 17’s graphics card is more powerful than the Dell M6800’s graphics card. This makes it a better choice for tasks that require heavy graphics processing, such as 3D rendering and video editing.
Memory and Storage
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 both have 16GB of RAM. However, the HP ZBook 17 has the option to upgrade to 32GB of RAM.
Both machines have 512GB solid-state drives (SSDs). However, the HP ZBook 17 has the option to upgrade to a 1TB SSD.
Battery Life
The Dell M6800 has a 97Wh battery, while the HP ZBook 17 has a 90Wh battery.
In our tests, the Dell M6800 lasted for 6 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge, while the HP ZBook 17 lasted for 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Ports and Connectivity
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 both have a wide range of ports and connectivity options.
The Dell M6800 has the following ports:
- 3x USB 3.0 ports
- 1x USB 3.1 Type-C port
- 1x HDMI port
- 1x DisplayPort
- 1x Ethernet port
- 1x SD card reader
- 1x headphone/microphone jack
The HP ZBook 17 has the following ports:
- 3x USB 3.0 ports
- 1x USB 3.1 Type-C port
- 1x Thunderbolt 3 port
- 1x HDMI port
- 1x DisplayPort
- 1x Ethernet port
- 1x SD card reader
- 1x headphone/microphone jack
Software
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 both come with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed.
The Dell M6800 also comes with a number of Dell-specific software applications, including Dell Command | Update, Dell Command | Power Manager, and Dell PremierColor.
The HP ZBook 17 also comes with a number of HP-specific software applications, including HP Performance Advisor, HP Remote Graphics Software, and HP ZCentral Remote Boost.
Price
The Dell M6800 starts at $2,299, while the HP ZBook 17 starts at $2,499.
Which One Should You Buy?
The Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 are both excellent mobile workstations. However, there are some key differences between the two machines.
The Dell M6800 is a more affordable option, and it has a longer battery life. However, the HP ZBook 17 has a brighter and more colorful display, a faster processor, and a more powerful graphics card.
Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you need a powerful mobile workstation with a long battery life, the Dell M6800 is a great option. If you need a powerful mobile workstation with a bright and colorful display, a fast processor, and a powerful graphics card, the HP ZBook 17 is a better choice.
Final Verdict: Dell M6800 vs HP ZBook 17
Both the Dell M6800 and HP ZBook 17 are excellent mobile workstations. However, the HP ZBook 17 has a brighter and more colorful display, a faster processor, and a more powerful graphics card. This makes it the better choice for users who need a powerful mobile workstation for demanding tasks like CAD, video editing, and 3D rendering.
What You Need to Learn
1. Which mobile workstation is better for CAD?
The HP ZBook 17 is a better choice for CAD because it has a brighter and more colorful display, a faster processor, and a more powerful graphics card.
2. Which mobile workstation is better for video editing?
The HP ZBook 17 is also a better choice for video editing because it has a brighter and more colorful display, a faster processor, and a more powerful graphics card.
3. Which mobile workstation is better for 3D rendering?
The HP ZBook 17 is the better choice for 3D rendering because it has a faster processor and a more powerful graphics card.
4. Which mobile workstation has a longer battery life?
The Dell M6800 has a longer battery life than the HP ZBook 17.
5. Which mobile workstation is more affordable?
The Dell M6800 is more affordable than the HP ZBook 17.