Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) Review: RTX 4070

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The Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) It keeps its stunning 17-inch UHD+ IPS display, but lacks an OLED option, and the display offers a 60Hz refresh rate.

Dell 17 9730 Left Side Ports
Left Side Ports
Dell 17 9730 Right Side Ports
Right Side Ports

The slim 130-watt charging brick uses USB Type-C and includes a power cord with USB-A and HDMI ports. It weighs 2.448 kg (5.4 pounds) on its own and 2.901 kg with the charger. On the left side, you’ll find a Kensington Lock port and two USB Type-C ports for data transfer, charging, and display output. The right edge features two additional USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack, overall the port selection is excellent.

Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023)

The Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) features a 720p webcam with infrared technology for Windows Hello face recognition, and the power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner. However, I find the camera disappointing. In 2023, a 1080p resolution should be standard for remote and hybrid work setups. Clear video quality is crucial for effective communication in virtual meetings and conferences. While the 720p camera provides decent quality, a higher resolution would better meet current standards and needs for clear video during virtual interactions.

The keyboard on the XPS 17 9730 meets my expectations with its consistent key travel and tactility, similar to last year’s model. keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience for long documents and emails. However, the keyboard lacks a numpad despite the laptop’s 17-inch size, which might disappoint users who need it for number-heavy tasks. On the plus side the extra space can be a benefit for some users and multi-level backlight is a useful feature for typing in low-light conditions.

The touchpad is spacious and highly responsive during testing, scrolling and gestures worked seamlessly, with no issues of looseness or other problems. Quality control on my review unit was satisfactory.

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Display and Audio

Dell XPS 17 9730 UHD-Display

The Dell XPS 17 9730 features a UHD+ display with a resolution of 3840 x 2400 and an IPS panel. Although it lacks an OLED option like the Dell XPS 15, it offers excellent color accuracy ideal for content creation. Anti-reflective coating reduces glare, and with a brightness of up to 501nits performs well both indoors and outdoors though direct sunlight may still cause some glare. Display is vibrant and supports multi-touch navigation though 60Hz refresh rate could be improved in future models.

The XPS 17 also includes quad speakers two woofers and two tweeters with a total output of eight watts. For its 17-inch the audio quality is impressive delivering rich sound with noticeable bass and clear mids. However, compared to the MacBook Pro 14, which has superior speakers in my opinion, the XPS 17’s audio, while good, doesn’t quite match up. Apple’s MacBook Pro 14 stands out for exceptional sound quality making it a better choice for those who prioritize top-notch audio performance.

User Upgradeability

On the upgradeability front, you can enhance both the RAM and SSDs. It has two RAM slots and two SSD slots you can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz in dual-channel mode. For SSDs you have two slots that can accommodate up to 8TB of storage with each slot supporting up to 4TB. The pre-installed 1TB SSD offers impressive PCIe Gen 4 speeds for both reading and writing.

For wireless connectivity, the laptop includes Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 and a soldered Bluetooth combo card, which cannot be upgraded. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have performed seamlessly. Although the Killer Wi-Fi 6 supports Wi-Fi 6, it may not have the updated antennas for Wi-Fi 6E. However, I experienced no issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth during use.

Performance and Benchmarks

BenchmarksScores
PCMARK 107,327
GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core)2,527
GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core)13,300
CINEBENCH R206,105
CINEBENCH R152,761 CB | 219,09 FPS
3DMARK Fire Strike22,197
3DMARK Time Spy9,235
Benchmarks Score

Dell XPS 17 9730 features Intel’s 13th Gen Core i7-13700H processor, which operates at 45 watts. With its 14k benchmark score, eight efficient cores, and six performance cores, it provides strong single and multi-core performance. Everyday tasks, such as using Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing, run smoothly and efficiently.

LaptopCINEBENCH R23 (Single-Core) Score
Dell XPS 15 9530 Core i9-13900H1,980
Dell XPS 17 9730 Core i7-13700H1,891
Dell XPS 15 9530 Core i7-1370H1,883
Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra
 Core i7-13700H		1,853
CINBENCH R23

Dell XPS 17 is excellent for video editing with software like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which consumes 60 to 70 watts. Although not a gaming laptop, it handles popular games well and supports additional GPUs through its four Thunderbolt 4 ports. This laptop is ideal for content creators offering powerful performance with the RTX4070 which shows significant improvement over the previous 9720 model. ​

During the Time Spy stress test, the XPS 17 achieved a remarkable score of 98.2%, showing minimal thermal throttling under heavy loads. The laptop remains comfortably cool with manageable surface temperatures, thanks to its efficient Vapor Chamber Cooling system—an upgrade from the Dell XPS 15’s cooling system. In ultra-performance mode, the fan noise reaches around 47 to 48 decibels. While noticeable, it’s not excessively loud compared to some other laptops, making it generally tolerable.

Battery Life

The Dell XPS 17 9730 retains the same 97 watt-hour battery capacity as its predecessor but shows significant improvements in battery life. In the PC Mark 10 Modern Office test, it lasted 8 hours and 44 minutes, a notable increase from the 5 hours and 56 minutes achieved by the 9520 model.

For video playback, the XPS 17 9730 performed even better, enduring 9 hours and 7 minutes compared to 5 hours and 41 minutes on the previous model. However, battery life drops significantly during gaming, typically lasting around an hour. Dell XPS 17 offers enhanced battery performance for everyday tasks video playback and general use giving users more flexibility and reducing the need for frequent recharging.

Final Thought

The Dell XPS 17 9730 for 2023 offers notable improvements over last year’s model (9720), including better single and multi-core performance, enhanced graphics, and longer battery life. However, the design remains unchanged for the third iteration, which might feel outdated to some. The 720p webcam is also disappointing in 2023, given the growing need for high-quality video communication. Additionally, the lack of Wi-Fi 6E support, high refresh rate options, and an OLED display choice are drawbacks to consider.

While the XPS 17 9730 has made significant strides the design limitations and missing features should be weighed carefully before making a decision.

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Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) Review: RTX 4070

by

The Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) It keeps its stunning 17-inch UHD+ IPS display, but lacks an OLED option, and the display offers a 60Hz refresh rate.

Dell 17 9730 Left Side Ports
Left Side Ports
Dell 17 9730 Right Side Ports
Right Side Ports

The slim 130-watt charging brick uses USB Type-C and includes a power cord with USB-A and HDMI ports. It weighs 2.448 kg (5.4 pounds) on its own and 2.901 kg with the charger. On the left side, you’ll find a Kensington Lock port and two USB Type-C ports for data transfer, charging, and display output. The right edge features two additional USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support a full-size SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack, overall the port selection is excellent.

Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023)

The Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023) features a 720p webcam with infrared technology for Windows Hello face recognition, and the power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner. However, I find the camera disappointing. In 2023, a 1080p resolution should be standard for remote and hybrid work setups. Clear video quality is crucial for effective communication in virtual meetings and conferences. While the 720p camera provides decent quality, a higher resolution would better meet current standards and needs for clear video during virtual interactions.

The keyboard on the XPS 17 9730 meets my expectations with its consistent key travel and tactility, similar to last year’s model. keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience for long documents and emails. However, the keyboard lacks a numpad despite the laptop’s 17-inch size, which might disappoint users who need it for number-heavy tasks. On the plus side the extra space can be a benefit for some users and multi-level backlight is a useful feature for typing in low-light conditions.

The touchpad is spacious and highly responsive during testing, scrolling and gestures worked seamlessly, with no issues of looseness or other problems. Quality control on my review unit was satisfactory.

There is an issue displaying Amazon products. Please contact the administrator to check that.

Display and Audio

Dell XPS 17 9730 UHD-Display

The Dell XPS 17 9730 features a UHD+ display with a resolution of 3840 x 2400 and an IPS panel. Although it lacks an OLED option like the Dell XPS 15, it offers excellent color accuracy ideal for content creation. Anti-reflective coating reduces glare, and with a brightness of up to 501nits performs well both indoors and outdoors though direct sunlight may still cause some glare. Display is vibrant and supports multi-touch navigation though 60Hz refresh rate could be improved in future models.

The XPS 17 also includes quad speakers two woofers and two tweeters with a total output of eight watts. For its 17-inch the audio quality is impressive delivering rich sound with noticeable bass and clear mids. However, compared to the MacBook Pro 14, which has superior speakers in my opinion, the XPS 17’s audio, while good, doesn’t quite match up. Apple’s MacBook Pro 14 stands out for exceptional sound quality making it a better choice for those who prioritize top-notch audio performance.

User Upgradeability

On the upgradeability front, you can enhance both the RAM and SSDs. It has two RAM slots and two SSD slots you can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz in dual-channel mode. For SSDs you have two slots that can accommodate up to 8TB of storage with each slot supporting up to 4TB. The pre-installed 1TB SSD offers impressive PCIe Gen 4 speeds for both reading and writing.

For wireless connectivity, the laptop includes Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 and a soldered Bluetooth combo card, which cannot be upgraded. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have performed seamlessly. Although the Killer Wi-Fi 6 supports Wi-Fi 6, it may not have the updated antennas for Wi-Fi 6E. However, I experienced no issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth during use.

Performance and Benchmarks

BenchmarksScores
PCMARK 107,327
GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core)2,527
GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core)13,300
CINEBENCH R206,105
CINEBENCH R152,761 CB | 219,09 FPS
3DMARK Fire Strike22,197
3DMARK Time Spy9,235
Benchmarks Score

Dell XPS 17 9730 features Intel’s 13th Gen Core i7-13700H processor, which operates at 45 watts. With its 14k benchmark score, eight efficient cores, and six performance cores, it provides strong single and multi-core performance. Everyday tasks, such as using Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing, run smoothly and efficiently.

LaptopCINEBENCH R23 (Single-Core) Score
Dell XPS 15 9530 Core i9-13900H1,980
Dell XPS 17 9730 Core i7-13700H1,891
Dell XPS 15 9530 Core i7-1370H1,883
Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra
 Core i7-13700H		1,853
CINBENCH R23

Dell XPS 17 is excellent for video editing with software like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which consumes 60 to 70 watts. Although not a gaming laptop, it handles popular games well and supports additional GPUs through its four Thunderbolt 4 ports. This laptop is ideal for content creators offering powerful performance with the RTX4070 which shows significant improvement over the previous 9720 model. ​

During the Time Spy stress test, the XPS 17 achieved a remarkable score of 98.2%, showing minimal thermal throttling under heavy loads. The laptop remains comfortably cool with manageable surface temperatures, thanks to its efficient Vapor Chamber Cooling system—an upgrade from the Dell XPS 15’s cooling system. In ultra-performance mode, the fan noise reaches around 47 to 48 decibels. While noticeable, it’s not excessively loud compared to some other laptops, making it generally tolerable.

Battery Life

The Dell XPS 17 9730 retains the same 97 watt-hour battery capacity as its predecessor but shows significant improvements in battery life. In the PC Mark 10 Modern Office test, it lasted 8 hours and 44 minutes, a notable increase from the 5 hours and 56 minutes achieved by the 9520 model.

For video playback, the XPS 17 9730 performed even better, enduring 9 hours and 7 minutes compared to 5 hours and 41 minutes on the previous model. However, battery life drops significantly during gaming, typically lasting around an hour. Dell XPS 17 offers enhanced battery performance for everyday tasks video playback and general use giving users more flexibility and reducing the need for frequent recharging.

Final Thought

The Dell XPS 17 9730 for 2023 offers notable improvements over last year’s model (9720), including better single and multi-core performance, enhanced graphics, and longer battery life. However, the design remains unchanged for the third iteration, which might feel outdated to some. The 720p webcam is also disappointing in 2023, given the growing need for high-quality video communication. Additionally, the lack of Wi-Fi 6E support, high refresh rate options, and an OLED display choice are drawbacks to consider.

While the XPS 17 9730 has made significant strides the design limitations and missing features should be weighed carefully before making a decision.