14 DAY TRIAL // Dell is currently working on a new version of its popular 15.6-inch XPS series notebooks that will be designed to feature Intel’s next-generation Ivy Bridge processors and, most probably, Nvidia Kepler graphics.
Some of the specifications of this new XPS range were uncovered by Dell Labs, which has learned that for these notebooks Dell plans to switch to a Full HD 15.6-inch display.
This will apparently come packing a special anti-glare coating to make it legible even in direct sunlight, although we tend to believe that a glossy version of the display will also be available.
On the inside, the new XPS models will be powered by Intel’s 22nm Ivy Bridge processors, with users being able to choose between the Core i5-3210M and the Core i7-3612QM.
Even though both of these chips support about the same feature sets, the i7-3612QM is actually a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.3GHz and with a 3.3GHz maximum Turbo speed, while the Core i5-3210M includes only two processing cores clocked at 2.5GHz (3.1GHz maximum Turbo).
Dell will apparently pair these chips with 1GB and 2GB Nvidia Kepler GPUs and with between 2GB and 8GB of system memory. Both 1333MHZ and 1600MHz options will be available.
Business customers can also opt for having a TPM module installed in their Dell XPS laptop.
As far as storage is concerned, Dell will provide various hard drive and SSD options to its clients with capacities going all the way to 1TB (512GB in the case of SSDs).
Those requiring additional storage space, or higher data transfer speeds, from their notebook, are also free to pair it with an mSATA solid state drive, Dell offering these in capacities ranging from 32GB to 256GB.
The rest of the features list includes a 9Cell 65WHr battery pack as well as an x8 DVD-RW or an x5 DVDRW/Blu-ray combo optical drive.
Sadly, no details regarding the prices or the availability of the Dell XPS L521X notebooks have been made available so far. However, if we were to guess, we would say that these should be announced at the end of April or early May, soon after Intel makes its Ivy Bridge CPUs official.