Dell Precision 5690 Review: A Powerhouse AI Workstation for Professionals

In the world of laptops, there's a hierarchy: consumer laptops, business laptops, gaming laptops, and at the pinnacle, workstation laptops. The Dell Precision 5690 sits firmly in this top tier, outperforming its counterparts in other categories thanks to its focus on components meant for high-end professional workloads.

If you're shopping for a Workstation laptop like the 16-inch Dell Precision 5690, or its 14-inch cousin the Precision 54590, it might be because you're an architect working in CAD programs, or doing data science where you're analyzing large sets of information, or really high-end photo and video work, or you're developing AI apps and need a lot of computing headroom. Whatever the reason, the Dell Precision 5690 is a formidable workstation laptop that blurs the line between portable computing and desktop-class performance. 

How does a workstation laptop compare to a consumer laptop? In workstations, you're going to find Windows 11 Pro, and you're going to have a lot of RAM. In the Precision 5690 I tested, I had 32GB or RAM, and in the 14-inch 5490 I also tested, I had a whopping 64GB of RAM. That's especially important if you'll be loading up big local large language models for AI work. For that kind of task, at least 32GB of RAM is suggested.

Instead of a more familiar NVIDIA GeForce 4080 or something similar for graphics, a workstation will have something like the NVIDIA RTX Ada card found here. These pro-level GPUs are optimized for stability and performance, have more Cuda cores and higher memory bandwidth. They can also have higher clock speeds and error-correcting code (ECC) memory. Yes, they can play games, too, but that's not what they're designed for. 

Unlike clunky workstations of the past, the Precision 5690 borrows design cues from Dell's consumer lines, resulting in an understated yet professional aesthetic. This 16-inch laptop manages to strike a balance between power and portability, weighing in at a reasonable 4.6 pounds, considering it houses a substantial 99.5Wh battery. 

The 16-inch display on the Precision 5690 is a standout feature. Precisions come with a variety of screen options, and I tested a 4K model, while the standard 1,920x1,200 is better for battery life. Both the 16-inch 5690 and the 14-inch 5490 have matte displays, which I greatly prefer for long-term use, as they help you avoid excess glare and reflections. 

Performance and AI

At the heart of the Precision 5690 lies its workstation-class components, like the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPUs, which include NPUs, or neural processing units. Our configuration had 32GB of RAM, which is crucial for memory-intensive tasks such as AI development or working with large datasets. Having lots of RAM is especially essential for professionals pushing the boundaries of local AI processing or handling extremely large files.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Precision 5690 is its ability to handle local AI tasks with ease. During our testing, we installed LM Studio and NVIDIA's Chat RTX to explore the laptop's capabilities in running AI models locally. The system handled these demanding tasks easily, showcasing its potential as a mobile AI development platform.

Running AI models locally, versus in the cloud, offers several advantages, including greater control over the specific models you're using; enhanced data security, as sensitive information doesn't need to be uploaded to the cloud; the ability to work offline; and reduced latency compared to cloud-based solutions. 

The combination of a powerful CPU, professional-grade GPU, and ample RAM makes the Precision 5690 an excellent choice for professionals looking to explore the world of local AI development.

For professionals wondering if they need a workstation of this caliber, it's worth considering your specific workflow requirements. If you find yourself consistently pushing the limits of consumer or business-grade laptops, the Precision 5690 could be the solution you've been seeking.