P-16831fx gateway 8800m gts

An XP tip:

The problem - Some XP installer CDs (including my XP Pro Edition CD) will not have the storage drivers built in to have Setup find your harddrive, this is a pain when installing XP since it will ask for the drivers on a floppy and for you to press F6 to load them.

The fix -
1. Install nlite ( http://www.nliteos.com/ )
Run it, it will ask for your Windows CD, pop it in, it will then copy it to your harddrive. When it's done with this and brings you to the menu of things you may want to do with this XP CD, exit it.

2. Get a driver pack ( http://driverpacks.net/DriverPacks/ )
You will need the base pack ( http://driverpacks.net/DriverPacks/DriverPack.php?pag=b ) and the mass storage pack ( http://driverpacks.net/DriverPacks/DriverPack.php?pag=m )
I used others just to see if I could get audio, but those methods didn't work, I'm about to try this method: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2939257&postcount=647

3. Extract the base pack, copy the .7z of the mass storage pack into the extracted folder's Base\DriverPacks\ directory (you may want to read it's instructions)

4. Run the program, select the MassStorage driver pack, then SlipStream

5. Fire up nlite again, you might want to mess with settings and options in here, I know that I really liked a lot of the options it had. Read up on their website before removing any software or doing anything that you aren't sure of. I tweak out my desktop to make it clean and also remove stuff like MSN and languages that I don't use.

6. Create the ISO

7. Burn the iso
If you don't have a program to burn the ISO then I recommend this since it is free and released under the GPL 2 license: http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/
A helpful guid for if you're completely lost on this part: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

I hope this helps some of you ditch the bloat of Windows Vista and get a nice clean XP install running on this awesome laptop.

If you just want to mod your vista there's vlite: http://www.vlite.net/

 

thank you th3t1nm4n I'll ad it to the guide.

updated guide

 

bwhxeon - I just finished following your guide, audio works fine. Thanks ;]

 

^^ the audio works, the thing thats confusing me is there is still a unknown audio device in the device manager, but like I said its only a temporary fix for now I'm sure I'll figure it out. Thanks again for helping out with the xp guide.

 

I still don't have the on-board speakers working in Linux and I dislike Vista very much, so this is a major improvement for me. No problem with the help. Once you tidy up the guide you should a add link to the nvidia forceware driver on laptopvideo2go.com, this laptop was the first time I've ever had to install an nvidia driver with a modififed INF file and it wasn't hard, but the link could be useful to someone who doesn't know exactly what they're looking for.

 

Allright, returned the defect model and got a fresh one. 7005 score out of the box, 7176 after fresh install

GPU is staying steady mostly under 60 degrees, CPU feels a bit higher than the defect model, but all in all everything is working top notch!!

bwhxeon, how much of a performance boost have you gotten from XP?

 

th3t1nm4n, thanks for that. I was about to slipstream manually. Just curious are you using your XP cd to slipstream SP3?

bwhxeon-Thanks for all the support and help on this thread. I just got mine yesterday. Haven't had much time to play with it but so far I love it. Only thing I want people to know is the stupid cd tray on the left hand side which I keep opening when I pick up the laptop because I hit the button. My fault entirely but still annoying.

Awesome thread *Cough Cough Sticky*

 

Lights -
I tried SP3 before but it seemed to break one of the driver packs that I slipstreamed so I decided not to use it. I rarely use Windows though, I just wanted XP so I could play Crysis, F.E.A.R. Combat, and Call of Duty 4 on this laptop (I run Linux as my main OS). My CD has SP2 slipstreamed on it already and that works for me.

I have that same problem with the CD tray ejecting, the button is sensitive and exposed. It's also right where I push to close the CD tray, so I'll close it and it will eject again immediately

 

is the 167.43 drivers the driver that comes with the laptop??

 

I never ran any test out of the box, the 167.43 driver I pulled off of laptopvideo2go.

I was going to add the driver that I'm currently using to the package, but I think your way is better I'll just add a link.

 

just got mine about an hour ago (its sweet)

im planning on doing a clean install and updating the vid driver first thing, but was wondering about "bigfix"? is that just some more bloatware or is it something useful?

 

Ran the test again,
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14729&stc=1&d=1201910595
2008-02-01_151649.pnghttp://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14730&stc=1&d=1201910668
2008-02-01_151803.png

 

You don't need bigfix. It is basically an automatic update service = resource hog. Your are better off without it. You can find the latest drivers yourself easily enough. Windows Update will take care of the rest.

 

What "tweeks" did you do to up your score by 1200+?

 

I just picked up one of these a couple of hours ago. I was reading in this thread about how you needed to make backup discs before reformatting. Can someone link me to the page/post# where there is a guide for that. The thread has gotten so huge that I have forgotten where it is.

 

Run the Gateway Recovery Center. Option to create Driver DVD should be the last one. You may also want to create System Restore, first one. Regardless, Driver DVD should be manditory.

 

9800 with a 8800M GTS ? man,I am officially impressed!

 

sorry to ruin ur excitment.

I have used this notebook for almost 2 weeks (still have 2 days to return it.)
the webcam in this notebook is the worst i ever use in dark condition.
The night mode jumps back to normal mode when it's too dark, ironically.

 

Page 32

Who buys this notebook for the webcam? Buy a plug in cam.

I tell you guys later still experimenting, (Maybe I shouldn't some of you guys can't even install a GPU driver, no offense just don't want anybody messing up their rig)

 

Please do tell, just throw up a disclaimer for those who tend to skip the first 60 pages of the thread. Personally Im just a cheapskate and I muussst know the limits of something before I buy it (the t9300 in this case).

 

I know this is a notebook site but checkout these new FX desktops, sweet chipset, saw one at best buy good looking machine, Hybrid HD/blueray! The one at BB was different it was $1099 but had 3K ram and an 8800GT vs the $999 model listed. http://www.businesswire.com/portal/...ng=en&beanID=267045684&viewID=news_view_popup

 

It's easy to "tweak" , just go into your NV control panel and in your image properties set all of them to performance instead of quality for that extra fps boost or 3dmark06 score. Sure, things dont look as great but hey, you get a better score.

 

Got my upgrade parts today. Here is a rough look of what I've seen so far.

Stock
Processor - 4.7
Memory - 4.5
Graphics - 5.9
Game Graphics - 5.8
HD - 5.2
3DMarks - 6980

T9300
Processor - 5.4
Memory - 5.1
Graphics - 5.9
Gaming Graphics - 5.8
HD - 5.2
3DMarks - 8675

T9300 + 4gigs DDR2(6400)
Processor - 5.5
Memory - 5.1
Graphics - 5.9
Gaming Graphics - 5.8
HD - 5.2
3DMark - 8666

T9300 + 4gigs DDR2 (6400) + 2x7200 200 gig Hitachi drives (Raid 0)
Processor - 5.5
Memory - 5.1
Graphics - 5.9
Gaming Graphics - 5.8
Primary Hard Disk - 5.9

 

Thanks! great post!

 

After running 3DMark06 my Max Temps were CPU: 65 C & GPU 79 C then after testing dropped to CPU: 42 C & GPU: 61 C. Are these high temps normal during testing? I know the go higher than when idle but are they in a safe range?

Thanks for any replies.

 

What program did you use to monitor your CPU/GPU ?
Thanks .

 

I used HWMonitor v1.06 by CPUID

 

How did you upgrade the CPU? And where did you buy it?!

 

GPU Idle at 61C is pretty high. But you indicated that 61C was right after you finished your 3DMark06 test.

In my FX, Idle CPU = 40C and GPU = 50C(40C when on power saver). Load CPU = 55C and GPU = 65C.

 

I use Everest Ultimate... it's pretty good. You may want to google that one.

 

Hey, just wanted to let you guys know that Lagoom is legit, I ordered a T9300 on Thursday based on a prior link in this thread, had never heard of them before, had em overnight it to me, and it showed up right on time and I got it installed last night.... works great! I put it in my Toshiba X205, but it's the same chip you guys need. So, great price and they shipped right on time.... great in my book!

As a side note if anybody cares, I went from low ~7200 or so with stock clocks and cpu (T7250) up to 8100 at stock gpu clocks with the T9300.

Overclocking a bit, I went from 8000 with the T7250, up to 9702 with the T9300 at the same gpu overclock! So, definately a good little CPU, and scaled up great with a gpu overclock!

 

Sorry guys for the noob question, but I am a little confused on to what driver to get from laptopvideo2go. I see 170 series and 160 series. I was looking on the 160 series ones but I can't figure out what is the correct one for my system. Can someone enlighten me.

 

Just get the 167.46 from microsoft update. I thought it was new but it overwriten my 169.28 drivers. Gaming wise, Crysis seems to run at same FPS. I don't notice any performance increase or decrease.

 

I followed the steps on the laptopvideo2go guide and the only 8800m I see in the list of models in that driver is

8800M GTX
8800M GTX

What model did you chose?

 

Nice... but how did you upgrade the CPU ?

I still kind of dont get it... EVEREST Ultimate is a management program...

 

On page 59 is a guide sounds easy compared to most laptops. Newegg has cpu's, or you could just look at the top of this page.

 

I have found out how (seemed very, maybe even too easy to do...)

On newegg I only find T7XXX procs...

 

Got a couple of questions, for the rest of you with this system. I've noticed that at times when I'm not really doing anything to strain the PC, that the hard drive light will flicker on and the drive will make a clicking type noise, that kinda sounds like its accessing data, but it isn't just the normal hum of the drive(It doesnt really sound BAD, its just kinda loud compared to the quiet hum it normally has). I believe I noticed the same noise when I had my Dell with a 250gig HD also. I dunno if I'm being paranoid, or if this is actually a sign that I may have gotten a bad HDD (I hope its not), seems strange that it would happen in two computers. So has anyone else noticed a noise from their hard drive?

Second question is about DVD playback, I've noticed that when theres lots of motion going on, theres lines that I can see running through the peoples faces and bodies and stuff, like it cant keep up the picture. Has anyone else tested DVDs and noticed the playback quality. Is it possibly just the drive they used was a lower quality one to keep the cost down, or are there other drivers? Of course I don't use the DVD player much so its not a big deal for me, but I was wondering what everyone elses experiences were with them.

And the last question, I know theres been a lot of talk about video drivers going on, and I dont really want to read through all 60 pages of the thread again.. but did anyone ever find out what the best version of the laptopvideo2go drivers are for the 8800?

Thanks

 

Can you tell what resolution you ran the test at? The default 1280 x 1024 on an external monitor or 1280 x 800 on the built-in display? Thanks.

In front of me I have both the P-1631FX *and* a Toshiba X205-SLi1. I'm trying to decide which to keep. I have a T9300 on the way that will be installed in the one I keep. I'm really torn between the two. I just picked up the Gateway yesterday and it is as good as everyone is reporting, but the Toshiba has some compelling features as well. (The audio and speakers for one.)

Over in the Toshiba forums, Be77solo just posted similar numbers to yours on his X205 with a T9300...but he ran the test at 1280 x 800. (his result was 9702) I didn't expect the 8600M GT SLi to do so well with the T9300...hence my dilemma deciding which to keep! I am leaning towards the Gateway at the moment...

 

has anyone ran Oblivion on 1900 resolution with max settings on the gateway p fx yet? if anyone has please let me know how it runs.

 

I just got this monster of a machine and i'm doing the whole burning of the application/drivers disc and its been at it for well over an hour and a half. It says "100%" but also burning underneath that and there hasnt been a congratuations screen or anything saying its done. Either way, i'm just curious how long it took the users on here to do this and if i should just abort and start over.

 

Earliest ETA on P-171 FX version is March/2008 to customer's door I hear. So no one knows yet.

 

Keep the one that has lowest resell value. If you can return FX for full price, keep the X205. If you can sell X205 for $1400, keep the FX.

 

I have also noted the thing about the hard-drive. I noticed when I put vista on my desktop, my hard-drive always seemed to be active. I guess writing logs, indexing, and so forth.

 

thats a relief, I figured it might have something to do with the indexing. Maybe if I unindex the hard drive it might stop?

 

You could test it i guess. I'm really not sure if that will be the source of the "problem" though. It could be a combination of everything writing tiny bits of data on the hard-drive that makes it stay active enough so you hear that noise.

 

1280x800. I actually had an X205-SLi1 and gave it to a relative for a "Good deal" it was a very good laptop, but the Gateway is better. The Gateway posts far higher FPS in games by far, remember the SLi1 plays games that aren't SLi enabled with only 1 8600GT, the Gateway has a better build Quality, I really didn't like the Toshiba's keyboard but the speakers are fantastic. Good luck swapping the CPU in the Toshiba, your going to have to totally disassemble it, check be77solo"s post in the Toshiba section. The Toshiba also runs very hot, that always concerned me. http://www.cnettv.com/9742-1_53-31915.html

 

In vista there is a PERFORMANCE AND something MONITOR...

Once you find it just lower the HDD tab and look at what programs are writing/reading etc... by clicking on write or read to list them ascending or descending so then you'll know

Its almost like task manager just for RAM, CPU, HDD and Network

rep me baby

 

Just use the 167.58 drivers then.

 

you guys need to stop focusing on 3dmark scores so much and check the actual reviews for the systems. Sli 8600m gt's are nice but look at the x205 sli review, sli barely helped at all and in UT3 it did absolutely nothing.