Question about HP Envy 14 Graphics Card Capability

Hey,

So, looking for a new laptop. I was pretty much set on getting a 15.6 incher so that I could game a bit on it as well, and leaning towards dv6t quad edition, which is still a possibility, BUT...

HP is currently having a promotion about giving free Xbox 360 to students who buy certain laptops including both that one and the envy 14. now, i am thinking, if i took advantage of that and got a 360, my need for a laptop with good gaming capability would decrease. at that point, the drawback of the envy would pretty much be mostly the lesser screen resolution, which is sad, but might be worth it to save a couple hundred buck and for the increased portability, dunno, thats another question entirely...

my question HERE concerns just what the 1GB DDR3 ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 graphics card in comes with CAN do. Basically, the one game I can think of that I really would like to play on a comp and not a 360 would be Sims 3. Also, I would like to be able to do some light-moderate photoshop work as well. And watch some movies, tv show streaming, etc. How would Envy's processor handle these tasks?

Any input MUCH appreciated...I am on a budget and prefer my laptops on the smaller side these days, so this possibility is a bit tempting I must say...

also, just to clarify, the envy i am looking at is the recently refreshed with quad processor if that makes a dif to my inquiry.

 

I use photoshop on my HD5650M and play BFBC2 on Medium/High settings without any problems. Only my HDD is working very bad ( makes lags) i will buy a 64SSD next month .
However the HD5650M is ok. In my opinion photoshop uses more CPU pwr but the GPU is ok. Anyway if youre not using high demanding software you wont profit from a Quad core and you will lack GPU performance. Im sure Sims 3 can be runned MAXed out .

 

how are you going to buy the new envy if its not out yet? And the difference between an envy and a dv6 is quite mediocre, both are really about the same size and weight, but the d6t qe with the 33% off coupon can be retailed for less than 800, which can open you to buy a x360

 

well, maybe i am confused. when i configure the envy on HP website I get this as processor

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-740QM Quad Core processor (1.73GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz

which i assumed to be the newer model. i wasnt looking too closely at the processor honestly, if that is the older model still, my mistake.

the way i configured the notebooks, it really amounts to, for me:

1,295 for the dv6t + free Xbox at 199 value

1,021 for dv6t with coupon and no Xbox (which is the option i will go with if i get the dv6t as i do not actually NEED an Xbox, and will forgo purchasing one as well and just game on the notebook)

or

999 for Envy 14 + Free Xbox at 199 value

You can see why the Envy does become a feasible option, just from a numbers perspective, at this point.

I am aware that the size/weight difference isn't THAT much, but I dont wear backbacks ever and I'm kind of forever going around with too heavy bags that are difficult for me to carry because im not really...strong, so even somewhat smaller would be advantageous to some degree...

 

You also have to consider other differences like inferior processor and battery life. Atleast wait a day or 2 cause the Envy 14 SB might just launch

 

ah, that is good to know. well, if i decide to go with the envy i will hold off on the purchase then, though i really do need to make a decision as that 33% coupon for the dv6t is only good through today.

The lesser battery life of the envy is a bit of a bummer, though technically its only less as compared to the dv6t's 9 cell battery option. It seems to be the same or even a tad bit more than the 6 cell?

I definitely do get that its not as powerful, and wouldnt even be considering it really if not for that Xbox option, which would kind of cover most of my gaming needs other than aformentioned desire to play Sims 3, and without gaming in the equation, need for power would be less as well...

Im just...so not up to date with current graphics cards anymore so no good idea what they are or arent capable of...

 

Envy 14 with the quad core will last a max of 3hrs, but the HP 6cell quad core will last 4-5hrs.
The 5650m is a good mid range GPU fine for most games at Medium and a few at low. But HP downclocked the 5650m in the Envy thus making it worse than a regular 5650m.

 

What did you add to make the price go that high?

As I said, the only worth upgrades are the screen and the 6770m 1gb, it already comes with 6gb of ram, and if you want speed get an SSD aftermarket

Currently for me that is the best buy, whereas the envy is a worst case scenario.

I wouldnt be too torn about the coupon expiring, since the 33% off, replaced a 375 off, that was replaced with a 20% off, that was also replaced by a 30% off.

all this since the ID4

 

i added that graphics upgrade + upgrade to the bigger screen resolution (as this is one of the selling points of the dv6t for me) + 9 cell battery (ditto) + 2 year warranty, which i also feel is a must since the laptop that just died did so like 1.5 months after one year warranty expired :/

I am kind of seeing that the Envy 14 is...not exactly a great solution. I mean, the xbox thing is until end of the month so i can wait till then and see if the upgrade comes out, but if that battery life is going to be as short as you guys say...

Dunno, I'm kind of looking at Lenovos Y470 now too. With the current sale and a coupon, the price for the model I am looking at is quite competative at 949 and it has the new processor, 4-5 hours of battery life, 8gb ram, nvidia gt 520m...plus its smaller/lighter...basically seems superior to the Envy in all ways. Granted, theres no Xbox in that equation for me, and a much more mediocre overall gaming situation, but...i survived on a netbook as my defacto only computer for like the last year...and really questioning whether i want the whole 15.6" thing...

thanks for letting me know about the coupon situation though. good to know i dont really have to decide TODAY

 

ahhh warranty is always a good buy, my lenovo started giving me problems after 1 month of the warranty expire date.

the y470 comes with a gt 550m or gt 540m, cant remember which, however it wont come with the gt 520m. however the HP is still going to be miles ahead in gaming

 

wow, yeah, gt 550m, no idea why i wrote 520 o__o

but yeah, i guess it all comes down to personal preference of size vs. power for me at this point, all other things being more or less equal between dv6t and y470...

thanks for the input guys.

 

humm they are not equals, since the dv6t qe, is packing a FHD screen, it gives you almost 2x the workspace of the 720p screen on the y470

 

Another few things to keep in mind would be that the envy 14 can use the slice battery which should offer improved battery life (especially with the SB update when it comes) and keep in mind the xbox only comes with a 4GB HDD (as far as I know) which means you would probably need to purchase a larger one in the future (and a LIVE subscription for online play). About the envy refresh, is there any chance of a graphics update also? If so that could be interesting

 

I would recommend the dv6t. I really don't like HP (mainly because in my country there is no warranty if bought from the states, there is no discount if I bought HERE and the local technical service sucks... if any) but with that coupon and extended warranty is an excelent offer. Two years from now, when warranty dies, sell it and buy another for 2 years.

 

Mr MM, i didn't mean they were literally equal, i am aware that the dv6t has much better screen real estate, more like the pros and cons of each more or less equal out when i made a pro and con list as opposed to the Envy which just straight up lost the pros and cons contest....

I've decided I'm def not getting the Envy, its just a question of the dv6t vs. Lenovo Y470 for me now, have given up on the Xbox idea totally. as bacnation wisely pointed out, even if its free it would require more of an expense to get Live, games, plus i dont even have an even half decent TV to play it on, nor do i really have the budget to be getting those things so yeah, that was a pipe dream.

Really, hardware wise dv6t is without a doubt the superior option. I just hesisitate basically because the more i think about it...while playing games will be nice, i doubt i'll have the time to do it too much since i will be going to grad school full time + working at least part time and yeah. it might make sense for me to sacrifice the better graphics and screen...for the portability, really, of the lenovo, which is pretty impressive i think in itself and also lenovo is supposed to be a pretty reliable company as far as build quality goes which is important...

 

Don't sacrifice screen + graphics. I used to think the same "I won't have the time to play games" BUT I created that time. Between my work and family (2 kids) I usually play a minimum of 30mins daily... and a few hours on weekends and holidays. That few hours I game are sufficient to kill stress. I only have a GT445, But with that video I can play almost all 2010 games on high/Ultra. And some 2011 on high (I only buy Steam games ON SALE, so mostly are 2010 and below). And is TOTALLY WORTH IT. With that HP you would get better performance and graphics!.

Enjoy your little time, is my opinion and advice.

 

Hum. Maybe you are right. About being able to make the time and whatnot. And I mean, if the portability is really an issue...I could save up and get a tablet or another netbook. They're not that expensive...

 

I used to have a 13.3" Macbook, and then bought the 15" MBPro. And then this Dell 17". I go from home to work and then back home again. On my car. With both Macbooks I used to have messenger bags... with the 17" I necessarily go for a backpack. Between the 13" and 17" I loose a lot of portability, BUT, because the nature of my work, I gained a lot in productivity because the screen only. And gaming experience is far superior on a bigger screen xD

I believe between the lenovo and dv6t there is no much difference on portability, mostly because the dv6t slim factor. And people say the HP 1080p screen is superb. That + 33% discount makes a great difference.

All that is just my opinion.

 

well with me i either walk, take public transport and/or rollerblade everywhere so i would def feel the difference when taking it with me but...you do have a point, that it is like...one and a half inch difference in size which isn't THAT much, and like a pound in weight...helpful but not a HUGE difference and it is slim...i think part of my problem might be that i associate 15 inch range laptops with my very first laptop, which i got when i graduated high school so...2006 i guess, which was pretty big and bulky and a pain to carry everywhere....after that i got a 12.8, then the 10 inch netbook so i associate going back up to returning to that behamoth. but i guess technology has shrinked things down a bit in the last five years or so too...

and yeah. if it was just the graphics speed/gaming, i could settle for lenovo's, because really that nvidia is pretty decent too, good enough for my needs, *really*, but...its also the great great screen, AND an extra 4 hours of battery life.

your opinion is quite helpful. perhaps i'll even be able to overcome my indecision and order this thing tonight, still :0

 

the lenovo standard of quality is confined in the X, T, W series, those are real thinkpads. The ideapad line is not up to it

 

:0
i was not aware of that fact. Well, then...

 

well, i put in my order for the dv6t so yeah, the decision has been made with finality. thanks again for all the input guys. the deal really was worth it, i think, and i got really good financing through the bill me later thing to boot. apparently my credit is quite good, lol.