New P-6860FX Owner with some questions.

Greetings,

First time posting on these forums.

Bought my first gaming laptop today...P6860FX

So far I am very pleased...been spending most of the day doing clean install.

I want to get a laptop cooler for it. I looked around various stores in my area and all they had were ones for smaller laptops.

What is a good one for the P6860FX?

Zalman NC2000?

Also I want to get a 2nd HD for it...to put Windows XP on...I still have some games that run like crap on Vista.

I assume any decent 2.5 SATA notebook drive would work? Would 7200rpm one work in this laptop.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006588



Thanks,

 

If you want to run RAID it would need to be an identical one as the one already used and yea that will work but you can't run a RAID with it unless you buy 2.

 

hey congrats! I just picked up the 6860fx today too and I love this thing. The build quality is very good and it feels solid. I'll be upgrading the processor on this baby and be done with it, as I don't mind the 1400x900 resolution, which is perfect for a 17" screen. 16x10 would be nice too, but no worries at all.

My only complaint is that I can't read the number keys in the dark. being that they are written in dark orange! Not a huge deal but it would be nice to be able to read them.

Staples has some notebook coolers if you have them in your area that work just fine. I think Antec makes one if i'm not mistaken. Just make sure you get one that fits a 17" notebook and you should be good, although I'm sure we'll hear what the best one is for this book given it's fan positions.

 

Yeah, backlit keyboard would have been nice.

I think i'm going to get one of those mini-usb powered reading lights.

So far only accessory ive gotten is a nice bag to carry it in.

I like the looks of the Zalman cooler....and its gotten some good reviews...but not sure if its big enough. So far it seems this laptop is a tad bigger than what most consider 17". The bag i got said it was for 17" but it just barely fit.

So far only game ive played is WoW....so have not stressed it much. But was able to run it at max...which is a first for me with a laptop =P

 

yeah, I'm installing Crysis right now, but with the stock processor I'm not looking for much over medium settings.

Are you going to be upgrading the processor? I hear it very easy, like a desktop install even. I'm looking at getting the T9300, great price/performance on those babies, and should give this laptop and amazing boost in speed in general and gaming.

Here it is, check out all the comments on it too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111001

 

No plans to upgrade CPU....................yet.

Need 2nd HD and a good mouse first.

 

wow Rafealsmith, i just loaded up Crysis and Bioshock and TF2, they run as smooth as butter. With Crysis I put most settings on medium and put textures and shadows on High and it ran perfectly in 1400x900

I'm extremely happy with this notebook to say the least.

 

Hehe, I was just duel boxing two instances of WoW running on the laptop at the same time...worked like a charm =P

 

What is the best video driver out for the P FX series right now? I am running 174.74 on my other 2 FX's and the stock drive on my new one right now. 167.46 <-- gateways

 

i think 174.74 is the best driver right now.

i too, picked up a 6860 today from a local bestbuy. so far very happy with it. no abnormal noices from hard drive and the power adapter whatsoever.

however, the blossy screen is gonna take sometime to get use to and the top of the laptop seems to be very sensitive to fingerprints. anyone get an idea how clean it?and well, i can also feel some heat when my hand is in the wasd area.

i'm currently asking my friend for a DVD so i could create a recovery disk and reinstall the OS.

Also would it be better to remove the batteries after each time i turn off the laptop? or should i just leave it attached?

i also picked up a free DVD of COD4 and borrowed crysis from my friend, both run pretty well.

 

I put 174.31 on mine.

Noticed improvement over the 167.46 that came with it.

I need to try out 174.74.

 

I would leave the battery out when you have in pluged in for long periods of time. to clean your screen I use a 100% cotton T-Shirt that is slightly damp with water, do not spray anything on the screen directly, and do not use windex. You can buy screen cleaning kits at best buy, circut city, ect...

 

actually i always keep my hand away from the screen, i was asking for the backside of the screen where it says FX. but i cleaned it with a slightly wet paper towel anyways

 

ryo1000,

funny you should mention keeping the top of the laptop clean from fingerprints, that's the first thing my Wife said to me, "how are you ever going to keep that clean looking?"....hehe, it's definately a fingerprint collector, but having a laptop with an 8800 in it for the price, is well, priceless.

BTW, the last 1gig of my backup failed, at least my second disk isn't reading correctly, is there anything of value on the backup disks? If it's mostly trials and drivers, I can live without, but I'm wondering if there is any free programs on there. I noticed it had the game FATE, but I'm guessing that's a trial.

 

lol are you sure you are not my dad? cuz my mom pretty much said the same thing.

and i would suggest you to return it and get a new one if the problems you stated can't be fixed

 

Hi
I just picked up my p 6860 fx and I'm impressed by the performance! I have one bad pixel that i can press out but it slowly comes back. I have only had this for a day. Has anybody else have any bad pixels that they were able to work out? Thanks TC

 

I am really enjoying my 6860fx, so far I have played C&C kanes wrath, cod4 demo, half-life2, and am working on installing World in conflict. I have every graphic option to the max and I cant get the laptop to slow down. It does get a little warm, so I will be looking for a cooler as well.

 

hello,
I recently purchased the 6860 notebook and would like to know if anyone can clarify the following:

1. Recommended laptop cooler--so far this thread has not specified any particular models.
2. what is the issue w/the leaving the battery connected or not connected to the notebook when being charged, or after being charged?
3. Can anyone link a particular thread for properly backing up the original install?
4. Is there a recommended thread that helps one prep the laptop properly? Ex. Removing extra apps via decrapifier or similar and install any recommended programs...

 

As far as removed all the bloatware, if you feel too uncomfortable doing a clean install of the os with the gateway system disk, just goto your control panel click on Programs, and remove all the boatware that way, I did that on my latest P-6080 fx, it did not take that long, easy, and I did not notice any diffrence what so ever between the other two laptops that I did a fresh install on, other then they are setup a raid 0 32strip setting.

 

Oh, to backup your system and apps/drivers, it is in your gateway setup booklet, just read it, its easy.

 

Flynnaz,
thanks for the info on both threads re: system backup--I just wanted to confirm if u recommend using the decrapifier app before or after one does the add/remove steps u recommended as an additional step?

also, I wouldnt mind trying to perform the full re-install of the vista 64bit software, but I had not been able to find a specific thread for reinstalling vista64 specifically for the 6860 in terms of drivers, etc.

Finally, do you know anything about the battery issue that some posters have mentioned--or why one would remove the battery from the notebook?

 

As far as the decrapifier, it does the same basic thing as you removing the "crap" your self. As far as the drivers for 64bit, make a driver backup for sure using the gateway backup option. I have heard too that if you have your laptop plugged in most of the time that it is good to take it out. I am currently doing that.

 

i just chat with a gateway sales person and he said accidental damage warranty is not available for retail products such this P-6831 and P6860, is that true?

 

Best Buy offers 1,2 and 3 year plans for $99, $199 and $349

 

does that include accidental damage?

 

yes. i just bought this at best buy and i got it with the accidental damage insurance on it.

 

hey i was wondering. i just bought this labtop over at bestbuy and i have some questions.

Can this labtop run Crysis or Gears of War? I was looking at the processor ant its a 1.8 GHZ Intel duo ant it got me worried. I was reading up on both these games for the PC and dont you need at least a 2.4 GHZ Intel to run these games?

Pretty much I'd like to buy Crysis or Gears, intsall is and play it as is without having to mod or bother with the settings.

If I have to adjust the settings to medium or high, what would you recommend? and how? (sorry for the noobish question)

 

technically it is better to go with the store 2 to 5 year plans...if they cant fix it they have to replace it and if they dont have the same model in stock, they have to go to the next closes match in the same catagory. just make sure you have a backup computer for the down time.... and in some cases, you can get a loaner..depends on the store though.

 

yeah, you can play it on high with a low resolution.

 

i believe the 2.4 ghz is a single core processor and the 1.8 Ghz is a dual core, so i wouldn't worry about it. but you can always upgrade it if you want.

btw, anyone know how much improvements does a T9300 or better processor make compare to the T5550 on some good looking FPS games like Crysis?

 

I want to buy a x9000 for my P-171x fx, I fould a seller but it says its a Socket 478? Is this a Socket P? Do I need to tweak anything in the bios besides OCing

 

some where around 20 plus frames depending on game and resolution. and yes there is a difference. i test between running at 1.6 and 3.0 ghz and i notice a major system change.

 

nope. just install it. the chip is socket p and so is your 171.

say, you have a 171??? isin't that on board video with a gma x3100 chip???

 

No the P-171x fx has a 8800m gts like yours

 

i was worried because it said gma x3100 on the gateway site.
· Intel® GL960 Chipset featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accellerator X3100
for the p-171s

thought you had that one for a moment.

 

Their website leaves much to be desired , lol. All P FX's have the 8800m gts's. What is your Vista Score for your x9000? Did it rise your memory up to? My Memory is 5.1 also with 4gb

 

good deal.

 

Don't do that. Socket P is different than Socket 478. Won't fit in the Gateway.

 

see avitar... but memory seems to change here and there...

 

and i think he means 478 contacts but a socket p chip. i have the same chip he is looking at.

 

There's a socket 478, which is the older socket. The Socket P chips also have 478 contact pins. You might want to check exactly what they mean.

 

Thank you, I checked with the seller, and with johnsss, and it is the right socket, it's called either.

 

Thought I would chime in again.

Ive now had my 6860FX for about 2weeks. Still extremely pleased with the purchase.

Only things I have done so far to it:

1) Removed bloatware/crap.
2) Put a 2nd HD in ....100gb 7200RPM
3) Installed windows xp SP2 on the 2nd HD and setup Dual Boot.
4) Upgrade video drivers for both Vista and XP to 174.74. I tried a few others but the .74s seem to be the best.
5) Got a Zalman NC2000 Cooler...very nice product.. overall about 3-4 deg reduction across the board...and it makes a great stand. Fits the 6860 perfectly.
6) Got a G5 Logitech Mouse.

Got this carrying case. Very nice... Fits the 6860, battery, mouse, power adapter and even the NC2000 with room to spare for other things like disks and documents

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=CPT400

Games I have played:

-Wow (max settings, 8xAA) 60+FPS..occasional drop into the mid 40s when in heavy populated areas
-Tabula Rasa (med settings, 2xaa) 45-60FPS
-AoC Beta (never could the the game to run with DX10 under vista, but it runs using DX9). Performance is about the same I am getting with my desktop...which sucks...but thats the game and not the computer.

They all run a tad better and smoother under Windows XP than Vista but not by much. As expected I do not have access to the full 4gb under XP.


Currently debating a CPU upgrade...I really have not found where I have been limited by the CPU...but might go with a 8300 or 9300 just to be done with it..most likely the 8300 since for almost $100 more for the 9300 the differences seem negligible.

 

so pretty much have to set my setting to make it run (otherwise it wont work right?).

thanks!

 

You don't have to set up a raid if you dont want to. I just plan on adding another hard drive, when I need to and set it up as a separate drive. You get a speed increase using raid 0 but it's deffinetly no earth shattering.
Seanno

 

wow, 20 fps is like a 50% performance increase, that's a lot!!!

but what i don't understand is, how does CPU have anything to do with the memory score in vista scoring? i got 4.5 for my memory with the T5550, will it jump to around 5.0 once i get a t9300 or X9000?

 

well, when I installed my T9300 in my 6860FX my score jumped to a 5.1, which is the ram score, since the ram is the weakest link in this laptop. The processor processes information to the RAM, so it would definitely raise the score with a better processor. I would highly recommend the T9300, for the price vs the next better processor, it's a great choice for the future.

 

yes..you will get to 5.0 or 5.1 and your memory score rasies because the front side bus raises as well with the new processor. if the front side bus didn't raise...i dont think your memory score will raise much if any. (speculation) or it could be the level one cache, im not for sure... but it does seem that amd's have higher memory scores. some of them i have seen with 5.6 and 5.7 scores.

 

Johnksss, I see a x7900 for $399.99 compared to $579.00 for a X9000 is it worth it to spend a extra $180.00 for the X9000 I know it has 6 cashe speed instead of 4, what do you think, I am a gamer.

 

X9000's are incredible, but you'll be fine with a T9300 or T9500 as for gaming. As long as you're just gaming and not doing encoding and doing other processor heavy things, that is unless of course you want a unlockable chip..