*Official*P-7811 FX Info Thread

This is the all-around info thread on this spectacular budget gaming laptop. All questions for people looking to buy this should be directed here for an easier question and answer experience for everyone. If you allready own a P-7811 FX you should direct your questions to the Owner Lounge.

The P-7811 FX



General Info

The P-7811 is an extremely well rounded, budget laptop. It is available at Best Buy, for $1399, and I think will be available at Tiger Direct. It is built on the same chassis as the P-6831 FX laptop, the predessecor to this laptop. Specs are as follows:

CPU: Core 2 Duo, P8400, 45nm, @ 2.26Ghz, and is fully upgradeable only with a Montevina Mobile Processor, aka Centrino 2, so no, the X7800/7900/9000 WILL NOT FIT. This is not a slow processor by any means, clockspeed does not mean alot anymore. It will be mroe then enough for regular tasks, and will not really be a huge bottleneck in gaming, especially at 1920x1200, except in Real Time Strategie games.

RAM: 4GB of 1066 DDR3, it is exactly what is said here, even though Best Buy or the Gateway site say otherwise.

HDD: 200GB Seagate Momentus at 7200RPM, with another HDD bay so you can add another hard drive.

GPU: 9800m GTS, 512mb of dedicated memory, DX10, PhysX capable, 256bit bus. Is essentially an overclocked 8800m GTS.

Chassis: 17 inch screen at 1920x1200, CD/DVD Drive, with Label Flash, and is upgradeable to a Blu ray drive.

Misc: 64-BIT Vista, Wireless A/B/G/N, touchpad, multimedia lights and keys, HDMI, Card Reader, NO BLUETOOTH OR FINGERPRINT READER, even though the reviewers notebooks have them. Sound is software run, TRUE 5.1 or greater requires an external sound card or an express port sound card, or through HDMI.

7811 UPDATED BIOS, RAID ENABLED


Reviews

Maximum PC Review

AnandTech Review

directeuphorium First Impressions

7805 TEARDOWN GUIDE (by azrickster)

Upgrades

CPU Upgrade (the chassis is the same as the P-6830 series, and similar models, so this upgrade guide will suffice)

HDD Upgrade

Screen Upgrade

Graphics Drivers

Chipset Drivers thanks, ashura

Bags Thread

Multimedia Bar Applications

7811 XP Upgrade Guide

Problems and Troubleshooting

Unfortunatly, a few members on this site have been experiencing these problems, and while I do not think they are very common, this is definitely worth mentioning because if your laptop actually has a problem, it could be returned well before your in trouble.

Problems (copied directly from wtburnette's post)

1) Lockups, probably due to heat. The only thing you can really do is test playing games for as long as possible to see if this happens.

2) BSOD's due to prolonged wireless use. About the only thing you can do to test is connect and stay connected and see if this problem crops up.

3) Problems with the screen. A white spot or something like that. I've read about it but I'm not sure how to explain it well. The way to test for it is to look at it from various angles and especially on a black screen (from what I understand anyway).

Solutions (copied directly from jericcarino's post)

1.registry tweak
2.do hardware check
3.dead pixel utility
4.prime95 on both cores (i dont really know how this works)
5.orthos and funmark (running together... i also don't know what they are)

Also check your vents regularly and make sure they have no blockage, compressed air is your friend , and make sure the laptop is elevated so there is some air moving in the air intakes which are located on the bottom of the laptop.

 

I realize that, but without the presence of a mod around here( by no means am i trying to act like one) countless thread over the same topic have erupted, and could be easily answered if we had one thread that had info and where questions could be answered for people that are looking to buy, and for people that have it allready can go to the lounge.

 

there ya go

 

The whole irony of this thread is that you dont own a 7811, but rather a 6831

 

well no one else was going to step up and try and do anything about it, so i thought a I would.

and i got nothing on you! but u just wait....

 

lets hope this thread stays on top...I thought the official one was going well but ...this forum is swamped with idiots making new threads about EVERYTHING

Love mine to death I will add some info

temperatures
CPU- idle at 30C load at 50C
GPU- idle at 40C load at 60-65C
HD - idle 35C load at 50C sometimes 60C if your really beating it up

 

$1399 at best buy!??

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=7811&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1211587727985

 

thanks adam, syngensmyth allready gave me the link.

 

The problem is that people just refuse to read the instructions and specifications of the computer. One guy says there's no raid and everyone just speculates over something that's already defined in the manual. -.-

 

exactly, thanks masked, I will add that RAID is possible, I didnt know if caused some confusion to new members.

 

RAID is not available out of the box and won't be available till either Gateway or someone else provides a BIOS update.

 

can you prove this? have you tried RAIDing or has anyone else? I would just like the correct info.

 

Trust me, it's been discussed to death on these boards and definitely tried.

 

ok, info was removed. I am not judging your truthfullness, or anyone elses, I just need definitive proof.

 

No worries, I understand. Also, the drivers thread you link to is mostly 6831/6860 centric. I'm pretty sure my thread has the more up to date ones for the 7811.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=287180

 

maybe labeling the driver guide as 'Video Driver Updates' and then 'P-7811 drivers' would suffice?

and definitely not 6831/6860 centric...more like nVidia mobile gpu centric

 

did that, thanks

 

I'm on top of it!

6860FX refurb. is back on CompUSA for $799. I'm just sayin'. Leaves room for CPU upgrade.
Personally I don't do refurb.

 

oh thats a nice deal!

 

I was talking about the hardware drivers listed at the bottom of the post.

 

i must be blind cuz i only saw the video driver guide at the time.

 

hi, I've been lurking around these fourms for a while now, ty everyone for the info.

I was at Best Buy the other day, the box said the 7811fx had 4GB of ddr3 800 ram. Is there a big difference between 800 and 1066?

 

I don't know about laptops since I'm getting my 7811 soon but for desktop, the difference between 800 and 1066 is quite a bit as I've used to run pc2-6400 (800) and now I'm on pc2-8500 (1066). From what I've read, the difference between the DDR2 and DDR3 is negligible. So...is the stock ram DDR3 PC-6400 @ 800mhz?

 

its DDR3 PC-8500@1066 mhz

 

Strange...because here's what I got from Gateway's site:

 

Gateway's site is wrong, it's been confirmed by a member here who took pics of the RAM sticks.

 

Can you show me a link Ashura? Thanks in advance

 

Too lazy for that, this Everest shot will have to do:

 

Awesome! Thanks a bunch ^^

 

sweet, ty ashura

 

lol@syn.

And this thread is a great idea. I've actually been toying with the idea of creating a couple threads with different topics pertaining to the 7811fx in an attempt to help get things organized while search is taking it's dirt nap. However, I haven't decided if my idea is a good one or not and I don't want to add to the topic madness if not.

I know one thing tho, we certainly don't want to post "silly things" in these threads, such as talk about "screws" and "this and that"! We could highly offend certain people by doing so.

 

Oh narsnail, you can also add to your OP that it's 6-32 5/16 screws for the hard drive bays, in case anyone wants to add in a second hard drive. Credit goes to Jesselise.

 

Oh hell, now you did it. Get ready to be reprimanded for talking about screws.

 

Literally ... ROFL ... do you hire these straight men or is the world just your oyster? The above sequence of posts is like ... Pulitzer material.

 

LOL. No straight men needed. The posts of others keep me chock-full of responses for many years to come. And thanks for the compliment!

 

HDD upgrade link in the first post is dead.

 

This will do: http://www.notebookforums.com/showpost.php?p=2853956&postcount=3

 

Narsnail, those x7800 you just got from ebay won't fit in these right?

 

I think they will if they are the same socket, I have in the guide they are upgradeable, although if they are not I dont want to creat any confusion. Any owners can confirm the presence of a socket P motherboard?

and to everyone, if you see a thread that could have been answered by or in this thread, report it and say "did not read stickies" Chaz said he and the rest of the mods will try there best to help keep it more organized for everyone, and I appreciate his help.

ps thanks again ashura

 

dont get me wrong, i think its a great idea you made this thread.
was just messing with ya

dont worry, soon as I get rid of this zalman nc2000 my sig will be back...then you can gather all the dirt you want on me

 

Maximum PC Review link since yours is dead:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/gateway_p7811_fx

 

Is there a reason Gateway is not posting the drivers?????

I know there is a thread here with all of them listed but, as curiosity goes, I would like to know why Gateway has yet to post them.

 

you are correct that the x7800/x7900/x9000 will not fit the 7811's

the Merom/Penryn C2E mobile processors will not work on the montevina chipset. the x9100 and possible the x9300 will work on the montevina chipset.

 

Oh man this laptop is greeeeaaat

I really want one but the problem is that its only available in the USA ONLY!!!

That's not fair, what about people outside the us...

Don't the company want to make money or what?!!

+ i have bought an ultra mobile pc (sony vaio ux380n) which was a waste of money and im broke now!!!

Also, can you say something about the quality of the sound, i read many threads but no body said anything about it (at least the posts ive read..)

also does it support virtual 5.1 surround sound (my old acer 5920 does)

And thanks...

 

Oops, 5/16 is definitely too long. Now I've got 100 of these just lying around. Need to measure before I buy next time.

 

Is this more screw information?

Dook ALERT!

 

There are legal legislations which bannes these resellers from exporting these computers. That is how the ebayers like me make money. I have one up for sale for $1800, where you can get back $250 via cashback and overall pay the same exact price you would pay via bestbuy.

 

From what I read, the sound is mediocre but it'll be fine if you're browsing through Youtube and stuff. If you want good music, I suggest an Audigy or something

 

Here's another review by Cnet:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/gateway-p-7811fx/4505-3121_7-33201021.html?tag=prod.txt.1