The official P-7811FX lounge

I've been looking to buy one of these rigs and was wondering if the second HDD caddy actually exists and how easy it is to install a second drive. (Im new to the notebook scene.)

 

It does exist and it's very easy. Here's a guide (it's for the 68xx series but it's the same for the 7811): http://www.notebookforums.com/post2853956-3.html

 

Thank you very much, the info is greatly appreciated.

Also, in people that own the laptop's opinions, is it heavy or seem too clunky to carry around? I'm a medium-hardcore gamer and I want to take something with me to college that I can use for work and play.

 

My best response would be that the laptop is portable. A laptop this size helps one to realize that for most, but not all, classes, a laptop is less efficient than pen and paper for note taking. For laptops like the X300, travel is a pleasure as you hardly notice your carrying it. Still though, if your school sells digital text books, this laptop would beat carrying even a single large textbook around .

 

Is it not true ... they simply put a 9800 sticker on the 8800? Or is that unfair, unkind, down right mean. Or is that why 9800 benchmarks are so mysteriously missing in action. I wonder?

 

How can you use the HibridSLI on the 7811FX's 9800M GTS?

 

Anandtech has one. The unfair part is the different CPU's used between the 8800 and 9800. They are not simply restickered though. The 8800 is G92 whereas the 9800 is G94. Slight variations in design, but same actual specifications equate to identical clocks giving near identical results.

 

You cannot. The 7811FX does not have an integrated Intel 4500MHD GPU so no switchable graphics / hybrid SLI is possible. That is a feature limited to the GM45 chipset (mainstream) as opposed to the PM45 (High-End) found on the 7811FX.

 

Well, when you're like me and a fairly fast typer, according to typingtest.com:

Net Speed: 54 WPM
(words/minute)
Accuracy: 90%
Gross Speed: 60 WPM
(words/minute)

That was, however, from typing words on the screen, so it my speeds when typing notes or a paper or something may be a bit faster than that.

Average, at least according to some paper I found on the net, is around 40-so I guess I'm pretty good. lol

Of course a laptop has a slightly different layout that I'll have to get used to.

Anyway, just thought I'd bring it up and maybe brag a little.

So, back on-topic I'm looking forward to getting this thing-just hope they still have one when my financial aid comes in.

 

^ Try that in an engineering or biology or chemistry class. Let me see you sketch on the laptop as fast as one can with pen and paper.

Writing it out is better since it helps you memorize and use rote learning to remember the information. Using the laptop for notes is just acting like some typewriter without even thinking about the content being typed on the laptop.

 

Well, it probably wouldn't be too useful right now since I'm only taking one acting and one directing course this coming semester. I'd probably use paper for certain things, like drawing things-at least until I manage to get a stylus pad or something. lol

Also, I wouldn't be typing dictation per-se-as I said I'm more effective with typing things freelance.

 

Okay, this is a somewhat alarming detail in the tutorial:

Where the heck would I get laptop hard drive screws? Or would they come with the laptop hard drive itself?

 

My hands get tired fast when it comes to writing so I definitely prefer typing. I got 57 wpm on typingtest.com which is great considering I type with two fingers (yes yes, I know I should learn the proper way by now ). Anyhoo, I prefer to type notes and then sketch the diagrams on paper and scan them into the notes.

My cousin is in elementary school and her textbooks are online. I think in a ten years everyone will be lugging laptops to class lol.

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

Assuming these are legit, it looks like a significant improvement over the 8800M GTS.

Now if someone could just direct me to the page of this thread explaining the best way to do a clean install sans bloatware on this laptop. Thanks in advance.

 

notebookcheck review is cr4p, already mentioned many times b4 (cpu used c2q6600).

so far there is no good bench (100% same system comparison).

 

so, I like this laptop to the point I am going to sell parts of the desktop and turn it into my dedicated media center and no longer my gaming machine...


laptop scores 8k in 3dmark 06 while desktop did 10k....no need for the desktop in my opinion LOL

 

Could some1 pls tell me what is the idle temp for the 9800M GTS?
And also what is the temp after a few hours of gaming? (with a game which requires good VGA)

 

I'm going to my cable company today about getting internet on my laptop soon after I buy it.

A few questions, though-would it be better to have some kind of WiFi setup? My bedroom is across the house from the den where the desktop is located, although we live in a fairly small ranch-style house.

Another interest in a WiFi setup would be potential networking so I might be able to transfer files more-or-less easily between my desktop and laptop.

The downsides could be expense, lost bandwidth compared to a direct cable modem connection, possible security issues, etc.

So I really want to know what the best option might be ahead of time so I won't have to ask quite as many questions at the cable company office.

And again, I'll ask, what is up with the hard drive screws? Will that be a problem, or will the laptop or the hard drive itself include all the necessary parts?

 

Who's your cable provider? For simple WiFi, you're good getting a simple G router like the Linksys WRT54g series. If you're gong to be doing a lot of torrenting and use Voip, you want something better/more expensive that can handle all the connections and deliver proper QoS like the D-Link DIR-655. Security is easy to set up so you shouldn't worry about that. You shouldn't see any significant bandwidth difference.

As far as the hard drive screws go, the stock hard drive will be attached with 4 screws. You can take 2 of them off and use them on the second hard drive. It doesn't come with extra. That's what I did with my old P-6860 FX. If that bothers you, you can go to the hardware store and get more.

 

Mediacom is my cable provider, they have an office in town that we're going down to in a little bit.

I do download with torrents a lot, so that may be important-although as I said if it's significantly cheaper to just get a second direct cable connection in my room (I think there's a cable outlet someplace). The only downside would be no networking-although if networking is difficult to set up and/or maintain, then maybe it would be for the best.

Although if I do end up buying some kind of wireless hub-type thing, I'd prefer it be something I can get right at Best Buy and at a fairly decent price.

Although it looks like the second one you mentioned might be there: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...Id=abcat0503002&type=product&id=1157068454881

The first (cheaper) one I think might be there too: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...RT54g&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1202648529130

I think Mediacom has an option to "rent" the boxes, not sure if it costs anything or would cost anything more than what we've already got or if they'd have to send somebody in to set it all up for us-which would likely of course involve a waiting period and/or an appointment that would happen in 3-4 hour time range. lol

And as for the screws, I might try your suggestion, but I'd prefer to have all the screws in place. The only issue is that I'm no screw expert so I wouldn't be able to tell the exact size of the screws I'd need to use...

 

If you game on line you will want a wired connection.

Buy this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

The N models are not clear cut yet. N does not really help with on line speed all that much but can make local network faster. N can have better range under certain circumstances if unobstructed. N hates walls in my experience. I don't know if 7911FX has N?

With the above router you have wireless and wired both so take your pick. If you find a cheap gigabyte switch later on just jump them together for faster local wired speed.

Added for free: You want to be behind a hardware firewall - a router is a hardware firewall.

 

A question, do you think the 7811 FX will last quite a while if I keep it on most of the time? I tend to keep my Desktop and Laptops on, but I make sure they are in a cold room and that they have enough space to breath/expel air.So you guys think this laptop could handle that kind of life with some minimal Freezes during it's 2 to 3 year life spam?

 

My 6860fx has been off for no more than a total of about 5 minutes since I bought it. I never turn my machines off(3 laptops and 1 desktop) and none of them have died prematurely.

 

Is anyone hearing a hissing noise from the charger for the laptop?

 

The Hissing is pretty normal as it has happend to so many people here but you can call gateway and tell them the problem and they should ship you a replacement .

 

How hot should it get? Mine gets pretty scorching.

 

but you should say its hissing very loudly and is so hot you are frighten to death by the thought it may explode any second resulting in all your block going up in flames.

you will get a new charger

 

I'd definitely like to know which wireless routers would work with this laptop since it's the one I intend on buying. Also, there are a lot of routers on sale @ Best Buy if somebody could take a look through those and tell me which are the best deals 'cause I have no idea what all the info means. lol

Best Buy Wireless Networking Stuff on Sale

Wired Networking Stuff on Sale

--------------------------------------------------

This one seems to offer the greatest savings (For Wireless):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305568&type=product&id=1173577562535

D-Link - Wireless-N Router
Model: DIR-615 | SKU: 8305568

Speed
Up to 300 Mbps

Auto Detecting
Yes

Auto Sensing
Yes

Number of LAN Ports
4

System Requirements
Windows Vista, XP (SP2), 2000 (SP2); Mac OS X 10.4; CD-ROM drive; cable or DSL modem; Internet Explorer 6 or Mozilla Firefox 1.5; network interface card

LAN Connection
Wireless/Ethernet

LEDs
Power, status, WAN, WLAN, USB and LAN

Number of Ports
8

Wireless Standard
Wireless-N

-------------------------------------

The signal will probably have to pass through about three to five walls to get to my room from the den-well if the signal travels in a more or less straight line anyway.

For a wired system I'd need a pretty long cable. My room is about 32' away from the den, at least according to a tape measure I just used outside the house-might see if we can find the blueprint to the house or something.

Edit: My parents just told me that wired would not be good since we'd have to weave the cable through the house.

Also, any idea what type/size of screws the hard drive thing uses?

Also, would I need a smaller-sized screwdriver to take them out/put them back in?

 

i would recommend its bigger brother, the DIR-655 router over the DIR-615. gigabit LAN ports (better for large file transfers over LAN), and actual N speed capable. 2.4ghz frequency antennas are used for 802.11b/g networks. 5ghz frequency antennas for 802.11a/n networks.

 

Well, it costs twice as much, although it is also on sale and for the same amount of savings, albeit not the same percentage of savings.

Also note that I'm not an online gamer mostly-I have Unreal Tournament III, but only because Gamestop had the Collector's edition on sale for $19.99 and it said it had a Single Player mode, which I later realized was just a campaign of bot matches.

I was a little excited about the level-designing toolkit until I realized it was multi-player only as well...

I might still consider the "big brother", though-I'm just not sure I'm willing to spend that much for it...

Also, the specifications look like they're about identical...should I really pay $60 more for this "superior" model?

 

Its going to get hot but you could always buy one of the Dooks special finds a 180w adapter. i bought one and i could run this thing all day long and it barely even gets warm.

i knew i kept the link around here somewhere.

http://www.amazon.com/Home-office-P...2YCWKNQUBIJCW&s=generic&qid=1217122165&sr=1-1

 

well, lets go over some basic things first. how many computers are on the network? regularly do large file transfers over the LAN connection? how far away is the furthest computer from the network?

 

i keep mine over an air conditioning vent. but JIC i did order one of them 180w adapters. should be here tomorrow.

 

I've only got one computer right now, and the laptop will make two-so it's desktop to laptop. The laptop will be in my room about 32 feet away, and with three to five walls in between (if that matters). The reason for the extra two walls is there's a closet in-between the bathroom and my room, but it's not a very deep closet so I'm not sure it'd matter too much.

I know I'm sounding a bit like a broken record but since we've started a new page I'll ask again-what kind of screws hold in the hard drives? Do I need a smaller screw driver to remove them/place them in? Does anyone know the "size" of the screws in terms of what I'd have to get for extra ones for the second hard drive? I guess I could follow advice and "borrow" two screws from the first hard drive as a temporary solution or something.

Edit: Also, I found a cheaper HDMI cable than the Dynex one @ Sam's Club/Wal Mart: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5855137

Sure, I'd be supporting an "evil empire", but I'd save a whole bunch of money and it looks like it's gotten good customer reviews-and it's twice as long as the $49.99 Dynex cable.

 

i believe the screws are #1 philips screws. and if you are ordering a new hd, screws should come with the hd.

as for the network, wireless N is supposed to have greater range/throughput than wireless G. in all reality, the G router should be fine, but depending on what type of walls they are (wood, drywall, brick...etc.) you may see a decreased signal strength the denser the materials used for the walls.

i say give the G a shot if you are looking to save money, and if it doesnt work out, you could always take it back to best buy and get the N router.

www.monoprice.com for cheap cables. i bought a 10 foot hdmi cable from there for 25 including shipping

 

Badass, thanks for the information!

 

Anytime.

 

Well, Sams Club's is cheaper than that, has gotten mostly good feedback (although a few random complaints about it breaking/not giving a good signal-although the latter is odd because other reviews say it looks just as good as name brands), plus I can get it right away.

So why does the page for DIR-615 say it's an N-Router again?

Also, I should mention a short cable is VERY sufficient for my bedroom because my TV is not very far away from my bed.

 

The 615 is an N router, although internet reviews don't paint the best picture of it.

 

maybe this will help a little. wireless N@ 20mhz (2.4ghz antenna aka DIR-615) max throughput is 144Mbit/s
wireless N@ 40mhz (5ghz antenna aka DIR-655) max throughput is 300Mbit/s

 

Most retail hard drives come with everything you need, OEM drives don't. Most people will buy retail though so I don't think DJGamer has a problem.

Just in case, the actual size used by most manufacturers (including seagate and WD) is 6/32 UNC. I'm not sure if that translates into #1 Phillips screws. You can see what they look like on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n:16403521,p_11:6-32&page=1

You can always take out one of the screws from the hard drive you already have and take it to a hardware store with you.

 

I read the PC World review, and it does sound pretty bad, although they did say that firmware upgrades may improve things-so depending on when the thing was released it may perform better now than it did when they reviewed it.

I might also just ask at Best Buy what would be be the best price/performance model they have.

 

There's a mistake. You'll end up walking out with a wireless DSL modem and an $80 dish antenna.

 

Well, I went through the stuff that's on sale and ran it to "best-selling", the top two models were:

Highest selling-cheaper:
Linksys - Wireless-G Broadband Router with 4-Port Ethernet Switch
Model: WRT54G2 | SKU: 8741365

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8741365&type=product&id=1202648529130

2nd highest selling-more expensive.

Linksys - Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Broadband Router with 4-Port Switch
Model: WRT160N | SKU: 8639967

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8639967&type=product&id=1194054018722

These are actually the best-selling routers, on sale or not apparently. The WRT54G2 seems to have gotten pretty good customer reviews with 4.3 stars average.

 

i dont recommend the slim-line linksys routers at all. i have the WRT-310N and it heats up like a dog in heat with wireless and wired connections to it.

 

Well, it's only going to be handling ONE wireless connection to ONE notebook.

So what WOULD you recommend in about the $40-$65 price range that's available @ Best Buy?

Actually, I found this @ Radioshack:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...r=1&origkw=Router&kw=router&parentPage=search

Sounds like it MIGHT be good...

Although a few reviews are just saying it's awful, though...

Here's one with 802.11n I think...: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305568&type=product&id=1173577562535

I'm looking through the highest-customer-rated ones, although the two I linked to ARE the highest-rated as well. This seems to be the highest rated with 802.11n.

 

Just get the 615. More than likely it'll be just fine for your needs and the price is good.

 

sorry to play devils advocate, but ****. i was just trying to help steer you towards a quality product at a low cost, and make the most out of it.

 

You know I just realized I took myself back to where I started. lol

If I end up finding out it's terrible for my needs, I can probably always return it and get the more expensive model.

 

Roger that.