Desktop replacement: HP Elitebook 8840p - HP 230W Advanced Docking Station (NZ223AA)

Hi!

Got some questions!

I'm thinking of replacing my desktop PC with my Elitebook 8840p - I think just from the specifications it shouldn't be a real problem - I'm just not sure about some things:

I have 2 Screens here (27" and 24") - with the resolution of 1920x1200 and 1920x1080. I really don't wanna miss them...and I'm wondering if the Docking station + my elitebook has enough power to "feed" this screens Most important thing is: I need to be able to watch Full HD movies on these screens. I think this shouldnt be a problem right?

Well then the big issue comes here:

I have a Logitech Z-5500, 5.1 THX System... is there an (easy) way to use this system (5.1 surround i mean) with the notebook/docking station (because I dont think there is any "front, rear, etc" plugins... hope you get what i mean)...

Is there something other that I should consider or that I forgot?

(And no: I'm not a gamer so this shoulndt be a prolbem, only game i MAYBE will play is Diablo 3 ).

Thanks in advance & greetings

 

What's an 8840p ? Do you mean 8440p ? or 8740w ?
(That might explain why no answers --- no one has a 8840p!)

I suggest editing the message and title to correct the model number.

AFAIK, Elitebooks only have stereo out, so you'll need a 5.1 Audio adapter of some sort, probably USB, to connect to the THX system.

 

My bad! Im talking about 8440p ... stupid me

Ok thats what I guessed, well I could live with that - more importanlty it is if the resolutions of the screens would be possible to have and work with!

 

At the moment you need to have ATI GPU that supports eyefinity (5xxx-series) if you want to have two external displays _and_ laptop display at the same time.

Other GPU's can run only two displays at the same time.

 

Well I dont need laptop and the two screens - I just want the 2 screens (Laptop will be closed when in docking station)...So from your post I guess this should work?

The thing why I'm not sure is because I read here HP Advanced Docking Station - Docking station Reviews - alaTest USA that "max 1680x1050" is supported...

Thanks

 

I guess that experience is with an older docking station because the NZ223AA is newer (released October, 2010, I think)

it depends more what your graphic card and driver can do because the NZ223AA is for the whole range of the latest Elitebooks, you have to check out the QuickSpecs for the 8440p (somewhere on the HP site...)

I don't see a problem when the laptop itself is capable of displaying 2560x1600, 30 BIT at 60 HZ using the DisplayPort (I checked this for the 8740w) why the docking station should not be able to do that. (at 1920x1080, you can go up to 24 BIT and 120 HZ)

However, using DVI, the 8740w QuickSpecs manual says, 1600x1200 at full and reduced blanking and 1920x1200 at reduced blanking max. Don't know what that means...

still you need someone with real life experience, I think

 

Hi Sotton and thanks for your answer

Well according top HP the 8440p has a "NVIDIA NVS 3100 graphics with 512 MB dedicated gDDR3 video memory Intel® HD Graphics"... and I just tried (again) connecting my 8440p with vga to my 27" - the resolution is nice there and full HD movies are looking fine too....

But yes you are right - someone with real life experience would be nice...

 

Two externals monitors with laptop's own screen turned off should work with all compatible models.

I just tested this with my own tc4400, almost 4 years old laptop. Here at work I have EN4888AA basic dock and I was able to connect one display with DVI and another with VGA and had them both on at the same time. Laptop's own display was shut down, impossible to have all three at same time.

There should be no reason why it wouldn't work with current laptops Can't comment on the resolutions tho. Those were both 1280x1024 oldies.

 

Thanks for testing.

Well I do not have any doubts that 2 ext screens will work - just not sure if the graphic card is good enough to run always these two (fairly) high resolutions.

But if noone other anser - I think I'll give it a try...

 

That shouldn't be any issue either. This desktop I have at home used to have ATI HD3650 running 1920x1200 and 1920x1080 displays, I recently updated to HD4650 (silent, no fan). So far I've been able to run anything I want. Even two hd videos at the same time

My previous desktop was a shuttle, it had integrated ATI x200 and I added that HD3650 to it. I did briefly have three monitors, two 1280x1024 and one 1440x900 at the same time. With 4-5 year old AMD x2 3800+ CPU, running hd videos was a slight struggle but it was cpu issue. I used same computer with those newer 1920x1200 and 1920x1080 monitors later.

8440p is much more powerful than my old desktop, I'm sure it will also run anything you wish to throw at it.

 

Ok thank you! I will buy one and see how it goes

 

check out this post

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...-8740w-owners-lounge-new-149.html#post7082271

this is the same docking station, as far as I know

 

Nice! Seems fine there! So I really can look forward to my docking station (Even though 8440p has not the same "good" graphic card in it ) Should arrive on tuesday - and I will definitely make an update here then! So other people who have a simular questions will know it for sure!

 

Guess what arrived today? Correct my DockingStation!

Its working fine until now! Screen are running with full resolution - everythign seems nice.

I'll repost here if there are any issues with the docking station!

And lastly a (bad) Pic

 

nice, what ports are you using? Displayport, DVI, VGA?

 

1 x DVI for the 27"
1 x VGA for the other one

Whats with this display port anyway? - Anything special about it?

 

I don't know, just curious for future upgrades... (I have HDMI, not tested, too)

I think you get higher resolutions, better quality or it is just a different (newer) thing

 

Ah ok...sorry I cant help here.

Oh and btw: I connected my Logitech Z-5500 just with a normal Audio cable...well I only have stereo now (no surround) but Im ok with this^^ quality is kinda good and on full volume its almost as loud as my desktop before.