*HP EliteBook 8530p/w Owners Lounge *

Around 3-4 hours just surfing the internet. This is for the 8530w. I was quite astonished at how well the battery performed for a "mobile workstation" with the Quadro FX770M display card.

 

Just to clear this up since I saw a few similar posts around.

All* recent notebooks use TN panels, they differ in quality and other characteristics, but they are all TN, that's about it. There is no "entertainment" (or any other) notebooks with PVA screens or anything like that, I'm not sure when you are getting your ideas from. In fact, I have never heard of any notebook with a PVA panel.

You could find the marketing specifications of a certain panel on the manufarturer's site. ( this sums it up as well).


*The only exceptions at the moment are the tablets that still use IPS/FFS panels for obvious reasons, and some Fujitsu notebooks, which use their own MVA technology.

By the way, if a manufacturer decided to use something better than a cheap TN panel in a notebook, you can be rest assured that they would be crowing from the rooftops about that and charge you a premium, of course.

 

Which hard disk (manufacturer/model) is the 250 GB 7200 rpm that is used in the 8530p (probably the same as in 8530w)? I know HP uses several different disk brands in different notebook models, but I guess the 250 GB 7200 rpm is probably the same across the 8530 series.

I'm planning to by this notebook shortly. As I'm concerned about disk/fan noise I had planned to go for the safer 250 GB 5400 rpm model. But this disk seem to be a weak performer according to a recent review. The 250 GB 5400 rpm disk in that test was from Fujitsu (model unknown).

Do anybody have experience with the 250 GB 7200 rpm disk in the 8530p/w and its noise level? And performance gain compared to the 5400 model?

The mentioned review is the only one I have been able to find of the 8530p so far. I guess it might be of interest to others as well. It is in Norwegian, but the benchmark charts comparing the 8530p to some other notebook models will be of value also for non-Scandinavians. The review is very positive.

Review: go to "idg.no" and search for 8530p.

 

Yes, I should say near to PVA quality TN panel. This is very obvious when comparing viewing angles between the 6930p and 8530w. You're right, PVA panels would probably not be used on laptops as they consume more power, and IPS panels are known to be thicker than TN. However, I'm curious as to what panel the 8730w Dreamcolor display uses since HP seems to claim a 30-bit color accuracy.

The 7200rpm disk in my 8530w is a Seagate HDD. The 5400 rpm model's vary between Fujitsu and Hitachi.

 

It's obvious since the viewing angles of the 14.1" panels are usually horrible, not because of the 15.4" WUXGA ones being so great.

They use only TN panels since they are much cheaper to produce and there are many suppliers, not for other reasons.

There were IPS panels for notebooks a few years ago but they were expensive, and I guess they weren't as profitable since the market for them is somehow limited and there were only a few LCD manufacturers that were producing them for certain brands. The 15" ThinkPad T60p was the last notebook with IPS screen options (Flexview)... anyway, that's a long story.

They don't claim 30-bit color depth, that's for a desktop "Dreamcolor" monitor with an IPS panel, they claim 24-bit for the notebook version. And we have gone through that many times around here.

In short, if HP uses the same RGB LED display (LP171WU5) that LG has announced for mass production recently, which is most likely the case, then it's just a better TN with fancy backlighting.

You can see the specifications and especially the narrow viewing angles (140/120) here:
http://www.lgphilips-lcd.com/homeContain/jsp/download.jsp?fileName=LG_Philips_LCD.PDF

 

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll have to stick to my Dell 2007WFP for the S-IPS advantage.

Also, are there other 14.1 inch notebooks you would recommend that offers comparatively better image quality?

 

I was curious what price people have been paying for their 8530w setups. I am in Canada, and I am wondering if anyone is getting any deals. Thx

 

Customize a 8530w build, and you'll get 24% off using the code "CTO8530w" (as advertised on their customization screen.)

 

I have got an 8530w on order. 4 gig ram, 160 gb hd, 2.53 ghz. I am stoked.

 

Not really, if you were asking about a smaller/bigger notebook, they are better options, but for a 14.1" WXGA+... hardly. Now some people could be more satisfied/disappointed than others and their opinions/reviews will vary, but generally these panels are rather mediocre, at least from what I have seen.

The only thing is, the rival models from Dell and Lenovo have LED-backlighting, which has some advantages such as up to 33% increase in brightness making them good for outdoor use etc. Image quality, however, will most likely be similar, besides the typical difference between panels from different suppliers.

Here is an example with more details about the screen.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Latitude-E6400-Notebook.12875.0.html

 

Has anyone installed a Linux distro on one of these?

 

I opened up the 8530W and have found that the Quadro FX770M is a separate card that is plugged into the motherboard as opposed to being permanently fixed to the motherboard like the HD3450 card in the 6930p.

This is good news since it may mean that the video card can be upgraded in the future just like some of the Dell notebooks that feature removable display cards.

 

What is the battery life of this notebook with regular use? Performance Mode?
Thanks.

 

Regular use surfing internet: 3-4 hours
Performance mode: 1-2 hours with intensive CPU + GPU applications

 

I installed ubuntu 8.10 64 bits after disabled in bios options the AC FAN ALWAYS ON.

 

i placed my order for 8530w on 12/1 and the rep came back to me saying the lead time is at the moment 2-3 weeks!!

seems they got another backlog of troubles....sigh....debating a lot if i should cancel the order and get the dell m4400 with quicker delivery!

btw the customization coupon works great! got a very good deal in $1900 inclusive of 2 day shipping and tax!

 

I am planning on buying an 8530w and am working on the customization.

1. What do you guys think about the 5200rpm vs 7200rpm hard drives, I was reading this thread and heard the 7200 could be loud. If the performance difference isnt that great, should I drop to a 250 gig 5200 and save 50 bucks from the 250 gig 7200?
2. As far as the display screen. Is it worth the extra 75 bucks to get the wuxga. Should I drop it down a notch. Note, that I will be using this laptop for casual CAD usage.
3. What is this vpro stuff. Im assuming its business related and i should not get it considering this laptop is for personal use.
4. They want 130 dollars for the extra 2 gigs to be installed, should I buy the ram elsewhere and install it myself?

Thanks for any help

 

1. 7200 drives will give better performance. The trade-off is reduced battery life and more heat. Some 5400 drives are almost as fast as 7200 drives, but it depends on the manf. I would get the cheapest drive option available, and then buy a replacement, because then you know what you are getting. You also, may get a better warranty with replacement drive 3-5 years.
2. I used to be really into UXGA and WUXGA screens. However, most apps let you zoom. So, if you need more screen real-estate, just zoom out. For example, in Firefox, Ctrl - let's you zoom out. Also, the more pixels a screen has, the more energy it consumes, thus decreasing battery life. If you can go to a store and try out a laptop with WUXGA that would be best to determine if you really need it.
3. Vpro, if you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it.
4. Buy your own RAM at Newegg.

 

Hi, i can purchase one of these later tonight (tues). what i want to no is how loud the fan is compared to 8510w when under stress like long gaming? the question was answered but the GPU is the ATI V5700 version so i thought there could be a difference with the fx 770m.
Any feed back great cos i been scepital since i wouldnt be that happy if it was on par.
Shame W500 didnt have the 770m. i would be sold

Thanks in advance

 

I would guess that the quadro version uses the same fan/cooling system as the FireGL version, so there shouldn't be much of a difference in terms of fan noise. It may differ on how often and how hard it runs, but it should still sound similar.

Then again, I could be totally wrong, too...

 

Has anyone ordered the Blu ray burner option for there Elite? Can you check what brand it is? Is it a sata drive? How is everyone liking the drive? Thanks

 

yea its hard to say because the nvidia will get hotter than the V5700 due to better perfomance.
Do you think the laptop is quiet enough under strain. i think since i own a t61p it has spoiled me, i never hear it but i cant say the same for my 8510w whic is too loud when stressing which im concerned its just more less the same thing inside with a newer look....

 

According to Windows Device Manager my unit is "HL-DT-ST BD-RE GBW-B10N". Can't tell you much about it as I've only used it to read CDs/DVDs yet.

 

How is the screen quality of the 8530p/w? Can anyone post some pictures? I really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

I have the 8530w with WUXGA+ screen (1920x1200). It's worth mentioning I'm somewhat of a maniac when it comes to screens, availability of decent quality screen was one of my main reasons for buying this notebook. Overall I'm pleased with it. Viewing angles are great, very very good. Max brightness is acceptable (for a CCFL screen). Contrast is good (for matte), colors are so-so (increasing saturation helps a little). There is no image grain. I am comparing it to Dell Led and non Led 13'',15'' and 17'' screens. So far I can say it's the best laptop screen i have ever used.

Pros: Very sharp at this resolution, excellent angles, no grain.
Cons: Colors not so vibrant, brightness a bit too low.

 

I second this user's comment. The viewing angles are way better than the 14.1 inch 6930p but the brightness is not as good. There is also minimal flickering on certain patterns. It uses a LG screen.

 

So I assume its the first panel listed here?

http://lcdtech.no-ip.info/en/data/l...r=&gam=&va=&tm=&int=&dim=&pwr=&blt=&wei=&coa=

Adam

 

So I was looking at the assembly guide for the 8530w/p and it seems like the graphics card is seperate and removable. Is this true or my eyes fooling me.

Also, I know this was discussed in a 8730w thread, but is the CPU upgradable to a quad processor on the 8530w, Im assuming it has the same board and cannot be upgraded to a quad?

 

Mine is Samsung SEC4546. Normally i loathe samsung laptop displays but this one is aceeptable.

 

I have a 8530w now for 2 days ...

Pros:

- performance !!!!
- look
- rigidity

Cons:

- fan noise (can be partially fixed in BIOS ("Fan AC always on")

- SCREEN !!!!!!!!!!!!! although with good colors, it is way too dark !!!!!!!!!!!!
The "white" is a greyish beige !!! Does the 8530w have a backlight or some thing alike ??? Any other settings possible than in NVIDIA colour settings ??

rgds,

mgv

 

It looks like the display isn't that bad after all. Did anyone here see the new Sony VAIO notebooks? How does the screen quality compare? I would really appreciate some insight.

It seems interesting that the HP Elitebook happens to have a GPU that isn't soldered to the motherboard and is therefore replaceable. This is very convenient, because it would be upgradeable in the future. As for the processor, has anyone checked if it is soldered to the motherboard or not? This looks like a great notebook!

 

From what people have said before, it seems that the screen is lacking in brightness. What screen model do you have? LG? Samsung? What resolution? Thanks.

 

I use mine at 90-95% of the brightness settings.
I will check later which panel I have.

At 100% it looks very bright.
As others pointed out, there is no "grain" and viewing angles are pretty good. Colors are very good also.

With respect to the fan noise, I can say that it is pretty quiet. I didn't have the chance to fully stress it for prolonged periods but it is comparable to the Lenovo T61 I have in work.

Rigidity and quality are top also.

Thanks,

 

Good to hear. If the fan noise is comparable to that of the Lenovo T61, then that's good news.

As for the screen, has anyone here seen the new Sony VAIO notebooks? How does the screen quality compare? I would really appreciate some insight.

The build-quality and performance of this notebook considering the size, surpasses any Sony notebook I have seen before. The only thing that is holding me back from purchasing the HP Elitebook is the screen quality. Sony is known for its incredible screens.

Thanks again.

 

Sorry guys,

I must give credit to HP with regard to the screen quality I have critized earlier ... A clear user error ... :_)

fn F11 does the job. (Thanks to my friend Ron in Munich) That is obviously the light sensor .... ??? Or what else ?

The screen is as wanted now. Excellent as the rest of the notebook.

Actually the HP Support told me to hand it back and get a replacement. I will keep it now.

rgds,

mgv





@ Elite Cataphract

it is 1920x1200. Where do I see the maker ??

 

I see the Maker in every pixel at this resolution man
Seriously now in device manager->monitors->generic monitor->details->hardware ids

 

Quick question, when you guys got your 8530w, do you think it was relatively clean and free of any bloatware? Is it worth the trouble for me, a noob, to go through the process of a clean Vista install? Opinions?

 

I ordered mine with XP.
It came clean with no bloatware (only the required HP Security management tools)

(when I opened the desktop only the recycle bin was there).

Regards,

 

Yes, the display card is removeable and resides on a PCI express bus according to the specs.

 

@ Elite Cataphract + amihalceanu

it is a LG DF200

----

In Switzerland the 8530w is offered with preinstalled downgrade from Vista Business to XP Profesional. And that takes a single hit of a button, actually you do not get to see any of Vista :_) It was complete bloatwarefree.

rgds,

mgv

 

I got mine from Romania (where I live) and it came with XP PRO preinstalled. No bloatware whatsoever just hp and intel management and security tools. Also in the box there are XP Pro kit, Vista Business 32 and Vista Business 64 plus respective drivers. Very pleased on the software side, I use vista but it's comforting to know I could install XP anytime I wanted should there be any problems with vista.
Overall it is clear the notebook was engineered with businesses in mind. 64 bit disc included is very cool imo, also my config had 2Gb of ram but 1 stick so upgrading to 4gb was a breeze.

@mgv410 Thanks for the info. So, just like Dell they use different brands of screens at the same resolution/size. Well anyway as I said this samsung that I have is quite alright.

 

ok i ordered a 8530w. and it arrived it one day brand new sealed.


· Operating System – Windows Vista Business – 32 bit

· Processor Speed – 2.8GHz (T9600 – 1066MHz FSB)

· Cache External – Level 2 – 6MB

· Standard Memory – 4 GB (Max 8GB)

· Video Resolutions – 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA WVA)

· Wireless Technologies – IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n

· Hard Drive – 320GB

· Optical drive type – Blu-ray R/RE DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive


im yet ot try it out. im looking forward to the perfomance of gaming although not the fan noise. is there any tips in bios updates that i could load to reduce the fan/noise issues?

Thanks

 

For those who own an 8530w what are your boot times? Take a look at this.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4299213#post4299213

I also have a link with the raid benchmark

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=333004

 

Why doesn't HP offer quality screens on all of its Elitebook models? Why does the 8730w only get the Dream-Color display? What's the point? I wouldn't mind paying the extra $400 if there was an option for a Dream-color display on the 8530p/w...

 

HP doesn't like making money.

 

On the monitor front, the LG is most likely their LP154WU1
http://www.lgdisplay.com/homeContain/jsp/eng/prd/prd301_j_e.jsp

And the Samsung the LTN154U1
http://www.samsung.com/global/busin...pper_fmly_id=601&fmly_id=611&partnum=LTN154U1

 

What the specs of the 8530w should have included:

Dream-color display option
DDR3 RAM
Ati graphics card option (runs cooler than nVidia GPUs)
Hybrid Graphics card of some sort
Better speakers

Other than that, this notebook would have been the best notebook ever!

Maybe we'll see some of this in the next refresh?

 

There are models with ATI graphics. It's just that the nvidia quadro is faster by quite an amount, but you can order the 8530w with Ati FireGL.
Other than that and the DDR3 (not worth the price imo) I agree with your list.

 

- LED backlit screen would be great
- DDR3. I'd prefer to buy DDR2 4GB sticks and not have a 2nd mortgage!
- ATI. Not too fussed
- Hybrid. Not too fussed. Given the battery life and this is principally a performance laptop it probably isn't and wont ever be offered
- Better speakers. Based on the feedback (haven't got mine yet) I agree

 

Maybe the nVidia Quadro FX graphics card is the reason the fans are audible all the time...
Can anyone with an Ati FireGL comment?