*HP EliteBook 8540w Owners Lounge!*

Well, at this point, this discussion actually belongs on the 8740w thread, but let's try to finish it here. If necessary, we can continue it there.

So I ran the exact same tests on the 8740w and I believe we may have a YMMV situation here. Note that I was only paying attention to CPU and GPU temps for this exercise. May or may not apply to all other sensor data.

And the results were . . . exactly the same as the 8540w (or approximately, since the 8740w didn't show the spike anomaly in HWMonitor.) I added a cool-down from stress test this time (didn't on the 8540w), and temps decreased about 1C slower in HWMonitor, but consistantly with HWiNFO32. All this possibly means that HWMonitor supports some CPU/MoBo combos better than others, mine being quads (840QM in both 8540w & 8740w) and yours a 2banger. If you do know specific sensors that do consistantly misbehave in HWMonitor, please PM me and let me know. I'd appreciate knowing if I'm not looking at good data. And I certainly don't want to link software that may not work properly.

 

Thanks to both of you for the tips - checked out both packages and I see why you keep both, VisionLight.

Cheers.

 

With HWiNFO32 you can control the fan speeds of your 8540w/8740w too and AFAIK there's no other app able to do this. Just be sure to use the latest Beta of HWiNFO32 or check here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...hwinfo32-round-2-auto-fan-control-config.html

 

@Mumak: Thanks - nice work on the fan control - I'll have to play with it sometime.

 

hi all
sorry that i have 2540p - but there is nobody in the branch...

I have 540m with 2 memory slots - service pro tell me that i must replace memory modules on authorized service center and use memory modules from HP - only in this case i'll retain the warranty, in case of problems with third-party memory, or if it will damage my mainboard - i will loose my 3 years warranty...
What you'll recommend me? I need at least 8gb RAM for Hyper-V MS Demo Machines.

How is the build quality of your elitebooks? Is it everything perfect, or some lower-higher keyboard parts etc?

 

that makes little to no sense. There's a reason why those parts are so easily accessible... manufacturers expect the end users to upgrade components like RAM and HDD.

my only complaint about my keyboard is the squeaky keys and my BACKSPACE key has been getting stuck, almost like it lost it's springiness

 

Well I tried but I finally gave up on my 8540w with the Dreamcolor screen and sent it back to HP (within the 30 day return window). I bought it intending to run Linux on it and it is listed as certified with Suse Linux but there were issues. I could work around most of them but the showstopper was the inability to control the Dreamcolor display using the Nvidia proprietary drivers since the HP Mobile Display Assistant was not available for Linux. There is some code available to control standalone Dreamcolor monitors under Linux and I tried using that but it simply would not work with the proprietary drivers.

It worked partially with the opensource Nouveau driver (I could change presets) but unfortunately 3D was not usable at all. Considering the price I paid it this was just not acceptable. A shame though. The build quality was excellent and the screen was absolutely gorgeous.

 

yo yo people
How do you think - is it be working if i'll add 1 external memory module Samsung DDR3-1333 4GB, and internal memory module will stay Hynix DDR3-1333 2GB? I heared that there is a lot of problem with Samsung memory, but in my NB will be Samsung 4GB + Hynix 2GB...

 

Hi,

I got a 8540w ~3 weeks ago and there has been a lot of problems... I am hoping that someone in this forum can have solutions to this but I do not have much hope I would like to return it and get something that works instead

Graphics - earlier had blue screens like once per day, those has stopped since I installed latest driver from Nvidia's homepage. Still problems though with dots on the screen (which might or might not disappear when I scroll past that section in eg a word document).
Also having problems with screen flickering when using dual screens (laptop + external).

Hangings - do not know what causes this but sometimes it seems to happen when I start the "Mobile Broadband Manager". Sometimes it happens without this being started. What happens? Eg starting computer from scratch and when everything seems to be up and running, starting to move mouse or pad. Pointer jumps around (no smoothness at all), mouse-buttons do not react, keyboard does not react (neither ctrl-alt-delete). Only way out is pushing power button until machine shuts down.
Today this has happend three (3) times :/

3G modem - when connected on the train (bad signal), the connection is lost and the mobile broadband manager indicates (searching for network). However, connection can sometime come back but status does not change from searching. What is the issue with this? Well, when connection does not come back automatically, I do not get a possibility to reconnect... Ctrl-alt-delete to kill the mobile broadband manager does not help, shutting down the WWAN unit from HP Wireless Assistant and turning it on again does not help... Way out? Reboot...

WLAN - tried connecting to my WLAN at home, found network but could not connect... After trial and error and stepping down the security on my AP at home I finally got a connection, when I went down to WEP encryption on the network... My old laptop (HP) did not have a problem connecting with higher encryption, neither my wifes laptop or the PS3 at home... Only this 8540w...

I am running Windows Vista 32-bit (since that is what is supported by our IT-department). I have downloaded the latest drivers from HP-homepage for WWAN, WLAN etc.
The machine has been reinstalled once by our IT-department but it has not helped much... The only thing that has stopped are the blue-screens...

Regards, Tobbe G

 

After limping along with a 5 year old Sony Vaio, I finally decided to upgrade to a 8540W!

Specs...

HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation - Quad Core

Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64

Intel® Core™ i7-840QM Processor (1.86 GHz, 8 MB L3 cache),
Up-to 3.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology

8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2D)

15.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit FHD DreamColor 2 (1920 x 1080)
Antiglare

ATI FirePro M5800 with 1GB DDR3 video memory

160GB SATA 2.5 Solid State Drive
(plan to fill the expansion slot with another drive)

DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer LightScribe Drive
(to go into an external case as I have used my DVD drive 3 times in 5 years)

Expected delivery date: April 14, 2011


After an exhaustive attempt at research that always lead me back to this thread, there were a couple decisions I found hard to make leading me to abandon my full HP shopping cart for more research.


First was the graphics card... Quadro FX 1800m vs ATI Firepro M5800

I use Rhino3D and its plugins extensively and many of the Adobe products +limited gaming. Rhino is not a huge resource hog even with very complex models. This is partially why I have held on to the Sony for so long. I reasoned that I couldn't justify the extra $400 for the Quadro. In the future, I could change to the Nvida if this was a necessity.


Second was the storage drive... SSD vs HDD.

I thought of course SSD if I could afford it. Then horror stories relating to 'one day your data will just be gone!' started surfacing. More rational voices say to expect 5+ years out of your SSD drive and you'll love the access speed. I ended up choosing the relatively tiny 160GB SSD for the primary drive and an as yet to be determined drive for the expansion slot for the data. I have used my DVD drive on the Sony maybe 3 times in the last 5 years (once to recover windows).

Another thing to think about was the release of the Sandy Bridge processors.

Okay, should I wait another couple months to find out the price/availability, another month to see all of the issues people are having with the 1st generation, backorders etc... Giving me a conservative estimate of 4 months to wait for a laptop!

Is this generation laptop perfectly capable of running everything I need it to and more?

Absolutely!!! Decision made.

Now I have to go shop for some headphones because I hear the sound sucks hardcore

Brian

 

Why would you buy this configuration over the new 8560p that is now shipping? Just to get DreamColor?

 

Dreamcolor is a definite plus. I still have yet to see a workstation class Sandy Bridge laptop from HP. The model you note comes with a AMD Radeon™ HD 6470M graphics card.

ATI FirePro M5800 - Notebookcheck.net Tech


AMD Radeon HD 6470M - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Pay special attention to the specview stats...

I have had this laptop in mind for some time. There is always something on the horizon. Clearly, as I type this on a 5 year old computer... I am not one that has to have the latest/greatest. I just need capability that my current computer lacks.

Design is subjective and unfortunately HP looks to be drinking the same from Koolaid as the other Apple design followers. To me, an attempt at Apple design reinterpretation always looks like a mildly retarded copy of the original. Am I the only one that doesn't like chiclet style keyboards? HP did a good job when they just blatantly ripped off Apple design in their ENVY laptops, giving people what they really want - a MBP PC.

Consumers award originality, this is why Apple is setting trends and everyone else just responds with iterations.

Maybe they will release the 8560W tomorrow with all of the configurable options. I would still want to wait to see all of the problems people have. Go to the beginning of this thread and see all of the issues that were addressed over the lifespan of the current model.

The only thing I regret is I might have gotten a better deal than the ~30% off of the list price I received had I waited another month for the firesale.

 

Well, 28% was the highest discount seen unless someone endured long delays or other problems. So if you got 30%, I'd say you did get a sale price. I also think people waiting for the fire sale will be disappointed to see their choices will be very limited. You were able to get every option you wanted at a nice price. By waiting, you would have risked being able to get your configuration with no guarantee that a big sale is actually going to happen (HP will fill most of the laptops with low end options and dump them to resellers).

 

In your opinion, what defines a "workstation class" laptop?

Are you needing the graphics card power for gaming or something else?

 

They are the ones sold as workstations. This is like asking "What is your opinion of what defines a business class laptop?" It is not a matter of opinion. Workstations are a well defined subset of business notebooks. This generation of HP Workstations are 8740w, 8540w and 8440w. Next generation will be 8760w, 8560w and 8460w.

 

Right, but what makes HP Workstations a distinguishing subset?

I am no expert, but it seems the graphics card and monitor are the only distinguishing factors between the 8x40W and the 8x60p models.

My question is to learn what are the other factors that define the "workstation" subset.

 

I see. You are mostly correct that the major difference is in the graphics. The workstations tend to offer several choices of discrete graphics. The choices offered are slightly different cards from what is offered on the "p" series. To keep things simple, compare the 8540w to 8540p (going off memory here, please excuse any model misnaming).

8540w GPUs: FX880M, FX1800M, M5800
8540p GPUs: Intel integrated, NVS5100M

The workstation offers 3 discrete graphics solutions, the "p" offers integrated or one GPU selection. I think the NVS5100M is physically the same card as FX880M (again fro memory), but the FX880M uses drivers tuned for professional 3D graphics applications which can make a significant difference in performance. The other cards on the workstation are stronger than the NVS5100M giving you options for higher performance.

Workstations will usually offer the most powerful CPUs (Extreme series from Intel), though of course this is very expensive. The 8740w and 8540w quad-core models also have 4 ram slots and support up to 32GB of ram, important for some users (and helpful to others who can achieve 8 or 16GB at a much reduced cost). And as you mentioned, the workstations tend to offer more choices of displays, included the Dreamcolor option.

One extra bonus to the workstations is the included warranty. The base warranty is 3 year on-site for most of the workstation models (and all of the CTOs). The "p" series base warranty is 3yr mail-in.

 

Thank you for a easy to understand explanation!

Now a noobie question: Are these graphic cards on the motherboard or can they be swapped out?

I wish I can have my cake and eat it too - fast, powerful graphics when I am docked at my workstation 70% of the time - and thin and light when I mobile 30% of the time. I guess I should think 14" W as the compromise or another manufacturer.

 

The workstation GPUs are removable and upgradeable. The catch is that the card must be white listed by HP in BIOS. This basically limits your upgrade options to the cards offered by HP even though the laptop might be physically compatible with several other (newer) options.

The current 14" w has fairly weak graphics. We do not yet know what the new 14" will offer, though I suspect it will offer the lowest card available on the 15".

 

I agree that this definition is becoming more and more fuzzy as options such as the ATI 5800m card become available. Used to be that games were unplayable on high-end workstation graphics cards as these were only concerned with very specific applications and had endorsements of industry leaders in content creation like Autodesk.

Generally speaking, I feel workstation laptops are a no-holds-barred approach to desktop replacement typically geared more toward CAD and graphics creation(my field) where cost is less of a determining factor. You can actually configure a $12,800 8540w by maxing out the options for display, processor, ram, graphics, and storage. This is without any other options like warranty.

Notable differences:
Dreamcolor availability
8540w is upgradeable to 32GB of RAM.
Better options for GPU

I am sure the next generation HP workstations will be beasts boasting next generation Quadro FX cards etc...

Before everyone calls and demands 30% off...I received a 28% discount with free shipping (pencils out to 29% or ~30%)

 

*bump* Anyone, anyone?

 

I have question for 8540P and I think this is the best tread...
BTW. I do not know why all other Owners Lounge are are for p/w models, only this one just w...
I have replaced AUO HD+ screen with AUO FHD screen (it works perfect)...
But, I have noticed that machine is heating MUCH MORE after that- it is i5-520M and with old screen almost never I hear fan... Now, with new screen it is working all the time to be on set point 50C degree...
Is it normal, or maybe (I do not think so), some error in remove/put back components...

 

happy to see the screen worked out well for you. I just ordered mine today
quick question, when you removed the screen bezel... how did you go about doing so? Did you pry from the inside or the outside casing? Did you start with top to bottom or side to side? Any other tips you can give? I started the removal process, but a bit nervous about breaking the plastic clips...

as far as the fan, I'm of no help... only thing that comes to mind is change the settings in BIOS?

 

Everybody is good! I'm a beginner. Everyone please take care

 

I've found a good a wireless speaker for our machines that impresses me. If you don't checkout the 8740w thread, you can find my mini-review there in post #2147.

 

I'm having a problem (and have since the day I bought my 8540w...in November of 2010) that I'm wondering if any of you have seen and/or know what is wrong. I've lost a considerable amount of time in support calls, chats, technician visits. At this point, the laptop has cost me double to triple what I paid for it in lost productivity. I'm giving up on HP support at this point and am ready to trash the laptop and buy something else. In my experience, real world users are typically the best help in a situation like this because you're not reading from a script.

Here's what happens:

My laptop will randomly "freeze" up and become unresponsive. When it happens, a weird color pattern is displayed on the screen.



This happens 5 to 10 times per day. It happens when the only thing open is firefox and I'm watching a youtube video. It happens frequently when downloading something in itunes. It always happens when using photoshop, premiere, quickbooks, virtualbox, or anything else that is resource intensive.

It's very frustrating because I lose everything that is open. It strikes without warning and it happens often.

Here's what HP has done so far.

1. Replaced video card (nVidia Quadro FX 880M)
2. Replaced motherboard
3. Replaced CPU
4. Replaced memory
5. Replace hard drive

I've performed a format and install of the OS on 4 different occasions. I've installed the drivers from the supplied disk, downloaded all of the latest/greatest, and have done an install with drivers supplied by tech support. None of which have worked. My exact model is the 8540w FN095UT.

Any suggestions or ideas as to what the problem is? All feedback is welcome.

 

I would push hard for a full system replacement. If you have had the same on-site tech for all the repairs, they should be ready to recommend you get a replacement. Start using the term "lemon" in all of your communications with HP in regards to your machine.

 

Knight...thanks for the response. :smile:

I've called HP a couple times asking for it to be replaced as well as the local tech that performed the repairs to no avail. They now want me to take it to a local repair center to have them look at it. Like I mentioned in my initial post, I'm so upside down in this laptop right now that I'm finished working with HP on it. I'm truly surprised that HP doesn't feel this same way with all of the service calls and replacement parts they've invested. I truthfully have lost all faith in HP and their ability to take care of the situation and don't have the time to waste on the phone with them any longer. My fear is that I'll end up having the exact same problem.

I'm just hoping that someone here has experienced something similar and found a fix for it.

Thanks again!

 

One thing you didn't try to do and that is check if the LED screen is the culprit. Maybe the screen is acting up for some weird reason.

 

If anyone here was able to fix it themselves, that would most likely be a software issue. You have reinstalled your OS several times and updated all drivers. That seems to eliminate software (though I am far from an expert).

I agree with Star Forge that the screen is the next/last logical piece of hardware to try replacing. See if you can get your on-site tech to replace it. I would also persist in pushing for continued on-site service. They sold you the on-site warranty, so make them honor it. Note however that I'm sure the warranty fine print allows them to require depot service when they deem it necessary, but you don't need to convince the lawyers, you just need to convince your tech or another support specialist that on-site means on-site. Eventually they should cave on the replacement when they run out of parts to replace. Still frustrating though.

 

if it is 5 separate repairs, then it's clearly 'not fit for purpose' - just add that to your communications with them as well.

i would also summise this is a screen/FW issue - although i've see that screenshot you posted on a faulty GPU.. and you state several programs that interact with the gpu in a HW acceleration way (flash/premiere/photoshop etc)

don't back down and state after 5 repairs it is not fit for the designed tasks, and you are due a replacement machine altogether. in the UK thats the trades descriptions law, i don't know about the US.

but yes, thats horrendous.

 

Does this pattern appear outside Windows? My previous screen (8740w) showed sometimes patterns like yours, inside Windows and outside too. You said this effect only appears when doing certain tasks in Windows, but do the following test, because it's likely you can isolate the problem better:

Power on the laptop and press the ESC key when prompted. Now, leave the laptop on for five up to ten minutes with the on screen menu. Watch carefully the screen searching for waves or interferences from time to time (I know it's hard to watch the screen continually). If you see one, you'll know the problem is hardware related and independent from software issues (drivers...) If you can, take a photo of the on screen menu with the defects. This proof is irrefutable for the service center - they won't say again you should format your hard drive and reinstall the OS.

In my case, my screen was replaced and that solved the problem. It was faulty.

Good luck and keep us posted with your results.

 

first, I want to say I am so sorry for what you are going through; it sounds beyond Kafka-esque! And I also want to say that all of the members posting with both their suggestions and compassion are doing you a terrific service. FWIW, I am inclined to believe it's the LCD as well; let's face it, there's not much more to try!

I am going through my own version of "HP Hell," but fortunately I am not having any problems with my machine: that's because I've been waiting over 7 weeks for it and it is all but lost in the ozone! My case has, most regrettably, been put in the hands of the HP "Executive Case Management" team (they are based in Ontario, Canada somewhere and, whatever you do going forward, try with every ounce of your being to avoid having your case become their case!!!

My case was referred to them because I made the innocent mistake of calling the corporate help line: 800-756-0608, Option 7. They make your tech support people seem like miracle workers! They are rude and arrogant and they are useless. What's worst: they absolutely have the game rigged so you have nowhere else to appeal to unless you have pull at very high levels, but they themselves are actually very low level staff, who don't even have permission to call people in the product and technical departments on the phone! All they can do is send an email to a general mailbox at any given department, and if they don't get an answer, they claim to have no recourse, no management of their own to ask for assistance, etc. It's just beyond frustrating and I hate to think of this 5 month nightmare you've been having degenerating into the new version of hell that I have been experiencing. At least you are able to speak to technicians about problems with your computer and they are coming out to work on it.

Well, my major point here is to advise you that I do know quite a number of people in many parts of this sprawling monster of a company (which, btw, I have NEVER had a bad experience with prior to this one!), and I have embarked upon a letter-writing and emailing campaign, hoping that it goes sufficiently "viral" inside HP that someone with actual responsibility for customer care who is paid to keep HP staff from abusing or inflicting pain and cost (including the cost of our time) on customers will catch wind of it and contact me. I will try to stay abreast of your posts, and, as soon as I am able to connect with a person of authority who will help out in cases like ours I will connect you to them (via post and PM), and of course would appreciate it if you would do the same. But I do caution you in the meantime: DO NOT to call the corporate help line: 800-756-0608, Option 7, as this is the conduit to the "Executive Case Management" goblins I'm now entombed with.

I am 55 years old and was a corporate executive in technology companies for over 20 years, then became an independent consultant. I fancy myself a problem solver and one who knows how to break a corporate bureaucratic logjam. And I've been working professionally with HP for the past two years, buying or directing the purchase of some 50 systems through clients. I'm only explaining this to tell you: I have never been so frustrated or stymied by a trap of this nature before - ever! Tells you how motivated I am to fix it!

 

I am totally with you. My 8740w replacement got delayed and I am getting treated very poorly by the business case managers. They won't even let me get an extension of my existing warranty due to the time my replacement is getting delayed and delayed. They originally told me that the new system will get the warranty transferred from my old machine to the new one, but doing so is that everyday, I am sitting with my warranty withering away as I have no new machine to work with and my old one is sitting here waiting to be returned. Therefore, I am wasting my standard warranty on nothing. They were really rude and they won't do anything and basically told me tough luck.

I am totally at a point where even I want to leave HP and I want to sell my replacement, recoup my losses and go buy a Dell or Alienware. I have had it. When a company doesn't value a customer's time, then that is the final straw. They told me that my unit is shipping out tomorrow, but I am taking that statement with a total grain of salt. Too bad to cause I am waiting for two weeks to install my new 1200p WLED panel I got for the replacement, but where this is going, I rather sell it and go somewhere else. I am tired of this machine and I am tired being a HP customer.

 

With all our ranting, I happen to think they are a good company with a lot of good products and loads of good people. What I have only now learned (after some 20 transactions with them in 2 yrs) is that they lack an "ombudsman" system, a truly trustworthy place to turn when you are not being treated fairly. I know for a fact that the majority of people in the HP SMB div want to deliver excellent customer service. Seen it too many times not to believe it. Also, I would never be having this problem if this transaction started as a purchase from my awesome sales rep, Sam Kramer ([email protected]), but this was a whacky deal starting with an Envy 14.

Anyway, I am going to keep at it til I get an executive contact who WANTS me to refer all disgruntled NBR people and WANTS customers well cared for. Look around; complainers seem to abound, but of the total posters, people with terrible stories are the minority. Anyway, I will tell you that people are if anything more unhappy with Dell. Check out the recent laptopmag.com survey. As always, Apple is #1 by a mile. #2:.........HP!, then I think Lenovo, Asus.....They all can be bad, but I'm not sure your odds are better with Dell.

 

Lovelaptops and Starforge, you guys aught to persist.
Last time I had a lemon 8510w (top of the line Bluray 1900x1200 etc ...) that was replaced after probably 5 or 6 service calls at home without them being able to fix it. They kept trying to take it in, I adamantly refused based on the 'On site' warranty being the main reason why I purchased.
I had to go through their Call center in India, then Canada, then business analysts in Canada or US, then some HP case engineer had to call me still trying to 'force' me to send it in, I didn't cave in.
I'm not sure if the time wasted on all this was worth it but after I think 3 or 4 months worth of trouble (not counting all the service calls, hdd, motherboard, screen, motherboard again, ram, power bar, dead battery, you name it ...), they finally decided to give me a replacement unit.
First the tried to shove me a low end unit, I had to fight again - then the finally decided to put in an order for an 8540w which still comes short feature wise of my old unit with a crappy 16:9 screen and no Bluray ...
A month after the order (and no follow ups despite my many attempts), I finally got the 8540w...
The whole process was probably 5~6 months .... their onsite warranty is good for replacing all sort of parts, but at times it sucks if you have to run your business or consulting out of that one broken unit.
The worse in all this is that this laptop was my wife's and she babied it, the unit was just crap ...

So, it's going to take you a while, just make sure you DON'T send your unit in and keep asking for escalation telling them you can't run your d4mn business because of their broken garbage .... excuse my language ...

Cheers,

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I will definitely keep at it because I'm not going to let HP essentially rob me of some $1,000 of value! I will not give up - even after I get my 8540w, which should be this week, finally - untill I find an executive who will take the Executive Case Managers in Ontario Canada to the woodshed! Again, whenever I've had problems with HP over delays or bad product, there have always been good people to deal with and who took accountability for results and would themselves escalate my case if they felt they lacked the clout to get another department or division of HP to do what was necessary. And I always ended up getting huge discounts as compensation for the difficulties and delays.

These arrogant SOBs in Canada really need to be taken down a peg, and I will not feel like I have done the right thing (for people who follow in my footsteps) if I don't pursue "gunning" for them.

 

Well I am getting my replacement today with a fresh, new 3 year warranty so I got no qualms really with them anymore. However though, it has not been a really subtle or friendly process to go through if you ask me.

 

I don't understand why they gave you such a hard time on the warranty. Did you bring up the issue? I'll bet if you had said nothing, the laptop would have come with a fresh warranty, all three of my replacements did, and I never demanded it. Since the warranty is attached to the laptop, it seems like they would have had to go out of their way and do some tight coordination across divisions to limit your warranty...and we all know how uncoordinated HP (and really any large company) is between divisions.

 

Well I never asked about it but they must of gotten mad when I kept complaining that the replacement unit kept getting delayed and I think that was when they started telling me the warranty restrictions. Either way, it has been sorted out and I my standard warranty now starts today on this unit.

 

When I was waiting for my last replacement, I couldn't even get a hold of anyone who could acknowledge a replacement was coming for several weeks, then some guy from India called to let me the replacement was approved, but I could never get a hold of him to get a shipment date.

On the other hand, my first replacement (which came from "engineering" who wanted to "recapture" my original unit) was on my doorstep less than 24hrs after HP called me. If that one had worked as promised, my opinion of HP would very high. My second replacement took forever, but I was working with one guy the whole time and I did get a ton of upgrades. So it was really only my final replacement that was a total mess all the way around.

 

Hi, to you all I have few questions for you guys.
I am running 8540w with i5-520M, 320gb SATA II (7200 rpm), NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M and win 7 pro 64bit.
After seeing some boot comparison on youtube (the same machine) with and without SSD drive. I am thinking to upgrade to Intel X25M G2 160gb.
So my questions are :
1. I am convinced that my computer will start up faster but, will my Application run faster also ? (Photoshop, Adobe Premier, Autodesk Plant 3D, Visual Studio2010), I mean faster significantly?
2. Should I take the CD drive and put in in candy?
3. Will SSD affect battery life?
Thank you

 

Hey all.

I wanted to let everyone know I have a few fx 1800m gddr5 cards available. I didn't know if it wasn't the favored card because of pricing or if its more powerful than the AMD.
Either way I thought maybe a nvidia fan with the 880m might want one.

 

1) yes the SSD will make the whole system faster, including your applications.

2) up to you, if you need storage/backup it's the way to go

3) SSD's use less power by design so will give you an extra bit of time on batteries.

 

So will it for example double the speed of aps.... Will the speed it the system significantly or eg 20-30 %

 

You can judge for yourself thanks to a couple of youtube vids:
YouTube - RealSSD? C300 MacBook Pro SSD/HDD Performance Comparison
and
YouTube - SSD vs HDD - Macbook Pro 2010 - 48 Apps launched at Once

Also, for a chart of different app load times with various SSDs and mechanical HDDs, check here (in German, but obvious enough)
Test: Preiswerte SSDs (Seite 4) - 01.04.2010 - ComputerBase

Other than this, you've probably already seen the multitude of round-up articles comparing the various SSDs.

Cheers.

 

hello

i have a 8540w with a core i5, so i know that my mainboard has only 2 slots for the RAM.

initially the computer was delivered with 2x2GB, but i recently purchased a 2x4GB kit

yesterday, i open the RAM panel under the laptop, and i was very surprised to see that there's only ONE slot under this panel !!

=> can you help me and explain where is the second one memory slot ???

thanks a lot
anthony

 

second slot is under the keyboard
to remove keyboard:
- loosen screws on the bottom of the notebook. they will have a keyboard symbol next to them.
- open the notebook and on the keyboard, there are sliders between: (esc / f1, f4/f5, f8/f9, f12/insert) and you will need to slide those towards you.
- remove keyboard. it is possible to install the memory stick without removing the keyboard connector, but probably safer to disconnect it.

 

thanks a lot for your fast reply
i really can't understand why they placed this second module at this weird place !
anyway, i'll give it a try this evening ...
anthony

 

maybe anyone know if it's possible in non modem version of 8540w like WD742EA to buy and upgrade it with module HP Mobile Broadband (powered by Gobi™ ??