*HP EliteBook 8740w Owners Lounge - PART 1*

This thread is obsolete. Please see the new Owners Lounge here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...p-elitebook-8740w-owners-lounge-part-2-a.html

 

regarding display:

http://hpfansite.com/hp-elitebook/dream-color-2-rumors/

This website claims that new Dreamcolor 2 will be an IPS panel with 10 bit processing - Wow, wow if coming true...

http://www.notebookcheck.com/Newseintrag.54+M50bd27ba76c.0.html claims in German that all displays are mate and have IPS regardless of resolution... Dreamcolor - maybe coming later - here not mentioned.

Best, Walter

 

all displays have LED backlit and are anti glare (however, the 8730w anti glare is not really total anti glare, too, so keep this in mind )

you can check this CTO page e. g.

http://h71016.www7.hp.com/MiddleFrame.asp?page=config&ProductLineId=539&FamilyId=3192&BaseId=32725&oi=E9CED&BEID=19701&SBLID=

Sotton

 

Regarding the SSD

I think it's a Samsung, there's a discussion going on at
http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service...411167&admit=109447627+1269511717792+28353475

about TRIM, firmware, Win7 support.

 

Now that would be something special! If it's true, then HP are going to sell a metric ton of these.

 

HP has posted the pretty detailed 'QuickSpecs' of the 8740w on their web site.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13543_na/13543_na.html

There's a PDF version of this on the site, too.

It says that optional DreamColor will be available in May (and the QuickSpecs don't include the specs on the DreamColor display yet).

- J -

 

Looks like drivers are available now.

 

And here's the Press Release about the 8740w:

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2010/100324xa.html

Snippet:

"The HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation offers ISV-certified workstation-class performance in a mobile package. Featuring a 17-inch diagonal display, a range of Intel processors including Core i7 Extreme Edition,(8) and support for up to 16 GB of memory, the 8740w can meet the needs of the most demanding applications.

The inclusion of USB 3.0 provides increased bandwidth and performance, while an optional backlit keyboard is offered for the first time on an HP EliteBook.

The DreamColor display option enables professionals to work with deep, accurate colors for precise results every time. Able to display more than 1 billion active colors – 64 times the capabilities of a traditional display – the 8740w utilizes a 30-bit notebook LCD panel to provide a level of color control previously found only on the deskbound HP DreamColor LP2480 Professional Display.

The HP mobile display assistant and optional HP color calibration kit further allow control, adjustment and alignment of the DreamColor notebook display to ensure predictable color.

Workstation-class graphics solutions maximize onscreen performance. The 8740w offers a choice of the ATI FirePro M7820 with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory or the NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M or NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M – both with 1 GB GDDR3 video memory.

Users selecting the ATI FirePro configuration benefit from Direct X 11 and multidisplay support. Through a single GPU, the mobile workstation can simultaneously support up to four independent display outputs, plus the native notebook panel, for a total of five displays."

- J -

 

Hi all

I recently received my Envy 15 with dual SSDs. A pretty nifty little machine, but I will be sending it back to HP because they managed to screw up the Bing 20% promotion which has cost me over $500. Also it has G1 SSDs, meaning no TRIM, which is important because I will be doing some heavy database work on it.

I currently have a McBook Pro 17" and while the screen of the Envy is very crisp, I prefer 17" when I'm reading programs. I've been waiting on the rumored Envy 17 but from what I see here, I think the 8740w better suits my needs.

I see mention of 20% discounts on the new Elitebooks. Can someone point me to the right coupon code? I am interested in ordering the 8740w as soon as I return the Envy when I get back to the US next week. TIA.

 

Okay!! so 10 Bit fro Dreamcolor display is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But no word about IPS... Maybe HP marketing forget...

Best, Walter

 

Don't know any coupon code. I obtained the discount by calling HP's small business sales line and asking a sales rep for a discount.

EDIT: Added to FAQ.

 

Do you know what screen sizes and at what max resolution will simultaneously support? This is really a nice feature to have availabe.

 

FWIW here's what the description reads on the quote I got:

So no mention of DC2. The public sector pricing was about 10% off the price of the same configuration (with SSD, i7-820 and FX 3800) on the small business web site, so maybe I would've been better off haggling with them myself.

 

I don't quite know how to reconcile the earlier comment with the commentary in the 8740w QuickSpecs. But here's what it says in the QuickSpecs for external display:

"Up to 32-bit per pixel color depth
DisplayPort supports resolutions up to 2560 x 1600, 30-bit color depth at
60 Hz, and full HD (1920 x 1080) monitors, 24-bit color depth at 120 Hz
VGA port supports resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz, and lower
resolutions at up to 100 Hz
DVI-D (single link) video signal available through DVI port in optional HP
Docking Station (sold separately)
supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 at both full and reduced
blanking, and 1920 x 1200 at reduced blanking"

- J -

 

Amazing. I want one too! Sob...

 

Even though it's still early for this thread to get busy, - BUMP!
It's too exciting to stay patient!
I'm saving money for this beast, and personally, don't really like HP looks, but for those specs, bells and whistles - I'm game!

 

I think the 8740w is sleek and understated, as befits a business laptop. I have a MacBook Pro and I would say the HP is comparable as a design for professionals. I don't see most businesses buying Alienware or Envy type machines. Just curious, what do you prefer?

 

Damn this notebook is professional and freaking powerful! I got to sell my alienware for this!! lol This is what i was waiting for, i don't see an option though for a backlit keyboard though, this machine is going to have amazing build quality, military grade. Also can you get the drivers from ATI or only from the HP support page?

 

Yup i am also going to be saving money up for this beast!

 

I've seen mention of a backlit keyboard, on the HP Fansite, IIRC. Not sure whether this is coming immediately, after a few months, or not at all, though.

 

I have read somewhere that the backlit keyboard should be available from May

 

Hey thanks a lot!

 

You would be surprised but till now I've been using the M17X for business with great success...Until realized that the glare type screen is too tough for my eyes. Need a true anti-glare.
The workmanship and build quality of this new workstation are out of the question here, but the HP logo and the design in general is not something I'd dream about. There are better designs out there (IMHO), like Dell Precision 6500, or Lenovo W701.
Ideally, I'd like the HP-gear to have the HP-price but the Precision' design.
Anyway, screw the looks, I'm in...as soon as I gather the money and unless something cheaper and better looking (same hardware and quality) is out.

 

Maybe here

The sales rep also said that it's "very unlikely" that a backlit keyboard can be installed aftermarket.

As a side note on people asking about the looks of business notebooks, I personally think the elitebooks are very stylish (in an understated, non-alien-head sort of way).

 

Was it a blind shot or did you aim for someone specific?

Anyway, I don't find the alienhead stylish, but the HP logo is just, heck I almost hate it. I bet most suicidal attempts are triggered by that logo and not the gray and rainy weather that newspapers tell us

 

lol now that was funny!! So Aikimox your going to be selling your M17x R2 then probably, i just got me a dell latitude E6400 with a anti-glare 1440x900 LED and man this screen looks so much better than my alienware glare screen, it really has so much glare that even when i am away from direct sun-light it's still a problem, i could never take it out in a park or anything its too much, plus i have to say the alienware forums tend to get a bit out of a hand and boring with the same thing gaming gaming lol. I get more respect with having a business machine then gaming comp anyway. I think that this elitebook is pretty stylish and has a great surface too, and woah so light only 7 and a half pounds!! That's what i am talking about, just waiting here for the backlit keyboards, i just don't know if i want to sell my precision m6400 also, i want to compare the RGBLED edge to edge glass too the anti-glare dream color two.

 

It was, in fact, a blind shot. Guess it just goes to show that if you shoot an arrow into the air, it has to land somewhere.

 

@Freedom16
Nah, I won't be selling the M17X anytime soon. 8740w is still unavailable in Canada, even though the website shows the option. Might give them a call this week to verify the status.

 

Not available in Greece either.... Still waiting for a price comparison between HP 8740w and Dell M6500 before deciding for my next toy...

 

A tip, - go for the FirePro card, it's gonna be on par with FX3800M if not better and will slash the price by 500$ at least. Since M6500 is behind with older ATI GPUs you will can have a better screen and a better GPU for less.

 

You're absolutely right. This is what I was intending to do. Thanks for the tip anyway However, I am checking http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php daily to see some benchmarks on ATI M7820 when they become available.

 

the ATI is a DirectX 11 GPU, the FX3800 only DirectX 10.1, maybe this is for someone interesting/important, too

 

I think it's quite important and more future-proof to the upcoming software requirements that will come up in a couple of years or so.

 

FYI, my delivery date was pushed back to 4/19.

 

Did they give you any information on the reason? Is it the dreamcolor screen? Dell was also pushing back its orders due to RGB led screen shortage.

 

@SecretAsianMan: What is UFIA?

 

Yes, and I'd also like to see the entire system getting benched before buying it. The specs look attractive, but I know nothing of its heat management @max load, so I'm pressing the "pause".

 

No. I received an email saying that the order was delayed. The email contained a link to an order tracking page which listed the new date. I fully expect delays to occur with this purchase. There seem to have been widespread delays in many high-end notebooks in recent months.

This is one that you really need to Google for yourself.

Since I ordered on day one, chances are that I will be one of the first to take delivery. I'm willing to run a few benchmarks, as long as doing so is relatively easy. I've consumed a lot of benchmark results, but never produced one. What benchmarks do you want to see? Geekbench? 3DMark? Boot to desktop? Battery life?

 

I'm especially interested in the CPU/GPU/Chipset temps (idle and @max load), your opinion about the screen, and the GPU Vantage score.

 

The ATI card is clearly not the fastest one of those three..

ATI M7820
Nvidia 2800M [Add $425.00]
Nvidia 3800M [Add $895.00]

 

Mats, is your judgement based solely on the additional price of the two Nvidia? I haven't yet seen any benchmarks on ATI M7820 to compare it to Nvidia. Bear in mind that Nvidia is ISV certified (ATI is more on the open source philosophy) and this ISV cert. is what you pay for.

UPDATE: A quick check in http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php shows the following rank:

ATI FIREPRO M7740 (in Dell's M6500): 1066
NVIDIA QUADRO FX 3800M: 884
NVIDIA QUADRO FX 2800M: 657

I expect that the newest ATI's GPU (M7820) will rank even higher than its predecessor M7740.

 

It would be useful to have a general overview of the system in total with perhaps a personal opinion on the screen look along with the GPU. Boot to desktop is also a nice to know benchmark. And of course some pics!!!! Do I ask much? Thanks in advance....

 

No, also that none of them are aimed for gaming. A regular 5850 would probably be one of the cheapest if it was an option.

I'm not sure how ATI builds those model numbers, I thought the successor to the M7740 should be called M78 40?

Have the cheapest card in any HP laptop ever been significantly faster than the more expensive options? I honestly don't know.

 

SecretAsianMan: I'd like to see you running GPU-Z, just to see what kind of GPU it has.
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

 

I get your point and I am with you on that. But, I think that it's all about the ISV (Independent Software Vendor) certification. Nvidia's marketing dept. is doing a great job on that one. For applications that are highly dependent on GPU, the ISV certification makes sense as it ensures the product buyer that his software will work OK on the machine. I see it as an insurance that the prospective customer has to pay in order to be on the safe side.

 

Still, even non-ISV workstation cards tends to be more expensive than gaming cards, which speaks against the M7820.
I actually hope I'm wrong, but so far I rely on the price differences and wait for the verdict, I'm not going to buy one now anyway.

All we know is that it got 1 GB GDDR5, which means it could be anything between a 5670 and a 5870 counterpart. My bet is on something like a 5750, a 5800 would probably be too hot.

[G3D Rating]

8730w:
V5725 - 326
2700M - 687
3700M - 780

8740w.
M7820 - ?
3800M - 884
2800M - 657

M7720 - 1066 (M97/RV740 GPU, used in Mobility Radeon 4830, 4860, and Radeon 4770)

 

Congratulations, SecretAsianMan!

Here, in Spain, the 8740w is not available yet, but I think the new EliteBooks will be available in Europe on april. Although your DreamColor screen would be version 1, you'll have a pretty good screen (8-bit TN panel, with nearly 16 million of simultaneous colors). I'm eagerly waiting for your review

 

Don't judge by the price.
Mobile 5870 is much faster and cheaper than 280m/285m.
M7820 is based on the 5XXX series, I expect it to be on par or better than 3800M.

 

too bad that CTO is not available in all countries

 

@Sotton: Where do you come from? I know in some countries the EliteBooks can be CTO through a 3rd-party partner approved by HP. In Spain this is possible, but expect for this special order a very high price tag.