*HP EliteBook 8740w Owners Lounge - PART 1*

And presumably this is exactly why HP doesn't have the 920 option available yet and are waiting till they have a fully tested stable platform. But it's no great loss IMO --- like you say it's a lot of $$$ for a relatively minor gain in performance. Maybe there's 1% of users somewhere that might benefit, but for me (and I suspect the vast majority of users) it's not worth the cost (though it seems like the 820 is a worthwile upgrade over the 720 for cpu-intensive tasks).

 

my guess is they don't want to put out all versions of the 8740w from the start. And it could be availability of parts, too. But I hope that you are right and they are just testing

 

I did wipe out the extra partition (which for the 8730w was only for diagnosis, I think) and got service without a problem. However, I was unable to re-build the extra partition again before the service but I have tried (the software for that partition is available for dl from HP) and I rebuilt the system and so it was possible to start Windows (the problem with my 8730w was the vga)

I think they just connect their special own USB-drives for testing and repair and maybe wipe your hard disk so they don't care what is on it

 

Right, I am just being lazy with the terms. But yeah you actually adjust the CPU clk frequency, instead of FSB. Sorry old habits.

@Sotton: thanks for the info. Note to self, back up your HDD often.

 

Well..Well..Well....now i see some change to my order.Not sure how to interpret it.
When i inquire on the Line Item Detail and click More info - it used to say the status as 'SCHD/Scheduled'. Today it has changed to 'IC-Cancelled'
I will call HP SMB and ask what those codes mean and report back.

 

Good luck with those guys. They proved to be totally chaotic and at the very least confusing. Not only they didn't provide any answers to my questions during the last few days, they also promised to put the backlit keyboard (as per my order) instead of the currently showing regular one, and it's still not fixed...
Guess, it's either waiting patiently till the end or canceling the order.

 

I see the same thing on my order status.

 

Called them about the status issue and they said that it would best to stay in the 'P2P Club'.

 

Which line item?

 

Any line item you choose, it says the same status.

 

What NotebookGrail said.

 

I've just received the 8740w !!! hurra! Its got XP build in lol. I'll wipe clean the disc in a second and install my 7 64bit ultimate...

 

Congrats!
Could you please feed the hungry fellas with pics and some tests? Also what are your system specs? Do you have the IPS DC2 screen?
Thank You.

 

Yipee! Please check for throttling...I know these systems do not throttle...But it is still a good thing to check...

 

Yes - specs please, and pics if you can. If you do take pics, please include a shot of the PSU and any major accessories that accompanied the unit. If you're comfortable doing a full review, let us know.

 

Im in my office now but when I come back home I'll take a few pics.
There is no accessories Just the laptop and the PSU (quite large 2.5x size of a normal laptop psu)
So far everything is ok..
they've put Western Digital Scorpio Black
WD3200BEKT,SATA300/NCQ,320 GB, 16 MB Cache,7200 rpm
which is I think quite good.. a few mbps slower than Seagate Momentus (about 5mb/s)
Cant test the noise because my office is hymmm.... loud

My spec: i7-720, 4gb 1333mhz, 320gb 7200rpm, FX3800 (because its CUDA and its/will be supported by the new adobe CS5 package), full hd 1080i screen (not DW - dont care about it - its connected to 2x Eizo ColorEdge 22inch screens) + Smart card + finer print reader, camera and other tipical stuff.

Please give me program names of the testing software.. I'll run all test today

ps sorry but English is not my native language.

 

a few words about the quality...
looks solid and heavy but its got that something you want to have... gun metal colour + shiny HP logo...
Im not sure if the cover is metal/magnesium... feels a bit plastic but its cold so I dont know.
I can say ... well designed piece of simple art well organised inputs and outputs... a bit too many colours of all the led lights and icons.

Im quite happy that Im a very fit person so that 4 ish kilo is ok for me

 

Question about memory Im hoping someone here could clear up, because HP Support seems to be very confused about what they offer.

I called them to find out if theres any way to configure the 8540p with 16GB (4x4GB) like you can the 8540w. They said that not only can I not do this on the 8540p, but I cant on the 8540w. They said this board only comes with 2 memory slots even though the website has several ways to configure 4DIMMS and that the website is wrong.

Can anyone confirm how many DIMMS are available in this? If there are in fact 4, is there any reason why I couldnt just order the 8540p with 2x4GB and then add 2 more 4GB modules myself?

Thanks a bunch!!

 

quadcore cpus have 4 slots (2 under the motherboard and 2 under the keyboard). You cand add more later in 8740w

 

I think you need at least a Core i7-720QM

If you don't have it you won't have 4 slots...

Edit: yeah, quadcore, former poster said it

Edit 2: current 8540p have only 2 slots, so

 

According to the website at least, you can configure the 8540p with both quad core options (720 and 820). Furthermore, the Memory selections on their web site lets you choose 8GB one of 2 ways - using either 2 DIMMS (2x4GB) or 4 DIMMS (4x2GB).

Just want to make sure the website is correct.

 

you have to buy quad core to get 4 ram slots.

 

@xsrx,

Could you please check your temps using HWMonitor, HWinfo32, or any other free software, while running some games, 3DMark06/Vantage/Furmark or any other tests?

 

To anyone who got theirs, can you give some impressions regarding the screen (which I assume will be the non-DC), e.g. vertical viewing angles, color, etc. I'm thinking if the non-DC screen is IPS and is good enough, I might just go with the regular screen.

 

first problem... the toughpad is not working! I've installed the newest drivers for synapsis (windows 7 64 ultimate) and still nothink... system see the toughpad as working but its not... that little trackjoystick is ok. Anybody know the reason ?

 

do you have tried version 15.0.10 (28th April) from the HP site? it is maybe better to use the HP driver package...

do you have to activate the touch pad somehow? I only know XP but there you can deactivate the touch pad in the synaptics configuration menu

maybe try to uninstall the driver, too, the touch pad should work with the minimum functions even without driver

 

it didnt work under preinstalled xp and now.. under win 7... damn!
the system see the synapsis joystick (that little something) but not the touch pad.

 

looks like the buttons under the space bar are not working too....

 

it looks more like a hw problem/missing cable

or is it possible to activate/deactivate the touch pad in the BIOS, too?

in my device manager I only see one device for both, stick and touch pad, too

the buttons should work because the upper buttons belong to the stick, however, the functions are the same

 

in the keyboard video you can see that the stick is part of the keyboard (with an extra cable) and if it works it says not much about the buttons and touch pad if that cable is not correct...

Customer Self-Repair Steps (videos/animations)

 

Check the BIOS!

 

Can someone kindly to upload your 3800M VBIOS here? Just use GPU-Z you can save it as a bin file. Thanks in advance.....

 

I've checked the bios.. there is nothing about this device. The stick is active and its working fine but the 3 buttons are dead... same as the toughpad and its buttons. When I go to Synapsis options I see the driver (same for both devices) but in Device settings (under synapsis options) I see only one device - the stick... I think it must me a cable or hw problem with the device. I'll open the case tomorrow and see what is going on... anyway... I've expected a bit more quality control from HP business line...

 

IDLE TEST
CPUID HWMonitor Report
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Binaries
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

HWMonitor version 1.1.5.0

Monitoring
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mainboard Model 1520 (0x000000C8 - 0x00002140)

Hardware Monitors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware monitor ACPI
Temperature 0 0°C (32°F) [0xAAC] (EXTZ)
Temperature 1 0°C (32°F) [0xAAC] (EX2Z)
Temperature 2 11°C (51°F) [0xB1A] (PWMZ)
Temperature 3 39°C (102°F) [0xC32] (LOCZ)
Temperature 4 45°C (113°F) [0xC6E] (GFXZ)
Temperature 5 26°C (78°F) [0xBAC] (BATZ)
Temperature 6 46°C (114°F) [0xC78] (EGXZ)
Temperature 7 54°C (129°F) [0xCC8] (CPUZ)
Temperature 8 0°C (32°F) [0xAAC] (MCHZ)
Temperature 9 59°C (138°F) [0xCFA] (PCHZ)

Hardware monitor Intel Core i7
Power 0 55.04 W (Processor)
Temperature 0 57°C (134°F) [0x2B] (Core #0)
Temperature 1 50°C (122°F) [0x32] (Core #1)
Temperature 2 55°C (131°F) [0x2D] (Core #2)
Temperature 3 53°C (127°F) [0x2F] (Core #3)

Hardware monitor NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M
Temperature 0 45°C (113°F) (GPU Core)

Hardware monitor WDC WD32 00BEKT-60V5T
Temperature 0 32°C (89°F) [0x20] (Assembly)
Temperature 2 32°C (89°F) [0x20] (Air Flow)

Hardware monitor Battery 1
Voltage 0 16.63 Volts [0x40F2] (Current Voltage)
Capacity 0 73440 mWh [0x11EE0] (Designed Capacity)
Capacity 1 72850 mWh [0x11C92] (Full Charge Capacity)
Capacity 2 72259 mWh [0x11A43] (Current Capacity)
Level 0 1 pc [0x63] (Wear Level)
Level 1 99 pc [0x63] (Charge Level)

Hardware monitor Battery 2

 

Coo! Nice temps! Now if you could run some stress tests and games and attach a screenshot of the HWMonitor, would be perfect!
+1 Rep, BTW!

 

vantage: 6666pkt

 

Did you start from 280?

 

Nice score! Still, the FirePro should be at least 1k above scoring ~8K on average with 720QM.

 

No, for NV change a gaming card to professional is now impossible.....

 

Oh, really? Too bad then,..do you think the same applies to the 5xxx ATI series?

 

No current consumer card can be flashed into a workstation card AFAIK.

 

nobody of the new owners want to share a few nice pictures?

 

Help pls guys.

 

kaltmond tell me how and I'll do it
Im still angry about that damn toughpad... I've tried everything... I have to ring their support line and request someone to come and fix it. Hope my US warranty will cover it in uk.. if not than I have to buy an extended warranty.

I'll do the pics today.. but not now I have to clean my mess at home

 

Thanks xsrx, just open GPU-Z and dump your BIOS using this button.

 

email me your email by PM.

 

12308 in 3d mark 2006

 

What's the max temp for CPU and GPU during the tests?
Could you attach a screenshot (HWMonitor)?

 

To anyone in the know... I haven't come across this in all my readings. But I've been Wondering... Is it still a great mystery as to how the ATI FirePro M7820 will differ vs. the Radeon HD M5870? I'm guessing:

Eyefinity -- support of less displays
HD Audio -- omitted
HDMI 1.3a -- omitted
Avivo HD -- dunno know it is but guess it too is omitted?

Is the truth known to anyone?

thanx,
-steve

 

I don't think so --- AMD/ATI doesn't even list the M7820 on their website and, so far as I can tell, the M7820 is exclusive to the 8740w. It all strikes me as a bit odd to tell the truth, though I'm sure the M7820 will be an excellent gpu.