HP Elitebook 8760: Purchase config advice request

I run Windows, VMWare, and two live virtual machines. I currently have 8gb (max) on my HDX 18t, so I know for sure I want a fast quad-core processor and 16gb of RAM. (I guess I should compare Crucial's prices on the RAM.)

'm not going to overclock the machine, I don't play any games on the computer at all, but I do want the graphics to handle an HD movie and I like to get decent color accuracy for web & mobile design work. It may not be the consensus here, but I do prefer 1920x1080 (not 1200).

I'm going to put in a 256gb SSD and a 750gb drive, but due to the prices being charged for the SSD and 750, I'm getting the low-end option from HP and then I'll put in the drive upgrades myself.

I'm confused about which docking station allows multiple monitors - I want that.

I'm concerned about generating unnecessary heat, ie, without a performance benefit for my requirement.

I move the computer each day but I'm used to lugging a huge desktop replacement (have a roller case) and don't care about battery time at all.

I'd appreciate any advice on this config:

Configurable - HP EliteBook 8760w Mobile Workstation Quad Core
(ENERGY STAR)
XY697AV
HP EliteBook 8760w Mobile Workstation with Mobile Intel® QM67 Express Chipset, and Intel Quad Core Processor
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64
MS Windows 7 Logo Label
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM Processor, 2.30GHz (Turbo up to 3.40GHz), 1600 MHz, 8MB L3 Cache
Intel Core i7 vPro Label
Mobile Intel QM67 chipset
Estar Label - if any Windows OS is selected, then label is required.
Intel® vPro Technology Enabled (IF MSOS is selected MUST select vPro processor label)
17.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit FHD UWVA anti-glare DreamColor w/camera (1920 x 1080 resolution)
Integrated 720p HD Webcam
NVIDIA Quadro 3000M graphics with 2GB dedicated GDD5 video memory (if XM proc/DreamColor selected Must select 230w adapter)
16GB 1333DDR3 4DM Memory
320GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
Blu-ray R/RE DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive - IF MSOS and Blu-ray selected MUST select WinDVD/Drive Creator module skus.
WinDVD Blu-Ray Drive Kit -If any [(MSOS) AND (BD-Optical)] is selected, then MISC WinDVD BD Kit (LG499AV) is required
Blu-Ray Drive Creator Module Technical AV- If [(MSOS) AND (BD-R/RE)] is selected, then MISC BD Creator (LG494AV) is required
Dualpoint (Touchpad and Pointstick) Backlit Keyboard
HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth® 2.1 Wireless Technology
Intel® Centrino® Ultimate-N 6300
No WWAN Module
56K v.92 high speed modem
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
230W Hardware Kit
HP 8-cell 83 Wh Li-Ion Primary Battery
HP Elite Support with limited 3 year standard parts and labor warranty 3/3/3
Drivers for Windows 7 without WinDVD (Recovery Media) - Recovery Media Available with any OS Win7 localizations.
System Recovery DVD for Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit Only available if (Win7PRO32, Win7PRO64) is selected.
HP 230W Docking Station
Additional accessories added from categories below will ship and invoice separately.

$5,438.00

9x5 Next Business Day On-Site Coverage for Notebooks with Accidental Damage Protection Service, 3 years
$109.00

HP 230W Smart AC Adapter
$129.00

HP Professional Slim Top Load Case - Smart Buy
$49.00

 

Drop to the lowest amount of memory HP offers, and install the 16GB yourself, saving a ton of money. 16GB of DDR3 SODIMM's is only about $160 shipped on Newegg or Amazon these days.

 

Get the AMD GPU. It is a 15" platform card, which is too bad (downgrade from 8740w ATi GPU), but for your needs it is more than enough and will save you a ton of money.

EDIT: unless ofc you need CUDA

 

Ok will do on the RAM.

I'm not sure if the Dreamcolor screen works with the AMD GPU, but I'll give it a try.

 

Okay, here's where I'm at:

Configurable - HP EliteBook 8760w Mobile Workstation Quad Core
(ENERGY STAR)
XY697AV
HP EliteBook 8760w Mobile Workstation with Mobile Intel® QM67 Express Chipset, and Intel Quad Core Processor
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64
MS Windows 7 Logo Label
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM Processor, 2.30GHz (Turbo up to 3.40GHz), 1600 MHz, 8MB L3 Cache
Intel Core i7 vPro Label
Mobile Intel QM67 chipset
Estar Label - if any Windows OS is selected, then label is required.
Intel® vPro Technology Enabled (IF MSOS is selected MUST select vPro processor label)
17.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit FHD UWVA anti-glare DreamColor w/camera (1920 x 1080 resolution)
Integrated 720p HD Webcam
ATI FirePro M5950 graphics with 1GB dedicated GDDR5 video memory Not available if (230W) is selected.
4GB 1333DDR3 1DM Memory
500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
Blu-ray R/RE DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive - IF MSOS and Blu-ray selected MUST select WinDVD/Drive Creator module skus.
WinDVD Blu-Ray Drive Kit -If any [(MSOS) AND (BD-Optical)] is selected, then MISC WinDVD BD Kit (LG499AV) is required
Blu-Ray Drive Creator Module Technical AV- If [(MSOS) AND (BD-R/RE)] is selected, then MISC BD Creator (LG494AV) is required
Dualpoint (Touchpad and Pointstick) Backlit Keyboard
HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth® 2.1 Wireless Technology
Intel® Centrino® Ultimate-N 6300
No WWAN Module
56K v.92 high speed modem
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
200W Hardware Kit
HP 8-cell 83 Wh Li-Ion Primary Battery
HP Elite Support with limited 3 year standard parts and labor warranty 3/3/3
Drivers for Windows 7 without WinDVD (Recovery Media) - Recovery Media Available with any OS Win7 localizations.
System Recovery DVD for Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit Only available if (Win7PRM64) is selected.

$4,154.00
Estimated Ship Date
6/10/20113

9x5 Next Business Day On-Site Coverage for Notebooks with Accidental Damage Protection Service, 3 years
$109

Crucial RAM to be ordered Amazon:
8GB Kit (4GBx2)
DDR3 PC3-10600 • CL=9 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1333 • 1.5V • 512Meg x 64 • • Part #: CT1174697
2 @ $93.99 each = $187.98

Crucial Technology 256 GB Crucial RealSSD C300 Series from Amazon:
$462.58

 

So the config looks good?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

 

I think it's fine, although the 2720QM should be enough for your needs...

 

Thanks, dsrini9000.

 

I'm in exactly your boat myself. The CPU (if I guage by my desktop core 2 quad Q9550) is not the bottleneck, it'll be the disk that gains you the most. The base video card is fine, and definitely install the RAM yourself. If you can drop to the bundle with the 2630QM which has the dreamcolor screen and camera and 8gb RAM bundled in, it lists at $2699.00. You'd add 2 dimms at like $70 each for a total around $2850.00.

That's a big drop in price for 10% less CPU and no blu-ray.

Alternately call and ask for a discount on your chosen config, you should be able to drop at least 20% off based on reports.

 

Although the OP is going to be doing virtualization work, so he may want to look for a 2720QM config rather than the bundle because the 2630QM doesn't have VT-d, which allows a virtual machine to use a peripheral directly...

EDIT: Completely forgot this was the 8760w lounge...the price I quoted was for an 8560w of the same specs...d'oh! Removed wrong text...

 

Thanks for the info.

Also will be probably spring for the lower NVidia because NVidia has this technology (CUDA) that could enable certain programs to execute using the GPU, and something interesting might take advantage of that.

 

Forgive me if this came up before but can the ATI FirePro M5950 be turned off in the BIOS of the HP Elitebook 8760, forcing the use of the integrated Intel graphics?

 

I believe it cannot. Onboard graphics are apparently not accessible at all.

 

@Robbilau, thanks!

Too bad, too. From my perspective, it seems that HP left a lot on the table with their new Elitebooks.

 

@Cyberbeach This thread is a little bit old but perhaps you are still watching..

The Ati card is not only cheaper, it also has better multi-monitor support. I think the Nvidia chip can only handle 2 active Monitors, the Ati in principle 4.
So with the Nvidia the Laptop-screen has to be turned off if two external Monitors are used. The Ati should handle as much as the Docking-station and the Laptop itself can connect simultaneously. So using 2 Monitors at the docking station + internal Laptop Display should be possible, perhaps even a third external Monitor at the built in DisplayPort of the laptop would work too.

 

Thanks to the miracle of email-updates, yes I'm still following the thread!

It would be very significant if the NVidia can't handle more than 2 monitors - the specs say 5 using the (advanced?) docking station. Can anyone confirm this?