DV9700t vs DV6700tse

Hello. I'm new here and looking to buy a laptop soon. It will be replacing my desktop and I expect to keep it for several years. I will be using it for school, to tune my car, and to store pics and videos. I've somewhat narrowed it down to the HP dv9700t and dv6700tse (special edition). Both are similarly setup, although the 6000series has a slightly smaller hard drive and smaller display. It would seem that the gloss black lid of the dv9700t would scratch easy. I like the special edition white, but haven't seen too many pictures. Overall, this is the setup I'm leaning towards:

HP Pavilion dv9700t customizable Notebook PC
GT811AV
* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* – 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
* – 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
* – FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone!!
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
* – FREE Upgrade to 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive from 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive!!
* – LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Is it worth spending an extra $75 for a hard drive with the same capacity but rated for 7200rpm rather than 5400rpm? Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed!

 

yes get the 7200 and get the 9700 series it has two hard drive bays

 

The hard drive is generally always that slowest part of the system, and it looks like you got quite a powerful system there. It would use slightly more battery and will also probably create some more heat.

I'd would probably get it, but it really depends what you use it for.

 

i have two 7200 in mines and it is little warmer but it was worth the performance

 

Wow. Thanx for the quick responses. Ok, added the 7200rpm 240GB Hard drive. Here's the running list.

HP Pavilion dv9700t customizable Notebook PC
GT811AV
* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* – 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
* – 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
* – FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone!!
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
* – 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
* – LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
Also:
HP Deskjet 6988 Printer
HP 90W Auto/Truck Adapter

I didn't know there was space for another hard drive internally. I've got some amazon gift cards so I will be purchasing the xb300 expansion base with wireless keyboard and mouse. Hope this thing is reliable. Dropping a lot of cash on it. I take it you guys are enjoying yours? Most of the threads made in this section seem to be "problem threads" (probably because those whom are issue free don't post about it).

 

Welcome to the forum CrazyMook,

I suggest that you fill out the FAQ(and post in the 'What notebook should I buy' forum) so that we can help you better.

 

Since when has HP sold a laptop with 3GB? I thought they have only sold laptops with 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB. Just make sure you don't purchase the 4GB from HP because you will pay out the but for it. Only buy up to 2GB from a manufacturer and then upgrade the RAM yourself. You will spend the $300-$400 buying it from HP while you will spend around a $100 buying it from www.newegg.com.

 

I know HP's "Entertainment" line has the 3gig option if not standard on the dv6700t series. I think it's because people (the common folk) are wising up that you can't (well, you can but won't be used) use 4gig in a Vista 32bit, but want the 3gig because they know that Vista is a hog on resources.

 

Why not just upgrade and purchase the 64-bit option. Anyways, how much does the 3GB option cost? Because it still might be cost effective to go with the 4GB from www.newegg.com anyways.

 

My thoughts exactly. Just go with the Vista 64-bit edition or upgrade to an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player and just buy the a 4gb set RAM from newegg. That will be more cost effective and it's easy to install RAM.

 

Based on the 6700tse:

Vista 64bit is 160.00 option (recommended set up comes with it)
2gig standard 3gig +100.00 4gig +300.00

 

See, for the 3GB option you can get 4GB for the same price and if you do end up upgrading to the 64bit OS you have 4GB of usable RAM instead of only 3GB.

 

I just bought a dv9700t. Use the coupon code NB9400 to save 400 bucks off the laptop (assuming the coupon hasn't been exhausted in supply or expired by the time you buy. HP offers super-sweet deals every 3 weeks, so if you miss the NB9400 coupon, wait until the 21st or 22nd of the month, search google, and you should find something.)

Anyways, back on topic. In order to use Dual Channel mode for your RAM, you need to have symmetrical memory (meaning both ram cards need to be the same).

With that notebook, there are 3 options for RAM:
1GB + 1GB = add $0
1GB + 2GB = add $100
2GB + 2GB = add $300

I chose to get the 2x1GB option cuz it's the cheapest. Order your ram at http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...00t+Series+(CTO)&distributor=0&submit1=Search if you want to upgrade. Kingston offers a 2GB ram card for your computer for $65. Order 2 of these and you'll spend 130 bucks, which is just slightly more than HP's 3GB offer, but will give you an even better computer that can utilize the Dual Channel. It will save you SO much more money. At any rate, just don't get 3GB, because your dual-core processor will run a lot better if each core can claim its own stick of ram.

Good luck with your purchase. I'm waiting for mine the mail. It'll be here at the end of the month.

PS, changing RAM isn't that hard. There's tons of tutorials online; just search for them.

PPS, Kingston says that some systems can only use 3.5 GB even if you have 4 GB installed. You might want to look into that.

Also be careful if you are buying RAM. You want your ram to be 667MHz. 800MHz may or may not work with the dv9700t, I'm not sure. If you are buying RAM from a 3rd party though, if it is less than 667MHz, your RAM will be crappy and might not work.

 

Someone mentioned earlier about the 7200rpm hard-drive. I wouldn't get a computer if it didn't offer a 7200rpm hard drive.

In addition, having a dual hard drives will give you many benefits. It makes installing multiple operating systems, it improves performance when running a virtual machine (since disk i/o is the major bottleneck with hard drives, and so trying to feed two operating system's data through 1 hard drive is very limiting, particularly if you have an old desktop that has IDE. Fortunately, the dv9700t has SATA, with 3Gb/s throughput.), and if you save your data (music, pictures) and progams on the second hard drive, it will essentially cut the bottleneck in half, having the potential to significantly increase the speed of your computer. The upgrade from 5400 to 7200 will be noticable immediately if you try to copy, say, 100 MB of files onto your hard drive.

One more thing, HP offers a free printer with this computer, so you might as well add that to your order.

 

i didnt see any free printer with dv9700t!!
its just 50% discount on printers.

 

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The default printer option is none selected. You have to select this printer yourself (not automatically included).

 

Don't get blu-ray or hd dvd!!! in the near future, there will be drives that can read and write both formats, and the drive will be cheaper than HP's offer.

 

is the HP Deskjet D1455 Printer totally free or get my money back by mail-in rebate?
cause i dont have any idea about getting my money from mail-in rebate?!

 

Free after mail-in rebate.

 

The dv9700t with the Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) can take advantage of all 4 GB, provided you have a 64-bit OS. This is because the T7500 uses the Santa Rosa platform. Older (current) notebooks, which use the Intel 945 chipsets, won't be able to use more than 3GB.

In addition, the T7500 underclocks DDR2 800MHz ram to 667MHz, so there's no need to buy the more expensive 800 MHz RAM for your T7500. see http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=121363 for more info.

 

The Intel GM945 and PM945 chipsets can do 64-bit just like the newer 965 chipset. You just need a capable processor (Core 2 Duo).