Deciding between HP laptops, want something with great battery life. (dm1z or dv6z?)

I’m in the market for a new latop and currently thinking HP is the best place to get it.

What I basically want is something that can do light gaming, won’t be terribly sluggish but most importantly, has good battery life. The last laptop purchase I made was for an acer netbook that boasted 8 hours of battery life – but turned out it would only do 2 hours while playing a game from the 90s. This made the remainder of my 7 hour flight to california boring when it ran out. Switched over to an Android tablet, which I love the battery life of but would rather prefer a real OS so I’m trying for a laptop again.

I was thinking of something around the $400 – 600 range. I was looking at two computers:

HP Pavilion dm1z-4200 Entertainment Notebook PC
With E2-1800 processor (possibly a SSD for $140ish more?)


HP Pavilion dv6z-7000 Entertainment Notebook PC
With the AMD Quad-Core A10, keep the default 7600 Discrete card (possibly get a 9-cell battery? Do these stick out or are they normal size?)

• Getting the dm1z with the SSD and getting the dv6z with the 9-cell battery/A10 processor would place the two at basically the same price.

Ultimately I want something that will last long not plugged in, while doing more than just surfing the web / typing and won’t get hot. My logic behind the dm1z was that due to it being smaller it would consume less battery/produce less heat, thus last longer. Though I read on here that the dv6z has amazing battery / doesn’t get hot. So I just wanted to get confirmation and hopefully someone can help decide. (maybe there’s a better option?!)

 

dmz1 and dv6z are two totally different experiences

the dv6z is alot more capable laptop and so go with that choice over the dm1z.

battery life is good with these new trinity laptops however there are better choices out there if battery life is your goal. ie. intel

 

Is there any laptop with intel you could recommend that would have a better battery?

I remember seeing one, getting excited and then reading a review that it only pumped out 3 hours if under heavy use.

 

configure a dv6t with an ivy bridge intel chip preferably an i5-3xxx series should give u better battery consumption than an A10

though the A10 isn't far behind and would give u better gaming performance

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/AMD-Trinity-A104600M-Processor-Review/?page=12

a10 is good for idle and web browsing but once u do stuff is settles into the pack

i5's are better but may push yur budget a little

 

Would an i3-3xxx be alright?

For $547.

I could always opt to get the DM1Z with two batteries for $452.

 

what customized configurations of the dmz1 and dv6z where you gonna buy?

show me those configs

u actually may be better off with dv6z than a dv6t i3

 

This would come with a 6+ 9cell battery for $532.

DM1Z with two batteries for $452.

 

Get the A10 + 9cell imo (yes it sticks out a bit but it's worth it). You'll get better performance than the i3 and similar battery life. I would recommend getting the 1080p screen if you can fit it into your budget and the backlit keyboard though.

For your price range and needs (gaming on battery) there isn't much reason to get anything other than Trinity. Though you're not going to get very good battery life with any notebook if you're going to game on it. I'd estimate you'd get around 3-4 hours max with the 9 cell while gaming.

 

yah dv6z looks like the overall better deal

add the backlit keyboard option though and if you can spring for the A8

to bad you missed the 4th of july deal

 

oh damn. 3rd gen core i3 is out in time for back to school

 

As R3d posted you're battery's power will never last a long time playing games, no matter what laptop or what config. Plus you stated that you wanted something that wouldn't get hot tall order if I've ever heard one while playing games.

If the games you're going to be playing aren't too graphically demanding I would be buy a 3rd Gen laptop without a graphics card, seeing that the onboard Intel HD Graphics 4000 would be near as good as (if what I've been reading in many of the IT sites is true) then the dedicated graphics cards in the post you made at 06:56 AM, plus without a dedicated graphics card you're laptop will run for longer & cooler.

 

Thanks for the help so far!

So the 15" should run longer than the 11" DM1Z? How about heating, are they all the same or would the 15" models run hotter? My only laptop and netbook purchases would run so hot that it became impractical to put them on my lap.

 

The dv6z should match if not beat the battery life of the dm1z if you get the 9 cell.

Dunno about heat, but if you're gaming both are going to get hot. For less intensive stuff like internet browsing both should run pretty cool (more than cool enough to put on your lap).