Dv 6500t Custom "Is it Really discrete graphics 383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS"

In help me decide window H.P says

"Quote "50% OFF!! 383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS!!
The NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 8400M GS delivers improved quality and performance levels in 3D graphics. If configured with the 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), there will be 128MB dedicated memory and up to 255MB shared memory. If configured with the 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), there will be 128MB dedicated memory and up to 767MB shared memory. Key Features: Fully unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, and pixel shading operations, enabling life-like realism?even in complex scenes. Completely unified and optimized for current DirectX 9 and next generation Direct X 10 games and applications. NVIDIA Lumenex(tm) engine delivers incredible image quality, floating point accuracy, and fast frame rates. DISCLAIMERS: Shared video memory (UMA) uses part of the total system memory for video performance. System memory dedicated to video performance is not available for other use by other programs. NVIDIA and GeForce are registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corp."

SO is it shared or dedicated.

 

Its 128MB dedicated + the rest is shared and used only when necessary

 

yep, what miner said.........TurboCahce is just marketing hype, but on lowend cards, it dose come to use sometimes

 

Really ! But it says "383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS" so what does 383MB stands for.

 

Does it mean that even Sony Vaio FZ Custom does not have 256MB dedicated Ram on their NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT right.

 

The 383MB includes the amount of dedicated(128MB) + shared(255MB) memory the card is capable of making use of with the base 1GB memory. Also if you get 2GB RAM with the system then the amount of shared memory the card can use increases to 767MB(Total 767+128=895MB).

It might be 256MB dedicated but try asking that in the Sony forum.

 

I don't understand why HP couldn't make the 8600M GT an option.

 

Do all Sony, Dell and Asus all work the same way?

 

Because HP doesn't build quality computers? You're going to definitely regret returning your Dell and buying HP. I wouldn't be surprised to see you re-ordering that Dell in a few weeks.

 

You've told me that HP notebooks are horrible build quality in two threads now. I think you just had a bad experience. There are a lot less complaints in the HP forum then in the Dell.

 

Check some of the older posts in this forum.

See how many people had to threaten HP with legal action before HP finally fixed their issues.

Read that one thread about the keyboard issues present in the dv5000 and 8000 series and how many hundreds of people had that problem and it never got resolved.

And considering I've had two HP systems fail, one die completely, I think I definitely have room to talk about how bad their systems are You will definitely be regretting your purchase at some point. I guarantee it. Especially when you realize you've spent a similar amount for an HP that isn't as powerful as the Dell you returned.

It's not just my bad experience. It's the bad experience of many many people.

 

I'm saving 100 dollars, but loosing the 8600M GT. I just think my price range is too low to get a good quality laptop. Dell's and HP's support are both horrible. I also like the look of the HP better. I tried one out at CC and it seemed fine to me. I guess I'll see when mine arrives.

 

Does that mean that when im using, non-graphical consuming application I can use the shared memory, or is that shared memory locked into the grapic card????

 

Man, what did HP do to you? Seriously, HP's build is just as good as Dell's, same thing with their support. Both companies outsource and neither are stellar as far as that goes. But as far as consumer level notebooks, HP's Pavilion line is pretty sweet, a bad one every now and then, but overall highly reviewed.

HP's Pavilion line is geared towards consumers/multimedia, not gaming. The 8600m GT outputs a lot more heat than the 8400m GS and would require HP do a redesign on their year-old 2,6,9000 lines.

The card will always use it's dedicated memory first. If it runs out, it will grab system RAM, but that is much slower and will hinder performance.

In the end, if you're looking for a good laptop, both HP and Dell will do well for you. If you play intensive games, it's highly recommended to get the 8600m GT, otherwise, either a Pavilion or Inspiron are fine laptops.

 

I agree with Lithus on this one. Neither company is great in the end. I work as an IT professional at the college I attend, and we see A LOT (60% at least) of all computers that come are Dell, and Dell problem related, and Dell not living up to their warranty. However, it just happens that dell offers a huge discount to students at our school, so more of them buy Dell. So, it is give and take.

HP is a decent company, Dell is a decent company. Some people have great experiences (I have had nothing but positive experiences with HP) and some have horrible ones. It just depends in the end on who you talk to.

 

I know this is off-topic - please don't yell at me - but I have owned a dv6000 and a dv9000, currently still own a dv2000 and I have a dv6500 enroute. The dv6000 and dv9000 were sold only because of weak to moderate graphics - which I knew about up front. All three have been as close to perfect as you can get with production line systems: bright and zero defect LCD's, no scratches or damage from the factory, etc. I am very happy with H-P and highly recommend their current systems (and I don't work for H-P!).

 

Perhaps you might consider looking at something other than HP or Dell, a Sager Notebooks system perhaps. If you buy from a reputable reseller (e.g., xoticpc.com, powernotebooks.com, and others listed in the "Sager and Clevo" sub-forum), you could very well get a better system that still fits your budget. The thing to keep in mind is that most of the computers you buy from HP or Dell were, in fact, manufactured by a company like Clevo (or Compal, or MSI, or others) so, by buying a Sager/Clevo system, e.g., you get essentially the same computer you would be getting if you bought a brand-name, but without paying the brand-name premium. It would be worth your while to at least take a look at the discussion concerning ODMs and OEMs in the Sager sub-forum here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=91510

I, too, had been leaning towards an HP for my next notebook, in part because I liked the dv5224nr that I bought for my wife two years ago; however, I have been consistently disappointed with HP's current offerings (tepid components, e.g., the 8600GS instead of the 8600GT and soggy buttons, among other nits) and will probably go with a Sager or similar system from one of the reputable resellers (on top of which, if you purchase from an out-of-state reseller with no office or location in your state, you aren't tapped for sales tax at the time of the purchase, although you might get hit with additional use tax when it comes time to file your personal income tax return, if you're punctilious about reporting things like that :wink: ).

 

Thanks for the help man. I did like some of the sagers, but I already ordered my HP

My next laptop will probably be one of those brands though. +rep

 

You will not regret having DV6500.

 

You made a great decision buying your HP dv6500t with that configuration, my girlfriend just ordered one as well.

My HP dv6000t has run perfectly in the 4 months I have owned it.

You should be excited.

 

Um hm. They are awesome machines. I have only seen problems with three at the university IT department I work at, one of those problems being user error. ^_^

 

You're most welcome.

 

The current crop of HPs are competent, middle-of-the-road notebooks; that being said, they're still not really worth the premium you pay for the exterior aesthetics or the HP name. Also, the external case quality of the current HPs is inferior to the product HP put out two years ago. The keyboard, touchpad, and mouse buttons on the dv5224nr (with the Altec Lansing speakers) are all much, much better than those on the current crop and, quite frankly, the aesthetics on the dv5224nr are better too (however, this is the most subjective aspect of critiquing a notebook, so I don't expect even a significant minority of people to agree with me on this last point).

That being said, the HPs are still better, in terms of the items I mentioned, than systems such as the Everex Stepnotes or the Acers that I've seen in the big-box retailers.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not you properly evaluated your own needs notebook-wise. Unless you're going to be making graphic-intensive use of your system, you will probably be just fine with the NVidia 8600GS, particularly if you prefer to replace your notebook rather than having the ability to upgrade the one you have.

 

I just ordered a HP dv6500t as well after returning a Dell 1420 for a very grainy screen. I know many are having issues with Dells grainy screens right now and the 1520 has a catastrophic issue with bad interference when using the headphone jack.. Seems that the headphone jack was placed in a bad place on the MOBO. Dell had not acknowledged the issue or fixed this yet. There have been numerous systems returned on the dell forum for that issue alone.

Overall, I think the newer dells run cooler and have have stronger cases and maybe a little more durable.. But my first 1420 had a crack in the lid seam in the back.. between the hinges. So in the end, I returned two systems.. one for a crack and the replacement for a crappy AUO grainy WXGA + screen. I agree, at this point Dell is off to a rocky start with their new Inspiron line. There are so many people getting replacement systems and returning/refunding systems on the dell forums right now.

I also like to remind everyone that the new Inspirons DO NOT include HDMI. People keep mentioning the lack of the 8600 card on the dv6500t. But it does include HDMI. So for those like myself, who are more into the mutimedia stuff and light gaming, the HP blows the dell out of the water with the HDMI output.

Now this is completely off topic.. but I am trying to gather any info on how bad/good the HP dv6500t soundcard is. One poster said it was bad.. apparently it can't output 5.1 or anything like that. But I am assuming I could through the HDMI? At some point I may need a creative express card.
And like I posted on another thread.. does the bluetooth support 2.0 EDR (enchanced data rate) I am assuming it does.. but nowhere on HP site does it give the specifics on this.