Engadget Envy 6z SleekBook Review

Just saw Engadget posted this review of the Envy 6z:

HP Envy Sleekbook 6z review: an inexpensive thin-and-light with AMD innards -- Engadget

Not a bad read, basically conclusion is that it's good for the price and looks nice, but the performance is underwhelming and worth considering step up to Envy 6t. Also noted poor touchpad responsiveness.

 

Thanks for this! I will add a link to it from The Ultimate AMD Trinity Notebook List.

 

I'm not agree with them, it had to be again some Intel sponsored article. The test were made using single-channel memory and crappy 3DMark06. It also available with A10-4655M for $700 which able to manage around P900 3DMark11. Try to reach that with Intel APU .

 

While you are right on the single channel crippling this baby, that's really on HP. They equip these Sleekbooks with 1x4GB as standard for what, saving 2 bucks on build costs over 2x2GB? And if you do want to upgrade, they charge you $100 for +4GB?! Shame on them!

 

Well, Sarah Silbert should mention you can add that extra memory module by yourself for $25 to increase performance, or choose the A10 version and do the same memory upgrade to gain significant performance increase... Instead she suggest buy the more expensive Intel (which slower APU).

+Actually it's nice from HP they add 1X4GB instead 2X2GB, easier and cheaper to upgrade than purchase a whole new 2X4GB Memory sett.

 

With the current coupon code NBM8468 I was able to configure a 6z-1000 for $686.39 shipped. That's including the A10-4655M, backlit keyboard, bluetooth, but the smallest 320gb hdd. I already have an ssd plus a 4gb RAM stick so I would use those to speed things up.

I also thought Engadget's review was a bit misleading and unwilling to go above and beyond to inform its readers about other options. They put AMD's weakest ULV A6 chip against Intel's mid-to-high-end SV I5s and ULV I7s and some computers with ssds. Their configuration did however beat out 14 of the other notebooks in the battery test but they failed emphasize its importance.

This bothered me:

Why would you buy 8GB of RAM from HP when you know they're going to you on cost when you can buy that from Newegg or Amazon for less? I understand some people will never want to mess with this stuff but I think that's because they simply do not know how. Engadget is a tech site but its not educating those on these things and more.

 

This review erks me. I need a review with the A10 for crying out loud.

 

Do all Envy 6 [sleekbooks] models have two cooling fans?

 

Just read the review, what a jerk who has written that.
First he compared HDD to SSD rigs, then he left the machine run with single-channel memory.
Everybody knows that AMD APU graphics performance relies on system memory bandwidth. Higher ram bus means more performance, that's why they used 1600Mhz ram stick. There's no reason HD4000 can beat AMD APU. Go with 2x4GB and you're set.

 

I wonder why HP ships the 6z Sleekbook with 1600MHz RAM when the 17w A6 and the 25W A10 max out with 1333MHz RAM? I doubt it works at that speed and the RAM is simply downclocked. I'm speculating but It could simply be that HP had some spare 1600 RAM modules and needs to sell them one way or another?