Envy15 questions

Is it easy to add RAM and change the HD?

For $1450, is this a good deal? I'd really like an internal Blu-ray drive, but that's not possible. I have a spare SSD I can swap in and I'd buy more RAM off of newegg.

# Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
# Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
# 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
# 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
# 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5830 Graphics - For i7 Processors
# 15.6" diagonal Full High Definition LED HP Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1920x1080)
# Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
# One 6 Cell Lithium Ion Polymer Battery + One 9 Cell HP Envy Slim Fit Extended-Life Notebook Battery

Are there any problems with the laptop? My m15x had hinge issues and my M17x had stuttering issues, so what can I expect from the ENVY 15?

 

The slice battery weighs something like 2.7 lbs, so if weight is important I'd avoid it. Other than that, the upgrade to 500GB for $50 isn't bad, while the CPU upgrade is very much overpriced, if you ask me.

 

i7 gives you USB 3.0 though, so quad core + connectivity for the future

 

With the i7 comes more heat and less battery life, while the performance boost isn't that big unless you're doing tasks like video encoding.

Ultimately, it's up to you, though.

 

Have you not been reading of the rampant keyboard warping and black screen issues?

This is a great machine spec wise, but HP dropped the ball on Quality Control on this one. Just know what you're getting yourself into.

 

*shrug* Mine has worked great, as have many others.

 

Beautiful thing about quality control is it's a measure of the number of defective to total produced.

Nowhere did I imply they were all defective. Fact of the matter is, the problems exist. Would you rather I not answer his questions regarding the potential quality of the computer he's getting?

 

No computer is problem free. And if there is a defect, you can get it replaced no problem within 21 days.

 

Also, HP's service is now in-home rather than mail-in for the Envy (if you order today, at least - I had to call and swap my warranty since I ordered in early March)

 

So how easy is it to replace/upgrade the HD and RAM?

 

Say you ordered the 2 year in-home extended warranty for $199 and decide within the 21 days after you receive the Envy that you want to return it. Since the warranty is a separate item on the invoice from the notebook, will HP also refund the warranty payment? I would imagine so but I'm not 100% certain.

 

Yes, they will refund the warranty within 21 days of purchase. It is a separate refund but they can't very well allow you to return the computer but make you keep a warranty on an item you don't have.

It's a little weird how HP handles the warranty as a separate shipment of a piece of paper with a code on it.

 

RAM is easy. There's a panel under the battery.

HDD requires you to remove a bunch of screws and the whole top panel of the laptop. Search on youtube for the video. It's a hassle but straight forward.

Note: if you take the i7 option, that has 4 slots of ram avaliable. 2 are under the battery but the other 2 can only be accessed the same way the HHD is accessed which is a dis-assembly of the top panel.

 

Back to your original question here, LOL. Funny how off topic these threads get.

Sounds like your leaning toward the i7 model. There are 2 double stacked RAM slots, 1 in battery compartment and 1 inside under left palm rest. The 4GB option is shipped with 2 x 2GB modules, one in each loctaion. The i5 models are identical except 1 slot each location.

Adding to the battery location is a no brainer, the internal one you will need to remove the 4 rubber feet, ~17 screws and the keyboard 'panel' which requires 3 cables to be disconnected. Fairly simple if your comfortable working inside a notebook which it sounds like you are.

The SSD upgrade is a little more complicated: First there is just 1 - 2.5" drive area so if you have a 2.5" SSD no problem other than it will be your only drive. If you want dual drives then they both need to be 1.8" versions and HP uses a custom bracket and cables, so you need to actually order a 250GB 1.8" HDD from HP parts which includes the bracket and cables. That is the only way to get those items short of ordering the dual drive configuration.

Here is a link to the service manual, it's from the original gen1 model but the details should be accurate for disassembly etc. (Note that you can skip the part about removing the actual keyboard and it's 60+ screws, it's not required for what your going to do).

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01911053.pdf (Large .PDF)

FYI; ordering either SSD option direct from HP is still the best deal your going to find for intel drives (+$550 for 2 x 160GB 1.8")

PS: In case your not aware there is a $450 off coupon for Envy 15 CTO's over $1399 which will probably expire very soon. CODE: NBMY33241

 

Do the i7s have heat issues anymore? I like the i7 not necessarilly because of the processor, but because 4 RAM slots and USB 3.0

 

are those 2 intel ssd Gen1 or Gen2?

 

I had a gen1 i7 720qm model and it did run warm when stressed but never to the point of being uncomfortable on the top (palm rest), the bottom could become uncomfortable when on my lap if pushing the CPU. Normal use it had no problems with temps, and the new gen2's from what I have heard (from people I trust) have slightly lower temps than gen1 models.

The i7 is a battery hog, it idles at 15W and don't expect more than 1.5 hrs on standard battery. My i5 gets 2:45 on average w/ wifi on.

I got G2's but recently they have been shipping G1's. No guarantee at this point until they burn off their old inventory I guess. They do come in RAID0 config from factory so TRIM would not work anyway.

 

Intel's new Rapid Storage Driver 9.6 does support TRIM on raid.
But the question is if envy 15 comes with G1 drives then it doesn't matter.

 

9.6 does not support TRIM in SSD RAID0 configs. And if your using only SSD's your not supposed to use the rapid storage tech software/drivers anyway.