*HP ENVY 14 & Envy 14 Beats (1XXX series) Owners Lounge, Part Deux*

Just ordered my envy 14 from amazon! hopefully it won't have any problems! so excited

 

What scores are people getting in Windows Experience Index for "Memory (RAM)" on their HP Envy 14?

I know it's not really the best benchmark, but I get 5.9, which seems a little low for DDR3 memory, especially since it's running at 1066MHz.
Although, this could be the chipset, or my expectations are too high for a mobile chipset.

Installing an SSD pushed the "Primary hard disk" score from 5.9 to 7.6 which is cool.

Sandra reports the factory RAM as "Ramaxel CL9 1333MHz". Might be a good opportunity to buy 2x4GB chips of lower latency RAM.

 

Hp puts 1333MHz ram in all the envys but the i5s and i3s and i7 6xx cannot use the full speed and thus is limited to only 1066MHz which equals a 5.9. If You ordered with an i7 7xx or 8xx the score would be a 7.4

EDIT: Don't forget that Windows also factors in more ram, so sometimes if you have more than 4gigs of ram the index could go up to a 6.4 or so

 

So what's the "proper" way to OC my GPU? It seems that my card maxes out at 585, but seems to crash intermittently while at this setting. How do I determine the best numbers for both the core and memory clock? Thank you!

 

That makes sense. Thanks for the quick answer!

 

It depends per person really. If you are getting instant crashes at 585, I'd suggest you have to lower them by 10 MHZ and then run a stability test like Furmark or OCCT for a while to see if the clocks are stable. If OCCT reports 0-2 errors within 30 minutes or Furmark crashes after 20 mins, then that clock setting is not good, then reduce another 10 MHZ. Keep doing it until the stability tests aren't reporting any crashes or problems and that will be your optimal stats.

Also, try to run a GPU-intensive game like Napoleon/Empire: Total War, Crysis (Warhead, Demo), Bad Company 2, DIRT 2 etc. and play them for a while. If they crash after a few minutes with your OC, reduce and try again. Games with GPU-reliance can also catch instability fast.

Do note that Envy 14 5650's are not the best overclockers in their category and the Pavilion DV6's with 5650 are actually better than it in stock clocks and overclocking headroom. You can blame HP for giving the premium Envy 14 crippled GPU's. In addition, there is no way to mod your VBIOS to increase Voltage, which can stabilize lots of overclocking figures, but again, the Insyde BIOS makes it hard to do.

 

Is it possible to have a HDD + SSD setup in the E14?

..Has anyone managed to actually to do it?

 

I've actually been having issues as well. My monitor hooks up and works fine, but I get displayport errors when I close the lid of my computer and need to unplug/replug my adapter for it to work. I did some research and I believe the issue is that some adapters are active while others are passive, and you need an active adapter. I think the difference is that on active adapters the adapter will actually convert the dvi signal to a vga signal while on a passive one your computer will need to detect that the monitor requires a vga signal so it will output a vga signal through that port.

 

You can if you got a special bracket that can hold two 1.8" Drives. As long as you got one 1.8" HDD and a 1.8" SSD you can. Otherwise you got to ditch the optical for another media bracket that can hold a 2.5" Drive.

 

Keep getting a message as to what dvd region to select for the dvd drive. As I rip a lot of dvd from region 1 and 2, can't I make the dvd drive region free? Also can I install the blu-ray drive thats in the 17" version into the 14" version is this possible and is there any special software that is available for it.

Hi
Can the dvd drive on the HP ENVY 14 be replaced with the blu-ray drive that is there in the Envy 17?

 

Has anyone used the HDMI adpater? Will it support large displays say for example 30"?

 

I've been able to connect my Envy 14 to a 52" TV without issue.

 

It should support anything that's 1920x1080 ... I have a meager celeron 700 mhz connected to a 1920x1080 46" LCD , it plays xvid beautifully.

 

Did you remember to switch it to ATI graphics? It doesnt detect on Intel Graphics but will detect when you switch to ATI.

 

Are you using a HDMI to HDMI cable? I tried a mDP to HDMI to a 50" TV and nothing was detected.

 

Is anyone here using a Kingston SSDnow drive? I'm looking at them since they seem fairly cheap, and thinking of getting the 64gb one. I'm just a little worried since based on appearance alone it looks a little shoddy, kinda like the old school nintendo games..... I've also been looking at the 40gb intel x25 drives, but im kinda worried 40gb might be too little. What are some reliable ssd that are fairly cheap?

 

I hope you plan on having another drive in the envy, or an external. I have a 120gb SSD and I find even THAT to be to little.

 

Yep, Windows 7 and just a few steam games will fill half of that. Now imagine adding your music, videos and pictures ... that's super tight
I wouldnt consider anything smaller than 160 gb. This kind of "current" and "fashionable" technology is always acquired at a premium. So I'll wait another year for them to be more mainstream and have the price drop.

 

oh yeah haha i already bought an enclosure for the hard drive that comes with the envy so I can use it as an external via esata. The SSD is mainly for windows and programs.

 

You will have to be careful which Blu-Ray Drive you select. The reason it wasn't an option for the Envy 14 originally was a space issue. I am not sure what the exact size would have to be, but you should select a drive carefully.

 

If I recall correct, there is still no blu-ray drives thin enough to fit in the E14.

 

What are the chances of me getting a full refund for my laptop since I'm pretty damn sure that they will not be repairing my Radiance screen any time soon. I mean...the cancellations on people who just ordered the Radiance screen last week, and people getting emails saying the the "manufacture that produces the Radiance screen has shut down (again)". I can't take their bullcrap anymore. My laptop has been in their hands since 1/14, said i was going to get it no later than 1/21, then pushed to 2/4, and the case manager just called me to inform me that it will not be until 2/25.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that the case manager told me that they will be replacing my screen with the "next best screen in the line up" if they cannot get the radiance. So basically I paid $300 for the radiance + $150 for the Accidental Damage Protection (supposed to fix my laptop with the parts it came with, not to mention their "fast and reliable" repair services) for nothing. They are trying to jip me off left and right.

Is there anything that someone can advise me to do? I'm not willing to wait for my laptop to get "fixed"....I have school work to do.

 

Tell them you want a refund and don't take no for an answer. and they'll tell you no for hours and hours. also, different reps will do different things. five may say no until you finally find one that will help you.
This was my case when they said your order is in production and we can't cancel it. 5 total hours later and it was cancelled and they gave me money.
most people will just cave after they've been told no for an hour and they know that so be persistant

 

Thanks for the input, but my situation is that it's in the repair service right now, and im talking to the executive case manager...who is supposed to call me tomrrow because i couldn't get a hold of her today. I've had my laptop since October.

 

Yes, I used an HDMI to HDMI cable.

 

I understand that but if they don't get you a radiance when they for sure had them you should be refunded since they couldnt provide you with the computer you ordered in the first place. I hope it works out though.

 

Can anyone explain to me why my 'Graphics' score in WEI went from 6.x to 4.5? Will this affect gaming performance or is it insignificant? This happened after I updated my BIOS to F.23. Using an i7 machine. Thanks.

 

yea this sucks man. let me know what happens because i cant take hps garbage anymore. if i can get a refund im jumping on it and never buying from hp again.

 

did you try updating the drivers?

 

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been on the forums. I am before you fine gentlemen today because I am going to be receiving my replacement ENVY 14 after over two months of waiting. When I got my first ENVY I didn't bother doing a clean install becAuse I thought I would break it. But this time around I want to try something called a "minimal restore" I think??? Could anyone point me towards a thorough guide to do this?

 

just received my envy 14! this is such a beautiful laptop, pretty much flawless in terms of build quality! The only thing negative i can say is.. this trackpad is going to take some getting used to... using my arrow keys to scroll atm LOL

 

Same here, I use the arrow and PGUP/DN when I use it in bed or any other surface that doesnt allow me to use a mouse.
I use the mouse 90% of the time, it kills any trackpad when it comes to work performance.

 

Well, I got 100% refund on my envy plus the ADP. Can't stand HPs customer service anymore. Gonna be waiting for the i5 Sandy bridge and a good 13-14in laptop to come out.

Thanks for all your guys help.

 

I'm pretty pissed at HP right now myself. I tried to run a BIOS upgrade back before Christmas and got a hard freeze in the middle of the upgrade. After that the system wouldn't boot at all. Tech support's BIOS recovery instructions did nothing, so they over-nighted me a box and I sent the system in for repairs.

Fast forward over a MONTH and I'm STILL waiting. They keep pushing back my estimated repair date due to a "part shortage." They can't answer what part they need to replace on a system with only a corrupted BIOS. Their last ETA was today, but they just called me and pushed it out another two weeks.

I called tech support a few days back, they said they had to escalate to another department who would call me back in 48-72 hours to get any answers. Eventually a case manager called me and asked me all kinds of questions about information that was already associated with the repair case: what's the problem, when did you send it in, etc, and then told me he would get back to me within a few hours with a better answer. Of course I never heard from him again and he also failed to email me his contact information as he promised.

What good is a laptop and a warranty if you're going to be without it for months over a minor issue. Anyone have any suggestions for how I can further escalate this? I sure don't want a new Envy 14, as I refuse to end up without the Radiance display. I don't even know what to demand from them apart from telling them to fix the damn thing and get it back to me. How long do I have to be without a laptop while waiting for a minor repair before I have a reasonable case to demand a refund?

I've used Dells for years and although I've had support nightmares, this single HP experience has already taken the cake. I won't be buying another HP laptop.

 

Hi everyone! So far things are smooth but as of now while charging the battery I tried verifying if the PC was fully charged and I', getting the message 99% available (plugged in, not charging) instead of 100% fully charged or ....% charging like it usually does. I don't understand.

I have already tried unplugging and plugging but no change. Help?

 

I don't know if it applies to the Envy but HP Elitebooks has a battery trigger of stopping charging at around 95-100%. That is to prevent the battery from being overcharged and getting worn down. 95% is often at the designed limit capacity so it is considered charged. Don't worry, you are consider charged.

 

Try leaving the system plugged in, but flipping it over and pulling the battery and then putting it back in.

If that doesn't work, turn off the system, unplug it, pull the battery, and hold the power button for a bit. Then put the battery back in, plug it in, and reboot.

Those usually work with other laptops I've seen exhibit the same issue.

 

join the party man. hp officially has the worst service out of all computer companies. i too switched from dell thinking id get better support but WOW dell's terrible support pales in comparison to the nightmarish support ive had to deal with with hp ever since i got this laptop. im not dealing with another one of these constant push backs. if i dont get my laptop soon i am demanding a full refund.

 

Bought my Envy 14 last week from Bestbuy and it's already waiting for me at home! Can't wait to check it out and finally ditch my MBP13...hate to say it, but I tried to go Mac and failed....iPhone4 is enough Apple for me!

As for the all the issues, fingers crossed mine turns out alright but I do have the BestBuy service plan incase something does go downhill.

Great posts by everyone, defo a good read and solid insight on what to expect.

 

Glad it's not just me.

If my HP case manager ever gets back to me, I'm going to ask what they'll do for me if they miss the date again. Maybe I can get him on record to start talking refund and at least get my foot in the door.

 

The Executive Case Manager that was helping me for the past week wouldnt budge when I tried to resolve the problem with compensation with a new laptop. but she said no she cannot do that. So i demanded a full refund of the laptop, and i also mentioned that I basically bought the ADP for nothing since they couldnt provide me with the "fast and reliable" service that it claimed to give. She refunded me the $150 that i paid for that as well.

Now waiting for a $1200 check in the mail, about 15 business days, by that time I hope to see some nice dual-core sandy bridge laptops out.

It's a shame that they dont have good customer service, I really did like the ENVY too. I also have been a long time customer....just even bought the new touchsmart 600 quad, and im pretty sure it will be the last.

 

Take my advice, DEMAND A FULL REFUND! My laptop was delayed only once, and that was a sign that there was more to come. Save yourself the trouble and have them send you a check. By the time you get the check you can get a new sandy bridge laptop =]

 

Sounds like good advice. I'm going to work on escalating this and see where I end up. Thanks.

 

oh wow so they actually did give you a refund? im not very good at demanding things as i am just a passive guy. what exactly did you tell them? and what number should i call? also, should i ask to speak to any certain person or someone of a particular rank?

demanding a refund sounds very appealing right now. im so fed up with hps garbage. when i ordered this laptop, the shipping of it was pushed back and back. then the usb ports just stopped working and i sent it in for repairs and that got pushed back and back. now i sent it in again for repairs because i dropped it from 4 inches off the ground and its getting pushed back and ill probably never see it with a radiance screen again. i cant deal with this anymore. i hope i can get a refund for my laptop and protection plan then i will take my money elsewhere.

 

That actually did the trick. Thank you. Its now at 6.7. By the way, since it went down to 4.5, doesn't that mean it's switchable? I mean isn't 4.5 Intel HD Graphics territory? If it's possible to switch, can anyone guide me?

 

Mine just shipped as well!!

HP ENVY 14 customizable Notebook PC
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-560M Dual Core Processor (2.66 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
• 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics [HDMI] - For Dual Core Processors
• 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• No Additional Office Software
• 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard) - Up to 6.0 hours of battery life +++
• 14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900)
• SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones [For Radiance Display]
• Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• Backlit Keyboard
• Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) Elements 8 & Adobe Premiere(R) Elements 8
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
Estimated build date: February 1, 2011

I ordered this on Jan 15 around 9:30AM.

 

if you press that little arrow in the bottom right corner of your screen you'll see the ati icon. you just press that and click the intel graphics to switch.

 

Sadly, it doesn't seem like I have such a function. I right-click and get 3 "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650" options to alter. Nothing else.

 

when you updated your drivers did you install hp's drivers first? I believe you have to install the HP drivers for the graphics card and then you can update it with ati's newest drivers for the switchable graphics to work

 

You have the i7. i5 laptops have an Intel Graphics chip built onto the CPU itself.

Due to the extra 2 cores on the i7, there's no space for a graphics chip, so it's impossible for you to use the Intel card as there is none.

However, with the new Sandy Bridge processors, Intel managed to fit a GFx chip onto the i7, so the next-gen envy will have switchable graphics, even for the i7.