*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (2XXX series) Owners Lounge*

In 2-3 years you will not notice a difference in day to day activities based on the processor alone.
Now if you infect the computer that's something different and it would matter if your processor was 2.3 ghz or 5 ghz. The computer would be slow.

 

Peaches07 -

You may want to look at this site here before you pull the trigger; it breaks down the whole intel i7 chips for you on what they do:

Intel Core 2011 processor details - Engadget Galleries

 

maybe, but your perception of speed will increase, as newer products are getting faster, so it may seem slower, even thoughts probably not.

 

There are also differences in virtualization technology that makes the 2820 ideal over the 2630, but since the chipset in the Envy is hobbled, I guess it doesn't matter. Basically though, what everybody else says is true; normal users will not need the faster CPU.

 

I'm not lookin' - I've already pulled the trigger and I don't want to know anything else so I don't have buyer's remorse LOL!

 

Hey everyone,

I haven't checked the thread in about 24 hours, because I've been so busy spending time with my Envy!! But, I will have to read and catch up...sorry in advance if I say anything redundant!!

So far, I have NO PROBLEMS at ALL!! No scratches, no dents, no dead/stuck pixels, no slowness, no freezing, no lag, no shutdowns!!

I have downloaded ALL the updates from Microsoft via Windows Update (except one that I thought might not apply to my system...it referenced Microsoft Visio 2008...or maybe it was Server 2008...something). I even downloaded Windows 7 SP1 via Windows Update...no problems, no errors.

I have no hissing sound when I plug in headphones. My blu-ray drive makes no strange noises. Everything runs at BLAZING speed!!

(I haven't actually tried the 3D feature yet...that's this evening...leaving work in about an hour.)

I also downloaded ALL the updates within HP Support Assistant, except the Intel Wireless Driver update, becasue I heard some of you had some problems with it. My wireless has been working just fine, so I am going to hold off on updating that driver. So far, I have connected to the internet by: 1) Connecting an ethernet cable directly, 2) Wireless G (2.4 GHz), and 3) Wireless N (5 GHz). None of the connection methods caused any freezing, or lag, and I had a good amount of traffic coming through in each case. Bluetooth also works wonderfully, I have connected a Bluetooth mouse and my Jawbone ICON headset. I also connected my phone (HTC Evo 4G). It works for transferring files, playing audio through PC, phone calls through the PC, etc. However, it still shows an error saying there's no driver available for this device. (But this phone is nearly a year old).

I have tried hooking it to my flat screen via HDMI...it works without a hitch!!

The only problem I have had (very minor), is two finger scrolling with the touch pad. I guess I need to figure out exactly which part of my fingers to use to make it work. I know sensitivity settings can be adjusted, I just need to play with that.

But this is truly a dream!! I can't wait to put things to the test...all I need to do now is transfer all my music and all my Blu-Ray digital copies to my hard drive!! I have already installed all the programs I use. For those of you Crysis 2 wannabes, Best Buy released their 10% off coupon for this month just last night via e-mail and text, so go pick it up for $53.99 like I'm going to do.

Hmmm...what else can I think of. I suppose that's all. I think all is well, I thank God!!

If there's anything anyone would like me to try out, just respond and let me know!!

Ta ta for now...

 

So it's safe to say:

Fix for the Envy17 3D Wifi freeze issues with Intel 6200 wireless.

1. Download and install driver version 13.0.0.107 from Intel
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?lang=eng&changeLang=true&DwnldId=18212

2. Open Device Manager and go to Network Adapters -> Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6200 AGN -> Right Click and select Properties -> Go to Power Management (Far right) -> Uncheck the box that says "Allow the computer to turn of this device to save power"

That should be it.

 

I also tell people not to spend the extra cash on small CPU increases. I would spend the money on a SSD, even a cheap SSE like the one I got. It dropped my boot time from 1:54 to: 30 seconds. That is a clone of the drive not a fresh install so the numbers are 1 to 1 comparison. A much better performance increase then you will ever see these 2 CPUs. I got the Kingston 128GB v series.

 

I was about to ask which driver download location people ended up using. I didn't know when I posted the Intel link if it was the right one or not. Good to know, in case I have to deal with the same thing when I receive mine.

 

Thanks for the link. I did not realize the 2620 was simply a dual core HT processor and the 2820 was a true quad core. I'm glad I went with the 2820 now since its much more than a simple cache and Ghz boost.

 

Peaches...for the Envy 17 3D...it is the 2630...which is a true Quad core. You read specs on the wrong processor. The only major differences between the 2630 (2.0 GHZ) and the 2820 (2.3 GHZ) is Virtualization technology and the fact that 2630 has a 6 mb cache vs 8 mb on 2820. You stated the 2620, and that CPU isn't used in the Envy

http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/processors/comparison-chart.htm

 

Thanks for the update. So glad all is going so well for you. Curious. Did you do a clean install?

 

+1 Rep! Awesome you are going to hang with us through this learning and tweaking process.

KJ

 

Are you sure you need to have both the old driver and the power management setting? Did you try either setting on its own?

 

Ah Ha those minor pesky details get you every time!

iwantanenvy what chip and hard drive set up do you have?

 

Now aren't you really glad you didn't send your boat anchor back to HP?

 

Yeap. do you have the SSD?

KJ

 

Well I'm not certain to be honest. Cause I tried the power setting on other drivers and it didn't work, but I haven't tried this driver with the power setting to normal. Might try that later, but for now I'm tired of trial and error, I just want to use my computer for a bit, and this setting works flawlessly.

 

Killa Joe you should add to my reputation and put me on your buddy list because my system config is in my signature... LOL!!

 

Yeah, but it was damn close a while when it kept freezing every 5minutes. I still don't understand though how only one driver works for me and fiver5, but every other driver works for most people.

 

LMFAO! No, no....I was quoting your response to iwantanenvy....I meant does iwantanenvy have the SSD since he was saying his system if pretty fast.

KJ

 

Ahh didn't realize there was a 2630 processor. Good catch.

Was just comapring the two using http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=52227,52219, and I didn't know the max Intel GPU Ghz was also faster in the 2820 (1.1 Ghz vs 1.3 Ghz). Good info

 

Are we confusing the 2620 with the 2630? I don't see a config for the Envy 17 3D SB allowing for the 2620, only 2630 or 2820.

Lol, I quoted you after you corrected yourself, lol.

KJ

 

Different routers use different chipsets for Wireless. I used to have a Buffalo wireless G with Broadcom chipset. I now have DLink with I believe has a proprietary chipset. When the chipset in the portable isn't fully compatible, you can suffer speed loss, freezing and all sorts of issues. The Intel 6200N doesn't have any problems with my DIR-655, EXCEPT...N speed is 300 and the two only talk to each other at 130mbps. Not a biggie...I have full speed available with that overhead. Broadcom makes the chipsets in Netgear and Buffalo...and My old Dell wireless N card was also Broadcom...so they talked at 300 mbps. I even connected with an Asus G73, that had Atheros Chipset...and it talked to my router at 56kbps...they didn't like each other and the speed differential stunk it up. Intel is a bit better than most with dealing with incompatibility

Wow...just learned that my DLink has the Atheros chipset. Doesn't explain why the Atheros in the Asus and my router hated each other...interesting to say the least...

 

2820qm

2TB (Raid 0)

 

2TB (Raid 0)

 

Thanks. I guess that RAID 0 is working well for ya.

KJ

 

One of the great mysteries of "Binary Blunders" would be my answer.

I spent 3.5 hours with Haji on, online tech support from Dell yesterday; a driver issue that remains unresolved with my creative X-Fi sound card in my XPS 700; I'm getting ready to back up and reformat the drive here in a few.. eating a late breakfast of scrambled eggs with bacon and feta cheese right now in my board shorts, T-shirt & slippa's with the windows wide open and a cool crisp 74F breeze calming my nerves; I tell you it really sucks to hold down the Fort here on Kauai!

 

That's OK! You should still do it... I have a sport fishing boat in the harbor ready to go catching if you should visit here.....

 

As someone else has said, it has to be a combination of the 6200, certain driver, and certain routers.

I was thinking before, and it might still be a good idea, to list the routers that you all have, or have not, had issues with. I wonder if any patterns will emerge?

 

Ha, sounds great. If I'm in your area you betcha! Thanks.

KJ

 

The 2820 supports 1600MHz RAM where the 2630 maxes at 1333MHz. The 2820 also supports Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d), Intel® Trusted Execution Technology, and AES New Instructions which the 2630 does not support. However, the chipset used in the Envy 17 3D does NOT support VT-D so the support in the processor is wasted.

 

So far, no issues with DLink DIR-655

 

OK...so now I am done backing up and creating Recovery disks...time to flash the bios to F.08

 

Bob Great Catch on the routers....

Now which new wireless router should we "ALL" be out shopping for right now to maximize our wireless connection speeds with our new Envy rocket-ships?

 

But the thing is I even bought a new router, but it still didn't make a difference.
Both Dlink DIR616 and Cisco E2000 were locking me up.

 

If I am not mistaken the I7-2620QM should be able to take 1600 mhz ram, just as the i7-720QM was also able to although Intel said it couldn't.

 

Even if it could, didn't we have a discussion a while back on the 1600MHz question, and there was sense that even if we changed the ram to 1600 we won't get a performance boost? Maybe this is a great question to leave for April 26th when we can ask the experts per the link I have on the new thread.

I wonder if they will tell us if we upgrade to the 1600MHz ram if our laptops will scream even more, or if its money down the toilet as they say, lol.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-envy-hdx/569907-expert-day-starts-april-26-2011-a.html

KJ

 

I don't see why the faster memory won't work, but it probably won't run at the faster speeds since the bus on the slower processor doesn't clock fast enough.

 

Correct, most normal users will not see any difference in speed.

 

Well I am sure it will run at 1600 mhz speeds, just as the i7-720QM did even though Intel did not say it could.

 

Cisco/Linksys E4200. Hands down.

 

Not to confuse, I'm refering to the 2820 which is confirmed to support 1600MHz ram.... That is what I'm willing to ask the experts who made our Envy. I want to hear it from the "hoars's mouth."

KJ

 

I'm not too informed on the last gen processors, but the 7xx and 8xx series cpu's seem to have a lot in common including memory speeds whereas the 6xx series is different. I would still doubt the 6xx series could run RAM @ 1600 but I don't have the capability to test this hypothesis.

That's fine if you want to ask. Good luck, let us know the results.

 

I have a Linksys WRT 610n v2. Had same issue with both DD-WRT 16592 and the latest release of the stock linksys firmware.

Interesting thing is that someone here (forgot who, not going to scroll back) reported perfect behaviour with the E3000. The E3000 from a hardware perspective is pretty much identical to the 610n v2. They basically made a few tiny tweaks and gave it a new name. Maybe those little tweaks was all it took

You are running this router right now? Stock or third party firmware?

I've started to get a bad taste in my mouth with the broadcom stuff, but that's just my own bias really so I won't bore anybody with my feelings about it. The E4200 is a very nice hardware device nonetheless, if it is working flawlessly with your Envy I will get in the car and go buy one right now.

 

I figure it won't cost a thing to ask, lol. So why not. Assuming they will actually let me through and get to my question. If so, you guys will be the first to know.

KJ

 

Yup. This is what fixed my issue.

 

If your question is what happens when you plug 1600 MHz RAM into a 2820 Envy, I will be able to provide benchmarks on Monday at the latest.

 

I was really starting to think I had turned dumb or something.

Sorry you had to suffer but misery loves company and it brings me joy and great self-relief that at least two other people had the exact same problem and the same fix resolved it

 

whoa!!! I had no idea you purchased the 1600MHz ram..... I def. want to hear the results.

KJ