*HP Envy 15 (11XX / 12XX series) Owners Lounge!*

You may want to PM this guy: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5835185&postcount=236

He has ordered several Gen 2 Envy's which I believe he resells on ebay. Never dealt with him other than posts on here, but he seems very knowledgeable about the Envy's.

 

saw this in the Sony section of this forum.

 

Nice but needs updating. Their not listing either of the 2 HD screens the Envy now has as options.

 

There may be an error in that chart? I think it means Envy 13, not 15... That resolution is ascribed to the 13, not the 15, right?

 

Just saw an article on Tom's Hardware from yesterday that might be interesting.

They are previewing Catalyst 10.3 wich is due for a march release here. What is interesting is that ATI is gonna support Mobility GPUs (as long as the system builder doesn't opt out of support and HP wasn't one of them) starting with that release.

Don't know if it has been mentioned here before (and I try to read all posts) but I thought it was newsworthy enough.

 

I like that AMD is setting it up so venders have to opt-out. So one more month of editing drivers.

 

ATI 10.2 Driver is out.

instruction to install:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5904279&postcount=371

 

Is that attached file only for the Envy's 5830 or it will work with lets say Dell's 4670?

Thanks.

 

I just read the other day that there was no way to install 10.1 much less 10.2 onto a laptop because mobility modder only supports up to 9.12 so far. No?

Since I don't really know what I'm talking about as 100% of my tech knowledge is dependent on what I read here and elsewhere, I could be mistaken.......

 

The modder app is being updated but until then you can still do it by editing an inf file, to the best of my understanding. Trying to figure out the instructions in the previous link myself.

 

4800 series code is not working. please do not use, until further update.

 

I had the same issue with the i7 model I got - the battery was also sort of loose. I think it has to do with the laptop body being skewed.

Even though I had intended to keep the i7 and return i5, I ended up returning the i7 because of these issues.

 

I felt my palm rest area(especially the right hand) a bit vibration. I am not sure whether this is due to the 7200RPM harddrive, which is supposed to cause more noise and heat than 5400RPM.

But I did not feel the same vibration on palm rest on other laptops that also use 7200RPM harddrives. Is this normal on ENVY 15? I felt the vibration a little disturbing when doing the typing.

 

The hard drive is right in that area on the envy 15 (just based on memory of some pictures one owner took of the inside.)

 

I am getting my Envy very soon! However based on all the problems the laptop's been giving some of you all I was wondering if I should extend the warranty from HP to 2 years or 3 years? I can afford the 2 year right off the bat, but I want the peace of mind of 3 (money that I don't have yet ). So I was wondering is 2 years enough of a long-term investment for the Envy or save up and stick with a 3 year to be sure that the Envy won't fail in the long run.

 

Hi there,

I just received my Slim Power Adapter today, and I cannot figure out how to get the laptop to run with full core power...

I did not install yet any monitoring tool but for RealTemp (it also gives the core freq and multiplier). When the PC is idling the freq is: 133Hz x 10.5 or 133Hz x 11 (oscillating between the two). But when I load the core, the multiplier drops to 9x (133Hz x 9). When doing so I am not soliciting the GPU, so the only increase in power consumption should be the core, and there is no good reason for decreasing the CPU speed....

Can someone help me out?

Thx

 

IIRC, you supposedly can buy the protection plan within the 1st year. You would have to call CS to ask but I would assume that if you bought the 2 yr off the bat you could buy an extra yr during that same period. CS would be the ones to ask tho. Also I don't know about HP but I've have service contracts with other venders where they sent me offers to extend an extended warrenty when it was about to expire. The price wasn't as cheap as if I'd gotten a longer contract to start with but at least it was an option. It won't hurt to either call or use the Live chat feature to ask.

Besides with how tech goes there is no telling what will be available in 2 years computer wise.

 

Well it is going to be an extended warranty as the Envy I am getting only comes with one year standard. I just don't know if I should extend to 2 or 3. I usually only extend to 2 in my previous laptops, but I am not sure if I should really go for 3 this time. I am curious what the rest of you are going with your Envys.

 

That's HP's brilliant power saving feature that was needed for the i7 processor models since they (according to HP) can draw more power than the high tech battery can safely supply. This 'throttling' of the CPU is also implemented for the i5 models. The computer can sense the power supplies output capacity and if it is to low it throttles the CPU as if it were on battery. My i5-540M CPU gets set to a X9 multiplier (or 1.2Ghz) on battery and when plugged into the HP 65 Watt slim travel adapter. HP has no fix for this.

Good news is that an app called 'ThrottleStop' seems to solve the problem when on the 65W adapter (not on battery power). It was developed by forum member 'Unclewebb' for Dell and Acer computers that had similar issues. Below are links to some info and where I downloaded it from. It works great for me but USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

This link goes to a post of the "read me" text that comes with the program. It allows you to read it without actually downloading the .zip file; http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5790278&postcount=46

Here is a link to the last post from 'Unclewebb' with the link to the program, when I just checked the link seems to be down right now so you may have to P.M. him to see whats up. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5906514&postcount=143

 

Anyone bought any of the travel-esque chargers? Recommendations?

I don't like lugging around this brick.

 

I've also read the mutliple blogs on AMDs release of 10.2 and 10.3 coming next month for Mobility chipsets.

About time, nVidia has done this a long time ago.

 

Read above posts....

 

Thanks for the clear answer!

I not yet read the article, so it might answer this question: what will happen if the Envy try to draw more power from the adapter than possible? Will it just run short on power and crash?
I think my question can also be asked this way: is there a mechanical limit on the power generated by the adapter, or will generate as much power as requested until it starts burning?

 

No extended warranty here. Have never in my life bought a single extended warranty. If you purchase with an American Express card, your manufacturer's warranty will double for free

 

Nor will it be. HP doesn't want to "burn" the batteries when the i7 or i5 are fully powered draining (eating) your battery. They are playing it safely, even if it was possible to stop the auto-throttle, I suggest against it.

Outpacing the battery's capacity can't be good, and that is why HP limited it (and why we have such a humungous adapter). If you ask me, the x7 multiplier when on battery is enough. I won't be stressing the CPU if I'm mobile, that would kill the life, which is already short. If your plan is to run heavy tasks while mobile, an adapter, the 90W as a minimum (in my experience) should do it.

About the 65W, I am a bit weary as to try it. The CPU alone consumes uses more than half, plus the GPU and you are already running on top of it, on the i7 models. The i5 shouldn't be that serious, but still...me plays safely...^_^ after all, Niamh came from the efforts of this uni student (which translate into broke lol).

Well, that is my humble opinion. Let it be throttled. And honestly, don't expect HP to "solve" it. It was done on purpose, therefore, from their point of view, it is not something to solve.

 

I've posted this in the first gen owner's forum but I figure this would be as relevant in here so here goes:

Thanks

 

@SERG

I don't disagree with you other than HP rushed the i5 models out prior to updating certain throttling settings (BIOS ?). If your not aware, the newest i5 models (quick ship i5-430m) are shipping with the 90W adapter and have an option listed for the 65W travel adapter, here is the new data sheet from 2/14/2010-- http://www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/pdf/wa843ua.pdf

As far as the 65W adapter goes, I am waiting for a response from HP to confirm what throttling will be applied. I have done quite a bit of testing myself; It basically acts just like your on battery on my 540m (X9 1.2Ghz) but does not throttle the GPU which on battery is set to a max of 299core/299mem.

Testing ThrottleStop I have had no issues with full performance mode on the 65W adapter even while charging a dead battery. Was even able to run 3Dmark06 multiple times in a row (with O.C. of 550/1100) while charging and the adapter barely gets warm while at full load. Scores were averageing about 9400pts.

Throttlestop has no effect while on battery, performance is still X9. I agree that I wouldn't want to overload the batteries but my guess is that the i5 would be capable of running with just the turbo boost disabled instead of crippling it with the lfm of 1.2Ghz.

FYI, my reason for pursuing this issue is that my company has just recieved a new contract that will require the purchase of 6 to 12 new mobile computers and they will need to be capable of occasionally doing 'light' 720P video editing while away from a power source.

 

Hi guys finally I got my Envy 15, and I love it, its everything wath I was espected for.
But I have a little problem with it, I was using the webcam and at the beginning it worked fine, but later out of nowhere it stop working!!, it turned all black the screen (of the webcam I was using the HP Mediasmart Webcam), and all wath it shows its a black screen!!
I downloaded the HP webcam driver from the HP website, but still shows black screen the webcam!
Does somebody else got this problem too??? please help
I cant call it to hp since im not from usa, so if anybody could please help with this issue
I dont mind at all since I rarely use the webcam, but since its a brand new laptop It should work right?, at the beginning everything looks perfect, the IR worked nice, effects too, but then suddenly stopped working
Any clue??
Thx

 

I went with a 2 year plan. I'm hoping by the time thats expired something much better will be available like an ultra thin tablet/pad type system but either way if it hasn't broke in 2 yrs I figure its not gonna

Wonder if this would also work with i7's then when using an alternative brick. I don't mind so much if mine locks when on battery but would like to pick up something like the Kennsington slim 120 as a carry around brick but with that stupid "center pin" signal check I was worried if I opted for it that when using it I'd still be CPU/GPU locked. If throttlestop will get around both getting locked then I'd be happy.

 

So is the 65wa dapter sufficient for the i5 models? I have an i5 instead of an i7, and I don't need to charge the slab, so it seems like it should be enough.

 

So the i5s now ship with the 90watt adapter? Inlcluding the 540? Thanks.

 

mine came with the 120w this Monday.

 

Well, I don't use AMEX for my PayPal account so that was no go, but I got enough to slab a 2 year. Since most the problems with the ENVY can be resolved in the first year or so (no long-term problems like faulty GPU or Motherboard), then I guess I will go with a 2 year plan and save the rest of my woes on stuff like a better external hard drive system.

 

Can't wait for the new mobility drivers. Apparently from what I heard the 10.3 release will be the one that will most likely include the mobiility drivers which will likely come out in March. 10.3 = 2010 March

 

I just thought of doing an overclocking session, finally, to see how it increased the performance. So I installed AMD GPU Tool and even CPU-Z to keep watch of the CPU and GPU.

Anyway, at first when I started up CPU-Z (computer plugged in) the multiplier under the Clocks section (Core #0) was on x7. It was always on this while in windows doing normal stuff like browsing etc.

So I fiddled around and changed the energy settings from 'Recommended by HP' to 'High performance' and now it went up to x17-20. Yeah, it randomly alternates between 17 and 20.

If using the reommended settings when starting up a game it could go from x7 to x20 and anything between.

So my question is, is there a way to get it steady? I'm not really sure if this throttling is causing stuttering in games or not but I did feel the game stutter a bit in WoW now and then, especially in raids and Dalaran. Sure, I can put it on 'High performance' but it will still alternate a bit.

Other than that, so far the GPU seems steady at 550/1100 which is good.

 

man HP shows no love. I called them saying I want to buy the Envy 15 with spec costing around $2100 before any discount (with 2 yrs warranty)

Told them i can get EPP discount at 7%, if they can give me some special discount, I will order today immediately. Refuse to give me any other discount. No coupon, no specials.

Was hoping for something better than EPP..bummer

 

Price has dropped again on 4GB DDR3 1333's to $135.99 with coupon code 'BIGCAT10' Here's the link;
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=D3-13S4GS

 

Tempting...

 

HP Envy 15 2nd Generation Review

http://hpfansite.com/hp-envy/hp-2010-envy-15-review-ati-mobility-radeon-5830-core-i7-quad/#more-741

 

WOW, that laptop is beast playing left 4 dead 2, and I play that all the time on my desktop. Any chance of videos being posted of it running any games?

 

silver area around the laptop is cheaply made ,I got my last week and now I spot it is easily rub off. Is it metal or silver paint ?!

 

Silver paint over the cast magnesium chassy, the paint is almost the same color as the metal itself. The paint on mine seems very durable though I haven't tried to really scrub it away, just used a damp cloth to wipe away smudges etc.

 

The magnesium isn't very durable. Mine already has a crack on the front speaker. I sent it back today for exchange.

 

Actually magnesium is extremely durable, it just happens to be very brittle so it cracks instead of bending like aluminum.

FYI, the front 'grills' are air intakes not the speakers, the speakers are the 3 small slots on the sides.

 

Actually I mean the magnesium case itself not the material. Thinkpad use magnesium too, but I've never see a thinkpad case crack so easily.

 

can anyone help me creating a power plan,I don't have HP Recommended on my envy at the first place and my envy idles around 5x in performance scheme.
I saw another guy showing his tempts are 3x degrees while browsing webs using hp recommended

 

Hello,

I would like to know if with the Gen2 I7 HD 5830 Intel® HM55 can I run 2 monitors:

option a) 24' 1920 x 1200
option b) 27' 2560 x 1440

Thanks !

 

Cool...finally a 2nd gen Envy review! Too bad it was filled with some inaccuracies (ie. USB 3 ports, speakers, etc.)

 

What is inaccurate about the USB ports? It said 2 USB + USB/eSata port. Does it not have that?

 

Well, unless I'm mistaken, which is often , don't all Envy 15's us the PM55?