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

hmm, gave it a try but I definetly need a smaller screwdriver...
thanks for the info though, I'll keep them in mind for when I find one.

by the way, I only get creaking at the very edge of both corners, pushing down with my thumbs, so I might only have to tighten the screws under the rubber pads.

 

Does selling your original HDD and upgrading to your own void the warranty? For example, if I send it in for repairs but remove the HDD (due to not having original, plus wanting to protect data on new HDD from deletion), will they not repair it and send it back saying warranty invalid? Could I just attach a sticky in the HDD bay that says HDD's removed to insure data isn't overwritten/deleted?

 

Also, does replacing your CPU void your warranty?

 

Well I noticed there is now a single driver pack for 10.3 final up at AMD. Anyone tried it yet?

 

Do you really expect HP to attempt to repair a computer if you remove the HDD. LMAO! Seriously, no O.S. no drivers no error log reports...... What do you want them to do if they can't even boot it up.

The processor is kind of a pointless question also because you would not be returning it for repair with an upgraded processor would you?? What if they decided to replace the computer? there goes your new processor.....

 

I totally knew the CPU upgrade wasn't going to work. Unless they fixed another part of the system and didn't need to replace it. But, yeah that isn't a good idea.

Regarding the HDD, why couldn't they install their own for testing purposes? Why in the world should I be required to keep the original HDD for the entire period of the warranty? Sounds nuts to me.

 

Yes I have it up and running, seems the same as the 10.3a. Including no HDMI, Hydravision or Avivo drivers / updates / controls in the package. Since I uninstalled everthing prior to new install now I need to figure out where to get the mobility versions of those, grrrrrr.

Driver is running fine but is the same version as before: 8.712.0.0 so the only benefit I see of running the new package is that both the driver and the new 10.3 CCC install together which is recommended by ATI...

Will run some benches later and report if any problems.

 

Error logs! Plus what if the problem is software or driver related?

Why don't you just call hp envy support and ask, none of us are qualified to tell you what is or is not covered for certain.

 

At work we always remove the HDD before sending the laptop to lenovo.

 

So no1 know which socket does the i5 motherboard support?
How about whoever opened up his/her envy share da CPU stepping info with me...

 

I think the i7 MB has 988 socket, if ppl can fit i7(pull from envy)on a i5 envy, that means they both hv 988

 

The only i7 you can put on an i5 Envy is the i7-620 (if I remember from this thread correctly). You can't put an i7-720QM on an i5 Envy.

 

PM55 chipset and 988 socket. (i5 540m)

 

Well even if I did send it in with the original HDD, it'd be wiped with a fresh factory install. BTW, I don't send my systems in for things that are software related.

HP/Envy support is a joke most of the time. They tell you all sorts of things that aren't correct (to my knowledge anyway ).

I suppose I'll just keep the original HDD in storage with a clean factory install. That way I can pop it in if I need to get it repaired under warranty.

 

for general record, I've been letting the envy fold proteins at 100% load on all four cores for about an hour and temps are sitting at 75 and 71 C for the physical ones, with ACPI at 75 C.

 

Question is, how does it feel? Palmrest? Vents? Could you have the laptop sitting on your lap right now?

 

I've had my i5 on my lap for most of the afternoon while formatting/reinstalling and it's warm but not uncomfortably so. And the fan has barely come on (temps between 57-62).

 

Mine rests on my lap most of the time, as in almost always. As long as you dont block the front vents and the underside vents, you are ok.

 

Sorry to hear that. Please post if you find out how to get the rest of the stuff. I think I read somewhere that the desktop version has to be installed as well to get the other stuff.

 

Not sure who, but someone was posting a few pages ago about how the Studio XPS has better build quality than the Envy...

The XPS is a chunk of plastic, the Envy is aluminum-magnesium beauty. The XPS runs very dang hot and has a crappy cooling system. Compare the makeshift cooling system in that, with people sticking copper in their machines, to the one in the Envy. As far as I'm concerned, heat management is part of the build quality. Regarding the creaks and what not, the XPS has it's own issues, like the entire machine being uneven. People talking about taking out the screws on the bottom plate, and torquing them a quarter turn at a time. These creaks and what not, is just a consequence of mass production. Some get them, some don't. And seems like they can be fixed with some torquing of our own.

Now, don't get me wrong, the Studio XPS is well built. It's a good machine. But to say it has better build quality? No, that I think is wrong. Only machine I would say that has better build quality are the unibody Macs, and even to those it comes pretty close.

 

For those of you having issues with insatlling the ATI 10.3 driver package here is a link to my suggested method / instructions that I posted on the main thread, hope it helps:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=6059955&postcount=2019

 

I'm seriously starting to think that these two threads have some repeated info lol...perhpas we should divide them as in i7 and i5?

Anyways, its great to have you around here JJB, as I am software-disaster...hahaha

 

I agree. I thought that was the original intention but nobody seems to pay attention to that. It would also be helpful if people would include basic specs in thier signatures....(that's not aimed at you BTW )

 

hahaahhaa I'll have to put them on then... lol

Anyways, today I'll wipe my ATI drivers and get the 10.3...now that I think about I realised I don't game anymore...haha...my Envy is an overkill 80% of the time (when not working on CATIA), just the odd chess match...wow...I've gotten odder....I thought that was already impossible roflol...

 

Accidentally posted this in the wrong thread...

Finally got mine more or less set up how I want it. The trackpad was terrible with the factory setup; with a clean install and the most recent Synaptics driver and some configuration with the control panel (particularly the section where you set the sensitivity to brushing it with your hand so it doesn't accidentally engage) -- now it's fine. Night and day. Ran the color calibration for the matte screen, got 10.3 loaded without complaints, and configured the speakers per JJB's suggestions.

Other than the G1s I'm pretty satisfied so far, but we'll see how it holds up for the next couple of weeks. The whole G1/G2 issue is basically just about TRIM, right? So my SSDs' performance will degrade a bit over time?

 

TRIM is to keep the space optimized...an oversimplified explanation is a defragmenter for the SSD so it is doesn't have the same problems as platters where we get loads of blank spaces.

The G2s are supposedly faster, but I haven't tried them so far, so I can't really comment.

 

My suggestion is to merge them. Most questions/issues apply to both i5 and i7. Too much in common. So people would have to check both threads anyway.

 

I agree. Either split them according to issue types ( a la knowledge base type thing) or merge them entirely.

 

I could see setting it up with a main discussion thread and then some major issue type threads (perhaps one each for i5 & i7 CPU specific issues). Trying to keep the threads separated i5 vs i7 is difficult.

 

Well, I am thinking this since I am subscribed to both and try to keep track on both of them is actually kinda hard...for now lets leave it this way, and when both threads grow more, well ask the mod team for the Part 3 to be a general Envy 15 one? Or should we keep it separate as i5 and i7?

 

Something is ed up with my envy, none of the three bios releases works for me. hitting escape during boot gives me a menu i cant use, F1 F2 F9 F10 does nothing. hitting F10 during startup gives a black screen when its supposed to give me access to bios. it worked when i bought the computer but not since i installed F19 on it.

 

Uh no, you are wrong. I successfully replaced my i5-520 with an i7-820qm months ago. there is no difference internally except for USB 3.0 and you need to take the plastic film off the heatsink. runs just fine. i posted this early on.

 

Ah, my apologies. I thought I'd read that someone tried it and couldn't get it to recognize a quad.

 

no problem. i highly recommend the i7-620. it may not be quad, but its great compared to an i7-720qm. runs much cooler and conserves battery. i just wanted max cpu power, hence the 820qm. don't think the 9xx will work though, uses higher voltage.

 

I just got a Kensington K38067US "Ultra Compact Notebook Power Adapter" (same as the K38066US model except with the EmPower airplane cable). This is slightly smaller than their previous model, which was just Compact not Ultra Compact. I guess the next version will me Mega Compact.

Unlike the Targus, this actually will power the laptop. The CPU does throttle at 1.2GHz though (i5-540M). This can be remedied using the throttlestop application. The machine pulls:
32W Idle
45W Charging
70W all 2/4 cores/HTs doing prime95
76W if I log into WoW and turn off the frame limiter
At this point I assume it no longer charging, even if the adapter is supposedly 90W

For the record the 120W adapter that came with the laptop reads 109W under the highest load.

F.18 BIOS

 

I have not gotten my envy yet, but alrdy ordered da 640lm It suppose to be 25w tdp I will be selling my 520m once I got my CPU and envy... I wanna sell it for $160 is it a good price?

 

i sold my i5-520 for $150 so yes, its a good price. someone with an i3 may want it or something. want to see how well the 640lm works.

 

actually, just got done reading how the 620 is faster than the 640.

 

Are you aware that the i7 640lm is a much lower performance CPU than the i5 520M? (and even lower than the base model i5 430M). Unless you really think the expense is worth an extra 20 -30 min battery life I would suggest ordering a spare battery instead and save some money.

Here is a benchmark ranking comparison: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

And here is some specific info:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i7-640LM-Notebook-Processor.25082.0.html

 

Any1 think the Envy 17 might have dual 2.5" HDD slots?

 

As posted by Serg earlier, thier is a dedicated thread about upcoming HP refreshes and new releases, on the main forum. He requested that this topic be moved there. And can I ask why you seem to cosistantly ask hypothetical unanswerable questions ?

Have you actually ordered your envy 15 yet?

 

LOL after all the problems with the 4830 I've been wondering if it would be possible to ditch it and install another videocard (5830 or who knows the all mighty 5870 probably would set fire to the rig)... or is it just too fused in the machine?

 

Depends how good you are with a soldering iron.

I am 95% sure it is soldered down, if you look at the pic, you'll see some red goop in the corners of the GPU that makes me scratch my head as to what they did. It almost looks like a 'sub' board is glued to the mobo. More likely it is a soldered underneath and that stuff is just support (strain relief) for the corners or it could be a socket under there and board is just bigger than the socket and the goop is hold it in place.....In other words I guess I don't have a friggin clue

I actually looked at it very closely when I had it opened up and without removing the heatsink I could not tell what they did......

 

Darn HP and their G1 SSD's! I got my envy with a pair of G2's about 2 months ago, yet my friend got his today with 2 G1's !?!

We disassembled our laptops and i gave him my second G2 for his boot drive, and we will each use a G1 for our scratch disks. Having them both installed it is easy to do performance comparisons, with the G1 being significantly slower. Keep in mind this is a brand new G1 fresh out of the envy today, compared to my 2 month old G2 C: drive.

Sequentially the drive is about 10% slower, and randomly it is about 20% slower according to HDtune. Works fine for a scratch disk however.

Just ranting...



On the swapping the videocard topic: It isnt going to happen... and if you did physically get it done... the added heat and power drain would not be acceptable. The 5870 is hot and hungry from the reviews i have read.

 

I don't think Da brenchmark for 640lm is correct... Back in da days, they may not even have a sample to test... And again the max speed are both da same and 640 lm has 4mb vs 3 mb cache advantage

 

Interesting, I didn't know they used the 'thin version on the G2's, They must use some sort of spacer under them, mine come up to the top af the bracket like the thick one pictured...


Question on your G2 and use of TRIM. Do you just let windows run in the backround keeping it 'trimmed' or do use the Intel toolbox TRIM function ??

I did not load matrix / rapid storage driver after the clean install and 'Tayeule' posted info he found in the toolbox manual stating that windows will TRIM the g2 automatically in the backround, no need for scheduled or manual toolbox TRIM. My concern is how do I know that it is really working as it should??

 

I got the same slim ones and my bracket looks pretty much the same as his or yours from the pictures you posted

 

The important number is the base speed, 640lm 2.13, 430 2.26, 520 2.40 and 540 2.53. and the max speed they can run at with more than 1 thread.

The difference is not the max speed which applies to only 1 core and 1 thread but the overall speed. For example my 540M run at max turbo at 3.06Ghz 1 core 1 thread but it can run continuosly at 2.8Ghz on 2, 3 and 4 threads. They get the power savings from running the 640lm at a lower overall speed for more than 1 thread than the 35W TPD parts. I don't know the exact numbers but my guess is that the 640lm runs slower than the i5's when anymore than 1 thead is in use, thats how they shave off the extra 10W TDP difference. If it really uses that much less power then there has to be a loss in performance, it's the same die and the IGP is identical power wise.

Also I have never known notebookcheck to be that far off in it's rankings of parts, sometime you see a part move up or down 2 or 3 places but your looking at 10 places behind the 430M, 18 behind the 520M and 24 behind the 540M.

 

I am waiting on my Micron C300 to come in for some USB 3.0 Benchmarking which is a single drive 2.5" form factor but Micron also makes a 1.8" version which would really ramp up performance in a RAID config. Currently its the only SATA 3.0 SSD in production and retail prices are not that bad compared with the other brands.

 

my bracket is totally different looking than those pictures posted. have the gen 2 drive and a 250gb toshiba.