*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 1*

Welcome back Serg

I think I'm with the same dilemma on whether to go for quad-core again or not. If there's the advantage of switching over to the integrated GPU (as some have mentioned) then I might just go for that over the 720 I had before. Does anyone have any official comparison benchmarks? I haven't found many myself.

 

Is the i5-540M worth it or should I stick with the i5-520M?

Also, do you think I should get the dual SSD's and sell them on ebay for profit?

 

Direct comparisons I havent found any, but there is the NBR HP 8440w review with core i5 and you can compare it to those with i7. In raw processing power, Clarksfield beats Arrandale, with more core and a more aggressive TB, but as far as the i5 goes, it beats most C2D and gives a lot more benefits from my point of view, temps and battery wise without giving on performance. Though I have my temps all the time under control, the 32nm Arrandale should be better and my hope is that HP ditches the dual fan for the CPU and use one only and the space be saved, either for weight, larger battery or price, not to mention noise.

 

Does anyone know if you can get the bracket to install dual hdds yourself? Or do I need to order the dual hdd option from HP to get it?

 

Honestly I have no idea yet, but looking at the specs are basically the same except a slight overclock on the 540M (both CPU and IGP), they are the same. How much are you using the CPU on regular basis?

Dual SSDs? That should be fast. If you can afford it get it, or the HDD+SSD config.

 

I want dual HDD's but not the one's HP offers. I'd like to have the dual HDD bracket so that down the road I can install a 320GB HDD, and 80GB SSD.

 

If I order the dual SSD raid0, can I disable the raid by reinstalling my own W7? How does that work?

 

IIRC there was a WD or Seagate 1.8" released some time ago too.

I am not sure how to do that, I have yet to tinker with my Envy. Haven't got the time/patience/want to do it...so I basically dont know the interior.

Get the HDD+SSD that has no RAID.

 

I just got the order being processed email. Can I still get it canceled?

So if I ordered raid setup, I might not be able to disable it? That sucks.

 

So how far does the screen lean back? I heard it doesn't go back very far. I'm not sure whether this will bother me or not.

 

Thanks for the quick response serg,

So I guess your opinion stands to go for the 540 over the 720 because of the battery life benefits? To be honest the hardest/most taxing things I really end up doing are playing games and ripping and encoding video files. If for that I won't see much difference in going with the 720 (other than bragging rights I suppose) then I'll go for that. I do however want to be able to go up to 8gb of ram which I don't know if that's been confirmed or not yet.

 

Should be disable-able (spelling?), but I dont know how, my apologies.

My suggestion is, since you are already getting teh laptop, why not test it for a week, and send it back if you dont like it (it is free to return it) and you get your money back and re-buy the different version?

 

I am reposting some info on i5 / 5830 posted earlier due to the flury of questions I see over the last few hours. It helped me make a decision to go with the i5 540m on my replacement order. The link below has the most detailed info (with benchmarks) that I've found on the i5-540m. Hope this helps and forgive me if you have already seen this.

JJ

 

Anyone know a source for the dual hdd bracket and cable hookup?

 

So the verdict is still out then on >4gb for the i5 versions? Thanks again for the summary, it's making me strongly lean towards picking up the i540 and the anti-glare screen.

 

Yeah, doesn't the envy come with the dual HDD/SSD bracket?

 

Pic below of the part numbers.

 

Do we even know if the graphics are switchable in the i5? You would think they would advertise it on the site if so.

 

Measured at 120 degrees. 30 off-center only. Personally this doesnt bother me, since I am not that tall, and normally my Envy is in front of my and not underneath me lol

Viewing angles are good too, above average.

Remember my first impressions? When I got it? This thing was scorching hot, I had to clean it, flash it and update it and got the temps under control. This holidays I went home, the climate was +30C to +35C and my temps were around 60-70 depending on load, albeit amazed, you feel this laptop get hot when gaming on your lap (not recommended), but my point is that the Envy does an ok job with this CPU, imagine the benefits of a less consuming one that sacrifices little to nothing. Plus the benefits of the IGC.

 

you can break the raid array using intel raid tool which you can access hitting Ctrl-I while booting.

 

Thanks! So if I order the kit, that will give me everything I need to install and run dual hdd's? Can anyone confirm that you don't have to be an HP tech to order this part?

 

Good point, but the Arrandale are supposedly to be all switchable. A double check shoudl be a good idea.

 

Someone that order a single drive config needs to let us know if the HDD cage includes the hardware to mount a 1.8" drive.

Can't really tell from reading the service manual.

 

Do you think it's a safe bet to get this computer with one drive hoping that later on someone will offer all the stuff needed to install and get dual drives running?

 

I agree. I also need to decide whether I call to try to exchange mine. If the new one has USB 3.0 then it's a no brainer, but no one has confirmed this yet.

 

In theory DX11 is a whole new game using the tessellation in the hardware. But point taken, that is true

 

I am sure you can get the parts needed for cheap from HP (assuming the parts aren't already included).

I ordered it with a single drive.

 

Yeah I see your point. Alright I think I'll go for it and pull the trigger on getting it with the 540 and the anti-glare screen. Not sure if the SSD option is something to really consider because of it being older gen drives. Thanks again Serg. Just hoping there's some confirmation too on usb 3.0 because that'd be nice to have.

 

Here is more on the single drive to dual drive question.
http://www.thenextbench.com/t5/HP-Envy-Notebooks/Dual-hard-drives-on-the-Envy-15/td-p/49181

 

I'll let you know when I get mine in a week re: USB 3.0

 

In case you missed it before YES, THE i5 GRAPHICS ARE SWITCHABLE by a right click and select from pop up menu, Hp tech support did this with sample unit while I was on phone with them.

 

Thanks for the link.

I took away from that there are 2 different cages: 1 for a single 2.5" drive and 1 for dual 1.8" drives.

 

If your ordering now don't forget the coupon code for $300 off from earlier today -- it works! forget the poster's name but it's the avatar image of a fighter pilot.

 

Without reading through the whole thread, I wasn't able to tell if they'll sell customers this conversion kit or not. Does anyone know the answer?

 

Here is the post with the coupon link, I know it works because I called to try and apply to order I placed yesterday, they wouldn't do it so I threatend to just cancel and re-order with coupon -- they ended up giving me 10% off the existing order and better shipping.

 

Yeah, I just read the thread and I guess they are saying they WON'T be selling the upgrade cage to people. Can you just call HP and order that cage with the order #?

 

Why can't you call HP spare parts and give them the part #?

 

Is that allowed? I mean can people that aren't authorized techs order parts like that?

 

Thanks again for the reminder. So I guess I've specced it with a standard config except for the i5-540m, Full HD LED Anti-glare screen, and 500gb HDD. With the coupon it should come out to $1199. Any suggestions on what to do about the external blu-ray drive? I got a response earlier on an Asus model but it seemed to require a external power source as well (I'm looking for something USB powered). The HP drive offered is currently the only one I'm aware of unless I'm missing something. Maybe I should skip the whole thing and just get a PS3 but that still leaves me without an optical drive backup..

 

I am pretty sure there spare parts dept is wide open for consumers to order.

 

Here is the link to buy the cage

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/Hpparts/S...8E227&SearchIn=PartNumber&SearchPN=576829-001

 

Merci! Finally. Arrandale IS switchable, included. (only Apple doesnt want that, but that is off-topic).

 

Cool! Thanks man. I'm gonna make another order this time without the SSD + HDD (later get the cage and install my own). I just need to cancel my first order I made a few hours ago. Hopefully that goes smooth.

 

Any1 know if you can cancel after receiving the order confirmation and process email?

 

If you call HP and ask to cancel it, HP says they will "attempt" to cancel it. From my experience, I've been lucky and my laptop was canceled. If it is unable to be canceled, you can return it within 21days of the receiving date and get a full refund.

 

Yep, thats what I found too. But that is the 1.8 inch cage only. So the question is how do you fit it in the laptop? Is there like a void space that you just fill with the cage?

 

I just placed my order. I've been looking for a laptop for the past few months and couldn't pass up $1099 for the Envy 15 that had everything I wanted except for the MBP touchpad. But I'm holding out hope that future drivers will fix the touchpad being crappy.

Looking forward to getting this thing

 

Take out the 2.5" cage and put the dual 1.8" in.

 

Ok, I got the order cancellation email that says they are trying to cancel it. The lady assured me that it will be canceled since I called within a few hours of ordering.

The email says:
"We are sorry to hear you decided to cancel your custom built computer. Please understand, we begin building custom orders promptly and that process may have already begun. Your refund in this matter is guaranteed, but additional steps may be needed depending on the status of your build. We will be in touch with you via email within one business day with status of your cancellation request."

 

Oh, so that's a dual 1.8''...