*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

Why stop there? The GTX 280M is of the same family as well. Who is gonna be the guinea pig? I'll contribute to the price of a new card for the brave soul that wants to try.

 

hover, you have the 1st post on page 666. hope that's good luck

which leads me to this actually. we cannot assume that everyone who is on here is on the same page so to speak, so for the record, when people here refer to PAGE 100, for service manual, etc....keep in mind that is when the options in your control panel are set to forum default, or 20 posts per page.

just thought i'd note that very important fact, as i had 50 posts per page, and was wondering what the hell is going on when people are talking about page this and that.

rep it!

 

holy $hit balls batman! the 9800M GTX is installed on a HDX Dragon!!!!! It tears through its wuxga screen at high res with crysis!

He got the card from a blown out alienware he bought from a friend for 50 bucks to see if the card would work and he sayd that its the exact same size as the 8800m so it slides right in.

According to him all he had to do was remove the drivers take the laptop apart, place the new card, install new drivers, restart and vuala!

Asfar as temperatures and all those other details i didint ask, i was way to interested on the fact that this works on the hdx dragon.

One note though is that he scuffed up the laptop a bit taking it apart and has screws left over lol. I would recommend just buying this card and taking it to geeksquad if your not a very experienced person because he says that there is tons of stuff that needs to be taken apart to place the card.

 

Spooky page number... 666

Anyway, good deal. Keep in close contact with him to see what issues pop up as he uses it. Temps should be about the same as the 8800M GTS since even though it's more powerful, the die size is 10nm smaller.

Good luck sourcing MXM cards.... consider the boost in perfromance versus the price offered for one.

He should at least post on MXM-upgrade website as this is the first HP computer that uses standard MXM. Likely due to it being made my Inventec.

This post was brought to you by IE8 on Win 7 RC 7229...

 

What video driver version are you using?

 

quick question. besides battery life (assume it's always plugged in), is it advantageous to have the hdx's screen brightness halfway let's say?

i love the brightest setting, but pretend i'm fine with halfway or 75% or something...in what ways is it better to do this, if any?

lamp life extended? less video card power? something else?

 

The locked PLL thread looks promising for us. Might actually be able to overclock eventually.

 

I've got to call at least partial BS...I've been looking into this and it seems I can't find Alienware ever selling the 9800GTX... 8800GTX and 9800GT's among others, have been available on their units. Alienware reportedly was going to sell their rigs with GTX, but I can't find reference to actual units anywhere.

No offense...just sayin...might have overlooked something.

Anyway, it got me to looking at mxm more and more. I really see no reason why the 9800 or 280 won't work. It's all the same platform. It really boils down to the bios supporting it I assume, and I'm not convinced of that either. I'm just sayin that whether his card is a GT or from another rig other than Alienware, it makes sense that is was that simple. It's the whole concept behind MXM...in theory, not different than going to Bestbuy and getting a new desktop card, installing, loading drivers and gettin on with the awesomness.

On the other hand, a 50 buck vid card just isn't going to fall into everyone's lap. And 350-500 (what I have seen street price for 9800GTX) is IMO too much to pay. May not be for others though. My offer to contribute for a trial run still stands though. Unless Mr. Anonymous wants to come forth, join our community, and post screenies and such. Lay all the speculation to rest. I'm not from Missouri, but like most everyone else, showin me would be really satisfying.

 

...True unless when they mention it they also list the actual number of the post...

 

Ya, I'd like some proof too. This would be AWESOME is it was the case.

 

I have been looking into the MXM issue a lot as well and have decided to give it a go. I was considering the quadro but after some more looking I think it would be better to go with the 9800m GTX or GTX 280m. Most likely due to price the 9800m GTX would be the best option. I am more than willing to try it out but my funds are limited right now due to buying a new house.

I know I will eventually get one just may be a while. If there are enough people willing to fund the cost of one I would be more than willing to give it a go and do a good write-up. I have already been in there to update the CPU.

 

I'm contemplating just trying it too. eBay has one 9800M GTX available, but I may see I can get one through a retailer.

 

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I recently bought a dragon without a hard drive. When I try to install vista it states it will not work with my bios (.06). When I go to put the new bios (.40) on a floppy so I can flash the motherboard its too big. I also searched this thread for awhile and see issues with .40, I was hoping someone could tell me whether its been fixed or where to find an older bios. I know this is something I'm just missing but I can't figure it out so I figured I should come to the pros.
Thanks

 

Hey dude ease up lol.

Im just reporting what he told me.

I posted exactly what he told me. In any case he opened up the driver panel and showed me video card name and number. And even if that is not enough for you, I know what I saw, there is no way in hell the 8800m can perform like the gameplay I saw in frame rate and graphic quality.

He's not a "mystery" person, hes my buddy, we grew up together. He didin't even know about this forum nevertheless this thread until today when I asked him to join. So chill its not a conspiracy lol.

I have asked him to join so he can chat with 2.0 an Comp can talk to him to ask any questions they may have since they are some of the people in this thread who contribute with positive info on a regular basis. I am actually trying to encourage him to make a video and post it on youtube instead but who knows what will happend because I can tell you that he is not a HDX Dragon fanboy like most of us on this thread.

I personally don't know squat about any of this debacle, if you have read any of my posts you will know that if anything im always getting advice so Im not here to make statements of hardware technology, I only know what i saw and am planning on getting that card for my laptop as soon as i find it at a good price.

cheers!

 

Ok, no offense was intended.

Could you simply get him to post a screenshot (print screen) of GPU-Z and a 3DMark06 run? That would be easy and he could just send them to you, and you can post them here.

 

you got it, I will send him an email now and also a direct link to this page.

 

Good to see you both back on Just need to shove a beer in both your hands and all's good But he needs to open that HDX box up or give it to me for my..for..Fathers Day. Yea!

 

You rock man! Putting your money where your mouth is! That's the spirit. This thread is starting to get hot again no?

 

Lenny Kravitz! THATS what I was wanting to hear! You are the man dood! Not man-dood, like man boob, but man...dood! So I guess he did all of this without the HP videos..? Which I guess explains the extra screws MAN I wants me one..So wait..which would be the best GPU then that would be compatible if this is apparently only a drop and and boot job? This is officially the best thread and lounge in the whole website

 

So the guy would actually officially be famous then.. in geek circles of course.. Maybe that will motivate him to want to post more about it ilikedragons?

 

Hey, whoever gets it done will be the second person to have done it, and the first in this forum to do so! What would really be the safest most secure place to get one anyways?

 

I wonder who will get to it first... Sounds like a race.

 

I'm thinking maybe xoticpc.

 

i have tried loading a cd-r with some files on it and it shows the cd as blank....

 

Yeah, but question is, will they sell it to you and last I heard, price is around $800. Could be less by now but now by much. Might as well go for the 280M GTX.

 

Exactly, I don't think he realizes just how famous. He could even make a bit of coin if he can find more MXM cards.

 

I'm actually thinking GTX 260. That would be the cheapest option I bet.

 

Again, NO OFFENSE, especially directed at you. Not trying to stomp on the enthusiasm, just reporting that IMO, the facts weren't exactly correct, at least by my findings. I guess if you saw it, then my only thing is it didn't come from Alienware, at least that I could find. But no biggie, GT or GTX, if it's in there and works, awesome. I truly hope most of the story is accurate, as told to you, or as relayed to us. If the proof is in the pudding, as they say, I'll probably get a 280GTX, so please, please, get your bud on the program here to share his experience.

 

Also, has anyone seen this?

It looks like our locked PLL has been added to SetFSB.

 

According to notebookcheck, the 260m GTX and 9800m GTX are virtually identical in performance in benchmark tests and Crysis FPS. Whichever is cheaper is probably the one to go with.

The 280 jumps it up a few notches.

 

I'm also wondering about the heat and current consumption since according to Nvidia, the 9800GTX and 280M GTX have a TDP of 75watts while the TDP of the 8800M GTS, according to various notes is around 35-40watts. Hopefully the HDX shouldn't have any problems handling it since the power supply has plenty of head room. Gaming with the 8800M GTS consumes about 105-115 watts as measured from a watt meter.

But problems might crop up later/over time with the higher max current consumption of the 9800M/280M which wouldn't be readily noticeable at first. There's a reason that HP and Inventec choose the 8800M GTS over the 8800M GTX at the time of manufacture. The TDP of the 8800M GTS is close to the TDP of ATI's HD 2600 XT.

Just something to consider.

I know Sager was worried about this - what they call "thermal budget" - when contemplating graphic card upgrades.

The other thing to consider is that one should upgrade their BIOS to F.39 before installing a 9800M or higher GPU. Doing so afterwards can mess things up.

 

Wow! Reading now...

I don't know. I envision a string of BSOD before possibly getting it right. But looks like a step in the right direction.

Tricky though. Screw up your HDX and that's it. If it weren't such a unique machine, I'd be all over this.

 

Exactly, but the rebranded GTX 260M will be cheaper to buy new, because it's second in line now. Just like buying a T9600 is WAY cheaper than buying a T9500.

 

I'm thinking about send the author an email about this one. Unless anyone here wants to try it.

 

BTW, anyone looking for X9000s, there are 2 listings on eBay for Q174 X9000 ES. These are the "gold ES" before RTM X9000. They have C0 stepping. Both listings are shipped from China. One lists several for BUY now of $499. The other for $399. Both vendors have 100% feedback.

 

Fire it off. Though I have a 2 year warranty, I'm increasingly skittish about what risks to take with the HDX. After reading what HP being most unable to fulfill warrantis service in a reasonable time frame if at all.

 

Wow...first you take the plunge and get a Vertex SSD, and now you're running Win 7 RC2 on your Dragon? For someone who's been so conservative in the past, you are certainly living on the edge! Are you going through a mid-life crisis or something?

So, I've got Win 7 RC2 on my Dell Studio 16 and one of my Mini 9's, but hadn't tackled the Dragon yet. Any advice on any "speed bumps" we need to know about?

 

Funny...now we just need CyberVisions back and we can have a homecoming reunion!

 

I know, riotous isn't it? I got my first taste of a Vertex SSD thanks to a generous gift from one of the forum members. The experience was metaphysical. So then I went out and bought 3 of them.

Win 7 though, I installed to see if it is worth taking advantage of the upgrade special going on now. Honestly, I'm not certain yet. It doesn't really materially add anything other than GUI tweaks. Not sure I'm going to bother. Vista x64 has been rock solid for me.

But then again, $49 a copy, I have to give it serious thought.

Most drivers are installed by it. Only had to install the video driver. Noticed that TV tuner needs a driver but haven't installed it yet. I don't use the tuner.

 

Hmmm, now who was that who pioneered the SSD on the Dragon and posted how awesome the speeds were??? It's on the tip of my tongue, but my memory isn't what it used to be!

Yes, even back in the days of Gen1 SSD's the performance difference was astounding! Now, with the Vertex's, Summit's, and Falcon's, it's even better. I'm thinking of trying a Summit SSD, since performance is so close to the Vertex's and it has auto-reclaim built into that that keeps the drive running like new. So far, the Vertex's don't, and when they do, will rely on Windows 7 to do it.

I've found with Windows 7 that, overall, things are faster. Plug'n'play devices are recognized and ready MUCH faster, boot times are great, and just the overall feel of the OS is more refined. I figure, since it is based on Vista kernel, and with the overwhelmingly good user reviews, it can only improve on the whole experience. I'll probably do build 7229 next weekend, after I order a Summit 128GB for the Dragon.

 

Ummm.... Wait.... I think it was.... wait... Nope, I forgot. Oh well. *shrug & smirk*

Yeah, I trim them once a day. Didn't know the summits had that feature. Will have to take a look at those...

There is that to consider also. Good thoughts.

 

I seem to have developed a problem with... what I can only assume is my battery?

The charging light is not on, and windows says the laptop is plugged in but not charging. The power cable is in... and my battery reads 65%.

If I take the power out and put it back in again, the charging light stays on for perhaps 20 seconds, then it turns off again.

 

I've tried setfsb with ICS9LPRS355BGLF (PR501 is not working) but I can't see CPU speed increase and after a while there is BSOD or hardlock hmm

 

Here is a place that has almost all Notebook GPU's. It has the GTX 280M for $605.

http://web.eurocom.com/ec/ecu_pricelist(2,0)

According to a post I found if you E-mail these guys : http://www.rjtech.com/ they sell a 1GB GTX 280m for $490. Might be worth checking out.

*edit*
I sent them An E-mail to confirm if this is true.

 

True. All he needs is like a Paypal donate link..heck or just a post in his signature..

 

Lol. I saw the thing about Windows 7 but didn't notice it was RC2... Was that the one listed at pirate bay?

 

I'm having a heck of a time getting a brand new, refurbed, or whatever HDX9000..at least timing it when I have the money.. Maybe I'll just do this and screw myself from the HP warranty..since if I upgrade the GPU I wouldn't have a warranty for that either.. These are the best ones to get no?

 

RJtech would probably be the best bet since they sell barebones units that you can configure yourself.

Good looking out.

EDIT: Problem is 280M is MXM 3.0 Type B. Not sure that would work in the HDX's MXM type III v 2.1 slot.

See specs here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gtx_280m_us.html

Might be limited to 9800M GTX which is TYPE III, v2.1, unless what RJtech is selling is a TYPE III, 2.1 version of the 280M GTX.

 

Yeah, not too many HDX's left for sale.

The Q174's are as close as you'll get to the real thing. C0 stepping.

Q174: http://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/Q1/Q174_1.html
X9000 RTM: http://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SLAQJ.html

 

BTW folks, don't know if you know, Microsoft is offering discounted Win 7 upgrade DVD's for per order. $49 for Win & home premium and $99 for professional.

Amazon, Newegg, Besy buy etc has them on sale for a limited time.

I bought 3 so far.

Here's the info: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order.aspx