*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

Again, while doubtful that a long overdue discharge is the problem, and just trying for the little things that might help, make sure when you do the discharge cycle you create a power plan that has "never" selected on all battery options.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...hk&product=3547191&os=2100&rule=33190&lang=en

 

You mean the upgrade for $199+? Sounds nice either way. I've been resorting to Nero for some HD content that I can't seem to play via QuickPlay or Windows Media. It certainly wasn't around $200+ to get I must add.

 

All you need is HWmonitor and HWmontray (v1.5). Right click HWmontray to make a short cut. Drag the short cut into startup on the start menu so it loads at windows boot.

Just to test, you only run HWmontray as it will load and run HWmonitor.

However, HWmonitor V1.10 gives the most accurate temp readings.

 

QLB SP45058 or SP45889.

You can find it in this thread. Works with the HDX, so no worries even though the thread is not for the Dragon:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=404164

Scroll down a bit on the first post.

 

Because each BIOS update addresses a specific bug. It's in each's release notes.

In any event, I don't recall who said it early on in this thread, but they said that only F40 allowed virtualization to work. I just took their word for it as I had no present need of it and no way to test it... until now.

Before the Microsoft test program there was only the Fsecure test which was worthless in 64bit.

No idea about that. Quickdock is notoriously buggy.

 

I, like you, leave my HDX plugged in all the time. I take a day each month to run the battery down from full until the unit cuts off/suspends. Last test I did after installing win7 and battery bar yielded 2:22 minutes.

You may have to full cycle the battery a few time before you get near 2 hours again.

 

I bought it back in May for under $100 and also got the extended download service and a CD backup. Total was $114 American.

 

Grazie, worked like a charm. I knew I had to install one of them SPsomethings

 

Thanks Miami, and thanks 2.0, I will definitely try doing a few cycles of this first (I'm guessing miami's suggestion of having a never profile would be a good way of doing it)?

 

so is the correct procedure to install HWmonitor to the C:/ root drive (for example), or use the zipped (portable) version in the root folder?

EDIT: 2.0, not sure if you know why, but if my fan is on max, then i start HWmonitor, the fan will then stop or go to whisper quiet mode. This has been true with all versions. i've been running it portable now and then to see what temps go to, randomly.

 

dang it where can I find hdx dragon wuxga under 1000. I wish I had on.

 

Even worse, when activated, HW monitor the fans remain in stage 1 And this is also where the temperature would require level 2. Had this in my posts here in more detail before. 2.0 (could not or did:0) this was not confirmed for his two HDX.

EDIT !!!

For example: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4829127#post4829127

or: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4614564#post4614564

 

Just for info:
Yesterday had my second bios update F.40E at MOBO 9300 occurred without problems. (now have two HDX 1x MOBO 9200 1x MOBO 9300)

PRECAUTIONS:

1. System Reboot 2. End all applications (each of course has other) 3. Power scheme to Max for all (continuous operation without a screen saver, power saving mode and Full Coverage!) 4. Battery fully charged
5. AC Safe Operation 6 Update startup with admin privileges

Biosupdate was complete after about 20 min.

All BIOS versions and their changes in each version here once again:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=de&prodNameId=3696339&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3668168&swLang=18&taskId=135&swEnvOID=2095

 

Yes, it's important that the unit doesn't cut off before the battery is discharged to maintain a near constant discharge rate. The opposite of its near constant charge rate.

 

Unlikely you'll get any HDX Dragon for $1000, let alone one with a WUXGA screen. On ebay, just a week ago, a basic HDX9494nr (T8100, 4GB 320GB with WSXGA+) sold for $1630.

You might be lucky and find a Dragon with an ATI video card (those were low performance video cards), but anything with nVidia is to be coveted and will get a higher price.

 

I have it setup in root using the portable version. I suppose the install version is just as good except you'll have to put HWMontray in the install directory and run it from there and possibly have to modify the shortcut and fill in the "working directory" dialog box.

RickiBerlin explains it and echoes what I was saying about it polling the ACPI sooner than normal. For his setup, it's a not so good thing. If you turn off powermizer (which he has done, and I've experiemented with), the GPU will rise to >53 DegC even if you're doing nothing. More so with win7 and its desktop effects. However, with powermizer enabled which is the default, you would have to play a game, a video, or some other 3D software to get it to rise above 53 DegC. Soon after you stop that app, the temps will drop. When it reaches <53, the fans go to lowest setting with HWmon. And since powermizer is not disabled, that low speed fan setting is sufficient to "gently" bring the GPU back down into the low to mid 40's.

Same for the CPU but at different temp thresholds.

In a nutshell, the BIOS makes the mid and high settings of the fans run unnecessarily long and as a consequence, drives the temps too far down and perhaps too fast. That's actually a bad thing in the long run because the wider the difference it temps, the more stress placed on the components. Especially the solder bumps in the GPU.

Other thing is, if you run dual screen output(HDMI or VGA), the GPU will heat up to >53 Deg while judt doing normal tasks. HWmon will keep the fan on med for the duration of the dual screen setup. Without it, the fans will go from high to med but will have a wider temp fluctuation. With HWmon enabled, it pretty much stays between 53-56DegC.

IF you have powermizer enabled(default), there's no downside to using it. IN fact, it's actually better. Less fan noise (less fan wear and tear), gentler cooling, smaller range of temps.

 

Sorry no time! Only so much Powermizer has no influence on the fan controller.
I just spent with these issues months!

 

I still think 2.0 has no HDX. ;o)
Explain it once more later ....

 

I know. I'm not saying it does. Turning powermizer off, though, does influence temps. It increases it during ordinary tasks versus powermizer on. And as a consequence, forces the fans to run on med. That's one of the reasons I stopped using powermizer disabled. I figured, how often do I watch videos that the stutter on full screen or near full screen will bother me? Right so I just watch movie trailers or you tube videos in the default small box for smooth as butter play. GPU runs cooler and fans are whisper quiet. It was a trade off, but I like that better.

Difference in gaming with powermizer on/off was negligible for the most part. That is to say, considering the games I play (FPS, RTS).

And when gaming or something to that effect, the fans DO go to max with HW monitor, all versions, and temps are capped with my overclock to a max of 73DegC. As soon as that app/game is closed, temps drop back to mid 40's with fans going from high(max) to med to low.

I'm caught.

 

I see. Thank you for the tip! is it possible to swap the ATI video card to nVidia video card on the dragon?

Also, I am still trying to make a decision on the dv8t or the dragon,

dv8t has 18.4" wuxga and q7 core,
and dragon has 20.1" wuxga but c2d.

i dont know what to choose. I dont care about the size by the way.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-HDX-HDX9010NR-C2D-2-2GHZ-20-1-LAPTOP-HD-DVD-240GB_W0QQitemZ230392578178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item35a477c082

That's the HDX9010NR, ATI Video card, 2X120GB hard drive. The seller has 4 left. That's about as close to what you are looking for as you are gonna get, as the HDX9494NR (Nvidia Video card version) is usually selling for $1200 or more. I hope that helps. Good Luck.

 

No, you cannot swap the vid card out of the Dragon. You can replace it with the same card I believe, but you cannot put a different card in at all.

As for your choice, that's a tough one. While the i7 CPU is a big plus, I love the 20" screen the Dragon has.

 

exactly.

 

That's true unless one wanted to go with 8800M from ATI.

It can be done but two things have to be taken into account:

1. Motherboard must be 464591-001.
2. The Nvidia video card must be the one made for the HDX. It will not work with standard 8800MGTS found on eBay.

HDX 9010 do not have the correct motherboard for a simple swap. HDX9200 and up, do.

 

Ok I'll see if it works after restart. Doing it this way will bring it to the task tray or the Gadget bar thingy? Thanks.

 

So the BIOS updates DO resolve SOMETHINGs then. Which is better F39 or F40 and does getting the BIOS from any HDX hp page work for any HDX, as in, are all the BIOS downloads listed for each HDX9000 the same and will work for any HDX Dragon?

Ok no one seems to be able to help with stupid QuickDocks..what a waste of money.

 

Task tray. And this way it doesn't run as a windowed app. But, if you add a sidebar widget that reads it, you can have both. I believe it's HW monitor meter as the sidebar gadget. I don't the sidebar anymore so I'd have to look it up.

 

Nice deal! Which codec do you use, or does it come with that? I use Klite Full Codec, but sometimes when I install it it has lines it in when people move fast which I find highly annoying. It wasn't doing it with the last install before I reformatted..:/ I wonder if I was to get the upgrade if it would conflict with the codecs and or Nero. I'd likely wait for a sale like the one you bought it with. $200 is too much for software of this kind when I already have Nero and QuickPlay.

 

One guy bought an HDX for 700 somehow on Ebay.. Can't remember if it was WUXGA, I think it was WSXGA, but still... most times than not you will not get a WUXGA for UNDER $1000. Maybe if someone lists it oddly, like they don't use the word HDX in it or something, maybe just HDX9000, or Dragon you may find one that isn't being seen much you may. I have never personally seen one sell for under $1000. Usually they're around 1400-1600. If they have top specs with WUXGA then they go for anywhere between 1800-3200 depending on how much they were used, how many pictures they have of the actual unit, and how detailed the description is. If you are technically proficient, you could always get an SXGA and buy a WUXGA screen and replace it yourself. It of course couldnt get an extended warranty from HP if you did that but you'd have a WUXGA screen in your HDX.

 

Yea that thing is nothing but bloat, I don't use it either. I'd rather have it in the tasktray thanks. If I just detach the HW monitor meter is it gone gone or do I have to delete it from registry or something? Most of these things don't really install install..as in seeing it in Add Remove. Gunna reboot now.

 

I see. I think this would be the last question to dragon owners.
is there any big difference between sxvga and wuxga?
and how much it costs to change the lcd?

 

I think it costs around $250-$380 if I remember correctly? Someone posted it recently here in the forum that they did the replacement and it works great. They also mentioned they'll never go back to the WSXGA screen again But as far as that question regarding the difference, it has been argued that WSXGA is good for video games because many are designed to run on those specs, but WUXGA is great for Blu Ray, video, and pictures. With the way things are now though, I think heavy games still can currently run fine on the higher resolution (1920x1200), as stated in the post on Assassin's Creed being more heavy on the system than Crysis is even, and it can be run on the highest specs given how the newest NVIDIA drivers are. I have Assassins Creed and it runs great on it. I personally LOVE my WUXGA, have several other WSXGA screens in the house and wouldn't go back. Some would say the opposite and prefer the WUXGA, and say it's brighter. I noticed all newer notebooks come only with WUXGA now not WSXGA for whatever reason. I also watch TV/Cable, Blu Ray, Record from my DVR in 1080i saving the movies to my HDX, and do everything on it so it fits my needs perfectly. While some here have said the Chimei WUXGA screen is cheaper than the LG Screen, others have said the Chimei is more expensive. Do note when it was on the HP site they sold it for a heck of a lot more money than the WSXGA, and I believe it was for a reason. But the decision is yours on that.

 

Since you were looking at the DV8, you're probably better off with that one as the aspect ratio is 16:9 which is actual HD aspect ratio with a resolution of 1920x1080. HDX WUXGA is 16:10 or 1920 x 1200.

The HDX's paired with ATI 2600XT is less of a powerhouse than the DV8 with Nvidia 230M. All of which is less powerful than an HDX running a 8800M GTS.

Quads running in the DV8 (820Qm, 720Qm) are better than an X9000 in the HDX.

DV8 is new and you can get several lengths of warranty.

DV8 has a better upgrade path than the HDX. You'll likely be able to upgrade your CPU as Intel releases more. If HP upgrades the video card/motherboard, you'll be able to swap that into it.

DV8 has better win7 support.

Likely easier to find carrying case for the DV8 as there are a number of 18.4" notebooks on the market.

Difference between 18.4" and 20.1" is small. 1.7" diagonal difference translates into ~1.25" less in height and width.

Hp dumped support for the HDX like a red headed step child.

Pros and cons, which are more that I listed here, weigh in favor of the DV8. Its biggest con is its graphics card. Doesn't mean you can't play games. Just means you'll have to lower the graphical options and/or resolution.

As for gaming, apart from Assassin's Creed, all other games run much slower on the WUXGA than the WSXGA+ for obvious reasons that won't be belaboured here. If you're a gamer, you'll already know why.

The WUXGA screen cost more because, well, simply because it is a higher resolution. It was a $200 option. Don't read anything more into it than that. While the 3rd party WUXGA screens that you can buy have the potential for being better than the WSXGA+ screen, they aren't because they are crippled in the HDX by the HDX's inverter which provides half the watts needed by the WUXGA screen.

WUXGA by Chimei requires 13 watts. HDX's inverter only puts out 7-7.5 Watts. WSXGA by LG requires 7 watts. The HDX was designed for the WSXGA screen. Unfortunately, it was also designed for the ATI Radeon which means the 8800M is also slightly crippled because it is a custom job made to fit the thermal budget of the ATI card. That's why even at the time, GAteway notebooks with 8800Ms were getting better 3Dmark scores than the HDX.

 

I object! What's wrong with a red headed step child?

If you had to choose between say the newest 18 inch Sager and the DV8 what do you think you'd go with and what do you think you'd recommend to him?


Btw on a side note to the screens, while I know your view on HP techs, when asked, including the most informed ones say the wattage mentioned in the manual is generic and wasn't accurate on the WUXGA screens, pointing to the 90+% color saturation. I believe I've seen dinky 15 inch notebooks with more wattage than the 13 listed. Who do we believe HP who issues the manual or the manual? Also I'm curious to know what you think of this analysis of the WSXGA screen power/wattage reading? http://www.notebookcheck.net/Short-Review-HP-Pavilion-HDX9130EG-Notebook.7996.0.html.

 

Works great! Thank you! I need to jot this down for future reference.

 

Dominick and 2.0>> you guys are great! Thank you.
Since I spend my time watching movies and programming a lot, I might bid on this used hp hdx20 with wuxga,ati hd2600xt under my budget(around $900.. too low,is it? ) on ebay. I still don't know what the reasonable bid price on this item tho. if anyone can tell me how much you guys want me to bid, let me know by pm. type "wuxga 20.1"" on the ebay search bar. If I don't get this item, I might just wait for a good deal on dv8t. Once again, thank you guys. Really helped.

 

A question:
I recently upgraded my HDX 9494nr with a t9300 processor (thanks to 2.0 for the compatibility help) which required me to remove the mainboard. I was also cleaning out the heat sinks and using some Arctic Silver 5 to replace the old gunk on the GPUs and CPU.

Anyway, after putting it all back together - and VERIFYING that everything was plugged in correctly - I get sound only from the bass... I get absolutely nothing (so far as I can tell, even with Treble all the way up) from the higher-ranger speakers.

I'm completely flummoxed.

I'm running Windows 7, and the IDT driver I'm using is listed as 6.10.5607.0.

I have no freaking clue and it's driving me nuts.

 

Sager for gaming, HP for everything else. SagerS though have relatively loud fans. But they are well built.

Depends on the situation. The HP techs are almost invariably wrong. It's been this way for years.

They're BS'ing you because they, like auto mechanics, talk a good game. There is only 1 inverter. Not two models. Two versions of the inverter would support the claim. One for the WSXGA and one for the WUXGA. But the singular inverter for the HDX will NOT permit the color gamut that the 1st and 2nd iteration of Chimei screen is capable of. That's just a fact.

The manual is correct as far as how much watts the screen will use since it cannot reach it's full brightness capability with the watts the inverter can output. The inverter was designed for the WSXGA+. The WUXGA, like the 8800M was a later add on modified to work on the original platform. Also to prevent the inverter from blowing from too much current draw, the WUXGA screen would have to be crippled. No way around this problem with only one inverter and one source of DC to invert.

The inverter is exactly like and auto/marine/camping inverter. They can draw so much current before either their fuses trip or their heatsink becomes insufficuent to cool them and they blow.

The HDX's inverter is no different. It simply converts DC to AC. It is feed so many DC volts (likely 18v) at so much current and converts that to AC volts (110v nominal) @ 7watts. Take a flourescent bulb rated at 40W and feed it 30w and it will be dimmer than at 40W. Simple basic electronics. Feed it any lower than 50% of its rated watts and it won't even light (unlike an incandescent bulb which will).

CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) works under the exact same principle. And color Gamut is a function of light intensity. Less light, less relative gamut. It's just not possible under any circumstances to get 92% color gamut when you're feeding the screen half the watts it's rated for.

There is no talk of wattage. Just nits (cd/m2). And it's to manual specification - even though the manual says 180nits typical. The difference between 200 and 180 is nominal. Plus most do not run their screen at max brightness making 180 typical in that respect also.

 

Page 72 in the HDX service manual. Are you sure connector #5 is in all the way? Even if it looks like it, it can go in on an angle and not be fully seated. Double check that one.

 

I'll take another look. Additionally, I seem to have disabled my Touchpad, though the device manager indicates that it is working properly.

It detects it as a Synaptics PS/2 Port Touchpad. I've updated the drivers.

This has been a lot more touch and go than I expected it to be, though the performance boost is absurd when it comes to games.

 

I'm thinking of buyin an HP Dragon. I'm currently an owner of an 8710w with the T7700 and a 3600m that I swapped into it, but I kinda want a new project, so I'll be selling this laptop. ANYWAYS, my questions would be this: Given the choice between the i7 DV8's and a Dragon, which would you go?

 

haha I asked same question yesterday. see the previous posts from yesterday.

 

Holy crap, you're right! I missed that post yesterday! Considering the HDX18 is going for about the same price as those Dragons off of ebay, I think it's a no-brainer. Now I just need to make up my mind today before that $400 savings expires...

 

I just use the codec that came with PowerDVD 9 Ultra. I have no issues with the blu-ray player.

 

The HDX's paired with ATI 2600XT is less of a powerhouse than the DV8 with Nvidia 230M. All of which is less powerful than an HDX running a 8800M GTS.


-----------
I have a 9010NR running f40 which for my non gaming needs works great. I am not very technical but have others in our shop to handle some of it. I thought from one of the post it was upgradeable with the graphics, processor and drives. I have held on upgrades until windows 7 is working well and the warranty runs out.

1. What processor can it be upgrade to?

2. We are looking at install two Intel 320 SSD drive with the W7 upgrade. Any comments or thing to look out for?

3. If I have understood correctly the graphics card cannot be changed. Is that correct?

4. I also thought from previous post that the HD quality or pixel whatever were a problems under 22 inches. Has that changed?

5. Will using a HP smart 90 watt ac adapter with the HDX9010 harm it?
BTW for anyone interested Costco.com has the xb4 docking station on sale for $88 shipped but you will need to buy a power cord it won’t work well without it. Had to plug the power cable into the unit to have power to it but other than that it is GREAT.

Also the HP roller bag and using the SFBags.com sleeve works well it is TSA friendly (at least here) using the back compartment and laying it flat.

 

1. T9300(2.5ghz), T9500(2.6ghz), X9000(2.8ghz). Each of these has an ES (Engineering Sample) version that starts with Q. The only good ones are those with C0 stepping. Like the X9000 Q174.

Quick note about X9000: shamefully, it can't be overclocked in the HDX.

2. SSD's are great. Highly recommend them. They give the best possible boost in performance. I use 120GB OCZ Vertex drives in each HDX. Though, since the HDX has 2 drive bays, you should go with the cheaper and faster MLC drives (like the Vertex) in bay 1 and 7200 RPM HDD in bay to for storage and large or frequent writes. SLC drives are more expense than is called for, for the majority of users.

If there's anything to look out for, it's TRIM. W7 has trim built in but not every drive can use it. SSD's with Indilinx controllers can. (Vertex et al.)

3. It can be changed from ATI to Nvidia 8800M if you have motherboard version 464591-001. Being that you have HDX 9010, you have motherboard 448145-001. You can obtain both the mobo 464591-001 and the Nvidia video card 454311-001 from HP parts. Will cost ~$400 and ~$500+ respectively.

4. Dot pitch is smaller than OSHA and industry standards recommend on a 20" @ 1920 x 1200. The correct dot pitch is 20" @ 1680 x 1050 or less. But since it's a notebook it generally get's a pass because one will sit closer to the screen. And with W7, you can change the DPI without a reboot, just a log out/log on.

5. No, it's fine since you don't game. I've measured the watts at the wall with a watt meter and general activities draw avg 35w-50w. Gaming goes over 100w but not by much. So it's safe. As long as the plug is the right size, you're good to go. Others have used the Kensington 90w universal adapter with success as it also comes with a variety of plugs one of which is the correct size.

Can't advise on the travel bag or sleeve. My HDXs never leave their perch.

 

can you tell me how to do this? i created a plan based on high performance, then set all to never, and i set the critical battery action as 0% and to shutdown(i had to choose something), and when it dies, i power it on and (i have the bios password set), it stays on bios for another good 10 minutes or so.

i am getting 30 minutes exactly on high performance mode and full brightness, when before i got 2 hours. i discharged/completely recharged 3 times already.

 

what's the difference between 9494nr and 9200?

 

Thnak you 2.0, that really helps.

 

I have been fighting Windows 7 since customer ship on October 22. My HDX 9010nr video crashes every 1 to 5 minutes. It has blue sceened twice.

HP says that they are not going to provide Windows 7 support for the 9010nr.

Anybody have a good idea on how to get Win 7 running?