*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

I'd love either or. Anything to increase the lifespan of the HDX with it's beautiful 20 inch dual hinge monitor and design is ok by me.

On different Dragon note, I don't know if anyone has seen this video but I JUST NOW found it even though I THOUGHT I've seen most of the HDX videos on youtube. Found it interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HBojvnk2M0

 

2.0,

Beautiful letter. Your effort is worthy of much praise.

Unless you have a powerful contact within HP to whom to send the letter, address the letter to the chariman of the board. A manager can't blow off a response that will have to go back through the chairman; Someone will have to think intelligently before replying to the letter. This is an uphill battle as there is no ROI for HP except goodwill.

 

Thank you. Too kind really.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Address a copy to Mark Hurd, CEO. I also plan to send it to HP's Texas division as that is where HDX repairs have been known to be handled.

Still trying to divine a list of names within HP to address the letter to. Also thinking of HP's PR manager.

Anyway, won't send it out until Saturday to see if there's any comments, corrections, or additions that some might want made.

List of persons I intend to send a copy of the letter to:

Mark Hurd, CEO
Todd bradley, Executive vice president of HP’s Personal Systems Group.
Shelia Watson, Media relations for Consumer notebooks and Mini PCs, HP personal systems Group.
Prith Banerjee, Senior Vice President, Research, and Director, HP Labs

Figure that should do it.

 

Ok cool.

Behind an HDX? Most Certainly

No problem man.

Nice. Ah THAT QuickDock....grr. Hisss... Haha. Have you ever gotten video out of the Component, composite, and or audio SPDIF? I wouldn't recommend it if you haven't, as noted before by 2.0 the QuickDocks can damage your HDX.

 

Haha yea. So.. you don't need a army horde to storm HPs moat surrounded castle? Fair enough. Better strategy than to threaten to decimate HP if they don't give us some HDX love I guess I meant 10,000 actual buyers, but yea maybe that's chump change for them. Hey you still talk to "CyberVisions" right? You ask him? Seems like he'd be the best one to ask. But yea that would be awesome if they'd actually do it.

 

Thanks for doing something like this man! It would be SO great if they actually listened to their enthusiast customer base.

 

sucks, i wish i was brave enough to change the processor. i would easily buy a 9500 (currently have a 8100), if i could have faith in someone to do it. and no...i would NOT trust geek squad...besides the money they would charge to do it..i would not trust them.

would be afraid to apply too much or too little thermal paste, or apply it unevenly enough to it's detriment. not sure how much leeway can be had either way, if it's better to err on the side of more or less? anyway.

 

It would be awesome to be able to overclock my x9000. Hopefully this gets somewhere in HP. Being an employee of HP Enterprise Services I hope HP makes the right decision here.

 

Had problems with it before but I'll try it again. Thanks!

 

That would be something indeed. I paid full OEM for my x9000, would be nice to use it.

 

I honestly believe you could do it. With the aid of the manual and perhaps even the videos, patience, proper planning, tools (philips screwdrivers) and organization while under way, you could have it done properly.

There is a simple rule. A drop of thermal compound about the size of a grain of rice in the center of the heat spreader of the CPU (shiny metal surface), spread out thinly on the entire surface of the heat spreader with a razor blade. As for the copper transfer plate on the heatsink, you would need to clean off the old thermal compound with alcohol on a Qtip. Get as much off until the copper is shiny. Then use either eyeglass wiping paper or a lint free cloth, in a rubbing motion to remove any particles the Qtip may have left behind. That's all there is to it.

 

50-50 chance, perhaps. The thing that would be holding it up any progress would be the legal department.

Say, would you happen to know any contact person's name and address this letter could be sent to other than the four I listed?

I'll probably be sending the four letters out today instead of Saturday since there doesn't seem to be any objections or critiques.

 

Seeing how you were looking to do a BIOS mod yourself to get at the multiplier is what got me motivated. That and Dom7's never-ending quest for an X9000 upgrade from a T9300. I'd like to see him actually get his money's worth with an upgrade that actually has a meaningful performance boost. Only an overclockable X9000 would.

Tricky, dangerous business trying to mod the HDX's BIOS yourself. Let's say you found a way to do it. If the overclock lead to instability, you might not be able to get back into the BIOS to change it. Or worse, you brick the HDX in your attempts at trying to achieve overclock with a BIOS mod.

 

We all certainly appreciate everything you're doing here.

The letter was pretty on point, it's definately not an issue of heat or power. I haven't seen my cpu go over 40C yet. Now that it's discontinued and they know most of our warrenties are done, they might just do it.

 

Hey folks,

I'm starting to amass 200-500gig SATA hard drives. I was thinking of putting them all to use. Does anybody have any hands-on experience with this device that they can comment on:

http://www.cooldrives.com/sahub5muussi.html
That's a 5-port eSATA hub.

I'd love to be able to shove a couple more terabytes into the Dragon!

**EDIT** -- Hey! My 100th post!

 

I might be stating the obvious but just in case... you'll also need enclosures to power the drives since eSATA doesn't provide power.

Happy 100th post!

 

Final Draft going out today:


Dear Mr. Hurd,

I represent a large community of proud owners of the now discontinued HP Pavillion HDX 9000 Dragon.

Our request is a simple one.

We would like for your company to release a BIOS update that allows for overclocking of the Intel Extreme processor such as the X7800, X7900, and X9000. All that is required is that the end user be able to change the multiplier of the CPU in predefined incrementss up to its maximum via BIOS. Dell, Clevo/Sager, and others have done this for their customers either as standard or as a BIOS update.

We feel that those of us who have paid for the Extreme CPU option have been short changed since they cannot be overclocked in this legendary HP notebook computer. The price premium these extreme CPUs command is a function of their unlocked multiplier which allows for overclocking.

What is more, those who have systems configured with other than extreme processors expressed a very strong interest in being able to have HP upgrade their system to an X9000 at their own cost if a BIOS were released that allowed overclocking.

As a technical matter, the HDX Dragon notebook certainly has the thermal and electrical budget to handle an overclocked extreme processor.

Pragmatically, we understand that HP should not accept liability should any of us harm our systems with an overclocked extreme processor. Therefore we propose that as a condition to downloading and employing a BIOS update which allows overclocking of an Intel Extreme Processor, the end user must fully accept all responsibility for their system and will hold HP harmless for any damages that directly result from use of this BIOS update prior to downloading it from HP.

Also, we do ask in good faith that HP also supply a BIOS recovery method should the BIOS fail to update properly and render the system inoperable. This will allow the end user the ability to recover their system to an earlier BIOS of their choice.

Lastly, as a functional and safety concern, we ask that the BIOS only allow overclocking while on AC power so that should the system become unstable, the user can run their system on battery power and repeal the prior level of overclock to something more stable.

We, the HDX 9000 Dragon community, do hope that you will consider our simple request with earnest. Your response, should you choose to honor our request, will go a very long way towards customer goodwill and customer loyalty. In addition, news of this BIOS update will generate considerable press among the digital community’s journalists, technology blogs and forums. Something which will only help to underscore HP’s long-term commitment to their customers.



Sincerely and with much enthusiasm,

 

Some how I've missed this letter till now. Additions in parenthesis:

 

Hope I caught you before you sent it out, if not no biggie. Good letter and great idea. Thank you much!

 

Much abbreeesciated! If this works you should change your name to 3.0 Yea that last guy I talked to was/is a nice guy, and may still sell it to me at some point, but him changing his mind on selling (especially how many times he changed his mind on me) got me down. This would be fantabulastic.

 

Amass? You sound like a pirate with yer hard drives. The hub looks pretty cool.

 

THIS missed?

Then here are all downloads ...

1-battery / 2-opticaldrive / 3-harddiskdrive / 4-memoryboards
5-wirelesslanminicard / 6-tvcard / 7-displaybezel / 8-webcammodule
9-inverterboard / 10-displaypanel / 11-displaypanelbrackets / 12-speakers
13-displayhingecover / 14-keyboardretainer / 15-keyboard / 16-topcover
17-fingerprintreaderboard / 18-tpdisableboard / 19-displayhingeenclosure
20-audioirboard / 21-bluetoothmodule / 22-rightusbboard / 23-powerledboard
24-leftusbboard / 25-bassspeakerassembly / 26-compositevideoconnector
27-processorfan / 28-systemboard / 29-videofan / 30-thermalgrease
31-videoheatsink / 32-vgaboard / 33-processorheatsink / 34-processor
35-real-timeclockbattery / 36-audioconnectorboard


Have Fun!

(Thanks also a time to CompTrekkie)

 

In the Dragon - 1tb
External to Dragon - 1.5tb
Scattered in three other computers on the network - ~3tb
In unused spare drives - ~1.5tb

hehe, ya think?

Indeed. Cheap, powered enclosures are next on the list if that eSATA hub works.

Also -- I've been eyeballing those USB --> VGA/SVGA adapters. I've got a spare LCD monitor that should work beautifully with one of those things. I'd like to have a 3-monitor setup. Dragon's screen, 40" LCD TV, and 17" LCD. Anybody have experience with those things? Example of what I'm looking at:
http://www.cooldrives.com/hd16usb20usb.html

 

General question regarding home theater setups...

I've been playing movies/tv shows from the Dragon to my television via HDMI. To date, I've only used the built-in speakers in the tv itself. If I were to purchase a 5.1/7.1 surround system for my tv -- would routing the audio still all be done via the HDMI from the Dragon?

How would this all be setup (Cliffnotes version...)

Dragon HDMI --> Receiver HDMI --> TV HDMI?

or would it be something like:
Dragon HDMI --> TV HDMI --> Receiver optical?

In searching for a 5.1/7.1 receiver, what am I looking for as far as ports go?

Sorry for the 'newbish' question -- I know the cabling, but not precisely what needs to be done here.

Thanks!!

 

New PowerDVD does 3D, no wonder the other version was on sale for $79:


http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdvd/overview_en_US.html

 

That's very helpful. Thanks again.

[L]

 

I've only been using the ethernet, SVGA, USB, and headphone ports.

Really? It was only after an early post here said that they are compatible with the HDX that I thought to confirm that with HP tech support. They gave the all-clear so I've been using the two QuickDocks for the last year and half or so without issue. What sort of damage could result?

[L]

 

I use a EVGA UV Plus+ to have two x 22" HP w2207 monitors (one in landscape orientation, the other at a portrait orientation) working in conjunction with my Dragon's screen. It works okay, although occasionally it blinks. I suspect that's because I'm running it through a USB hub rather than directly into one of the Dragon's ports. http://www.evga.com/uvplus/.

[L]

 

I was looking at that eSATA hub a few months ago but in the end I lost interest for no particular good reason.

If you buy one, I'd be real curious to hear how well it works with your Dragon.

[L]

 

Hey where/how do I get the utility that allows you to do Windows+X? I uninstalled the Wifi and Bluetooth to get the latest Intel 5300 driver and it no longer shows up so I can't turn Wifi on. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

Yea I never had problems with most of those ports. Just the Component, Composite, and SPDIF.. the exact ports I bought the Dock(s) for.

HP Tech support are like 90-97% clueless so that doesn't surprise me. I think it mainly has to do with the ports I mentioned for video and audio and something to do with the paricular expansion port it uses in the HDX. I think mine damaged something with regard to video in my GPU possibly.. What happened was I had it plugged into my Slingbox, was able to see what was on my screen for a week, then it started doing endless loops of the same short video segment. Then all together stopped working. Only one of 7 worked, then none ever after that. I've had some sort of recurring problems with things since then so I'm thinking that had something to do with it. Some sort of electrical problem? I dunno. Maybe a problem with the GPU. System restore doesn't seem to want to work. I'm going to try to reformat again and see if that helps anything.. but I'm thinking it may be a hardware problem curteousy of the HP QuickDock.

 

It's a part of windows. Should be there automatically. But for bluetooth, you need to install HP wireless assistant to get it added onto the Windows Mobility Center. Adds it as "customized by HP."

 

Its not there for some reason...:/ It was before I uninstalled the drivers in device manager for the 5300 wifi adapter. Anyway to reinstall it from the SW folder or something, or a way to get to it directly in some particular folder somehow?

 

Does my HDX9494 have Bluetooth ? I can't seem to find it. I'm running Linux.

If it doesn't, can I add it via a card ? I'm ordering computer parts this week.

 

Disregard that question. I found it.


$ lsusb
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 046d:c50e Logitech, Inc. MX-1000 Cordless Mouse Receiver
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 03f0:171d Hewlett-Packard Wireless (Bluetooth + WLAN) Interface [Integrated Module]
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 08ff:2580 AuthenTec, Inc. AES2501 Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 064e:a101 Suyin Corp. Acer CrystalEye Webcam
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 07ca:a321 AVerMedia Technologies, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Is there anything else I want to add to this thing while I'm ordering parts ?

 

Nope, you're all good. There isn't really anything else to add. You could upgrade the wifi to Intel 5300. I know it works with the latest Ubuntu as I've tried it. Works "out of the box" as they say.

 

Update: I've had my 9494 for 16 months now and it rocks. I use it every day. I've gotten a ton of compliments on it.

The only problem that I had with it was when I spilled wine on the keyboard. I bought a replacement keyboard from China and put it in. Fixed.

I'm wondering what the fastest processor for the Dragon is these days. Anything faster than an X9000 ?

I'm thinking of putting an Intel 34nm SSD in. 80 GB for $250. Anyone done this ?

I love the fact this thing has 2 drive bays. Linux easily lets one splice directories onto different devices. Put /home on a 500 GB 7200 RPM hard drive and everything else on the ssd. It will fit in 80 GB, easily.

 

You've been away from us so long, you missed all the good stuff. So welcome back.

Yep, many of us have installed SSDs. I'm using one in each HDX I have. 120gb OCZ Vertex drives. In fact, I've gone completely SSD will all my computers. The performance boost is phenomenal.

You'll be amazed!
Stupefied!



As for fastest processor, X9000 is it. I've just recently sent several letters to HP hoping to induce them to make a BIOS update that allows overclocking. You can see the body of the letter a few pages back.

If you know of any other HP contact persons that might have some pull or influence, let me know and I'll fire one off.

 

BTW: did some planning around my next laptop the other day after I found out that my HDX9494 will run 2 remote displays, one via HDMI and the other via VGA. You have to turn off the built in screen. All this is possible on Fedora using the proprietary nVidia driver.

My next setup will be a 17" laptop with a Quad Core (i7) processor with a high end video card and 2 drive bays driving 2 24" LCD displays. Not that I am looking to replace my HDX9494 anytime soon.

 

That is what I hear. How much faster is the HDX with a SSD ?

Thanks very much for writing HP. Do you need anything from the rest of us to help the cause ?

What is the fastest processor we could put in these things if they modded the BIOS ?

HP should put you on their payroll. You and this forum is what convinced me to buy one of these monsters. Its the best computer I've ever owned.

If the MB in this thing ever dies, I am going to try to hack in a quad core board from another machine.

 

The quickdocks are a bad idea, but if you can find an XB3000 dock, they work flawlessly with the HDX. The XB4000 works as well, but the HDX is too heavy for the shelf.

 

Couldn't tell you as per linux since I'm running Linux from a Live USB with Persistency.

But windows wise, The overall system boost is around 100%+.

Don't know. Charting new seas with this one. We'll see what unfolds.

X9000. Santa Rosa chipset limitation.

Sicko.

I was thinking of steampunking it in a few years when it's obsolete.

 

They ARE a bad idea.. The XB3000 you say? Have you tested if the video and audio works ok via the HDX? Looks pretty sweet. Didn't know about this one. Thanks! The HDX fits in the XB3000 then I take it.

 

Which quadcore? High end video card you say.. I guess that rules out HP then?

 

If you do that you think you could post a how to at some point possibly for us less than technically savvy with regards to hardware mods? THAT would be awesome.. but I guess you'd have to deal with a lot of other things that would need to be modded at the same time as well in that case.

 

Question for ELMERFUD:

How did you get sound to work on the HDX in Linux? Can't figure it out using Ubuntu 9.10.

Works on my DV5 no problems.

 

Sound worked perfectly in F10. It kind of worked in F11 and F12 until recently. Now it pretty much works perfectly.

In F11 and F12 there was an issue getting the sound to feed the speakers. The most recent kernels fixed that. Its probably a kernel issue.

Fedora uses ALSA and Pulseaudio. Not sure what ubuntu uses.

 

As far as hacking a different MB into an HDX, I think the DV8T motherboard layout looks pretty similar.

 

Ubuntu uses the same. I've tried all the usual tricks I've glean off the net. Going to chalk it up to kernel issue. Headphone jacks work though.

Going to give fedora a shot.

 

This is the way I would go.

It's all HDMI these days unless you have legacy equipment. If you do, then you will also want a few component video inputs, digital coaxial for audio and digital optical for audio inputs.

Not too many use composite or S-Video so you won't find many receivers with those inputs.