*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

Here is part of a review from "Daily Tech" on SC2 that makes things look good for the HDX.

" Unfortunately, the drawn out development process meant that the game was targeted for DirectX 9.0c, and lack the features of DX 10, 10.1, and DirectX 11. While the game looks good, it doesn't look as good as it could be.

The game is still capable of challenging graphics cards, especially at higher resolutions like 1920x1200 and 2560x1600. ATI Eyefinity multi-monitor technology is supported, and players fortunate enough to have a Radeon 5870 HD Eyefinity Edition can game with up to six monitors.

Heavy use of the Havok Physics engine and ability to use more units also means that the game is more likely to be CPU limited. Although StarCraft 2 is not multi-core optimized, players will still see a boost from using dual- and quad-core systems."

With it being based on older Direct-x and tech our card will not miss any features and will have a better chance of running smooth at 1680x1050 (maybe even dual screen). The CPU part bodes well for an X9000 OC'd. This is one of the games I may run at 3.8 GHz (ATM GTA IV is the only game that I need too, all the rest I run at 3.6 GHz). Once I get SC2 I will play around and see. It will be a bit though. ME2 is keeping me busy right now and I will wait till Steam post a good sell like ME1 & 2. I got ME1 for $5 & ME2 for $15.

 

You could use the TV tuner in another laptop if it has a decent antenna built in. The one that came in the HDX I have is an express card which works under Linux, but isn't supported under Linux. I have to use a driver for a different card, actually, and the radio feature doesn't work, but HD tuning works ok once you get it working. If Avermedia provided support for this card under Linux, it would be great, since the tuner and connections are nice, but as it is currently, it wouldn't be worth it when compared to a simple USB tuner.

One side note is that the drivers provided by Avermedia which work with the tuner are compiled by Avermedia for a specific version of ALSA so the Ubuntu 10.04 release won't work with it unless you install an older kernel and older ALSA drivers.

 

Mugs are running SC2 on Envy14's with ATI 5650, i5 450 @ 1600 x 900 all details maxed.

HDX won't have any problem.

 

Sounds great to me, looking at picking it up this weekend, after I put my wife's lappie back together...can't be having any fun when her fun machine is broke.

@ 2.0...got the new moboard, much more intensive breaking it down to parade rest than I imagined. And they say tearing things apart is always easier than putting them together- YIKES

 

LOL, I know what you mean. Take your time... but not too much time.

 

Six monitors....... I'd like to try that in 3D

 

[email protected] Wprime32 @ 20.743: View Score X9000 @ 4.2ghz by Electrosoft | wPrime Multithreaded Benchmark

I've been running @ 3.8ghz daily now. Temps are great. Only when stress testing can I get temps over 70 (Max 76-78). Everything else, temps never break 68.

Did a 12hr Prime95 max heat / max thread stress test @ 3.8ghz passed like a champ.

Some single core 3.8ghz benchies with Cinebench attached.

R10 = 4578
R11.5 = 1.14

Look at the ranking for 11.5, wow.

 

Nice Can you share Throttlestop settings?

 

I ordered one of these: NEW DICOTA MultiGiant Notebook Case N16178P - eBay (item 350366274076 end time Aug-11-10 05:41:09 PDT)

I've had the HP Roller Case for almost two years now for my now beat to snot /scavanged HDX9300 (T9500 cracked in the front, back and side to side now dip!), so I figured I'd try something a little less bulky and awkward (roller case fits the HP, but isn't really set up for anything else inside with a large bulky external pocket and the case itself is fairly heavy) for the 9494 this time around.

 

2 questions
I'd like to try Win7 32bit. Which drivers should I use?

Is it difficult to swap cpu in hdx?

 

Gotcha, he confirmed below

Fair enough I actually didn't want the CPU itself alone but it configured within a whole other HDX. I don't know that I'd sell the HDX I have now, because I like the idea of having a backup, but IF I sold the HDX with the HDX 9500 would you want that or just the CPU? The overclocking is only possible with Xtreme Processors.

 

I own it and have yet to use it. So you don't like the roller case?

 

just the cpu

 

Wish they sold the Roller case in the Uk

and yeh Electrosoft, post what Throttlestop settings you're using to get to 4.2 I merked my machine when I got near 4 and the temp was easy at 70

 

If you can, I'd recommend going to 64bit. But if you must use 32 bit see comptrekkie's post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/5665765-post8953.html

Just double check that the drivers are dual 32 and 64 bit.

Yes and no. Depends on you. It takes hours though.

Search comptrekkies post for disassembly videos.

Page 100 has a link to the service manual in PDF

 

I've got Win7 HP x86 modified with vlite, which I use on my netbook.


I just want to try it on HDX.

 

The roller case, to me, is inefficient and really wastes a lot of potential that could have been used inside for compartments. On trips, I found myself without enough room to really pack clothes or anything else properly and I ended up with two roller cases. Plus the extractable handle is odd compared to many roller cases and the case itself is overall very bulky in a strange way. The large retracted tube housing really takes up space inside the case and it is kind of uneven. It cost me $99 bones when I ordered it from HP, but free S&H at the time (!).


I used to lug around an Alienware M-ALX in the M-ALX backpack and I liked that. The HP and M-ALX are roughly the same size and weight but the HP actually has a smaller PSU.

Maybe I'll like it OR maybe it will end up in my pile of laptop cases.

 

Here are my final results running 12hr burn ins:

3.2 @ 1.2v (Default can be undervolted at 3.2)
3.4 @ 1.25v
3.6 @ 1.325v
3.8 @ 1.45v

I found I could actually go lower at 3.6ghz from the previous 1.35v and be rock solid.

For the 4.2 test, I defaulted to 1.5 to be safe as I knew it was the safe upper zone. I could step down and see where it bonks out. I'll probably give 4.4 a whirl.




Here is a Prime95 Max Heat Max Threads 10 min run for temps @ 3.8ghz/1.45v. I don't use a cooling mat just a stock lapdesk/flat surface.

 

@electrosoft

You've got very low GPU temps. How?

 

My system was cleaned from head to toe, changed the GPU Thermal to MX-3 and custom cut copper shims for the pads. That is also idle temps too.

Like I said, I broke this puppy down, went through numerous X9000's till I found one that produced the best undervolt @ 2.8/3.2 (which is a good predictor of overclocking), replaced the CPU fan, cleaned it from head to toe (even soaked parts with hard to reach places), and redid the thermal compounds with MX-3 and the pads with copper shims and bolstered the air flow around the vents with electrical tape (while running stress tests to see what worked best).

I can't possibly tweak this anymore except by switching to Win7 and moving to an SSD.

 

copper shim at what thickness? Great idea!

really hot getup, Electrosoft. It's been agonizing waiting to fully part up my hdx for cleaning, etc...

 

clean win7. now drivers.

 

Haha ok, good, if I can get another one with but with the X9000 ctod in it, I like the idea of having two HDXs, one to use and overclock and another as a backup.

 

X9000 arrived today. Scared now. Might sit on it while I build up my brave pills to disassemble "The Beast".

CJ

 

Don't be afraid. You can make it. I have disassembled mine using 2nd laptop On that second machine I was watching videos with details how to disassemble all required components.

 

Hi All...Decided to clean my fingerprint scanner with Windex the other day. It hasn't worked since. Any clues appreciated, when I go to "Devices" it shows up as flashing and trying to find the device. Outcome is "Reader not found". I did try to clean the crevices with a pen knife, was that my error? Would love to have this back if possible. Can't find a good reliable Win 7 x64 driver, any pointers. Please and thank you all.....David

 

Noticed this on Ebay.

Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 2.8 GHz Processor upgrade - eBay (item 250674408218 end time Aug-01-10 10:17:00 PDT)

Guy got it from Dell. 19 hours left to go, and bidding, which started at $99 is currently at $122.50.

MA

 

The part about "no returns accepted" makes it quite volatile since the seller only has a 97.7% feedback rate

 

That's good point. Is the non-returnable uncommon for processors on Ebay?

Just thought I'd put it out there because they're rare.

Caveat emptor.

 

This guy wants$599 (!)

Intel® Core?2 Extreme Mobile Processor X9000 TOP - eBay (item 180533441406 end time Aug-14-10 01:00:37 PDT)

He allows a return in the sense that he will allow an exchange. For what, though?

MA

 

That's an even better point since some sellers are very servile to this and others don't trust like everyone buying is 'out to get them'. eBayer protection, very low price, but I don't get why the seller didn't just post the item as "new" instead of new-like.

Well, I'm sure the price will jack up the last few hours. The next price for others are $388 and then $599

 

Hey everybody, haven t been around for a while, hope everyone's fine.

I just have a little question: lately my dragon seems to have the tendency to overheat and turn itself off while gaming. I have tried reverting to older drivers with a relative amount of success (which ones tend to not over heat?)

A couple of days ago I also tried to suck up some dust with a vacuum cleaner, since about a little more than a year ago I went through the whole process of dismounting the beast for clean up, but once reached the fans I didn't really have the feeling I could do much better than I did that way...

Any opinions? Should I dismount it (GULP!) again? It really didn't seem to accumulate too much dust when I did... Nothing I couldn't remove without opening it. Am I wrong?

Are the newer drivers in part responsible?

Does it have to be the dust or age makes it overheat?

In case anyone has the same problem, i discovered that a little humid piece of paper in the remote control slot (in place of the remote on the left of the keyboard) helps keeping the temp down (try on your own responsibility' but I now did it quite a lot without any problem occurring... pointing a fan at the humid paper helps even more)

(I also moved from Paris to Rome in the meantime which doesn't help in summer)

Thanks

 

I'm wondering if Dell packages accessory or replacement CPUs in that plain vanilla wrapper, or whether it was "pulled" from a Dell. My one sour experience on Ebay was buying a "new" Seagate hard drive for my Thinkpad...his ad showed the retail box...only to be sent something in bubble wrap that a tech traced back to a dell laptop. It may hve been unused, but it was definitely pulled, had a few scratches, and had no warranty.

By the way, now the X9000 is at $152.50 with 14 hours to go. That 50 cents is intriguing.

MA

 

Does your screen image wiggle before it reboots? Does anything in particular happen just before it reboots? Were your fans on warp speed?

There are some European areas that go above the 240V range, pushing everything just over the edge except that in my case only the adapter I was using to buffer a brick fried instead of other possibilities.

Otherwise, it could be many things. My 18.4" and 20.1" HDXs run hotter with any gpu driver above 19x.xx, including powermizer.

 

lol, it's still on the low-end bidding. I think the cents part disappears after $200 unless someone puts in some cents (ironic pun). $177.50 and.....

Oh, and OEM does not mean brand new or anything, just that the original company made it (original equipment manufacturer). It's such an overused, rhetorical term, kind of like saying we are OEM people. (?)

 

Hi Guys n' Gals,

After re-installing Win7 64 on my new OCZ Vertex, I can't get any sound out of anything but my left and right speakers.
Tried uninstalling the HP driver and allowing the M$ driver, but no joy, then re-installed the HP driver and still no joy.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

CJ

 

It's definitely the heat; everything else is fine: The fans go at full speed and as I said if I use an extra fan and maybe some humid paper I can contain the problem. Also I have had the Dragon for 2 years qnd nothing ever happened. Now I reverted to 186.81 but it's pretty much the same.

 

Hey buddy! Long time no see.

You're going to have to take the rear cover off and see how bad the fans and the front of the fan radiator are full of dust. You will need to remove the GPU fan which has 3 screws on it to get to the front of the radiator grill. With the CPU fan, you can use a screwdriver to make a space between the radiator and the plastic exhaust hood so you can get a vacuum in there. The gap will be about a centimeter, no more. Also use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to clean the caked on dust that covers the fan blades.

One note, when removing the rear cover, be sure to remove the one small screw where the DVD drive bay is.

Also vacuum the intakes on the very bottom of the HDX.

In the off chance your radiator grills are clean from the inside, then that would mean that your thermal compound on the GPU has broken down and will need to be cleaned off and reapplied.

Here are disassembly videos: http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q86/comptrekkie/HDX Vidoes/?start=all

 

What HP driver are you using? 5607? (SP40438.)

Disable UAC and any antivirus programs and install it as administrator.

HP softpak lib in case you don't have the above driver: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/

 

Hey 2.0,
Just an update, I disassembled my Dragon and pulled the video card, then just for the fun of it, I cooked the card @ 390 degrees for 9 minutes. Reassembled and voila, it worked I am not entirely sure if the cooking or the reassembling of the system did the trick since I found some loose cables during the tear-down. Either way, it is working and I have saved some money for now. Thanks for the assistance.

R/

Wyrmus

 

Nicely done. Keep us updated.

 

What? Your Dremel wasn't fully charged?

Seriously, this is a delicate electronic device. No windex or other liquids sprayed on it. It's a liquid and may have shorted it out. No pen knives. Take the windex, and spray a LITTLE on a lint free cloth and swipe it across the device a couple of times. If it's dirtier than that, you probably need to evaluate the cleanliness of your computing area.

 

OH NO!! THE BRUTE SAW MY POST!!! OK buddy I'll follow the suggestion: gotta do it this time around! (nice to see you captain)


I am trying to remove the three fan screws with just the keyboard retainer off... hopefully I won't have to dismount anything else... I am a whimp I know...

 

THANKS 2.0

Done everything smooth dragon's breathing... no more fire hopefully!!

Page 100 updated with precious mounting / Dismounting Dragon video link.

 

LOL @ brute!

Good deal, glad you got that sorted out. Going to have to do mine in a few weeks. I'm already a few weeks over do.

 

Nice. Great to hear once again that the Dragon is such a sturdy ride just with a little maintenance. I sometimes feel that with the exactitude of 2.0's help that he has multiple accounts on here just to pat himself on the back! lol

Just noticed your picture is Caravaggio! Interesting history and art that man gave us.

 

EHEHE Michelangelo Merisi rules! Thqnks buddy

 

Thanks for the advice two-oh but I've still only got the left and right speakers working during testing.
I uninstalled the IDT driver and deleted the driver files, rebooted, allowed the Microsoft driver to install, rebooted then installed SP40438 as admin, still no sound other than left and right, so unistalled, rebooted and tried it in Vista compatability mode, still the same.
Each time I had my anti-virus disabled and UAC off.
Any more help would be greatly appreciated.

CJ

EDIT: Installed Sandbox and managed to get 5.1 through TruSurroundXT.

 

Saw this one for the first time. I thought it was a Johnny Depp PS!