*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

Thanks once again, 2.0. I'll be ordering today, after this pesky deposition I'm taking. 30% off has finally tipped the scales.

 

User manual has much more detailed specs. You can download it from here:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01279508.pdf

 

YW. Yeah, I know the feeling. I had a $450 off coupon that tipped the scales.

 

yes, I took the plunge with that 30% off discount too. Got a T9300 with the 8800M GTS for a little over $1300, and if you subtract the live.com cashback bonus (5%) and the fatwallet bonus (5%), we're looking at around $1200 for this baby!

I'll put my own RAM and hard drives in to save more on the upgrades.

I have a nicely loaded Dell M2010 now, and I'm mainly getting the HDX to compare. If I like it enough, I'll keep it and sell the M2010 and make a few hundred bucks more..

 

Ya know, I'm curious about this whole heat issue. As 2.0 stated HDX's probably won't be affected because they naturally run so much cooler. But there is the confusing issue. I'm idling about 42 C right now. I have only broken 70 C (the supposed problem threshold temp) once or twice when OCing and running ATI tool to check for stability.

But I also have an XPS Gen2 with a 7800GTX that is still running strong. When I OC it, run ATI tool or run games at highest possible settings, this thing cooks. 95 C on a good day and have seen it reach 104 C. And the default fail temp in the GPU settings is 105 C.

Essentially the 8800GTS is the next gen GPU from the 7800. I know the architecture is somewhat different, but basically, how can one card run so hot, and the other not be rated to run anywhere close? The HDX, by design, is going to run cooler, but supposing you could put the 8800 in the Dell, what is the telling difference?

Just random thoughts and question...

 

You guys are killing me...to think I paid over 3 grand in March.

Patience is not in this grasshopper's vocabulary, I suppose.

 

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Some others :
- I'd like to change the hard drive for a 7200 rpm. Is there a problem for that, if I only change the main disk ? Is is easy to use raid system ?

- do you know where I can download the service manual for this huge laptop ?

Again, thanks a lot.

 

Ouppssss.... You've already give it !
But if there is another one with 'true' pictures - I'll take it !

 

My 32 bit sees only 3,071 GB.

Good to see in Microsoft site;

CYA-00036 Turkish Windows Anytime Upgrade-Home Premium to Ultimate SP1 $169.22.

 

It's easy to change HD. You can even install an SSD.

But there is no Hardware RAID. You can do a Psuedo RAID 0 using Vista Ultimate. It allows you to extend one drive into the next making one vilume out of 2.

 

There are some reviews on this site with some very good good pictures of the HDX. Click the Notebook Reviews tab above and search HDX.

There was also an excellent review of the HDX on the web but I don't remember the URL. You could try googling DRAGON giveaway contest to find it.

 

The problem with the Nvidia GPUs in not just the max heat but the range of temps. The 8400M/8600M have been reported to run in the high 90's then cool all the way back to the mid 50's/low 60's (their idle temps). The defective material they are made of breaks down with this wide temperature range (almost like a freeze-thaw cycle.) The HDX on the other hand, goes from an idle of low/mid 40's to a gaming high of 60's/low 70's. Far away from the breaking point of >90C and less of a temp swing. Also the lower idling puts significantly less stress on the GPU and the die material.

So let's sake for the sake of argument that Nvidia used the same defective die material as on the 8400M/8600M. The likelihood of failure is very low to not probable given the top operating temp and temp range of the GPU thanks to the efficient cooling of the HDX.

That said, always monitor temps. If the top temps seems to be creeping up over time (and they likely will), clean out the radiator fins with a vacuum or compressed air and you'll be back in business.

 

Or you can just get a 64bit version of Home premium and you're good. It will use and report 4GB or more of RAM unlike the 32bit which only reports 4GB RAM but can't use more than about 3.2GB.

 

Not to worry...my guess is the deep discounts are a sign of either a discontinuation of the model, or (more likely) an upgrade to support Centrino2 is coming
and they want to clear out old inventory.

Then, those of us that just bought our HDX's can cry!

 

There was no way to foresee the price drop. If you recall, I was waiting for HP to come out with Centrino 2 version. I would have paid about 3 grand for it. But when I saw the price drop and the $450 off coupon, I had to think about what I'd be getting for the extra $1000 of a newer Centrino 2 model.

Had I known in the spring that HP wouldn't be coming out with a Centrino 2 based HDX then, I wouldn't have waited.

So don't feel bad.

In our hearts, the HDX is priceless.

 

Oh, it is definitely known for sure that there will be no HDX? I'd have thought they would be improving the model!

 

A reliable source told me that the HDX would become a line like Dell's XPS. (So far, there is an HDX desktop.) The 20" would very likely be discontinued in favor of a new 18.4". No word on when the 18.4" will out. There will be a 15" and 17" HDX sometime either towards the end of the year or early next year.

 

Yep, I remember. In retrospect, I was about to pull the trigger on building a desktop, and rely on the XPS Gen2 for traveling, mainly because I wanted a bigger screen for gaming. But when I saw the HDX upgraded to the 8800, even if mobile version, I said to myself, "Self, you now can have the best of both worlds, at home and on the road". So it's not that I truly regret not delaying the purchase, only makes me feel like I could have had...2 of these wondrous beasts!

 

I've looked at the three reviews here for the HDX, and none of them seem to address the AC adapter that comes with the HDX.

The Dell XPS M2010 that I have has a monsterous 150W supply, and I did not know what the HP required when I placed my order.

After researching, I discovered it requires an even more monsterous 180W supply. How big is the "brick" used with the HDX?

I'm a big fan of the Kensington ultra-thin and light universal adapters, and was disappointed that i wouldn't be able to use my 120W adapter with the HDX.

(Or, can I?...is the jack on the HDX a standard HP jack or something odd to keep people from plugging in a lower wattage adapter? If it's standard, what happens if I were to plug in the 120W adapter? On my M2010, a lower wattage adapter powers the unit to run, but won't charge the battery...)

 

true, true...Like my Dell M2010...those baby's go for $3K or more, but from the Dell Outlet, I've been very lucky to pickup good-as-new condition units with dual hard drives for $1000! That really gives one a warm-and-fuzzy feeling inside! I actually have two M2010's right now, but one is mostly sold and on it's way out.

 

It's 6 3/4" long x 3 1/4" W x 1 5/8"H. Weighs about 1 1/2 lbs or so.

I wouldn't risk plugging in a 120W PS. Maybe a 150W @ 18.5 VDC. It uses a standard jack.

 

Does anyone know if the HDX will support 1066mhz FSB processors like the T9600? If so, can it support 800mhz ddr2 ram? Thanks

 

The Dell M2010 BIOS is smart enough to recognize the power adapter you are using, and auto-throttles the CPU to half speed when powered on an under-rated supply. It also notifies you as such when you boot up, and tells me the battery may charge slower than normal (when in fact, it doesn't charge at all on a underrated supply).

I checked the actual M2010 power draw using a device that reads watt usage, and the M2010, even though it comes with a 150W PS, only used high 90+ watts during normal usage. I didn't feel using a 120W adapter was a danger.

I'll have to try it out when mine arrives!

 

Don't know if this is the one you are talking about, but it is very detailed with quite a few pictures.

http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/Revie...DX+Entertainment+Notebook+Aka+The+Dragon.aspx

 

YEP! That's the one! Thanx.

 

Some of the processors not all. I posted a link to Intel's website that details which ones. I'll hunt for it. As for ddr2 800, yes it can use it but it will throttle back to 667.

 

Has anyone seen this? I haven't looked back over the carrying case posts to verify.

http://www.thepouch.com/pavilion-HDX.html

Questionable how sturdy it is, but they say it is custom sized for HDX.

 

Here is a list of the processors. click on the one you're interested in and if it supports ICH8M (it should list them on the bottom of each page), it'll work in the HDX.

http://ark.intel.com/brandinfo.aspx?codeName=26543

Only thing, BIOS probably won't report the CPU correctly, but windows probably will.

 

2.0,
Do you think or happen to know what the temperature range difference could be between the basic 2.1 processor vs a 2.8 with arctic silver added? I'm dying to get one of these, but I'm paranoid that in order to be on the safe side, I'll HAVE to get either an extended warranty, in case something does go wrong with the Nvidia card AND/OR I'll have to get one of the more expensive processors in order to keep it running cooler . Do you know, or do you think that the 2.1 they have for sale in newegg will not reach those temps? Thanks!

 

Thanks a lot for this link.
Thanks also to 2.0 for all your answers.
Great help. I think to buy it more and more.

Some of you, or have you heard that someone had already upgrade the cpu.
I explain, here in France the HDX is coming with a T8100 (2,1Ghz).
For the moment it's good for me.
But in a few months, why not upgrade it ?

I saw on the service manual (thanks 2.0 ) cpu list available for the HDX.

I just want to know if there is some snare to avoid.


I'm come back about the second hard drive : what is the main purpose of that if there is no raid ?

Is it possible to use only one drive ?
I've already got a WD Black 7200 rpm 320 Go (to fit in it).

Thanks again for your advices.

Sorry for my poor english...

 

OK,

Something just freaked me out on this laptop.

In a review they mention the dual hard drive scheme? Does this mean I have to run 2 hard drives? Do they have to be the same model/size.

Reason I ask is a already ordered an additional bigger and faster drive I was hoping to use to migrate data off my HP dv9000...

Did I just buy something I cannot use?

Thanks

Scott

 

CPU temps are not at issue, so you'd be fine. And CPU temps don't affect the GPU temps given that they are located on opposite sides of the MOBO and each has it's own fan and heatsink.

In any event, the x9000 (2.8ghz) temps idle in the 20's where as the the 2.1ghz will idle in the low to mid 30's. And that's without arctic silver.

The GPU temps should be the same for everyone's give or take a few degrees. Depends on ambient temps, humidity, air flow around unit. But 8800M's run too cool in the HDX, Gateway's gaming laptop and SAGER's and there hasn't been a single reliable source that points to the 8800M series as having any sort of trouble. The issue was not just temps but temp range.

Also, If you have a VISA or Mastercard that's platinum or an AMEX card, you get a free 1 yr warranty extension as part of these cards perks. It's called buyer assurance or some such. Look over the original documentation of your card or just call the number in the back and ask them about it and to send you out literature.

So it may not be necessary to pay to HP's extended warranty.

 

Nah, it's all good. They are independent drives. There's no RAID.

 

Lancorp,

How exactly did you do this with fatwallet & live? Did you join fatwallet first & then search on "live"? What did you search for? If this works, I'll also take the plunge . Thanks!

 

Just placed my order with the 30% discount plus Fatwallet. I didn't bother with the LiveSearch discount because posts on this forum indicate that LiveSearch won't honor its cashback when you use a coupon. At least, that's how I read it.

I want to thank everyone in the lounge who provided helpful information that eased my way to this purchase. Naturally, I'll report on just how much I love my Dragon when I receive it.

The only question now is: start with Bioshock, Mass Effect, or UTIII?

Happy 50th birthday to me!

 

You're english is perfect.

1. I opened up the HDX when I first got it to apply Arctic Silver 5 to CPU and GPU. You have to disassemble the entire unit. I marked off where each screw goes by taping the screws together and labeling them. When prying apart the top panels, do not use excessive force. Follow the service manual and you shouldn't run into any problems. Also, use anti-static plastic or a wood surface while doing it. Protect the screen while working so you don't scratch it. When reassembling, check and recheck that all wire harnesses are connected.

When you change the CPU, clean off the heatsink and CPU heat spreader with alcohol 70-90%. Or Articlean. HP's grey goop is really greasy.

2. It's definitely possible to have one drive. No problem at all. Think of the second drive as backup or extended storage.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to boot off the second drive using a USB key. The BIOS doesn't let you select the 2nd drive as a bootable drive.

 

You can upgrade CPU. A couple of people have already done it. Takes about 4 hours or so, according to the brave ones. Check previous posts for that.

Purpose for second hard drive can be several things, mostly more storage, but there are other uses. People have outlined that in previous posts as well.

 

I do have an AMEX. Thanks for the info & quick reply. I'm just about to take the plunge. Just wondering if I should be patient (I waited this long) & see if any new coupon comes out for the holiday weekend ! If I could figure out that fatwallet & live discount in addition to the 30%, I won't even bother waiting.

 

You can upgrade CPU. A couple of people have already done it. Takes about 4 hours or so, according to the brave ones. Check previous posts for that.

Purpose for second hard drive can be several things, mostly more storage, but there are other uses. People have outlined that in previous posts as well.

Some people ordered th HDX with only one hard drive, yours should fit.

 

Hey HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

Awesome gift! Happy Birthday!

 

Nah, I doubt any coupons will be better than the 30%. Stackable coupons only come out 2 to 3 times a year. besides the rush for notebooks is pretty much over as everyone is pretty much back to school or will be next week.

Fatwallet, well, you're going to have to wait a while before you see that money. They won't process until the return period expires which is 21 days from receipt. Add in delivery time of 2 weeks and you're looking at over a month.

I have a 20% off accesories coupon that expires 8/31. CODE: AC5658

 

Thanks a lot 2.0 and hovercraftdriver - I'm very near to order it !

 

I have a 20% off accesories coupon that expires 8/31. CODE: AC5658[/QUOTE]

Hey thanks 2.0!


For anyone interested:


There are several free antivirus software after rebate @ http://www.freeafterrebate.info/

BTW - today is the last day for Kaspersky.

 

I want to thank you, you were right on the money. Now if you can tell me how to find working audio drivers for xp or dual boot, I'll give you a kidney.
B

 

I first linked to HP from the live.com cashback site (there is a "stores" link there and then HP HOME link). Once there, I clicked to enter HP.com, and chose my config and put it in my cart. Then, in another tab of IE, I went to fatwallet and copied the shortcut that would normally redirect me to HP from fatwallet. Back to the original tab with the HDX in my cart, I pasted the shortcut in the address bar, which brought me to HP HOME again, but this time under fat wallet. With any luck, I'll have both of them. (I should at least have fatwallet as that was the last one I used). Since my unit has not shipped, neither of them have emailed me that they got my purchase.

 

Oh wow great I will try them out. Thanks. Is this drivers for compaq version of the HP HDX? Reguardless can I get the url for other XP DRIVERS, like video ect.
B

 

LOL Glad I could help, but did this help with the game or the video drivers?

I have no clue about the XP problem...many have tried to get audio and someone says they have dual boot working, but neither is my area of expertise, not that I am an expert anyway. Just learning like most everyone else.

 

I didn't know you were trying to get XP up until this evening. I missed that somewhere before. I'm pretty sure the 175.97 (Compaq/HP), and the audio drivers that rumba linked to are only for Vista. I could be wrong.

rumba can probably confirm this. And I can confirm the 175.97 drivers are working great...best for me so far.

 

Any luck with more bags for this thing yet? I'm carrying mine by hand right now.