*HP HDX DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 1*

BTW, there are no SP1 issues with the original .5511 (EDIT CORRECTION, meant .5607 as original driver) sound driver as far as on use terms. The issue is if one tried to download SP1 off windows update, it wouldn't allow you to saying that the driver was incompatible. If one manually downloaded SP1 and installed it, no problems.

The original driver is 100% SP1 compatible and by extension will naturally be SP2 compatible.


http://www.idt.com/?app=knowledgebase&contentID=4836&parentID=4836&parentPath=1210-3638-3639-4836

 

Actually, the HDX uses only one type of those listed above: STAC9271D5T

The variants will end in Ayy. As in STAC9271D5TA05, 06, etc.

HP must have had them specially contracted because they don't even use the ones that end in EAyy.

You can source it in the user manual under specs.

 

Where I can find the original driver and what is it's version?

 

Well, you have to acknowledge that others are having problems with it. Props for using a decibel meter and EQ meter to measure, but you won't find people judging CLASS A sound systems using objective measure before laying out $20+ G's on them. Like, say, a Meridian system. Or Martin logan speakers. We judge subjectively with our ears. Music and sound is something we feel.

In any event, folks just ain't feelin' the new driver. So I tried to help 'em get back that lovin' feelin'. Plus warn them about its game issues. But if they don't game, and the don't care for bombastic bass (gawd knows I love me some bass), they can decide to give it a go.

It's all good.

 

No way! And in a week I would've had enough to buy it!

Guess I'll have to look elsewhere. Just not sure where.

 

Right, it interferes with downloading off auto-update or windows update site. But not the installation of SP1. If one downloads SP1 directly and installs it, no probs.

But what is more, from Microsoft's site...

 

Yep, I meant .5607 dated 9/5/07. I never had the .5511. I went back and corrected it. I was comparing the 5607 with the newer one you posted.

 

LOL. Yeah, ya gotta love HP for that!

I think only the pre-Nvidia HDX's, first run HDX 9000-9100 came with that one on their page. Everyone else comes packing the 5607 dated 9/07.

 

Viva Pinata?! I pity the fool who plays Viva Pinata.

But then again, this is Dell they're talking about. Not the same sound chip (assuming that the chap who fixed his using a dell driver owns a dell.) Just of the same family.

I had what I thought was a problem with the sound driver before. Turns out the issue was with the Logitech mouse driver that caused stuttering. Had to set it to OS implementation and move the receiver dongle to the front right USB port on the HDX.

Buttah.

 

I don't know where you are, but if you're in the states, they're still being sold by newegg.

Here's the URL: http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1186&SubCategory=32&name=Laptops-Notebooks

Plus Ebay.

 

2.0
If there was a way to still get it, do you recommend to move on it or wait for its successor?

And, did you by chance save a screen shot of all the options that were being offered on the HDX?

 

Not addressed to me but figure I'd pipe in anyways. I did some digging and it seems the NewEgg link still works: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147750 (its set for a bargain, saving $50) ...though with T8100(2.10GHz) processor. I'm thinking I might get that in a week, but I worry the GPU will be bottlenecked by the T8100.

When do they usually bring out new laptops?

 

my box is HERE, wont be able to open it till after work. whats a good drive image software ? norton ghost, acronis true image ?

 

Acronis has worked very well for me.

 

No unfortunately I didn't. But from the service guide you can sort of guess.

As for a successor, it won't be 20.1" since LCD manufacturers that HP used stop producing that size for notebooks according to Digitimes. There's no economy of scale to be had for HP. Whereas with 18.4" there is. Or will be. Since a number of LCD manufacturers make it or are set to make it. 16" also.

Here's the thing about the HDX. Once you get it, all those things you thought you wanted spec-wise go right out the window. A picture only says a thousand words. Not only that, there are little things about the HDX that I'm sure most of us who own it didn't bother to state.

So for the price where it's still available, like Newegg, compared to what we would have paid back 6 months ago, it's a steal. And would certainly hold you over for two years when something better is sure to be around from someone.

So consider that when deciding if you should bite.

They did already. They updated their entire line back in late June, early July. There won't be any new models until perhaps the turn of the year. But most will be platform refresh with more options. As for the HDX, it will become a line of notebooks and desktops like the XPS from DELL. It's already begun to trickle out. A mouse and a desktop system. No firm date on release for notebooks from who I rely on for info. But won't be sooner rather than later.

The T8100 will slightly bottleneck the GPU. Depends on the game. Crysis, yes. COD4, no. Crytek programmers just suck at optimization. And we all buy into their BS that they aim to make their games benchmarks.

You can always upgrade the CPU in the future to say a t9300 or x9000 if you've got the minerals to take the HDX apart. It's not hard, just time consuming. But if you've never swapped a CPU before and haven't applied thermal goop, best if you look at online tutorials to familiarize yourself with the process for best results.

 

The HDX9494NR is still availabe at NewEgg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147750&Tpk=hdx9494nr

 

HDX IS NOT BEING DISCONTINUED

It is off the hpshopping configurator. It is being described as "a glitch" and that it is being addressed.

It could be that the Dragon is being refreshed. That would be nice.

 

My machine was just built last week and it came with 5607 in the SWSETUP folder.

 

My Newegg machine also has 5607

 

What I meant to say is mine (a CTO) came from the HP factory last week. The Newegg ones were built earlier and came from stock.

 

Funny that for a glitch, they delisted the 20.1" description that used to be under the 17" one.

As for refresh, not likely.


EDIT:
OK so I called twice just to see...

One said the HDX ordering button has been turned off. Some reps received an email stating such but without explanation as to why.
Another said it has been discontinued.

I suppose another call would make it best out of three...

 

Kinda funny...I went to the HP home page and searched HDX. Takes you to the HDX home/description page, where there is a link to "shop HDX', but it then takes you to the normal notebook selection page.

Edge of the seat suspense, I'm tellin ya...

 

Ok, but what is expected result for LFO during playback?

 

With your driver installed I can hear sub from -120 down to -80 but not any lower.

 

For a laptop that "... IS NOT BEING DISCONTINUED", it sure is becoming harder and harder to find. I just picked mine up yesterday at BestBuy and I'm told it was the last one available in the city (Calgary). It's no longer available online, either (at Bestbuy.ca anyway). I'd say it was my lucky day.

I sure do like the system. I've gotten some skips and blips in HD video playback (.mov files downloaded from apple.com/trailers/) but I've yet to play with the newer versions of the NVidia drivers. We'll see if that gives me any joy later tonight.

A big thanks to all who post the extremely helpful comments in this thread. I found all the answers I was looking for without even having to ask. I wouldn't have this incredible laptop if it weren't for all of you. Cheers!

 

Yes with master volume set to 100 I can hear it down to 45

 

Doesn't apply to the HDX due to it's low wattage subwoofer. What's more, there are other variables to consider such as the surface type the HDX is put upon. Some surfaces will "clip" the bass due to early reflection of the sound wave. Like glass or metal. Wood is best. Just as on a guitar, soft woods are the best. But there aren't too many desks made with them. Most are composite wood (OSB) with a laminate overlay. A decent compromise.

Also the bass type being reproduced. Games go straight for LFE to reproduce explosions and other dramatic sounds. Most AC3(DD5.1) movies do that also. In this case, you want max "vibration" with such an underpowered sub. In the case of music, acoustically produced bass sounds are reproduced better by setting the cutoff frequency around 70hz and letting the "mid range" speakers at the bottom screen handle the "early bass" of these instruments. But other types of music are fine set at 80hz - 100hz cutoffs.

Anyway, a well rounded compromise is to set the cutoff at 80(default) - 100hz. And set the HDX on a wood desk with at least a 3/4" thick top.

 

True that.

For those with the original driver, they have to go to Enhancements, bass management and low freq protection to adjust cutoff and boost.

 

Guys, bit of a wierd one here on the sound front.

I've spent hours trying to get my sound sorted, i'm not happy with the IDT drivers, 56.07 that came already installed and the latest driver mentioned on here 59.29 i think?
Anyway with either of these i get a quiet subtle pop from the speakers roughly every 30 secs or so and opening some programs that play audio can produce a pop and sometimes the audio from these programs doesnt play completely distortion free.
I'm sure its not hardware related cus i have the Microsoft driver (6.0.6000.16386) installed atm and that is fine and also it seems like the sub is working with this were as with the IDT drivers the sound is very lacking like the sub isnt activated.

Very odd, just seems IDT related only....not bothered about the treble/bass control and i wont use a 5.1 output so not sure what else i will be lacking with the M$ drivers?

 

My 8800 is currently idling at 61C (141F) with an ambient room temp of 79F. Even when the room is at 71F, the GPU stays around 60C. I've seen it go as high as 76C while running graphics intensive games.

I am thinking this notebook will probably end up going in for repair soon.

 

I've found that if you adjust the tone controls while external speakers are plugged in, you lose the sub and volume levels are cut in half--permanently. The MS inbox driver does work, but you lose some advanced features.

I had to uninstall 59.29, revert to the inbox driver, install 56.07, uninstall 56.07 then revert to the inbox driver again, then re-install 56.07 get things working again.

Once the sub was working again, I adjusted the tone controls prior to plugging in the external speakers and haven't touched the configuration since.

IDT's drivers are are seriously bugged.

Now I worry about my GPU burning up since it idles about 15C higher than it should.

 

The same thing happened to me. That is HP for us - unreliable!

 

Count me in as another Canadian purchaser based on a lot of the info. on this board. (same configuration as Newegg)

 

Anybody know why it's gone off HP site?

 

Does anyone know when the HDX will be available for configuration again.

 

The internal speakers were set to stereo and the full range check box was not ticked.

Everything was working great until I plugged in external speakers and adjusted the tone controls. That's when I lost volume and bass on the external speakers, and completely lost the internal subwoofer. The full range settings never changed and toggling the settings didn't help either.

 

OK! lol

Can someone just fire up a link to the drivers we should use here?

I am beyond confused.

 

why is the HDX no longer on hp website? :S

 

How to reinstall sound drivers properly? Do I have to uninstall IDT only or also a Sigmatel entry in add/remove programs?

 

I can't find that control panel anywhere. I think it might not be installing right.

 

Have you tested that (mod 6017 - sp40197.exe) driver?

 

What's the trick to add the IDT control panel to Windows Control Panel? Is it like back in the 9x days where you just copy the *.CPL file into Windows/System32 (or the WoW64?) directory?

 

I might try the 5929 again. Since I couldn't really get it to show the control panel applet I reverted back to 5607.

Is the tray icon hide/show in the registry, and if so, where so i can try to enable it and see if the tray icon shows up when I boot up.

I understand that Creative is working on a software X-Fi sound system for PC's that supposedly works with most sound chips...kind of like the Advanced Audigy MB software that "unlocks" the hidden sound potential on Dell notebook PC's...that might be nice..

 

Yep, looks like the HDX is no longer for sale from HP.

 

That is crazy. I bought mine just in time. I new when I saw the price something was up. No other Notebook with the same specs came close to being such a low price.

 

You sound awfully sure of yourself!

Since you are highly respected on this forum, what info are you basing that on? Your word is "golden" around here, ya know!

 

Well, I had inside info that it was going away and that the HDX would become a brand. But that's after I bought my HDX's. I bought them because of the price and discount ($450 off). Then a whole list of reasons why it would be discontinued. Pricing, giveaways (30 days of Dragon), Dell not updating the 2010 then discontinuing it, June HP show in Berlin failing to debut a new HDX, LCD manufacturers quiting 20.1 notebook LCD production, HP being the only manufacturer in the world with a 20.1... and so on and so forth.

But this time 'round, it was as simple as going to HP's website. (And calling. Boy were they pushing the DV7 real hard.)

 

Yeah, so they're still available at these fine locations:

1. Newegg
2. Amazon
3. Ebay

 

OK, back on the IDT audio front, I have 5929 installed again, and of course, the control panel applet is not there. I manually ran it, and it comes up and appears to be working well...volume levels are good, the equalizer seems to work, but the speaker tests still do not work.

I found where to enable the icon in the system tray, which it does now (not sure it saves it through a reboot, though...I have to reboot still).

When I click the system tray icon, the Mini-panel selection works. But when I choose the Audio control panel selection (which I assume should bring up the IDT control panel), nothing happens. It seems like the link to where the IDTx64 control panel is located is broken or something. Not showing up in control panel and not working from the system tray icon...are they connected?