*HP HDX18 Owners Lounge*

Wait, how come you didn't get the HDX with dual HDD's?

eSata is faster than USB. All external eSata drives though need a separate power adapter, while with USB, you can find some external drives without USB.

If you don't really have a need for eSata, the USB is probably the best choice and more common. If you get an eSata external drive, you will have to hope that wherever your take it, that person or that PC has an eSata connection..

 

There is no way you will get it tomorrow. It will probably arrive in Alaska tonite or tomorrow morning.

Then arrive in Indiana like all HDX's seem to on Monday-Tuesday. Probably stay stuck in Indiana for 2 days for "delay clearance"..

So my guess is you'll get the HDX around Wed-Thursday next week...

 

You're probably right but I hope your wrong.

However it doesn't matter. I just want it to WORK.....

 

My order never went to Indiana..

Dec 9, 2008 9:57AM Delivered
7:11 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery RANCHO CORDOVA, CA
7:06 AM At local FedEx facility RANCHO CORDOVA, CA
4:38 AM At dest sort facility SACRAMENTO, CA
3:09 AM Departed FedEx location OAKLAND, CA
Dec 8, 2008 5:12 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
1:26 PM Int'l shipment release ANCHORAGE, AK
12:30 PM Arrived at FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
10:05 PM In transit SHANGHAI CN

Dec 6, 2008 3:55 PM Left FedEx origin facility SHANGHAI CN 2:54 PM Picked up SHANGHAI CN Package received after FedEx cutoff

 

oh and that shipping method was changed to the "Ryan 2 day ship"

 

This is true but almost all eSata external drives have also a USB connection.That way compatibility is assured.

As a matter of fact I tried to connect a SATA external drive via the eSata port but it didn't recognise the drive.Please take a look at this message/question I wrote a few days ago:

"Hello everybody,
I have purchased a new HDX18 and only today I tried connecting an external harddisk case with the eSata port.
The external case has a USB 2.0 connection and a SATA connection (attention it is a SATA not a eSATA port!)
So I bought a SATA to eSATA cable to connect the external harddisk with the eSATA port on the HDX18.It didn’t recognize it…
I tried powering the harddisk before booting, after booting but nothing worked.If I connect the same external harddisk via USB the system recognizes it just fine.

Where is the problem?
Do I have to do something to activate the eSATA port on the HDX18, or do I need any kind of specific drivers?
Or it is a problem of the SATA to eSATA connection?
Of course the notebook is updated, running the original Vista 64-bit.

Can somebody with an external SATA harddisk please try to connect it via the eSATA port?I would like to know if and how it works.
This type of fast connection was one of the main reasons I bought this notebook so any help will be mostly appreciated.
Thanks "

 

I can't imagine an external HDD enclosure with an SATA port, rather than eSATA. Are you sure about that? What it the make and model of the enclosure? I'd like to see who designed that.

 

I was surprised too when i first bought this external HDD enclosure!I thought that all externals came with eSata but this is not the case.Take a look:
http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/products/external_cases.php?we_objectID=3769
I can assure you that it has a SATA connection, not eSata.As a proof of that they also produced (after I bought mine) exactly the same enclosure with eSata too!
Raidsonic is a German company specialized in external enclosures.They make high quality products of all possible combinations.See if you want the product session.

The problem is that I tried connecting this enclosure with a SATA to eSata cable but the system just refuses to recognise it no matter what I do.
I want to buy an external Western Digital 2TB harddisk that comes with eSata connection but I want to be sure that it works with the HDX18.Otherwise I can simply buy the USB version that cost less.

Can please someone with an external eSata HDD try to connect the drive via the eSata port on the HDX18?
We have to find out if this, much publicised, port works as it should!

 

You can buy a USB tuner, it's pretty small. eSATA kinda works like usb, plug and play, but it's vastly faster, almost as fast as your internal drive. eSATA hooks up to external hard drives.

I have my eSATA working fine. Maybe you should try it with the bare drive, and see if it works for you.

 

Just another thing.

This SATA external enclosure comes with a bracket that "extends" the internal SATA ports of the motherboard to the back of a desktop PC.Maybe that implies that SATA cannot be connected to eSata but in that case why do Sata to eSata cables exist.I just can't explain that.

The point now is to find out if an external eSATA HDD works ok with the eSata port on the HDX18, otherwise what is the point of this port...

 

I suggest you take the drive out of the case, and hook it up directly. Then you'll know if it's the case/device that is the problem or your drive.

I have my eSATA hooked up to my SATA bare drive directly, no problem.

 

Thank you very much for this answer!
I know that eSATA is much faster.I tried connecting the bare drive (1TB 3,5" drive), without the enclosure, using only the SATA to eSATA cable and a power cable of course, but it didn't work.

But if your eSATA external drive connects ok, I am confident that the external Western Digital I plan to buy, will be recognised just fine too.

P.S. I read now your last message.In that case maybe it is a cable problem or the eSATA port that dosn't work!Do I have to do something (drivers?) to "activate the eSATA port?

 

One last question:
Can you connect/disconnect the external eSATA HDD without rebooting, just like USB?

 

Well, make sure it is spinning, the hard drive, otherwise it could be your power cable ( it happened to me once). If it is spinning like normal, sure could be your cable. I assume you said you tried your hard drive on another computer and it was working, so it's not the hard drive.

 

yes you can

 

Yes the drive is spinning ok and works fine when i connect it using USB.
I even tried forcing the drive to work a a SATA I drive by setting a jumper, but the system never recognises it.

I just hope that it is not the eSATA port on the PC. In that case the new external eSATA Western Digital will not work too.It would be a great disappointment.

Anyway I appreciate a lot your help.Very kind of you!
+1 rep

 

Honestly, that's how my desktop is set up. The rear panel bracket merely has a cable on the inside that connects to one of the internal SATA ports on my motherboard. As far as I can tell, your SATA to eSATA cable should work fine, as it appears that the bracket merely changes it from SATA to eSATA just like your adapter cable does.

 

The SATA port has to support hot swapping or it will not work unless you boot with it plugged in.

 

Guys seriously, everyone with one hard drive should contact HP and complain about this. Along the lines of.."very disappointed...wanted to put existing drive in...can't work...shocked when I couldn't find the connector....thinking about returning because of this....etc"

Why have a second slot if you can't slip a drive in (I know they want to be the ones to sell the part, but all the same...)

Even if it's only to rattle the cage, when many complain you never know what they might do for us.

 

This sucks... I just saw a HDX18T at Frys and it had a graphics score of 5.1 and 5.2 for gaming. Wounder why mine is at 4.8 and 5.3.....What is everyone else getting

 

What are your notebook's specs?

Mine left Anchorage earlier today.

 

I just have the P8400 but my Memory and HDD (7200 RPM) are upgraded (as my numbers on the previous page indicate) and the only other differences were the Frys 1 had the 500gb 5400rpm HDD and it was running Vista premium where I am running 64bit Ultimate. I did not check if it was 64bit or 32.

 

That's not totally true, see http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4238719&postcount=2


I've also had eSata to Sata working, no problem, and I've also had a faulty eSata to eSata cable so it could be the cable.

It might be worth trying the 'Scan for Hardware Changes', under your ATA controller / port, after you've plugged the eSata drive in and it hasn't shown up.

 

That is why I mentioned it. I have had it work and not work on different machines. Also that post has nothing to do with what he was asking as it is talking about AHCI VS IDE not SATA to ESATA...

 

Bleh, I have to return my HDX18t. It is running flawlessly, but apparently when my new contract employer said, "Buy any notebook that's less ~6 months old, submit an invoice and we'll re-reimburse you," what he meant was, "Buy a DELL that is XP certified and we'll reimburse you..." It was a week of fun back and forths with I.T., human resources and accounting.

I'd keep it, but I can't justify the non reimbursed cost factor.

 

That post was aimed at your statement of eSata not working without hot plug unless the drive was connected before booting. Hence your statement being quoted. The last section of that link explicitly explains how to mount and dismount the drive after booting with no hot plug.

What I said in the post after that was for Marengo confirming that eSata to sata works Ok, (I have an external 2.5" combo USB / Sata and an external 3.5" combo USB / eSata) and that if he wasn't detecting the external Sata / eSata drive to simply try the "Scan for new Hardware" with the AHCI driver".

I don't really understand why you appear to think my post was unhelpful?

 

I tried "Scan for Hardware Changes" too.But the PC never recognised the external HDD.Not even using the bare drive without the enclosure.
The drive itself and the enclosure work ok when connected to a USB port.
I hope I have a faulty SATA to eSATA cable otherwise that means there is a problem with the eSATA port on the PC. If you say that the eSATA works "out of the box" without any drivers, then it must be a faulty cable or the port.

P.S. Yes I realised you are talking to me.I found your message very helpful indeed.Thanks!

 

Mine has a graphics score of 5.1 out of the box too.I haven't changed the video drivers.Maybe the other hardware specs, such as the CPU, has something to do.
Keep in mind that the Windows score is not the best or most accurate benchmark on earth
You may find a notebook with the most powerful GPU (9800GTX) but windows indicates a score of "only" 5.8.That does not mean that our PC is only 20% weaker on the graphics department in comparison with that PC.It is much more than that.

 

Here's my score.

Processor: 5.3

RAM: 5.9

Graphics: 5.0

Gaming Graphics: 5.3

Primary HDD: 5.9

 

Wow, that blows, I bet yer gonna miss that QX9300 eh? Those Dell M4400's are pretty intense. You can get the QX9300, RAID 0, and a Quadro FX 3700m. Kinda pricey though @ $4750 for those specs. I saw somewhere around here where someone wanted to sell theirs for $2500 only 2 months old.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&m_11=XP33BNP&oc=bwcwtzp&s=bsd

 

get an Alienware, it's a Dell too.

 

Yeah, I already got the authorization and went ahead and purchased:

Dell M6400 Covet
QX9300
4gb DDR3 1066
FX3700 Nvidia
Vista Ultimate w/ XP downgrade
17" WUXGA+ Edge2Edge LED RGB screen
5300 Wi-Fi
160gb x 2 7200

Calling Monday for the RMA for the HDX18t. I have NO complaints with this HDX18t. Perfect screen, good temps, passed the World of Warcraft 6hr gaming test (no crashes, overheating), and the 18.4" screen? Mmmmm.....

Back to 17" @ 1920x1200. I guess a pair of reading glasses is in my future, lol.

This has happened before where companies don't mind reimbursing you to feel at ease with having similar hardware being used for development and want XP support/compliance. I've yet to encounter a company that uses Vista on their mission critical hardware *shrug*

Pity, since SP1, Vista has been rock solid and I switch between it and XP on various desktops but I'm actually starting to feel XP's age the more I use Vista. I can honestly say it has yet to crash on two notebooks and one desktop and apps don't kill the OS.

 

Does anyone use a laptop stand with their HDX 18t? Right now I have my 17" Dell sitting on top of a few text books to raise it up a little, but I want a better solution when the HP comes in. I'm thinking something like the Targus Podium CoolPad

htxx://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/etilize/images/300/10131310.jpg

htxx://macteens.com/magazine/uploads/targus1.jpg

I need something that will still allow me to use the front ports. I actually like the one HP has, but I have no need for the built in speakers since I just got a pair of Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers.

 

That M6400 is a real kick machine. LED.. did you get the LED backlite keyboard as well? It has display port, the port replicator can do two dual link DVI. Also has RAID... but for the price.. I'm sticking with HP.

 

I use this one There is still enough room on the right side for my trackman. I use mine mainly with the legs folded under. It has ribs where the laptop sits so there is some decent air flow.

 

Don't want to be a nag, but if someone can help out with the question I posted on page 272 (not allowed to post links yet) about the exact size of the screen, I would appreciate it.

I would like to order the anti-glare screen protector in advance so I can put it on as soon as the laptop arrives, while the screen is at its most pristine.

 

Yeah, I went with the backlit keyboard.

If I wasn't being reimbursed with a Mobile Resources Stipend (MRS) (love each place's term for outside asset cost cover), I wouldn't have went with it either.

Still bummed over the move back to a 17" screen from the 18.4"

 

Width of visible area of screen is 16 1/8 inches, height of visible area is about 9 1/8 inches. However, the smooth glass surface of the screen is larger than the visible area; approximately 1/4 inch larger on both the left and right sides; about 3/8" larger at the top (to just below the webcam and then another 5/16" from the bottom of the webcan to the edge of the glass) and about 9/16 " larger at the bottom (until you reach the hinge"). I would assume that you would NOT want to cover up the webcam and microphone locations at the top of the screen. The TOTAL height and width of the 'screen' are even larger because there is about 1/8 inch of plastic bezel on the sides and top, but I assume you would not want to bring the screen protector all the way to the edges of the bezel. I hope this helps. If you need more details, I can take some photos for you.

 

Right, mine does. I was just commenting on how his setup was basically the same thing, so I was puzzled why his didn't work.

 

Might be where all the confusion is I guess. Both sides have to support PNP (Hot swap). A lot of the older SATA enclosures do not support it. ALL ESATA enclosures do since it is in the SPEC for ESATA.

Here is an example....

You have a PC that does not have an ESATA port but the enclosure you buy has a bracket to connect to an empty SATA port on your motherboard, extending it to the back with an ESATA port. Most newer motherboards will support this however, the enclosure has to as well. Look at the SATA DVD burners etc. You can not just plug one of those into an internal spot and hope it works with the power on. It has to boot with it plugged in (well unless it is in an external enclosure .

 

Forgot to mention... Today I received my 88 min blue ray disk from netflix. Hooked an HDMI cable up to my Philips 120hz LCD via my Onkyo and all I can say is WOW.

 

I heard rumor a few weeks back of a "XP on the HDX18t" thread that was going to emerge. What happened with that?

 

Unless I am missing something here, the hdx18 does not have line in or out, eliminating it from doing any "heavy music making."

To Explain - The Mic in is in mono (industry standard), so you couldn't record any stereo source into it, and as an integrated mic in, it is not designed for any pro grade mic, but rather for those goofy little white jobs. Also, the headphone outs do sound nice, but are an amplified output, not ideal for output to any recording or hifi gear.

I am using the Firewire 410 from M-Audio for my music making. XP, of course for now.

 

Well, it certainly is not an entertainment powerhouse. There is no HP soul into it. They did not invent this thing, they just out-sourced it from a Taiwanese Notebook mother board and LCD panel maker. Take a look at all other Notebook brands...they all do carry the same mother boards. Just a different name plate onto it.

And those Taiwanese guys are out of touch from American Tech culture and next door Nvidia guys still insists using 9600 chip set. In the process, cutting corners to economize brings quality control problem. HP spirit is oceans away from China and HP MBA's only cares for the numbers it generates for a short term ledger. A typical American Industrial might.

 

Yes I suspected that the external enclosure cannot support hot swap so I tried connecting and powering the enclosure before powering on the pc but it didn't work either.
Now I plan to buy a new external enclosure that comes with a eSATA port and eSATA to eSATA cable and see what happens.

 

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the notebook this morning!

HP soul? I had no idea these things had souls. Shameful of me to load up ACDC and Black Sabbath mp3's. And oh no, some were pirated! dammed for sure.

No really, aren't they supposed to outsource? I thought it was a mix. The best components, yet at a competitive price.
The most stylish case yet with durability.
The smallest footprint, yet with a cool running, battery saving electronics.
etc

Apple could really only "compete" with the PC, once they got the processing numbers up by outsourcing to Intel.

It may not be a "entertainment powerhouse" to some, but it still is the true "covet" piece when I pull it out in either the office or the classroom. Just do the math - find another screen this good, with electronics on this level, at this price. And what can this thing not do? Play several of the latest games? That's gaming criteria, not entertainment criteria.

What's the problem with the 9600 chip set? A powerpoint issue? I would think the designers cared more about the list of things the machine can do, than the benchmarking/overclocking numbers it generated for some elite users in a forum. And as their MBA will clearly tell them, customer Joe is going to the store and saying what's the most I can get for the money in my wallet? Long term is not really a viable concern in the notebook business, since in 1 year what was once top of the line / new - becomes second rate / old.

 

That is a much nicer notebook, IMHO, over the HDX18t (except the size of the LCD). If your Dell LCD is LED backlit, it will be awesome!

I queried a M6400 user who had a QX9300 about his temps and asked him to run HWMONITOR and Prime95, and his temps were much, much lower than the HDX18t.

BTW, I followed your recommendation, of reinstalling Vista x64 from scratch and installing drivers, etc. My QX9300 temps are still the same. No difference.

Let us know your new Dell QX9300 temps when you get it. I suppose you'll be posting over in the Dell Precision forum now?

 

dood, yer gettin' a Dell. I wish I had the cheddar for a rig like that. 17" led wow! and that FX3700 is way better than the 9600m.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

 

Anyone else know of any good laptop stands that will fit the HDX 18?

 

What's the status of ordering the integrated TV tuner? I see some mentions in this thread of it being available, and then gone. When I tried to configure a unit a few minutes ago, the only TV Tuner option was a single radio button pre-selected that said "No TV Tuner -- included in price". ???

Is it no longer available? Out of stock? An issue with the config tool?