HP NC8430 review

Would you please give more detailes about the following things:
1. Fan noise (if it's working all the time or not and if it is loud?)
2. LCD lid - will it cause ripples on the screen if you push on back of the lid?

 

Thanks for the link, but I did not buy the laptop yet, so I don't have serial number...

I gona buy it in the US, but i'm wondering if warranty will cover it if I go to Europ.

BTW, would somebody who is owner of nc 8430 give me a big favour? Pleeeeese, check if you have international (worldwide) warranty for your lappy.

 

Ok, I have a new problem. After extended use, it seems that the switch cover has exhibited an anomaly. This can also be a side effect from my last screen replacement performed by HP, but I didn't realise it until recently.
Basically, the top left corner of the notebook, when pressed, flexes quite a bit and has a slight creaking sound. If you look closely, there's a gap between the switch cover and the base assembly because the switch cover plastic is slightly curved upwards, meaning it doesn't seem to attach tightly to the base. The right side doesn't seem to flex as much, but the switch cover plastic on the whole flexes quite a bit.

Is this normal or should it be very tightly attached to the base without much flex.

 

BS07: Regarding Screen flex. When I place my hands on either side of the screen and press from the back I can not make the screen ripple at all. And I am applying alot of force. When I put my hand over the top of the screen and press in the middle, I can make the screen bearly ripple again applying a good amount of force to do so. Also when I grab one side of the screen and try and twist it I see no distortion in the screen and no twisting occurs.

Quite honestly I have had Dells my last 4 notebooks and not one of them has been this well built. I use Dell D610 business notebooks at work and these don't even compare.

I have not even heard the fan all that much. I did some tests and the fan does come on when playing an intense game, but again I bearly hear it. No whining is detectable at all. I had the laptop on my lap for a few hours with shorts on and did not feel that it was uncomfortable. (I can not do this with my Dell 9300) The fan is on at a very low rate alot but again is not audible to me.

I will check on my warranty.

chrixx: My switch is not like that its flush with the casing and there is no flexing at all.

 

1- as mentioned by Painon tap: very solid no problems at all. My screen gets a small ripple in the same area regardless of where I press, IF i press hard.

2- It does move a lot of air. I can never hear the fans but in a quiet room I can hear the air being moved out the vent. It reminds of the sound of air being circulated (and recurculated) in an airplane, just a lot more quiet than that. At my work I can't hear it all.

 

Im having troubles with the fan and Vista, i have used NHC on XP to control the fanspeed but that dosent work for Vista.. This is pretty annoying because the fan is loud all the time, temp. around 55celsius.

Does anyone in the forum knows how to reduce fanspeed in vista, i have tried speedfan but that dosent recognise any fans?

I also think that its crazy that when i for example opens IE or Outlook the core temp. instantly goes to 60celsius and the fan speeds up pretty annoying!

Best Regards Rasmus

 

One of the reasons I removed Vista from my laptop.
I assume you did not install vista from a HP recovery CD. Am I wright?

 

I removed the preinstalled XP and installed a fresh Vista Business version...

Its just so good damn annoying! But it seems i might have to wait until NHC comes out in a Vista compatibel version...

 

Fresh Vista for HP? or just a plain OEM vista?

 

So with Vista the fan runs louder? is this a known problem?

I specifically ordered my nc8430 with Winxp cause I will be overseas for a while and didn't want to deal with troubleshooting vista.

But I plan on upgrading when I get back, are their any other known issues with vista and nc8430 hardware?

(I measured my temps and I get 50C most of the time and up to 60C when gaming, seems okay to me)

 

This is a known problem for all the laptops which use Aero, it [over]uses the GPU round the clock so it grows hotter and the fans spin more than they would on XP.

 

If you are buying this notebook with plans to use the pointstick, I strongly recommend that you find something else. I've had my nc8430 for five months and the pointstick has been, and continues to be, a nightmare. I've already sent it in twice for repair of the pointstick (the second time they replaced the keyboard) and it still does not work the way it should. It may 'self-repair' over time. But for now it's frustrating to use.

The problem is with the stiffness of the pointstick. The primary issue is that the stiffness varies continuously. You never know from minute to minute how stiff it will be. Sometimes, a light touch sends the cursor flying across the screen. Other times it gets pretty stiff and you have to push much harder to move it. I'm a pointstick addict/touchpad hater and this is my third notebook with a pointstick over the past 7 years (IBM Thinkpad and Dell Inspiron before this). Pointsticks have never been a perfect technology and the others certainly had some issues. But nothing this bad. I still use my 5-year-old Dell and (although I'm a Dell-hater), the pointstick is much better than this.

Also on the nc8430 pointstick, often the cursor moves slightly after I remove my finger from the pointstick. That happens on the Dell. But, it seems to happen more often on the HP, and the Dell is 5-years-old!!

There is a touch sensitivity setting buried deep in the Control Panel (Mouse --> 'Device Settings' tab --> select TouchStyk from the list of devices --> click Settings --> select Touch Sensitivity). It comes preset to the middle position, which made the pointstick so stiff at times that my arm would hurt. Once I learned of the setting (a response to my posting on an HP forum, since it was never mentioned in my numerous email exchanges with HP Support), I set the sensitivity to the lightest setting. That made it a bit less stiff when it stiffened up. But, during the non-stiff periods, it was so loose that the cursor flew all over the place and was hard to control.

With the new keyboard I just received, things are slightly better, but still not good. I go into Control Panel and reset the sensitivity a couple of times a day as the sensitivity changes, hoping the sensitivity will even out. But, it just keeps fluctuating.

Now that I'm on my second keyboard, I've given up hope that the problem can be fixed. Wish I had purchased something else.

 

My NC8430 have arrived last week. I`m not used with the pointer stick, but mine is working fine, not so smooth, but fine (I prefer the pad).

I've just ram the 3DMark 2006 and I'm happy with the results:
3Dmark2006 = 1769
cm 2.0 = 625
HDR SM3= 656
CPU = 1750

I'm impressed with these results (I'm puting away my desktop: p4ht 2.8 and nvidia 6600).

What more I can say... I'm just loving that machine...

The fan is almost aways on, but don't disturb. The screen shoud be a bit more bright, but the resolution is great and very sharp and uniforn ( I love it !)

Thanks for all posts in this forum... It has great influence in my choice about this great machine!

config: NC8430 t7200 1Gb HD 100Gb @ 5400RPM

 

I've had this machine since about a month before I posted my review, and I've loved the pointstick. Sure, I've turned the sensitivity up in the driver...but it works well.

 

Time for a late spring clean methinks

I want to clean the fans out as in Charlie's cleaning guide

Which screws are which on the underside of the laptop? I'm looking around and I can't see any which are just for the vent/fan covers - its like I have to take the whole bottom out!

Cheers

 

I opened mine up just now-wow its dusty in there (a year's usage). At the bottom there are 2 screws with a keyboard icon which need unscrewing. Turn the notebook back over and notice how there are tabs between 'esc' and 'f1', 'f4' and 'f5' etc? Slide those 4 tabs towards you and gently lift the top of the keyboard at a pivoting angle because its still connected to the motherboard. It should rest upside down on the palm rests. Or you could just use this pdf :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00762286/c00762286.pdf

Refer to the section on upgrading the main memory slot.

 

Thanks for the link, but I presume following it as if I wanted to upgrade ram gets me to the fan as well?

Cheers

 

I think the best access you'll be able to get is via the keyboard. There's two screws underneath the battery for the hinge cover, maybe one or two more on the bottom of the notebook for the keyboard (maybe; I cannot remember). After than, the little prongs between the F1, F2, F... keys can be pulled down a little (releasing some type of lock) and the keyboard should pop up. You'll have access to pretty much the entire notebook then.

EDIT: Just saw the guide there, that's sweet. The main stick is directly underneath the keyboard, and underneath the keyboard is pretty much everything else.

 

Anyone know where to pick up the ATI catalyst 7.5 drivers for our laptops??
As usual ATI's website won't let us use theirs.

 

Check out the gaming forum for a direct link to Catalyst drivers on ATI's pages (it bypasses their checker). I think they only have up to 7.4 though, and I haven't heard a thing about 7.5.

 

7.5 came out the day I posted it, I had this link http://ati.amd.com/online/mobilecatalyst/ but when I downloaded the drivers they said they weren't compatable with my system. Don't know if they updated the link from previously when I got it here or something.

{EDIT}Ok it looks like this link works (for XP anyway) http://ati.amd.com/online/mobilecatalyst/.{/EDIT}

 

This is the direct link for XP...I was able to use it myself:
http://www.ati.com/online/mobilecatalyst/

7.5 has one or two issues as far as I can tell, so I went back to the HP drivers. I think those are 7.3 though...

Vista drivers...meh. ATI isn't even making those available AFAIK.

 

Just in case Vista users (or XP for those times when ATI is late with the mobility release) want to know how to use drivers from the standard download location on ATI's site, just grab this little utility HERE, download whatever the newest Catalyst release is, and follow the driver modification instructions on the ModTool's page. It works for both XP and Vista.

 

Finally got around to it Surprisingly not that bad in there. Most of the copper (I think) heatsinks were nice and shiny. Got some cotton buds and the fan wasn't too bad - just a light covering of dirt. Thanks for the warning about the motherboard connector (nightmare episode once with a PSP. Don't ask).

Sorry to hear about your heat problems in the other thread night_2004. Mine's pretty much been used for 12 hours a day on average every day since I started uni in September and it did warm up a little over time but nothing that warranted concern. Have you fixed it yet?

 

I ran speed fan and my temps are for core 0 32C core 1 33C but when I run Coretemp it says 47C on both cores. Which one is right? The cpu is a 2 ghz core 2 duo and the notebook is a nc8430.

 

Hey whats up guys, I'm new to the forum, been following it for a alittle while before I bought my nc8430, love it. Scored it off ebay, $1500, used 6 months, basically came to me looking brand new. Carry case, dock, mouse, 2gig mem stick, 2.16, 2gb memory, 100gb hd. Rocks, I love it. Great desktop replacement. Wish I could burn dvds faster tho lol.

I got an lcd tv, hooked up to the vga, anybody know to get resolution on it above I think 1024x768 without scrolling? Just tryin to use it as a monitor sometimes.

 

The TV probably has a maximum resolution of 1024x768...you should check the TV manufacturer specs.

 

I've had my NC8430 for less than a year and my battery's storage capacity is down to 25%. I barely get about 35 minutes of battery time (WiFi, full screen brightness) out of my standard battery.

HP's policy is that unless their software (HP Battery Test) shows the batteries health as "replace" (mine says "good"), they will not do anything.

I am familiar with li-ion batteries, as I have used many notebooks, cellphones, etc and I did not subject this battery to that many charge/discharge cycles.

I have calibrated my battery a few times but to no avail.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Personally, I'd ask them if they thought their PC was only working 25% of the time if it needed replacement. Tell them that is how you feel about a battery. Be polite but firm, and always use the online chat and not the phone...they'll have to bend eventually.

I'm shocked they have a problem with that...

I wonder what level of charge it has to be at to get a 'replace' label?

 

Thanks for the quick reply Greg. Well I talked via online chat to two support technicians and I was polite all the time. I have requested that a supervisor get in touch with me on this issue, as I understand that the technicians are just following company policy and their "script".

Let's hope that was firm enough. It is shocking that the basic policy expects me to pony up nearly 10% of the overall cost of the PC on a new battery in less than a year.

Thanks again.

 

I've always been a fan of using a companies' own documentation against them. For example this document may help....

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/s...550enus_rev1_us/TPM_5982-3550enus_rev1_us.pdf

 

Thanks. This certainly will be helpful.

I don't use a docking station and would not consider myself a "heavy" load user (although that kind of classification is vague at best) and I'm at half the projected capacity of the worst cast scenario.

Thanks again.

 

In the process of trimming laptop even more

Any advice with this embedded security chip stuff? I don't even use it and I've have the TPN icon in my taskbar since forever ('embedded security is not initialized' message)

A-OK if I try telling Protect Tools Security Manager not to startup in msconfig?

 

Meh. I had to go through a complete refresh of mine and now at 61 processes. Was at about 53 before.

I've tried enabling the Embedded Security but it fails to do so every time I've also inadvertantly installed a lot of pap HP had waiting in the wings like Credential Manager

 

I know, I know, bad, bad! Don't post in old threads! BUT this is kinda where all the issues have been placed and resolved for this model and I stumbled across a nice SATA XP install review.

http://kdaviesb.blogspot.com/2007/05/10-steps-to-clean-install-of-windows-xp.html

The current drivers that I used were the iata78_enu.exe. I used the same process above just with the new drivers and new name. I just checked Intels website and downloaded them( intel.com search for "Intel Matrix Storage Manager" it will bring the most current drivers up).

 

Sorry for rezzing this old thread!!! lol!

Just thought I would post since I was the originator of this thread nearly 2 years ago! I currently still have my 8430 and have to say, it has been a fantastic laptop and has never failed me!

Only thing that gets me is how much the price has reduced! I cant believe I paid 2800+ for this thing that is selling for less than half that now! OMG!!

Anywho...I am actually about to replace it though (nothing wrong with it, as I said - its been great) - I just decided it was time for new one. I just ordered a loaded Thinkpad T61P (T9300, 4 GB Ram, 200 GB HD, etc...). Should get it in a few weeks or sooner.

Joshua

BTW - do I get any kind of award for most views (other than a sticky)??

 

What made you go with the T61p over the 8510w? Just curious.

Although I just registered on NBR in Aug 07, I've been visiting the site since Sep 06, which was roughly around the time when I got my nw8440. I used to read this thread quite a bit "back in the day".

Speaking of my nw8440, I've also had no problems with the notebook so far (except for the power adapter; it has failed on me 5 times). The case has cracked/warped in some areas, but it's nothing major, and purely cosmetic (You have to look pretty hard to find the warps/cracks).

However, I'm not ready for a new notebook yet, as this is the notebook required for the school I go to. Maybe I'll get a new one after I graduate, which won't be for another few years or so.

 

Price was the primary factor (there were others, but they were not as compelling). Even with the 24% discount on HP's website, I could not get a similarly configured HP 8510W for anywhere near what I paid for the T61P. I paid 1622.00 shipped.

I configured an 8510W identical to the T61P I ordered (although the HP had 2 GB RAM and the T61P had 3) and the price came to 2730.00. Even with the 24% discount that comes to 2074.00. If it was a difference of a hundred or less, I would have considered it, but 450.00 is quite a chunk.

 

Anyone managed to get the NHC ACPI features working on the nc8430 when running Vista or Win. 2008 server.

 

I have a problem with my nc8430 w/ ATI Mobility x1600. I am using Vista Business. I have PowerPlay enabled. I am running on AC power with the clock rate of the GPU at 425/375. If I put it into sleep mode, when I come back the clock rate goes to 400/250 when it should stay at the Max power setting of 425/375 since I am still on AC power. It does the same thing when on battery. I have the GPU down clocked to 230/130 when on battery but if I go into sleep mode and come back it resets it to 400/250, meaning more waste of battery.

It seems that the standby function of Vista is conflicting with the video drivers and resetting to the 400/250 whenever resuming from sleep. I have to either plug back in the AC power, or unplug it, or restart my laptop for it to return to its correct PowerPlay setting.

I am using the most up-to-date BIOS and GPU drivers for this laptop. Does anyone know of any solutions or having a similar problem with Vista and this laptop's sleep?

-James Welch

 

J4m3z420: I have an early nc8430 with XP Pro so not sure about Vista, but this may be of some help.

1) In ATI CCC (Catalyst Control Center) make sure your POWERPLAY settings are where you want them.

2) Verify your Windows Power Options properties, as these may be conflicting with CCC.

3) Contact ATI.

 

Has anyone tried to get the Flash Card reader to work with SDHC cards?

 

Doesn't work.
I have two SDHC cards, one from my Canon Video Camera and another one for my Canon Powershot A640 digital camera.
When getting the 8Gb SDHC for my video camera, it came with a USB adapter.
Plug it in and then plug the SDHC card into it and you're in business.

New laptop generations are compatible with SDHC. I just switched from my nc8430 to an 6730b and it directly reads my SDHC cards! (Of course this option is more expensive than just getting a USB adapter

 

Hi all,

I had saw the manual about clean windows XP install on the forum,
but now cannt find it,
could anyone give me the link to specific manual for 8430?

 

Hi all! I hope there are still some linux users following this thread

I bought my NC8430 second-hand a while ago but it is the best notebook I have ever seen! With rmclock it runs cool'n'quiet in Windows, but with linux it is running too hot. Could you linux users please tell me your distributions and catalyst versions and if Powerplay works, I am willing to try new distributions if I get Powerplay to work, it isn't working for me on catalyst 9.2 and 9.3 (debian testing & archlinux).

Faraon, if you haven't found out yet, the clean install is installing from the backup CDs/DVDs and not installing anything more (and uninstalling unnecessary HP programs). Other way is to switch HDD to non-SATA mode (F10 at boot, bios configuration) and install a "normal" XP CD. Then you have to get the drivers from HP webpage (if you didn't backup the swsetup folder, there is also the SATA driver you may want to use), googling got me all the details. The boot speed does not really differ between these two options so I guess the overall performance should neither.