*HP dv5t (1XXX series) Owners Lounge*

Thanks

 

Hi guys

After returning a faulty Dell Studio 15 laptop, I'm on the lookout for a replacement, and the Hp DV5 is looking good (HP UK don't sell the DV5z). But I need Bluetooth in my laptop, and I don't want to shell out for the top end DV5-1015 model (this is the only one that HP UK sells that has BT).

My question is: can I buy a lesser model DV5 and then add the Bluetooth module in?

I found an HP guide to replacing a Bluetooth module, but I assume this is for when you already have it installed from the factory.

LINK

Cheers for any help guys.

 

Oh ok, I thought you were trying to use a regular one.

 

Well, I have had my dv5t for about 24 hours now. I love the thing compaired to my old xps m1530.

Things i like vs. m1530
-Very quiet, my XPS sounded like a straight piped truck most of the time. +1 for HP
-Very nice screen, I got the 1680x1050 screen and it is beautiful. No dead pixles or backlight bleed +1 for hp
-Nice quality build, no uneven edges cept left side where the speaker meets the bottom panel no biggie.
-Touch Controls, i like how they are lit up all the time, XPS only lights up when touched, they are hard to see in the dark. +1 HP
-Speakers, Wow what a diffrence in quality, XPS Blows lol +1 HP
-Lots of LED's, makes it look cool lol.
Things that could be better

-9600m GT is slower than the dell but i guess its cause its ddr2. It can handle most games.
-Fingerprint magnet. Keep a microfiber cloth around to whipe them away.
-Not enough bad things to talk about lol

I installed a clean version of vista after creating the backup discs and i dident see much of a performance boost. I also added 4 GB from new egg and they work great.
Overall its a great machine and for the price i payed with the 400$ coupon, its Unbeatable.

 

Ordered on the 15th, Today (21st) shows shipped from Shang Hai China, lets see how long it takes to get here, estimated ship date was 22nd, kudos~

Now the hard part, I bought DV5T cause its such a good deal with 9600M GT, Now im debating to sell my gateway FX with T5550, 4 GB ram and 8800M GTS or not.....both are 512 mb, but my 8800M Gts is DDR 3 and 256 bits whereas 9600M GT is 128 bits and DDR 2 hmmmmmm.... I can upgrade the cpu on my FX but this thing at 10 pounds is still not quite portable, but I'm also worried about the eye candy I might have to sacrifice....

 

I know its underhanded and not nice but I'm thinking of calling and trying to return my dv5t to try to get the 80$ credit people have been offered. I figure a company like HP can afford it but I just was wondering what everyone's take on that was? or if they'd tried it

 

ok i'm using hp dv5t to post short impression since i got it on yesterday.

first off, i spent whole day for just getting to know hp dv5t since it was my first laptop, and today i downloaded Crysis demo and ran it on medium/with few high such as water,object and so on(srry i can't remember all the option)
i didn't do the fps check cuz i don't really know how to lol.. but from my view, it was very smooth and impressive on medium/few high/1024x768 setting with AA off.

second, my Window Experience Index (WEI) is 5.0(lowest was graphics).

Third, most importantly, heat issue, playing 30 minutes of gaming or watching movies, it does get little bit warm without using my Zalman NC1000 however, it's not extremely hot or burning.. like chaz said, i would just raise back of laptop half an inch if you don't have cooler. Using HWmonitor i got 88C max. And just after i quit gaming, it dropped to 76c and around 70c if i use cooler or raise the back little. so don't worry about heat issue.
lastly, wireless was REALLY good, even though it's my first time using wireless internet i never had any problem of getting signal or speed. it was
blazing fast with N router. Only complaint was bloatware, but i don't have any Vista installation disc so i didn't even bother to do clean install. it is slow if you don't do clean install especially when you log in to windows.
for me, wireless connection took like forever before it got connected. lol. but not a big deal..

anyway thanks everybody for guiding me through this laptop buying and some nice review by chaz was really helpful..
my config was... 64-bit vista, 2.4ghz p 8600, geforce 9600m gt, 4 gb ram, 320GB 5400rpm hdd, intel 5100AGN and Bluetooth, infinity 1280x800

sorry for long post btw..

P.S.1 just let you guys know my current temperature(w/o gaming or video), is 44C for core 1 and 2. And 59C for geforce 9600m gt, 64C for HDD.

P.S.2 what in the world recovery manager won't accept DVD+RW as restore disc... now i gotta go buy some DVD+R... ****...

 

Auntymegz and others...

I mentioned the left grill issue a few days back on here, but after seeing megz photos, I have to say that my dv5t looks exactly like that. Thankfully, I don't seem to have any flex in the keyboard, nor do I have a noticeably different shift clicking sound. While it may annoy me in a "my brand new computer has an oddity" kind of way, thankfully I haven't had any problems because of it.

 

(large) companies dont think twice when they overcharge you for a product so why have guilt trying to call and obtain a discount which you qualify for?

call and demand it.

i paid $2,000+ for a laptop and later found out i could have saved more. so i called and demanded it and they said that once i recieve my unit, they'll refund it to me. i have yet to see whether or not they will so call and we'll be on the same boat. l0l.

 

How do you get Crysis to run? I ran the install and it completed but I don't see the EA folder in the "All Programs" section. It is on the hard drive but there isn't any quick launch icon for Crysis. What did I do wrong? Should I uninstall and then re-install?

 

alright so in order to do a clean install i have to save my SWsetup folder...
but its friggin huge...
how/what program do i need in order to burn it onto a dvd disk?

i was gonna use a flash drive but mines only 1gb

 

it should be in the games folder. start > games

 

How did you get a 5.0 on the windows base index... We have all most the same config we should be getting the same number... Try updating it, it is probably old.
Could it be that he has a lower resolution so it gets a higher number because its less work for the gpu???

 

hi steve, i immediately update my score 5 minutes ago see if it comes out in same result... when i did it i got following...

processor : 5.3
Memory : 5.9
Graphics: 5.0
gaming graphics : 5.3
HDD : 5.3

I don't know why mine is different probably lower resolution???

 

Still can't get Crysis to run....
Do I need to update my Nvidia drivers?

 

so right now you can't find where to start the game or the game doesn't start?

 

I can't find the shortcut to start the game. If I go into the Programs folder, I find a folder for Crysis and what appears to be an ".exe" file to run it but it just defaults to a black screen. I'm uninstalling it now.

 

yea i'd like to know this too

 

Anyone know why i have 2 program file folders? One that just says Program Files and another that says Program Files (x86).

 

Me too. Must be Vista.

 

since crysis is a games for windows game you have to go to the start menu and then games on the right column of the start menu

 

^ Ok, thanks for the tip. I'm re-installing it again. At least I was able to perform most of the tweaks from here

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

Thanks so much for that Les and others that contributed to it. My dv5t now runs faster and reboots much quicker.

 

Several people have mentioned the most recent $80 "rebate" or "refund".

May I kindly ask someone to please help clarify and explain the "$80 rebate/refund" to me please? I don't seem to follow this and i think i've followed this pretty carefully for several weeks.

thanks and sorry if i'm missing something rather obvious. much appreciated.

 

I also ordered from Costco, but I didn't configured for $1299, so I didn't even try use the coupon code.

I also felt that their return policy and the warranty is hard to beat.

 

what the f is lightscribe? they have the worst explanation and I can't seem to figure it out. It seems like they are label makers inside the drive? like it uses a laser to create a label?

 

So, I think we can safely say, that the raised left speaker grill is probably a design flaw.

So far, on the last few pages of posts:

Steve0689
Amp
Chaz
Chris789

and myself, have all reported having the raised grill on their laptops.

Steve - your picture of the left hand side is identical to what mine looks like.

Amp - I would be very interested in hearing whether your replacement dv5t has the same flaw, when it arrives. If it does, well then I guess we'll all just have to live with it!

Honestly, the flaw isn't bothering me so much anymore as is the clicky shift key. If it were the right one I probably wouldn't mind so much, since I never use it. If Amp's new machine is also flawed, then I guess I'll have to decide if returning a laptop because of a "clicky" shift key is reasonable, or over-obsessing!

It only just arrived on Monday, so I have a little while to decide.

ALSO - when calling HP from the U.S., has anyone had any luck with a specific number (I keep having problems reaching a real person). Specifically, if I want to call and complain about a price difference, what number or sequence of options (tech support/sales/etc.), would you reccommend I use?

 

i'd like to know this too

 

Correct, it is greyscale laser etching. You need "Lightscribe" compatible discs to utilize this function.

 

I believe it's because your Vista is 64 bit. the 64 bit programs will go in the Program Files folder and your 32 bit programs (like Firefox) go in the x86 folder. I think...

 

It's a feature where you can burn images onto the lable side of the disc, try going to lightscribe.com you might find more answers.

It's pretty cool but it takes a while to do, and I just wasn't that into spending another 20 minutes burning the lable side of a disc when a sharpie works just fine.

j

 

I too decided to use the PC Decrapifier. Before it removes anything it presents you with a list of items that you are required to choose for removal. Some stuff I knew what it was and removed it. Unfortuneately there was still alot of stuff on the list that I did not know whether I should remove. I did not trust that everything on the list needed be removed.

 

That's a possibility . . . I'm not sure either. That's another new trend in the notebook industry - no hinges.

It's a driver issue, nothing more. WEI is a notoriously unreliable index of performance.

Good feedback vs. the XPS, thanks for that. I was considering the XPS M1530 but dismissed it since it was previous-gen technology and I like HP keyboards better.

Agreed on all the points you made.

I'm glad to hear that you found our forums to be a helpful place. You are welcome.

And I also agree with the points you made.

You can create a shortcut to it by doing the following . . .
-Navigate to here using Windows Explorer:
C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Bin32
-Right click the Crysis.exe and click 'Create Shortcut'
-Drag the shortcut onto the Desktop

 

^ I used PC Decrapifier, CCleaner, and RevoUninstaller to remove the bloatware. I followed that with the NBR tweaks by Les and others (highly recommended). Oh, before all this, I did burn my recovery disks.

Good news: I finally got Crysis to run. For some reason in the Nvidia control panel when the V-Sync option is set to "Use the 3D application setting" and the Multi-display/mixed-GPU acceleration setting on "Multiple display performance mode" the 64-bit version would instantly lock up. Changing these settings to “Force On” and “Single display performance” allowed me to finally run the 64-bit version.

So one more question, what are some good settings to run this beast of a game? Thanks.

 

Chaz, you were right about the unreliability... I updated yesterday and the WEI was 4.7 and now I just updated it today and it is back to 4.8 lol.

 

They owed me a refund for a computer I bought for my wife a month ago, which like you they promised I would receive once I received the unit. They accually did refund me the day after I received the notebook without me even having to call them. You're probably OK.

 

Yes. The higher the resolution you run any bench, demo, game, etc... the more pixels must be filled and rendered. More pixels/resolution stresses the card more and will result in lower fps/scores.

 

Newegg OCZ 4Gig memory is in and working. My Zalman NC2000 will arrive tomorrow. Just need to get a bluetooth mouse and I'm set.

 

Wow, that is kinda dumb. Think though, one day, maybe close, were gonna be printing documents on special paper inside our laptops.

 

Aug 21, 2008 5:03 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK

I just know it will be here by tomorrow - not.

 

I'm jealous of all of you who have been receiving your notebooks ahead of the estimated dates. I ordered mine on the 15th and estimated ship date is 22nd, which I thought was a bit early anyways but still... I want it now!

I've gone almost 2 months now without any comp./notebook of my own since my old one broke. I don't know how much longer I can take.

 

You never know mine went from anchorage to san diego at my door in one night. Standard shipping too

Has anyone tryed out this laptop with 5.1 surround. id really like to know. thanks!

 

Volume Control in center of the screen:

Hi all: i find that it is annoying to have the huge volume control "indicator" in the center of the LCD whenever you adjust the volume (up or down) and stays there for some time.

if you're in the middle of watching something, and you're adjusting the volume, once you're done, you don't want it in the middle! even if the volume indicator is at the bottom of the screen, it's acceptable for 5 or 10 seconds but in the center?

may i ask how anyone else feels about this? has anyone found a solution?

thx!

 

You will have two folders if you have Vista 64-bit.

 

Do you have Vista 32-bit?

 

I ordered mine on the 14th . It said ship date will be 21st august , but its still not shipped yet

 

Nothing will happen. Your computer won't self-destruct or anything if you don't register it. You will just not get email, mail or phone updates about your machine and you will have to probably go through extra hoops when you get support.

 

ohh I ordered mine on the 14th also and it said ship date 21st.. but mine shipped on the 20th and it's in Alaska now. They are just giving yours a little extra dose of good ol' Chinese TLC.

 

Mine left on that 5:03 Anchorage flight as well. Monday for us.

 

Yes i do.

i did read the "fix" that was linked to an hp.com page but didn't install it. even though the poster indicated that it was for 64 bit only, the hp.com page i read said that it was for 32 bit as well... so i didn't really quite understand it and why the original poster of that link said it was only for 64 bit, i decide to not install it, primarily because my "touch' buttons do work, so it's not like they are not working.

working, but nonetheless very annoying. why would anyone design something so silly? having this HUGE volume control thing linger in the center of the LCD for like 10 seconds after you're done with it is not useful at all. am i the only one who feels this way about it?

 

Stilll waiting...even my wife is now buggin me