*HP dv6t Quad Edition (4XXX series) Owners Lounge*

The newer sandy bridge processors seem soo meaty compared to the nelham ..Wish I could upgrade the CPU

 

Just curious as to if anyone knows if the new sandy bridge version will support switching to integrated graphics??

 

If HP isn't saying it does, then it doesn't at the moment. I'd bet money, however, that HP's just waiting on AMD's official drivers to support Dynamic switchable Graphics. Keep an eye on AMD's release of 11.0 drivers.

 

Woo! Just bought a new Sandy Bridge Dv6t for $1012!

Specs:
HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC

* • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* • 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM (2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz
* • 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 6570 graphics [HDMI, VGA]
* • FREE Upgrade to 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* • 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* • No Additional Office Software
* • No additional security software
* • 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (over-sized) - Up to 10.0 hours of battery life +++
* • 15.6" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366x768)
* • No TouchScreen (includes HP TrueVision Webcam)
* • Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
* • Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN
* • Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
* • HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

 

Congrats!
Wanna buy me one too?

 

Note that a thread split was done from the old owners lounge, which was initially meant for the original HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition with Nehalem-based Core i7 processors released in 2009. Please use this thread instead to talk about the dv6t Quad Edition released in 2011 with Intel Sandy Bridge-based Core i7 processors. Thanks!



The HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition is a fourth generation dv6 notebook that features the new 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processors built on the "Sandy Bridge" micro-architecture. In addition, it features refreshed AMD Radeon 6570M graphics. Aesthetically, the dv6t Quad Edition is very similar to that of the previous generation.

Source and more information: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s.../psg/notebooks/High_performance/dv6tqe_series

For current and prospective owners, feel free to talk about anything that is related to this notebook -- it's your lounge!

 

I want to cry.....
I'm really torn between the 6 and 7....

I think I'm going to end up getting the 7 because the 6 the way I want it simply costs too much. A dv6 with an i7 sounds really awesome...but the price tag will be well over $1200 after taxes. That is pretty steep. The computer in my sig that I ordered last week was only $978 shipped.....

 

Did you use any coupons? If not, you can use this to get $200-350 off of $1299 or more :

Coupon Code "NB5321" (no quotes): Up to $350 off $1299 on customized HP Pavilion Laptops after HP Coupon NB5321 [Exp. 01/16 or 1160 uses]
* $200 off with coupon + Instant Rebate (up to $150 depending on model selected)

 

"* • 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (over-sized) - Up to 10.0 hours of battery life +++"

HP's site says that the 9-cell battery gets up to 10 hours of battery life, I'm wondering if this is true. Sandy Bridge AND 10 hours of battery life sounds impressive.

 

Get the 7! Two hardrives

 

Battery life estimates are always inflated. It's probably more like 8.5 hours. Moreover, for the moment, you won't see that battery life if you choose to get the 6570M GPU. The laptop seems to lack switchable graphics for now. I think you should hold off your purchase until AMD releases new drivers this month, since those might contain AMD's Dynamic Switchable Graphics software. If it's not included, expect 4-5 hours with the 9-cell.

 

Can anyone confirm the graphics memory used with Radeon 6570 in this newer model?
Is it GDDR3 OR GDDR5??

 

I'd like to know this as well.

Also, you mean DDR3. There's a difference.

 

I'm trying to verify this with them.
? for the experts regarding the HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Editio... - HP Support Forum

I know it's a GDDR5 GPU, but it wouldn't surprise me they set it as DDR3 and underclock it. I can get a DDR3 gaming laptop for like $850 somewhere else, I only want this one because it might be GDDR5 and a larger screen.

 

Well that guy seems pretty sure that it has GDDR5, so that's good. As for it being uderclocked, I figured that already. The core is underclocked to 600MHz (base is 650MHz). Not to bad, and I doubt that they found a way to prevent overclocking programs from working.

 

This is for the dv7, but I doubt that HP would make it DDR3 for the dv6.

 

Yikes! They underclocked the memory too? Why did they even bother using the 6570M? Might as well have been a 6550M...

 

Bigger number haha

 

Have you tried overclocking it yet?

 

Aren't the new amd (confusing) nomenclature apply to the mobile 6000 series as well??

 

Sorry if it seems like I do have it, but I actually don't have the dv7. I've just been looking all over to find my next laptop and I was 1 click away from ordering it. Through out the process I have learned a lot about the dv6/7 and XPS models.
Anyways, if the 6570m is underclocked, I do not see a reason some program can't get it to stock levels, maybe even higher.

 

Just ordered with the nb5321 code and my total with CA tax and recycling fee is 1187

Specs:
HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC

* • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* • 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2720QM (2.2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz
* • 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 6570 graphics [HDMI, VGA]
* • 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* • 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* • No Additional Office Software
* • No additional security software
* • 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery * • 15.6" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366x768)
* • No TouchScreen (includes HP TrueVision Webcam)
* • SuperMulti DVD burner
* • Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN
* • Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
* • HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Does anybody know what king of intel card comes with it-the sales rep did not know- I think this a sweet spot price for it (1084) with all the features- not top of the line with a GTX485 but not looking to pay an additional 500-700. Screen size is perfect with extra battery life.

I have the i7-720 version also, but my daughter loves to play with it so getting the new sandy bridge is justified he-he-he (just have to brownbag my lunches for the next few months and cut back on eating out).

 

Could you be more specific?

 

This laptop would be really great if HP actually gave their customers an option to get a REAL display... not that cruddy 1366x768 garbage they are peddling.

 

Well for the price, you can't get everything. For the price point with the features, you cant beat it - something similar from xoticpc with a GTX460 card would set you back an additional $500 but they seem to stand behind their sager brands with 3 years warranty and i have heard a lot of good things about them-

 

Maybe I will call xoticpc in the am to see what deal they can give me as I can always cancel my HP order before it ships out (I am guesstimating at least a week).

 

I stand corrected - the xotic PC was coming out at 1499 with like features of the HP with the superior screen Sager NP8130 not including CA taxes, recycling fee and delivery- give it an extra $120- 1620 out the door- price difference about 430 something. Still a lot of moola for me- grocery and food for the month.

 

Yup, that was with the coupons. The touchscreen and backlit keyboard (the two items that I really like on the 6) really bump the price up. ($175). The Blu-Ray player is also a bit expensive.

My computer will arrive on the 18th, I'll play with for a day or two and see how much I like the touchscreen.

 

ahhh- cancelled my order- the mediocre GPU and poor screen turned me off- will try to save and try to see if i can manage a SB xotic with GTX 485 next month

 

My DV7-4290US came with the Intel WiFi Link 1000 BGN.

 

If I order for only Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and not with bluetooth, does it still have WiDi? I'm trying to get Dv6 with SB but the Screen resolution is the only thing that is stopping me from making my order.
I've no experience with 1366x768 resolution and don't know if it will actually bother me. I think i should wait for the Envy Series but then Envy15 won't be getting SB and it doesn't have Touchscreen either.

I don't want to go with Dv7 for it's size and Backlit keyboard. This Dv6 & Dv7 choice is really so annoying. Can't they make a perfect PC? I mean i wouldn't mind paying extra 100USD for FHD or even 1080p screen on dv6.

And one more thing, can anyone confirm that Dv6's are also having the Thermal Assistant or CoolSense as they have it in DV7?

 

What is the Avg. battery life with graphic card switched off?

 

Agreed....
A better screen option on the dv6, and a backlit keyboard option on the dv7.

 

HP doesn't mention switchable graphics anywhere, so it probably doesn't even have switchable graphics.

 

Can anyone tell me if the processor is soldered in or is it capable of being switched as on the Envy line?

 

I chatted with HP sales and the lady said that the graphics *are* switchable. After that though, I decided to go with the CPU upgrade instead of the ATI GPU. The Intel 3000 on-die GPU is supposed to be surprisingly capable and I have a desktop for gaming anyway.

 

AFAIK, HP doesn't soldier CPUs on any laptops with standard-voltage processors. I also know for certain that the Select Edition's CPU isn't soldiered, and since these laptops are so similar, I don't see why it would be different with the Quad Edition.

 

HP is really lame for offering the measly HD 6570 card on this. And of course they solder these GPUs on the motherboard to limit your option in upgrading and to shorten the life of the laptop/entice to upgrade/buy another laptop with a another mediocre card. I guess this shafting business model works? We should not be for falling for this.

 

How many mainstream laptops do you see with high-end cards in them? If anything, this is a better offering than most of the competition. If you want a high-end GPU, you need to buy a high-end laptop. It's always been this way.

 

Bump up to an Envy....or a different computer....

 

I am very close to purchasing the DV6t Quad but not sure if I should wait a month to see what other 2nd gen core laptops become available.

Ideally I would get an ASUS but I like how you can customize the PC on HP. ASUS only sells through 3rd partys. I looked at Lenovo also but you can't customize on their site either.

One of the main features I'm looking for is an SSD and it seems weird to me that the HPs are the only Sandy Bridge's i have seen that give you the SSD option.

Also not sure if I should upgrade to the AMD video card. Won't really be using it for gaming but I do a lot of photoshop and dreamweaver work. I wish there were some benchmark reviews to see the difference.

Is there usually a decent coupon code available cause the $200 off is sweet but I have a feeling after that expires it will be replaced with a similar deal.

Also considering waiting for the Envy refresh but as of now the envys only have a 256GB SSD option and that might be a little more than I need (afford).

 

I probably would not upgrade to an SSD through HP. The quality of the SSD you get really does matter. Do some research and buy your SSD separately, then buy the cheapest HD available (unless you need another HD for an external or something) when buying the laptop. I personally think the Vertex 2 offers the best value/performance. You can usually find the 120GB version for about $220 online.
Also the upgrade to the AMD card is only $100, which seems pretty reasonable to me. I would guess that the AMD card would still get at least double the 3D marks that the new intel GPU gets.
On a side note, the dv6t QE is a very attractive machine. I personally think it gives the ENVY series a run for its money in terms of looks.

Edit: Holy crap! The new integrated Intel CPU scores 5,200+ on 3DMark 06! That's pretty awesome really. That's almost as much as an unOC'd M11X with an CULV. Not to spout cliches, but that's really a "game changer" for Intel.

 

Thanks for the tips. I heard HP only uses Intel SSDs which are supposed to be among the best. Do you know if these laptops can fit a HDD & SSD or just one? (EDIT: Looks like only the 7 has 2 drive bays.)

I heard HP is going to have a big sale for president's day so I might try to hold off until then. Also in March they are doing something called a PC Refresh where they will be trying to get people to upgrade their PCs with big sales but I don't know if I can wait that long.

 

I am looking into the same thing. I found a site NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks and it will sell HDD/SSD caddy's for laptops so that you can dual it if you like. I don't know anyone who has tried it, and it more than likely will void any warranty, but I think it's worth it. It's a good site bc it specifies it by model, and even gives basic instructions on the install.

 

Speaking of HDD's...
I could use some advice...

Which is a better buy from HP? 640GB at 7200 rpm or 750GB at 5400 rpm?

 

To anyone who just ordered a dv6t QE, there is now a $500 coupon floating around if your config is above 1,399.99. Mine was in production and they took the extra money ($150 in my case) off. The coupon is NBK4267893. They will kick you to a manager, but they WILL give you the extra money off. Good luck.

 

Let see...I ordered last Thur using the old $350 off coupon ...
Then got an email my order was "declined" I was very hot about this as I used my debt card...

Then Sat also found the $500 coupon!?

Finally spoke to HP on Sun and got a answer why the "declined" my billing and shipping address are in two diffrent states right now and that a red flag to HP on possible fraud ( OK that's logical)

So HP valided me and reinstated the order...could i use that new $500 coupon?...sure.... and got Two Business Days shipping for free because of the delay

So....


HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM (2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz
• 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 6570 graphics [HDMI, VGA]
• 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection ( I took the small 640GB to get the 7200RPM )
• No Additional Office Software
• No additional security software
• 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (over-sized) - Up to 10.0 hours of battery life +++
• 15.6" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366x768)
• TouchScreen with HP TouchSmart's intuitive multi-touch applications (includes HP TrueVision Webcam)
• Blu-ray player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
• Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R)
• Backlit Keyboard with Fingerprint Reader
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

$1,554.99
- $500.00
===========
$1,054.99

 

I saw this deal today as well for the -$500 which is great - plus the specs and the fact that it's the new SB are very enticing. I'm looking to use it mainly as my backup gaming machine to play games like LoL, SC2, random Steam games, etc. However I also found this:

Newegg.com - Recertified: ASUS G Series G60VX-RBBX05 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P7450(2.13GHz) 16" 4GB Memory DDR2 800 320GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M

for only $629 (note the refurb).... The GTX 260M more than makes up for the old CPU on this laptop.

While it'd be great to pick up Intel's new SB I'm worried that the Radeon 6570 would hold me back from really enjoying my experience (playing at higher settings) or falling behind quickly as new games come out.

Thoughts?

 

No it doesn't and no it won't. The GDDR5 6570 is a better card than the GTX260M -- practically the same memory bandwidth, but more GFlops, DX11 and half the TDP. That ASUS is old and probably not worth even the $600 that they're asking for it.

 

Um, no. The GTX 260M still wins, even if the 6570M has GDDR5. The C2D P7450, however, is going to hurt performance in some games.