HP dv9000t: is this a good deal?

Custom configured the following dv9000t specs:
Windows XP Professional
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7200 (2.0 GHz)
17.0" WXGA+ Ultra BrightView Widescreen (1440x900)
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7600
HP IMPRINT Finish + Microphone + Webcam
FREE Upgrade to 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)!!
100 GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
FREE Upgrade - LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer

Price after $200 rebates is $1672


I also plan to buy a bracket for the second Hard disk slot to put another 100GB 7200 RPM drive from newegg. One thing I am not so happy about is the frre 1GB upgrade offer. I would need 2GB. So, the free 1GB would be a waste for me. If I add 2GB, then the price will go up to $1872. Besides, HP uses 533MHz memory only...
2GB 667MHz costs $240 at newegg.
I plan to install Linux OR Solaris in the second drive. Are there any compatibility issues with lightscribe drive (for Linux) ?

Do you guys think if this is a good buy ? Or should I wait for some more time for the price to go lower ?


BGeo

 

I would go with the middle options for the screen and save some money there and plus, u will get a better view screen in terms of more room. Why not save money and get the XP home and upgraded to Vista later on? Message me if you like to sell the 2x512mb and the price asking. Looks like a decent deal either way =)

 

It looks very nice. Yet you can safely downgrade the CPU one step and invest in RAM. I would buy the minimum RAM and upgrade after market (actually the 1gb is the minimum so you can try those two chips on ebay and get some bucks for the pair of 1gb 667mhz
I would also prefer the 17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050) to the Ultra BrightView but I guess this depends on what you intend to do on the laptop.

 

Nope, that's not true. I have a dv9000t, just looked at the ram itself - the part number is: 434742-001.

Here's the part on HP's site:

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/hpparts/?cc=US&lang=EN&jumpid=hpr_R1002_USEN and enter the part number 434742-001.

Good price though. I paid something like $2100, with 2g of ram.

Zany

 

Can you confirm if they use 667 MHz or 533MHz RAM? Last time I called (on Sept 17th), a rep said they use 533MHz. Perhaps that's why they are offering free upgrade to 1GB!!! I checked the part number 434742-001 and it's now out of stock.

BGeo

 

I was actually planning to downgrade the processor (T2250). But after knowing that T7200 has a 4MB cache and the lower ones have 2MB cache, I am under the impression that T7200 might be a better choice. Please comment on it

BGeo

 

All I can do is give you the part number that is on my HP supplied RAM modules. When I look that up, it shows a 667Mhz part. Do you know of any other way to confirm the speed? I'll be happy to help you if so.

Here is the part number on one of the actual IC's. I looked it up on google but couldn't find anything.

HYB18512
800BF3S
FSS28213

Zany

 

I agree. In your dv9000t, you might have 667MHz RAM. I assume you purchased it before the $200 rebate. With the current rebate, they might be installing 533MHz RAM. Anyway, I shall call HP once more to verify.

BGeo