HP dv9500

Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition Ultra HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
2GB DDR2 System Memory
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
200GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (100GB x 2)
LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery







Here it is compared to the dv2035.




I just got it a couple of days ago! Any other dv9000 series owners here that's satisfied or has some complaints with their laptops?!

And I got a question, how do I update the video drivers (8600M GS)? Do I just download the latest (163.16 - 08/07/07) and uninstall the current NVIDIA drivers and install it? Is that ohw easy it is?

 

Yes, but before you install the latest drivers you will have to modify the inf file to support mobile GPU's since Nvidia doesnt support mobile GPU's. Support lies with the manufacturer(HP) and they dont update the drivers as quickly as Nvidia does. You can download the mod inf file from laptopvideo2go and replace the default file. Then you should be good to install. During the install you might get a Windows warning regarding unsigned drivers you can continue with the installation since you modified the inf file.

 

w00t, will do mate! Thanks! I'm just going to do a destructive recovery just to make sure the partition and recovery disc are working. Then i'll update everything again and then the video card. Then it's time to bench it!

 

Nice pics! Great job! Thanks

 

Very nice pics.

 

Thanks. I'll post some benchmark scores soon.

 

How good it is to do that instead of just downloading the driver from HP's website? What is the difference?

 

Well, you get the latest driver as soon as Nvidia updates them. Typically use the one provided by HP since they are usually going to be more stable and unless you are having an issue with your current driver I wouldnt bother updating.

 

Yes, I agree with miner about waiting for HP's latest version of the driver... HP emailed me earlier today that MY dv9500t is on its way, YEAH!, so I can't speak to THAT, specifically, but I used a desktop m376n for 3 years (and will be plugging it back in to network wirelessly with this Dell XPS 410 before I get the dv9500t, as I went for the BEST router, the Gigabit Linksys with 300 Mbps wireless and got the corresponding PCI card to put in the HP, and I'm going to set it up in my bedroom upstairs)...

At any rate (unlike Dell, which has a place on its website with new drivers, even new BIOS updates, but doesn't even send you EMAILS to let you know when they become available -- even after you subscribe for such a service, as I DID), HP, IF you agree to this service when you're setting up your system, and I suggest you do, will periodically check their website for updates and automatically update any software or firmware with your permission... And if you're NOT SURE the automatic update is working properly, you can run it manually, as well -- something ELSE Dell doesn't offer.

Duuuude, my XPS is one FINE piece of hardware, but Duuuuude, I'm NEVER getting another DELL!!!
Jeff

 

I bought my dv9500t off of HP's website in December 07 along with the expansion base. By the end of January, it was crashing and soon after (day or two) would stall during reboot. My final diagnosis was problem with the heat sink on the motherboard. It took longer to stall if I let it rest (cool down) for a while before trying to start up. The computer locked up even when I was on the BIOS page, so this definitely wasn't a Vista problem.

After a lot of calls to HP customer (don't)care, I was able to get a case manager who told me that I was entitled to a replacement. By this time (almost 1 1/2 weeks and about 10 phone calls each lasting between 10 and 45 minutes) I was fed up with HP, and declined the replacement and asked for a full refund to which the HP case manager said I was fully entitled. He gave me a case # and his fax # and phone number with extension and his work hours. He asked me to fax over my receipts to get the refund started. He made a point of telling me that the faxes in the office tend to get lost, so I should make sure to write his name in large letters on the fax. So, I did this, and called back the next day to confirm that he'd received the fax. I did call during the working hours he'd given me. I provided the person who answered the phone with my case #. I was told Anthony was unavailable and he would get back to me.

So, that was 2 weeks ago. I've since called his office 5 times trying to get hold of him and each time I received the same response, "he'll call you later." I have asked for a new case manager to no avail. At this point, I'm submitting a claim with Mastercard to see if I can recover some of the money I spent on this computer, and I will never buy another HP product again.

 

I'm beginning to think they're ALL tumbling towards crap, Simone.

My 9500 worked well all during the 36 days of our road trip, and afterwards I was able to network it with my XPS 410 and copy all 2800 photos I'd downloaded to it from SD cards to my storage drive, and as I have it set up on a sort of makeshift table to the right of my main computer desk, I continued to use it off and on for a while...

Somehow, however, my printer -- which I hard-wired into my network with an ethernet cable -- got confused and wouldn't run unless the laptop was booted up, so I had to set up the network again (never HAVE been able to get the Windows XP-based HP m376n upstairs to recognize the network, yet, although I haven't tried again lately)... At any rate, a couple months back I turned the laptop off and hadn't even had it turned on for a good while; went to boot it up a week or so ago, and it won't boot... doesn't recognize my fingerprints, or my startup password... Haven't really messed with it since, but I bought a 3-year extended warranty with accident protection on this laptop so I WILL get satisfaction, Simone, if it's not something I can fix by myself, and I suggest YOU do the same.

One of our local TV stations here has a promotional program for their news division called "7 on Your Side" (It's Channel 7, of course)... Having worked in mass media, I know the primary purpose for this, from MANAGEMENT'S point of view is self-promotion, to help increase ratings, BUT they also do A LOT OF GOOD for A LOT of local people... When someone has a problem with a local -- or even national company, and they keep getting ignored, they call Channel 7 and ask for "7 on Your Side," then THEY get involved... Just tonight, a local company had a heater that wasn't working and had 6 years left on a 20-year warranty, but the company told them the part they needed was no longer made, and instead offered only to give them a $400 check in compensation (a NEW heating system would cost THOUSANDS, and this was a poor couple)... After Channel 7 got involved, they agreed to find and supply the correct replacement part and even pay HALF the labor, which wasn't even in the warranty.

Even IF your local TV station doesn't have such a program, calling them with your story just MIGHT give them inspiration to do a story, and maybe call HP on your behalf -- and TRUST ME, even huge companies like HP, DON'T LIKE bad publicity... You may even consider writing "60 Minutes," as I'm CERTAIN your story is far from the only one of its kind.

I've thought for some time, now, that after the initial jump in profits American companies enjoyed by moving all the parts and production facilities to Asia wore off, they needed to find ADDITIONAL ways to make more money, and I suspect one way they're doing it is by moving production and assembly to even CHEAPER facilities and hiring even lower-paid, less skilled workers, cutting back on quality control, and then doing EVERYTHING THEY CAN to avoid issuing refunds when people like you aren't satisfied with the substandard equipment they receive.

By the way -- and this is REALLY OFF TOPIC -- but just tonight on ABC World News there was a story about our EXPENSIVE prescription medicines that just FLOORED ME... I had assumed -- PARTICULARLY with the Bush Administration's FDA saying we couldn't buy meds from Canada because they couldn't "assure their quality or safety," that all our prescription meds were made here in America (and that was why they're so expensive). NOPE. Many of them, or their ingredients -- including for expensive Statins like Lipitor (a 1-month supply of that is $126, according to my insurance company) are made in CHINA, or other Asian and off-shore companies, where UNLIKE American companies, the FDA inspects fewer than 7% of the companies per year, and sometimes even confuses company names and inspects the WRONG company.

This story ran because a mother and her son DIED from contaminated Heparin used during their dialysis that was made in China.

Some great "new world economy" we're living in, isn't it?
Jeff

 

Nice PC! Im still waiting for that $200-$400 off coupon code to come out, before i can order my dv9700t.