HP Zv6000

My cooling fans are quiet so yours are not normal. You have to pay attention to notice if the fans are on. I saw most laptops had the fans at the bottom. If you leave your laptop on bed or your lap, you may cover the fans. Why don't they face to the rear or either side?
Can anybody suggest a leather/vinyl laptop case for ZV6000 15.4"? HP offers the executive leather case for $89. I want a lighted one that fit this labtop and can hold all the accessories.
Another question is where can I find a cheap car/air power adapter? I heard business class airplane had power source, how about economy class?

 

Hi, I've never been a part of a forum or owned a laptop, but this is it for both. I've been watching this thread since I was thinking about getting a zv6000. Well, I got mine in yesterday. I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped because I'm used to my desktop with a 7,200 rpm hdd with 8mb buffer. The 4,200 w/ 2mb was a bit of a revert. The best thing I have done so far is to strip all the preloaded crap off and install WinXP fresh. Ha, leave it to HP to give us a preloaded cd so that even this was a hastle. I had my notebook delivered to my parents' house and was going to wait to pick it up, but then I started reading the threads yesterday about dead pixels. I couldn't just sit here and wonder. I got it and brought it home to find the screen in perfect condition. Praise God. I am a little anal when it comes to the stuff I use everyday. I probably couldn't have dealt with looking at a defective screen everyday. One thing I wish I would have gotten is the BrightView screen. Oh well. The regular WSXGA is pretty amazing by itself. The one thing I love is that my Tascam US-224 recording interface has had constant problems with all desktop computers I have built. With this laptop it works perfectly. Again, praise God. Finally, a computer I can rely on. Ha, I guess it's a little early to say that.

About XP64 that everyone is talking about... I tried the prerelease a few months ago on my 2800+ desktop. Completely useless for me. It might not have had all the drivers the retail version does, but I couldn't use my printer, recording interface, capture card, scanner, and about the only thing I could use was the internet. Drivers are a huge part of computers. Think before you upgrade.

so you can judge me... Athlon 64 3200+, 768mb pc2700, 128mb x200m, dvdrw, 15.4, 40gig 4,200, 80gb 7,200 external, XP Pro

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by hieunknown

 

I have a few questions for anyone. I have the Creative PC-DVD IR remote and I can't get it to work with the front IR receiver with Remote Selector software. Has anyone else tried to get any remote to work?

Also, when i opened up the place to put more ram in I didn't see the factory installed stick. I didn't look too hard, but is it somewhere that is hard to get to? Ha, ok I just read on the manual that "The primary memory module slot should be accessed only by a service partner." I guess 768mb will have to do until my year is up or GB sticks come down.

Another is the best way to get the most life out of my battery. I got the 12 cell and haven't installed it yet because I know high capacity batteries are pretty particular about the first charge. Any suggestions? Also, I will mostly be using this as a desktop replacement so should I take the battery out when it's just AC power for days and maybe weeks? I guess that's it for now. Thanks.

so you can judge me... Athlon 64 3200+, 768mb pc2700, 128mb x200m, dvdrw, 15.4, 40gb 4,200, 80gb 7,200 external, XP Pro

 

Hey Billipo,

Is it running better with a fresh reinstall? This is my first laptop ever, and it just seems slow compared to what im used to.
thanks

HP Pavilion zv6000; AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (2.0GHz); 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800); 512MB DDR SDRAM (1x512MB); 60 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive; DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive; 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM); 54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth; 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery;

 

The cooling fans on mine seem very quiet, I previously had a zv5000 and when the fans on it ran they were much more noticible.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+
512mb RAM - 60 GB 5400 HD
ATI 128mb 200M
DVD-+RW WXGA Brightview
Wireless w/ Bluetooth
12 Cell

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by rc80

 

My fans have a very low whirl. Under most noise conditions you wouldn't notice it, but if you were in a silent room you might. No dead pixels though. [ ] And the keyboard and touchpad area stays very cool for light tasks, unlike a P4 system.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by churro

 

FYI - After doing a lot of reading and finding out that excessive wear levels on NEW HP batteries happens all the time I called up HP tech support. They are sending me a new 12 cell and I have to send my other one back.

Hope the new one is more new than my current new one. LOL



EDIT - I also think the fact that the RAM is not being read in dual-channel is low budget and hope they fix it with a new BIOS or something(if possible).

 

sounds troublesome.. it would be nice if they could get it right the first time.

 

will there be extra chipset driver from ati? for ide ports and more? i only only found SB driver. All others are "slow" Microsoft drivers.

HP zv6090EA

 

Would someone mind re-posting the memory specs for the zv6000? I think it is 'pc2700' but that's all I remember and I don't know if that's enough info to base a purchase on. I'd like to buy an extra 512 stick for my still-not-arrived zv6000. Ordered it with the 512MB 1 DIMM.

I don't know enough about memory when I see a sale, to know if the memory is for a notebook or a desktop machine. I'm assuming there IS a difference?

For example:

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144801

 

AMD-based laptops use 200-pin PC2700 SODIMMs and desktops use 184-pin PC3200 DIMMs. So, what you found has the right specs, but it may or may not play nice with the zv6000. The Athlon 64's integrated memory controller is less tolerant than the slower, external memory controllers Intel CPUs use. Lately SODIMM builders have been better about validating their parts against AMD notebooks, you used to have to buy Crucial or Kingston if you wanted to be safe.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by brianstretch

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by bluedevils

 

So would "DDR 512MB PC 2700" be notebook memory or desktop memory? Outpost has it for $24.99 after rebate. For that price, I'm assuming it is desktop memory but I don't know for sure.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4355805

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by billipo

 

Well, I got the CD drive spin up vibration last night. I have used this notebook for two days and hadn't noticed it until last night. It's not that bad, but a litte loud. Would be annoying during DVD, but I think it spins slow enough during playback not to make the sound. It mostly happens during full speed reading when copying files from disc. This brings me to another small complaint. The DVD-Rs that I burned from my Lite-On desktop burner are not read very well in this drive. I don't know if it needs a firmware upgrade. That's what helped the desktop burner read more media. Overall, though, I am very pleased so far with it. I had a BSOD last night that restarted the system, but it was because a program was hanging I'm guessing. Hasn't repeated.

Anyone know anything definite about running dual channel ram? Is it possible with this chip? I heard something about it needing a bios update to work.

 

hey, just thought I would give everyone an update on my adventure to the OD on trying to get a replacement in regard of 2 dead pixels:

***************************************************
****************************************************
f**king unbelievable, all these may sounds like *****ing, but I would like to just put it out there.

This morning, after I woke up, I decided to call HP, since people in the forums has been saying how good the HP customer service is. After being transferred couple times, it was an Indian, and I told him abou the situation and asks what I could do, I was told they don't repair it until it has like 8 dead pixels, there's nothing they can do.

ok, so I then decided to call Tech Depot, I thought since I've placed the order through them, maybe they can offer some kind of support. First time I tried it, nobody gave me a solid answer, I just kept getting transferred around, so after 30 minutes of getting transferred around, I decided that was enough, so I hang up.

After 10 minutes later, I decided to call again, this time, I finally got a good CSR, and he told me to just bring the laptop down to Office Depot, and tell them that the laptop is defective, and ask them to call Amber Snyder from OD, and she will know what to do, and get on with my replacement of the laptop, even though I only have 2 dead pixel.

So I was happy, and thought everything was good, double checked everything before I head for my local Office Depot, upon arrival, the guy standing at the door is like "what? what is it, you need customer service for replacement?? we don't do replacements, but customer service is over there" okay...... anyway, I walked over to the customer service desk, and told them exactly what the CSR from Tech Depot told me, about asking them to call Amber Snyder, instead, they responded "huh? who? Amber who? I have no idea who you are talking about", so the lady use the phone to call over another associate, who seems to be a sales person. And then she told him exactly what I told her, he then went to talk with sales person #2, who then went together with sales person #1, to talk to sales person #3, anyway, they just kept walking back and forth in the story, trying to figure out what they could do, and after waited for about an hour, finally they came up with some answers.

They could either try to do a replacement with the same laptop, or I could just keep the laptop as it is. Sales person #2 adds that he's never had a single customer that returns the laptop just because of 2 dead pixels, and he has built over 20,000 computers (I don't think he built them, probably just placed an order for the customer). So, ok, I went with that route, but after they talked among themselves, the sales person #1 told me that they can't do it, because the the promotion has already expired (geez, I told him I ordered it two weeks ago, and just got it, it's most likely it's expired). And now what they can do is gave me the credit for the amount they I built the ZV6000 for, and use it toward the promotion they have running right now, R4000. So I then took a look at the configuration, trying to configure the same system as I have for my ZV6000, but it turns out to be $60 (ok, the minimum HD R4000 comes with is 60 Gb 4200 RPM HD, instead of 40 Gb RPM HD for zv6000, but I didn't even get to choose the extra 8 cell I ordered with my zv6000, and it's already $60 more, just because of extra 20 Gb?? no thank. plus the sales person #1 says, I will have to pay for another $40 shipping if I do order R4000, and there's no guarantee that I will have perfect screen neither. 2 is an acceptable number, and HP probably won't even fix it until there's like 12 dead pixels (wow.....)


I don't know, I just don't know why I should expect a perfect screen when I buy a "brand new" computer, and maybe like sales person #2 said, 2 dead pixels are nothing, and I should just keep it, maybe I will have 5 dead pixels, instead of the one I have right now with "only" 2 dead pixel, so I "should" keep what I have right now, and be happy with it. I just don't know....

So I am thinking about just returning the laptop, which means I will lose $40 shipping, and just lost 2 hours of my life waiting for nothing. That's my side of story, Kudos to Office ****Hole, and Take ****pot, and HP.

I just don't know what to do, after having this encounter, I believe I must be really unlucky, as the previous 2 used laptop I have purchased has problem as well, and since the Office ****hole nor HP doesn't guarantee on perfect LCD, I guess I shouldn't complain neither when there's visible coke spill on the CPU heatsink on my brand new factory sealed HP zv6000.[^][8]

Maybe I am just unlucky

any other good deals on laptop out there?

 

so what company would you recommend, calyxman?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by maxpower

 

Honestly, yumyum I don't have a personal favorite. It's funny because I just noticed my brother's 17" e-Machines notebook has a crack by the hinge and he's only had the thing for a few months. My iBook, made by Apple of all manufacturers, has a defective logic board and frozen trackpad. Seems like nothing is built to work let alone last these days.

If I didn't have the HP option, I would have probably checked out Toshiba. IBM is another strong brand, however they're kinda pricey.

I'm kind of stuck with the concept of getting an AMD based system though.

HP Pavillion zv6000
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1.8GHZ
512 Mb (2x256)
128 Mb ATI 200M
DVD/CDR combo/40 GB 4200 rpm
Win XP Home / 8 cell batt

Current beater: iBook 600 Mhz G3/ 384 MB / 15 GB HD / 8 MB vRam

 

I think you should 1st check the manufacturers' policies on pixel-dilemmmas, then go from there...You'll probably find that no mfr. will guarantee their product regardless of how many are dead (pixels), they all have min. #'s (But, if you find one Kudos 2u)....You'll probably have equal chances going through any CTO/BTO route...Maybe retail pre-configured is the best option.


(Add 1 thousand to my avatar model)

 

hmmm.... I did check with HP, that's who I called first, and their bearable dead pixel are 8.... so I don't really think I would want a laptop with 7 dead pixel screen[xx(]

 

Have you tried the massaging technique? I heard some people would softly massage the screen area above the dead pixel and sometimes they can go away.

HP Pavillion zv6000
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1.8GHZ
512 Mb (2x256)
128 Mb ATI 200M
DVD/CDR combo/40 GB 4200 rpm
Win XP Home / 8 cell batt

Current beater: iBook 600 Mhz G3/ 384 MB / 15 GB HD / 8 MB vRam

 

yup, I tried it with one of the pixel, and it seems to be better, but this bright one doesn't seems to be going anyway

 

Hello,

Just a few quick questions, after reading thru the 19 pages of topics! I did learn a lot, and am still leaning towards the purchase of the zv6000 in a custom configuration.

Memory: I know it's been reported in most cases it is the PC2700 RAM, but does anyone who might have one already know the latency speed, buffering, etc? I too would like to figure the best option to either configure it with one 512MB chip, and purchase a second, or get the full 1GB upgrade. Ideally, I would like to be running 1GB for best video capture/photo-edit/rendering.

Screen size: I am new to the widescreens. I often use my current laptop to project thru an LCD projector for presentations and videos. Will this widescreen display configure properly with a standard screen resolution on the LCD projectors, or will I run into configuration/distortion issues?

Card readers: I notice on some offerings, with the Raedon Xpress, they install a card reader. But I haven't seen any mention of a slot for a CF (Compact Flash) card. Will it accept one, or do I have to use the available PCMCIA slot with a card reader adaptor?

Lightscribe: Can anyone find any mention of the fact that the DVD+/- CD-RW combo drive has the "lightscribe" capabilities? Or has HP not released this yet? HP specs are iffy at best to describe it.

Thanks in advance to everyone who has posted and increased my knowledge so far!

My configuration as planned: XP Pro, AMD Athlon 3200+, 15.4" Brightview, 128MB Raedon, 512MB RAM (one slot), 60GB 5400 RPM drive, DVD+/- CD-RW combo drive dual layer, 54g network w/ bluetooth, 12 cell battery.

 

Question on the processor and PowerNow! or Cool'N'Quiet.
Has anyone figured out what type of Amd64 3500+ chip we have? I thought it was a 939 pin, .90nm core desktop pc. All Athlons should either have Cool'N'Quiet's for the desktop or a PowerNow! for the mobile Amd processor. I'd like to see if either are enabled and how fast my notebook is running at any given moment.

I emailed HP Tech Support and they state I have a Mobile Amd64 chip. Every single source that I have googled states that there is no Mobile chip running at 3500+. They have 3400+ and 3700+ for mobiles, but thats it.

SO has anyone actually opened up this badboy and has seen what type of chip is included?
Also, is anyone else running or using PowerNow? I have tried the drivers on the HP site and it keeps asking me if I want to UN-INSTALL the Cool'N'Quiet software. I always click no, I dont want to uninstall anything!

Here are some quotes from the HP GUY :
******** /quote
First, I would like to inform that your notebook comes with a mobile
AMD
Athlon 64 bit processor, which does not have the features of desktop
processor. Further, OEM version of BIOS software only comes with
minimum
settings. Hence, you wont be able to find various options as a retail
BIOS software.

Hence, let me provide you with a detailed description:

1. Mobile AMD Athlon 64 bit processor does not come with Cool'N'Quiet
feature. Its a feature of desktop process.
2. As this option is not available in notebook, you wont find it in
BIOS.
3. For more information about AMD Cool‘n’Quiet™ technology, visit the
following Web site:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/SellAMDProducts/0,,30_177_4458_3505^9488^10272,00.html

4. Further, this is the only reason why you are unable to find AMD
Cool'n'Quiet technology in Control Panel.

The information I have provided should answer your question. If you
have further questions, please reply to this message. We will be happy
to assist you further.

Sincerely,

Simon

******** /endquote

 

I was going to say something sarcastic about HP Support, but what's the point.

All Athlon 64 CPUs, mobile/desktop/DTRs/whatever, have PowerNOW! power management. HP BIOS bugs sometimes make it difficult to get it working but it's in the CPU. (I use CrystalCPUID instead of the default PowerNOW! management so I can undervolt too. That seems to ignore HP's flakey PowerNOW! BIOS support.)

Every report I've seen says that HP is using 130nm 939-pin Newcastle core Athlon 64's in the zv6000/R4000 series. Eventually they'll switch over to 90nm when AMD's 130nm supply runs out. In theory you could take it apart and swap in a nice Rev. E 90nm chip, but CPU swaps look a little more involved than they were for the zv5000z and there's no guarantee the BIOS recognizes the latest cores (though it ought to). Plus there's the whole warranty voiding thing...

Install MobileMeter.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by AMDemon

I think you should 1st check the manufacturers' policies on pixel-dilemmmas, then go from there...You'll probably find that no mfr. will guarantee their product regardless of how many are dead (pixels), they all have min. #'s (But, if you find one Kudos 2u)....You'll probably have equal chances going through any CTO/BTO route...Maybe retail pre-configured is the best option.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

Asus has a no dead pixel policy.

C.

 

awesome, do you know where I can purchase Asus laptop?

 

I know GamePC has a free no dead pixel policy and Burn in Stress test on their 17" WSXGA+, Turion 64, Radeon 9700 system. I'm concidering it myself. http://www.gamepc.com/shop/systemfamily.asp?family=noteb2

 

Sagers have very nice notebooks, although im not sure about their dead pixel policy

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by yumyum001

 

Well, I just ordered another ZV6000 off of HPShopping.com after selling my zv5000z. I ordered a zv6000 from that Office Depot sale two saturdays ago, and I ain't got no idea as to when that's gonna show up. But the one I ordered from HPShopping.com is configured with an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ CPU. Can somebody give me the haps on the 3800+ that comes with the zv6000, especially, does it support dual-channel memory?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by churro

 

Thanks for the information Rami!

This should really help me make my mind up.

Thanks!

 

Friends,

I would greatly appreciate it if you can answer my silly question. I am in the process of buying ZV6005US. My question is is the AMD 64 bit useful ONLY if you have Windows Pro 64?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jolly

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jolly

 

Anybody see the Sam's Club config for $998? Not a bad deal, but more pricey than the hot Office Depot deals from a couple weeks back.

Just wondering about the speakers... Do you think HP would put different speakers in different versions of the zv6000? The Sam's Club unit has model number zv6008 or something like that, and the description on the Sam's website describes the speakers as 'premium audio' and I have not seen that verbiage on HP's, OD's, or TD's websites regarding the zv6000 speakers.

 

Thanks MaxPower,

You have a name that I want to touch, but I mustn't touch.

HP Pavilion zv6000; AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (2.0GHz); 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800); 512MB DDR SDRAM (1x512MB); 60 GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive; DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive; 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM); 54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth; 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery;

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by churro

 

Hello everyone,

I got a reply from HP within 24 hours of my questions sent to them from their online customer support center!? Imagine that.. somewhat helpful but limited, too. Here is what they provided me with:

>Dear Scott W:

>Thank you for contacting Hewlett-Packard; we appreciate your interest in the HP Pavilion zv6000 Series Notebook PC.

(I asked about Lightscribe)
>The HP Pavilion zv6000 does not offer a LightScribe enabled DVD drive as an option. I apologize for any inconvenience.

(I asked what configuration, latency, speed the RAM is)
>This notebook is compatible with 333 MHz DDR SDRAM PC2700. It can be
upgraded to a maximum of 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).

(I asked to opt out of both software packs to save money)
>You will need to select either the Microsoft Works or the Microsoft
Office 2003 Basic software. There is not an option to omit either.
Microsoft Works is included with all of our notebooks.

(I asked if there was a CF card slot)
>The HP Pavilion zv6000 series does not support a CompactFlash card slot. If fact, none of our current notebooks offer a CompactFlash slot.

(I asked about the S-video port if an adapter was needed)
>The S-video port is a direct socket. No converter will be required.


Sooo, I got some answers... and am still shopping around for the best price/configuration. CompUSA and Circuit City have them on sale this week too, preconfigured, with good options, but not exactly the premium systems most everyone is opting for.

What I am still wondering is, about the RAM. Every mention is to the DDR333, 2700 RAM chips. Is that the most stable that will run on this notebook? Has anyone tried faster RAM? My only thinking now is to order it with the standard RAM free upgrade, pull them to sell, and buy 1GB, of a pair of matched RAM to replace it with. I just do not want to get stuck buying DDR400 RAM to find out it will not work.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

While I'm at it, and frankly forgot to ask before....

What speed does the DVD/CD burner operate at? One sales guy said DVD-16X, (I was impressed, but not believable), and another said it was 4x. Anyone have specs for certain that quote the recording speeds for the DVD and CD's?

Thanks!

 

Is this deal comparable to the one you guys got at Costco? (in Circuit City's weekly ad)

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=120278

 

The optical drive is the NEC ND6500, you can search that model & see complete spec's.

Supposedly, it's fastest burning speed for DVD5 (the standard 4.7gb) is for DVD+R @ 8x.

(Add 1 thousand to my avatar model)

 

The best deal I see that is current now is Office Depot. They're advertising a config for $700 after rebates and an upgrade for another $100. These are the config-to-order variety. There's $280 in rebates, so that's significant extra cash outlay, but the final price is only $45 more than the really hot deal they were offering a couple weeks ago.

The Circuit City deal looks okay, but not as good as the OD deal.

Also, Sam's Club is now carrying the zv6008cl for $998.63 + tax both in-store and at www.samsclub.com. No rebates, which is nice. Pretty decent config, but not killer:
Athlon 64 3200+
512 MB RAM (256x2)
60GB 4200RPM HD
DVD +-R/RW
15.4" WXGA with BrightView
54g wireless with SpeedBooster (looks like no Bluetooth)
XP Home
128MB graphics (required with Athlon 64 3200+)
8-cell battery

Plus you can get a 3 yr warranty from Sam's Club for $79, which is the only thing that makes the Sam's deal a compelling option.
Here's the link:

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_1373987268.1115084613_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccddaddehkjiegkcfkfcfkjdgoodflf.0&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-23589:-43881:-43983:-43986:-44001:922274&fid=P31

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jmsnyc