Just Bought A HP Pavilion dv5000z...

Hey everyone. I'm new to the forums but I've learned a lot already. I just purchased an HP Pavilion dv5000z from hp.com with this configuration:

- Genuine Windows XP Home Edition
- AMD Turion(TM) 64 ML-40 (2.2GHz/1MB L2 Cache)
- FREE Upgrade to 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!!
- 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM)
- 1.0GB DDR SDRAM (2x512MB)
- 100 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
- 54g(TM) 802.11b/g WLAN w/ 125HSM/SpeedBooster(TM)
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Microsoft(R) Works/Money

I was just wondering what people are thinking about a configuration like this. I bought this notebook for college primarily for music, DVD's, and possibly a little gaming. However after looking around the forums, I'm a little worried that I paid to much for a cr@ppy graphics card and stuff. It seems I might have been able to get a dell Inspiron 1505 with a better card for maybe a little more $. After rebates this is going to be about 1,200 or so. What do you guys think? Oh, and there was a free printer with this package. Thanks for the help.

 

How important is the size of the notebook to you? That's the main question, because graphic card options at 15" size notebooks across the board are not as good as 17" notebooks. Why? I have no clue but this seems to be the case.

That said, if you're willing to go bigger and heavier and are willing to spend just a bit more (~200) you can step up to a dv8000t with an 7600 Go, which is a much nicer graphics solution than anything integrated.

At the 15" form factor you mention the Dell e1505 which I believe has a x1400. The x1400 is better than the 200m for gaming, but not heads and shoulders mind-blowingly better from what I've read here. I believe this is where your choice gets difficult.

If you're willing to go 17" (bigger, heavier, shorter battery life) and spend some extra cash I think the dv8000t with 7600Go is an obvious choice.

EDIT: Might also want to check out a Asus S96J here. Great specs at a 15" form factor at around $1400!

 

Dv5000z will run most games but, you know, low settings for newer ones. It won't be long before the video card won't even run the newest games. For everything else, the laptop will be perfect.
If you want a gaming machine, dv8000 with 7600 is really OK. Yet, in order to save some money, upgrade RAm aftermarket. The HDD should be 5400 rpm for better performance (7200 might be an overkill). You can even sacrifice the 2.2ghz CPU for a faster HDD and you will notice a big improvement. In 9 of 10 cases, the CPU isn't the bottleneck of a laptop's performance. Even the most intensive games will rarely benefit from a faster CPU; they need GPU and RAM.

 

You will be HAPPY with it. I recieved mine today and it is awesome.

 

Don't let the naysayers get you down about the 200M. For being intergrated, it's a VERY nice GPU.

It can run Half-Life 2 and UT2k4 at 1280x800x32 with very high settings and get reasonable frame-rates.

As long as you keep your expactations reasonable, it will run whatever you throw at it. Obviously, you're not going to run Obilivion at 1280x800 with full details, but that's a given.

If you try and go with something better, you're going to spend a significant amount more and not get too much more in return. You're really at the point of "diminishing returns" already, so it'd be best to stick with what you have. With that setup, you should easily get close to 3 hours of battery life too. Just stay with that and be happy.

 

Thanks all for the info. Gaming is definitely not my main purpose, I just wanted to make sure that my notebook will be fairily updated throughout at least 4 years of college.

Eric06: How do you like the look of the screen? Is it a sharp picture? How do any DVD's look? Thanks again to all for the help.

 

I've got the integrated, only shared version of the card and I'm really happy it runs Heroes V, AOE3, Civ IV, etc. It is a nice GPU but we are quickly reaching its limits.

 

Hi jsievs,
The Brightview is a really nice screen. The 200m is by no means a barn burner graphics chip. It also is by no means a piece of cr,, like many would have you to believe. The comfiguration you have there is a nice setup and should do well for you. BTW I can run AND PLAY Doom3 with the second highest setting. My 5030z does a 1530 3DMark03. It also does Super Pi to the 2 millionth place in 1 min, 50 seconds.
What ever you decide enjoy and good luck.

 

The screen is bright and shows the true colors of web sites and graphics. It is very sharp. I have not tried a DVD yet but I will and I will post how it looks.

 

I watched part of Wedding Crashers and the picture was 99% clear. It played smoothly and sounded great. I could watch movies on this laptop.

 

Thanks it sounds great. I can't wait to get mine.

 

The screen is great for DVDs. I like it better than most TVs and even HDTVs. I'm not a big TV fan though, so take that how you will. If you want the best image quality for your movies, I'd HIGHLY recommend nVidia's PureVideo decoder. For DVDs and TV watching, it will beat any thing else out there. Espicially the old WinDVD software that your system will come with. It's only $20 for the "bronze" package.

I hope you ordered the OS install disc with your system too. Be sure to do a full format and reinstall as soon as you get your system. Get rid of all the bloatware.