Just Ordered dv5000z

Ok, I'm literally shaking with excitement. This is my first new computer...ever. I'm using a hand-me-down 6 yr old beast right now so I decided to max out my new notebook. Will this be rocking my socks off for basic uses (only games I plan to play are Sims 2, FFXI, and Diablo2) or will it only be marginal? I upgraded the video card (it's a no brainer) and it comes with a 6-in-1 Card reader...I take it that it will read SD cards, right?

HP Pavilion dv5000z customizable Notebook PC
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional with SP2
AMD Turion(TM) 64 ML-40 (2.2GHz/1MB L2 Cache)
15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM)
2.0GB DDR SDRAM (2x1024MB)
100 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
LightScribe 8x DVD+/-RW&CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer
FREE Upgrade to 54g(TM) 802.11b/g WLAN w/125HSM!!
No TV Tuner w/remote control
12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Microsoft(R) Works/Money

 

I own this computer as well and I think you'll be very content with it. It's really a great notebook. The Turion processor is good but the Intel Core Duo processor that comes with the dv5000t model is supposedly better for gaming. Congratulations on your new HP!

 

I'd get the 80GB 5400RPM drive over the 100GB 4200RPM drive, and maybe get the Bluetooth option if it's not too much money (nice if you have a Bluetooth cell phone or wireless mouse), but otherwise it looks like you found everything. For getting work done and for light gaming it's a great machine. Yes, the reader will handle SD cards, my dv8000z has the same reader and it reads Transflash (microSD) cards via a SD adaptor.

 

Yeah, I was looking at the 5000t, but it wasn't in my budget to switch to the Intel version of the notebook, if I'd have had a few hundred more I would have gotten the Duo. Also, I'm planning to upgrade the hard drive in about a year or two to a faster drive, I just wanted the extra space right now because of the hidden restore partition, y'know? Thanks for ur comments!

 

Just curious, as the Duo Core processor is the newest processor for laptops, and they are receiving rave reviews, why you didn't go with a duo core?

 

The base price for the duo core is a little steep in comparison (another $300!). I only had a $1300 budget so I had to be really careful. But the Turion 64 and everything else is Vista-ready, and I wanted to make it as future proof as possible as this notebook has to last me at least 3 to 4 years (through college :S)

 

If you really want dual core, wait for the Turion X2. We don't know the release date though (rumored to be May 9th but will HP have them then? Will the schedule slip?) nor the price (probably less than the Core Duo, just to annoy Intel, but likely significantly more than the current Turions at first). I think sticking with 64-bit-capable CPUs is wise at this point.

 

What a constructive post pato1

 

I can't tell if you're kidding or not pato, but saying a company in its entirety sucks is generally not a good idea... Simply because it makes you look ignorant and immature.

Unless of course you're joking, and if you are it' sgenerally best to make that clear to avoid arguments.

 

HI Supersenshi,
You will like that machine. The Turion is a 64 bit processor and you are correct it is more future proof than the 32 bit dual core processors. If you are not doing heavy video or other hd intensive tasks the 4200 rpm drive will not hinder you.

Enjoy it, the screen is really nice on the 5000z's.

 

I would have gotten 256MB of RAM instead of 2GB. Upgrading yourself is generally cheaper.

 

MSG2392 is correct on the memory. I also only got 256MB, and bought 1GB of PC3200 for only $78 compared to HP selling 1GB of PC2700 for $100

 

Thanks for all your posts, guys. Yeah, I was worried about the slow HDD...but I really don't think that HDD makes a huge difference in what I do because my computer I have right now has a 7200RPM HDD and it still runs waaay slow, so it can't be a huge factor. The memory upgrade was actually only $200 from 256MB to 2GB...less than buying 2GB of crucial, etc. from newegg so I decided to just get it from HP anyway. Still waiting with bated breath for the box to be sitting at my door when I get home from school--the printer arrived the NEXT DAY after it was shipped...so it should get her pretty soon after the build date.

 

Yeah, mine was about 3 days ahead of schedule. Of course I missed the FedEx delivery, so I had to go pick it up. I wasn't expecting it so soon.

 

Wow...I got the notebook today (found out on the FedEx website that it was waiting for me at home ) I got home ASAP, set up the WiFi (quite hard for me, never done it before) but everything set up in under an hour (including iTunes, all my other convenience programs). The notebook is blazing fast and the graphics on The Sims 2 are glorious. The speed and quality may have something to do with the 2GB of RAM (leaving 1.7GB free for some reason). I'm sitting in bed typing this up, love the wifi. Turion 64 is showing up on Windows system information as only 837MHz, on EA's PC info system as 937MHz, and the DirectX Dialog info showed up as 2.2~ Ghz...What the hecks? Anyway, I am thoroughly happy with my purchase! If anyone would like to help me figure out how to connect to a Belkin wireless-B router (my friend's home network) that the Broadcom card doesn't even recognize, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Hi SuperSenshi,
The reason that your cpu speed seems to change is because the cpu throttles up and diown as demand changes. This is to improve battery life.
Enjoy the new computer.