Owners of the 8710p...

What are your impressions? It looks like a great machine from a hardware standpoint, I just want to be sure. How is the gaming performance? And what drivers would you need to optimize it? I'm strongly considering it for my laptop, I just want to be sure it doesn't have some glaring issue I'm unaware of.

 

Anyone have it?

 

I'm interested too. I ordered one on Sept. 12 from a local HP dealer....it's taking quite a while to come in.
I ordered the T7300 model. It's the one that seems to be short supply.

There is a a review at notebookcheck.net and I've seen comments on some threads that there will soon be a review here.

Should mine arrive in the near future I'll do a 'first impressions' thread.

In the mean time...has anyone got this model?

Helllooooooooo out there.

 

Well, I guess I'll just wait for the review, then.

 

Greg should be reviewing the one he recieved as a replacement for his 8430 here in a week or so. In the meantime the 8710w review can give you a good idea of the chassis and non-graphics performance.

The NVS320 video card in the 8710p is based off of the 8700M GT graphics core and performs accordingly. The only thing out there besting it is going to be 512MB 8700M GT cards, and the 7950GTX in DX9 titles. The best way to optimise the system is to do a clean reformat and then add drivers as you see fit. Most of the HP utilities are redundant as they duplicate functionality that Windows can do already. I personally have done this with my 8510w and run a fully functional XP system with 21 processes at boot.

 

good info,
thanks

 

yeah, thanks .

 

I guess you've seen them already, but here some other reviews

http://computershopper.com/reviews/hp-compaq-8710p-laptop-review

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-HP-Compaq-8710p-Notebook.4456.0.html

8710w version:
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/reviews/index.cfm?ReviewID=780

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=150050

 

I hadn't seen that first review!! It does bring up some inconsistencies, though.
In the first review, the 3dmark06 score is 3377, but in the second review (and every other source), the score is in the mid 4000s. Which one is correct? Because if the first one is, then there'd be no reason to get the 8710p over the 8510p!

 

correct one is in 1280x1024

 

So that'd be the notebookcheck.net one, correct?

 

The correct score is going to be about 4200-4300. Notebook check was wrong because they don't have a WSXGA+ lcd so they couldn't run at 1280x1024. Computer Shopper was wrong because more than likely they didn't remove all of the bloatware that came from the factory install from HP. So how do I know what the score is going to be? The NVS320 is just an overclocked 8600M GT core, so I clocked my Quadro 570M (which is also an 8600M GT core) to match the clocks that Notebookcheck reports (575/700). See image below.

 

Yup...review is on the way indeed. I'm scheduled to turn it in to Andrew within a few days.

Initial thoughts are very impressive, and my 3dMark scores are slightly more impressive than the ~4200 thrown around. But I'll save on how I squeezed the extra power out of the GPU for the review...and no overclocking was done.

 

I can hardly wait!

 

me too!
They say my machine could be in by next week!

thanks.

 

Lets us know when it is ready then

 

I've been looking at upgrading my laptop soon, and have been investigating the HP 8710 and HP 8510 series.

I had pretty much decided on the 8710p (because of the video card and price), but a friend made me question my decision. The point he made was that if I carry it around at all, I'd be better off with one of the 8510 ones.

I have nothing much to compare it too, so before I chuck some lead weights in my current laptop case to test whether it will make much difference, I thought I'd check if the extra 0.7Kg makes it that much heavier.

On paper it doesn't look that bad... 2.77 Kg versus 3.4 Kg. Comments would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Martin

 

I was thinking of getting that toshiba x205 at one point, so I put thirteen pounds of weights in my backpack. It made a huge difference, but I hardly think one pound or two would make that much difference.

 

for a longer period of time it will, trust me when u have to take your notebook with you somewhere the less it weights the better...

 

Think 2 large bottles mineral water - 1 & 1/2 litres each = just over 3kg.

 

is the review up... cant wait...

 

Not yet...though we're getting close.

There was an unforeseen delay (*cough* homework *cough*) in getting the review done.

 

Thanks Greg..
with your newly replaced 8710p (followed from another thread)
Hope its of a positive review... cos I have just ordered 1

 

Overall, the review is definitely positive! Most of my negative comments were centered within the Customer Service section...

I submitted the first draft to Andrew just 10 minutes ago for initial proofreading, and to get comments on what needs to change before the final submission. Shouldn't be more than a day or two before I send the final article to NBR's editors.

 

GREEEEEAT! .... thank you very much...

 

I am waiting for that, as well, Greg! I am thinking about giving back my Dell Precision M6300 due to poor screen quality. Although 3DMark06 is 5430 it does not matter if you have a poor screen.

 

Just open up my box of 8710p...SAD!
The keyboard they throw in is only with 2 button touchpad w/o blue stick! Keyboard look terribly cheap!!! and there is already a scratch on the lid! VERY SAD! The finishes of the cover does not seems smooth with alot of coarse spot on the paint coating!!! looks to me HP is really cutting on corners on this..
Never really feel like to power on anymore... Just so Sad!
Looks like have to go thru HP (Very SAD) and donno how long its gonna take to make the complain. will up post on what the support say..

Anybody here getting this stripped / corner cut down keyboard unit??

 

I can't believe something like that goes throught the quality stage. They don't seem to know how hard we need to work for these laptops! Burgerlim, let us know what is the result.

 

1st called to HP support... only to be asked to visit their service center! and was given a ref no: after expressing my disappointments.. sigh! without even telling me how the service center could help me.. (praying hard this would not be a scarry nightmare to me)..
will follow up later on the call...

UPDATE: Hei, Just called their Cust Support, After some super long wait... I am glad the girl replied after some check that they are willing to replace the keyboard for me!.. Hurray... but will take 3~5 working days... hmm... will update again after I send it in..

 

What you get is probably correct. Lower end 8710p's do not have the enhanced dual pointing devices, i.e. no trackpoint and only 2 button touchpad.

 

the previous generation ones didnt have the trackpoint either. only the workstation models have it.

with the lid. was it even coarseness or just patches? if its evenly course then i would assume that is just the finish they use. cant compare this to the piano black finish of the pavilion

 

Yeah a lot of people didn't know this. Anyway, some 8710p's do have the trackpoint and three-button touchpad. It depends on the configuration and model, so you have to check prior to ordering.

 

Just back from HP service center...

Hi, There...
lower end? (what is the specs for the lower end) what I have ordered is of the specs only avails to the place I live.. (T7500, 2GB, 160GB DVD LS drive, etc..) it was stated there in the configuration list online with options together with the. but when ask for certain configuration such as 7200rpm HDD.. sales says no.. in fact pretty much no option. And nothing on online reference referred to this...

 

Hi, There,
Nope, the lit feels smooth (matt) finish.. its basically oK to me.. (not that particular) but there is this little needle feel point here and there. I assumed the environment they spray / coat the cover is not entirely clean of particle.. so it trapped within the coat.. never wanted to compare with anything..

 

Greg

When is your review comming up?

//Fabian

 

Hmm Still waiting for Greg's review on this machine.

Just received my notebook back from Hp service center with the keyboard update at some extra cost!. Personally, must say their service is average at best. Decent (if you persist long enough - I had 5~ hours at HP customer Center!) . But their telephone tech support is far below average (the "tech" guy dont even know this model exist when you mentioned HP 8710p - maybe its too new..)

Finally got the thing done but no really worth the hassle (if not i had gone down to their service center)... The worst thing is there is no "21 return policy" here..so would advice anyone buying to check it before purchase.

...

 

I have been nothing but impressed with this machine so far, in fact I am typing on it right now.

So far I have deleted all the HP bloatware, installed all the programs I need and also updated the Video card drivers to "fool" the notebook into thinking I actually do have a 8700gt (which technically the 320M shares the same core).

The problem I am having now is being able to connect to wireless networks without the wireless zero config running, I like to game, and gaming on wireless with the zero config is a no no

 

I feel stupid, I don't have the Broadcom card that the utility is for...but I can't find anything for my integrated intel card

 

there should be somthing on the cd, check for exe file called iProInst??
That is what Ive got for my Intel Wireless Its actually quite nice

 

I found the correct utility and installed it...but now my touchpad scroll wheel (or scroll area rather) doesn't function...

grr this is frustrating!

EDIT: Awesome, as simple as reinstalling the Touchpad drivers and I am all set...I can't wait to game on this beast

 

u need to have synaptics utility and drivers and it has to be running!

 

Nice to hear this is such a good machine.... cant wait to setup mine.. so far all been running on Vista is it?

 

Actually I am running XP

I went the XP route for a few reasons, first off getting the Cisco VPN Client (which I need for work purposes) set up correctly on Vista is nearly impossible, at least no one over at T-Mobile US has been able to do it yet.
Also with the resource hog that Vista tends to be I opted for XP because I am going to using this to game quite a bit.
Also again knowing that Vista hogs resources I didn't have much of a choice in what Preconfigured machine I would have because it was company bought (but given to me for a personal/work computer) and we went with the 1.8 gig 7100. It's still a great processor, but considered more on the "slow" side now


I am super impressed with the quality of the build, my complaints so far is stuff that just takes getting used to, like the keyboard for example; the keys are a little smaller than I had hoped, but it is just something that will get easier with more use. I am also not a huge fan of the touch sensitive controls above the keyboard, but eh, that's a minuscule complaint.
As much of a gimmick as the fingerprint reader is I must admit there is something that makes you feel special logging onto your computer using your finger.

 

Just a bump to explain that it is running amazing today

I could not be happier with this notebook. I installed Steam late last night and while doing the CS:S stress test with everything turned on maximum and AA at 2x running in the native resolution (1440x900) my avg fps was 136.23!!!

I also was given an Ogio bag http://www.ogio.com/product.php?product=455 by my boss and the fit is a little snug but I think it will work, I will keep ya'll up to date as I walk the mile to and from work for the next few days.

 

Cheers to you StoryR, nice bag indeed... just a little to the wide side to me..
Just boot up mine yesterday nite. very cool but just feel the booting a little slow.. (no complain here).

followed some other thread, seems should fall back to XP for real performance... here..

 

Just FYI...review is done, Andrew should hopefully be posting it in a few days.

 

Writing this on my phone.. I have vista cleaned up and running 8700-driver. getting 3875 in
3Dmark06.. Will change to XP

 

Wow that seems REALLY low. I mean, the t61p gets more than that!

 

The T61p being reviewed might have had a lower resolution...that does make a significant difference.

 

Hi again.. I removed some more crap. . On idle the system uses ~580mb RAM and when i set the gpu to run in "performance" mode I get 4275 in
3DMark06. Still on Vista.. All in all I am pretty pleased with it.
/Fabian