Pavilion 15-akXXX Intel Gaming Notebook (2015)

"Never. Stop. Gaming." HP has introduced the Pavilion 15 - Gaming Laptop.

• HP Pavilion 15-akXXX (15t-ak000 CTO) INTEL

More Information, including how to order:
http://store.hp.com/us/en/mdp/Laptops/hp-pavilion-gaming

Product Images (courtesy HP):

 

Not available with anti glare screen, so out of the running (for me)

 

This thing looks kind of sad. Thinking HP may have been better off not releasing it.

btw. who puts the exhaust fan (which will run obviously hot) directly where most right handed people would use a mouse to play a game, madness mes thinks.

 

Looks like a nice laptop to me since i really like the build quality of the latest Pavilion series. I wonder what brand and type of panel the IPS option is, anyone know?

 

buyed!!!

 

Got this thing as well, to replace the aging Acer.
Can't wait for a BIOS update to be released, so I can begin modding. I really need a 5GHz-capable wireless card in this one, but it's currently locked down.

@Rhadamanthis: How well does the 950 Pro work? Does it get full 4x PCI-E? Can it boot properly?
Also, how did you fit all those HDDs in?

 

hi @.NetRolller 3D
i install sm 951 ahci and fail (not recognized), now i ordered a 850 evo (have interface sata m2), when arrive i test but probably work at 99%
for ram, not support ddr4 damn!, but work with 2133 ddr3 (like hyperX by kingston)
if you would, make a thread, i support you
i ordered a 7265 wlan by intel but i wait m2 ssd samsung for install windows10
i ordered a hdd caddy by hdcaddy for install another hdd/ssd.
i study for maximize dissipation (probably foiling like clevo) and heatsink copper by rabespierry and enzotech mos-c1 ^^ coming
i would a bios mod for system , for gpu and remove white list if is!!!!
your panel is 1920x1080? if yes, if disassembly ^^, can give me a serial number?

 

I thought you had 950 Pro NVMe.

That's really sad news, it's M-keyed, but SATA-only?! Especially given the NVMe support modules in BIOS.

 

i thinks yes. sm951 thats have buyed is ahci version m2 2280 version but not recognized with all sata device and with not attached sata connector. you can go to buy with amazon 950 pro m2 nvme and can you test. i have see the disassembly manual by hp and the maximum drive for m2 is 256 TLC... i ave see a review of ho gami g and when disassembly have a samsung sm841 and in the spec. is sata interface. i not sure with future bios update by hp or bios mod. can install a nvme ssd.

Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk

 

There is a module called NvmExpress.efi included in the BIOS, as well as hidden options related to NVMe in Setup (still working out how to unlock them - BIOS is signed, so can't be modded directly, I'm instead trying to load a modded SetupUtility.efi from disk using the UEFI shell). Would be a real shame if the M.2 slot lacked PCIE connectivity.

Interestingly the BIOS is full of (hidden) overclocking options - either HP is planning to come out with a 6820HK version, or they planned to use that CPU during development, and only switched to 6700HQ later. There's also a "BIOS lock" option, which is enabled and hidden - I wonder if it controls BIOS signature verification, or something else.

The disassembly manual lists only those parts that can ship stock with this machine, e.g. HP only stocks DIMMs up to 8GB each, but 2x16GB is known to work with 3rd-party DIMMs.

 

at final 950 pro nvme probably work? 16 gb is max for this notebook and work with module 2133. when receveice 850 evo i can bench with aida if you make thread with stock perormance. if you made bios mod ...open to dirty modding for thia stilish notebook.

Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk

 

Just a heads up, I'm RMAing the machine due to what appears to be a faulty GPU. It's panicking / BSoDing under GPU load, and the logs is full of PCIE errors (several every second), even at idle. Reproducible in both Windows and Linux.

I suggest you also check your event log for PCIE errors, to see if it also affects other machines.

 

where i found log?

Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk

 

I can confirm that the Samsung 950 PRO 512GB is not recognized either by this laptop. And that is the main reason I chose it, in order to run NVMe disks. Very sad.
Can we mod the BIOS or inquire HP to support these type of SSDs?

 

I doubt it's a matter of BIOS modding, since the BIOS actually contains an NVMe support module. HP probably didn't connect the PCIE pins of the M.2 slot - in other words, it isn't really an M.2 Type M slot, but a proprietary SATA connector with the same physical dimensions as an M.2 slot. Same thing that they did before with MXM in the Elitebooks.

Event Log can be viewed by searching for eventvwr in the Start menu. For me, the errors were in the System log.

 

Oh that's really bad if they did that.
Only cheerful fact is that we tried the 950 PRO also in an ASUS Z97K-USB3.1 motherboard that is said to support NVMe SSDs and it also was not recognized. We have contacted ASUS Support and are awaiting a more detailed answer, cause their first one was that this SSD may me incompatible with the motherboard.

.NetRolller 3D is there any chance that you live in a country that HP offers a chat service or something like that? In Greece where I live they always forward me to the greek branch where they don't know what SSDs this laptop supports, and I don't blame them.

 

I've actually talked with HP Hungary on the phone. According to them, "this laptop cannot be upgraded in any way, period" and "the only supported hardware is what ships with it".

Also, if the hard drive or SSD ever needs to be replaced, HP doesn't offer data recovery, won't cooperate with data recovery firms (i.e. they have a policy of not giving back the old, failed HDD after a repair), and any attempts of data recovery before turning the machine in are considered tampering and will void the warranty, even if done by a professional. This is official word from a HP customer service rep.

At this point, even if it's repaired, I'm gonna return or sell this laptop.

 

This is so unfortunate..

They did not use to be like this.. I owned a DV6500 and they updated the BIOS to the point it supported the latest Core2duos that came out years after the release of the notebook.
Such a shame.

I will look further into this.. It is way too bad for a Skylake notebook that has an M.2 M-socket to not support NVMe SSDs. It also isn't cheap!

 

Bad joke hp!!!!!

 

Rhadamanthis is the 850 EVO M.2 working ok at least? You get decent speeds? Cause with the stock one speeds suck bigtime!

 

ok....i have half finish work for this notebook. 850 evo m2 is recognized perfectly and 7265 wifi (from dell) is recognized . Two notice good ^^ from italy


Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk

 

Thank you for your reply!

 

Tomorrow i upload mod ^^ and finish work...

 

Mod?? What mod??? xD

 

1) heatsink mod by enzotech for mofset and rabespierry copper for > size
2) foil heatsink metal for not hot air in notebook
3) foil copper with thermal adhesive pad for ssd
4)swaped standard intel wifi with intel 7265
5) repaste wirh phobia 16 mk/w paste
6) phobia xt thermal pad 7 mk/w for chipset
7) hdd caddy specific dor this notebook. total 3 drive ;
8) Kingston Hyper X 2133 Mhz DDR3
9) lucid copper with Sidol.

tomorrow visual mod

nexth i study for update panel with fullhd replace part and bios mod

Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk

 

Nice work! Keep us posted!

 

mmmmmm

update i order corsair ddr3l 1866 16 gb........ kingston have high latency at 2133 at 2T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i investigate.......


update : corsair now work great!!!

 

Do they perform better than the 2133 HyperX? Was it worth the expense?

edit: What version of BIOS are you using? I updated it to F.71 and soon after that they withdrew all the BIOS related updates. Weird.

 

whatis changelog of f.71

Inviato dal mio MotoE2(4G-LTE) utilizzando Tapatalk

 

I really have no idea. There isn't anything included in the .exe file that I opened with 7zip.

 

Do you still have the F.71 image? I have F.54 stock, and there is a chance that my problems are BIOS-induced.

 

When shipped I had F52revA.
I kept the files, yes. I really don't know why HP does not provide them anymore.

Here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vlvsxah2q68ng0c/BIOS F71revA.exe?dl=0

 

f71 where you downloaded?

Inviato dal mio MotoE2(4G-LTE) utilizzando Tapatalk

 

It was available till late December in the HP support page for this laptop, in the Driver download section.

 

not see bios in driver download selection.... but your bios changelog is
ENHANCEMENTS:
- Provides support for additional systems running Windows 7.
- Provides improved function of the system fan.

FIXES:
- Fixes an intermittent issue which causes the display to flicker when the system is powered on.
- Fixes an intermittent issue which causes the system to stop functioning (hang) when the system is powered on.
- Fixes an intermittent issue which the causes an error to occur and an error message to be displayed when the system is connected to a Windows Deployment Services (WDS) server using IPv4/IPv6 protocol.
- Fixes an intermittent issue which causes the system to restart slower than expected.

 

It was taken down late December for no apparent reason, as I already mentioned.

Thanks! Where did you find the changelog?

 

When you open file exe you can see changelog

Inviato dal mio HTC One M9 utilizzando Tapatalk

 

haha didnt remember this. Any news about NVMe support? I guess we are stuck in SATA, no?

 

No news, im in 850 evo msata 2280 and im very happy. I dont have capability to bios mod....

Inviato dal mio HTC One M9 utilizzando Tapatalk

 

The BIOS includes an NVMe support module. The reason why PCIE SSDs don't work is most likely because the M.2 port only has SATA wires connected to it.

 

Can we check by some means - even optically- what is going on? For instance if PCIe support has an extra circuit or driver or chip or something. I am more than willing to take it apart again to check.

I hope they didn't merely used it as a SATA port, relying on the fact that that ASUS mobo supported PCIe+NVMe and still did not recognize the SSD.

*Sigh*

 

Look for the pins that make no contact when a B+M-keyed module is inserted. These are (most likely) PCIE lanes 2 and 3. Also, look for pins 29, 31, 35 and 37 - if these are connected, that suggests PCIE support at least in hardware. (Pins 41, 43, 47 and 49 are shared between SATA and PCIE lane 0. 29, 31, 35 and 37 are PCIE lane 1.)

EDIT: Here is the pinout of the M-keyed M.2 slot in the Pavilion: https://pcisig.com/sites/default/fi...s_interface_for_SSD_Socket_2_and_Socket_3.pdf
Save it before they take it down! ("Socket 3" is the one relevant for us.)

 

Thank you for the link, I saved it. The notebook I had it open again a few days ago and took some pictures back then. From the looks of it, it seems that it really is just a bloody SATA connector. Only hope is for the rest of the connectors to be on the other side of the motherboard, but I really doubt it. Could it be possible?
I soon intend to displace the motherboard and flip it just to see if the rest of the connections lie on the other side, cause I really feel so betrayed by HP.
I used to have an ASUS N751JK for a while (corporation's ownership) that was older than the HP, cheaper too although 17", and had full PCIe x4 support.

edit: Sorry, here is the photo:

 

Remove the SSD, and check the connections under it.

I agree, if it's really just a glorified SATA plug, it's a betrayal of both buyers and standards. SATA-only ports should, per spec, be B-keyed, if they are even allowed - an M-key is visual indication of PCIEx4 (as opposed to PCIEx2 for all other keys).

 

Okay I disassembled it again and as far as I can see the needed connections are not present. I wish I am wrong. Could there be any intermmediate circuit layers that are not visible?
Since photobucket is down due to problems I uploaded the photos to tinypic. Please check them out.

 

Hi Guys

Is there anybody who have different than f.71 BIOS installer? Newer or older? May I have BIOS related issues and I would like to try something. i know the HP removed the BIOS download section for this model. Any link would be nice, thank you.

 

The F.71 is the latest. I also have the previous one which I will upload for you once I get back home.

edit:
here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9vt7gqxildd0vqw/BIOS F52revA.exe?dl=0

 

Thank You, Anybody gets WHEA-Logger Event ID 17 in Event Viewer?

 

Yes it's there occasionally as a warning.

 

Thx for your answer, it seem skylake bug