dv7t & dv8t

I just wanted to know which had the better graphics card?

the gt 230m or the gt 320m? I looked up the 320m on notebook check but I'm getting blank info.

EDIT: also, which one would you guys prefer between the dv7t and dv8t?

 

If size is not a factor, I would definitely go for the dv8t because it has a better screen(1920x1080 vs 1600 vs 900), and its GT 230m is better than the 320m.
I have the dv8t and may I say, it is AWESOME!

 

not to derail to much...but, Computerstriker, how did you get the 6200n into your dv8?

 

actually... i modded it =D
just joking- it can OEM from HP. HP made a revision to the dv8t-1000 (the first line) and now makes the dv8t-1100, which comes with hardware changes, which include the Intel Advanced N 6200AGN wifi card

 

Hmm... Size is a factor for me. I would like the full 1920x1080 but that size seems a bit much.

Umm... may you be so kind as to give some details on exactly how big it is? Perhaps some pictures of it comparing it to another object but only if it isn't too much trouble.

Thanks for your help.

EDIT: I guess I should add that I'm concerned about size and weight since I'll be carrying it with me often. what do you think?

erm.... I have no muscles......

 

DV8T-1000 CTO has major nags associated with touch sensitive controls. HP will not acknowledge these flaws. Don't get suckered. I know first hand. I, unfortunately own one. A search of DV8T, treble, bass will verify this for you, or, just go to the DV8T owners lounge and you'll see it all over the thread.

 

Well, that does it then. I'll go for the dv7t then. I'll probably order it this week. Thanks

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by editorpc
DV8T-1000 CTO has major nags associated with touch sensitive controls. HP will not acknowledge these flaws. Don't get suckered. I know first hand. I, unfortunately own one. A search of DV8T, treble, bass will verify this for you, or, just go to the DV8T owners lounge and you'll see it all over the thread.

If it's not too late, I urge you to ignore the well-meaning but completely misleading comment of "newbie" editorpc! Don't buy the dv8 if size and weight are a problem for you (but note, the dv7 is also a very large and very heavy DTR computer, not very suitable for carrying around unless you do have very strong muscles

The dv8 is a wonderful computer and the "problems" with the bass/treble controls amounts to a lot of nothing. First of all, I had it when I first got the computer (December) and got a fix so quickly and easily I don't even remember what it was. Besides, the dv7 doesn't even have bass/treble sliders on the keyboard deck - you certainly can disable them on the dv8 if you somehow couldn't alleviate their native tendency to show up uninvited on the screen. Again, there are actually several, easy fixes so that those controls work perfectly, I'm just giving you yet an additional alternative to mitigate this non-issue.

I own both machines - one is usually on loan to one of my employees - and I can tell you that they perform about the same (except my dv7 has the 230 GPU, which HP downgraded to the 320 a month or two ago) but the video and audio (with or without bass/treble sliders - there is an awesome IDT audio control console included!) are in completely different leagues. The DV8's 18.4" screen (vs 17.3 on the dv7) is equal to a small full HDTV! My wife and I sometimes hook it up to our SONY 52" XBR, but lately found if we put the dv8 on the bed in front of us, the video experience is so great that it is not often worth the trouble to hook it up to the TV! The sound quality on the dv8 is worlds apart from the dv7. I'm not sure how different the number or types of speakers or subwoofer are between the two, but the dv8 sounds as good as a quality "boom box" whereas the dv7 sounds "good for a laptop."

If I sell any harder you'll think I have an ulterior motive! This is a matter of choice, but you need to have the facts, and have them accurately. The forums are full of complaints about both computers, but remember, forums are for people with problems, not for people who love their computers. Remembering back from when I first got mine, there was a regular group of posters on this thread who traded problem stories and found solutions and now we only post when someone like you is looking for advice - ie, "new car" bugs have all been worked out.

Good luck!

 

How is it misleading? I never suggested she get either. In fact, I would say get neither. HP support sucks. It is well established that the Dv8t-1000 CTO is rife with problems. I wouldn't buy it if I were her and I stand by what I say. And what makes me a newbie? Please elaborate. I urge you to ignore lovelaptops incredulous plug of HP. Boom box...don't think so bud. Nuff said.

 

Sorry, I really was being snotty, editor. Your sign in says "Newbie, 9 posts," that's all I was referring to. I read in other NBR threads that you have been all over the block with HP on these bass/treble sliders and are trying to get a class action lawsuit going; why not just disable them? As for the dv8t1000 being "rife with problems," one can interpret the posts in the Owners' Lounge however one might, but I counted 9 different owners of 3 months tenure or more all saying they think their dv8t rocks in the past 2 months (I make the 10th), so I think it is misleading both to advise someone to stay away from a computer this complex and powerful because for some, a minority you are unfortunate to be part of, the bass/treble sliders are a vexing problem. If you had simply stated that "for me personally...." I would've had no problem with your post. Still, sorry for my snotty retort. I get a little impatient with people who damn a machine or entire product line because of one idiosyncratic problem. And yes, I do love my dv8t - knowing it's faults, most of which you omitted in your post.

 

No harm, no foul, and appreciate the apology. Listen, we are on the same side as consumers and owners of this new laptop. Minus the significant nags...I realize now that I didn't mention the video driver abruptly quiting occasionally earlier in this post, so add that one to the list...I really do want to love this laptop. Hopefully, they listen to their customers, and do something to make me change my mind. Right now, the jury is deliberating

 

I have a fairly new DV8t and experienced both the video driver quitting and the bass/treble slider problem out of the box. However, with a little research online, I fixed both problems in less than two days. The video driver simply needed to be updated to a later version that's much better and that has the added benefit of supporting CUDA. The tone sliders also needed to have a few HP apps updated. Unfortunately, the updates are not to be found on HP's official support page, but I still found them very quickly and solved these issues completely.

So, for the record, I too LOVE my DV8t and think it's an incredible bargain for the specs and technology one gets with this machine.

However, I would definitely NOT recommend this machine to a person who needs something portable simply because this machine is big, heavy and has terrible battery life. These things don't bother ME in the slightest because my DV8 spends 99% of it's time on my desk plugged in to AC at home and only gets carried when I go on vacation which is pretty rarely. And on those occasions, it's worth it to me to lug this beast along because it's so awesome to have it with me when I get to where I'm going.

In sum, this is by far the best laptop I've ever had and it also was the cheapest with discounts and coupons. I can't believe I got a machine of this power and quality for the price I paid.

Of course, it's still not perfect and I wish it did have better battery life, wish it had a backlit keyboard and wish that it's internal fan was a little quieter when it spins up to cool the machine down. Also, although I think the graphics adapter is better than most people give it credit for, I wish it had a higher end graphics card. Still, I can play CODMW2 for hours on the highest settings at full 1920 x 1080 resolution and the machine never gets hotter than the low 80's (CPU) with only the stock cooling fan, so I'm satisfied, but of course it still would be nice if it was even better.

Finally, I might add that I've also solved (or am about to solve) most of the problems I mentioned in the paragraph above. The keyboard light issue was solved with the purchase of a Mighty Bright LED book light. The noisy fan will hopefully be solved with the purchase of a Zalman cooling pad. The short battery life will probably by solved by my buying a second battery for it for those rare times I need to use it on an airplane.

 

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