Secondary Gaming notebook

I am currently in need of a secondary gaming notebook, before I build my desktop.

yesterday, I got this laptop at Staples for $500 + tax

HP dv6
2nd generation Intel Core i5-2450M Processor
4GB system memory
750GB HDD
15.6" display
Radeon HD 7690M XT graphics

Which is an awesome deal for the specs.

HOWEVER:

HP has had a reputation for cheap builds and poor quality laptops. There are also some annoying driver issues and potential overheating issues. I like the specs for the price, but I want it to last as well. I am wondering if I should get a NP9130 instead. I am currently looking at ProStar due to the free shipping to Canada, something other resellers don't have for us Canadians, as well as the couple of free upgrades offered (12 gb ram, wireless). My proposed configuration is as below:

15.6" 1920 x 1080 Full HD (16:9) Matte Type Display
Intel Core i7-3610QM Processor
12GB, PC3-10600/1333Mhz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M w/1.5GB GDDR5
500GB/7200rpm 16MB Cache Buffer SATA-300
8X Max. DVD±R/RW Writer/Reader / 4X Max. +DL Super-Mulit Drive
Free Upgrade to Intel Wireless-N 130 + Bluetooth Combo
1 Year U.S. and Canada Premium Parts Warranty + 3 Year Labor

For a grand total of $1219.00 USD before taxes.

I want some opinions/advices of what I should do, as well as any better potential resellers or issues with Prostar, whom I surmise are not as large and well known as some of the others. Is the laptop worth the $700 increase in price? I have 12 days left before I can return the HP laptop back to staples. Thanks!

 

well if u really have that kinda money to spend, id go for the clevo aaaaall the way tbh! it will last u way longer, the build quality is impeccable and ull get upgradeability down the line (cpu/gpu/RAM/HDD/SSD). get rid of that HP and go get urself that wonderful machine

just my two cents ^^

cheers

PS: if possible, go with the 660M, offers almost the same performance but its already got the new kepler architecture at 28nm, runs cooler, more efficient and gives u plenty of headroom to do a nice OCing

 

Sincerely, +1 to everything ^^he just said!

 

I agree, have some rep from me too. There's nothing wrong with prostar, I just don't think they have a rep here so they're not as well known as xotic or the others. Anyway, if this is just a secondary gaming notebook you probably don't need 12GB of ram, you could downgrade it to 8GB@1600MHz and save yourself some cash. But getting the 660m should be a priority, as it will not only run cooler and use less power but also add to the resale value of your laptop should you want to sell it later.

 

My first HP was slightly below average as far as build quality, durability, and heat issues. I decided to give them another shot and got the computer I am on now. They were both reasonably priced so I thought it was ok. Big mistake. I've had a multitude of issues and can't wait for my new p170em to arrive. My computer is literally falling apart. I'm just the average user who games and never used my laptop for unintended purposes, like a hammer or chair, so I expected more out of it. This time around I am definitely willing to pay whatever extra required to get a solid computer.

 

You should go spread that story around on /r/suggestalaptop. I moderate there and we've been seeing tons of recommendations for the HP dv6t for the $900-1000 price point, since it comes with the 650m and the closest Clevo's (W150 and W110er) cost $100 -$200 more. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth to see recommendations for anything HP (other than Ultrabooks) because everyone I've known to have one has had it crap out or burn up in a year or two. It's just not a good buy for the money, even if it saves a little.

 

While we're sharing HP horror stories... I have a friend with a HP G71 (C2D) whose overheating issues caused the battery to 'splode and now he has to carry an AC adapter everywhere.

 

ouch! at least he didnt get injured or anything.... (at least it didnt sound like it?)

 

No, it didn't fly all over the place. It just puffed up like a bad capacitor and then it wouldn't hold a charge.

 

Alrighty, thanks for the response. Some points of consideration:

1. The np9130 is almost 2.5 times the price of my HP. HP - $500, Sager - $1200
2. I only picked prostar because of the free to shipping to Canada. Are there any other resellers that does this?
3. Prostar is offering the 12GB 1333mhz ram for FREE. So I can pick that or pick the stock 8GB 1600 mhz for the exact same price. Which one is better and why?
4. From what I'm reading, people are saying that the 660m > 670m? Why? Also, Prostar is only offering the 670m for their 9130.

 

1. Worth the price.

2. I believe XoticPC ships to Canada for free. Eurocom as well.

3. Personal choice. Personally I'd go for the faster 8GB 1600MHz RAM now, upgrade with more RAM cards later if I felt the need of having more. Such an after market upgrade would be dirt cheap. If you wanted a faster RAM later however, you'd have to replace all the chips.

4. I doubt that, although I wouldn't know too much about it. 670M is decent. And I believe it is the only GPU available with that model, unless you consider the Sager NP9150, stretch your budget a little and get the much better 675M.

 

1. Yea..my primary concern is my HP falling apart, like others have said here..

2. I didn't read anything on free shipping to Canada from Xotic. As for Eurocom, they're prices are much higher than normal, and I've heard some negative things from them, so I won't consider Eurocom.

3. Yea, you're right.

4. Something about fermi/kepler, although I am not familiar with nVidia cards, so I don't really know. 1200 is already stretching it, as I need money to build a desktop.

 

Then go with the current configuration. It's pretty decent as it is, especially for the price!

 

I just did a quick bit of googling; most people I've read say that 1333mhz and 1600 mhz have no real difference unless you overclock, and that amount of ram > speed of ram. Personally, I probably am not going to OC as I dislike wearing out my computer more than it has to normally.

 

No, the speed gain would definitely be noticeable somewhere someday for sure! The difference in RAM size you wouldn't even know where to utilize! I stand by what I've stated..

 

Regarding #3 and 4, I'll try to explain. You're right, there is almost no difference between 1333 and 1600Mhz ram, however it will speed up your iGPU quite a bit (~15%). If this is only for gaming, 12GB isn't really necessary, so it's really up to you. Now, 660m and 670m are roughly equal in terms of performance, but the 660m is built on a newer, better architecture, which is very energy efficient. Due to this it will run a lot cooler and thus will have more overclocking headroom. Also, because it's newer it will add resale value to the laptop in case you wanted to sell it later for whatever reason.

 

Ok, on a related note, something just happened to my HP dv6...my HD7690m xt just disppeared. Like, the laptop acts as though it's not even installed. All I see for my display are the Intel graphics cards...does anyone know what just happened to my laptop?

EDIT: Ok, I rebooted my HP several times..on the third reboot the card came back... Is this an example of the HP failures that I've heard so much about? My card was definitely not hotter than 60~70c, so I doubt it overheated...

I am seriously scared to keep the HP right now , if the card will suddenly go kapoot for nor reason at all randomly...

 

Maybe it died and the iGPU is all your HP can use now. Does this make you more eager to upgrade? Run something like hwinfo and see if that detects it, I never take windows for it's word without a secondary source.

 

Well, start running tests. Test that dedicated AMD video card and see if it works correctly. If not, then....dunno. Return the laptop or just replace it.

 

Given how quickly they sold out due to RFD, I highly doubt there are any more in stock now...

 

You can't use HP's for a hammer or a chair? Dude, you totally got ripped off. I actually got rid of my hammerchair when I got my Sager. Now that I'm getting my P170EM, I'll actually be able to sit and hammer at the same time!

 

I'm fine with the HP having lower specs than the Sager... I just want a laptop that won't break down less than a year into the purchase, and I'm having doubts about HP.