*HP EliteBook 8740w Owners Lounge - PART 2*

OH! forgot. It did crash the 1st time I tried it. I immediately changed from 10-bit mode to 8-bit mode and re-booted, so if you're in 10-bit mode now give that a try. As it was @ the same time that I did OS updates and needed to reboot for that, I forgot about it until just now.

 

Hmmm. I'm in 8-bit by default and all the updates are installed

 

HI, Attached benchmark result with
840QM, Fx3800m 4GB RAM, 1920x1200

 

At last! International layouts for the backlit keyboard are ready to order since today from the HP Parts Store! :yes:

My rep has ordered the spanish version for me Initial ETA is about 10 days, so maybe my 8740w will not arrive until earlier november. But I think it's well worth the wait.

I will report if HP has fixed all the issues you US guys found in the backlit keyboard before

Now I'm totally happy

 

for the new pre configured models in Europe it could be that the keyboard is also backlit, look this one as an example it says "backlit keyboard (select models)", what ever they mean...

 

The scores are consistent with the desktop GPU ones.
It's clear that Nvidia GPU's perform considerably better here.

 

I am joining the owner's club -- just bought one of these via HP.

i5-560M, DC2, FirePro.

I intend for this machine to replace my desktop, which works great but I am just done with having all this computer equipment ... time to get rid of all the cables. The 8740w seemed to be the best way to alleviate my troubles.

Anyways, I will be putting the screen to good use. I recently bought a nice Olympus E-PL1 camera and have been taking a lot of good-quality pictures with it; I expect my editing will get easier with the IPS screen.

The wait begins . . . I was quoted an 8-Nov ship date.

 

Well hell if Charles P is getting one of these then I'm sold.

 

It's good news when a reviewer decides to purchase your model laptop!

 

But you can order a pre-configured model NOW with the normal keyboard and your preferred components (CPU, GPU, RAM, disks...) and then order the backlit keyboard, separately, for your country (UK, if I remember well) from the HP Parts Store

knight427 already confirmed that keyboards are easily swappable ( thank you a lot!). You don't need any extra to install a backlit keyboard on the stock system with the normal one, because the stock system already has the extra connector to feed the keyboard LEDs

This is what I did: I ordered the system with the normal keyboard and later (today) my rep ordered the backlit one from the Parts Store. When the system arrives to my rep, he will swap the keyboards for me.

For the record, the P/N for the UK backlit keyb. is: 597581-031

I hope this helps and you pull the trigger

 

hi, guys... really needs some advice here... is a full re-installation recommended for this newly collected notebook?
1. with lesser tools installed would it makes this baby runs faster?
2. there are 2 system partition from hp and wonder if those partitions necessary?
3. default system blocks me from resizing to a partition i want.
4. read somewhere 3rd party resizing will cause w7 *(dy disk) refuse to run.
thiking of using gparted to re arrange all drive.... good?

Thanks in advance.. all..

 

hi, guys

is our backlit keyboard spill proof?

 

No keyboard is spill proof. If anything, it's mildly resistant.
Avoid spilling beverages on it

 

thanks~!

btw. i tried w7 shrink disk.. but it only allows me to shrink c to 250gb...while iam looking at 100gb since i do apps installation there only... wonder if defrag woudl help??

 

Looks like the only way is to use Gparted

 

Just for a point of reference, I placed an order for my 8740 on 10/8 (Friday), and I just received notice of a FedEx tracking number this morning (10/19, Tuesday). They originally quoted me an estimated delivery date of 10/30, so it looks like they beat their estimate by about 9 days. YMMV, of course.

 

Update!
Got my screen replaced today (had a few stuck pixels that I missed initially).
The new one has no stuck/dead pixels and the image is as good as on the old one. Love it!
HP support rocks, even here in Canada
The tech was very good and did the job in less than 20min.

 

Thanks there..
will try gp then..

 

HP's are always good and the elitebooks are supposed to be nothing but an improvment

 

I wonder if HP service in America (the States and Canada) carries out hardware upgrades on the system, paying them, of course. I remember I read on the M6500 thread that Dell dispatches this kind of service. Many users without the USB 3.0 daughter card wanted to install it aftermarket, and Dell sent a technician for them in order to install the card, paid naturally.

I'm asking this because it seems HP Iberica (Spain) does not carry out this type of services , even paying them. Although my rep's company it does, it's a bit disappointing, considering this computer is not a Pavilion, even it's not a consumer computer at all, it's HP's flagship!!

To be honest, I don't feel comfortable having to study the service manual in order to replace the CPU or the graphics card in the future.

Thanks

PS: BTW, it seems here HP Support is horrible . I'm not sure if I called the right phone number (for small bussiness), but the operator looked like a robot, scripted and very serious. It seemed she wasn't well-mannered

 

Sweet, thanks for the heads-up. I sent the payment over this afternoon and my rep said as soon as they verify it (likely tomorrow), it will be released to manufacturing. Then it's a linear waiting game . . .

I'm flattered.

 

wow i just got told that the hp uk guy would fly out to hongkong to install my 5000M when it's released to our market ;

thats a bit overkill! but i guess its well worth the harsh support i bought lol.

still a while to wait for my 5000m though hp has said march/april now

 

If I remember correctly from the original 8740w owner's thread you determine this with a all black screen in a completely dark room?

I'm going to have to check mine and get that addressed if necessary too when I start being a "squeeky wheel" soon regarding all the boot problems I have. Latest since the ATI driver update has been blue-screens caused by the ATI driver on initialization after the Windows tones; either that or a black screen. I often need three or more tries to boot.

I found I was only one 0.0.1 rev release behind the version you most recently mentioned when discussing the 2D performance. The 2D performance didn't change for me when I updated, but I did start seeing BSODs. Sure I could back the driver down to the previous release. But in all honesty I'd rather keep it this way as 'proof' to HP something is 'off' with my machine since I see those problems but you and others at all the latest release levels of the OS and HP software, don't.

 

I see your point.
If you ever need to fix the driver issue, - roll back to the previous working driver (you can use system restore) and try again or uninstall the current driver (including the driver's software), run CCleaner from safe mode and then install the new driver after a reboot or two.
Most of the time installing over the existing driver will work, but not always

 

This is my first post, so I want to say hello and thank everybody for your usefull posts.

Im thinking about getting this machine or the M6500. Well, I would like this with the DC2. It depends on the money.

I want to send an special thanks to Aikimox for his review, and HiddenUser, because im from Spain too, and he gave the rep to get an OCT. I really think im talking with the same rep than HiddenUser, because he has told me that has just sold one with the DC2. Now im waiting for an estimate.

Im planning to use it for CAD applications, so i have chosen the FX2800M. I think this is better than the M7820 for my use, is it right?

Thanks.

 

Do you know how much costs the WD942EA and WD943EA in Spain (these are the only two pre configured models with Dreamcolor in Europe, I think ((and with FX 3800, BTW)) or are these no option for you?

 

Update on issues i am working with HP:
AMD is currently involved and is working with HP on the 10-bit issue (ramp.psd file test). HP is also working on the MDA issue - not loading the user defined setting on startup.

 

The WD942EA is 4003 € (5600 $), and i cant find the WD943EA. I want to know if i can get it at a lower price with the FX2800M, no blueray and 4 GB RAM. If its not posible, may be i go for the WE942EA, but is so much money...

 

Welcome to the money pit. For me it's too late to go out

Did you go with Abast Grup? If you are going to order a CTO model, ETA is about 3 weeks normal.

Both should be fine. Go with the Quadro only if you need CUDA (mainly used on Adobe applications, like Photoshop). The FirePro is a more balanced card for working/gaming and it's cheaper to start. NVIDIA cards are more expensive due to marketing and more intensive certifications.

Also I recommend you tell your rep that you want the backlit keyboard installed. He can order it separately and can swap the keyboards for you. It's well worth, specially if you work at night like me. It only costs 60€ more. The backlit keyboard was launched just this week.

Good luck, I will receive mine the next week probably

 

Chaz please reveiw your 8740w when it arives

 

@HiddenUser

Thanks... I cant understand the high prices in Europe. I've just seen in hp USA one with i7 740QM, 8 GB RAM, 500 GB HD, FX5000 and DC2 for 4899 $ (3520 €).

Yes, im talking with Abast system, and i have just received the estimate. And it´s cheaper than i hoped. I have to read it slowly.

About the graphic card i have read than the nvidia is better for cad, 3D and render, but i have no experience.

As i don't use to work at night i think i will stay with de standard keyboard. And i read that is less soft than the backlit. Though i like how it looks.

I am a bit jealous about it

 

Hi, this is my configuration by now:

Chasis HP IDS QUAD 8740w Base NB PC
OS Win7 PRO64 OR07
Intel Core i7-740QM
RAM 4GB 1333DDR3 2 Dimm
HD 320GB 7200RPM
Keyboard 8740w std
Graphic Card nVidia FX 2800M 1GB
Screen 17.0 WUXGA WVA DreamColor 2 f/CAM
Webcam 2.0MP Integrated
Bluetooth 2.1+ 8740w Module
Intel 802.11a/b/g/n I2 8740w Module
Modem 56K v.92 MDC
Finger Print Reader
Battery 8-Cell 73Whr
DVD-RW LS UB 8740w Drive
AMT Enabled 8740w Module
Garantía a Domicilio 3 años día siguiente. On-site (Sorry, i dont know how to translate this. I thinks is 3 years next day)

I am considering the backlit keyboard, and will add 8 GB RAM aftermarket. In the future i would like an SSD.

Is the finger print reader giving problems? I think i read something about this.

I plan to use it for cad (autocad/archicad/revit), structural analysis and a little photo editing. No games.

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

I think this Wi-Fi adapter is the Intel Advanced-N 6200. For a little bit more you can have the Ultimate-N 6300 (Intel 802.11a/b/g/n I 3 8740w Module). The difference in price is negligible, AFAIK.

3 years Door/Dock Next Busy Day Warranty

Maybe, but those issues are software related (they can be solved by reinstalling the proper driver). Even the Dell M6500 does have much more problems with this.

Ok, then it makes no difference for you the ATi or the NVIDIA, because AFAIK, CAD programs don't use CUDA technology. Read this forum thread. You'll realize that Autodesk AutoCAD/Revit don't use CUDA as I told you. The same could be applicable to ArchiCAD.

 

I took care of the double posts -- we had some server issues last night and they are now resolved.

I will, time permitting. Still waiting for it to be built.

Last night I purchased a Corsair 4GB DDR3-1066 RAM stick off Newgg for $73; I will have a total of 6GB of RAM. Originally I intended to get a 2GB stick however those are $40 and for another $33 I figured why not get the 4GB stick -- I will likely upgrade anyway at some point. I also ordered a Western Digital Scorpio Black 500GB 7200RPM for $75. I was going to just swap the 7K500 from my ProBook with the drive the 8740w will come with, but I'm rather sure that it is going to come with a Seagate 7200.4 which is not a good quality drive.

 

OK, i will ask for it.

I have been looking for and found these links:

AutoCAD Graphics Hardware List AMD - ATI FirePro M7820
AutoCAD Graphics Hardware List NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M

It looks than the nvidia is more compatible. It supports D3D on AutoCAD 20210 and Advanced Material Effect on AutoCAD 2011, and the ati does not. However, i dont know if it is important.

And ( source):

 

FYI, In regards to D2D and Advanced Materials Effect and the M7820 card ... there are OS + ACAD release level combinations to provided support if needed (meaning one can run Vista or XP under Win7 or on another partition if those capabilites are called for).

 

Usually 8740W comes with 7k500 or WD Scorpio black. In my case i had one in each of my 8740W. Instead you should have got a Momentus XT hybrid for $30 more.

 

Thank m8o, i didnt know that.

 

Mine came with Hitachi. MomentusXT is good if you have no intention of getting a proper SSD. I'm staying with the stock HDD and will upgrade to G3 in a couple of months.

 

Really -- now that's interesting. I didn't see the option for the XT on the order page otherwise I would have asked the rep about it.

I spoke too soon about the hard drive . . .

 

i tested the hybrid seagate and the only thing that the ssd side is puttin on the table is a really low acces time ! the rest is on pair with other full mechanical drives ....i suggest reall ssd or stock mechanical...


here's the hitachi ....windows seven 64

 

I thought the review on NBR showed the Seagate Hybrid to have great read-ahead caching yielding performance that puts it right between SSD and the fastest pure mechanical... ?

Lemme go find that review... EDIT, this one: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5818&review=ssd+vs+hard+drive

 

The Seagate Momentus XT is a mechanical hard drive with a built-in 4GB SSD. It has an intelligent controller that figures out what data you use most and caches that in the SSD; that way access to it is lightning fast.

It is significantly more than a mechanical hard drive (500GB version is currently $130 on Newegg, where a regular Western Digital/Hitachi 500GB 7200RPM is $72-74), but much cheaper than an SSD. It gives most of the benefits of an SSD in everyday usage at a fraction of the cost. I would have paid extra to upgrade to it if I knew it was available; instead I just bought a WD Scorpio Black 500GB 7200RPM for a relatively cheap price. It will serve me well enough until I get enough guts to purchase an SSD.

 

XT isn't an option in the order page. What i meant was why buy WD scorpio black when u will already get the same or 7k500 with the 8740W. Then, i assume you chose the 250GB option (lowest possible) in the order page and want to upgrade to higher capacity by buying it outside.

 

That's correct, I went with the base 250GB drive; for the price of the 500GB upgrade, I could have bought two aftermarket. I plan on using the 250GB in an enclosure for backup.

 

I still love this thread. Still plotting on getting one of these.

HP have any elitebook offers going on right now?

 

hmm i just noticed the new bios update on the site F.08 has Nvidia video bios updates.

I'm going to flash my 2800M then run specviewperf so we can compare.

My machine came with F.08 so i never looked at the bios before, i only looked at it today to see if there was any extra support for the 620M lol

 

Same here. HP's 8740w on-line order page shows a 18% discount code...which didn't work for me when I tried to use it.

I've heard that you can get discounts up to 28% if you call HP and talk to a rep. Is this true? Any magic in getting the 28% discount?

The better the discount, the more goodies I can order with my 8740w.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

The on-line order code hasn't worked in some time, but its very existence pretty much means you can negotiate with a phone rep to get at least that much, if not more. As well, if you're willing to go for a pre-configured setup, HP has a lot of instant savings on several (4, I think) of their pre-configured rigs right now, good until the end of the year. Specifically, the XT909UT has $915 off, the XT911UT (with Dreamcolor!) is $1,125 off, the XT910UT is $1,055 off, and the XT908UT is $705 off.

 

veeery interesting. thanks for the tips.