Compaq Presario C500T Review Discussion

This is a review of the Compaq Presario C500 budget notebook made by HP. It is a 15.4-inch screen system, making it a mainstream notebook. Although using ancient Celeron M technology, this notebook offers some nice features at an even better price.

Read the full content of this Article: Compaq Presario C500T Review

 

I think theres a typo there, it's Everest not Everex

and are you sure that SuperPi test is right? it's faster than a Pentium M of the same speed and suprisingly close to the C2D.

Good review though and a amazingly good deal I have to say!

 

This Celeron M isn't antiquated technology; it's a single core Yonah

 

Good review! The Super Pi score is too good to be true, though, for a Celeron M processor.

 

Nice catch, Everex is actually the name of a notebook brand ( www.everex.com) and it was supposed to be Everest.

That Super Pi score does look way too good to be right -- maybe I under estimate the power of the Celeron though.

 

I believe the Super Pi score is correct. All I did was install the program and run it on the laptop.

I ran it at 2M and it gave me the 1m 29s readout.
I also ran the 1M and 512kb modes and it gave a linear decrease in time.

Can anyone explain why the Super Pi results are better than the Pentium M and approaching the Core Duo? Would the upgraded ram have anything to do with it?? Or how about the way single cores vs duel cores operate on calculate a single number?

 

Nice review on the C500T. It is always great to see the budget units getting some screen time at NBR!

That said, I would also like to add that the C500T is a mature & stable notebook design. For those with keen eyes, this lappy should look familiar to Compaq fans. It is a rebadge of the venerable V5000 series notebook from the previous generation Compaq line.

It is much sturdier than it's predecessor, and also runs much cooler. I currently have both platforms (albeit the AMD versions), and there is no comparison. I have been very happy with this lappy, and have not experienced the random keyboard problems that seemed to manifest itself on this design.

As for the 2.3 Vista Experience Index rating, I was a bit surprised at first. The GMA950 is usually capable of achieving better, but this may be due to the amount of memory currently allocated to the 950 with 512mb system ram (at the time of the "first-boot" test).

Again, good job & enjoy your lappy!


Mike

 

A coursemate of mine has one of these lappies, branded as HP G3000. Indeed it is a pretty basic affair. The touchpad`s surface isnt very good, it has only 2 USB ports and you basically gotta the whole (read: half) machine apart just to add a stick of RAM. It originally came with XP Home but surprisingly runs Vista Business (from MSDN AA) pretty good.

 

Yeah the celeron M isnt an old dog but that score was kinda shocking lol

i have an old 1.6ghz celeron M 1MB cache lappy, ill fire it up and see what the super pi scores are.

would the extra 1GB RAM have made a difference? mine only has 512MB btw

 

Curious. The C500T & V5000 have the underside hatch where both dimms are accessible. The R4000 series has only one user-accessible dimm, and is of a much more cumbersome design. The other sodimm is retrieved by dissassembling the notebook as you pointed out.

 

this is a screenshot of my Dell inspiron 1300 with a 1.6ghz Celeron M w/ 1MB cache (with Im guessing is Dothan?). how much cache has the 1.8ghz one in the review?

yup it's a Dothan. so this new celeron M is a Yonah? must have more than 1MB cache i gather cuz thats a good Super Pi score considering the old Dothans!

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Celeron-M 400-series are Yonahs (Core Solo's with half the cache and disabled SpeedStep). Celeron-M 500-series are Meroms (Core 2 Solo's with half the cache, disabled SpeedStep, disabled Virtualization).

While there are still plenty of 300 series Celeron-M's still on the market, the 400 and 500 series are most desirable and do surprisingly well in performance tests (not so great in power consumption).

 

SideSwipe:

No, the Celeron 440 still only has 1MB L2 cache. And yes, it is a Yonah (crippled-Core Solo).

 

so im guessing theyve drastically improved the architecture so much that it's very close to C2D performance?

 

Closer to Core Solo performance is a better comparison, since it will not handle the multitasking of a C2D. Also SpeedStep is disabled (as was mentioned above), but it does have a faster FSB than Dothan Celerons and the SSE3 instruction set. Also, the Yonah is a 65nm cpu (the Dothan 90nm). Above that is the Memron Celeron, which adds 64 bit support.

Footnote: The above mentioned Memron Celeron (520) is also an available option on the C500T.

 

wow guess the celerons have really come a long way since the old P4 days, even the P-M days too. I could never stand the core solo name, just reminded me too much of it being Han Solo's kid or something hehe

 

The Celeron M in this laptop is a Celeron M 440 (1.86GHz/1MB L2/533MHz FSB), which is based on the Core (Yonah) architecture. It's a Core Solo in disguise (almost - no SpeedStep on Celerons).
My Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz/2MB L2/533MHz FSB) is probably slower than the Celeron 440 in real-world applications; I do have you beat on the CPU score though, my 750 scores 3.8 in Vista's benchmark.

Nice review, this reminds me of the Black Friday laptops that are sold for ridiculously low prices.

 

Yeah, they have. I vaguely remember running across a review which had a Yonah Celeron beating a higher-clocked desktop Athlon 64 in office benches. Today's budget processors have much more muscle than they once did.

 

Indeed, I mean my old celeron M is a decent performer considering it was as good as the early pentium M's but these ones are impressive. kinda makes you wonder what you need a dual core system for if these could perform as well in real life. i wonder how slow my old 754 3000+ sempron would seem now

 

Probably about as slow as my 754 3300+ Sempron now.

Although, I do have you beat in Super Pi by about 25 seconds. lol

 

Well, this has been beaten to death, but I almost feel silly with my "Banias" P-M 1.5 GHz in my T40.

 

Nice review and congrats on the good purchase!

 

Very interesting review.

1. If these new Celeron Ms are basically a Core Duo with various parts disabled then the Super Pi score is credible since its is very much a number-crunching test for one core.

2. $400! TNotebooks with this type of hardware sell in UK at nearer £400.

John

 

LOL nothing a decent overclock wont solve

 

Hello,

So I'm definitely no computer expert by any means, and am looking to purchase the Compaq Presario C500t + 1gb RAM upgrade. However, when I called HP, they told me that there's no room to upgrade the memory. So I just wanted to verify that there was an extra slot to upgrade, before I make the purchase, because it'd be a pretty good buy.

Thanks

 

smoovkid,

I purchased this unit through best buys. It came with one 512mb module of ram filling one of two ram slots in the laptop.

Whether other models have this setup, I do not know.

 

If you CTO at hp.com you can get a Pentium Core Duo T2080 (I think?) and Vista Home Premium and a DVD Burner

All decked out with available goodies for under $600.00.

 

I think its important to note that this machine in nothing like the previous v5000 series laptops,.. the maximum memory has been reduced to 1 gig from 2 and the shared video memory has been cut in half from 128 to 64 megs,... It really makes no sense to me to reduce these two things AND put windows vista on the machine.. Im writing this from my v5000 vr5205nr that i paid $400 plus tax for only last october,.. to get a machine today with the same options the price easily jumps another 200$. I had planned to get the c500t for my wife assuming it was of the same caliber machine as mine,.. oh well,back to the drawing board.

also,I see in the review its stated his particular machine accepted more than a gig,when these machines were downgraded to only a gig Im not sure but all the specs and tech people Ive spoken to at hp/compaq have told me it is indeed only capable of 1gig

 

Despite the spec sheet saying max 1GB RAM, the C500 series supports 2GB max (1GB in each of the 2 slots). I am running 2 GB RAM now in my C555NR. As for shared video memory, I did not check how much it was before I replaced the stock 512MB module. But with 2GB RAM, it is using 224MB shared.

 

I've had my c500T for about a month now...I've taken it up to 1.5 gigs of RAM, removed the bloatware and it runs very good...this is my first notebook, despite being a Computer Geek since Vic-20 days and working in the IT field for 10 years...this is a great notebook, plays games well and with a USB bluetooth dongle, I can access the internet anywhere with my Windows Mobile phone...can't go wrong here!

 

I recently bought a C554TU. I've got to say that I agree with the review and most of the posts here, it's a great value for money PC. Annoyingly though, the retailer that I bought from has since started selling the same PC with a DVD R/RW drive for Au$ 50 more.

When I bought it I knew that 512mb was not enough ram to run Vista, which has been shown as true in day to day use, and I have always had the intention to upgrade the ram with a 1gb SODIMM in the spare slot. (in fact that's what swayed me to this model rather than a simillarly spec'd Acer which had a max of 512mb!) I'd just like to confirm what sort of ram I need as none of the data sheets I read really confirm it one way or another. From what I gather the ram already installed is a 512mb 533mhz ddr2 SODIMM. If this is correct, I need a 1gb SODIMM to the same specs right?

 

Yes, 200-pin DDR2-533.

 

Thanks, that's very helpful.

 

Well I installed 1gb of ram yesterday bringing it to a total 1.5gb, and it absolutely flies now. Vista now runs flawlessly in the standard theme with no lag what so ever when opening the start menu (a previous problem with only 512mb), programs now run a lot smoother too.

I recommend that anyone with one of these computers that hasn't installed extra ram do so straight away. This was probably the easiest hardware upgrade I've ever done as well, due to the easy access to the ram slots.

 

I'm looking at buying this laptop from the online hp store. I've done a little research and found out the maximum specifications allowed on the c500t. I was wondering if I should buy it with vista premium, 1gb ram, and intel pentium dual core.

I talked with an HP technician and found out that the c500t can support core 2 duo t5500 with a bios update. Can anyone confirm this?

 

The F.14A BIOS for the C500T added support for the Core2Duo T5500.

Here are the release notes for that BIOS. Look under "Enhancements"

 

I'm real hesitant about the C500 just because I don't like the idea of running Vista on anymore then 2 GB of RAM but maybe that's just the multimedia user in me. I was trying to tell myself that there were better options elsewhere and I still think that either the Vostro 1000 or Vostro 1400 would be a better deal but I have to admit there is something enchanting about the C500

Pricewise it's got the Vostro beat...I don't know about the Celeron or Dual Core versus the Vostro's AMD Sempron/Athlon or C2D chips but I suppose that for strictly office work (which is what the C500 is meant for) it doesn't really matter. I get the feeling that someone in the market for this KIND of machine might be better served with a desktop but I suppose a college kid on a real tight budget could still get good work out of this

Aesthetically I love it, it reminds me of my ancient Compaq Presario with Windows 95, 1GB HDD and 16 MB RAM...that was my first laptop. I'm not in the market for a notebook at the moment, having an HP dv6000z but I might have to go to a store and get a look at one of these because it's sure grabbed my attention.

 

Ben7k -- can you tell me if you got a good deal on the 1gm DIMM of memory. I am in the same situation and want to upgrade from 512mb to 1.5 gig.

Thanks !!!

ps I just came across this site when googling and it is awesome -- extremely helpful.
Thanks to all !!!

 

Also,
Does anyone have any thoughts on the following stick of memory ? Is Corsair a reputable brand ?

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Notebook Memory Model VS1GSDS533D2 - Retail

It is listed for $39.99 at newegg.com...


Thanks alot !!!

 

can anyone tell me what the battery life on the laptop is?

 

I purchased a C563NR from Best Buy yesterday for only $379 (in NC it was tax free weekend, so that is without having to deal with tax). It's a very nice laptop and for the price, it's even better. The battery life is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours with iTunes running and having the wireless on. However, the laptop does need more RAM. Vista task manager shows 5MB free with no programs running . I'm upgrading to 1.5GB tonight (ordering from Crucial). I also hate how much bloatware HP puts on these machines. It took me 2 hours to remove Norton Security Suite, Office 2007 Trial, and all the damn internet offers. It took 5 minutes to boot up for the first time. Otherwise, i'm extremely happy with my purchase.

 

Hello,

I registered here specifically in order to post my opinion and experience.

Four days ago, I bought one of these laptops from BestBuy, for $379.99

Here are the specs:

Compaq Presario C563NR Notebook PC

# Intel® Celeron® M processor 520 with 533MHz frontside bus, 1MB L2 cache and 1.6GHz processor speed
# 512MB DDR2 memory for multitasking power
# Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
# 15.4" WXGA high-definition TFT-LCD widescreen display with BrightView technology and 1280 x 800 resolution.
# 80GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
# Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 64MB shared memory; built-in Altec Lansing audio
# 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer; S-video TV-out
# Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g); built-in 10/100 Base-T Ethernet LAN (with RJ-45 connector); high speed 56 Kbps modem
# Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Edition operating system preinstalled.

See that thing in bold?

I started playing with the laptop, and it's as slow as molasses, the interface is just ... unfamiliar, the settings are awkward... then I realize that one of the desktop publishing programs I'll need to run on this machine, QuarkXPress, does not work with Vista, and neither does my old Adobe Encore DVD... Damn it, everyone knows Vista is slow on 512 MB, but I'm not going to spend more money to upgrade the memory or such - this will be a computer for limited usage.

So, I decide to erase Vista and install my tried and true XP Pro.

I checked the Compaq website:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...oduct=3456242〈=en#

It seems all the drivers I need are there, right? If worse comes to worst, and the installation gets corrupted, as a very last resort I can restore the laptop anytime to original factory specs, thanks to my two Restore DVDs (the instructions for creating those are included in the original package).

So, after a couple of false starts, I succeeded to erase the HD and install a fresh WinXP.

It turns out that those drivers were insufficient, and they don't work - for instance the modem driver installation aborts, telling me that it cannot find the hardware.

I called Compaq, and TechSupport people said they can't help me much, because officially they're only supporting these laptops if they're operated using the default factory OS... and then told me that the best thing I can do is look around on the Net for answers. The last technician explained they're pretty much bound by the contract with Microsoft to provide support exclusively for the newest OS, as soon as it goes out on their pre-installed machines. When I pointed out that pre-loading Vista on a 512 RAM machine will make the computer run too slowly, he said "That wouldn't surprise me !" adding that's pretty much what they have to do, nevertheless. He seemed to genuinely want to help, but had no power to do so.

COMPAQ, I AM NOT BUYING THIS LAPTOP FOR BILL'S WINDOWS, I AM BUYING YOUR HARDWARE, AND YOU SHOULD HELP ME USE IT!!! How would you like it if Ford told you they won't support your car during the warranty period UNLESS you use 98 fuel, Michelin tires and Castrol engine oil, and any deviation from this is not acceptable??? "Sorry, but we can't help you fix transmission problems, if you replace your original tires with Bridgestone!"

For better or worse, I started to look around for help.

I found this thread, as well as other discussions in regards to the C500 laptops. After several hours of searching and fiddling with various downloads, everything was solved. The machine works beautifully now, and it's definitely quick and responsive, as well as compatible with everything I need to install on it.

In my book, going from Vista to XP - at least in this case - was not a downgrade, but a definite UPGRADE. I am more and more convinced that Vista = Windows ME Mark II.... And I'm really troubled by the fact that equipment manufacturers are apparently bound by their contracts with M$ to pimp Vista regardless of its realistic performance.

So... Here's my addition to this thread. If you want instructions for aborting Vista and installing XP, the most comprehensive list is available at the following location (in the COMMENTS section):

http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/har...q-Presario-C500/0,2000065761,339275058,00.htm

Most of the instructions can also be found here:
http://www.driverheaven.net/windows-xp-2000-nt-9x-forum/129622-compaq-presario-c500.html

Good luck, everyone!

 

We bought the same laptop, and I too decided to erase Vista and put XP on the machine after I was unsatisfied with the performance. XP was running great and was easy to install, but I didn't have a COA so I decided to put Vista back on the machine. However, the key to keeping Vista running well on these machines is adding RAM. I ordered a 1GB stick of RAM the other night and installed it last night. The difference is amazing. You can definitely tell the computer has extra memory. It's like having a whole new computer. If I were you, I would add more RAM even though you have XP. It's only $50 and even under XP there will be a huge difference for the programs you're using.

 

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Can Me Body Tell Me Where To Buy Cheap Ram For Comp C653nr
What The Model Number Pls

 

I bought the C500T for school with Vista Home edition that comes with it. The touch pad was driving me crazy so I bought an external mouse to use. I hooked it up, but it does not work at all. The mouse works fine, because it works on another notebook. I tried the HP support, but that was a waste of time. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get my external mouse to work? Thanks

 

If everything is plugged in correctly then it could be possible that one of the USB ports on your C500 is bad. Do you have another accessory (like a keyboard) that you can use to test the port with?

 

Sorry it took so long. I have used that same port with my jump drive and external hard drive, and it works fine. The first time I used the usb port was to connect my maxtor external hard drive to it. It initialized my F: drive, and loaded the software. It seemed to me at the time, that that port was just for the external drive ??? but, that didn't really make sense to me. I have since used the jump drive there.

 

I've had this laptop for over a year now, took it up to 2 gigs, have a clean install of Vista Ultimate and added a 160 GB hard drive and it works like a pro. Runs Aero just fine and I can play most games out there, including Portal.