HP Compaq nc8430 Review (pics, specs) Discussion

This is a review of the HP Compaq nc8430, a business oriented mainstream notebook with a 15.4" screen, Core Duo processor and ATI X1600 graphics card. The nc8430 is currently one of HP's best selling business models with its great combination of power and portability.

Read the full content of this Article: HP Compaq nc8430 Review (pics, specs)

 

Great review... looks like a very nice notebook. But it looks like the X1600 is underclocked a bit, when compared to Asus and Acer notebooks with the X1600, it does not do quite as well. Could you tell us what the core and memory are clocked at?

 

Great review BWF. Do you have any light leakage on yours?

Jason, this came up earlier today on the forum -- 425/378 for the GPU clock.

Also, as for the RAM ugrade/documentation issue, some of the software installed on the system gives directions on how to install RAM (under Start | Help and Support Center). Also, the product support page on HP's site includes the whole service manual.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...Id=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=1839150

Granted, you'd either need a second computer or to print that part out in advance. Personally, I'd rather HP save a few trees than print out all that stuff when 95% of the people won't ever use it.

 

Great review! HP normally mades god laptops, and this is one. Before I got my acer I had an HP nx7000 and this was the best, but I know that HP is expesive. I hope you could get more of this x1600.

 

I like design of that thing. Hope, they will not change it with Core 2 Duo machines.

Also 5 in 1 card reader would be nice...

 

Great review, I really like this particular machine. Whoa, steady Niki! No buying one now. It's seems like a fantastic blend almost to good to be true. it seems to be one of the few machines in its size that has everything, save a multicard read. But Dell Lattitudes and most of the Thinkpads don't even have SD readers. During this review you keep calling this machine relatively light, I'm curious to know the weight and thickness of this 15.4".

 

I would really like to get the nc8430. But only the lowest model with the T2400 fits within my budget. I'd be willing to spend another $100 on upgrades to boost the RAM up to 1gb and getting a DVD burner after buying it from amazon.com for $1400.

My questions are:

Would a slim DVD burner such as the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151132 fit in there?

And would openning up the laptop to install RAM and the DVD burner void the 3 year warrenty?

 

Anyone know if HP contracted ASUS for this model? It looks an awful lot like the Z96J.

 

How does it look like the Z96J(mind you it looks just like the S96j. The motherboard is in a different config and the buttons are all totally different. Even the leds are on the opposite side of the lid(rather than right than left)

 

Specs are wonderful, but for some reason, the HP design is not something that is attracting me very much. Well the externals are really good, but that keyboard looks ugly!

But that being said, your review has been a very nice one - HP Reviews here at NBR is always something to look forward to. Nice machines being inspected isn't to be missed (=

 

Great review, thanks for sharing!

Nice to hear that the fan is not very noisy, because of the fan issue in the nc8430 when powered from the mains: http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1041766. Let's hope HP will make a new BIOS...

 

If the base model came with a dvd burner and a gig of ram, and was priced real close to the s96j or compal hel 80, than I would get it in a second. Just sucks that I cant afford even the base model, and even then I'd have to do some upgrading. Looks like I gotta stick to buying an Acer 5672 x1600 model. I really wanted the nc8430.

 

actually this is one of the best keyboards - it has keys in the right places (not only [ctrl] and [fn], but [home][end][del][pgup] etc.) and is not as flimsy as others. It has separated function and arrows(!) keys too.
Keyboard font maybe not so fine - but it has purpose - as hp says, such thick and kinda light reflecting letters are easier to see in the dark (as you prob. noticed hp don't use 'thinklight' or keyboard backlighting).

 

Nice review! If I was interested in a business class laptop that would now be on the top of my list.

The 3DMark06 scores seem to be a little low. The MacBook Pro's scores are just a bit below the HP's. You would think an underclocked card like the Mac's would produce a significantly lower score then a normally clocked card, with an extra 128 MB of VRAM.

 

Very good review, and HPs don't look that ugly to me. They look... relaxing, like looks don't matter much and you can focus on performance. Simple and straightforward. Business-like.

The SuperPi results are quite impressive compared to other similar configurations. Must be a particularly snappy machine! Congratulations on your purchase.

C.

 

i am almost 100% positive that HP included an option in the bios to swap the fn and ctrl key.

scott

 

I can agree with pretty much everything the reviewer said there. The keyboard is extremely solid no flexing anywhere. I don't how he managed to coax a 1:11 out of this thing, must be after optimisation. Compared to pictures of the t60, this notebook looks a slimmer but I'm sticking my neck out. What it definitely is though light for a notebook of its size and there are no creaks, squeeks or easily bent areas. On 3dmark06 I got 1713. The battery life is brilliant averaging 3:45 of light usage (web browsing, word processing, listening to music etc) on max brightness with bluetooth on. If the ambient light sensor is set to on then you come close to HP's claimed run time of 4 hours.

 

This is my favorite HP notebook. I had an nc8230, earlier this year (same chassis, lesser specs), and thought it was very solid. The 8230/8240 LCDs were not very bright even at the highest setting. From your pics, it looks like the 8430's LCD is much better. I like the look of HP's business class notebooks. The design reminds me of Thinkpads.

 

yahoo just my luck...a convincing, detailed review of the notebook i am planning to have... now i just have to convince my sister to buy me this thing instead of the macbook pro or the Z61m... with 2GB of ram of course

 

The specs are attractive, the build quality a bonus. I suppose it's the matte screen that's niggling me, although it's not a deal breaker. Although I wonder why HP don't make a 14.1" version? If it's possible to fit the same config in the smaller chassis that is. I could justify this point that's been made to death by saying 14.1 > 15.4 on a plane for the suits

 

Here are the clock speeds and you are right they are slow.
VGA Memory Clock: 378.0 MHz
VGA Core Clock: 425.3 MHz

I will have to play around with it a bit to see if i can make it faster.

There is a very minimal amount at the bottom.

I think that samsung optical drive would fit but I cannot say for sure.

As far as the warranty goes I know that upgrading the memeory does not void the warranty but I am not sure about the DVD burner. I would give HP a call about that.

This computer weighs about 6.15 lbs which for a notebook of this size is pretty light. I think HP claims it weighs a little less so maybe my scale is off but I do not have any problems carrying it around with me.
As far as thickness its 1.1" thick in the front as for the back its about 1.5" thick.

 

Very good review, Blazin. My advise to the folks looking at the machine and deciding the price is too much to take a look at some resellers. Especially the weeks that HP offers the 100 dollar rebates.

 

Nice review! I have always liked HO business notebooks, and the nc8430 is no exception. Good specs, and I like its looks a lot. Congrats.

 

Do you know if the nx8420 has been relased?

 

Thanks for the review. I wish HP would trim the weight a bit to get it in line with the weight of a MBP. I like the specs and design methodology which is remarkably similar to the T60 and Dell D820.

I'm definitely adding this to my short list (very short at this point) when the Core 2 Duo gets added.

 

Yes Core 2 Duo and this is my notebook. (I have to have the pointstick!)

 

I have priced tons of other similarly capable notebooks, and when priced, they typically come very close in price to this one.

I am a proud owner of an ancient OmniBook 6100 and have to say I am thoroughly impressed to this day with everything about it... it is now over five years old, and I am still on the fence as to replacing it with this notebook. With a standard three year parts & labor warranty, worth upwards of $300.00 from Dell or other manufacturers, and the other capabilities of this machine including blue tooth, memory card reader, dual pointing devices and 1680x1050 resolution, it is an exceptional value. Unfortunately, I bet few people will ever have to exercise their three year warranty if my Omnibook 6100 is anything to go by (Omnibook 6100 early predecessor to this line).

All in all, other than the BS memory configuration options, the NC8430 appears to offer exceptional performance and value in very long lasting form, and when it's price comes down a notch, I am gonna pick one up for myself as well.