HP ENVY Sleekbook 6z Review: Is Being Thin Enough? Discussion

This 15.6-inch AMD-powered notebook is 8/10ths of an inch thin, weighs less than five pounds and gets almost eight hours of battery life. That's mighty impressive ... but read our review to find out what we don't like.

Read the full content of this Article: HP ENVY Sleekbook 6z Review: Is Being Thin Enough?

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The keyboard on the Envy 4t, 14" smaller version of this with Intel, has the same keyboard and key travel issue. It's excusable on the smaller and thinner 14" but not on a 15" laptop. Too bad, the overall design is very nice and the price good.

If you're not picky about keyboards and can overlook that I'd still look towards the Envy 6t instead of the 6z, better overall system performance for not much more in price.

 

Interesting review with lots of details and the battery time is really amazing from a little 4 cells. However I've got little confused with reading no user upgradeability option. According to a forum member who own this laptop, mentioned a very simply way to upgrade: need to remove the back plate. Isn't that enough to access the HDD and Memory?

For not much more you can add A10-4655M with Dual-Channel memory and will overkill the Intel version .

 

Could you please re-run your benchmarks with a dual channel RAM config? (Adding 1 more stick of RAM to your review sample)

NONE of the 6z reviews have done that so far, but people having already purchased the A10 version report e.g. 34% increase in 3DMark 2011. would be interesting to see how the A6 performs with 2 RAM sticks.

 

Thanks for the comments. I would re-run the benchmarks but no longer have the notebook. VERY interesting that dual-channel would make that big of a difference.

The #1 thing this notebook left me with was wondering if the backlit keyboard would be better or worse ...

 

This review is shame and could not keep me away to grab one with this A6. Really satisfied with building quality and overall. I have no problem with keyboard, also possible to upgrade in three minutes. The extra 4GB 1600MHz memory stick cost only $22.
With $100 off coupon code far the best buy in ultrabook category, therefore my rate is 5/5.

 

I wonder Dell why do not have a laptop like this, their XPS 14 ultrabook for $1100 with HD4000 so such of a nonsense.

 

Exactly and that XPS 14 Ultrabook not even capable for Dual-Channel, equipped with single slot. Capable around 400 3DMarks11 points... Slow asss laptop for $1100+tax.

 

I haven't tried testing the effect on RAM permutations with Ivy Bridge but my results for Sandy Bridge are here and confirm the impact on Intel graphics performance.

This performance aspect may be why Samsung opted to use soldered dual channel DDP RAM in their 13" Series 9 rather than squeeze in a single RAM slot.

John

 

Guys, it's an old story that integrated graphics are need Dual-Channel memory. I recommend this topic to view:

Trinity laptop buyers beware... you NEED dual channel memory.

"If you're planning on getting a trinity-based laptop, you will need dual channel memory or your framerates will be cut in half..."

 

I'll second this! Thanks for the link, I'll be adding it to The Ultimate AMD Trinity Notebook List. Potential owners should definitely be aware of this. Check out these results of the A10-4655M utilizing dual-channel RAM from kaivorth over at www.overclock.net:

 

Wow, those scores are amazing. 3DMark11 -P895!!! Is being not enough from ultrathin? Which Intel ultrabook capable for such a performance like that? Battery time?
As JKnows said it is a 5/5 laptop, same as customer reviews 5/5.

Instead; for tests like notebookreview and others, customers are mislead with 2,5/5. According to notebookchecknet ; "Such a bad rating is rare. There exist hardly any notebooks, which are rated worse."

Really curious what will be the rating for the really not upgradable XPS 14 ultrabook with Single-Channel HD4000 for $1100 ??? I'm sure won't get such a low score because Intel...

 

I just upgraded my Sleekbook 6z with A10 4655M to 2x4GB and the gaming performance is definitely better. Check out the videos here for instructions on how to take apart the bottom panel (sign up and login to HP passport first, my EPP login works).

http://h20574.www2.hp.com/default.htm?lang=en&cc=US&hpappid=psml

Select FRU Remove/Replace (AMD).



Don't forget to unplug the battery (red circle) before replacing your SO-DIMMs. It took me a couple tries to get it right. The first time, the memory wasn't seated properly and I got the beeps when I rebooted.

 

what speed memory does the sleekbook 6z-1000 come with stock? 4g 1600mhz or 1333mhz?

 

4GB 1600 but the A10-4655M supports only 1333.

 

Did you check this with something like CPU-Z or hwInfo? I was wondering why HP ships the 6z with 1600 RAM if the ULV/LV Trinity APUs only support 1333?

I don't see an mSATA port like in the Intel Sleekbook...

Sent from my SPH-M580 using Tapatalk

 

The A10, A8, and A6 support 1600MHz memory:

AnandTech - The AMD Trinity Review (A10-4600M): A New Hope

 

The Sleekbook 6z comes with a 25W A10-4655M that supports up to 1333.

See the 2nd post in this thread for the table
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...76413-ultimate-amd-trinity-notebook-list.html

The 4600M is a 35W part that comes in a different socket.

 

Are the ULV & LV Trinity APUs overclockable? Or are they "locked" down like the 35w APUs?

Sent from my SPH-M580 using Tapatalk