HP Pavilion DV7T Review (LOTS OF PICTURES)

by: me, of course...

The HP Pavilion DV7T is a part of the recently refreshed line of notebooks. This particular notebook replaces the doomed HP Pavilion DV9000T series. Along with the Blu-Ray drive, dedicated Nvidia graphics card this notebook features the new Intel Centrino 2 mobile technology. Intel Centrino 2 along with its predecessor Intel Centrino has revolutionized the way we use the notebook in our modern world. Hang on tight while we examine this notebook from all sides!

The HP Pavilion is set at a reasonable base price of $1,079. It comes stock with a very decent Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz. Unlike the processor included with the DV9000T series, this one has a 1066Mhz Front Side Bus and a minimum of 3MB Level 2 Cache. All of those changes play a vital role in the significant improvement from the DV7T's predecessor. This notebook also comes stock with 2 Gigabytes of PC2-6400 (800 MHz) RAM, but can be upgraded to 4 gigabytes. According to several websites, this notebook can hold up to 8 Gigabytes of PC2-6400 RAM. However, a 64 bit operating system is required to take advantage of 4 Gigabytes or more of RAM.

The DV7T featured in this review contain the following components:

HP Pavilion Entertainment dv7t customizable Notebook PC
KN798AV

* – Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9600 (2.80GHz)
* – 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Display (1680 x 1050)
* – 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
* – 320GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (160GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* – Webcam + Fingerprint Reader + Microphones
* – Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100AGN
* – LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
* – 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* - Dimensions 15.59" (W) x 11.22" (D) x 1.31" (min H)/1.66" (max H)
* - Weight 7.64lbs
* - 90 Watt AC Adapter








Input Devices: Touch pad, Keyboard, etc

The touch pad on this notebook is very impressive being both responsive and amazingly designed. As the theme with the new line of notebooks, this touch pad features a chrome like surface that makes this notebook unique. It has a nice vertical scroll bar that allows for quick browsing. Both left and right mouse buttons are firm versus the spongy feel from the DV9700. There is an on/off switch for this touch pad, however in the DV7 it lights up white.



The keyboard was a part of the extreme makeover from HP that transformed it to match the metallic theme in the new line of notebooks. Aside from the color change, the only different thing is the texture of the actual keys. They are very smooth whereas the DV9700 keyboard seemed rough.



The QuickPlay button region on the notebook has undergone a big transition from modern to futuristic with the new magic chrome that conceals the QuickPlay buttons when the notebook is not powered on. In addition, the QuickPlay field which is touch sensitive is now home to the WiFi on/off button.



I/O Ports

There are a few significant changes to the DV7T including the addition of a new port and the discontinuing of a few as well. Added to the new notebook line is the eSATA port combined with an USB port. Discontinued are the S-Video out and the 56K Modem ports, although the 56K port can be added when purchasing.

Here is a list of the included ports:

ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
4 Universal Serial Bus (4th shared with eSATA port)
IEEE 1394 Firewire
1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver)
HDMI 1.3 connector
Microphone in
2 Headphones out
1 Expansion Port 3 Connector
1 RJ -45 (LAN)
1 VGA
5-in-1 digital media card reader (SD-MS/Pro-MMC-XD)


Front: (left to right) Microphone in, Headphone out, Headphone out


Right: (left to right) USB, USB, Optical Drive, TV Tuner adaptor, 56K Modem


Left: (left to right) VGA, Expansion Port, Ethernet, HDMI, eSATA/USB, USB, Firewire, ExpressCard slot, 5-in-1 media card reader


Battery placement, Subwoofer, Memory, Network Wireless card, Hard Drives

Display

The WSXGA 17" 1680x1050 screen is noticeably brighter than the display of the same type on the DV9700. The display is crisp and the color is perfect. The backlighting is even and the viewing angles are somewhat better than the DV9700T display.

Sound Quality

Amazingly enough, the integrated Altec Lansing speakers sounds much better in the DV7 versus the DV9700. The DV7 does feature a subwoofer which really does enhance the listening pleasure. The sound is very clear and can be amplified to a very high level. It makes watching movies on the computer exciting again.




Ventilation

Surprisingly enough the notebook runs very cool and is almost inaudible. I mean don't get me wrong you can still hear the disk writing once in a while. I am amazed at the heat distribution on this notebook. The DV9700 has always acted as a lap warmer which just makes me even happier that I own the new DV7T. Using the DV7T on both my desk and lap was a breeze. There was a little warmth while using it on my lap, but on the desk it felt as cool as if it wasn’t even on.


DV7T (left), DV9700T (right)

Battery Performance

All I can say is WOW. The standard 8 cell battery lasted me about 3 hours and 16 minutes before shutting off. During that time I was using AIM, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Photo Gallery, MS Word and Media Player (listening to music). You wouldn't think 3 hours would be capable out of a 17 inch beast such as the DV7T, but it is simply amazing.

Architecture

The DV7 is structurally sound as all HP notebooks are and will continue to be. The new DV7 is somewhat identical to the DV9700 by sharing a designer LCD frame although not the same design. When you first take the DV7 out of the box it is like a solid piece of art. It looks visually appealing but at the same time is rugged and durable. The Mesh design is simply extravagant.

Unlike the DV9700, the DV7 sports a Mac Book type hinge. It's a beautiful touch that was incorporated and I don't think there is another type of hinge that would do this notebook justice. There is one thing that this notebook is missing and that's the latch that keeps the notebook shut. HP built a very sturdy hinge that does just that. It's firm and applies pressure to keep the notebook shut and secure.

The overall design is different and can only be explained through pictures. Below are pictures that contain both the DV7 and the DV9700.


DV7 (left), DV9700 (right)


DV7 (left), DV9700 (right)


DV7 (left), DV9700 (right)


DV7 (left), DV9700 (right)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)


DV7 (top), DV9700 (bottom)

CPU Performance

The base processor (P7350) in the DV7T series notebook is more than powerful enough to conquer all tasks. Included in this review notebook is the Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 running at 2.8 GHz with a 1066 MHz FSB. I compared the processor in this notebook to the T9500 processor in the DV9700T and produced the following SuperPI benchmarks:

SuperPI 2 million calculations:

DV9700T (T9500 2.6 GHz): 40 seconds
DV7T (T9600 2.8 GHz): 36 seconds

There’s a slight difference according to SuperPI. However, when I perform CPU intensive tasks the DV7T is always the victor!


All in all, the DV7T is a great notebook in more ways than one. It not only looks great but performs well. The design and structure of the notebook is appealing yet sturdy enough to handle a pretty tough beating. Being considered a desktop replacement, I think it passes with flying colors.

This notebook isn’t as heavy as it would appear. Being very similar to the DV5T, I think this notebook is more suited for gamers, graphic designers, 3D architects, and other people who need a notebook with a LOT of space and a BIG screen.


And now the scale of pros and cons:

PROs:

Nicely designed
Handles heat very well
Has a fairly decent battery life
VERY quiet
Blazing fast
Good sound quality


CONs:

A Cop’s favorite piece of evidence (fingerprints)
No S-Video port
Buggy QuickPlay buttons


If possible could a moderator make this an official review?

Look forward to my unboxing video that I will be adding soon! REP ME PLEEZ!

 

Looks nice and great review! +rep

 

wow nice, I'm impressed a mainstream company like hp would include a subwoofer. I don't like the color of the keyboard but in all other ways it seems superior to the 9700t

 

haha....Thanks...

 

if u build ur own notebook on hp.com use this code to save 400 of a 1299.99 laptop dv7 or dv5t

nb6997 place were it says coupon at end before you pay, since hp has 150 off right now that will be replaced by the 400 dollars off

 

Great review. HP Pavilion DV7T is really very stylish.

 

Sweet setup. I ordered mine yesterday, and this makes the wait that much harder

Thanks for the review.

 

One thing I, and probably other people would really want to know, is how heavy this notebook is.

Now that you came up with this review I'm confused as to whether to purchase the dv5 or the dv7. I'm tempted to buy the dv7 because of the subwoofer, but the dv5 because it's lighter.

 

GR8 review!!

 

Awesome review.... few questions.... im from uk and only similar laptop i could find is

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...151&langId=-1&searchTerms=5080362&Submit=GO+>

which is a weaker spec and costs about $1800 which considerably more.... any uk sites u can recomend for this product? or could i get shipped? problem would be adapter

 

The weight was mentioned in the review. It's about 7.7lbs. However, the notebook's weight is evenly distributed and is also comfortable to tote around.

Unfortunately, the DV5 series is experiencing excruciating heat problems. The DV7 handles heat with ease. I was amazed at how cool it ran for such a big notebook. The battery life is over 3 hours, which is about the same as the DV5T.

More people are satisfied with the DV7, at least according to the NBR site with hundreds and thousands of users.

 

Here ya go:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho/WF25a/321957-321957-3329744-64354-64354-3744231.html

 

Great post,

I'm in the market for a new laptop so I've decided to either go with the DV5T or the DV7T. Mobility or better performance at the cost of like 2pounds. I'm leaning towards the DV7T but when I go to customize it from hp.com I only get the option for No TV tuner /w remote control.

So my question is if the DV7T comes with a TV tuner built in or not?

Also, I've been reading that the DV5T gets rather hot and the DV7T not as much. Any experiences with this?

Thanks in advance

 

Thrust read my response two posts above yours.

The DV5T gets extremely hot. The DV7's heat is well manged. It runs very cool and has nice battery life.

As for the TV Tuner, they just recently took that off of their site like 2 days ago. I'm guessing it's a supply and demand issue. You might have to wait in order for them to put it back as an option. Besides you won't miss out on too much with not having the TV Tuner.

 

Great review man im definitely getting the Dv7t now you have convinced me completely Thanks

 

You'll enjoy the DV7t. It's a great computer and really does wonderfully with the 9600.

 

Thanks great laptop Is it possible to have custom build in Europe ?

 

great review, thanks!

I am planning on buying a dv7t in the near future when i have the money saved up. Something im wondering, is the infinity glass, really glass? Or is it Plexiglas? the biggest concern i would have with the infinity display is that it puts the screen an extra 1/16th to 1/8th an inch closer to the keypad, almost anyone that has had an lg env knows that the flush screen gets scuffed up from being to close to the keypad leaving the annoying outline of the buttons on the screen. Currently I am using dv6000 w/o the infinity glass and when the computer is off the outlines of some of the letters are apparent on the screen surface from the keypad (see what I mean that the infinity display might be a problem by being closer to the keypad?)

plus another thing I cant figure out, since when was weight a determining factor in choosing a laptop? Maybe I am just to old school from my weightlifting days where 5-10 or even 15lbs isn’t considered much of anything weigh wise. Personally I would rather take a heavier laptop just for the increased rigidity

 

Awsome review! but i have a important question! I've been thinking very hard on which laptop to buy and its well enough between the dv7t and the dv9700t you both have. Im planning on purchasing it through costco online cause its a bit cheaper. I just wanted your opinion on which laptop i should get. They both have their pros and cons from what I've found out and of course the dv7t surpasses in performance. I plan on using it for school work and of course gaming and i want a good laptop to at least run the games i have like Medieval total war 2 and other stuff. I was just wondering that of course the dv9700t is cheaper then the dv7 but their both pretty good laptops which one should purchase? Is dv7t really worth the price tag and the extra little performance? or can the 9700 do just as good along with its features of course.

 

The DV7T is significantly better. Not only does it sport a better graphics card but the newer Centrino 2 technology. The processor has a 1066 MHz FSB, which improves response time. The ram is 800MHz whereas the 9700 only supports 667MHz ram.

From my personal usage of both notebooks, I can say without a doubt that the DV7T is MUCH better than the DV9700. Frame rate is much higher with the 9600m GT in the DV7T. In Vegas 2 on the DV9700 I would only get about 15-20FPS, whereas I would get 50-60 on the DV7T. The DV7t runs cooler and has longer battery life for a standard 8 cell battery.

On a side note, the DV9700 has been apart of the hinge cracking phenomenon. That's very very bad. You don't want any downtime.

For the few bucks more, you'll have the ability to do more in less time on a computer that will be future proof for an extra year or two.

 

Thank you for your great review.
I am planning on using the DV7T for graphic work (Photoshop, etc.). I have read several reviews that are complaining about the lack of brightness of the screen.

What has your experience been so far with the screen?

Thanks!

 

Initially, I was mildly disappointed in the screen (brightness, contrast, saturation), but after tweaking the settings a bit, I am much happier. The default settings were not to my liking.

As always, if you can stop at a BB or CC and view the screen and play with the settings, you'll have a much better idea of whether this is the right laptop for your graphics work.

My only minor complaint about the screen, and I knew this before I bought it, is the tight viewing angle or "sweet spot." Otherwise, I've not a complaint.

Good luck!

 

ah hey I was wondering

I have seen many coupon codes and deals for money of and percentages of etc I was wondering is there a limit to how many you can use (like say if I wanted to use two would that be alright?????)

 

hey I was wondering

I have seen many coupon codes and deals for money of and percentages of etc I was wondering is there a limit to how many you can use

(like say if I wanted to use two would that be alright?????)

 

I was wondering

I have seen many coupon codes and deals for money of and percentages of etc

I was wondering is there a limit to how many you can use



(like say if I wanted to use two would that be alright?????)

 

sorry for multiple posts I am new at this

 

Not a problem. Click this link and it should show you a few of the current coupons floating around.

http://www.savings.com/Hewlett-Pack...jsyD-JUCFQNvHgodPi9YEw&searchTerm=H+P+Coupons

 

If I buy this unit with 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9200M GS is it upgradeable to the 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT in the future? :confused2:

 

Is there any other finish we can choose? this one may be too shiny for me. And I can see my fingerprint so easily, so that I don't need a fingerprint reader.

 

Has anyone opened this thing up any more. I recently won one of these in a contest, but I wasn't given specs. I'm assuming it's just the base model, which is still awesome. I was wondering if it might be possible to find a 9600m GT and put that in there. Since this was free...voiding my warranty is fine. I assemble all of my desktops, so I do know what I'm doing when it comes to computer parts. I haven't ever messed with a laptop though. I know sometimes parts like this can be impossible to mess with. So...can this one? Please say yes.

 

no you cant.. mosts laptop's Graphics card cant be upgraded..

 

I finally got specs on the laptop that's on it's way to me.

# LCD Screen: 17.0″ WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen
# Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate, 64 bit
# Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600, 2.80 GHz
# Hard Drives: 2 x 320GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drives
# Memory: 4.00 GB RAM
# Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
# DVD Drive: Blu-ray ROM and DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer

I've got a blueray waiting to be tested. Cannot wait!

 

Helluva contest to win. Awesome.

 

http://www.campusgrotto.com/hp-freshman-15-laptop-giveaway.html

There's still more being given away. Not all are DV7T's. There are DV4T's and DV5T's too.

I cannot wait to get this thing. I'm going to do a full review. I mainly want to check out blueray playback on this thing. I may have to buy an HD now...

 

That sounded like a cool contest. Congratz on you winning.

 

so I am into gaming and all and was going to get this computer with the:
T9400
9600M GT
4GB DDR2
320 Sata 7200 RPM

But now i saw the HDX 16t...which one would be the better buy? I can get the same specs with both.

 

Please no VISTA bashing. Can I IF I got this laptop, downgrad to Windows XP?

 

AFAIK,no,cos HP doesn't provide drivers!

 

i was looking at this on the hp site and while customizing mine i do not see the processors you are all talking about, the only processors i see are


Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual-Core Mobile Processor T4200 (2.0 GHz)

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz)

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor T6600 (2.2GHz)

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P7450 (2.13GHz)

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.4 GHz)

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)

what happened to the 9400 and 9600 everyone is talking about?