Hp Dv8225nr

I got one. Like it just fine. The only game I've played on it is Call For Duty. Runs that fine. I caught it on sale for $1049. Comes with a remote control too. Plays dvds smoothly. Any specific questions go ahead and ask. I wiped it clean and installed WinXP Pro, then decided I wanted to go back to Media Center and found out it didn't come with a recovery cd, it's all on the recovery partition. Guess I should have read the directions. Anyways, did a couple of online chats with HP techs and got the recovery cd's and back to Media Center.

The above being said you need to wait a month or two to buy.... NOW is NOT the time to buy as the new Duo Core 2's (and I think) the New AMD cpu's are coming out.

Another brand /model you may want to consider is the:
DELL 1705, they are coming with the 7900GS GPU now which is allot faster than the 7600 being installed in the HP's.

(Read the Mobile Graphics Card Comparison Chart linked to in post #7 before you buy ANYTHING)



If you're into 'gaming", I'd consider it... around $1350-$1,400 spec'd out around the same as the dv8000 series... Except the DELL is going to have allot better GPU. For $1,400 you can get it with the 7900GS, and a 2ghz cpu.
(After you apply the coupons :
http://www.notebookreview.com/dellCoupon.asp )

Only downside is it doesn't have a numeric keypad.

The dv8000t I have now is going back (long short) and I'm seriously considering going to a DELL 1705 as the GPU's used are WAYYYYY faster that what HP installs.

They can be had for the SAME price... DELL having a GPU that will run rings around the ones that HP installs.


Only negative to buying a DELL, is you can't CTO (Custom to order) one thru Costco... the place that has the 6 month return policy that is mighty nice to have if the mfg jerks you around, the machine has issues, or you find out a few days after you've accepted delievery the unit you just bought is shipping with vastly upgraded /better hardware.

(All the above applies to me)

Oh, another thing the GPU (the video card) on the Dells is a seperate unit, the GPU's from one model fitting another... So you can upgrade the GPU when needed...

The HP's GPU is part of the motherboard... GPU dies and you have to buy the whole board...

Will it run this or that game?

Read thru this info, check out the links.

* * * *

Mobile Graphics Card Comparison Chart

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, Or doing graphic intensive work the GPU should be your top priority.

GPU is the "video card" for those of you who don't know.

FAST GPU will be a MUST for VISTA since the desktop is going to be "3-D".

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread157799.html

To bad I have already ordered the HP DV8000T. Now i like the Dell too because of
1) 7900GS
2) Audigy Sound
But if u max out the Dell it is more expensive than HP,...

Once you apply the coupons they run it's around the same price. I've been hanging around the DELL board picking their brains.. Last week they had a $750 off coupon.

wow,.. Now I think there is no reason to get an HP,..lol
and i have ordered one,..
suddenly i don't feeel that good,...

The good thing is that I have a Desktop to play the games,..
I will miss the audigy,..

Can I return my HP 8000T one it arrives,..
In the mean while i will check the dell,...
How does one get these coupons,.. are they applied automatically
Moreover, I can return the HP with in 21 days without any hassel, right or wrong,...

I got this PM from a DELL owner yesterday:

A $1400 non-Dell laptop probably won't have a graphics card that can run the latest games well. For that price the laptop will probably have an x1400 or 7400, and if you're lucky an x1600 or 7600.

From Dell, $1400 can easily get you a 7900gs, and a 2ghz proc. For ~$1330 i got 2ghz core duo, 1gb ram, 60gb 7200rpm hdd, and the 7800 go.

End of PM
* * ** * *

$1330...

2ghz core duo
1gb ram
60gb 7200rpm hdd
7800 go GPU


You'll note that he got:

1gig ram (The dv8000t's I've spec'd to compare and the one I have now is 512ram.... around $1,400 -$1,450 and 1 gig of ram is another $69 on top of those prices for the HP to get it at the same ram level)

He got the 7800 GOU, current 1705's are shipping with the 7900 series now.

You'll note he only got a 60gb... but note it's 7,200 so if you were to go to 5,400 you could get a bigger drive for the same amount of money.

Can you return it? YES, but you might want to consider refusing it...

Coupons, I linked to them above... Also check out the DELL forums, the "stickies" have links to coupons, info.

Dell runs promo's all the time to spur sales. If they don't have enough off this week, just wait till next week... Ask around on the DELL section of the board...

Returning to HP within the 21-day period... Yes, but not sure about "how" much money you get back, restocking fees.

Don't accept the delivery Do i have to call the HP center or is email an option,...

If you do a search under my user name you should find the dv8000t reviews... Here's one..(Keep in mind this machine has the 7400 series GPU.... New units are shipping with the 7600) HP Pavilion dv8000t review: http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=321 Note for the record: 7400 has a 3D benchmark of around 2200 7600 has a 3D benchmark of around 3300 (Pretty sure the above benchmarks were in 3DMark05) The 7900Gs installed in the DELL 1705 has a benchmark of 6471 in 3DMark05 ... and around 8,500 + if you overclock it. Overclocked E1705/9400 7900 GS Benchmark Results http://www.notebookforums.com/thread157393.html Big differance....

Don't know, I bought mine thru Costco... I just walk into any Costco store and say "here you go"... If your unit hasn't shipped yet.. I would think that would make it allot easier... and harder for them to charge you a restocking fee..

Same as this: HP Pavilion dv8000t review: http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=321 But for the same amount of money +/- You'd be a fool to not to consider the DELL 1705 with the 7900GS