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dv9700t

post #1 of 18
5/18/08 at 9:16pm
Thread Starter 
Ok I was thinking of getting a HP dv9700t for college, approximately 2 grand. 512mb GeForce 8600 GS graphics. I saw a dell XPS 1530 (with 256mb GeForce GT which I heard is better). The rest of the specs are very similar, but I heard XPS's in general suck. Which one would be better overall? I would use it for gaming some, but not like Crysis or any games like that, maybe some MMO RPGS and Starcraft 2 when it comes out and stuff. Also, can you upgrade the video cards in laptops, as long as its similar size, without paying massive amounts of money?

Also, I need to stick to dell or HP, no other suggestions

Thanks for whoever can answer some of these questions
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post #2 of 18
5/20/08 at 4:20pm
for 100 persons cheering hp, i can give u 100 persons cheering dell, and vice versa, and with other brands. Pure personal preferences and experiences.

gpu swap - some brands, some models allow it. Most likely no

cheers ...
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post #3 of 18
6/17/08 at 2:19am
Just spend 1000 on a laptop and 1000 on a gaming rig which can legit game. It's foolish to expect to play games on a laptop....even more foolish to blow 2000 on a laptop with 2nd rate components compared to desktops.
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post #4 of 18
6/28/08 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingJustinian90 View Post
Ok I was thinking of getting a HP dv9700t for college, approximately 2 grand. 512mb GeForce 8600 GS graphics. I saw a dell XPS 1530 (with 256mb GeForce GT which I heard is better). The rest of the specs are very similar, but I heard XPS's in general suck. Which one would be better overall? I would use it for gaming some, but not like Crysis or any games like that, maybe some MMO RPGS and Starcraft 2 when it comes out and stuff. Also, can you upgrade the video cards in laptops, as long as its similar size, without paying massive amounts of money?

Also, I need to stick to dell or HP, no other suggestions

Thanks for whoever can answer some of these questions
Did you ever make a purchase on either one? I have a loaded dv9700CTO that I purchased for $1800 roughly with a 2 year warranty. (And I play COD 4 on it just fine, thank you )
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post #5 of 18
6/28/08 at 2:58pm
Tough call, as either can well meet your needs, and in terms of quality? IMHO, a toss-up.

I have to completely agree with qhn, it more comes down to asthetics and personal preference...you could do well with either choice.

Notebooks, even the best of 'em are delicate, quirky critters due to their size and construction. Unless you get the occasional model-run that has an intrinsic design short-coming (it happens), most modern notebooks tend to be close in quality...after all, the majority of their components are from all the same vendors, right?

Now, do keep in mind that the new HP "DV" line is coming out very shortly! As well as a nice update appearance-wise, they are also featuring enhanced hard drive protection, which I think is a great idea!

I do have a question though: You mentioned the dv9700T, which is a 17" screen model...for college, do you not want a little better portability? Even a 15.4" screen notebook is no light-weight to schlepp around...a 17" screen is a bit of a moose for porting around...of course, it makes a great desktop substitute, while still remaining somewhat portable...but that's just a thought.
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post #6 of 18
6/28/08 at 3:26pm
^I agree with, among other things, your last point. 14.1" is too small for light gaming and 17" is too heavy for a campus (not to mention huge for the tiny desks). IMO 15.4" is the sweet spot between size and weight.
While their components may be from the same vendors....their prices are definitely widely varied and their quality isn't always a reliable indicator of their price. Acer's are cheap but incredibly flimsy. Sony's are expensive and only average in build strength. I know because I went to CC and tried bending all their laptops. The one made of "metal" was hilarious because it bent like plastic.
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post #7 of 18
6/28/08 at 3:42pm
Yep, screen size can make an incredible difference...

I absolutely LOVE taking my wife's Sony Vaio (12.1" screen) light weight notebook with me when I'm travelling...it is a GREAT work at a hotel/email/staying connected traveller...but at home, it would be too little screen real-estate for me...on the other hand, for games and movies and photo-editing, I'd LOVE to have a nice 17" screen...so my compromise is the 15.4" screen...though down the road, I may spend the money, and have a "travelling" light-weight, and an "at home" desktop replacement.

dr/owned, I totally agree, a 17" notebook just is not a great campus lug-arounf lappy, great as it may be for gaming/movies/photo use! I could not see myself lugging one around campus to classes...

Now, if it was going to primarily stay in my dorm room, and come home on vacation/weekends etc., THAT might be another matter entirely!
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post #8 of 18
6/28/08 at 3:45pm
^ Most of those people that go home on weekends bring their full desktops and 19" LCD monitors to the dorms with them.....Seems like it'd be to more of a hassle than benefit since I personally am spending way more time studying than doing anything elese.
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post #9 of 18
6/28/08 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr/owned View Post
^ Most of those people that go home on weekends bring their full desktops and 19" LCD monitors to the dorms with them.....Seems like it'd be to more of a hassle than benefit since I personally am spending way more time studying than doing anything elese.
Well, you DO have the better of me on college usage...after all, when I went to college, there were NO personally owned computers...lotsa kegs...no komputers...
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post #10 of 18
6/29/08 at 7:28am
uh, does a slide-rule constitute a "computer"? that and combining with a texas-instrument cheat for math/algebra calculations?

cheers ...
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post #11 of 18
6/29/08 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
uh, does a slide-rule constitute a "computer"? that and combining with a texas-instrument cheat for math/algebra calculations?

cheers ...
Oh man! That was ENTIRELY too much work for an old business admin type guy...a simple calculator was about all i could manage on a good (no party the night before) day!

I probably lost more brain cells at college than I ever cultivated...
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post #12 of 18
6/29/08 at 11:29am

my dv9700t specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefsmackaho View Post
Did you ever make a purchase on either one? I have a loaded dv9700CTO that I purchased for $1800 roughly with a 2 year warranty. (And I play COD 4 on it just fine, thank you )
My dv9700t is supposed to arrive at my doorstep tomorrow or Tuesday. I used the $500 off coupon when it was active and was able to keep under $1000!
I only got a one year warranty, but then again I get new computers very frequently. However since I loaded it with a 2.4 GHz T8300, 8600M GS, 3GB RAM and 320GB HDD, I might extend the warranty to 2 years later. I may also add another 320GB HDD somewhere down the line.
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post #13 of 18
6/29/08 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CP_You View Post
My dv9700t is supposed to arrive at my doorstep tomorrow or Tuesday. I used the $500 off coupon when it was active and was able to keep under $1000!
I only got a one year warranty, but then again I get new computers very frequently. However since I loaded it with a 2.4 GHz T8300, 8600M GS, 3GB RAM and 320GB HDD, I might extend the warranty to 2 years later. I may also add another 320GB HDD somewhere down the line.
Nice. Let me know how you like it.

I originally configured mine with the 2 120GB 7,200 RPM drives for 240GB total, but I purchased 2 200GB 7,200 aftermarket so I'm up to 400GB. One thing I did notice on a notebook is that when it comes to 5,400 vs. 7,200, you do notice the difference.

I also configured with the least amount of ram possible and purchased 4GB aftermarket for $89 from the Egg as it was cheaper than buying from HP (MUCH cheaper). I have Ultimate 64 bit, so I can take advantage of all of that memory.
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post #14 of 18
6/29/08 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefsmackaho View Post
Nice. Let me know how you like it.

I originally configured mine with the 2 120GB 7,200 RPM drives for 240GB total, but I purchased 2 200GB 7,200 aftermarket so I'm up to 400GB. One thing I did notice on a notebook is that when it comes to 5,400 vs. 7,200, you do notice the difference.

I also configured with the least amount of ram possible and purchased 4GB aftermarket for $89 from the Egg as it was cheaper than buying from HP (MUCH cheaper). I have Ultimate 64 bit, so I can take advantage of all of that memory.
Here are my complete specs from my order email
HP Pavilion dv9700t Entertainment CTO NB
- Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40GHz)
- 17.0" diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 50% OFF 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS!!
- HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Microphone
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
- $50 OFF 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive from 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive!!
- LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
- HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

I ordered a new HP backpack off of ebay for less than helf of hp's price. I've also had a Coolermaster notepal laptop cooler and Epson Stylus Photo R220 printer. These I've had for a while. Oh and also, I got Office Home and Student 2007 for only $70 at bestbuy by using gift cards.
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post #15 of 18
8/14/08 at 9:06pm
he doesn't have to carry the thing on his back, you know. Now
they have these laptop cases or even backpacks that have wheels
and a handle. personally, what I want to do is first get a padded case that could go in anything, then get something like a swiss army pullman on wheels, and put the laptop in a that padded case inside it, and my lunch. I have to plan for a longer time period that he would, because it's for work.
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post #16 of 18
8/15/08 at 5:27pm
Completely unrelated, but someone above mentioned slide-rules. I tried using one and to me it seemed more "magical" in getting an answer than using a calculator.
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post #17 of 18
8/15/08 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr/owned View Post
Completely unrelated, but someone above mentioned slide-rules. I tried using one and to me it seemed more "magical" in getting an answer than using a calculator.
That struck me as so funny...I don't mean "ha-ha", but interesting in how perspectives change!

When I was in High School, slide rules were the norm, and calculators, as we have now, were not yet "retail" market. A simple basic-function, red-led hand held calcualtor, not readily available until I hit college, ran about $80+, and at the time, we thought that they were exotic and outrageous examples of cutting-edge tech, that were not really needed!

My first calculator, was a very basic math function model...and was a bargain at $40!

Someone here is getting old...
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post #18 of 18
8/15/08 at 5:44pm
I can't imagine technology 20 years from now that will make me look back and say "wow yesterday's technology was so ghetto".

The first sign your kids could kill you is when they're able to program the tivo faster than you can turn it on

$80 for a calculator....pshhhh I think I spent $110 for my TI-89 Titanium and that was on sale. But I have to take ultra-advanced math so it'll pay off over 5 years. My Algebra teacher a while back said he saved up forever to get a 4-function calculator that cost him $400.

Ranting about a younger generation, I can't stand seeing a kid in basic algebra with the most expensive calculators. Or 6 year olds that need cell phones....
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