It runs beautifully with the latest Windows 7 on it.

And this machine will only get faster as time goes on. Reasons are that Windows 7 is even faster than XP so when it is released late this year it will feel like getting a new machine again (I'm using it on mine as a daily driver OS). Currently there is very little software that takes advantage of multi-core CPUs. Most that do ignore the extra two core on this machine. Only when software companies optimize their software fully will you really feel what the Quad can do. Also, VERY little software supports 64-bit. And I don't mean simply compiled for x64, but actually FULLY optimized for 64-bit. Companies are finally getting on that issue full force but it won't be for a while before us 64-bit Quad-core owners are fully represented. But once we are, our HP dv7-2040US will be unleashed to do what it was designed to do without limitations!

Does anybody know where to get the 12 cell battery for this thing? Someone on newegg was able to find one. This seems to be an AWESOME laptop...i'm thinking about it for college.

I think I found one manufactured and sold by a third party company. I came across it after some heavy googling but it didn't specifically say dv7-2040US, There were a couple other laptops that it fit in that matched up with laptops listed on the same page for the OEM battery so I would imagine it would fit. I don't have the link to it but it wasn't easy to find IIRC.

I was bored so I raised the bar. Windows Performance Index 5.9. Read it and beat it.

Resubmit and I will approve.

hey nickwelder do you mind running 3dmark benchmarks for me so i can compare my scores. I got 6832 in 3dmark 06 but that seems a little low for the processor and graphics card (at least compared to this one website where they had lower CPU scores then me but same graphics cards and a higher 3dmark 06 score.)

i dont think vantage will give me a score because of the lack of 1280x1024 resolution lol.

3dmark06 won't run on my computer because I don't have the right resolution (F'in STUPID!! How about a standard resolution like, I dunno....um 1024x768!!!!!!!!)

I got 7182 on 3DMark06. Pretty bad but I have an idea why it was that low so I am gonna test again. I had some tests unchecked.

Ok I got an 8970 now on 3DMark06. Still low. I'll try again tomorrow with a fresh restart.

Would you share the steps as how you can squeeze more out the benchmark? Settings? Tips?

That was a good jump from one day to another.

cheers ...

approved

A combination of things. 3DMark06 specifically, I made sure ALL tests were checked and it calculated those tests in.to the final score. On other benchmarks I mess with CCC settings, boot in selective starup mode (safe mode + certain drivers like GFX). Turn off all visual effects. Force quit ALL unecessary process. Drop CPU and GPU core temperatures to 85F or lower and then maintaining load temperatures of <105F by removing battery and all covers. I start by letting the computer sleep and cool and blowing fan/AC over the motherboard with the bottom facing up during tests.

I make sure I'm locked into a 7.5x - 8.5x CPU multiplier by overriding Intel SpeedStep.

I overclocked the GPU to 700MHz and GfxMem to 800MHz on my 5.9 Windows Index, and 3DMark06 score. I have yet to run other tests overclocked.

And my overall "secret" as long as you don't give it out....Test, test again, test again, tweak, test again, kill more processes, test again, cool down, test again, reboot to flush memory leak cluster****, test again, tweak, cool, test again. SCORE!!

Cool. I am really looking for a template to be used here at NBF when we benchmark, just to be sure that all the factors and their values are being looked at - like in your input - CCC settings, no-unneeded-processes environment, multiplier, temp etc ...

cheers ...

I have a question that has yet to be answered though I asked several times. I submitted 6 benchmarks now, 4 are shown, credits given for 4 only. One of my benchmarks was Everest and I was told a section for Everest benchmarks would be added, but it has been several months but not added to the site yet. And it still isn't listed for my benchmarks submitted.

Maybe the 'Windows Vista Performance Index' can be ammended to 'Windows Vista/7 Performance Index' or similar in preparation for official release in a few months and to cover those running "Release Cantidate" versions.

I will create some new templates for my benchmarks to organize my changes/tweaks.

We are working on adding sub-categories in the benchmark area. You are not the only one who is being affected by this at the moment :-) Be patient with us.

Appreciate for the inputs in the benchmark template.

cheers ...