HP/Compaq :: Possible To Obtain G2 Envy 15 In The UK
May 13, 2010
Im currently wading through the 500 page owners thread, but I thought I might be able to get an immediate response here.
Im looking for the i5 model of the Envy 15 with the 5830 video card - doesnt seem to be available here in the UK unless I use an importer on ebay, which I am not sure I want to go ahead and do (mainly warranty concerns).
If I cant Im goiing to go with a Sony Vaio F with the i5 Processsor, but my preference at the moment is for the HP if I can get it.
I have recently installed a 250 Gb Samsung 840 EVO SSD and Win 7 Ultimate (64 bit) on my Pavilion dv6-7002AX laptop (**NOTE** - purchased in Australia) and for the most part it went well. The current problem I have is with the SM Bus controller and USB controller being listed as problematic in Device Manager. It appears to be missing the drivers and I have obtained the hardware IDs listed below. Â SM Bus Controller Hardware IDs PCIVEN_1022&DEV_780B&SUBSYS_1831103C&REV_14PCIVEN_1022&DEV_780B&SUBSYS_1831103C PCIVEN_1022&DEV_780B&CC_0C0500PCIVEN_1022&DEV_780B&CC_0C05 USB Controller Hardware IDs [code]....
I'm shopping for laptops right now and I'm pretty much stuck between these two. My main question for the 14 is will it be able to do full hd? I know 1920x1080 is a bit much to ask for on a 14.5" screen but I haven't been able to find a solid answer for this question. The 14 has more features and the internal cd drive is a plus, but not a dealbreaker for the 15 since the cd drive isn't used too much. Taking out price, which one would be a better buy?
I have a couple of questions about the Envy v2. I'm certain the answers are somewhere in the massive owner's thread but it's way too long to want to go through at this point.
My questions are:
1) Audio quality of external speakers. Is there enough bass in them? Do they sound "tin-y"?
2) Noise from the fan when the GPU is in high use. How loud is the fan? Has anyone put a decibel meter to it?
3) Temp of the GPU. My Studio 15 is hitting a high of 70c when running and was wondering how the newer ATI is.
The first I heard about the Envy line was that it was a gorgeous laptop with a great display and above-average speakers. However, it was fundamentally flawed with a horrible trackpad and overheating issues(present in the 13, but further aggravated in the 15). After the spectacular fail of a release, I dropped the Envy out of consideration.
To the present, I've recently started looking at a huge array of laptops and have taken the Envy into consideration again. From what I've heard, the Envy 15 is in its second generation(I need a full-HD laptop and won't be considering the Envy 13). It now comes equipped with a i5 processor and the HD5830.............
I pulled the trigger and purchased an envy with these specs,
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit • Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz • 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) • 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection • 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5830 Graphics - For i7 Processors • 15.6" diagonal Full High Definition LED HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen Display (1920x1080) • Webcam Only • Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth • HP Color Matching Keyboard • 6 Cell Lithium Ion Polymer Battery
Tech specs known at the moment: - Intel CPU - Windows 7 OS - Lithium Polymer battery with optional extended external battery - Interfaces: HDMI, 2xUSB, hybrid jack audio
How does the 1/6 GHz processor stack up against the more traditional core duo? Is it roughly equal to a 2.53 GHz processor? I love windows 7 and might trade my Macbook Pro for one.
HP's envy 15 line with the ATI 5830 GPU (i7-720/820). I do have one big concern however, and that is heat. Could anyone post their max GPU / CPU / HD temps they usually get while running an intensive game / benchmark?
I need to connect my HP Envy 15 to my TV`s VGA port, and I'm looking for the best alternative. This is because I only get a stretched picture when I connect it to the DVI port through a HDMI > DVI-adapter.
HP has an official HDMI -> VGA adapter. What's people experience with that? Perfect? Problems? I see that Envy 15 is not listed as a supported model for it, but does that matter?
Is there a way to lock the Fn function in for when I am playing a game and need to use the function keys. I keep kicking myself out of a game because on instinct I use the function keys still.
I came across an Envy, and it looked really light and cool.
The Envy 15 seems to have good specs, with the 5830 and i5's or i7's, 4 sodimms (right?) 1080p screen.
The Envy 14, however, seems to be a bit weak..
Is there a special feature in the Envy 14 that I better wait for? or, is the Envy 15 still a reasonable machine that I could aim for in my trade?
I can't really find the part that explains the refreshes of the Envy 15..
I really want to know if the Envy 14 is a different league than the Envy 15, or if they are in the similar league so that I should wait for the 14 model.
I'm already playing with the clock speeds i didn't bother with a full reinstall. i got rid of all the bloatware, fixed the stupid fn key function keys thing, and it runs fine. i didn't get the 10.3 preview driver due to a lot of instabilities i keep hearing about. gonna wait for it to come out. i'm still using the original driver version that came with the computer. i got amd gpu tools, and oced to 520/1050 just to start. so far my temps never went above 70C how do i keep this clock speed when i restart? also, i notice the default settings downclock the gpu when it's not doing anything intensive, and they go up to 500/800 when they need to. if i lock in my oc when i restart (if i can), will it still downclock when it doesn't need the speed?
The prices of the Envy Line have dropped and the Envy 15 now features i5-520M + ATI HD5830. If that implies switchable graphics than the battery life problems of the Envy are gone
Certain keys on the keyboard don't work and if they do they will type a couple of random letters. Anyone else have this? It most likely isn't software as they dont work even before I get to windows(recovery command prompt).
Sometimes it will work after so many reboots and BIOS resets, but generally it happens at random times. I already spoke to tech support and am sending it in as the lady I talked to had no idea what the problem and insists it's windows. The onscreen keyboard works fine which is how i typed all of the "P"s and ".
Anything I can do to avoid sending it in, as I really like the laptop aside from the malfunctioning keyboard.
I so wanted to like it because it does everything I need in such a portable package but whoever created the trackpad design should be freaking shot.
I've tried all of the various settings and the latest drivers but all of them freak out pretty badly if you leave you motion finger on the trackpad at the same time as clicking. God forbid you actually want to click and drag something (in the normal "hold down the button and move the pointer" method, not any custom gestures).
The limited tilting on the screen was really annoying (use thee laptop a fair amount at home standing up) but it would have been workable if it weren't for the trackpad issues.
Guess I'll be looking at the elitebooks and precision workstations instead (giving up on the portability for a better screen and usability)
Planning on buying a 15 but want backlit keys. I think the 17 is going to have it but don't want a laptop that large, rather have the lighter 15". Is it planned for the future? I'm just gonna be pissed if I get it and a month later or whatever HP says the 15 will have backlit keys.
I know the general pros/cons of each. However, when we get to specifics, I'm a little foggy.
Here's what I seem to know about these chips:
i5-540: Runs cooler, dual-core, only allows two slots for RAM
i7-820: Hotter, quad core, allows for 16GB RAM
My situation is that, should I get an Envy, I'm getting the dual SSDs (I have one on my SXPS16 and could never go back to a regular HD). Based on the storage, will the i7-820QM run cooler? I'm wondering just how hot it gets...my SXPS 1640 was supposed to be ridiculously hot, but with the SSD, it's generally cool.
What could I expect with the i7/SSD setup?
I'm leaning towards the 820 anyway, because I'd just rather futureproof the system. I don't like that the i5 only allows for two slots of RAM. But one last question I have is...just how much of a difference does the i5 make on battery life over the i7? I usually stay plugged in, but do use my laptop in the car upon occasion.
I'm looking at either the Envy 14 or the VAIO E 15.5" - but can't make my mind up as they are both roughly the same size and spec and should be similar in price ......
i've had my Envy 15 for over two months now and although i don't use it frequently enough my wife noticed that on a full charge, unplug then the next day or so the battery is drained.
Basically here is what she does: she would charge the laptop up unplug then use it for like 20 mins shut down Start>>shutdown CLose lid
About or two days later she would try to use it and the thing wont turn on. Plug in the brick and voila! thing comes up.
Is she not shutting down properly? or is there some program on sleep eating the battery? Or is that the rate this battery drains?
this is still on the FACTORY image, i didnt rebuild it
I've been suggested an HP Envy 14 for college in the what computer should I get forum, but I've heard and experienced some pretty horriblebad things with HP notebooks (dv2000 series, in my personal experience). Can someone with an Envy attest to the reliability or lack thereof of this line?
I've been looking at the envy 15 and it really looks like a laptop I want. The only problem I've found about it(for me at least) is heat. While a lot of people say that with the i5 processors heat isn't an issue, I was wondering if with an i7 processor like the i7 820QM or i7 720QM the heat spikes up as compared to the i5 ones. Sorry if this just adds to heat questions but it seems a lot of people saying heat is fixed are people with i5 and I just wanted an answer from someone with an i7.
I picked up a new Envy 15. Nice laptop! However, when paying $2000 for a laptop, I would like it pretty error free.
Every time I boot the laptop, the screen goes blank once it gets in to Windows, although the power light is on and you can hear the fans. Pressing the monitor or any other key does nothing. Need to reboot.
