*HP EliteBook 8740w Owners Lounge - PART 2*

[Maru]

I am strongly looking at the 8740 i5 with the ATI. Does anyone here use this machine for solidworks?

The SolidWorks sw-02 entries of the SpecViewPerf11 benchmarks may give some indication of how the ATI FirePro M7820 GPU will perform compared to the other GPUs.

Collected 8740w Owners Benchmark Data: 3D Graphics performance

SPECViewPerf11 (runs traces of GPU commands from CAD/CAM program benchmarks)
...
sw-02 (SolidWorks 2009 sp2)
 840QM	3800M	12.5947	_	)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 30.22
 740QM	5000M	_	_	)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 29.99
 720QM	2800M	12.5947	TN:6	))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 27.04
 840QM	M7820	743.3.1	DC2:10	)))))))))))))))))))) 20.28
...

I think the sw-02 scores are the average of the 10 GPU traces from SolidWorks2009 listed here
SPECviewperf® 11 -- sw-03 viewset
(I don't understand why this page says sw03, but the screenshots of the result of SpecViewPerf11 say sw-02.)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-b...ml#post6825979
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-b...ml#post6789613

SPEC Graphics and Workstation Performance benchmarks
SPEC Benchmarks

Sorry to hear your 8510w was stolen.

[Wizman]

Got my 8740w! Really a solid beast. I replaced the hard drive with an OCZ vertex2, and added another RAM. I am looking for an upgrade bay to put a 500G hard drive but can't find one online. Does anyone know how to get one?

Hi sinitar,

Congratulations on your new 8740w. My new 8740w was delivered last Wednesday, I used it a few days, and it was shipped back to HP yesterday to be replaced with a new one. I will explain why in another post soon.

The "caddy" you need for your 500GB drive can be ordered directly from HP at: HP PartSurfer

The HP Part# is 613682-001 (UPGRADE BAY CRADLE). Cost is $20.90 + tax + shipping. I purchased the same part a few days ago and it is due to be delivered on Monday. Total cost for me was $20.90 + $1.78 tax + $11.2 UPS shipping = $33.93 total. Turnaround time from initial order to delivery is ~4 business days.

My 8740w, "the old one" being replaced, had a 256GB Crucial RealSSD C300 SSD provided by HP. I just purchased a Western Digital Scorpio (Black) 500GB 7200 rpm drive for the upgrade bay to replace the DVD drive for additional storage.

Buying a real HP "caddy" from HP is the best deal, but they are also available from NewmodeUS (not a HP part) at:2nd Hard Drive Caddy for HP Upgrade Bay - SATA (compare AK868AA) [HP-2BAY-8730] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

Others here have used the NewmodeUS part sucessfully, but apparently you need a big hammer to seat it properly. I went with the HP part.

Good luck with your new 'beast". Hopefully, I will have my new replacement within a couple of weeks.

[Judicator]

So, I finally managed to stop procrastinating and ordered my own 8740wa few days ago. The rep I spoke with offered a 24% discount off the bat, I asked for 25% to make it "a nice round number". Hopefully the 3 week average shipping time holds true, as that would get my shiny new machine to my door just in time for my birthday.

This did bring up a question for me, though. As I intend to pickup an Upgrade Bay caddy at some point, I was thinking about using the DVD-RW drive in an external enclosure, and so I was wondering if it would fit into one of those slimline enclosures, or if I'd have to go looking for a full size enclosure. Or I could just go ahead and buy an entire external DVD-RW drive, although at that point I'd be highly tempted to make it a Blu-Ray writer... >.>

[Charles P. Jefferies]

Hello everyone,
I am strongly looking at the 8740 i5 with the ATI. Does anyone here use this machine for solidworks? Also anyone play BF2 with this machine. I use to have the 8510w and loved it until it was stolen Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Jethro

BattleField 2? I play Bad Company 2 with my 8740w, it has superb performance at 1920x1200 and max settings . . . very smooth. Never skips a beat.

I ordered the upgrade bay a few days ago for my 8740w, it came out to ~$34. I haven't installed it yet (right now I have to burn quite a few CDs). I also need to decide which hard drive to install in it.

[RampageII]

Others here have used the NewmodeUS part sucessfully, but apparently you need a big hammer to seat it properly. I went with the HP part.

OMG, I can't believe this myth is still alive.
One guy mentioned that he used a hammer and suddenly people assume it's a requirement. LOL

I have one of those caddies which I purchased for my old 8730w laptop, way before I even got an 8740w.
The 8730w and 8740w caddies are interchangeable.
The first couple of times, I noticed it didn't quite go in smooth in my 8730w. Once I gave it a gentle bump with palm of my hand, it went in just fine.
That was on a couple of occasions only. Now it just goes in smooth without any problems.

But of course the "hammer" comments are what sticks in people's minds.

[sinitar]

Hi sinitar,

Congratulations on your new 8740w. My new 8740w was delivered last Wednesday, I used it a few days, and it was shipped back to HP yesterday to be replaced with a new one. I will explain why in another post soon.

The "caddy" you need for your 500GB drive can be ordered directly from HP at: HP PartSurfer

The HP Part# is 613682-001 (UPGRADE BAY CRADLE). Cost is $20.90 + tax + shipping. I purchased the same part a few days ago and it is due to be delivered on Monday. Total cost for me was $20.90 + $1.78 tax + $11.2 UPS shipping = $33.93 total. Turnaround time from initial order to delivery is ~4 business days.

My 8740w, "the old one" being replaced, had a 256GB Crucial RealSSD C300 SSD provided by HP. I just purchased a Western Digital Scorpio (Black) 500GB 7200 rpm drive for the upgrade bay to replace the DVD drive for additional storage.

Buying a real HP "caddy" from HP is the best deal, but they are also available from NewmodeUS (not a HP part) at:2nd Hard Drive Caddy for HP Upgrade Bay - SATA (compare AK868AA) [HP-2BAY-8730] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

Others here have used the NewmodeUS part sucessfully, but apparently you need a big hammer to seat it properly. I went with the HP part.

Good luck with your new 'beast". Hopefully, I will have my new replacement within a couple of weeks.

Thank you a lot! This machine works fine so far. The screen is wonderful, however it is too bright with default setting. I used the HP mobile display assistant to configure it and the software said the color accuracy would decrease if I change the brightness. HP should incorporate a calibrating equipment in this machine like Thinkpad W700 series.

[Miss_Ivy]

I just wanted to thank everyone in this thread who have contributed with all their data and experiences with their lovely 8740w. I made the plunge 5 minutes ago and ordered one... I don't think I've been this excited since I purchased my little (and now broken...) T60p 4 years ago. She held on the good fight, but clearly wanted me to move on....to bigger shinier *drools* IPS pastures.

I don't think I've ever been so nervous to make a phone call in all my life. They initially offered me 20% off, and I shut my eyes and said "I was hoping you could make it the 28%..." after a few moments hold they agreed. EEEEEE! Seriously feel like I'm on cloud 9. I wish I could bake my sales rep cookies, but that might count as stalking and be frowned upon.

[sheltem]

Hello everyone,
I am strongly looking at the 8740 i5 with the ATI. Does anyone here use this machine for solidworks? Also anyone play BF2 with this machine. I use to have the 8510w and loved it until it was stolen Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Jethro

BattleField 2? I play Bad Company 2 with my 8740w, it has superb performance at 1920x1200 and max settings . . . very smooth. Never skips a beat.

Based on specifications, the FirePro M7820's gaming performance is between a desktop Radeon 5750 and 5770.

[Wizman]

OMG, I can't believe this myth is still alive.
One guy mentioned that he used a hammer and suddenly people assume it's a requirement. LOL

I have one of those caddies which I purchased for my old 8730w laptop, way before I even got an 8740w.
The 8730w and 8740w caddies are interchangeable.
The first couple of times, I noticed it didn't quite go in smooth in my 8730w. Once I gave it a gentle bump with palm of my hand, it went in just fine.
That was on a couple of occasions only. Now it just goes in smooth without any problems.

But of course the "hammer" comments are what sticks in people's minds.

Come on Rampage, be honest. We were told you used a really big hammer to properly seat that lovely NewmodeUS caddy.

That's what happens when you use non-HP parts.

Does it fit yet? Bang! Does it fit yet? Bang! Does it fit yet? Bang!

Here's the actual video of Rampage making final adjustments to his 8740w on the ground:
http://www.bydesignhost.com/HAMMER_4.gif

[Wizman]

I ordered the upgrade bay a few days ago for my 8740w, it came out to ~$34. I haven't installed it yet (right now I have to burn quite a few CDs). I also need to decide which hard drive to install in it.

Hi Charles P.

I just purchased and highly recommend the Western Digital Scorpio 2.5-Inch 500 GB SATA Internal Hard Drive WD5000BEKT (Black). Amazon has a great price on it with no tax and free shipping: Amazon.com: Western Digital Scorpio 2.5-Inch 500 GB SATA Internal Hard Drive WD5000BEKT (Black): Electronics

I'm still waiting for the HP caddy to put it into (will be here Monday)...and for my replacement 8740w to put the caddy into.