*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (3XXX series) Owners Lounge*

[shawnwalters]

I'm debating between an HP ENVY 17-3090NR or an alienware m17x r3 or some other similar laptop. Are most of you happy with your Envy? I'm going to be doing any gaming.

Thanks

[vsherry]

Originally Posted by shawnwalters

I'm debating between an HP ENVY 17-3090NR or an alienware m17x r3 or some other similar laptop. Are most of you happy with your Envy? I'm going to be doing any gaming.

Thanks

I personally could not be happier with mine.

[IzZaGod]

I have my Envy on the way and i can't wait! But i was wandering about how well the 3d works and do the active shutter glasses have to be charged.

[vsherry]

Originally Posted by IzZaGod

I have my Envy on the way and i can't wait! But i was wandering about how well the 3d works and do the active shutter glasses have to be charged.

The 3D works pretty well, especially with blu-ray, IMO. The glasses do not have to be charged.

[iglaze]

Originally Posted by shawnwalters

I'm debating between an HP ENVY 17-3090NR or an alienware m17x r3 or some other similar laptop. Are most of you happy with your Envy? I'm going to be doing any gaming.

Thanks

I had an Envy and returned it. Now I have a Alienware m17x R3. In my opinion:

1. Form factor: The Envy has the Alienware beat. The machine is thin, light weight (almost half the weight of the m17x) and looks great. I've compared to have a sleek sports car over a muscle car. Choose which ever style you prefer.

2. Power (Graphics card): The Alienware beats it. Out of the gate, you will have a more powerful graphics card even if you went with the base model m17x. Also, the m17x have integrated graphics as well, so I have an amazing battery life if I switch over to do regular work type stuff like the Envy.

3. Screen: Both have great screens, but to my eyes, the Alienware looked better. The screen was so vivid, it was amazing. I have the 60hz screen on the m17x. On the Envy, I had the 120hz screen. The image wasn't as vivid, but everything seemed really smooth. And the 3D was very cool. You can get 3D on the Alienware, but here is where there is an important difference.

4. 3D: Both systems can do 3D, but there is an important difference. Alienware: You can have 3D with NVidia, but you loose the integrated graphics option. In other words, you can't improve the battery life by choosing integrated graphics. So only 2 hours total of battery life (or less)
Envy: You can have both 3D and great battery life since the Envy 17 3D allows you to keep both. So 2+ hours for 3D/games. 5+ hours for office type work.
This is why I opted for a non 3D version of the Alienware.

5. Cost: If you just go by their website, then the cost look to be about the same. But if you are in the US, HP tends to throw out a bunch of coupons to bring down the cost of ordering an Envy. Up to 33% off which can make it a better deal than getting a lot of other high-end laptops. Alienware doesn't have these. But if you don't mind refurbished, you can find a deal there as well.

Everything else is going to be even more opinionated. You could talk about the keyboard, lights, amount of devices and monitors you can plug into it, configuration options, etc. I personally feel that you can't go wrong with either laptop. They both have great options, very customizable (though I do wish they had more graphic card options for the Envy) and you get a lot for your buck. If you are more fashion or business minded, go with the Envy. If all you care about is gaming, then go for the Alienware.

For now, I selected the Alienware for myself. This is more a desktop replacement for me. But I have a feeling that next time, I'll be buying an Envy because I still love that machine.

(By the way, this is for the Envy 17" 3D (2012 edition)

Originally Posted by IzZaGod

I have my Envy on the way and i can't wait! But i was wandering about how well the 3d works and do the active shutter glasses have to be charged.

The glasses come with a battery that is supposed to last a long time. And if it does run out, it is easily replaceable.

[DanielShin]

Originally Posted by iglaze

I had an Envy and returned it. Now I have a Alienware m17x R3. In my opinion:

1. Form factor: The Envy has the Alienware beat. The machine is thin, light weight (almost half the weight of the m17x) and looks great. I've compared to have a sleek sports car over a muscle car. Choose which ever style you prefer.

2. Power (Graphics card): The Alienware beats it. Out of the gate, you will have a more powerful graphics card even if you went with the base model m17x. Also, the m17x have integrated graphics as well, so I have an amazing battery life if I switch over to do regular work type stuff like the Envy.

3. Screen: Both have great screens, but to my eyes, the Alienware looked better. The screen was so vivid, it was amazing. I have the 60hz screen on the m17x. On the Envy, I had the 120hz screen. The image wasn't as vivid, but everything seemed really smooth. And the 3D was very cool. You can get 3D on the Alienware, but here is where there is an important difference.

4. 3D: Both systems can do 3D, but there is an important difference. Alienware: You can have 3D with NVidia, but you loose the integrated graphics option. In other words, you can't improve the battery life by choosing integrated graphics. So only 2 hours total of battery life (or less)
Envy: You can have both 3D and great battery life since the Envy 17 3D allows you to keep both. So 2+ hours for 3D/games. 5+ hours for office type work.
This is why I opted for a non 3D version of the Alienware.

5. Cost: If you just go by their website, then the cost look to be about the same. But if you are in the US, HP tends to throw out a bunch of coupons to bring down the cost of ordering an Envy. Up to 33% off which can make it a better deal than getting a lot of other high-end laptops. Alienware doesn't have these. But if you don't mind refurbished, you can find a deal there as well.

Everything else is going to be even more opinionated. You could talk about the keyboard, lights, amount of devices and monitors you can plug into it, configuration options, etc. I personally feel that you can't go wrong with either laptop. They both have great options, very customizable (though I do wish they had more graphic card options for the Envy) and you get a lot for your buck. If you are more fashion or business minded, go with the Envy. If all you care about is gaming, then go for the Alienware.

For now, I selected the Alienware for myself. This is more a desktop replacement for me. But I have a feeling that next time, I'll be buying an Envy because I still love that machine.

(By the way, this is for the Envy 17" 3D (2012 edition)



The glasses come with a battery that is supposed to last a long time. And if it does run out, it is easily replaceable.

My Envy is very capable of putting out 1920x1080 high/ultra on BF3, maxed on SC2 and MW3. I also personally like the look of the Envy compared to the bulkier alienware.

[lsramair]

Originally Posted by Yaka2manD

...As you can see, I use both DisplayPorts with HP's DisplayPorts to DVI adaptors (part number is 481409-001).
Just for the test, I tried to plug three displays, but it wouldn't work (maximum 2 displays supported), even with the Eyefinity software.
I guess I need to have the displayPorts plugged directly with a displayPort to displayPort cable... .

The Envy's displayports can support 2 monitors off of one port if you get the DualLink Adapters. They are significantly more expensive (Frys for $120) and require power from a USB port. It breaks it into 2 DVI ports. I think this is what you would need to run 3+ monitors.

I am using one but just so i can run 120Hz to a single monitor, as the regular displayport adapters only support 60Hz.

[devsk]

Originally Posted by lsramair

The Envy's displayports can support 2 monitors off of one port if you get the DualLink Adapters. They are significantly more expensive (Frys for $120) and require power from a USB port. It breaks it into 2 DVI ports. I think this is what you would need to run 3+ monitors.

I am using one but just so i can run 120Hz to a single monitor, as the regular displayport adapters only support 60Hz.

The point is not to dupe (or mirror) a display. The point is to extend it. That's not possible with that adapter.

[iglaze]

Originally Posted by DanielShin

My Envy is very capable of putting out 1920x1080 high/ultra on BF3, maxed on SC2 and MW3. I also personally like the look of the Envy compared to the bulkier alienware.

Yes, the Envy is a very capable machine, but new games may not treat it so well. Personally, when I play PC games, I tend to focus on one or two games (typically MMOs). But if you are a heavy gamer and plan to keep your laptop more than two years, then getting a more powerful card will keep your laptop playing longer.

Of course you could be pushing your laptop harder with graphically intense game so they don't last long, but everything is a balancing act.

If it looked like I was down on the Envy, I'm not. I keep thinking I should have gone back to it and given it another chance. I liked it that much. But in the end, I ended up getting a great deal on the Alienware, way cheaper than what it was worth, so I'm keeping it. If I had to pay full price for one, I never would have bought it.

You'll love your Envy if you get it and there are no QC issues. It's one of the best laptops this side of the Mac in my opinion.

[IzZaGod]

Iv'e read a lot of stuff on this laptop and some people say it plays just about any game on max/ultra settings and some complain about how it cant run games well, it seems like a lot of people don't realize you have to manually change your settings from integrated graphics to the dedicated graphics card. I'm a gamer all the way and some of the reviews about it make me wander... so i hope this thing runs like a beast and the people saying its not much for gaming are wrong.