the HP dv6-6017tx, 6121tx, 6140tx and dv6-6165tx thread

[rachitboom2]

Apologies for the long post...

Questions
How good is the touchpad of this laptop?
Is there a 9-cell battery available for this laptop?
Does the Windows 7 Key work with the retail version DVD?

The Big Question: HP or not to HP?
I love the specs of this laptop, it is precisely what I was looking for but these issues haunt me whenever I linger close to an HP laptop. Should I not worry about these and go ahead trusting HP to give good quality?

Some of the historical problems with HP laptops (faced by at least 2 owners in the previous 3 years):
- Heating
- Display problems including failed connectors and dead pixels (in a year or two)
- Very annoying touchpads and broken buttons
- Batteries die quite quickly (within a year most didn't last longer than 10 mins) - heavy usage is to blame but problem significantly less with Dells.
- Bad,very bad customer service, takes them a week to inspect the laptop if you have any issue.

So, I am quite reluctant to buy HP. I use an HP Compaq and it has similar issues especially bothered by the display thing.

A different path?

I was looking for 7200rpm HDD, dual band wireless n (300Mbps), Backlit keyboard, 1080p display and Nvidia Graphics for CUDA (and also durability, to last 3-5 years) in addition to the specs. Is there any other laptop with the above (other than XPS 15)? Looking for ASUS, Sony or others (lenovo, Acer, Samsung if they are reliable).

Dust, Heat and Service

And as far as I know to keep out the dust, (preferably, open up the covers and the area covering the fan) use a blower at the fan vent. The service guys will probably take a week to do the same. Over the years I have learnt to repair my own laptop using the service manual and it is quite easy if you follow it right. Only with my Compaq I had to do it with the laptop still being in warranty (Courtesy: HP Service)

I will try to answer you ques...
1. The touchpad of this laptop is great, its really large and comfortable to work with even when laptop is used held close to u.

2. No there no customization options here, dell is the best to provide such options though the upgrades are unnecessarily pricey, i mean Rs3800 extra for a 4GB DDR3 RAM where as i can get it for Rs2500 !!!

3. Yah the provided key works with with both 32bit and 64bit ver of win 7 home premium (retail)... See previous posts!

4. No heating issues... Read previous posts...

5. Its been 20 days since i bought it, no display or touch pad or keyboard issues yet, and 3 of my friends have HP laptops, one has DV6, one compaq other i dont know, none of them have had any such issues yet, but they all take damn good care of there laptops so maybe that is the reason...

6. Use the laptop battery properly and it can last for 2 years without any problems... Read my previous posts on how i use it...

7. Cant comment on the service as it usually depends on the city, service here is pretty decent if not the best. But if you want the best service go for Dell...

8. You wont get the config you mentioned in a laptop unless you customize it and the price will surely be 60K+

9. HP provides free meintainance for upto 1 year which includes proper clean up as well... I have never had any experience regarding this so wont comment...

There... Hope i helped...

 

[shashankm]

Hi,
Has it got a backlit KB? Sorry couldn't comprehend out of whole thread..
In future, If i want to extend warranty to say 3 years like they do in Dell, is it viable with HP. Cause as I know, HP is notorious to extend any support except in some commercial cases!
And that thing with Dell XPS's subwoofer being falling flat when place on table, bed et al is pure production of meandered brains! Today I witnessed them both, placed next to each other, Dell outplays HP in terms of sound quality but only if its a 9 cell battery, it overpowers HP anyway 9 or 6!
Actually, the extra 3 cells keep it elated from the base where its kept thus providing enough echoing for the sub hence freaky boombastic effect is achieved. And also, this helps in ventilation too.
You can get 3 years extra complete care with Dell and a targus backpack free!
So far, So good, XPS seems the best option..

 

[rachitboom2]

Hi,
Has it got a backlit KB? Sorry couldn't comprehend out of whole thread..
In future, If i want to extend warranty to say 3 years like they do in Dell, is it viable with HP. Cause as I know, HP is notorious to extend any support except in some commercial cases!
And that thing with Dell XPS's subwoofer being falling flat when place on table, bed et al is pure production of meandered brains! Today I witnessed them both, placed next to each other, Dell outplays HP in terms of sound quality but only if its a 9 cell battery, it overpowers HP anyway 9 or 6!
Actually, the extra 3 cells keep it elated from the base where its kept thus providing enough echoing for the sub hence freaky boombastic effect is achieved. And also, this helps in ventilation too.
You can get 3 years extra complete care with Dell and a targus backpack free!
So far, So good, XPS seems the best option..

No DV6 does not have back lit keyboard.

You will have to contact HP for extended warranty, a few of my friends claim they have extended warranty, i didnt opt for one so really dont know.

I have been mentioning right from the first post that Dell has the best sound hands down... BUT its just the sub woofer of which i was saying that its good only when you use it on a flat surface or have the 9 cell batt, so that there is proper room, while on a lap or on bed it wont give you the same mind blowing sound that you get on a table top...

Lastly dude in XPS15 you can get everything that HP can offer(except the GPU) AND more, but the price will reach close to 60k for i5 and 60k+ for i7 processor... And keep in mind the laptop bag is not free, they are charging you for it...

Get me the same config as DV6-6017TX in XPS15 for 53K and then say that XPS is the best option...
Its the best option only if you have a 60k budget...

 

[evil_maverick]

Got the 6017tx yesterday!!
52k.....(kolkata)
have not had much time to play with it actually.....
but am planning to switch over to win7 ultimate that i have with me,more over i always feel comfy if the comp has a clean os install done by me....
btw i downloaded all the drivers off the hp web,will i need something more like anything for the beats audio to function properly maybe???
Thanks

 

[rachitboom2]

Got the 6017tx yesterday!!
52k.....(kolkata)
have not had much time to play with it actually.....
but am planning to switch over to win7 ultimate that i have with me,more over i always feel comfy if the comp has a clean os install done by me....
btw i downloaded all the drivers off the hp web,will i need something more like anything for the beats audio to function properly maybe???
Thanks

There is a folder in c drive with all the softwares and drivers that come preloaded for both 32bit and 64bit os, don't forgrt to back it up first as many softwares such as youcam are not downloadable on the HP site...

 

[evil_maverick]

There is a folder in c drive with all the softwares and drivers that come preloaded for both 32bit and 64bit os, don't forgrt to back it up first as many softwares such as youcam are not downloadable on the HP site...

Got it!!
Thanks a ton!!

 

[marvelousprashant]

Got the 6017tx yesterday!!
52k.....(kolkata)
have not had much time to play with it actually.....
but am planning to switch over to win7 ultimate that i have with me,more over i always feel comfy if the comp has a clean os install done by me....
btw i downloaded all the drivers off the hp web,will i need something more like anything for the beats audio to function properly maybe???
Thanks

If you have genuine Win7 Ultimate why dont you just try Windows Anytime Upgrade and uninstall the bloatware?

 

[siddhanthgupta]

Ok, guys, the new Dell Inspiron 14r and 15r was just launched on the dell india website. I really don't need a quad core CPU, an i5 is enough for me. But the graphics in the Dell, the Nvidia 525m is not as powerful as the 6770m in the HP. The Dell is costing me about 43.5k whereas the HP will cost me 51.5K. Is the extra 8000 worth it?

 

[marvelousprashant]

Ok, guys, the new Dell Inspiron 14r and 15r was just launched on the dell india website. I really don't need a quad core CPU, an i5 is enough for me. But the graphics in the Dell, the Nvidia 525m is not as powerful as the 6770m in the HP. The Dell is costing me about 43.5k whereas the HP will cost me 51.5K. Is the extra 8000 worth it?

with 525m you can play games at low to mid settings. 6770M is a great mobile gpu and can play games at high settings. Definitely worth it if you want a portable gaming machine

 

[rachitboom2]

Ok, guys, the new Dell Inspiron 14r and 15r was just launched on the dell india website. I really don't need a quad core CPU, an i5 is enough for me. But the graphics in the Dell, the Nvidia 525m is not as powerful as the 6770m in the HP. The Dell is costing me about 43.5k whereas the HP will cost me 51.5K. Is the extra 8000 worth it?

6017TX VS New 15r
1. Intel core i7 > i5 (Just stating points here)
2. ATI 6770m >>> Nvidia 525m
3. Beats audio >> srs premium sound
4. Free great quality backpack >>> No free backpack

For me all these are worth more than 8000, i would have bought this beast even if it was priced at 55k, haha at HP

And just fyi, if any retailer offers you a "free" backpack even though it is not officially provided by the manufacturer, there is a 90% chance that its a fake "original" backpack.
HP, Sony, Lenovo - Yes
Dell - No

 

[marvelousprashant]

@ Rachitboom2 did you try updating ATI drivers or using 11.5b hotfix? It improves 3dmark06 score a lot. But decreases the WEI at the same time

 

[nns]

Touchpad : Nice and responsive. Buttons are good. Supports multi-touch.

Heating : No serious heating issues. Temperatures same as Dell XPS. But still recommend to use cooling pad

Display : dead pixels in a year or two... hmm I have spent only a week with this machine. No problem till now

Battery : Performing good till now

Why dont you go for Asus or Toshiba. Both have recently launched gaming laptops with Nvidia GTX cards and 3D screens... or may be alienware

Feeling a little assured about the laptop now..

I was considering HP coz it was a better value for money then a better gamer.. I usually just play NFS titles and even that occasionally.. So GT540 is good enough... But the XPS costs 58k for the same config sans the awesome graphics..

Any suggestion in ASUS with GT540 like performance?
I can't get anything out of ASUS, Lenovo, Acer, Samsung and MSI websites.. All models are either dated or there isn't sufficient information..
Any place I can get a listing online?

I will try to answer you ques...
1. The touchpad of this laptop is great, its really large and comfortable to work with even when laptop is used held close to u.

2. No there no customization options here, dell is the best to provide such options though the upgrades are unnecessarily pricey, i mean Rs3800 extra for a 4GB DDR3 RAM where as i can get it for Rs2500 !!!

3. Yah the provided key works with with both 32bit and 64bit ver of win 7 home premium (retail)... See previous posts!

4. No heating issues... Read previous posts...

5. Its been 20 days since i bought it, no display or touch pad or keyboard issues yet, and 3 of my friends have HP laptops, one has DV6, one compaq other i dont know, none of them have had any such issues yet, but they all take damn good care of there laptops so maybe that is the reason...

6. Use the laptop battery properly and it can last for 2 years without any problems... Read my previous posts on how i use it...

7. Cant comment on the service as it usually depends on the city, service here is pretty decent if not the best. But if you want the best service go for Dell...

8. You wont get the config you mentioned in a laptop unless you customize it and the price will surely be 60K+

9. HP provides free meintainance for upto 1 year which includes proper clean up as well... I have never had any experience regarding this so wont comment...

There... Hope i helped...

Yep Dells are freaking costly!! But I only get the upgrades which are not really feasible later on, i.e., no RAM upgrades. Some of their HDD upgrades are so costly that you can get the default option and another one you want and still save some money..

I did read your previous posts!! Just wanted to make sure there was no mistake!!


Care could be a problem.. I don't remember them taking much care of the machines.. I clearly remember this dude smashing his new Macbook close with headphone on the keyboard... I guess Dells can take abuse better..

As far as my Compaq goes, the screen gets greenish at times but nothing a smack can't solve!!

All the features I want the XPS touches 66K, 60K without 1080p and Dells has possibly increased the XPS 15 price now!!

Do let us know your experience with HP Service when you give it for servicing.

BTW I think I'll just go to a store and decide if the Dell is woth the extra 10k or HP will do...
Any idea how good the accidental cover by Dell is?
Also 9-cell is it available for this laptop?

There goes another biggie!!

EDIT: A pic of the bag plz!!

 

[rachitboom2]

@ Rachitboom2 did you try updating ATI drivers or using 11.5b hotfix? It improves 3dmark06 score a lot. But decreases the WEI at the same time

I updated the drivers to 11.5 but lost switchable graphics option so i had to uninstall it and then reinstall the drivers provided by HP, its working fine for now, are you having this problem with hotfix 11.5b ?

Any idea how good the accidental cover by Dell is?
Also 9-cell is it available for this laptop?

There goes another biggie!!

EDIT: A pic of the bag plz!!

Dell has the best accidental cover is all i can... you wont get service better than this anywhere!
And why do people keep asking about the same damn question again and again about battery ???
I have already answered this question many times...
HP does not offer any sort of customization so no 9 cell battery!

And will take and upload pics of the bag tomorrow in day light...

And the button next to Quote with a + sign is for multi quote...

 

[marvelousprashant]

I updated the drivers to 11.5 but lost switchable graphics option so i had to uninstall it and then reinstall the drivers provided by HP, its working fine for now, are you having this problem with hotfix 11.5b ?

After Hotfix WEI for aero dropped to 4.7 (same as intel HD) Gaming graphics was still 6.9. Performance increased in COD Black ops though.

 

[siddhanthgupta]

6017TX VS New 15r
1. Intel core i7 > i5 (Just stating points here)
2. ATI 6770m >>> Nvidia 525m
3. Beats audio >> srs premium sound
4. Free great quality backpack >>> No free backpack

For me all these are worth more than 8000, i would have bought this beast even if it was priced at 55k, haha at HP

And just fyi, if any retailer offers you a "free" backpack even though it is not officially provided by the manufacturer, there is a 90% chance that its a fake "original" backpack.
HP, Sony, Lenovo - Yes
Dell - No

Thanks for the reply.
But

1) I really don't need a quad core. What is the difference in framerates in games with the i7 2630qm and the i5 2410m?

2)This is the only thing I'm interested in. I want to play games at medium specs at native resolutions. Atleast for the next 2-2.5 years.

3) I don't care about laptop audio quality, as most of the time I'll be using headphones.

4) Already have a good laptop backpack at home, so don't need one. Besides, my seller wont give me a laptop for 51.5K with the HP.

Just for the proccessor (which is unnecessary but appreciated) and the graphics card (which is the main thing here) is the extra 8k worth it?? Also, if i do choose Dell, any idea how the service is here in Kolkata? Because the 3 year warranty is only 5K. The HP seller told me they don't have an extended warranty right now. Is the i5 2410m+ nvidia 525m is sufficient to play games in medium for 2 years? Please forgive me if I'm being rude.

 

[rachitboom2]

After Hotfix WEI for aero dropped to 4.7 (same as intel HD) Gaming graphics was still 6.9. Performance increased in COD Black ops though.

Installed 11.5b and now everything is fine, wie is still the same as it was, will play a few games tomorrow...

Btw how can you tell if there is a performance diff in COD black ops as it was already runnin smoothly on MAX settings

btw guys i forgot to tell u this but i dont know what went wrong when i installed 32 bit win 7 but it showed me 2.55GBs of total ram rather than 3-3.5GBs it should show, this is most ram i have seen reserved by win 7 32 bit!
Anybody else have the same prob ?

 

[marvelousprashant]

Installed 11.5b and now everything is fine, wie is still the same as it was, will play a few games tomorrow...

Btw how can you tell if there is a performance diff in COD black ops as it was already runnin smoothly on MAX settings

btw guys i forgot to tell u this but i dont know what went wrong when i installed 32 bit win 7 but it showed me 2.55GBs of total ram rather than 3-3.5GBs it should show, this is most ram i have seen reserved by win 7 32 bit!
Anybody else have the same prob ?

I used FRAPS for testing COD. Will install 11.5b hotfix again and tell

 

[rachitboom2]

Getting the following fps in crysis 2 at max resolution and extreme settings :-
Min - 22
Max - 60
Avg - 28

 

[marvelousprashant]

Getting the following fps in crysis 2 at max resolution and extreme settings :-
Min - 22
Max - 60
Avg - 28

Did it improve after the driver update? Recommended or not

 

[rachitboom2]

Did it improve after the driver update? Recommended or not

This was my first benchmark result... But it really feels like its runnin a lot smoother!!!
Will try 3d mark 2011 nw...