HP Pavilion dv6 Gets AMD Trinity APU

[btarunr]

HP unveiled a new variant of its Pavilion dv6 15.6-inch notebook driven by AMD A8-4500M quad-core APU (model: dv6-7010us). The A8-4500M packs four x86-64 cores clocked at 1.90~2.80 GHz, 4 MB total cache, and Radeon HD 7640G integrated graphics. The APU is backed by 6 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory. A 750 GB hard drive and DVD SuperMulti drive handle storage. The 15.6-inch screen packs 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. Connectivity includes gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, and Bluetooth. Most other features are identical to the Intel-driven dv6t-7000. Sweetening the deal is the price. While the Core i7-3610QM driven dv6t-7000 starts at US $899, the AMD A8-4500M driven dv6-7010us starts at $699.



Source: LaptopReviews

[phanbuey]

very nice multimedia machine

[jrs3000]

Nice but they really need sub 14" models. These would be very potent gaming machines.

[tacosRcool]

I would like!

[faramir]

Finally a model that plays off of APU's strength (decent GPU power). They have another model up with Trinity that uses discrete graphics along with the APU ... plain dumb.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by faramir

They have another model up with Trinity that uses discrete graphics along with the APU ... plain dumb.

What's "plain dumb" about switchable graphics?

[Thefumigator]

Originally Posted by faramir

Finally a model that plays off of APU's strength (decent GPU power). They have another model up with Trinity that uses discrete graphics along with the APU ... plain dumb.

I can imagine that hybrid crossfire isn't working as it should with today drivers, but in the future it may improve. However, as Andy said, if its switchable its a great option.

Not to forget that trinity switchable graphics are instantly switched on/off on demand I believe.

[mastrdrver]

What's "plain dumb" is the crappy resolution on that 15.6" laptop. Seriously HP.

[Mussels]

seems like HP's dealio atm is to reuse that G6 shell as much as possible, and just swap the hardware.


i've got an old APU with it, and i've seen intel systems in the same chassis

[NC37]

So I'm guessing the A10s will be starting in the $800-$1000 segment. Hmmm, not too great there. Now you are hitting close to the Qosmio or gaming laptop range. When it comes down to that, might as well pay the extra for the i7 and dedicated VRAM GPU.

[Sir B. Fannybottom]

I'm assuming that it will still have a shitty cooler, and overheat a ton, just like last generations DV6s?

[Liquid Cool]

I've got the last gen(Llano) DV6 with an HD 6750. I'm not sure how the Intel variants run, but you couldn't get this unit to overheat if you tried. Runs cool as a cucumber.

I personally wouldn't pay more than $500 for an A10, so prices will need to come down 'a tad' before I'd even take a look. I'm expecting a tech crash next week through the summer.

Here's to hoping...

LC

[NC37]

Originally Posted by Kevinheraiz

I'm assuming that it will still have a shitty cooler, and overheat a ton, just like last generations DV6s?

Heh, knowing HP...probably. I wouldn't buy an HP if you gave me money to. Crappiest cooling I've ever seen. One I worked on for a friend just came back in, HD fried again. WD Scorpio Blue was used to replace a Toshiba heater in it. Ran cool for awhile then got hotter and hotter. Finally died. Don't know what it is they use in that bay but it just makes the heat worse. Getting it RMA'd for him now.

The rest of it...heatpads...they use heatpads...why even use a heatsink? Just leave it open to the air and use it to cook with. Heh, will probably last longer.

[Zubasa]

Originally Posted by faramir

Finally a model that plays off of APU's strength (decent GPU power). They have another model up with Trinity that uses discrete graphics along with the APU ... plain dumb.

Actually it is shown that Hybrid Crossfire generally works fine nowadays and provides decent frame rates in games like Diablo 3.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Kevinheraiz

I'm assuming that it will still have a shitty cooler, and overheat a ton, just like last generations DV6s?

Flamer...

Originally Posted by Liquid Cool

I've got the last gen(Llano) DV6 with an HD 6750. [....] you couldn't get this unit to overheat if you tried. Runs cool as a cucumber.

Owner.

Marketing is a chronic illness.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Zubasa

Actually it is shown that Hybrid Crossfire generally works fine nowadays and provides decent frame rates in games like Diablo 3.

it works poorly on my 6 series crossfire in my DV6, the 'dual graphics' version. it only works in DX10 and DX11, which means no go in big name titles like skyrim, D3, and SCII.


that said, these new trinity based ones shouldnt have that limitation.

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by mastrdrver

What's "plain dumb" is the crappy resolution on that 15.6" laptop. Seriously HP.

The APU is not powerful enough to drive anything higher res anyway.

Originally Posted by Mussels

seems like HP's dealio atm is to reuse that G6 shell as much as possible, and just swap the hardware.

Nothing wrong with that if the chassis is good. In fact, I would rather them reuse an old shell and pass on the savings to us.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Fourstaff

The APU is not powerful enough to drive anything higher res anyway.



Nothing wrong with that if the chassis is good. In fact, I would rather them reuse an old shell and pass on the savings to us.

as someone with an APU based laptop, the res is fine. i've got a 40" at that res, and its fine.

people should stop bitching about the res, and just learn to accept more isnt always better. for a low performance and low electrical power system, its AWESOME.

my laptop and its 15.6" 1366x768 screen use less than 15 watts of power to play a 1080p movie. these will be no different.

they are not gaming laptops. they are not photoshop laptops. they are a media laptop, with the power to do light gaming or office work on the side, and for that, they are god damned superb.

and yep the same chassis is great - it also means we got tons of spare parts for DVD drives, keyboards, and screens

[Jstn7477]

I agree, my laptop has a 450MHz Radeon HD 5650 1GB DDR3 and a 1366*768 screen and it's perfect for that crappy GPU. Anything higher and it runs badly.

[tacosRcool]

I work at office depot and soon we will start selling some new HP models that have the new APUs. I know they are the P7 series

One with A10-5700, 10 GB RAM, 2 TB HD -$679.99
Another I think its A10-53xx (the next step down for retail) 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HD ~$540

I wonder why the laptops are kinda expensive?

[_Zod_]

Originally Posted by tacosRcool

I work at office depot and soon we will start selling some new HP models that have the new APUs. I know they are the P7 series

One with A10-5700, 10 GB RAM, 2 TB HD -$679.99
Another I think its A10-53xx (the next step down for retail) 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HD ~$540

I wonder why the laptops are kinda expensive?

Those aren't expensive at all, in fact I'd call those steals at those price points.

[Thefumigator]

Originally Posted by Kevinheraiz

I'm assuming that it will still have a shitty cooler, and overheat a ton, just like last generations DV6s?

Several of those that come to me with overheating problem usually can be fixed using arctic silver, I use it and it just seems to fix the issue. While I believe the best laptops in term of cooling are the MSI. I had a VR630 with an old Athlon X2 that was hot but the cooling was very high quality also a lot of room inside the chassis, not like most laptops where everything is compressed as a hot dog.

Originally Posted by Liquid Cool

I've got the last gen(Llano) DV6 with an HD 6750. I'm not sure how the Intel variants run, but you couldn't get this unit to overheat if you tried. Runs cool as a cucumber.
LC

I notice the same on my llano A6. I tried hard, with encoding, virtual machines and everything. But its winter in my place. I can't seem to get the thing to generate excesive heat like on my old Athlon RM 70 X2 laptop

Originally Posted by Mussels

seems like HP's dealio atm is to reuse that G6 shell as much as possible, and just swap the hardware.
i've got an old APU with it, and i've seen intel systems in the same chassis

Mine is a G6 as well. Its one week old, and I like it, specially the LED screen. My last one was an MSI and I miss some things. Also I expected better sound quality from the G6. But anyway, I've got decent performance in all areas, superb price (refurbished) and I just can't complaint.

[Thefumigator]

Originally Posted by tacosRcool

I work at office depot and soon we will start selling some new HP models that have the new APUs. I know they are the P7 series

One with A10-5700, 10 GB RAM, 2 TB HD -$679.99
Another I think its A10-53xx (the next step down for retail) 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HD ~$540

I wonder why the laptops are kinda expensive?

10GB of ram, that means it comes with 8GB+2GB. Kinda weird.

[Zubasa]

Originally Posted by Mussels

it works poorly on my 6 series crossfire in my DV6, the 'dual graphics' version. it only works in DX10 and DX11, which means no go in big name titles like skyrim, D3, and SCII.


that said, these new trinity based ones shouldnt have that limitation.

HP was very restrictive for their Graphics drivers, one time they even stop AMD from giving driver support for their laptops
Not sure if that has something to do with it.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Zubasa

HP was very restrictive for their Graphics drivers, one time they even stop AMD from giving driver support for their laptops
Not sure if that has something to do with it.

nah its a true hardware limitation, AMD have removed their documentation about it.


i'm not heartbroken about it, because i bought this laptop as media box. 11W with the screen off, makes for a fantastic HTPC.