Custom HP Laptop Config

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Oubadah

676 posts

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#169639 21-Mar-2015 11:25

Does HP not offer customization of their notebooks in NZ like Dell does? I can do it on their US site, but I can't find it anywhere on the NZ version. I want to buy an Elitebook, but none of the generic retailer configs are really satisfactory.

clinty

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#1264462 21-Mar-2015 11:29

Not from the website, but you can order custom builds from HP business resellers.

Regards
Clint

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1264477 21-Mar-2015 11:44

Thanks.

you can order custom builds from HP business resellers.

That would be a volume thing only, right?

clinty

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#1264479 21-Mar-2015 11:50

Not necessarily you may be able to get an order of 1. But there is usually 3-4 week turn around. The business lines aren't set up for quick turn around

What specs were u after? It may be cheaper to buy a standard unit and replace what u want

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1264553 21-Mar-2015 13:36

clinty: Not necessarily you may be able to get an order of 1. But there is usually 3-4 week turn around. The business lines aren't set up for quick turn around

What specs were u after? It may be cheaper to buy a standard unit and replace what u want

I'll probably end up doing that. The problem was basically that I wanted more RAM, a decent sized SSD and faster CPU, but I don't want a D-GPU and since It'll be using Windows 7 I actually want the low res display as opposed to the 1920x1080 one. 1920x1080 at 14" is too small for comfortable use at 100%/no scaling, and Windows 7 and the software I use doesn't scale elegantly.

There are Elitebook Folio 1040 default configs that suit my needs perfectly, but the regular Elitebook 840 looks to have better serviceability (that said, it still looks less serviceable than older models, and it doesn't even look like you can remove the fan/fan housing easily for cleaning anymore).

Dynamic

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#1264634 21-Mar-2015 17:18

Special ordering laptops or desktops is more expensive than taking off the shelf and modifying. We have not special ordered a desktop or laptop in years for this reason. We explain to the client that the 3rd party SSD won't be covered by the manufacturers warranty (but also won't void the warranty for the rest of the laptop), and instruct them to keep the original drive just in case of a warranty issue in future.

Ultrabooks are not normally designed to be upgraded where a more standard weight/thickness laptop will have doors for RAM and HDD and wireless upgrades.

My laptops get a quick squirt with a compressor every now and then, taking care not to over-rev the fan enough to damage it.

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Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1264638 21-Mar-2015 17:36

My laptops get a quick squirt with a compressor every now and then, taking care not to over-rev the fan enough to damage it.

I also find the fan to be the no.1 point of failure in laptops (by getting noisy) aside from the battery, so it's a huge boon to have it easily removable. This is an example of what I consider ideal: https://i.imgur.com/vL35B56.jpg

All you have to do is remove the one-piece bottom plate on the E6410, and there is the fan/duct unit with it's screws and wiring fully accessible, ready to lift out.

The elitebook 840, on the other hand, looks a bit iffy: https://i.imgur.com/F7zV8bU.jpg

The fan unit looks like it might be held hostage by that inner frame.

The folio looks like it actually might be easier to remove them, but there are two:

https://i.imgur.com/jjNOdkd.jpg

Dynamic

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#1264639 21-Mar-2015 17:45

Fair enough. I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor in a purchase decision. Having to tear down a laptop once in its life to replace a fan isn;t that big a deal if you are confident and have Google access. :)

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mattwnz

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#1264643 21-Mar-2015 18:09

Dell doesn't really let you do much customizing these days. In the old days you used to be able to cusomtise many parts of it, but these days it is more for addons.

Andib

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#1264667 21-Mar-2015 19:02

HP don't really "Customize" their builds much either these days.
An example of this was my new work laptop a HP Ellite Book 650 G1, We ordered it with 16gb of ram and a SSD however it arrived with only 8GB installed and a 500GB HDD in it and a second package arrived along with it with an additional 8GB module and the SSD that we had upgraded to that I had to install myself.

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Dynamic

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#1264687 21-Mar-2015 19:31

Andib: HP don't really "Customize" their builds much either these days.
An example of this was my new work laptop a HP Ellite Book 650 G1, We ordered it with 16gb of ram and a SSD however it arrived with only 8GB installed and a 500GB HDD in it and a second package arrived along with it with an additional 8GB module and the SSD that we had upgraded to that I had to install myself.

Was that ordered via HP's CTO (configure to order) system or via a local company that just sent the bits? I would guess the latter.

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