Thinkpads Forum

I got another of these monster workstations, it's an HP model 8710w and I've sorted through all the ones coming in to get the ones with the rare WUXGA 17" WVA (wide viewing angle), which is HP's version of the IPS Flexview. Lenovo never offered these in anything larger then 15", and the only way to get one in a thinkpad with the powerful Penryn CPU is to build a very expensive frankenpad, but here is another alternative that will get you all the power, a bigger screen, for MUCH less money.

I currently have two of these, not sure if I will sell one, or both, but I'm starting this out at only $299 (barebones).

Update: One sold, one still available!

This includes the laptop with T8100 Penryn cpu (cpu upgrades available upto T9500), Penryn system board, nVidia FX1600m graphics in a separate removeable card. All of these are dated long after the dates on any 08/08 thinkpads so I'm certain they are free of any nVidia defects, but just to be sure I've run them all through the same testing my thinkpads go through. You get 2gb of ram (2x1gb), dvd burner, and most important is a beautiful 17" WVA screen WUXGA (1920x1200).

I also have a couple docking stations and I'll kick in one with purchase, but additional shipping charge may be required.

What is not included is harddrive, battery and AC adapter. I do have one 120w smart AC adapter I'd be willing to let go cheap, and you can buy the 90w standard adapters very cheap too. Batteries are also avaliable for under $20 (generic), but I'm looking into getting some genuine ones too, so feel free to ask.

These are in nice condition, there are some scratches on the plastics, but the screens are beautiful.

These make a great desktop replacement and are perfect for viewing 1080p video with their FHD+ resolution and great viewing angles.

*more technical info to be added soon*

Edit: As promised here is the specs of the screen.

17.0" WUXGA Wide Viewing Angle, Anti Glare
Active area: 14.5"x9.0"
Diagonal Size: 17.0"
Surface: Anti Glare
Contrast Ratio: 300:1
Refresh Rate: 60hz
Brightness: 200nit
Pitch: 0.191mm
Format 1920x1200
Config: RGB Stripe
Backlight: CCFL
PPI: 133
Viewing Angle: 60degrees Horizontal 50degreens Vertical (minimum)

Sorry Don for threadjacking, but it made me wonder (tinkerer as I am), would it be feasible to swap the 17" WVA panel to Thinkpad W700/701?

Very good question my good friend, and it'll cost you exactly $299 + one w700 to find out But seriously, I've had the same idea myself but don't own a w700 to try it. I know HP and Lenovo all use industry standard screens, but they usually include proprietary firmware, so it would probably require reflashing the firmware but I imagine it could be done. If I could get a good deal on a w700 I might even try it myself, but they generally sell for 3-4 times what I'm asking for one of these. Maybe I'll get lucky and one will come into liquidation with a broken screen and I can tinker with it

And by the way, you are welcome to "threadjack" any time you like.

Update: I just custom built one of these for a buyer, T9500, SSD and 8gb of ram, and this thing is smokin fast!!!


1 sold, one still available.

I just searched for the nVidia class action lawsuit, the 8710w is not one of the models listed:

http://web.archive.org/web/201107142134 ... VF_NOT.pdf

db130 wrote:I just searched for the nVidia class action lawsuit, the 8710w is not one of the models listed:

http://web.archive.org/web/201107142134 ... VF_NOT.pdf

Thanks, in addition, the dates on the GPU chips of these systems are several weeks after the dates of the known good thinkpad gpu dates, so I don't think there is any GPU concerns on one of these, but if there ever was any type of gpu issue, the graphic card is removable and there are several different optional cards you can install from nVidia and ATI.

Out of curiosity, to your knowledge, can a GeForce chip be added? A laptop with decent build quality and a 17 inch monitor seems hard to come by.

It was my understanding that the Quadro is an updated version of the Geforce and uses the same core. This is supported by what I just read in a wikipedia article about the FX series Quadro card in this system....

GeForce
Many of these cards use the same core as the game- and action-oriented GeForce video cards by NVIDIA. Those cards that are identical to the desktop cards can be software modified to identify themselves as the equivalent Quadro cards and this allows optimized drivers intended for the Quadro cards to be installed on the system. While this may not offer all of the performance of the equivalent Quadro card,[citation needed] it can improve performance in certain applications, but may require installing the MAXtreme driver for comparable speed.
The performance difference comes in the firmware controlling the card.[citation needed] Given the importance of speed in a game, a system used for gaming can shut down textures, shading, or rendering after only approximating a final output—in order to keep the overall frame rate high. The algorithms on a CAD-oriented card tend rather to complete all rendering operations, even if that introduces delays or variations in the timing, prioritising accuracy and rendering quality over speed.

The FX1600m chip that comes in these is more powerful then the FX570m that Lenovo uses in the P series, or the nvs140m version used in the non "p" series. You can upgrade to even more powerful graphic cards, or downgrade to ATI graphic options.

I'd say unless you're doing some heavy gaming that the card in this system is more then enough even for power users.

The Quadro FX1600M is the same chip as a Geforce 8700M GT, but with specialized pro 3D features unlocked that are not available on the GeForce cards. A GeForce card is typically marginally faster for gaming purposes (the drivers are optimized for speed rather than the precision demanded for pro work for which Quadros are meant).

It's a solid card no matter how you look at it, though.

What does the dock offer.
Did you put 2x4GB PC2-6400 in it?

ParatoOptimal wrote:What does the dock offer.

The dock offers many ports, digital video and dual video too if I recall correctly. Here is a link to HP's website, you may find more info there...

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/sm ... 20573.html


And here are a couple small photos of one.

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5084/en488aa.jpg


http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2779/en488aab.jpg

ParatoOptimal wrote: Did you put 2x4GB PC2-6400 in it?

I'm not sure what you're asking me here. The laptop as listed includes 2x1gb, as is clearly described but it will take 2x4gb and the one I just sold did get 2x4gb pc2-6400, so if you're asking if they will work, then the answer is yes.

The 8510s and 8710s are *seriously* nice machines. Other than the keyboards not being quite up to their ThinkPad contemporaries (this is like saying Can't Buy a Thrill is the worst 70s Steely Dan album -- it's still great), I'd have no problem "daily-driving" one.

Sale of the last one is now pending, but I'm going to see if I can find another with the wuxga screen with wva, and I'll update the topic when/if available.

JeffCullen wrote:Other than the keyboards not being quite up to their ThinkPad contemporaries

In terms of durability, HP laptop keyboards are superior to Thinkpad keyboards -- the latter get worn out too fast.

Last one is now being assembled and will be on it's way to a forum member next week, but we are expecting more in, and if any of them have the 1920x1200 with WVA (wide viewing angle) option, I'll be grabbing them, so stay tuned, should have an update by tuesday/wednesday.

Here are a few pics of one of them...

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/1117/img2325xh.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img841/1365/img2313sj.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img689/5683/img2312w.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/706/img2319c.jpg

Those pics are Awesome (yes, in capital letters)

So so soooo tempting... must... resist...

I could not resist, will let you know how I like it. I plan to replace my T60p UXGA with this unit. I really never thought I would purchase a HP laptop having worked for HP until 1999 and had a few dogs then, but it looks like they got it together.

Bruce

TuuS should have posted pictures earlier. That PointStick will make TrackPoint-lovers drool.

The lines are also beautiful. I prefer such delineation compared to something as featureless as the MacBook.

The business class line really is nice, and if anyone else wants one I hope to have more later this week. We have some coming in and I'll grab any that have a penryn board and the 1920x1200 WVA screen like these two had.

@radioguy, yes this is obviously copied off of thinkpad to complete with their success in corporate market.

ps. I'm using this one now, giving it one last road test after custom building it. Tomorrow she'll get packed up and be off on her voyage to the west coast. I hope she serves you well bruce

Is shipping to Europe (Sweden) an option for you?

lab wrote:Is shipping to Europe (Sweden) an option for you?

I'll ship it anywhere that usps will let me, as long as shipping insurance is available, and sweden is no problem. Also, it looks like the new shipment will arrive tomorrow, so I'll probably go through them wednesday and bring back any that have the right screens and boards in them. I'm confident I'll have at least one available.

Apologies that I haven't gotten back about my experiences with the 8710W I had gotten from TuuS about a month back.

The added screen real estate is very noticeable and welcomed, and it's definitely a step up from my T60 in performance, and the screen is just as nice...I do a lot of photo work, just need to calibrate the screen a little tighter (for color) and it's good to go. This is a great machine that is definitely comparable to a Thinkpad in many respects, the pointstick works very similarly to Lenovo's, and having a numpad is very welcomed.

Only downside is that I'll need to add more memory; Would a pair like these suffice for this machine?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-2x4GB-DDR2- ... 4aaad53e04

Thank you again!

Killer_B wrote: Would a pair like these suffice for this machine?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-2x4GB-DDR2- ... 4aaad53e04

Thank you again!

Thank you for the feedback, and it's great to hear you're happy with the machine. As for that ram, it should work, but I've found that a lot of generic ram sold on ebay is substandard and often will run slower then it's specs, but I guess that's hit or miss, and varies by sellers. If I were you I'd spend a few dollars extra and get some name brand ram like this Patriot, which also has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, rather then an ebay seller who may close their account at any moment leaving you stuck if the product ever fails.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027IVMBY/ref ... pe_vfe_dt5

The prices vary, going up and down, but $65 each (currently) is good for a major manufacturer 4gb chip.

Update: After several hours of work I was able to find only one more with the 1920x1200 WVA screen and Penryn system board. I just finished setting it up with a T8100 and will be testing it this week. It will be ready to ship next week.

There is still one more pallet load, but it was out of reach, so I'll be looking for more next week. This one looks great, screen is flawless, keyboard is great, has the usual scuffs on lid cover and palmrest, a couple small scratches on palmrest are deeper then the others I've sold, but it's nothing large or major. Early testing shows this one to be extremely stable and in great condition, there was virtually no dust at all inside it and screen is bright with nice colors.

As before, I'm offering a free docking station with purchase but there will be slight increase in shipping since the laptop and dock won't fit in any priority boxes. No hdd, battery or AC, but I'll order a harddrive caddy and include that, and I still have one of the monster 120w smart AC adapters (genuine HP) for $25 ($90 retail). I've seen 90w adapters as low as $10, and generic batteries as low as $15, I don't currently have any, it seems wiser for the buyer to get a battery themselves so they have the original warranty on it, and for international sale I wouldn't be able to send it anyway, but I am looking into getting some new genuine batteries.

If you want this system with harddrive we can discuss that. I currently have some 80gb drives that are in excellent condition that I'd let go cheap, or I can get you a brand new hdd if you want something big, and if you want a nice SSD, that too can be arranged.

Killer_B - any chance of a side-by-side comparison pic of T60 and 8710W - screen quality and size?

ch27 wrote:Killer_B - any chance of a side-by-side comparison pic of T60 and 8710W - screen quality and size?

I realize you want an independent opinion on quality, but the size part is easy to answer.

T60 15" 12" x 9" (1600x1200) UXGA Flexview

8710w 17" 14.5" x 9" (1920x1200) WUXGA Wide viewing angle

Another sold...

Hoping to have more next week

Interested in one... PM sent.

Sorry I hadn't updated this topic lately, but been very busy. I just finished a custom build on one of these with a samsung 830 SSD, T9500 and 8gb ram, so it was pretty much maxed out and it will be shipping out this week. For those of you who are curious about benchmarks, the windows index score of the memory and cpu were 6.2 and 6.2, the desktop and gaming graphics were a VERY impressive 6.5 and 6.5 with stock HP drivers, nVidia performance drivers would certainly bump that up a bit, but I wanted the most stable drivers so got the ones certified by HP, and the SSD scored a whopping 7.2!

If anyone is still interested in one, I was able to get my hands on two more that have a perfect 1920x1200 WVA screen and Penryn board. I'm building one with a T8100 as listed for $299, and one with a T9300 for $369 and they should be ready to delivery by christmas.

Sadly this will be the last of these I'll be getting as all the rest coming in have the common screens. It was fun while it lasted and I'm definitely keeping one of these for myself.

Sent you PM. I'd like one of the $299 models.