Hp Pavilion Dv5t Review

What do you do when nearly every major notebook manufacturer has imitated the design of your best-selling consumer laptop? You give it a whole new look and add compelling new features, including an accelerometer to help protect data in case of a tumble. And with Intel’s next-generation Centrino 2 processor and chipset and Nvidia’s latest graphics card under the hood, the HP Pavilion dv5t (available in the July/August timeframe) backs up its sweet aesthetics with some serious horsepower.
The HP Pavilion dv5t includes the Intel Core 2 Duo 45nm processor at 2 - 2.8GHz, depending on model. There are also the new GMA X4500 integrated graphics, or one of the Nvidia’s dedicated GPUs - GeForce 9200M GS 256MB or GeForce 9600M GT 512MB. The laptop supports up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, up to 320GB of hard drive storage, and a DVD burner or Blu-Ray ROM. The 15.4″ display in this notebook has a resolution of 1280×800 or 1680×1050 pixels, depending on customer’s choice.
The reviewed model which includes the latest Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT dedicated GPU has an amazing gaming performance for a laptop. The system scored 3,937 points on 3DMark06 benchmark.“Such high numbers mean you can easily play a handful of 3D games with most of the effects enabled”, Laptop Mag says adding that the sound was impressive and that the notebook’s display has excellent horizontal and vertical viewing angles. However, the glossy screen show a lot of glare.
The HP Pavilion dv5t is still slightly overweight at 6.3 pounds, while the differences between it and the previous Pavilions are barely discernible from the exterior. The LED-backlit HP logo was about the only adjustment made to the lid, and it’s similar to the approach the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) took with its logo. The glossy-black finish, laminated over a decorative pattern—a process called in-mold decoration—resembles that of the system’s predecessor, the HP Pavilion dv9500t.
The HP Pavilion dv5t sports a redesign that makes other mainstream machines look old-fashioned by comparison and backs up its futuristic-chic appearance with fast performance. There’s more than enough oomph here for a smooth Vista experience, as well as for playing the latest 3D games. And with its sharp display and robust speakers, the dv5t doubles as a portable entertainment center. This is a worthy sequel to the dv6500t and one of our favorite 15.4-inch notebooks.
(Pros)
-Best-in-class performance
-smooth Vista experience
- Futuristic-chic appearance with sleek new liquid-metal design
-Graphics good enough for gamers
-Built-in hard drive protection (HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection technology)
- It is enough thin (1-inch) to slip easily in a backpack