Notebook Review: *HP HDX 9000 DRAGON Owners Lounge, Part 2*

HP HDX 9000 DRAGON OWNERS LOUNGE

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NOTE: Due to change in forum software, many redirect links are erroneously pointing to the wrong location in the thread. It will take some time before this can be fixed. Try searching the thread for the posts in question that are not being linked to properly.

Links to software and manuals are still good.

SERVICE MANUAL:

Touch Panel Failure Recovery Method:

In the event that the touch panel fails to recognize touch input, the following procedure will restore its operation:

Turn off the HDX.
Unplug from AC.
Remove the battery.
Press and hold down the power button for 30 secs.
Plug in the AC adapter.
Touch the DVD or TV symbols on the touch panel. It should initiate system boot if touch panel operation is restored.

The reason for holding down the power button for 30 secs while the AC adapter and battery are removed, is to drain the system of excess capacitance thereby resetting the touch panel's operation.

Note: there are 4 ways to turn on the HDX. You can press the power button, press the remote's power button, or touch the DVD or TV symbols on the touch panel. Any one of those operations will boot up the HDX or wake it from sleep.

BIOS RECOVERY PROCEDURE:
BIOS WIFI WHITELIST REMOVAL:

The HDX's BIOS is whitelisted to only accept the Intel 4965 WiFi card in the first mPCIe slot (original location of the WIFI card). The 2nd mPCIe slot (originally empty) is not whitelisted and can accept any mPCIe device. Many owners had installed the Intel 5300 or 6300 WIFI cards in the 2nd slot. It works well. However by doing so, the WIFI button on the top panel would not enable/disable the WIFI card in the 2nd slot. Nor would the HP Wireless Assistant recognize that slot. So to turn it on/off, one would have to use device manager or a tray app that could mount/unmount a device like USB Safely Remove.

Poster TTAV134 from MyDigitalLife has successfully modified the F40E BIOS to remove the whitelist so that any mPCIe card can be installed in the 1st mPCIe slot. The WIFI button on the top panel will turn any WIFI card on/off now. And HP wireless Assistant will recognize the card for independent control of WIFI and Bluetooth. Poster Nando4 expanded on TTAV134's work and added the Dual IDA flag and SLIC.

WARNING:

Reboot so you have a fresh session of windows.
Extract all the files into a directory.
Make sure no programs are running (nothing on taskbar - In tray is OK)
run update.exe as administrator
Though many of us, myself included, have installed the BIOS without issue you would be advise to make sure you have a USB floppy drive handy in case it fails to install the BIOS and bricks your computer. Follow the recovery method linked on this page (which has been tested to work) to recover in case something goes wrong.

Dual-IDA MODDED F40E BIOS with Whitelist REMOVED:: Download F40E Modified BIOS
Allows NON-Extreme processors to add an extra multiplier for a 8-13% overclock.

Note: These BIOS files are courtesy of Nando4. If the links fail, PM 2.0™ to get in contact with Nando4 for a re-upload.

GUIDES, DRIVERS, SOFTWARE:

HARDWARE UPGRADES:

CPU:

The CPU can be upgraded. Best upgrades are T9300(2.5ghz), T9500(2.6ghz), X7900 & X9000(2.8ghz)

SPECIAL: CPU's, from the Montevina platform with 1066mhz FSB, can be used in the HDX. But they require a CPU socket mod to change the FSB from 266mhz to 200Mhz. Best to use from this series is the X9100 which can be overclocked to 3.6-4.0 GHZ using throttlestop.

Testing for overclock stability - Uses test such as Wprime, Intel Burn Test and Prime 95.
Passing WPrime, both 32 and 1024 is stable enough for the majority of tasks.
Passing Intel Burn Test would mean the system is very stable
Passing Prime85 would mean super stable

A note about X9000 - the only ES version worth considering is the Q174. But the Q174 can have little quirks such
as only 1 core reporting temps or require higher voltage per overclocked multiplier than OEM version.

Avoid ES versions of X7900 and X7800.

The X7800, X7900 & X9000 can be overclocked in the HDX using a program called ThrottleStop.

ThrottleStop, by Uncle Webb:

*FSB OVERCLOCK* PLL TME-unlock for FSB overclock
Other type of overclock (FSLx) :
Introduction: http://ift.tt/2axvX0j
Failed attempt: http://ift.tt/2axwG1y
Would need more voltage, but VID3 or VID4 +VSS won't overvolt levels 1.050v and 1.087v
Best bet would be a voltage regulator mod: See an example here.

OVERCLOCK LEADERBOARD: (Past confirmed overclocks done by posters.)

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Installed Processor	Overclock Type	Normal Speed	Overclock Speed
X9000	ThrottleStop	2.8 Ghz	4.0 Ghz
X9000	ThrottleStop	2.8 Ghz	3.6 - 3.8 Ghz
T9300	TME unlock PLL	2.5 Ghz	3.3 Ghz @ 245Mhz FSB
T9300	Dual IDA	2.5 Ghz	2.7 Ghz
T8300	Dual IDA	2.4 Ghz	2.6 Ghz
T8100	Dual IDA	2.1 Ghz	2.3 Ghz

GPU:

If you have the Nvidia 8800M GTS, you can't simply swap in a new card. It's been tried (280M GTX MXM 2.1) and verified NOT to work by two posters without success. Two other posters claimed it possible (9800M GTX and 280M GTX) but did not provide adequate proof or details. The HDX's MXM implementation is proprietary. Triturbo has proven why the GPU CANNOT be upgraded to work with the internal display:
http://ift.tt/2akTm1J

ATTENTION: GPU SWAP ACHIEVED
senordingdong has successfully installed a Quadro 2700M in the HDX. He has overcome the difficulty Triturbo has demonstrated in the linked post above. His method requires modification of the HDX's BIOS and LVDS wiring. His sound method should work with the 3700M which one can subsequently flash to be a 280M GTX. More experimentation may be required for a 280M GTX or 9800M GTX to work properly. But senordingdong is more than capable. Also note that there are no higher cards then the aforementioned that can be used since MXM switched to a different standard and card edge which is incompatible with the HDX's MXM connector.

Contact @senordingdong at IT Elite for details and installation pricing. Contact Email: info@itelite.org Website: https://itelite.org

If you have the ATI 2600XT (part #: 452322-001) , there are two possible upgrade paths:

1. If you have an HDX 9200-9400, then you likely have the proper motherboard (double check to make sure in case you bought or had your HDX repaired with ATI card). You simply need to buy the 8800M GTS from HP (part #454311-001). (You cannot use Any other kind since the 8800M GTS in the HDX is proprietary.) Use the service manual to install it. You will need to reflash the BIOS after you are done (whichever version you were on).

2. If you have an HDX 9000-9100, you will need both a new motherboard (HP part #464591-001) and the 8800M GTS card (HP part #454311-001). Also, you likely need a new heatsink since the first run HDXs were ATI only and the Heatsink may not work properly with the Nvidia GPU. The part number is 448176-001(ATI heatsink) or 531455-001(Nvidia heatsink). If you end up with a ATI heatsink, you can cut away the black film to expose more of the copper so that it properly mates with the Nvidia GPU's larger heat spreader.

Here's a picture showing the difference between heatsinks (courtesy of Burke): http://ift.tt/2akSOJn

The difference is the ATI has more black film covering the copper surface of the heatsink and is missing the extended tab to cover the additional VRAM of the Nvidia GPU.

*To check what mobo part# you have, remove the RAM and see the sticker that is on the board in that location.

RAM:

Can be sucessfully upgraded to 8GB using PC2-5300 667mhz or PC2-6400 800mhz RAM (note: 800MHZ RAM will downclock to 667mhz). You will need (2) 4GB sticks. RAM modules have 200 pins.

HDD:

Can be upgraded to the latest 9.5mm height SATA HDDs of any capacity.
Note: 12.5mm height drives will NOT fit. It has been confirmed. See HERE

Can also be upgraded with 2.5" SATA SSDs. Best upgrade you can make.

Looking for HDD Caddy for 2nd bay?
HDX uses the same HDD caddy as HP Compaq 6910, 6910p, 8510, 8510p.
Search ebay for a HDD caddy for one of those.
(NOTE: this is NOT referring to the optical drive bay.
This is a caddy for HDD bay #2 in the HDD compartment.)

Optical Drive:
DUAL TV TUNERS:
DIY ViDock Setup: (Ability to add an external GPU to use on an external monitor).

GPU BAKING:

In the unfortunate event that your GPU fails, be it the nVidia or ATI, you can possibly revive it by baking the GPU in the oven. There have been a few success stories with both cards from the HDX.

There are various methods to accomplish this. Google "GPU bake" for Youtube videos.

Here is one poster's account of success:
http://ift.tt/2axw2kN

http://ift.tt/2axvTgX

Procedure 1:

Remove the GPU from HDX. (Requires complete disassembly of HDX.)
Preheat oven to 390-400 DegF.
On a baking sheet, lay down two layers of aluminum foil.
Put aluminum foil balls in the screw holes on the GPU board to act as feet.
This prevents the GPU chip and RAM from making direct contact with any hot
surface and allows hot air to flow under the board. Figure about 1 CM high feet.
Place the GPU MXM card on top of the foil, GPU chip side down.
Bake for 9-10mins.
Take the GPU out and let it cool for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven again at 390-400 DegF
Repeat bake for another 9-10mins as before.
take the GPU out and let it cool for another hour.
Reassemble the HDX. (Might want to test it open before full reassembly)

NOTE: if first bake doesn't work, try another but this time GPU chip side UP.

Alternative Procedure 2:
Use this method if GPU is still functional but crashes to blue screen whenever using 3D clocks (Games, CAD, etc.)

Remove the GPU from HDX. (Requires complete disassembly of HDX.)
Preheat oven to 390-400 DegF.
On a baking sheet, lay down two layers of aluminum foil.
Put aluminum foil balls in the screw holes on the GPU board to act as feet.
This prevents the GPU chip and RAM from making direct contact with any hot
surface and allows hot air to flow under the board. Figure about 1 CM high feet.
Place the GPU MXM card on top of the foil, GPU chip side up.
Bake for 10mins.
Take the GPU out and let it cool for 1 hour.

MAINTENANCE:

CLEAN YOUR FANS! (Seriously, folks!

Many a GPU failure has been due to dust and pet hair clogged up in the fan radiator grills.

How to go about it:

Remove the rear cover of the HDX. (See page 53-55 of the service manual)
Don't forget to remove the little screw in the optical bay.
Pry up the rear cover which has snaps, by starting near the hinge (either side of it).
Use a vacuum cleaner of compressed air to get the dust out of the fan well and grilles.
Use a toothpick or some other needle like instrument (e.g. Dentist's toothpick) to pry dust
from between the radiator grilles.
Use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean surface of fan blades.
GPU fan (left one) is removable with a small jeweler's Philips screwdriver.
Remove that to really get a good cleaning.

FAN Access/Cleaning Tutorial: http://ift.tt/2akSYAo

POSSIBLE BATTERY RECONDITIONING METHOD: http://ift.tt/2akTzSx

Link to Original Owners Lounge: http://ift.tt/2axvUBx

Link to Comptrekkie's illustrated HDX teardown: http://ift.tt/2axwrDS

Link to a thread revealing the coming of the HDX: http://ift.tt/2akSXMC

Original HP HDX Dragon Wallpapers (1680 x 1050): http://ift.tt/2axvV8z

And Original HP HDX Dragon wallpaper in 1920 x 1200 (thanks, kimutler): http://ift.tt/2akT2A9>BIOS WIFI WHITELIST REMOVAL: