HP Pavilion DV6-2170US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
- Intel Core i5-430M processor with 2.26GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53 GHz
- 4GB DDR3 System Reminiscence (2 DIMM) (expandable to 8 GB)
- 500GB (7200RPM) Hard Drive (SATA), LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
- Real Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, * Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life
- 15.6″ Diagonal High-Classification LED HP BrightView Show (1366×768), Intel HD Graphics with up to 1696MB Whole Available Graphics Reminiscence
For those who want an all-in-one performance notebook with rich multimedia features, the HP Pavilion dv6 Entertainment series delivers brilliant mobile performance that looks as fantastic as it runs. Powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies, it delivers the features you need to support your digital lifestyle.
Rating: 
(out of 9 reviews)
hp notebook review
If you are looking at the DV6 line of notebooks you may have noticed that there are several new models out with model numbers like “DV6-21xx”. These are basically the same notebook as the previous models with a new CPU/graphics combo that momentously improves performance. Like the previous DV6 generation it is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a excellent look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. I bought mine for my mother-in-law and she certainly appreciated having something a small more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven’t noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who like to “help” grandma with her computer.
The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs now which (in my mind) prospect proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a small bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a fantastic choice.
CPU – This is one of the first models from HP that sports Intel’s new “Core i5″ line of CPUs. The small version is that it outperforms the older “Core2″ chips and is slightly better than the (also) new “Core i3″ chips. As noted in the description it’s 2.26GHz part that can “Turbo Boost” up to 2.53GHz. What isn’t mentioned is that this is a dual core part with 3MB of cache. That may sound a lot like the ancient Core2 chips but don’t be fooled: this chip will outperform the ancient Core2 by 20%-50%. If you are trying to choose between the “Core i5″ and “Core i3″ I would recommend the Core i5 to gamers and people who run high end applications (like CAD software) and the Core i3 for people running business applications (like MS Office) and web browsing. If you want to know more read on. If nerd stuff bores you then just trust me, this is a fantastic chip to have in your laptop.
Okay here is why the Core i5 is a huge deal: The Core i5 (and Core i3) have Intel’s newest, fastest and smallest CPU core (also known as the “Westmere” core) which is two generations newer than the “Penryn” core used in the Core2 line. Because with each generation the parts get smaller they get cheaper to make. Also with the Westmere core Intel has bundled the chipset and a new graphics chip onto one package which also reduces cost (and allows Intel to do some new and cool performance tricks). One thing the Core i3 and i5 have that Core2 does not is “hyperthreading.” Hyperthreading is a feature that makes two CPUs act like four. To do this Intel has enabled each CPU core to act on two software threads at once. So the two CPU Core i5 is nearly as excellent as a four CPU part for a lot less money and requiring a lot less power (there are a few four core mobile CPUs out there but the battery life is terrible and I don’t recommend them). Hyperthreading is something that every user can benefit from: no more surveillance your computer slow to a crawl because your anti-virus kicked in. Windows 7 just dumps that off on a new thread and you keep humming along surfing the web or playing a game. The main difference between the Core i3 and i5 is that the Core i5 has “Turboboost” (which can speed up your CPU or the graphics chip as needed) and the Core i3 does not. If you aren’t stressing the CPU or the graphics chip then the Turboboost found in the i5 isn’t going to do a lot for you.
RAM – 4GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1066MHz is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provide more than enough reminiscence for pretty much any attention you can reflect of outside of extremely high end gaming. Note that most older notebooks come with “DDR2″ and this one has “DDR3″. The main difference is that “DDR3″ uses about 20% less power “DDR2″ which of course equals slightly better battery life.
HDD – The 500GB drive is far more space than most users need (few people will use more than 100GB). HP also offers 320GB and 640GB drives in some models. This one runs at 7200RPM but HP has version that run at 5400RPM. The 7200RPM drive offers better performance but the failure rate is slightly higher than the slower 5400RPM drives. I have a slight preference for the slower drive just because I despise HDD failures but honestly the 7200RPM drives have improved to the top where there’s not much difference in failure rates anymore.
Graphics – This model is by uses Intel’s new “HD” graphics which is vastly stuck-up to their ancient “4500MHD” chip. You can really do a some 3D gaming on this notebook even if newer high-end 3D games will need to run at reduced settings. Online games like World of Warcraft will run best at reduced settings. It can do 1080p HD graphics but notice this model doesn’t have a Blu-ray drive so I’m not sure it matters that much (the only DV6′s I know of with Blu-ray are custom models ordered direct from HP).
Show – I don’t like that about a year ago HP switched the DV6 from a full 16″ show to the slightly smaller 15.6″. Still the 1366 x 768 widescreen LED Brightview show on this model doesn’t disappoint. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). Outdoors you’ll have some issues with glare but it’s better than a lot of competitors. I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between the 15.6″ and a 14″ is surprising (go equate them in a store if you haven’t had a chance).
Sound – Surprisingly excellent sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a excellent range. I’ve heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.
Battery – HP bundles 12 cell Lithium-Ion battery on this model but most DV6 models have a 6 cell. If you are on the road a lot the 12 cell is nice. Home users who plot to plug in a lot probably won’t care. Personally I prefer the 12 cell. The 6 cell will give you 2-4 hours of real use and the 12 cell will give you 3-6 hours (HP claims “up to seven hours” on their website but that’s only if you do everything possible to conserve power). The 12 cell will projection out a small in the back and adds about 1/5 of a pound to the weight.
Operating System – This model the “Premium” version of Windows 7. The “SB” (small business) models have the Win 7 “Professional” version. Win 7 premium is fine for most users but the Pro version lets you back up over a network and better support for older software (it can basically run Windows XP in the background for your older programs). Most homes users will be fine with Win 7 Premium but if you have a lot of ancient software you may consider getting a notebook with Win 7 Pro (which will add a small to the cost of the notebook).
Optical Drive: The standard HP DVD/CD RW Drive with Lightscribe. If you haven’t used Lightscribe it basically allows you to burn black text or images onto LightScribe compatible CD or DVD media. A typical image burn takes 20 minutes or so. It’s nice to have but be aware the images are a small dull. I’ve noticed mine fade over but I mostly burn copies of CDs for my kids and they are rough on them.
I don’t have any serious “cons” for this computer. The “Touch Media Controls” for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a small odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up. I also don’t find the built-in remote to be that useful but anyone plotting to hook this up to their TV force like it. I suspect most people will just place in a drawer and forget about it.
If you’re staring at the various DV6 models trying to choose which one to buy my advice is (based on the models available when I wrote this):
- For home users who aren’t gamers you can save about $100 if you go with the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop which combines a Core i3 with Win 7 Premium and a 6 cell battery. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive i5 models and you’ll save money by going with Win 7 Premium and a smaller battery.
- If you need excellent battery life, run higher end software, or like to game a bit go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US which combines the Core i5 with the 12 cell battery. The Intel graphics aren’t the best but it’s a huge improvement over past harvest. This is the model I reflect has the best weigh of features.
- If gaming matters more than battery life you should probably look at other laptop lines but if you are sold on the DV6 go for the HP Pavilion DV6-2190US which has a quad CPU Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M graphics. It’s only got a 6 cell battery and that CPU and graphics are going to drain it quickly. On the plus side it’s the only model in this assemble with gigabit ethernet (most home users will be fine with 10/100 ethernet [which is more than enough for several computers surfing the web] but if you want or need 10/100/1000 ethernet only the higher end DV6 models have it).
- If you have a lot of older software consider the HP Pavilion DV6-2157SB Small Business Editionwhich comes with Windows 7 Pro (which can run older software in a WinXP kernel). It has a Core i3 and a 6 cell battery. It also has a different end (“Plaid Mocha”) but I haven’t seen it so I can’t comment on it.
To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an brilliant choice. HP spent money in the right places and has made a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price. I reflect the HP Pavilion DV6-2150US 15.6-Inch Laptop is one of the better values out there now but I prefer the features offered in the HP Pavilion DV6-2170US. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs “Academy” program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP’s web site – just search for “HP Academy”).
Just my luck to get the computer (DV6-2170US) that has problems right out of the box. A groundbreaking new computer and consumer service had me flash the BIOS the first day! The second day the monitor stopped working altogether. Consumer service confirmed it was a backlighting hardware issue, not a software issue and, therefore; I was encouraged to send it in for repair. Repair on a groundbreaking new machine??? I returned it instead. Back the my review: In the few hours in which I was able to use this notebook computer, I was able to rip some composition quicker than on my previous HP laptop (DV5000) or HP desktop. And, unlike the DV5000 or desktop, it was a clean rip. Would have kept the DV6 if it wasn’t broken. I agree wholeheartedly with the person who stated that the keyboard seems to be a small off…but, in my opinion, it is because of the addition of the numeric keypad to the right of the alpha/numeric keys. May take some getting used to positioning your fingers on the home row. Seemed like a nice computer even if. Altogether, I have been an HP consumer from way back when. It saddened me that no one from HP cared to offer me a replacement computer or a discount to keep me as a consumer. This is the third HP computer I have had problems with and as the saying goes, three strikes and they are OUT! If you hold the DV6, I wish you better luck than I had. Choose sensibly. Oh, and regarding HP’s consumer service, one thing I noticed, when you order from HP you will get someone in the United States, after that top, you will be dealing with someone overseas. Yes, they speak English, but…
So far I am reasonably pleased with my new DV6-2170US. It is not destined to run software that will tax it, but after my first week it has performed well with the applications I have. Technical support from HP was dreadful, but I probable that. (During the process of making Office 2003 operational I was informed that, among other things, Office 2003 was not oompatible, even with Windows 7 Professional, and that my wireless router was not compatible with Windows 7! Both issues were overcome with a few minutes of help from my ISP’s technical people.)
I did enable Windows 7 Professional immediately, and I did download the XP emulator (all 400+MB!) I have not needed the emulator to-date, but. I can not speak for Windows 7 Premium, but Professional supports Office 2003 Professional, and all of my other XP applications. (Sony Sound Stage, Starry Night Pro, Photoshop, a British-based laboratory data acquisition system, an many others.) If you plot to use the XP emulator, note that not all processors are supported. (And it requires enabling the processor’s XP emulation mode in the BIOS.)
You can read the performance consequences in other reviews. I am still busy uninstalling unwanted software provided by HP. Again, with the exception of HP’s tech support, I am very pleased.
i am an engineer that works with high end computers and various operating systems on a daily basis. i have a work laptop (compaq 6910p) but this is my 1st personal laptop and 1st experience with windows 7. my previous computer was a compaq desktop with windows xp that i bought ~8 years ago and has had no issues (other than i had to have the floppy drive replaced several years ago). even even if i was growing sick of waiting 10 seconds for a window to open, it was hard for me to spend $ on something that i already had. but now (1 week after owning the dv6-2170us) i have no regrets!
i did a lot of investigate on amazon.com before i bought this laptop. my requirements were windows 7 home premium, at least 4gb of RAM (this laptop is expandable to 8gb of RAM), high-end processor (see [...] – this processor is in the ‘high-end’ category), HD monitor (absolutely gorgeous, even capable of 3D graphics; but, i haven’t attempted this), optical / dual layer DVD burner, large hard drive (500GB is more than i’ll probably ever use).
in addition to my requirements, this computer features bluetooth, the longest battery life i’ve heard of (up to 8 hours), a remote control (it’ll come in handy when surveillance movies from my bed; but, i bought a 23″ HDTV monitor to plug into via HDMI cable from this laptop), and a built-in webcam (picture looks excellent, resolution???).
i was initially concerned with the ‘espresso’ design (turns out it doesn’t bother me at all; really, i kind of like it because it prevents me from focusing on finger print smudges – i’m kind of a clean freak) and 15″ would not be huge enough (it’s more than huge enough).
i am amazed at how quick this laptop operates. i assume that this is in part because of windows 7 but it may possibly austerely be this laptop’s processor, RAM, bus, etc.
my only complaints are that i was not aware that the battery would give this laptop a bubble butt (but, i don’t mind it because i like how it angles the keyboard for my hands to access…like a docking station would) and you have to make your own ‘system recovery’ DVDs (but, it only took ~ 20 minutes to do this myself).
i have arthritis in my hands/wrists from by computers (in general, not this computer) for long periods of time without resting over several years; therefore, i pay attention to ergonomic design nowadays. i like the keyboard and touch (mouse) pad on this laptop. i was pleasantly surprised that the keyboard encompasses a numeric pad as well. but, i did hold the hp elite wireless keyboard and mouse combo (for $15 at dealpal), which should be showing up within the next day or 2.
overall, i am a very pleased consumer (yes, you may possibly even say i like it)!
I reflect this PC is fantastic. The screen is very clear, it works every time I turn it on, and I like the feel of the keyboard.
Pros:
1. Huge enough to read screen.
2. Screen really clear.
3. Keyboard has nice feel.
4. Mouse pad has nice feel.
5. Nice feature set.
6. Fantastic price for all of these features.
Cons:
1. 12 cell battery makes it stick up in the back (you may reflect this is a plus if you use it on a desk all the time and like the angle).
2. It’s kind of heavy especially with larger battery.
3. It is hard to open all the way on an airplane especially if the person in front of you is rude and leans back into your workspace.
4. Wireless is not very excellent. I get better reception on my ancient “g” Dell notebook on same wireless-N router. I thought this one would be better since it has wireless-N built in.
I also want to praise Amazon for their quick shipping and brilliant consumer service. I needed the computer quickly for a trip and they made it happen.