HP G6-1B50US, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HD, Phenom II, $350 AR @ Staples

[Harvey]

If you can use a laptop with a 15.6" screen, starting Staples is offering this HP G6-1B50US for $350 after $50 easy rebate.

This machine is similar to Staples' deal I posted in this thread, except that it uses a 2,6 GHz 64 bit dual core Phenom II CPU and Radeon HD 4250 Graphics, and this machine includes an HDMI port.

Full specs on HP's site.

Model: G6-1B50US
HP part number: QF761UA#ABA
2.60GHz AMD Phenom II Dual-Core Mobile Processor P650
4GB DDR3 RAM
500GB Hard Drive
Radeon HD 4250 Graphics
15.6" LED Display (1366 x 768)
802.11b/g/n WLAN
HP Webcam with integrated digital microphone
HDMI port :thumbsup:

I've seen these machines because I recommended several of them to friends when they were previously on sale, and all who bought them have loved them.

I figure almost all entry level laptops are built in the same three or four Asian factories, and, once you're past the specific hardware and model variations, the biggest difference between machines with the same hardware is the service you get when you need it. The main reason I've been recommending HP and Compaq laptops is because they're NOT Gateway. I own a Compaq laptop, and when I've needed help for myself or when I'm helping any of my friends, the first thing HP's support people ask is how they can help you. The first thing Gateway's people ask is what they can sell you, such as an extended warranty, even with brand new, in warranty machines.

Another reason I recommend this machine is that Staples is almost everywhere so there's probably one close to you.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm a little leary of AMD Pxxx laptops with HD4250 graphics.

I had a Toshiba (that I recently sold), and overall, it was a very nice machine (no webcam or HDMI), but it had one annoying quirk. I like to listen to internet radio with my laptop, and after it had been on for a while, playing, and gone into a monitor-off sleep state, when I moved my mouse, it was a 50/50 chance that the sound would loop and the laptop would hard-hang.

Whether this was due to interrupt issues, USB issues (USB mouse, Logitech M305), or just drivers in general, I don't know. It sure was annoying though.

Performance-wise, the laptop was very good.

I've also started to get STOP 0x124 BSODs on my Zacate rig when waking it up from sleep.

AMD has a few rough edges as a "platform company".

 

[Harvey]

I'm a little leary of AMD Pxxx laptops with HD4250 graphics.

I had a Toshiba (that I recently sold), and overall, it was a very nice machine (no webcam or HDMI), but it had one annoying quirk. I like to listen to internet radio with my laptop, and after it had been on for a while, playing, and gone into a monitor-off sleep state, when I moved my mouse, it was a 50/50 chance that the sound would loop and the laptop would hard-hang.

Whether this was due to interrupt issues, USB issues (USB mouse, Logitech M305), or just drivers in general, I don't know. It sure was annoying though.

Performance-wise, the laptop was very good.

I've also started to get STOP 0x124 BSODs on my Zacate rig when waking it up from sleep.

AMD has a few rough edges as a "platform company".

You can't judge one model by a another from a maker with a different or older chipset, resources and drivers. I've had my Compaq lappy with an Athlon 64 bit dual core CPU for a couple of years, and I've had no problems with it, and as I posted, I've recommended this machine to several friends when it was on sale, previously, and none of them has reported any problems.

Don't expect a heavy duty gaming machine, but if you want a good, general purpose traveling machine for business that can stream videos and communicate well on the road, this one is worth a look. Of course, you can always do more homework just by searching Google for the model number. I did, and I found nothing that would put me off from this machine at this price.

 

[NasdaqTrader889]

My local Staples has been selling it for this price since Sunday. I decided against it because ebay was selling these for cheaper.

 

[Harvey]

My local Staples has been selling it for this price since Sunday. I decided against it because ebay was selling these for cheaper.

Not now. Lowest price as of this post is $389.00 with free shipping or a little less, but more with shipping.

Then, there's the matter of being able to return it if the machine you get has a problem. :\

 

[Roland00Address]

Why get an amd phenom when you can get an a4 or an a6 laptop. A4 laptops are similar prices to the hp you linked with the amd phenom.

1) An A4-3400m is a 1.9 ghz dual core that can clock to 2.5 ghz. It will have a similar performance to the p650 your linked to in real world tests. In synthetic benchmarks the A4-3300m scores 2274 in passmark vs 1619 for the p650.
2) The A4 has a much better graphics, with 240 radeon cores vs the 40 radeon cores the radeon 4250 has. Furthermore the A4 radeon cores are dx11 capable and support a newer version of opencl
3) The A4 is made on a 32nm process instead of a 45nm process. While the amd phenom may have a lower tdp for the cpu you have to remember the cpu for the phenom is only including the cpu and not the chipset, while the A4 tdp is figuring both cpu and graphics for the tdp number. You will see better temperatures on the A4 on both idle, cpu heavy tasks, and gpu heavy tasks
4) The A4 is powergated thus it is able to shut off certain parts of the cpu (such as individual cores, or part of the radeon graphics) when you do not need full cpu or full graphic. Because of this the A4 gets MUCH better battery life than the Phenom series for a similar laptop and similar battery.
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Now if you pick an a6 cpu instead of an a4 cpu you will grab a quad core instead of a dual core and even better radeon graphics while keeping similar benefits with battery life and laptop temperatures.
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Now these are past deals for laptops (they are no longer current) but it shows prices for an a4 when you get it on sale at a Brick and Mortor
Expired
A4-3300m, hp, 14, best buy, $380 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3119768
A4-3300m, hp 15.6, staples, $421 br, $371 ar http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3067263
A6-3400m, gateway 15.6, officedepot, $399 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3305674