Compal HEL80 Review

Compal HEL80 Review

Intro

The Compal HEL80 laptop is equipped with the Intel® Core® Duo technology and has

many useful features such as the nVidia® 7600 256MB PCI-E Graphics Card, DDR2

667MHz Memory & a built in fingerprint reader & camera. Compal is the 2nd largest

laptop MFG in the world. The HEL80 WXGA model is a part of Intel's VBI (Verified

by Intel) program and both current models are Core 2 Duo (Merom) ready. The HEL80

has a great feature set.

Our Configuration

Intel® Centrino® Core Duo T2600 2.16GHz 667MHz FSB

2GB DDR2 667MHz Corsair Ram

60GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

15.4" WSXGA+ Display

Intel 802.11A/B/G Wireless

Click Here to Configure HEL80

Compal HEL80 Specification

Processor & Chipset Processor: Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Processors Intel® Centrino® Core 2 Duo (Merom 64-bit) ready Chipset: Intel 945PM and ICH7-M 667MHz System Bus Speed

Display 15.4" "Matte" WSXGA+ (1680x1050 Max Res) or "Glossy" WXGA (1280x800 Max Res) Widescreen Display

Video Controller nVIDIA® GeForce PCI Express Go 7600 w/256MB Windows Extended Desktop Supported

Disk Drives +/-DVD R/RW DVD Burner Multi Drive Dual Layer or DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive (both include software) Supports SATA Hard Disk Drives, 2.5" 9.5mm Built-in 4-in-1 memory card reader (MS/MSPRO/SD/MMC)

Memory 512MB DDR2/667 Memory (up to 2GB Dual Channel) Two SO-DIMM Ram sockets

Network Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG

I/O Interfaces 3 USB 2.0 ports Integrated 1.3 Megapixel Camera 1 IEEE-1394 Firewire Port (4 pin) VGA port: 15 pin DDC2b compliant 1 Mic-in and 1 Headphone-out 1 S-Video TV output 1 S-Video TV input (with TV Tuner Option) Kensington lock support No serial, Parallel or PS/2 ports RF-in Connector

Input Device Keyboard with 85/86 Full Size Keys MS Windows Function Keys ElanTech Programmable TouchPad 4 Instant Launch buttons - Internet, email, [2x]User programmable

PCMCIA/Express Card Slot 1 Type II PCMCIA slot (ENE CB-712/714/810) 54mm Express Card Universal Slot 34/54 Devices

Electrical Requirement Full Range 90-264V A/C, Auto-Sensing, Auto-Switching 90W with 19V 4.74A DC Adapter

Cooling Copper CPU & Video Heatsinks 1 Exhaust Fan

Size and Weight 14.25" x 10.4" x 1.25~1.5"

Network Built in Ethernet 10/100/1000BaseT Network (Realtek RTL8168/8111) Built in Agere 56k V.90/V.92 MDC Fax/Modem

Audio Features Built-in 7.1+2 HD Audio Codec (Realtek ALC883) 3D Surround sound Full Duplex 2 Built-in stereo speakers and 1 built in microphone Mic-in and Headphone-out

Battery Smart Lithium-Ion Battery Primary 9-cell Battery Life: 3.5 to 4+ hours Charging time is about 2.5 hours (Off) to 3.5 hours (On) Spare 6-cell (Optional)

6.95 lb. including battery

Warranty 1-Year Parts & Labor Warranty Lifetime Toll Free Technical support Two & Three Year (ADP) Accidental Damage Protection Full Cover Plans (Optional)

Additional Features Built in Fingerprint Scanner/Reader Built in Bluetooth - Foxconn® T60H928 (Optional) Internal Multi Regional TV Tuner w/Remote - Lifeview LR535 (Optional) Deluxe Carrying Case (Optional) 12V Auto/Airplane Adapter (Optional) Windows XP Pro, or XP Home (Optional) Drivers and Utility CD

This is Compal’s 1st Intel Core DUO system supporting the nVidia 7600 256MB.

Whats included:

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Barebones Package

1. Driver CD

2. Screws for CPU/HD

3. Screws for Back Panels

4. Compal & nVidia Decal

5. International Power Cord

6. U.S. Power Cord

7. AC Adapter

8. 9 Cell Battery

9. CPU Cooling Fan & Heatsink

10. Hard Drive Bracket

11. Keyboard

12. Top Frame to lock in Keyboard

The System:

Open

Barebone:

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Assembled Unit:

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Top/Front

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1. Left Speaker

2. 4-in-1 Memory Card Reader

3. Wireless ON/OFF Switch

4. Lid closing latch

5. RF Input (For optional TV Tuner)

6. Right Speaker

Right Side

Barebone:

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Assembled Unit:

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1. Headphone / Audio Out

2. Mic In

3. 2 USB 2.0 Ports

4. CD/Optical bay

5. VGA Out

Left Side

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1. Future port for Internal TV Tuner (Optional)

2. Cooling Exhaust

3. USB 2.0 Port

4. IEEE 1394 Mini Firewire

5. 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

6. Type II PCMCIA Card Slot

7. Express Card Slot

Back

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1. S-Video Out Port

2. Battery Bay

3. 56K Modem

4. Cooling Vents

5. AC Adapter Power Input

Bottom

(closed)

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Barebones:

(open)

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1. Battery Bay with two locking mechanisms

2. Internal TV Tuner Slot

3. 2 SODIMM Ram Slots (2GB Max)

4. Processor Fan/Heatsink

5. Processor Socket

6. Hard Drive Bay / Bluetooth (underneath hard drive)

7. Wireless LAN Bay

8. Cooling Vents

Keyboard & Mouse

1. Media Shortcut buttons (Play, Pause, Stop etc)

2. Caps/Scroll/Num Lock Activation LED's

3. [2] User Programmable Shortcut Buttons

4. Internet Shortcut Button

5. Email Shortcut Button

6. Power Button

7. Touch Pad

8. Side Scroll Bar (Up/Down)

9. Left Mouse Button

10. Fingerprint Reader

11. Right Mouse Button

Camera

Disassembled

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1. Mouse Touch Pad

2. Scroll Bar (Up/Down)

3. Left & Right Mouse Buttons

4. Fingerprint Reader

5. Keyboard Input

6. Cooling Vent

7. Media Buttons

8. Power & Shortcut Buttons

Overview of Bottom

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Processor Bay

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CPU Heatsink

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Heatsink Fan

Hard Drive & Wireless Bay

1. Internal SATA Hard Drive

2. Wireless (802.11G) Card

Ram & TV Tuner Bay

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Battery run time (with standard 9 cell): Run time was with all devices enabled

Screen 55% Brightness: 3 Hour and 43 Minutes

Screen 100% Brightness: 2 Hour and 37 Minutes

LCD screen Clarity and Quality

The high resolution (1680x1050) WSXGA Display (uses the new Prism Technology)

Out of the box performance Specs

HD Tune (60GB 7200 SATA)

Run #1

Run #2

3DMark '05

Using stock nVidia Driver Score (Stock) - 3113 (350 Core / 350 Memory)

Score (Overclocked) - 3732 (486 Core / 372 Memory)

Using 91.33 Forceware Driver Score (Stock) - 3127 (350 Core / 350 Memory)

Score (Overclocked) - 3739 (486 Core / 372 Memory)

(!!Overclock at your own risk!!)

Resolution: 1280×1024 (Stock)

Maximum quality option, Direct3D renderer

Level: Research, demo: Research.tmd

Pixel shader: default model

Antialising: From System×

Anisotropic filtering: From System×

HDR: disabled

Geometry Instancing: disabled

Normal-maps compression: disabled

Score = 54.11 FPS (Run 1)

Score = 55.16 FPS (Run 2)

Average score = 54.63 FPS ________________________________________________

Resolution: 1280×1024 (Overclocked)

Maximum quality option, Direct3D renderer

Level: Research, demo: Research.tmd

Pixel shader: default model

Antialising: From System×

Anisotropic filtering: From System×

HDR: disabled

Geometry Instancing: disabled

Normal-maps compression: disabled

Score = 63.97 FPS (Run 1)

Score = 65.53 FPS (Run 2)

Average score = 64.75 FPS

Conclusion

We not only sell this model but use it in a heavy multitasking business environment.

We have also used this model with of HALO and FARCRY. We highly recommend

this model.

Very well design & build

Great cooling and very quiet

Built in Fingerprint Reader

Built in 1.3MP Camera

Good gaming performance

SATA hard drive support

Intel Merom Ready

Great Feature Set & Value

Cons:

No DVI Out

3D Mark score could be a little better

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