HP Pavilion Gaming 17

amazon HP Pavilion Gaming 17 reviews

Similar to Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming 3 series, the HP Pavilion Gaming laptop line is also affordable, but still equipped with the latest hardware from NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD. The new HP Pavilion Gaming 17 laptop model is equipped with a Tiger Lake H35 processor and an Ampere architecture RTX GPU. Bring a new color combination of Black and Green, no longer the traditional red-black.

Design and finishing quality

Although the entire case is made of plastic, it still has a solid construction. The most part is the lid which is not aggressive, but still has the characteristics of a gaming laptop. Minimalist black tone with a prominent green HP logo, both bordered keyboard and green Led make a difference. In terms of weight and thickness, this laptop is quite heavy to carry, weighing up to 2.75 kg and a thickness of 25.4 mm.

Connection port

While there’s no Thunderbolt 4 port, the laptop has plenty of I/O ports, including three USB-A 3.2 Gen. 2 slots, one of which is always on so you can charge it even when the laptop is powered off, one USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, plus a MicroSD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Upgradability

As a gaming laptop model, there will certainly be additional upgrade support. The device has two SODIMM slots for mounting Ram, a 2.5-inch SATA slot, and an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for attaching a storage hard drive.

Comfortable gaming experience

The device performed very well in the temperature tests, what surprised us most was the excellent cooling capacity of this laptop. There are a total of four heat pipes, two that cool both the CPU and GPU, along with two other heat pipes that aren’t connected to anything but just suck in heat to improve overall efficiency.

The CPU temperature spiked during the first few seconds of the stress test, but quickly dropped to a safe level, while the CPU clock speed was lower than the baseline, but still quite stable, at 3, 2 GHz.

The GPU has commendable performance despite its not-so-high TDP of 50W-60W. The clock speed is quite high, while the temperature does not exceed 75 degrees Celsius.

In addition, the fan spins extremely quietly even when operating at high power, which is a commendable thing in the low-cost gaming laptop line, and we are curious to see how HP does it.

Hardware Options

Although the laptop is equipped with a Tiger Lake H chip, it is not the H model we expected. While Pavilion Gaming 17’s competitors have used the more powerful H45, this 4-core laptop will surely be at a disadvantage.

Performance and Hardware

The Pavilion Gaming 17 is powered by robust hardware suitable for gaming and multitasking:

• Processor Options: Offers various Intel Core i5 and i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 and 7 processor configurations, ensuring smooth performance in demanding tasks.
• Graphics Options: Typically includes NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX dedicated graphics cards, providing excellent gaming performance and graphics rendering capabilities.
• RAM and Storage: Configurations with ample RAM (up to 32GB) and SSD storage options (up to 1TB), enhancing overall system responsiveness and loading times.

Gaming Capabilities

• Graphics Performance: Handles modern AAA titles and graphic-intensive games with ease, thanks to powerful dedicated graphics cards.
• Frame Rates: Achieves smooth frame rates at high settings in most games, offering an enjoyable gaming experience.
• Thermal Management: Utilizes effective cooling solutions to manage heat during extended gaming sessions, minimizing thermal throttling and maintaining performance.

Keyboard and Trackpad

• Keyboard: Features a full-sized keyboard with customizable RGB backlighting (depending on model), offering tactile feedback and comfortable key travel for extended gaming sessions.
• Trackpad: Responsive trackpad with multi-touch gesture support, although most gamers prefer using an external gaming mouse for precision and control.

Battery Life

• Battery Performance: Provides moderate battery life considering its size and performance demands, typically offering up to 4-6 hours of usage under normal conditions.
• Power Management: Includes power-saving features and modes to extend battery life when not gaming or performing intensive tasks.

Connectivity Options

• Ports: Offers a variety of ports including USB Type-A and Type-C, HDMI, Ethernet, and audio jacks, accommodating various peripherals and external displays.
• Wireless Connectivity: Includes Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for faster wireless speeds and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless accessories.

Audio Quality

• Speakers: Equipped with dual speakers tuned by audio experts, providing clear and immersive sound for gaming and multimedia consumption.
• Audio Software: Enhances audio performance with pre-installed software for customizable sound profiles and equalizer settings.

Software and User Experience

• Operating System: Typically comes with Windows 10 or Windows 11 pre-installed, offering a familiar and optimized gaming environment.
• HP Software: Includes proprietary software for system management, performance optimization, and customization of keyboard lighting and other settings.

Design and Ergonomics

• Portability: While larger than typical gaming laptops, the Pavilion Gaming 17 remains portable enough for occasional travel and LAN parties.
• Ergonomics: Ergonomic design elements such as comfortable keyboard spacing and heat dissipation channels contribute to a more comfortable gaming experience.

Value Proposition and Pricing

• Affordability: Positioned competitively in the gaming laptop market, offering a balance of performance and affordability.
• Value: Provides excellent value for gamers seeking a powerful laptop capable of handling modern games and productivity tasks without breaking the bank.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Powerful hardware configuration suitable for gaming and multitasking.
• Large, high-resolution display with optional high refresh rate for smooth gameplay.
• Solid build quality and gamer-centric design aesthetic.
• Effective cooling system to manage heat during intensive gaming sessions.
• Customizable RGB keyboard backlighting for personalized gaming setups.

Cons:

• Moderate battery life compared to non-gaming laptops.
• Larger and heavier than ultraportable gaming laptops.
• Requires external peripherals for optimal gaming experience (e.g., gaming mouse, headset).

Conclusion

The HP Pavilion Gaming 17 is an excellent choice for gamers and power users looking for a versatile and capable laptop:

• Who It’s For: Ideal for gamers who prioritize performance, display quality, and a comfortable gaming experience on a larger screen.
• Use Cases: Suitable for gaming at home, LAN parties, and occasional travel, offering a blend of gaming prowess and productivity capabilities.
• Final Verdict: Offers great value with its robust hardware, expansive display, effective cooling system, and gamer-friendly features, making it a solid investment for gaming enthusiasts.

where can you get a HP Pavilion Gaming 17 online

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 17-inch, Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 10 Home (17-cd1030nr, Shadow Black): Buy it now

2022 HP Pavilion 17.3 inch IPS FHD Laptop, Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Beats i7-1065G7), Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Backlit Keyboard, WiFi 5, Long Battery Life, Webcam, Windows 11: Buy it now

HP Pavilion 17.3″ FHD IPS Laptop Newest 2022, 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7(up to 4.2 GHz), 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth, Windows 11, Silver, w/ 3in1 Accessories: Buy it now