the craziest laptop ever: the Voodoo Envy HW:201; 20 inch screen, 8gb ddr2, 2.4ghz dual core amd turion, dual ssds, and dual nvidia 7950gtx cards in sli. starting price was $5500! as configured it would've been over $7000!! Only on sale a few months in 2007 before HP totally bought Voodoo out. sad.

Posted by gameboy3800@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 34 comments

[-]

quick_Ag@reddit

How useful is a 17 year old $7000 laptop today? I think I see you have it running Windows 10. Does it slow down browsing the web and all that, or is it still useful?

I had an iMac of the same vintage until recently. It was a decent enough Netflix TV (gorgeous screen), but had a hard time with most other tasks.

[-]

I'm using a ThinkPad T61p from 2008 for Fusion 360. Windows 10, 8GB RAM, SATA SSD 256GB, Core 2 Duo (don't remember which model), Nvidia Quadro GPU with 256MB memory (the least amount of memory that will run relatively good)

It's not a lightning but I can use it for years still if it doesn't break on me. I use the native RS232 port on the dock to send CNC programs, it's super reliable unlike even the best USB adapters.

[-]

66659hi@reddit

That nVidia Quadro GPU is part of a line of nVidia cards based on the G84/G86 chipset that are incredibly failure prone & flaky. Make sure you have a way to keep it cool.

[-]

_dotexe1337@reddit

the cooling isnt the problem, rather the failure is caused by thermal cycles. you can keep it as cool as you can imagine and it will still fail at some point

[-]

66659hi@reddit

I refuse to buy nVidia graphics cards. I don't trust nVidia.

[-]

_dotexe1337@reddit

ATI cards had the same problem back then.

[-]

msdos62@reddit

I'm aware. I repasted it and cleaned the cooling fins and the fan runs at 100% whenever the temp goes over 40.

[-]

66659hi@reddit

That's good. I have an older Dell that has an 8400M GS and a 1920x1200 screen, it's a really nice Vista laptop, but I hate always worrying that whenever I power it up, that it may be the last time it ever works again.

[-]

gameboy3800@reddit (OP)

because its dual core vs the alienware single core version it is actually usable for like youtube browsing and whatnot, but any gaming not a chance.

[-]

Licalottapuss@reddit

Depends on the game. Old games are fun. Bring back memories

[-]

fnkarnage@reddit

It's Windows 7

[-]

reegeck@reddit

I think it's running Windows 7 judging by the start icon and the activation message.

The CPUs honestly aren't too bad when combined with an SSD, but it's definitely suited to older games more than it is to modern stuff.

[-]

gameboy3800@reddit (OP)

it was win10 education edition in test mode to run without driver signing since the drivers are so old.

[-]

Lukeno94@reddit

Speaking from experience with lower end machines of a similar age - the most important things are the amount of RAM you have, and having the OS on an SSD. Even a brand new i5 will run like crap if Windows 10 is on a hard drive at this point, whilst web browsing realistically needs at least 8GB unless you're using a particularly lightweight browser on lighter weight pages.

[-]

AlteredStateReality@reddit

I knew a few folks who worked for Voodoo in Calgary. That company was premium and so were the people who worked there.

HP killed Compaq, Voodoo, 3com, Aruba, etc.

[-]

magnificentfoxes@reddit

To be fair, 3com killed itself. I had a friend who worked there at the time it all went tits up and it was spectacularly mismanaged in to the floor.

[-]

VulcarTheMerciless@reddit

That is just awesome. It stands to reason that HP would kill it. (that way there's less competition for the shit they produce)

[-]

M_a_l_t_e_s_e_r@reddit

this gives the DELL XPS M2010 a run for it's money!

[-]

DwarfDudeGaming@reddit

I miss voodoo they had the best paint and colorways available at the time and honestly it still holds up today in my humble opinion

[-]

bukeyolacan@reddit

I think this was competition for Alienware Aurora mALX

[-]

gameboy3800@reddit (OP)

well other than the video cards, the dual core voodoo is objectively better in every way. its still usable even today whereas malx is really only fit to run as an xp restored system. 2gb max of ddr1 and single core cpu are a real killer for malx sadly.

[-]

8bitBytesBack@reddit

Looks very similar to my old Alienware m9700, but twas only single core :(

[-]

bombatomba69@reddit

Oh man I miss classic Voodoo! She's a beaut though, and I love how thin and shiny. I have a XPS 1730 and it is a thickboi

[-]

gameboy3800@reddit (OP)

yea for a 20in big chungus machine it really is thin. looking at the m2010 and hdx 9000 they're easily twice as thick as the voodoo and alienware there. granted i'd still never put any of them on my lap because theyre so heavy but the voodoo there would at least be easier to transport.

[-]

WretchedGibbon@reddit

All that money and it looks like it still has that terrible generic mid-2000s laptop keyboard that never quite sits flat for some reason.

[-]

gameboy3800@reddit (OP)

the old clevo keyboard this model an similar aged machines used at the time were actually pretty good feeling but it is pretty crowded feeling because despite there being 2in of bezel on all sides of the keyboard they never expanded it.

[-]

opens ebay tab

Damn... none available

[-]