This blog post is about the HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook PC.
Please note: There are different versions of this laptop and I’m blogging about the Intel HD graphics version. I will continue to update this blog post shortly after I make any changes to the notebook. If and when I update the blog post I will also reference the update in my monthly round-up blog post.
Introduction
This notebook was originally purchased for my fiancée to use at home. It was a second-hand purchase via eBay. This notebook (which I often call a laptop!) has poor graphics performance.
I think my 8440p was released sometime between 2010 and 2011 and all these years later I’m still using it!
HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook lid down photo
HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook dvd drive and ports photo
HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook graphics ports photo
Top Area of the HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook photo
Underneath of the HP EliteBook 8440p Notebook photo
6th November entry:
This notebook used to be used for email, web browsing and a bit of light gaming. Now I use it occasionally for writing. Unless I stumble across an amazing hardware deal, I currently have no plans to upgrade this notebook, but I might change the operating system or even dual boot.
I’m not recommending others buy this notebook and Windows 10 is slow on it.
6th November 2019 Specifications for the 8440p I’m using:
- Intel HD Graphics
- 4GB DDR3 RAM (2x Samsung PC3-10700 2GB M471B5773DH0-CH9 memory sticks)
- 172A motherboard BIOS version 68CCU Ver. F.20 09/05/2011
- Intel Core i5 540M @ 2.53GHz (dual-core)
- Windows 10 Pro (original Windows 7)
- Hitachi 500GB hard disk HTS725050A7E630 (not the original in notebook)
- HP DVD-RW AD-7711H DVD/CD-ROM drive
- Low quality webcam
It does feel under-powered with the specs above. I feel the most limiting factor of the 8440p version of the notebook I own is the Intel HD graphics as it is part of the CPU. So any CPU upgrade of my notebook needs to take graphics into account. I wish I had the NVIDIA version of the laptop!
I think realistically the hardware upgrade paths are CPU, hard disk and RAM. I don’t want to invest in the notebook currently, but if I was to make a purchase, it would likely be a SSD to replace the mechanical SATA drive.
Below are CPU-Z screenshots from the 6th November 2019
CPU-Z EliteBook 8440p CPU details screenshot
CPU-Z EliteBook 8440p Motherboard screenshot
CPU-Z EliteBook 8440p Graphics screenshot
CPU-Z EliteBook 8440p RAM screenshot
Other hardware considerations
I think you can buy a hard drive caddy to replace the DVD drive and also a docking station. I quite like the idea of both, but I just don’t use this notebook enough to warrant those purchases.
Operating system
When we purchased this laptop from eBay it was delivered with Windows 7 installed and a COA sticker underneath the laptop. We then upgraded to Windows 10. Unfortunately the hard drive we were given quickly died and we replaced it with another 2.5” mechanical drive.
During a couple of updates the touchpad has had problems and we just plugged in an external USB mouse and then rolled back the driver for the touchpad and it worked again.
Gaming
The 540M CPU I’m using in the notebook isn’t good for gaming and some games I own are unplayable on this notebook.