The Best Selling CQ40-416AU is official unavailable.
A new model is on its route to our stores.
New model is CQ40-109AU with the new TIGRIS Platform and classified as VISION BASIC <click here>

It should be available for purchase by Feb.13, 2010.
Thank You

Disclosure: Without official communication there are two variants delivered by HP Philippines for the CQ40-416AU model.
1st variant - RM75(2.2)
2nd variant - RM77(2.3)
CoolTOYZ does not have control on the variant that will be delivered... for now what we have are RM75(2.2)
In any case, Performance difference of two variants is negligible.

Price Drop form P27,940.00, now at P25,940!!!... only while supplies last!

NOTE: This machine is sold default with DOS. At CoolTOYZ we have pre-loaded the model with XP-PROFESSIONAL(30D) to allow buyers to experience the laptop before purchasing. At CoolTOYZ You can test the audio, display and webcam before you purchase. Responsibility to install Genuine software on the notebook rests with the buyer.

To the many who email us for assistance on how to load XP - Sorry we only provide technical support for laptops sold by CoolTOYZ. Avoid the inconvenience, buy your units from CoolTOYZ \m/

Our Take: This CQ40-416AU is the refreshed model of this Year's Best Selling model, the CQ40-310AU <click here>. Two(2) components were upgraded, the processor to RM75(2.2Ghz) from RM72(2.1Ghz), and the harddrive to 320Gb from 250Gb. Aside from the two upgrades the new model is exactly like the older model which is best described as an entry level priced laptop with an AMD Dual Core mobile processor and impressive graphic capability for those who wish to occasionally play games on their laptop... a definite WINNER!.

Why was the CQ40-310AU model a best seller?
The CQ40 line has been a top seller because it is an entry level priced laptop that is more than capable to handle occasional gaming efficiently. As users will attest this laptop the combination of the AMD TurionX2 and ATI HD3200 has proven to be a very dynamic duo and is able to provide performance matching laptops even twice its price. We dare state that no laptop at this price range is able to match the graphic capability of the CQ40-316AU and now even more with the refreshed model CQ40-416AU.

On top of this graphic capability, it is also a full featured notebook with a 320GB Harddrive, a built in webcam, a 5-in-1 card reader, a brightview display, Altec lansing speakers, HDMI output and even a Multi-Format DvD±Writer with Lightscribe labeling technology. The clincher is that we have been able to install XP-Professional on this laptop model (except Screen brightness button at this time). XP means that there will be no compatibility problems and much better gaming performance.



Looking back at this Year's Best selling model CQ40-310AU is the best way to describe the newer model CQ40-416AU. Because of the shortage of time we will quote the technical description provided for the CQ40-310Au model to answer 5 Frequently asked questions:

1. What is “PUMA”?
We have to begin with this because there are those who think that because it is not Intel it will not run XP, Vista, MS Office and the like. A Puma is not MAC like. A Puma system is just like any other Laptop PC but the components are not made by Intel. AMD introduced the PUMA platform in June 2008 as a marketing term or counterpart of Intel's "Centrino" system. There are no Centrino processors! Centrino means that the processor, chipset and wifi card are all made by Intel. In the same manner, AMD calls systems with the new Turion X2 mobile processors (codenamed Griffen), an AMD M780G (RS780M) mobile chipset and 802.11a/b/g/n compliant Wi-Fi chip, a PUMA. We hope this will clarify that that everything you can do on an Intel based Laptop PC, you can do on a AMD based PC including this Compaq CQ40-310AU. To know more about PUMA and appreciate its features, you can watch it on YouTube <click here>

2. What is an AMD TurionX2 dual core processor?
AMD is the acronym for Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and was founded May 1, 1969 and is the second-largest global supplier of microprocessors after Intel Corporation. (There it is, AMD is not a new player, it is almost 40years old). The TurionX2 is AMD’s Dual Core mobile processor and the RM-75 in this unit is a dual-core that runs at 2.2GHz with 512 KB L2 cache per core(1mb combined). The RM75 is made using the 65nm process technology and utilizes the so-called "split power plane design", which allows independent voltage planes for processor and memory controller for greater control over performance based on system demands. By making it possible to reduce the voltage of the components, the whole system is able to provide longer batter life.



Based on our experience being in front of laptops everyday, the TurionX2 is at par with the Intel Pentium Dual-Core processors found in most entry level laptops, but slower than its Intel Core2 Duo on higher end model. Using the WEI score below we can safely say that the RM75(2.2) is rated higher than the Core2 Duo T7350 found in the HP DV4 <click here> and the Acer Aspire 4736 <click here>.

At this stage, we must stress that a processor is only one part of a whole system and in the next discussion we will explain why AMD has a big following among the gaming community. One item we must point out is that AMD based system have shorter battery life compared to Intel based systems. This is because AMD systems provide more capable integrated graphics.

3. What is an ATI HD3200M IGP graphics?
In 2006 AMD bought graphics chipmaker ATI for a cool $5.4bn(yes Billion). ATI is one of the major designer and supplier of graphic processing units, matched probably only by its rival nVidia. With the purchase by AMD of ATI, AMD has been able to provide systems with better graphics capability compared to Intel systems with integrated video.



Two years into the partnership AMD offers the AMD M780G Chipset with ATI Radeon™ HD 3200 Graphics. In our opinion the HD3200 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is the highlight of the Puma platform and is perhaps the most exciting part of the laptop, as it offers several features that Intel's IGPs simply can't match. According to ATI, the Radeon™ HD3200 Graphics is a DirectX® 10 capable integrated video graphics that introduces never before-seen detail-rich images and dynamic interactivity for playing the latest games. The Radeon HD 3200 graphics engine has been tested to provide rather decent 3DMark06 results that translates to playable casual gaming.<click here> According to LaptopMag.com, AMD promises “three times the 3D graphics performance of comparable competitor graphics” Notebookcheck goes further by stating that, "Compared to older onboad graphic chips (e.g., GMA X3100), the HD 3200 is much faster. Even the Centrino 2 graphics core (X4500HD) should be slower than the HD 3200.” <click here>



We stated that a processor is “one part of a whole system”, another part it the graphics processing unit (GPU) that converts raw data into images that you see on your notebook’s screen. CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). The graphics card plays an essential role in the PC - it takes the digital information that the computer produces and turns it into something human beings can see. AMD has a big following among the gaming community because it has been able to deliver systems with the same price if not lower than those of Intel systems and yet provides better graphic performance.

4. How will the AMD TurionX2 with ATI HD3200 benefit me as a user?
It has been a practice at CoolTOYZ to measure the performance of any new system using the Windows Media Experience Index, a feature found in the Vista Operating system. The WEI score for this system is posted below.



Versus



Compared to the performance of the CQ40 with an Intel Pentium-Dual Core + Intel X4500M graphics <click here> you will find that the gaming graphics on this AMD system scores 10% higher (3.4Pts vs. 3.7pts). This is validated by the 3DMark 05 in comparison wherein the HD3200 scores 2591 Points versus the 1437 score of the Intel X4500M.(45% performance difference!) The higher score on graphics will not benefit you if you merely use the laptop for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, check your email or surf the web; but it won’t hurt either. The more powerful graphics can be beneficial if you do light desktop publishing, photo editing and of course gaming. If you want to indulge in casual gaming on a budget laptop then the CQ40-416AU maybe what you are looking for.

5. Why do we recommend this model?
We begin by stating that Compaq is made by HP which is the world’s largest PC maker. That alone should provide any prospective buyer peace of mind on the quality of this unit. In terms of brand equity Compaq definitely offers more “prestige” than other brands like Acer, Emachines, or even Lenovo. MSI? Who? Anyway, you may disagree about the HP/Compaq brand but this is a reality as evidenced by HP being No.1 Laptop seller in the world.



A true bargain is if an item succeeds in making you look good even if the purchase price is affordable. The CQ40 presents a high Gloss Black exterior with a brushed aluminum Compaq Logo engraved into the surface. It should be noted that the metallic logo adds elegance to the design. Inside, the Palm rest and Touchpad is in glossy silver, while the keyboard and speaker covers are in classic Black. You will find two buttons above the keyboard, a white LED backlit power button and the WiFi activation button in Backlit blue. Overall the design is very pleasing with an aura of being futuristic given the metallic touches. Definitely, it does not look cheap.

Enjoy mobility without the price tag. Style or function, the Compaq Presario CQ40 delivers them all. This handy package helps you keep your work and play together. Anytime, anyplace. The CQ40-416AU has been upgraded with an AMD TurionX2 RM75(2.2Ghz) and with the ATI HD3200 the CQ40-416AU is able to provide graphic capability for those with a budget of less than 30,000.00. You will not find a similarly priced laptop with the graphic performance of this model. We can not find any reason why not to recommend this model!