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Last Updated on September 24, 2023 by Arif Chowdhury
Are you looking for a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank? Do you want to play the latest games without compromising on performance and quality? If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be interested in the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx series. This is a line of affordable gaming laptops that offer powerful AMD Ryzen processors, dedicated NVIDIA graphics cards, and fast displays.
In this review, we will take a closer look at one of the models in this series, the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx, and see how it stacks up against its competitors. We will evaluate its design and build quality, performance and battery life, and give you our final verdict. Let’s get started!
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx Specs
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (hexa-core, up to 4.2GHz boost)
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 8GB (upgradable to 16GB)
- Storage: 512GB SSD (with an empty slot for additional SSD or HDD)
- Display: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate (upgradable to 144Hz)
- Design: Matte black finish with acid green accents, plastic chassis, sleek and modern design
- Keyboard: Full-size layout with Numpad, backlit with adjustable acid green lighting
- Touchpad: Decent tracking, responsive, integrated left and right buttons
- Speakers: Tuned by Bang & Olufsen, clear and loud sound quality
- Webcam: 720p resolution with privacy shutter
- Cooling System: Two fans, heat pipes for CPU and GPU, noticeable fan noise under load
- Ports: Ethernet, USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (data transfer only), USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, USB-A 2.0, HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm headset jack, SD card reader
- Battery: 52.5 Whr, around 4 hours of light use or less than 2 hours of gaming
- Build Quality: Sturdy plastic chassis, minimal flex, smooth and strong hinges, comfortable keyboard deck
- Performance: Capable of handling various tasks and medium to high settings gaming
- Upgradability: RAM (dual-channel upgradable to 16GB), storage (additional SSD or HDD)
- Display Quality: IPS panel, good viewing angles, low brightness (around 250 nits), narrow color gamut (around 45% NTSC)
- Gaming Performance: Suitable for popular games at 1080p, medium to high settings
- Drawbacks: Mediocre display quality and brightness, poor battery life, noticeable fan noise, warm temperatures under load
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Design and Build Quality
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx has a sleek and modern design that looks attractive and professional. It has a matte black finish with acid green accents on the logo, keyboard, and speakers. The laptop measures 14.17 x 10.12 x 0.93 inches and weighs 4.37 pounds, which is fairly average for a gaming laptop of this size. It is not too bulky or heavy to carry around, but it is not very thin or light either.
The laptop feels sturdy and well-built, thanks to its plastic chassis that does not flex or creak much. The lid has a slight wobble when opened, but it does not affect the display quality or stability. The hinges are smooth and strong, allowing you to adjust the screen angle easily. The keyboard deck is comfortable to rest your palms on, and the touchpad is large and responsive.
The keyboard is one of the highlights of this laptop. It has a full-size layout with a Numpad, which is convenient for gamers who use numbers frequently. The keys are well-spaced and have a good amount of travel and feedback. They are also backlit with acid green lighting, which adds some flair and visibility to the keyboard. The lighting can be adjusted in three levels of brightness or turned off completely.
The touchpad is also decent, but not exceptional. It tracks your movements accurately and smoothly, but it sometimes struggles with multi-touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom or three-finger swipe. The touchpad also has integrated left and right buttons that are easy to press but make a loud clicking sound.
The speakers are located on the front edge of the laptop, below the keyboard. They are tuned by Bang & Olufsen, a renowned audio company, and they deliver clear and loud sound quality. They are good enough for casual listening or gaming, but they lack some bass and depth for more immersive experiences.
The webcam is placed above the screen, in the center of the bezel. It has a resolution of 720p, which is standard for most laptops nowadays. It captures decent images and videos, but they are not very sharp or detailed. The webcam also has a privacy shutter that you can slide to cover the lens when not in use.
The cooling system of this laptop consists of two fans and several heat pipes that dissipate the heat from the CPU and GPU. The fans are usually quiet when the laptop is idle or performing light tasks, but they ramp up when gaming or running intensive applications. They can get quite loud and noticeable, especially in a quiet environment. The laptop also gets warm on the bottom and near the exhaust vents, but not too hot to cause discomfort or damage.
The port selection of this laptop is decent, but not outstanding. It has one Ethernet port, one USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 port (data transfer only), one USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 port, one USB-A 2.0 port, one HDMI 2.0 port, one 3.5mm headset jack, and one SD card reader. It does not have any Thunderbolt ports or DisplayPort outputs, which might limit some connectivity options for external monitors or devices.
Overall, the design and build quality of this laptop are good for its price range. It has a stylish and durable appearance, a comfortable and backlit keyboard, a responsive touchpad, decent speakers and webcam, and a sufficient cooling system. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as its average weight and size, its loud fans and warm temperatures under load, and its limited port selection.
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Performance and Battery Life
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx has impressive specifications for a budget gaming laptop. It has an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of RAM (upgradable to 16GB), and a 512GB SSD (with an empty slot for another SSD or HDD). It also has a 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz (upgradable to 144Hz).
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H is a hexa-core processor that can run up to 4.2GHz with boost. It is based on the Zen 3 architecture, which offers improved performance and efficiency over the previous generation. It is capable of handling most tasks, such as web browsing, office work, video streaming, photo editing, and more. It can also run some demanding applications, such as video editing, rendering, or coding, but it might not be as fast or smooth as a higher-end processor.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a mid-range graphics card that can play most games at medium to high settings and 1080p resolution. It is based on the Turing architecture, which offers better performance and features than the previous generation. It supports DirectX 12, VR, and ray tracing (although not very well). It can run popular games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and more with decent frame rates and quality. However, it might struggle with some newer or more demanding games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, or Red Dead Redemption 2.
The RAM and storage of this laptop are adequate for most users, but they can be upgraded if needed. The laptop has two RAM slots, one of which is occupied by an 8GB stick. You can add another 8GB stick to get a total of 16GB of dual-channel memory, which will improve the performance and multitasking capabilities of the laptop. The laptop also has two storage slots, one of which is occupied by a 512GB SSD. You can add another SSD or HDD to the empty slot to increase the storage capacity and speed of the laptop.
The display of this laptop is decent, but not great. It has an IPS panel that offers good viewing angles and color accuracy. However, it has a low brightness level of around 250 nits, which makes it hard to see in bright environments or outdoors. It also has a narrow color gamut of around 45% NTSC, which makes it look dull and washed out compared to other displays. The refresh rate of the display is 60Hz by default, but you can upgrade it to 144Hz for a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.
The battery life of this laptop is poor, as expected from a gaming laptop. It has a 52.5 Whr battery that can last for around 4 hours of light use or less than 2 hours of gaming. You will need to keep the charger handy if you plan to use this laptop for long periods of time or away from a power outlet.
Overall, the performance and battery life of this laptop are impressive for its price range. It has a powerful processor and graphics card that can handle most tasks and games with ease. It also has enough RAM and storage that can be upgraded if needed. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as its mediocre display quality and brightness, its poor battery life, and its loud fans and warm temperatures under load.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is HP Pavilion Gaming 15 good for gaming?
The HP Pavilion Gaming 15 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that can run most games at medium to high settings and 1080p resolution. It has a powerful AMD Ryzen processor, a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, and a fast display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz.
However, it might struggle with some newer or more demanding games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, or Red Dead Redemption 2. It also has a mediocre display quality and brightness, a poor battery life, and loud fans and warm temperatures under load. If you are looking for a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank, then the HP Pavilion Gaming 15 might be a good option for you.
However, if you are looking for a more premium or powerful gaming laptop, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Is HP Pavilion 15 good for students?
The HP Pavilion 15 is a versatile laptop that can suit the needs of most students. It has a sleek and sturdy design, a comfortable and backlit keyboard, a responsive touchpad, decent speakers and webcam, and a sufficient cooling system. It also has a decent performance that can handle most tasks, such as web browsing, office work, video streaming, photo editing, and more.
It can also run some light games or applications, but it is not designed for heavy gaming or intensive workloads. The HP Pavilion 15 also has a decent battery life that can last for around 6 hours of light use or less than 3 hours of heavy use.
You will need to keep the charger handy if you plan to use this laptop for long periods of time or away from a power outlet. The HP Pavilion 15 is a good laptop for students who are looking for an affordable and reliable device that can handle their everyday needs.
How many RAM slots does HP Pavilion 15 gaming laptop have?
The HP Pavilion 15 gaming laptop has two RAM slots, one of which is occupied by an 8GB stick. You can add another 8GB stick to get a total of 16GB of dual-channel memory, which will improve the performance and multitasking capabilities of the laptop. You can also replace the existing RAM stick with a higher capacity one, up to 32GB per slot .
Does HP Pavilion 15 overheat?
The HP Pavilion 15 does not overheat in normal use, but it can get warm or hot under heavy load. The cooling system of this laptop consists of two fans and several heat pipes that dissipate the heat from the CPU and GPU.
The fans are usually quiet when the laptop is idle or performing light tasks, but they ramp up when gaming or running intensive applications. They can get quite loud and noticeable, especially in a quiet environment. The laptop also gets warm on the bottom and near the exhaust vents, but not too hot to cause discomfort or damage.
However, it is recommended to use this laptop on a flat and hard surface, such as a desk or table, rather than on your lap or bed, to ensure proper airflow and ventilation .
Is Dell G15 better than HP Pavilion?
The Dell G15 is better than the HP Pavilion in some aspects, but not in others. The Dell G15 has higher-end display and GPU options, such as a 1080p 165Hz and 1440p 240Hz panel, as well as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and 3070 Ti GPU.
It also has Intel 12th Gen CPUs that perform better than the AMD Ryzen processors in the HP Pavilion. The Dell G15 also has a longer battery life and doesn’t get as hot or loud under load. However, the Dell G15 is heavier and bulkier than the HP Pavilion, and its build quality feels less sturdy. The Dell G15 also has a worse keyboard and touchpad than the HP Pavilion.
Which SSD is best for HP Pavilion gaming Laptop?
The SSD is one of the most important components of a gaming laptop, as it affects the loading speed and responsiveness of the system and games. The HP Pavilion gaming laptop has two storage slots, one of which is occupied by a 512GB SSD.
You can add another SSD or HDD to the empty slot to increase the storage capacity and speed of the laptop. However, not all SSDs are created equal, and some are faster and more reliable than others. Some of the factors that you should consider when choosing an SSD are:
The interface: The interface determines how the SSD connects to the motherboard and how fast it can transfer data. There are two main types of interfaces: SATA and NVMe. SATA SSDs use the same interface as HDDs and have a maximum speed of around 600 MB/s. NVMe SSDs use a newer interface that connects directly to the PCIe bus and have a maximum speed of around 3500 MB/s.
NVMe SSDs are much faster than SATA SSDs, but they are also more expensive and consume more power. The HP Pavilion gaming laptop supports both SATA and NVMe SSDs, but you should check the compatibility of the specific model before buying it.
The capacity: The capacity determines how much data you can store on the SSD. The more capacity you have, the more games and files you can store on the SSD. However, the more capacity you have, the more expensive the SSD is.
You should choose a capacity that suits your needs and budget. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 256GB of SSD space for the operating system and essential programs, and another 512GB or 1TB of SSD or HDD space for games and other files.
The performance: The performance determines how fast the SSD can read and write data. The performance depends on several factors, such as the controller, the NAND flash type, the cache, and the firmware.
The performance can vary widely among different SSD models, even if they have the same interface and capacity. You should look for an SSD that has a high sequential and random read and write speed, as well as a low latency and high endurance. You can check the performance of different SSDs by looking at their specifications or reviews online.
Some examples of good SSDs for the HP Pavilion gaming laptop are:
Samsung 970 EVO Plus: This is one of the best NVMe SSDs on the market, with a high performance, reliability, and durability. It has a sequential read speed of up to 3500 MB/s and a sequential write speed of up to 3300 MB/s.
It also has a random read speed of up to 620K IOPS and a random write speed of up to 560K IOPS. It has a 5-year warranty and a TBW (terabytes written) rating of up to 1200 TBW. It is available in capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB.
Crucial MX500: This is one of the best SATA SSDs on the market, with a good performance, reliability, and value. It has a sequential read speed of up to 560 MB/s and a sequential write speed of up to 510 MB/s.
It also has a random read speed of up to 95K IOPS and a random write speed of up to 90K IOPS. It has a 5-year warranty and a TBW rating of up to 700 TBW. It is available in capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB.
Conclusion
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx is a budget-friendly gaming machine that offers a lot of value for its price. It has a sleek and sturdy design, a comfortable and backlit keyboard, a responsive touchpad, decent speakers and webcam, and a sufficient cooling system. It also has a powerful processor and graphics card that can run most tasks and games smoothly. It also has enough RAM and storage that can be upgraded if needed.
However, this laptop also has some flaws that might deter some users. It has an average weight and size that make it less portable than other laptops. It has a mediocre display quality and brightness that make it less enjoyable to watch or play on. It has a poor battery life that limits its mobility and usability. It also has loud fans and warm temperatures under load that might annoy some users.
If you are looking for a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank, then you might want to consider the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx. It is not perfect, but it is good enough for most gamers who are willing to compromise on some aspects. However, if you are looking for a more premium or powerful gaming laptop, then you might want to look elsewhere.
We hope this review helped you decide whether the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1xxx is the right choice for you or not. If you have any questions or comments about this laptop or this review, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!