Computer Collection: HP EliteBook 8470p

About

I purchased this for £165 from Encore PC (now Stone Refurb) in late 2017, with measly specs. 2GB of RAM was a cost saving measure, and while I tried not to 'void' the warranty I couldn't live with it, and upgraded it to 8GB.

Its Core i5 was Ivy Bridge, but a bit better than the MacBooks of its era. It was also socketed, making it easy to swap if needed. The heatsink was chunky-ish for the time, being standard HP ProBook / EliteBook fare.

Its DC in jack failed on me in 2019, resulting in it being consigned to the scrapheap. I wasn't happy, but was a little sad too.

Its speakers were fucking horrible and distorted so easily it was almost unreal.

The specs below were its final operating configuration. It originally ran Windows 10.

Specs

CPU: Intel Core i5-3320M (2C/4T, 2.6GHz/3.3GHz, 35W, FCPGA988)

RAM: 8GB DDR3 SODIMM (2x4GB)

GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2.5" SATA 1TB (Rosewood style 7mm thick)

OS: Windows 7 Professional, Service Pack 1

Display: 1366x768 LCD, TN

Speakers: Horrendous.

Trivia

• The hard drive noted in the specs was one I fitted myself as an upgrade from the 160GB Hitachi TravelStar that was shipped with it. It ultimately died because Seagate Rosewood-style 2.5" hard drives are NOT shock tolerant in the slightest and ended up failing its SMART test for electrical issues. However, I believe it also damaged the platter a bit. It met its fate in 2022 when I took a sledgehammer to it outside, shattering the platter into tiny pieces.
• Notably, this machine was the last one I used daily that booted from a hard drive.
• I once caused it to completely lock up after exceeding the maximum CPU temperature (105 degrees Celsius) by 5 to 10 degrees while playing Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet. It worked fine after I shut it down and rebooted.
• The speakers were awful.
• This machine had a massive top screen bezel.