Armada is a discontinued line of business laptops by Compaq. They started as a more affordable version of the Contura line, but after that, they replaced Contura as a mainstream laptop line, and then the high-end Compaq LTE line were merged with Armada as a premium 7300 and 7700 sub-lines.
Overview
History The 3 generations can be classified: First gen with gray 1100 low-end lines, grey 4100/4200 midrange lines and white 7300 and 7700 high-end lines with Pentium I (or Pentium MMX) CPU's. Second gen — the design unification: new 1500/1700 and 3500 models, and redesign of previous generation high-end lines (7400 and 7800 laptops) — all-gray design and wave in a palmrest (if they exist); except early models of 1500 line, all new models have a Pentium II CPU in a base. Mid-gen 6500 laptop — first high-end model without a PointStick; the design was similar to the latest DEC laptops, as DEC was acquired in June 1998 by Compaq. Third gen — E, M and V series with all-flat design, similar to 6500 model, with dark gray case and blue touchpad (or pointstick) buttons. The last models (100s/110) is a transitive generation between the Armada and Evo lines.
model linescase typescreen options199619971998199920002001Portable13"12.1"-13.3"350011"11.3"Contura AeroM300Powerful15"14.1-15.1"E70014"14.1"6500M70013.3"-14.1"780077##77##740013"12.1"73#073#0LTE 540010.4"-12.1"LTE 5000/5100/ 5200/5300Mainstream15"12.1-15.1"E50012.1-14.1"E500s12"12.1"42#042#011.3"-12.1"411041##Entry14"14.1"11012.1-14.1"17#017#0V30013"12.1-13.3"100s11.3-12.1"15##15##150011"10.4"1110 (Contura 4#0)11#0italic - predecessor lines.
Design Armada is a line of classic business laptops, with hot-swappable bays (include the easy-removable MultiBay CD/DVD-drive), magnesium alloys (except some models), and have a dual battery and docking stations as common option. Some models have a small lifting feet; some models could be ordered with internal power supply, and most of the Armada laptops have a screen latches (except 1100 line).
Armada 1100, 4100 and 4200 series
1996-1997 lines. These have a trackball (or touchpad option for 4100/4200 series), instead of high-end LTE 5#00 line with pointing stick. Like other Pentium I laptops, soldered RAM placed in the same replaceable board with CPU and can be easily upgraded.
Early-released base models (mid-1996) is a 1110, 1120 and 4110.
The Armada 1100 offers a mainstream feature set in order to provide a compelling price-performance equation for the target market. It is meant to give customers all they need to run standard business applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, mail, etc... For customers that desire multi-media features, Compaq offers the LTE 5000 and the new Armada 4100 family of notebook computers. Third party external CD solutions are also available.
Armada 1100 series An affordable version of the Contura 420 & 430C(X) models with same case and base specs which started at less than $2,000. The Armada version has a larger HDD and better CPU, but less warranty and no docking port. They only have a FDD, 8 or 16 MB base RAM and one EDO SODIMM RAM slot (that limited upgradeability up to 24 or 32 MB), and a NiMH battery with up to ~2–3 hours of runtime. This is the last Compaq notebook without a sound card. T models have a TFT display, just like the Contura CX models.
290 x 260 x 38 mm; ~2.3 kg. 10.4" screen (passive for base model, active for T).
Armada 1110 − Pentium (75); CSTN 640x480 screen.
Armada 1120(T) − Pentium (100), CSTN/TN 640x480 screen.
Armada 1130(T) − Pentium (120/133), CSTN/TN 800x600 screen, 16MB RAM soldered. Cirrus Logic GD7548.
Armada 4100 and 4200 series Mainstream lines; 2 RAM slots, CD drive option, gray plastic case with internal magnesium alloy and with speakers in palmrest. Cirrus Logic graphic. Support for up to 3 batteries with promised 12 hours of working (Li-ion batteries also as option); the transportation handle with additional battery inside of them is one of these options.
Supports full-size dock option (Convenience Base) and smallest 4100 series docking base.
302 x 226 x 57 mm (38 mm Slimline); ~2.8 kg (4.13 kg with Dock station). Up to 12.1" screen.
4100 model differencesModelReleasedCPURAM (soldered/max)Screen41001996Pentium (75)8/4041101996Pentium (100)8/4041201997Pentium (120)16/4811.3" CSTN 800x6004120TPentium (120)8/4011.8" TN 800x6004125DPentium (120)8/4011.3" CSTN 800x6004125TPentium (120)16/4811.8" TN 800x6004130TPentium (133)16/4811.8" TN 800x6004131TPentium (133)16/4812.1" TN 800x6004135TPentium (133)16/4811.8" TN 800x6004150Pentium MMX (150)16/8012.1" CSTN 800x6004150TPentium MMX (150)16/8012.1" TN 800x6004160TPentium MMX (166)16/8012.1" TN 800x6004160T slimPentium MMX (166)16/8012.1" TN 800x600
4200 series significant differences: Cardbus slot; non-upgradable CPU; 430TX chipset, C&T 65555 video. 2.4+ kg. Non-compatible with 4100 series 4 GB HDD option; 32 MB of soldered RAM and limit is 96 MB.
Armada 4200T − Pentium MMX (233); 12.1" (800x600).
Armada 4210T − Same as 4200T, instead hard drive.
Armada 4220T − Pentium MMX (266).
Armada 7300 and 7700 series
High-end models with conservative white cases and with similar to last gen LTE laptops design. Only Pointstick is a pointing option. Both of them have a lifting feet, multiple bay option (include MultiBay) and both of them support a same docking stations (ArmadaStation, Armada MiniStation (E and EX).). The successors with similar cases is a 7400 and 7800 models (with different case color and with facelifted palmrest).
Armada 7300 series Slightly more affordable and compact version of 7700 line. New white case with hiding keyboard, MultiBay, palmrest with speakers.
12.1" screens and S3 Aurora64V+ (2 MB) video; 305 mm × 235 mm × 39 mm; ~2.7+ kg (up to 3.2 with CD-rom); up to 128 MB RAM (2 slots), with no soldered.
7300 model differencesModelReleasedCPUbase RAMScreen7330T1997/08Pentium MMX (150)16 mb12.1 800x600 TN7350DT1998Pentium MMX (166)12.1 800x600 TN7360DT1997/11Pentium MMX (200)32 mb12.1 800x600 TN7360DMT1997/11Pentium MMX (200)32 mb12.1 800x600 TN7370DT1997/11Pentium MMX (233)3212.1 1024x768 TN7380DTPentium MMX (266)3212.1 1024x768 TN7380DMT1998/01Pentium MMX (266)3212.1 1024x768 TN
Armada 7700 series Successor of LTE 5000 line, starts in end of 1997 with 7750MT model. White case with no palmrest, speakers on the sides of screen.
~3.3-3.5 kg, 320 mm × 242 mm × 51 mm; 2 EDO RAM slots + soldered. S3 Aurora video (2 MB). 7700 model differencesModelReleasedCPURAMScreen7710MTPentium MMX (150)2 slots, 16 MB soldered (up to 128)7730MT1997Pentium MMX (166)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)12.1" TN 800x6007750MT1997Pentium MMX (166)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)12.1" TN 1024x7687770MTPentium MMX (233)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)7770DMT1997/10Pentium MMX (233)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)12.1" TN 800x600With another topcase and speakers under of screen:7790DMT1998Pentium MMX (233)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)13" TN 1024x7687792DMT1998/01Pentium MMX (266)2 slots, 32 MB soldered (up to 144)13" TN 1024x768
Armada 1500/1700 series, 3500, 7400 and 7800 Released in the end of 1997 (1500 line) and 1998-1999 (all another lines). They had a new case design with a wavy palmrest.
There were value 1500 and 1700 lines (with touchpad), slim 3500 line and hi-end 7400 and 7800 lines (with pointing stick only). Only 1500/1700 lines can be purchased in consumer electronic shops, and only 1700 had a Windows 98 option instead of the option of Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows ME. The 7400 and 7800 lines were upgraded and facelifted versions of 7300 and 7700 lines with the same dock options; the newer 3500 model had a personal dock option.
Armada 1500 and 1700 series Both series looked similar (dark-gray bulky cases with touchpad), but had different sizes and platforms (Pentium I or II for 1500 and only Pentium II for 1700). The 1500 models had a CD/DVD bay in right side of laptop, instead of 1700 line with frontal bay placement. Both model lines supported the Convenience Base II dock.
1500 series — 310 x 244 x 53 mm; ~3.3 kg. 16 or 32 MB RAM soldered, 1 slot. C&T 68554 video (2MB). One USB port, an infrared port, and two PCMCIA slots were included. One side had a slot for swapping between an additional battery and a floppy disk drive. The early 1510-1598 models supported only EDO RAM, instead of Pentium II-based 1500 model with the SDRAM option.
1500 model differencesModelReleasedCPURAMScreenNote1500 1999/09 Pentium II Up to 192 MB (64 soldered)? EDO or SDRAM; CT69000 video1500c 1999/09 Celeron (266/300/400) Up to 160 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", CSTN or TN 800x600 Doesn't support EDO RAM, SDRAM only.1505DM Pentium MMX (200) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", CSTN 800x600 NiMH battery rather than Li-On, 2.1 GB HDD rather than 3.11510 1997/06 Pentium (120) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 11.3", DSTNno CD-ROM, Ni-cd battery.1510DM Pentium (120) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 11.3", CSTN 800x6001520 1997/07 Pentium (133) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 11.3", DSTN1520DM 1997 Pentium (133) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 11.3", CSTN 800x6001530 1997/09 Pentium (133) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", DSTN no CD-ROM1530D 1997/08 Pentium (133) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", DSTN1540DM 1997 Pentium (150) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", DSTN1550DMT 1997 Pentium (133) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", CTFT 800x600 1.4 GB HDD rather than 1.0 GB1560 1998/01 Pentium MMX (166) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", CSTN (HCA) 800x600 no CD-ROM1560DM 1998/01 Pentium MMX (166) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", DSTN 800x6001571DM Pentium MMX (200) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", CSTN 800x6001573DM Pentium MMX (233) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", CSTN 800x6001580DT???1580DMT 1997/07 Pentium MMX (150) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", TN1590DT 1998/04 Pentium MMX (166) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", TN 800x600 no modem1590DMT 1997/09 Pentium MMX (166) Up to 80 MB (16 soldered) 12.1", TN 800x6001592DT 1998/06 Pentium MMX (233) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", TN 800x600 no modem1592DMT 1998/01 Pentium MMX (233) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 12.1", CTFT 800x6001598Pentium MMX (266)??1598DMT 1998/03 Pentium MMX (266) Up to 96 MB (32 soldered) 13.3", CTFT 1024×768 4.0 GB HDD rather than 3.2 GB
1700 series — 318x245x58 mm; 3.6+ kg, up to 14.1" (1024x768); 1 slot + soldered RAM. CD/DVD + FDD (MultiBay)
1700 — Pentium II (233-300); 32 MB soldered, up to 160 MB RAM. 12.1"/13.3/14.1" screen options;
1750 — Pentium II (333-400); 64 MB soldered, up to 192 MB.
Armada 3500
Slim line; 300 mm × 236 mm × 33 mm, ~2 kg; Pentium II (266-366); 12.1/13.3" LCD (800x600/1024x768), Chips and Technologies 69000 2 MB, USB; Dock port.
Armada 7400 High-end model; 318 mm × 244 mm × 41 mm. 1999; 13.3- or 14-inch LCD (1024x768), Pentium II (266-366); CD/DVD-rom, S3 Virge/MX (4 MB); 2 RAM slots, up to 256 MB. Magnesium top cover and speakers in wavy palmrest."Standard Memory - Compaq Armada 7400 Specification". p. 9.
Armada 7800
Top model; Facelifted version (but dark gray instead of white) of 77#0 series with another display module and top cover.
Pentium II (266-400); S3 Virge (4 MB); 13.3- or 14-inch screen; up to 256 MB RAM (2 slots).
Armada 6500 High-end series with another case design (Touchpad and big flat palmrest; 305 mm × 247 mm × 35 mm and 2.7+ kg). Successor of DEC's Digital HiNote Ultra 2000. Supports Compaq Mobile6500 Expansion Unit or Compaq Armada6500 Convenience Base.
1998; Pentium II (300-400); 14.1"; 64 mb soldered, up to 320 MB (1 slot). USB. AGP-based 3D RAGE LT Pro (4 MB) video.
Armada E, M and V series Released in 2000; New case design with light blue touchpad buttons.
E is the mainstream series; M is the ultra-mobile series, and V is (V)ersatile.
Armada V300 and E500 Same models with internal differences; 14.7"-based case, with 14.1-, 13.3- and 12.1-inch screens options. 316 mm × 254 mm × 42 mm.