Best Vendor for New or Refurbished HP HDX 18T Motherboard with NVIDIA GPU ?

[jhughey]

I am going to replace the motherboard of my HP HDX 18T 1200, which has a defective GPU.  If possible, I would like one to include a GPU like this laptop's original NVIDIA GeForce 130m GPU.

A search on the internet shows a hodgepodge of vendors offering motherboards for this arrangement ranging from $60 to $200 on EBay, Amazon, dhgate, empowerlaptop, alibaba, weiku … etc.. the list goes on.

My question is:  Who would be the best vendor selling quality HP motherboards, new or refurbished?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

New will not be possible. The only time motherboards were made for this model was during its production run nearly 10 years ago. HP would have had some extras run for service and to sell into parts channels and then concentrated on newer models. So any motherboard you get for this will have been made a decade ago. 

This model has reached the age where first line repair channels will not have the part so you have to work in the near vintage world or the parts warehouse sites. If I had to get a motherboard for one of these I would go to eBay and I would buy from the highest feedback vendor I can find or one of the ones I do business with sometimes and am familiar with. Lots of good ones out there and also lots of sketchy ones. 

I have had positive dealings with this seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-HDX-X18-1000-LAPTOP-SYSTEM-BOARD-31UT7MB0000-DA0UT7MB8F0-Rev-F/142118599...

I found as you said several more some of whom have almost no feedback (avoid like the plague) and others I have never dealt with but who have a very high feedback count and high percentage which means I would deal with them. 

eBay strongly protects buyers and high feedback sellers live in terror of their buyers so you will be treated fairly.

I have actually seen and had my hands on and worked on one of these and they are one of the better products HP ever put out. Way ahead of their time and there is nothing like them really out there now. 

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the answer you needed. 

[jhughey]

Thank you, Huffer!  

I have yet to ever replace a motherboard, but I would like the experience. 

A few months ago, I stripped this HDX past 12 layers -- separate documented items to be removed ... before replacing the power connection part, then reassembled it back ... successfully ... to live again.  I have a new HP Omen 17 to use on the road, and the HDX 18 is used at home for limited functions.   It would be nice if I could restore it with functional graphics.

Anticipating the task, is there a good resource that describes the entire replacement process?  I have plenty of small tools and antistatic stuff used previously.  However, what other items (thermal paste, etc) would be needed?  How is the BIOS restored?  ... etc... etc...

Thanks!

Joe

[Huffer]

HP Still has the Service Manual for this model posted on the website.

Manual

This will tell you how to replace the motherboard. The BIOS is contained in a chip on the motherboard so you will have whatever BIOS level is provided with the replacement board. All the 18T-1200 motherboards have nVidia dedicated video ...there was no integrated option.  

Motherboard options are listed on p. 3-4. What processor do you have available? This is the "best" board and can use the listed processors except the QX9300:

For use with computer models equipped with all processors except the Intel Core2 Duo QX9300, 2.53-GHz processor Includes 1024 MB of graphics subsystem memory 506495-001

At $50 from a reputable seller this seems to be a very good opportunity. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-506495-001-Motherboard-for-HDX-X18-1100-series-Laptops/231982752813?epid...

[jhughey]

Just an update:  After two motherboard vendors dropped the ball with my order, I threw in the towel.  Both advertised and accepted the order, then waited a few days to tell me they did not have it. 

Afterwards, I was *very fortunate to locate a refurbished system at Austin Computers in Tennessee, with an identical GPU.  When I checked its BIOS, its motherboard ID was identical to my older HDX-18.    Only difference was a *better CPU and a TV tuner.  The vendor was kind enough to keep the W10 O/S disk and sell it to me at a reduced $225 with a 30-day warranty ... a fantastic deal, considering I almost paid $160 for a motherboard from China!

All I had to do was add my disks,  do a Startup checkup, and recertify my W7 license.  Everything has been working fantastic!   I have an older W7 O/S HD in bay 2 and a newer upgraded W7 SSD in Bay 1, which allows me to select from two different O/S, depending on which applications I need.

Sorry I did not get a chance to complete motherboard swap in this thread, but I  wanted to finish by saying I really appreciated everyone's help.  I am sure someone will be able to use the motherboard leads.

Best wishes,

Joe