Possible to Upgrade the System Board?

[PhreakyPhillip]

I have a 17 ca0xxx and I'd like to upgrade the system board so I obviously can upgrade everything that comes along with it. I also feel like my current system has some limitations as to how much it can be upgraded (SSD, RAM), but I really like the screen and laptop itself which is why I'd like to upgrade instead of replace. From checking things out the system board that comes with the 17t-by300 appears to have the same dimensions as my current system board and the external ports seems to be identical. So is upgrading the system board possible?

[WAWood]

@PhreakyPhillip 

Before you spend any money to attempt to replace the HP motherboard, you need to be aware of the issues involved with doing that.

First, HP does not sell new motherboards except for rare exceptions. If you use this link to go to the HP site and do NOT see your motherboard listed, that means HP does not sell it: http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-dv6-6c00-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/5191856/mo...

That means any motherboard you buy will be USED, having been taken from another PC. Those often do not work, or have internal problems that the seller does not disclose. So you spend a lot of time disassembling your laptop -- a very risky thing to do -- putting in the replacement motherboard, and then reassembling your laptop only to NOT have it work!

Also, the licensed Windows version that came preloaded on your laptop is an HP OEM Version -- and that license is tied to the original motherboard, not to the PC owner. When you toss away that motherboard, you toss away the license -- and HP will not provide you a second license. Since the versions of Windows you can buy will not activate with the embedded HP OEM license, you will have to buy a Retail version of Windows, and a license to go with it. You will then have to replace the installed Windows version on your laptop with the version you bought and license it. We are not able to assist in any of that work.

The bottom line is the process is a lot more difficult than simply swapping one part for another.

[PhreakyPhillip1]

WAWOOD,

Thanks very much for your reply...I do appreciate it!

First, the easy thing...for the Windows 10 license issue...I bought my own version of Windows 10 Pro to install in this laptop to replace the Home version so that's not an issue.

For the main issue...I'm a former IT guy that's built or upgraded easily 100 desktops...for laptops I've only done a few things like replace a wifi card or hard drive, etc.  So I admit my knowledge it based on what I did with desktops...obviously laptops, especially HPs like mine are a whole different thing. I've thought that like with a desktop case swapping out a motherboard is no big deal as long as the form factor is the same.  For what I was seeking with my laptop was a more recent system board that would have an upgraded cpu & graphics card and also allow me to install a better ssd as well.  The other part that I looked at was if the new system board's ports (HDMI, USB, etc.) were in the exact same places as my previous system board so I could use it in my current laptop...which I'm fairly certain the new system board would be the same as my current one in that regard (although I could be mistaken).

Regardless, I'm getting the feeling that swapping out my laptop's system board is nowhere close to that of one for a desktop...even if it was a new one. I get the feeling that there's things going on beneath the scenes so to speak that I'm not aware of that will complicate this task.  So thanks for your expert advice...like I said I do appreciate it!

PhreakyPhillip

p.s. I had another question regarding adding a ssd but i'll create a new post for that

[WAWood]

@PhreakyPhillip1 

Your presumptions about what the caveats would be when replacing the motherboard are correct in terms of the board connecters and the slots in the case.

There is the issue of the charger, though, because a more powerful CPU and or GPU might require more power so you would have to use a different charger.

And there is the issue of drivers, as different components would need different drivers and if the video chip is very different, you might not even get a display when you boot up the laptop.

I mention the licensing issue because we have folks come here every day that think swapping motherboards is no big deal without understanding they will have to buy a new license for Windows in the process.

[PhreakyPhillip1]

I think I'll just upgrade my  ram and add a PCIe/NVME M.2 SSD and be happy with that lol

Thanks again for your very helpful advice!