replacement options for expensive 15z-ef2000 motherboard?

[Berliner_JFK]

I need to replace my motherboard but am trying to avoid spending $200+ (Ryzen 7). The motherboard product number is 887A and the version is 59.21.

Here I was able to determine that the 887A board was used in the 15z-ef2xxx, 15-ef2xxx and 15s-eq2xxx.

I searched on ebay here, here and here, and found cheaper boards which appear to be compatible. I'm willing to accept a slower CPU to have a functioning laptop.

How can I tell whether or not a motherboard will function in my computer?

I am willing to return it if I get it wrong, but would like to avoid that.

Thank you!!!

[NonSequitur777]

@Berliner_JFK,

Welcome to our HP User Forum!

Generally speaking, you are better off going for a straight motherboard replacement, to avoid having to purchase a new Windows license.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Berliner_JFK]

Hi @NonSequitur777,

I have a W10 Pro license which I purchased separate from the notebook, so this doesn't apply to me.

Is a really good point for others, though, appreciate it!

[NonSequitur777]

@Berliner_JFK,

As to your question to purchase a cheaper form-fitting motherboard, that should work. Though at least in this Forum, almost always people are inclined to do a straight mobo swap, or to upgrade rather than downgrade a PC's motherboard.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[erico · Accepted solution]

@NonSequitur777 

I will list a few critical reasons for replacing a motherboard with an exact same item.

The ports (USB/Power/Video) ports on a different motherboard, even in the same model series, won't fit in the lower enclosure if all of the ports and headers are not identically positioned.

Another is quite straightforward, differing display resolutions have differnt number of pins in the connector which plugs into the display header of the notebook's system board

From your notebook's specifications
Your   Display

INCLUDED IN CURRENT CONFIGURATION

15.6" diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), micro-edge, BrightView, 250 nits

ALTERNATE OPTIONS

15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits
15.6" diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), touch, micro-edge, BrightView, 250 nits
15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), touch, IPS, micro-edge, BrightView, 250 nits

Even the installed memory that your notebook has may not operate in a different system board. You might even have to buy new memory. The new system board is probably not delivered with any memory module(s).

[NonSequitur777]

@erico,

I wholeheartedly agree in @Berliner_JFK's case that the OP would be best served with an identical motherboard swap for this notebook.

It depends on the PC, though.

Consider how I upgraded my HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF (Solved: Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF - HP Support Community - 8251218), to an HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF (Solved: Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF - HP Support Community - 8523990), to an HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF (Solved: Upgrading HP EliteDesk 800 G5 SFF - HP Support Community - 8545942), by changing the motherboards since all of them have the exact same dimensions including compatible  I/O configurations.  Obviously, each motherboard required a different gen Intel processor: from an i7-7700K to an i7-8700K to an i7-9700KF, and I upgraded the RAM for the G5 upgrade to take advantage of the max 2666 MHz RAM speed, etc.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Berliner_JFK]

Thanks @Erico, you make some very good points which I had not considered before. Much appreciated!

Thank you also @NonSequitur777, appreciate you sharing your experience!

I'm still looking for a board and thinking, TBD. 🙂

[Berliner_JFK]

Just a quick follow up.

Ended up buying the original board, but not because of compatibility concerns.

I researched the base laptop (15-ef0000) and the board is identical and am convinced it can work, with the caveats above @Erico. Just be aware that you may need to return it in case there is an incompatibility (do your research) so ensure the seller offers free returns.

In the end it was only a $100 difference between a Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 7, so I avoided the whole argument and bought the exact PN.

Thanks again @Erico and @NonSequitur777, very good advice, much appreciated!