Notebook (Laptop) Upgrade FAQ

[wand]

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@xineis wrote:

Hello there.

I am looking for a tablet notebook that is able to do some fair processing without getting all laggy...

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I have a two-year-old tx2120us with an AMD Turion X2.  There are new models out with the newer Turion Processors and there are models with the new Intel CPUs.  I love my tx2000 series.  I wish I had a larger screen for my aging eyes and glasses, but I wouldn't want to carry it around (and I do have a separate large monitor, keyboard, and, mouse in my home office.

I was pricing a special on an Intel model the other day with 8GB of memory and the fastest processor I could find.  I suspect you'd be better off getting the 8GB of memory (or buying it aftermarket) and getting a reasonably priced processor and investing instead in an SSD drive or the new Seagate Momentus XL that is 7200 rpm and has a built-in 4 GB SSD as a front end that automatically loads the most used read-only files automatically.  The drive will be smaller, but then put the drive you removed from the laptop into a portable USB drive case and use it as a backup/data storage unit.  I think you'll get better performance for the $$$ than by upgrading to the fastest processor.  I've been reading mixed reviews on the Momentus XL drive with some saying it is wonderful and some saying it was a disappointment, which leads me to believe that it is in how you set it up or use it that makes the difference.

By the way, I'd keep the original OS on the backup unit and keep the OS patches up-to-date by booting to it every month or so.  The recovery partition can remain there also, since it will have more room.  That way if you need to send the unit in for repair you can always replace the drive to its original configuration and you'll also have the original recovery software available in case of a crash.  You can buy the external USB drive case almost anywhere, but Radio Shack has them in their GigaWare brand if there are no other computer stores nearby.   I've had good luck with the few GigaWare Branded products I've purchased.  If you use on-line stores, Newegg has lots of choices.  Get something small and portable that will be powered from a USB port for portability.  Be aware that 7200 rpm drives run hotter and take more power than 5400 rpm drives.  The SSD drives take the least power and generate the least heat.  If you get an SSD and can afford it, get the fastest unit possible with SLC memory, not MLC  memory for longer life and faster access times.

Hope you enjoy your new tablet PC as much as I enjoy mine.  I've been writing to HP about improving their lineup to compete with the iPad.  I prefer the full functionality of the tablet to the limitations of the iPad.  I like a real keyboard, but I'd prefer an external Blue-Ray Writer to an internal one, for weight reasons.  I'd rather have another battery or HD bay.  Why can't I have my next tablet with an SSD built in and about a pound lighter.  What about the keyboard in the cover, so it could be detachable and the tablet could function like the iPad or with a keyboard, like a regular laptop.  I want to see HP be the innovator like they used to be and not wait for someone like Apple to come up with these new ideas.

[wlcummings]

I just took a chance to replace the keyboard on my DV6 laptop after reading this post. Downloaded the PDF manual and printed the pages about replacing the keyboard. Everything went fine except it took a while to interpret the photos and the pointers to the individual screws. Wound up taking a couple of wrong screws out. The only improvement to the manual would be clearer pictures or even cad drawings to show the location of the screws more accurately.

If other manufacturers do not supply this level of manual then I would not consider buying their computers. That manual saved me $200 the cost of labor to replace the keyboard.

We have CAD experts in house and would consider a contract to redraw all your manuals photos to depict accurate screw locations.

Good Work.

[Ahumphers91]

I have a Compaq Presario CQ62-219WM and want to upgrade the cpu. What are options for my cpu? I have done some research and found a couple that may work. T6600, T6670, T8100. My current cpu is a Celeron 900 Socket P 478, afetr looking around and many google I found this thread, please help if you can.

Thanks

[devbil]

Dear all,

I am facing a problem and i would like to have your advice: I own a laptop HP Pavilion zt3450 EA with serial number:[text removed for privacy] and product number: PJ794EA#B1A

When i read the specifications of my laptop , it was mentioned inside that it the maximum memory it can support was 2 GB and also that it has 2 memory slots. The existing memory was 512 mb .Therefore i decided to order 2 pieces of 1 GB memories in order to fit each of them to the 2 slots of the laptop. Today when i tried to replace the memories i realised that the laptop had only one slot with one 512 memory. I replaced the existing  512 ram with the one 1GB ram and it works. The problem is how can i add the other 1 GB ram since the manual says that there are 2 memory slots? If anyone can help me i will be gratefull because i have one brand new 1 GB ram and i cannot fit it !! If needed i can upload also pictures of the ram slot of the laptop.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Vassilis

[Laeadern]

Can I put a faster processor in this HP Pavilion DV7 3067CL? The HP Pavilion DV7 3067CL has the 2.4 GHz Turion II Ultra M600 CPU and I was wondering if it's possible to put the 2.7GHz Turion II Ultra M660 in its place? Both processors have a 35 watt TDP so power and heat shouldn't be an issue. Does anyone know if it's possible and if so how? Considering the DV7 3067CL in question came out in September of 09 it should be possible.

[crobin0219]

Upgrade Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Duo Cpu T5550 1.83 gHZ to 2.4 or higher?

[sotamarsu]

Hello erico

I have

dv5-1021eo

p/n: fm414ea

It was stated in HP dv5 manual that the following processors are compatible with my laptop:

AMD Turion™ Ultra Dual-Core 35W ZM-86 2.40-GHz with 2-MB L2 cache

AMD Turion Ultra Dual-Core 35W ZM-82 2.20-GHz, with 2-MB L2 cache

AMD Turion Ultra Dual-Core 35W ZM-80 2.10-GHz, with 2-MB L2 cache

AMD Turion Dual-Core 35W RM-70 2.00-GHz with 1-MB L2 cache

AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core 35W QL-60 1.90-GHz with 1-MB L2 cache <--- This is now installed.

I am going to upgrade the QL-60 to QL-62 and I am just wondering is it going to work? The processor cost me nothing, but I would like to know is the procedure safe and possible to do. I have strong feeling that it will work.

I wonder why HP don't officially support all the other processors from the same catagory Wikipedia - Turion X2 / Turion X2 Ultra - "Lion" 65 nm 

[dragon_nataku]

Hey guys.  I'm looking to upgrade the CPU on my notebook. 

model: dv5t 1000

current CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo P7350

I do not own a desktop, so I use this notebook for everything from work to university to gaming, so I need a processor that can handle some heavy-duty games.  Thanks!

[erico]

Hi dragon,

Your laptop is customized to order. Which  graphics solution does your laptop have?  It can be one of the following discrete graphics solutions.

1)  GeForce 9650M GT, Nvidia NB9PGS 

with 512 MB (32 MB × 16 DDR2×8 PCs)

2)  GeForce 9300M GS, Nvidia NB9MGEB

with 256 MB

(32 MB × 16 DDR2 × 4 PCs)

  You can download and use CPUz to answer that question. Once you post the answer then I can tell you what your upgrade options are. You cant upgrade the video'. At least not at this time.   CPUz is a safe and commonly used utility program to determine the configuration of a laptop or desktop PC.

The graphics solution that you ordered will be one of the major factors limiting  your ability to play games. I believe you can rule out ever being able to play games like Crysis or COD on your laptop.  

Here is the link to the Service and Maintenence manual for your laptop series.

regards,

erico 

[dragon_nataku]

Hi erico,

my vid card is an NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, 512 MB

wasn't sure what the other numbers you asked for were so I took screenshots of the info from CPUz

CPU info

memory info

vid card info

EDIT: I should probably add that I just ordered new RAM, two 2GB cards, dunno if that matters though (specifically these)