Upgrading a laptops parts

[Ravennoir]

Hey Guys,

I know that it is quite easy to upgrade RAM and HDDs for Laptops

Im wondering if it is possible to upgrade any other parts and how difficult it is

thanks

-Raven

[Alfonzo]

Depends on the model. You might be able to upgrade the CPU, but some computers might have it hard soldered on to the board. As the same with graphics.

Changing the HDD from a 5400rpm to a 7200rpm drive can speed things up a little...

[thorpee]

I pulled an lcd screen from an acer laptop and put it in a toshiba laptop with a broken screen. Was very lucky they used the exact same sharp lcd panel. Possibly you could upgrade the dvd drive to blu-ray, but may make the laptop look different as the laptop manufactures put their own fronts on the drives.

Anything other then ram and hdd upgrades are very difficult, usually meaning you have to pull nearly every screw out, and hope you don't crack anything when you are jimming the case open with a flat head screw driver to get at the mainboard.
That said all laptops are different, some are easier then others to pull apart. Also have to way your cost of doing said upgrades. Would it be cheaper just to buy a new laptop, and sell or use old laptop as is.

also some laptops you can add additional stuff to using an unused internal port (mini pci, internal usb, etc) change the wireless card for a better one, add internal tv tuner, bluetooth, 3g wireless, this site http://netbookhacks.chimpsimple.net/ has many netbook hacks on it.

[Ravennoir]

Ideally the CPU and Gfx would be good to upgrade as ive already done teh RAM

This is the laptop here :

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en...-79478604.html

EDIT, also one of the USB ports is buggered, can this be fixed too ?

[thorpee]

hrmm graphics prolly wont be upgradable, most prolly be integrated on mainboard. Overall I don't think it would be worth it $ wise. This is the reason alot of people go the desktop route. Its cheap and easy to upgrade. That laptop would be up for most web and office tasks. Do you want to game on it?

[Narcoticx2]

The graphics is an integrated solution, so you're stuck there.

The CPU is possibly upgradeable, but to be honest you won't find a very big increase in what you can upgrade to, everything else being equal.

[BuzzPuppy]

Physically it can be difficult...

RAM, HDD & optical drives have easy-to-access panels and screws to pop out. CPUs on the other hand are tricky, sometimes requiring the disassembly of the entire laptop to get to (and then to discover that not all are socketed).

Also, even though the motherboard chipset may support the CPU, the manufacturer may not have released a BIOS that does

[edit] If the USB port is buggered, unfortunately it's motherboard replacement (not worthwhile since it's VERY pricey). The graphics is integrated into the motherboard so it's not upgradeable either.

Feel free to look at the link in my sig re: laptop upgrade to see what may be involved!

Still, worth taking a shot, right?

[Ravennoir]

Originally Posted by thorpee

hrmm graphics prolly wont be upgradable, most prolly be integrated on mainboard. Overall I don't think it would be worth it $ wise. This is the reason alot of people go the desktop route. Its cheap and easy to upgrade. That laptop would be up for most web and office tasks. Do you want to game on it?

Its my girlfriends, she doesnt erally game, but every now and then wants to install something and play it for about a week or so before she gets bored

she was talking about buying a new laptop, so I thought I would see if it was better just to upgrade

[Gierke]

USB ports are probably replaceable - my HP of a slightly later vintage has them on their own PCB. Grab the service manual and check it out.

[bennyg]

I swapped screens from a Vostro 1510 and a Vostro 1500. I guess the further apart the models and manufacturers the less likely they'll be compatable... that swap wasn't a perfect one as some of the circuitry from the 1500's monitor at the base of the screen didn't fit perfectly in the Vostro 1510. But it's all good.