What have I got? Extensa 5513

I got my laptop a few months back, its an Acer extensa 5513 WLMi, although the badge below the bottom of the screen, and the label on the base says its an extensa 5510. The PDF manual also covers the extensa 5200 series as well.

I'm very happy with it, if to begin with a little annoyed that Acer make a few claims that turn out to be half truths, such as the massive 120 Gig Hdd that turns out to be two 50 Gig partitions, and the other 20 gigs hidden in a partition that so far are by all attempts inaccessible.

However i've been doing a little digging for more info about it, so i could do a few upgrades. The main problem is i can find very little information about it.

My understanding is that many models of laptop come from a common chassis, so If I'm right there should be other models that have similar layout, so I can fit parts from other acer machines?

For example theres a switch on the front for bluetooth, but no bluetooth module fitted. When i look on ebay for them they mention all kinds of models, yet I can't find my model listed. Any ideas what other models of acers will have similar bluetooth modules fitted, so I can fit one in mine?

Is it possible to upgrade the T5500 processor for one of the T7xxx series processors?

In the middle of the motherboard is a spare expansion slot about 2" wide, is this for a mobile graphics card? can i upgrade from the mighty intel GMA950 to something that has its own memory, like one of the new nVidia 8xxx series mobile cards.

On the bluetooth switch is also a 3G modem setting, is it possible to fit the 3g modem? I've seen in the battery bay theres a peice of black tape covering where the sim card should go.

Finally does anyone know if there are any spare USB headers on the motherboard, I've been thinking about the possibility of fitting a usb GPS antenna inside the case, theyre going really cheap on ebay right now.

 

the t5500 is a core 2 duo processor for the intel gma945 chipset. this means you can upgrade to a t7x00 process where x = even number. you cannot upgrade an integrated video card. period.

as for your other questions i can't answer because i am unfamiliar with this model and its capabilities.

 

ok, after an evening of discovery, I've stripped my laptop down to the Mobo, and found it has a HBL51 LA-3081p mobo, Rev. 5.0

The same model mobo can be found also in the Travelmate 4200, and the aspire 5610.

Which at least allows me to get hold of a bluetooth adaptor.

 

I'm very interested in adding an internal bluetooth module adapter to my extensa 5513; i've downloaded the service manual of the TM 4200, and I've seen the jack for the bluetooth module is in the anterior part of the MB, near the hard disk...But how can I obtain direct access to this jack?
Eviltwin I need help..have you got a picture of the jack or some indications about how disassembly the machine?
Thanks in advance...

 

If you want to get your hard disk into one nice big single partition download and burn the ultimate boot cd and then use boot 'n' nuke and run a single zero pass. That will Zero (reset) your entire hard disk. Then use a proper windows XP OEM disc (not recovery disc) to install windows using the key on the bottom and go from there.

Could you post a picture of the slot? I'd guess it's a mini pci slot. This would be for wireless cards and sound cards etc. but I'm not sure of the whole range of things you can get for them.

As for what you have, the basic model number is Extensa 5510 and the 5513WLMi is the exact spec, so they are the same thing. If you think of a BMW, a 5 series BMW dentes that it's a 5 series chassis (the looks and size of the car) and the last two numbers (e.g 5 25) denote it has a 2.5 litre engine. So it's a 5510 chassis and the last 3 and WLMi are for what hardware it has inside. Hope that helps.