BlueTooth for G50VM-X1 (The Best Buy Model)

After contacting Asus today, I was informed that I can buy the BlueTooth card for the G50Vm-X1 I purchased from Best Buy, (as well as the usual 'will void the warranty,' yada yada stuff), but that I can't obtain the technical manual with diagrams/schematics/what-have-you unless I am a licensed reseller.

If I buy the bluetooth card, I most certainly need to know how and where to install it, how to run the antenna wire, etc.

Any help regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated.

I was able to download a manual from hp.com for an older Compaq Presario 2100 series laptop I own and bought about five years ago. I'd been having problems with the IDE connector for the hard drive, and I had to remove the LCD and essentially dismantle the entire laptop just to get to the motherboard.

My takedown and reassembly was successful, and I wasn't the worst for wear; nothing broken, nothing damaged, nothing fried. I have the technical capability and tools, but I won't do it without a manual, which, to me, is an accident waiting to happen. I have a bluetooth usb dongle that will work just fine, but I really want it built-in so I don't have to worry about it.

I also wouldn't mind installing the TV Tuner with the ExpressCard/54-size remote, either.

Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Warm Regards,
Stephen A. Brown
a/k/a "Firefishe"
[email protected]

 

That's weird....I've requested a few disassemble/assembly guides from Asus and they sent them to me without any issues.

 

Id imagine you will find the empty slot with the antenna already there and just need the card. They may have scraped the antenna tho to reduce cost. It will be easy to see tho.

Id assume its on the other side of the mobo tho as I just took at look at my photo's I took when I had my unit apart and only the wifi card is under the bottom cover with easy access. That meas a good possibility of breaking a warranty seal to get to it if its on the other side.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=291251

I just reminded myself tho that this thing has all 3 wires for the wifi link 5300 already, I may toss a 5300 in here and put the 5100 in my EEE.

 

Thanks, ViciousXUSMC, for the reply. I've read your "Ultimate G50V" thread, and found it most informative. It's quite detailed, so I'm *still* looking it over. Not unlike a Fine Manual, that thread .

So that's what that third wire is for, eh? An upgrade to the existing Wi-Fi card?

I've been told the bluetooth module is under the keyboard, so I guess I have a couple of scres to remove, and 4 clips to *ever so gently* 'pop' out of place. I'm working with one of the vendors right now to see about getting the required parts and disassembly guide, so hopefully I'll be able to upgrade to the T9400 Centrino 2 CPU, the bluetooth module, and, of course, a new hard drive, to fill that horridly-empty spare hard drive slot.

And to think that the Best Buy sales person said it had 2 100GB drives...I had my doubts, but just had to have it ;-). I'm sure you know about that.

Thanks again for the reply. I'll post again when I get my parts and have a successful install.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

Anyway

 

Appreciate the comments. I think I may do a similar review for my 1000H soon as I find the time. Let us know how the upgrades work out for you.

 

Just an update.

I won't be able to upgrade this for a while. However, during my waiting time (for $$$) I am in need of establishing where I can buy the necessary parts I need to perform the upgrade properly.

Outlined below are the essentials I require and any help, of course, would be appreciated.

Here is what I need/need to know:

1. Disassembly Guides (Official or Personal Experience with Photos/Diagrams)
a. CPU Install Instructions
b. Bluetooth Card Install Instructions
c. Wi-Fi Card Install Instructions

2. Screw Types and Size Lists

3. Tools Required
a. Does CPU require special tools for install/removal?

4. Names of Manufacturers for the Cards.
a. Bluetooth Card Mfr. Name
1) ***Bluetooth Antenna Wire Routing Diagram***
b. Wi-Max Card Name (Is this where the third, disconnected wire on my current card comes in use?)

That's it for now. I can buy the T9400 CPU from Office Depot's online parts dept.: wwwDOTtechdepotDOTcom {What the hell do url posting limits do for anybody, anyway???} for $375, although I'd much prefer to purchase any parts directly from Asus or the online retailers who contribute to this forum first.

Again, thanks for all the help, and all future assistance; I'm enjoying this forum and find the people most helpful, especially you ViciousXUSMC.

Will post when I'm *really* ready to do the upgrade.

Oh, one thing. I'm in need a supply of screws for my bottom casing, as apparently the 'K' screw near the 'fake' circular vent seems to have gone missing.

Thanks again,
Firefishe

 

In a case like this I would probably recommend just a simple micro usb bluetooth dongle.

I love modding and things, but in this case the cost of modding is going to put you at the cost of just buying a A1 unit or something and void your warranty so I think the trade off is just not worth it.

 

AFAIK we don't have a public disassembly guide (yet).

For the CPU you can do it without special tools, in the manuals they recommend a suction pump to remove it. But you can do without.

I suggest, if you plan to buy the parts from the ASUS resellers, contact one of them and ask them that information. They are more likely to know it, and to supply it to you given that you plan to make a purchase.

Ken from GenTechPC and Eddie from Geared2Play both come highly recommended on these forums.

 

Thanks, E.B.E., I'll contact those folks. Already have spoken to Ken at GenTechPC, but he's a bit busy with builds right at the moment or something. I'll contact Eddie at Geared2Play and see if I can get something going there.

I suppose it'll be available in a few months' time, probably after the First of the Year, and definitely by next Summer.

BTW, where can one buy a CPU suction pump? I wouldn't mind having one for my toolbox. Nice to have the proper tools to do a proper job, kind of like Snap-On or Matco for an auto mechanic, ya know? ;-)

Thanks for the information. Every bit helps.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

 

Hello, folks. Firefishe here.

I am having a load of trouble with Asus regarding the purchasing of the bluetooth and wi-fi card I want to get for this thing. My primary problem is with the bluetooth module, part #04G590032010.

Oddly enough, this part number doesn't immediately show up in Asus estore database; they put me on hold to do, presumably, another search in another database, then got back to me to say they couldn't sell it to me.

I then get lectured on how "this is why we have other laptops (G50's) with other choices, and you should buy them if you want those features, blah blah blah!).

It's a simple take-apart-and-install-card-attach-antenna-fire-it-up-install-bluetooth-driver-from-dvd-and-connect type of issue, but they're making it more difficult than it has to be.

I did some digging in the directories on the driver dvd, and found that the bluetooth driver is an AW-BT250 that, at bluetoothDOTcom, shows it as being an AzureWave AW-BT250, AW-BT252, or AW-BT253.

The AW-BT250 is a ten pin connector, while the other two are 8 pin connectors, so it could be any one of them. All of them are based on the Broadcom BCM2046 chipset, so they seem essentially the same, save for the ten pin connector on the AW-BT250.

Well, they probably all use the same driver, anyway, so it's a narrowing-down of sorts, I guess.

I guess I'm just going to have to get out my screwdriver and start digging in to this thing. Someone needs to take it apart and provide detailed photos. Guess it might as well be me.

If I get brave, I'll post here and let everyone have a look-see. Too bad I don't have two . Oh well...

Warm Regards,
Firefishe

 

Good luck to you on your project, and do post up pictures when you get around to do it

 

If you want that card I wouldn't go to Asus it is just a matter of time that some broken laptops start getting stripped and the parts sold on ebay. Use a 20.00 usb dongle until pieces start showing up.

 

Heh, are you sure it wasn't already posted here?

 

Hi, Folks. Firefishe here, with an update to this thread.

I am happy to say that the generous folks at Asus allowed me a partial PDF file of the disassembly chapter of the G50V service manual!

I'm very happy at this advent of information, and I am also pleased to say that I have learned what I need to know.

For those interested, the bluetooth module is located in the bottom case portion of the computer, in the lower-right-hand-quadrant toward the front of the case. The card, itself, is physically placed on a slightly raised plastic ribbed 'shelving' upon which it sits; it is taped into position.

Clarifying this a bit more, if you were to place the laptop on a table, and get down at eye-level with the front bottom edge of the computer with your eyes staring straight ahead at the front information display lights (wi-fi, power, bluetooth lights), the card, itself (on the inside of the machine) would be to the right of the display, with the card itself being almost to the extreme right edge, although it is offset about an inch or so from that position.

The card is connected via a multi-colored cable, with one end attached to the card, itself, and the other end plugged into a card that is attached to the motherboard.

This is a stand-alone, all-on-one-board Bluetooth solution that has copper etchings spaced apart on one end, with the power/data connector on the other. The etchings are probably acting as the antenna, so unless the powerconnector is acting as the antenna (a likely prospect) or the power connection is also using board solder traces or something else as an antenna (like an array or something on the other side of the motherboard acting as an antenna--highly unlikely), I would have to say that this card does not have an antenna wire connected to it.

The card can only be accessed by going through a very detailed takedown process, which includes removing the LCD off the hinges; all-in-all a very detailed take-down procedure, although by no means difficult for a person reasonably suited or experienced in taking apart laptops.

Just looking at the design of the G50V, I can say it is very well built (especially the hinges) and appears to be about as involved a procedure as any other laptop, with it probably being a bit less difficult on the overall. This information is from looking at the manual. I have not and do not have any immediate plans to remove anything. Money isn't plentiful yet, so CPU Upgrades, Wi-Fi Card Changeouts, and Hard Drive Installs are a bit out on the horizon.

+++This Will Change Soon+++

I'm researching the bluetooth card, and am also looking at information regarding 'all-on-one-board' Wi-Fi/Bluetooth solutions, which would be a replacement of the current Wi-Fi card (Mini PCI, I believe, please correct me if I am wrong here) currently in the unit.

This last part above would allow me an internal bluetooth solution without taking apart the entire case. I will make a new post regarding this subject, as it really belongs in its own thread.

I promised Asus that I wouldn't give the pdf file to anyone, so I can't really give out photos or anything until the disassembly guide goes public.

I would like to say 'thank you' to everyone who submitted replies and advice. You're all a great bunch of people and I am grateful to be part of an active laptop-loving community of great inviduals and companies.

Keep up the great work, everyone!

Warmest Regards,
Stephen Brown (Firefishe)

 

Looks like a partial double post? Could you remove the redundant parts please, it's confusing like this. Thanks.

 

Done as requested.

Warm Regards,
Firefishe