Any word on a FX total disassembly guide?

So, since I bought my 6831FX back in Feb, I have yet to see someone post a guide or at least a semi guide with some clear pictures/instructions on how to take apart the computer. The main reason I want to do this is to get to the GPU and put some AS5 on it. No, I'm not suffering from overheating and my GPU temp maxes out around 65C but I'm a low temp nut and anything I can do to lower the temp is thumbs up for me.

So anyways, has anyone seen a guide for the gateway FX laptop disassembly yet?

 

I haven't, and am interested in doing the same for my 7811. I understand that E-Wrecked once took his notebook apart to AS5 the GPU, but I haven't had that confirmed by E yet.

There is a some instructions on the Gateway site here for the 7811 "support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Mobile/8512680.pdf" so maybe there's a similar manual for your machine.

 

The two are basically the same thing minus different components. The construction of the laptop itself should be identical. I'm just interested in knowing where to start. My old DELL laptops were taken apart first by prying off the top media bar area. I'd assume the same goes for these but I don't want to start shoving a screw driver in there before knowing for sure.

 

Theres a couple screws underneath the battery that hold that media bar in place so dont go prying before removing those .

 

hmm weird you guys asked. didnt you guys get to check this out?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=256839

 

To get to the GPU you have to rip the whole thing apart and from what i saw of those few pics thats just the CPU .

 

Well I am Dell certified (correction was 2007 foundation laptop/desktop certified) and as far as I can see, the disassembly doesn't look too hard or different than taking apart a Dell. The only thing I would be concerned about is different sized screws which wasn't really a problem for Dells but a pain for Lenovo laptops, which I will never work on again. I would think you would start by removing the screws at the bottom, remove the memory, hard drives, and optical drives, remove the media bar or the LCD bezel as we called it (Where the power button and the DVD controls are), remove the LCD, remove the keyboard, remove the palm rest, and finally remove the motherboard. Keep in mind it's been since December since I've taken apart a Dell laptop (Latitude D-630) so my memory is a bit hazy.

 

yeah its not hard, its just tedious, I wouldnt even waste time to AS5 the GPU, as they have it cooled pretty good as it is.

 

If one was to disassemble the 7811, does anyone know if the GPU is soldered onto the motherboard?

 

I attempted once... but ended up with a screwed up laptop

Search for "6860 is the devil" thread. But apprearently it was a fluke that mine wasnt able to come apart (appearently i had a lock tab that just would not release that caused the breakage) and noodles was able to disassemble his right after mine broke.

Its actually a very simple process... but the parts are delicate so you have to watch out for scarring and the weak connections on the keyboard and media bar cables insert into.

I think there was one other guy that took his apart, but i cant remember his screen name (he had some good pics too)

anyone know if the GPU is soldered onto the motherboard?[/QUOTE]
yes... yes it is. We arent blessed with MXM connections unfortunatly

 

Disassembly is very tedious.. I agree. But, I only had 3 screws leftover..and it still powered on. I heard a great recommendation of using electrical tape.. when you loosen/remove a screw..just tape it down where it came from. I tried a method using bowls, and had the bowls labeled "top", "under cover top", base", "under cover base", "mobo top", "mobo base" - you can see how I had left overs. Just take pics.. be organized, take your time no need to rush. I suggest removing all HDDs, CD roms, and battery. Then remove all base screwes, remove the plate above the keyboard, starting with the right side above the number pad. There's a lil groove to lightly pry on. Remove that entire plate twisting towards the rear as you also pull up to the left. Remove your keyboard screwes, the the screws beneath. You can also remove the monitor shortly after.. But, best my memory serves.. you now need to remove the palm rest. Takes some effort, and patience. Make sure all screws are removed first. From this point it's a bit of intuition and trial/error. Just know, you have to literally remove the MOBO to access the GPU. Then, you're lucky enough to have to put it all back together. Good luck!

 

what i did:
1)remove media bar plate(first 2 screws under battery)
2)then keyboard
3)all screws on bottom(one below HDD)
4)removed LCD
5)remove screws beneath LCD
6)remove screws under keyboard
7)remove dvd drive
8)slowly, very carefully started pulling apart
9)remove CPU heatsink
10)remove mobo(all screws with arrows, some hidden under tape/fan)

i did put tape over all holes for screws on bottom. and then just kept all other screws next to the part removed. Just be careful and make sure you have every screw out before trying to rip it apart like crazy, and it should be fine. i didn't have any left over screws.

 

U guys got pics of it torn down? thanks Nood for telling me how to take off media bar. But I took out the 2 screws under battery, then started to lift media button plate. The end came lose but these is something about 3" or so in thats holding it. Is that just a catch? NM Its the hinge cover you have to have lid all the way open. At some point Im going to look into changing the speakers for those harmon kardon they put in some Toshibas. Most lappy speakers suk the same to me. But those are special. it may be partly do to the box they are in (I understand that crap partly), but still they have quality of sound (clarity-staging (depth), bass (as it is), and highs that stand in class of their own for built-in lappy speakers. I will make them fit *lol. I might not care about the diffence between a $500 and $3000 pair of monitor speakers, but lappy sound is just tragically under achieved. They sound like 1975 transistor radios . The whole industry should be embarrassed. Same is true of LCD tv's. Anybody else notice huge drop in speaker size/quality when they went to LCD?
*OK WHY ARE THERE NO DEVIOUS SMILIES HERE? lol

 

here are some pics of when i first disassembled it, but as stated, they look like crap. link

 

I think I might need to take lid loose to get to a second screw on right speaker. (the left one is easy, second screw under vid cable.) what do I need to take loose beside the screw near each end to get LCD off?
thanks for link to 'guide' thread. yep, time for new camera lol.

 

ok, guys, don't kick me and stuff, but i had to ask:
seeing that 6860 and 7811 look almost the same, is there any slim possibility that it would be possible to swap 8800m for a 9800m or better? thanks a bunch.

 

Gpu is part of the motherboard so no chance of a swap.

 

oh, i see. thanks for a warm response

 

Keep an eye out at www.laptoprepairparts.com. More than likely, they will eventually stock motherboards for the 7811 (they don't even have one for the 6860 yet). So for $250-$300 for the motherboard, $250 for a processor and $??? for DDR3 memory, you could "upgrade" to a 7811FX. And at that price, you may just be cheaper to find one on clearance at Best Buy right now.