My FX series journey + a few good FX links

Time to bore some NBR readers through a dramatic story of my journey with the Gateway FX series. Then I'll compile a list of some decent links I've run into, and finally ask a few questions at the end for the FXperts.

It started with a used P7811FX I bought on ebay (why do you all say "fleabay?"). That got me through some college, and lots of gaming. Then I sold it to get money for a better equipped laptop, but I never wanted to sell it. I just had to to get enough money. At least it went to a deployed soldier, who I hope is still enjoying it

Fast forward a couple of years and now I'm really missing the 16:10 screen and the orange and black styling. Plus this was my first for real laptop and the first I ever bought. All previous computers were hand-me-downs.

I toyed with buying a used one, but money was an issue. Then out of nowhere my uncle gave me his broken P7805u for nothing, assuming it was too far gone. I have a thread covering my experience trying to diagnose it ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/gateway-emachines/635113-gateway-p-7805u-no-power-wont-boot.html).

Long story short (sorry I'm really wordy), I started with a P7811 and graduated to a P7805u which I converted to P79, and my nerdy nostalgia is going frakking nuts.

Here's some links I feel should all be in one place, minus the obvious stickied posts which you can easily find yourself.

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CPU & Overclocking
X9100 E0 vs C0 - info on the best x9100 to buy
Has anyone successfully overclocked p7805u CPU? - follow this thread to do a pin mod
Re: Has anyone successfully overclocked p7805u CPU? - this post is the first successful overclock I think
Re: Acer Laptop with Phoenix BIOS: BIOS MOD Request - enable IDA in bios

Upgrading & Mods
Best everything for 7811-FX! - list of some cool upgrades
Will a 17" FX mobo upgrade transplant work? - mod to drop in the P79 mobo
Airflow and Coling Solution for FX Series - in depth cooling mod discussion
Another cooling mod - u should rep TANWare if u haven't already
Gateway P FX series GTX 260m motherboard 225$ - more p79 transplant info for P-6860 owners
How many FX system still visit this site (Poll) - quite a few actually
P79xx updating - more upgrades to keep this beast current-ish

Screen
P-7811FX screen distortion with fix - common screen problem
How to test LCD screen inverter in a laptop - this saved me having to buy a new screen

Gaming
Gateway FX Gaming Preformance - nice list of game settings for FX series

Common Issues
My adventure with Gateway - some guy's blog about all his GPU woes
Definite solution to the nvlddmkm video crash on the P-7805u! - driver fix

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I'm going to add as I come across more links, and as you suggest some, if you dare.

Now some questions.

1. What is the best BIOS for the P-7908u motherboard I just dropped in my 7805u?

2. Why wouldn't I just upgrade to this CPU which is half the price of the equally specced x9100?

3. But seriously, why fleabay?

Signing off. cheers

 

1.) the board should have the latest which is 79.07.00. If not gateway support still carries it.

2.) the E8xxx series CPU's are all originally for Apple systems. The system will see this as a T9900 most likely. Now the down side is they tend to run hotter and usually have crippled sleep states. Notice the CPU's below it where the T/P cpu's list VT, TXT, ESS, TBT as features but the Apple "E" cpu's do not have these. So in the end the x9100 is far superior a CPU. Especially since the x9100 is an extreme meaning overclockable...............

 

I'm pretty sure it has .07, however I'll confirm that more accurately once I install the new backlight. For now it's a real stitch trying to use a flashlight to edit BIOS settings and such. I doubt I'll use sleep mode on this laptop, so that and the heat I can deal with. But these guys--VT, TXT, ESS, TBT--are kinda important. And I may never overclock, but I always love having the option. I know that was one of the biggest things that bothered me about my old P7811FX back in the day.

 

BIOS is 79.07.00. Is there any use for modding this BIOS? For instance, I wouldn't mind some more options, and I'd love to open up the EIST options like 78xx series laptops did. Has anyone done that?

 

No bios mods so far as I know of. I believe it was Kravis that moded the original P78xx bios.................