Upgrading Questions

Hi, I will be buying a new Gateway P-6831FX Laptop at my local bestbuy sometimes this week(waiting for one to arrive). I have been doing research on the product and understand its morphing capabilities. I will eventually upgrade the cpu, and ram. I will be doing the ram first and just wanted to know if anyone had a guide on how to upgrade their ram with this laptop. I have never added ram to a computer or a laptop for that matter. Also since I will have 4 gigs doesnt that mean I will have to upgrade my vista operating system to 64-bit? If so does the P-6831FX come with a 64-bit disc? Also, I have found a good simple guide on how to upgrade the cpu and im pretty confident I can do that. I would however like to have some more inforamtion on the silver 5 compound or any cooling gel, and how and where I am supposed to apply it when replacing the cpu. I have heard people mention it but I am not exactly sure how to use it, or how much to use for that matter. Lasty, I will probably do a clean install of vista once i buy my laptop due to amount of bloatware. I have never done this before either and am a little uneasy about it... I would hate to have a critical error, missing driver or something, but i really dont want to manual remove a bunch of junk either. Does the computer come with all the drivers somewhere already? I can coppy that folder or something. These questions might seem silly but I am new to laptops and all this. Thank you for any help.

 

Lots of guides here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=216065 and here http://www.notebookforums.com/thread212385.html

 

Ok, so those help, but could you tell me about the 64-bit operating system and 4 gig ram. Would I need to install a 64-bit OS? And does the laptop come with a 64-bit disc along with 32? Also the cooling gel for the cpu replacement. Where do I place it and how much? Thanks.

EDIT: I also just read your guide on installing the cpu..

"I then removed the old silver thermal compound from the heatsink and applied new layer to the cpu. Carefully lowed the heatsink back in place and secured the 5 screws and secured the cover."

I just want to know why you removed the thermal compound from the heatsink? Couldnt you just leave it on and add some thermal compound to the new cpu? or did u remove the compound from the heatsink and add a new layer to the heatsink AND the cpu? One more thing... Is it always necessary to apply a thermal compound to your new cpu? and is arctic silver 5 a good brand? Thanks..

 

It doesn't come w/the 64 bit OS.

Only the 64 bit OS sees the full 4 gb+ memory. The 32 bit can, at best on some systems, see 3.2 gb max, w/3.0 gb the norm.

The material you call a gel is what is called, thermal compound (t/c). The original silver colored t/c could just as easily be aluminum, which is available on the market. So w/o knowing what the material is, it is better to clean and add new material. As for the Arctic Silver 5 (AS5) being good, from numerous tests done on many t/c's, it is rated the best, though all the available t/c's are very close to each other, number wise, w/the standard off the self silicon t/c still being OK to use. Just do not ever assemble using nothing. The standard silicon t/c can be purchased at a Radio Shack store. They might have the Arctic Silver 5 too, or something simular, I don't know.

To apply the t/c material, take a tooth pick, and apply a "very" thin coating to the gray surface of the cpu. Next lay the clean heatsink down on it, as if assembling, and lightly press on it. Pull the heatsink and look at it's surface for any transferance of t/c. If not a complete transfer, add a little more to the areas on the cpu that didn't get transfered, and repeat the above steps. Once you have a complete even transfer of material, you've got enough on. Reassemble the heatsink, tightening the screws in the order of the noted numbers, by the heatsink mounting holes.

The AS5 manufacturer has a web site w/directions and photos on how to apply, also.

The AS5 does evenually dry, so that the next time you pull the heatsink, the material won't transfer to the other surface, that and the fact you have very little on the surface in order to transfer anyway.

You don't want to put too much t/c on, because that can actually hurt the heat transfer, rather than help. I'm talking about for the very best heat transfer that is. Silver is also a very good conductor of electricity, so you don't want it to get onto any circuit.

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google applying arctic silver 5 and you can find a good guide. Remember more does not = better.

A very thin layer is all you need.

For RAM, upgrading RAM is as easy as turning on your laptop! Turn it upside down take out the 5 screws and then take the old RAM out and put in the new RAM.

 

Cool, ok so ram is easy to upgrade, but kinda pointless unless i get a 64 bit operating system? Right? And if I upgrade to a 64 big system I will have to clean out my OS right? (reformat or w/e)

 

Yes you will have to do a clean install to upgrade to Vista 64 bit and you would also have to get the 64 bit version of Vista as this notebook comes preinstalled with Vista Home Premium 32 bit.