Gateway NX860XL - General info post - ram mxm video overheating

Have you ever searched the web for something and found a vague incomplete forum post and then anger ensues that you solution is a dead thread away? I am hoping this thread will help anyone searching the Googles for help with their laptop.

If this is a bad thing, please delete this thread and I will not re post. Thanks to anyone who also posts useful information here about this laptop..

Gateway NX860XL - Windows 7 x64

Ram Upgrade - Supports up to 4GB despite specs. When this laptop came out, 1GB sticks were max for laptop sticks.

Video Upgrade - The slot is NOT firmware locked out. (well mine isn't anyways) the only thing stopping me from this upgrade is price and slot shape. I bought an radeon HD 256MB from some one for dirt and it worked fine BUT the heat sink does not fit. I "made" it work but ended up returning to old video card after laptop upgrade due to cobbled sink sucking. I did this for AVCHD support. I have yet to try an acceleration mpcie card.

SD slot - this is a software slot which means you can gain support for SDHC up to 32GB with a driver update. the file I got is "D20009-000-001.exe" which is a TI vista driver and is 64 bit. Works a treat! Be aware of older versions with no SDHC support.

Overheating !!! - The BIG fan is tied to the video card's fan controller and is driven by lofty drivers. Which does not work properly in windows 7 and often fan will not turn on at all despite active cooling settings. CAREFULLY pull out the white PWM pin and run a wire from the fan's white wire to the white pin on the smaller fan's plug which I used a single wire of cat 5. The system fan controller does a better job. You have to keep the back plate on so enough heat is in that system area to keep fan turning. Use electronics common sense on this one.

Note - Leaving the white pin disconnected will make the fan run on high all the time. This is noisy and reduces the fan life span to around 6 months. You should avoid this.