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    northbridge swap?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by starshooter10, Mar 19, 2011.

  1. starshooter10

    starshooter10 Notebook Guru

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    so I know a guy that can properly reflow surface mount stuff for me....

    and I got to thinking...

    Im about to dump 2-3k on a M6600 when it launches, why not start toying with my M90? (I think its based on the insperon1710 or 1720?)

    anywho it has a P945 northbridge... limits me to 3.25GB ram

    (im not 'tarded I know this is a PHYSICAL limit, dont even bring up the OS)

    but I was thinking... I have stack of FUBAR laptops... some with the next gen P965 chip, so does anyone know if intel puts out pinout sheets or if its a direct swap?

    also I know its POSSIBLE but has anyone ever done the work and mated a MXM3 slot to this unit?

    with a P965 installed I could drop in a faster chip and actually USE the ram installed, and if thats the case I'm more then willing to put down 200$ setup an MXM3 slot and get 4870 from MXM upgrade


    the M90 has been my primary unit since i sold my desktop (I do have faster notebook but its a 13 and no dock)

    as is im already modding the M90, dual HDD FTW
     
    starshooter10, Mar 19, 2011
    #1
  2. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    Switching the north bridge on a motherboard is esentially impossible. To do it physical is very tricky but possible. You would need equipment for hot air desoldering and reflow tools. Also of course the correct stencil for the new north bridge. Ideally you need to test if it is solder correctly and that would require some high end testing tools.

    But even after doing all correctly the notebook bios would not work with the new north bridge.
     
    wave, Mar 19, 2011
    #2
  3. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    PM965 Ballout diagram page 135:
    http://www.intel.com/assets/pdf/datasheet/316273.pdf

    Intel gives you datasheets on pretty much everything.

    If the ballout is the same for both chipsets, I think it's worth doing this just to see what happens. If the notebook wont POST, you could put the stock NB back.

    Bios might be a problem, but I only know one way to find out ;)
     
    moral hazard, Mar 19, 2011
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  4. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    This sounds like the M90's final kamikaze mission to me. :)

    Just because you have the means (friend) of physically switching the NB chips, doesn't mean you should.

    Sell/donate the notebook as-is if you really don't want it around anymore - it will be more than useful to someone else.

    While even I will admit I'm very interested in how this experiment might turn out, chances are that it won't turn out good.

    Just an opinion. :)
     
    tilleroftheearth, Mar 19, 2011
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  5. starshooter10

    starshooter10 Notebook Guru

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    yeah its not that I dont want to keep it around, but why the heck not?

    more of a I wonder if it'll do it then anything else...

    I already have the chips, minus whatever materials he needs to do the work...

    if the bios simply dosnt like it then I should be able to dump the old chip back, otherwise its a simple mobo swap and the board on this thing is 80$ on Ebay these days...

    HUM!!!
     
    starshooter10, Mar 19, 2011
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  6. starshooter10

    starshooter10 Notebook Guru

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    dnot suppose you can tell me how to lookup the 945 datasheet?

    I cant find it on intels website :p

    of in anyone knows a good place to get the solder stencils...
     
    starshooter10, Mar 19, 2011
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  7. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If you google "intel mobile 945 express datasheet" the first link should be what you want.
     
    moral hazard, Mar 19, 2011
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  8. sarge_

    sarge_ Notebook Deity

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    I do believe this would be a world's first. You'd be known as the guy who made a P965 M90. :)
     
    sarge_, Mar 20, 2011
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  9. cashwo

    cashwo Notebook Guru

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    Sadly it wont work pic shows 940/945 stencil on left 960/965 on right
    [​IMG][/url][/IMG]
     
    cashwo, Mar 20, 2011
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  10. starshooter10

    starshooter10 Notebook Guru

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    yeah I looked that about an hour ago :\
     
    starshooter10, Mar 21, 2011
    #10