EliteBook 8740w Ultimate Upgrade Guide (mSATA mod, GPU upgrade, cooling and etc)

A Chinese user has tested quite a few GPUs and M4000m was among them, so I guess no vBIOS is required, but you might need to modify the drivers, or get modified ones.

It will need some grinding.

Yes.

 

I use cad applications like catia, solidworks and rhino and also rendering programs like keyshot.
How much will the i7-820qm be a bottleneck?
I also game a little.
Would i just be better of throwing it away and buying the a current coffer lake machines with 6 cores?
The factory fx3800 is actually usable when working with simple assembles but when it comes to rendering, its unbearable slow.
And i have yet to receive the other issues like the random crashes I've been having for the last year thiugh2 its happening less frequent.

 

If you have the money and don't mind 16:9 then I see no problem. Actually the new ZBook 17 G5 looks VERY promising, so much that I'm finally thinking about a new machine, just don't have the money.

 

Nooooooo! Another 16:10 stalwart considering 16:9! There are probably only about a dozen of us left across the world. We can't afford to have any more defections to the shiny new 16:9 laptop camp!

All silliness aside, my 8740w is back in service as a desktop replacement, since my desktop is temporarily out of commission due to a failed power supply. It's an interesting mix of fitting in so smoothly I can't notice, and other times when the difference can be stark. Perhaps surprisingly, gaming is where I've noticed it the least - I have a large library of mid-2000's games, and the FirePro handles them with aplomb. I once found myself wondering why my saves weren't available on the Load Scenario screen, before realizing I wasn't on my desktop.

For web browsing, and development tasks, both largely CPU-bound, it's very similar to the 2007 Dell + Core 2 Extreme I usually use on the road - enough slower on websites and compiling versus the Sandy Bridge quad to notice (depending on the site), but not enough to be agonizing. However, I am once more tempted to put an SSD in this HP - not only do programs take longer to start (which after a couple days I re-adjusted to), but when I hit the RAM ceiling and items are swapped to disk, the slowdown is much greater than either on my desktop, or even the Dell, which is limited to SATA 1, but has an SSD.

It also has me considering the DTR lifestyle. I love that I can replace just the component that broke in my desktop - not always so easy in laptops, especially newer ones - but the 8740w's screen is big enough to be somewhat practical as a second monitor, more so than the 15.6" 16:9 I have at work. And the mobility is still a lot greater than for my desktop, which I never take with me anywhere.

And looking at the new ZBook 17, I have to admit it does look like they're doing a lot of things right. Upgradeability appears to be a focus, a very nice port selection, thinking about acoustics with cooling, and a zillion drive bays. Add 120 pixels in height to the screen, and it'd pretty much combine everything I like about this machine, with newer parts and fixing a couple of the flaws (one drive bay unless you take out the ODD; the pretty-but-not-durable rubber touchpad buttons).

 

It's not like I'll sell it or anything, or that I can buy the G5, or that we'll ever get another 16:10 laptop... So I'll remain 16:10 for quite a while. BTW my "new" monitor is also 16:10 (ZR30w), but if I had the money I can see myself using an LG 38WK95C (24:10)

 

Heya, new here to the forum.

I love tech and am kinda a hoarder of it. Found a nice deal on a few laptops straight from the junkyard with their PSUs added aswell (all 5 laptops were 40€ counting fuel aswell), one of those laptops was the Elitebook 8740W, instantly loved it cause of the sheer size of it. Thought it was a goner, dead GPU possibly since it was thrown out with everything but the HDD in it. Cleaned it up and booted it, installed windows and drivers and it works like a charm, loving it.

The keyboard is nice, the touchbar is cool and the display is just gorgeous. It has an i5-540M and a Quadro FX 2800M and i tried to see if i could upgrade the card since it's in a normal MXM3 slot, threw in a Quadro 3000M and no boot, maybe a dead GPU since it was in an unknown condition.

Anyway, i googled around and saw this post and i love it. I see that you guys tested a GTX 765M and it didn't work and a GTX 780M and it worked, what about the 770M? I think it's a Dell 770M, tho will have to ask my buddy, haven't tested it yet.

Any advice, is the stock 230W PSU enough to handle that? Will i need to grind the stock cooler a bit to make it fit if it works?

Also would the i7-720QM work in it since you guys said that the 900 i7 series works?

Thanks in advance.

 

Now that I've been using this 8760w it's amazing how much different 16:9 feels from being used to 16:10. Didn't even think I would notice but I did. Have to take 0.5 Ghz more clock speed tho so it's worth it haha

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Welcome to the forum. The i7-720QM should work just fine, but note that since it came with a dual core, you probably have a dual core motherboard, which means you only get 2 memory slots instead of 4.

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

And will likely also need to upgrade to a quad core heatsink. They are readily available on eBay for $20 ish

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Yeah only 2 memory slots, it's fine tho. And yeah i read that i'd be better off getting the quad core heatsink.

I mean, theoretically, could i just solder on 2 more memory banks?

 

Ok so i tried to put in the GTX 770M, it's from MSI and was in an XMG laptop (basically Clevo, has a Clevo mobo) and it did boot up and such, but i couldn't install drivers no matter what i tried, windows saw it as ''Nvidia adapter'' and that was it, Aida64 saw it as a GTX 770M but that's as far as i've come.

If anyone has any ideas on what else to do? I tried updating the bios aswell but didn't help either.

 

Needs the driver modded via the .inf file. I can send you a guide if you like but it has been mentioned quite a few times in this thread above.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

I checked the guide someone made that was linked here but it made no sense to me as to how exactly i can do that, if you could break it down for me that'd be awesome cause i legit don't know what the article asked me to do.

 

Hello, it's been a long time since I came to post on the forum.
I just saw that on the site eurocom, it was proposed to be able to upgrade gpu for elitebook 8740W, special bios, special driver, heatsink modified if required, Upgrade Kit with X-bracket, screws, thermal pads, ICD7 Thermal Paste.
Eurocom can upgrading gpu nvidia gtx980m 8 go, gtx970m 6 go, gtx965m 4 go, problem quadro M no fan control but it's possible M5000 8 go, M4000M 4 go, etc.
It's so expensive, but it's possible, eurocom takes care of everything.

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/upgradepricelist(2,425)HPEliteBook8740W

But, nvidia gtx 1100 laptop are coming soon, maybe the price will be reduced.

I'm sure almost, that gpu nvidia gtx 1060 laptop and future nvidia gtx1160 laptop is possible for upgrade elitebook 8740w for special bios, special driver, etc, and no screen dreem color options and 1920X1200, and gpu gtx1060 laptop and gtx1160 laptop special clevo models mxm.

Are you tried model gpu mxm gtx1060 laptop clevo for test upgraded elitebook 8740w, triturbo?
Pity that nvidia gtx1050 laptop and gtx1050ti laptop is no possible for mobile gpu mxm.

For two fan elitebook 8740w, i think the laptop acer predator g17, have 3 fan, one fan instead of dvd player, ebay sell him model detached pieces, maybe it's possible for install in elitebook 8740W.

Elitebook 8740w is not recommended to gpu up 75-80w because only one fan is problem for most.
And when it's very hot country, city, it's too difficult for it cooling.

I have elitebook 8740w cpu intel i7 940xm cpu and FX3800m no dream color 1920X1200, it's very too hot for gaming or other in my country all the year.
The nvidia FX3800m is very bad model.
I had before elitebook 8740w intel i540m and gpu ati 7820m, it's must good, cool and gaming, but gpu is very outdated for 2018-2019.
Maybe it's recommanded, i7 940xm and i7 640m and gtx970m or gtx 1060 laptop,future gtx1160 laptop for gaming and powerful, and two fan dvd player acer.
If the price eurocom is reduced for gtx970m and gtx965m and future gtx1160 possible maybe i 'll buy this options for this elitebook 8740w.
If not 2019, laptop clevo(sager,etc) 17,3 inch 1920X1080p, 'll be a obligation for me and cpu socket lga 1151 and 9X series cpu and only one gtx1160 mxm and 2 fan.

 

Read my above posts regarding the 970m and my 8740w. Worked but had that skipping issue and myself and the seller (not eurocom) determined it was a compatibility issue with that Nvidia chip (used on all 9 series cards) and the chipset in the 8740w. I have that 780m that he exhchanged me for in my 8760w now but it ran great in the 8740w as well and in my book that's the best card you'll get for this laptop. Even it may be overkill considering it's still only a 1st gen i7 system and that is a severe bottleneck in many applications.

As for 10 or 11 series cards, again kind of overkill but if you must they are physically different from usual MXM 3.0B used in the 9 series and prior. They may work but also may require major physical mods to fit.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

I have read the x series cpu's will work even with the the dual core board ......... I have a QX9100 core quad....... could that possibly work?

 

Not a chance. The 8740w runs Nehalem and Arrandale processors, which use a completely different socket from the proceeding Core 2 processors. You could use an i7 quad core on a dual core board, but not the QX9100. You might be able to fit the QX9100 into an 8730w, which ran the Core 2 processors, but I'm not familiar enough with the 8730w to say.

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

I wonder then would an I7 920 XM work on my board?

 

Yes i7 920xm works on dual or quad core motherboards

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

One last question.....since I have a dual core board..........would all 4 cores on the 920xm be working?

 

Yes

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Curious how they did get the HD 8970m to work properly on 8740w though......

 

I've read somewhere that it's just like the GTX m980, extra power cable needed for the connection

 

If you wanna spoil yourself, I can confirm that the trackpoint from thinkpad T460 works on 8740w, I can check the FRU # and let you know later

BTW have you succeeded in getting the internal display working with pascal cards?

 

Is it anywhere to be found though? Power cable is easy.

Hit me I was wondering if I should get the separate keyboard with point stick and touchpad to get the whole ThinkPad experience everyone is raving about. Too bad it's wired, but I'll live with it if it's that good. One could always use wireless stuff in-between, so

Not yet. It's a bit stubborn, but so am I

 

Maybe the Marvelous taobao? Alternatively you can source a GM204-400 chip and find some guy to solder it on the 980m board

Part number is 0A33908, I got mine from lenovo website for about $15 inc. shipping
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/access...t-caps/CAP-Thinkpad-TrackPoint-Caps/p/0A33908

It's just like dreamcolor or SSD experience, once you are spoiled you can't go back

 

I have upgraded to a GTX 860m on another 8740w I traded for with the 820 quad it works great....memory ony seems to be working in half the memory slots though .....is there a trick or do I have a failing mobo?

Edit.....The memory started working correctly after a thorough cleaning. I am stunned by a machine of this ages capability after simply adding a video card and an ssd.

 

I have an 8730w that has what I am convinced is a dreamcolor screen. It looks spectacular and has two connectors in the back of the screen..... I can't figure out how to get the thing out....it seems to be bradded to the hinges and they seem to be connected in such a way they aren't intended to be removed ,,,,,and second once I get the thing out how would I go about connecting it to my 8740w?

 

do I need to do something to pass through whitelist? or just buy & install AzureWave AW-CB160?

 

You need the cable as well, but I think that 8740w has 6bit LVDS, so the 8730w's DC won't work (8bit). Have to check it again and just to clear possible confusion - 8740w's DC is DP, stock displays are LVDS, but they are all 6bit.

Have to remove whitelist, which is not possible at the moment.

 

I've fit a Logitech Unifying receiver in the display, on one of WWAN antennas' place.

 

Has there been Dream Color 8740w that came with WWAN antennas? Also what WWAN cards came with it?

 

As far as I know, no WWAN option as it is said to interfere with the display. There's at least one user that has retrofitted them however @KCETech1 and I think there were no issues.

No idea. I would guess that they were 3G modules as I was wondering whether 4G/LTE modules are going to work, because of the whitelist.

 

Try this vBIOS. Though even if it works I think you will lose the brightness adjustment

 

Thanks! It didn't want to flash though - PCIe ID mismatch. It's different version of the 1070. Tried -f and -j to force flash it, still no-go.

 

Hi there.

So I gather from this thread that there is generally a problem with upgrading the 8740w with more modern AMD cards, would one plucked from a newer HP Elitebook/Zbook be more compatible such as the M6100/W6150M/W6170M (all the same GPU, just rebrands) or the WX4170?

 

Where did you get the 90W vBIOS BTW?

 

Unlikely, but you are welcome to try and share the result.

Came like that stock.

 

Post The vBIOS here, I can try to mod one for you. Not sure if I can succeed with WX4170 though

 

W7170m vRAM overclocking vBIOS. Not sure if those ****ty elpida memory can handle overclock to 1350Mhz.

 

I have successfully upgraded to a GTX 965m in my 8740w. I had the tearing issues I've seen described elsewhere but I fixed them by adding "
nvidia-settings --assign CurrentMetaMode="nvidia-auto-select +0+0 { ForceFullCompositionPipeline = On } " (I'm using Linux) to the Xorg,conf file in the etc\x11 directory.
https://www.cmscritic.com/how-to-fix-nvidia-screen-tearing-in-xfce-mate-kde-lxde-and-others/ has the full instructions ........
If this can be adapted for windows I see no reason it wouldn't do the same there .....

 

I went ahead and upgraded the machine to win 10 and discovered the 8470W doesn't have tearing issues with the GTX 965M. The only explanation I can offer as to why is the lower power requirement of the 965m as compared to the GTX 980m ............................

 

I'm trying to upgrade my 8740w to a full time hackintosh since I have my precision M6800 for everything else. I'm seeing these cards on ebay and strongly considering one for the project. I am assuming as an ati product this would support metal which my current gtx 965m does not .....does anyone know anything about this?

 

I saw your message and decided to repeat the "success story". Alas, it did not work ... I wanted to clarify a couple of points:
The BIOS version you have indicated is googled as intended for the K3000m model, newer versions are available for the K3100m. Have you taken BIOS downgrade manipulations before installation? Did you update later?
What is the BIOS version of the laptop itself? Can you share the versions on which everything worked?
Did you have to clean Intel ME?
Any advice would be accepted.
I have a model with an ATI 7820 adapter, can this cause problems? I bought a new cooler and backplane, because of this the process dragged on. There is a great desire to overcome the problem.
Text through a google translator ...

 

Here's some fun stuff from my MacOS on 8740w project....... the first shot is my subtle modification to differentiate the machine from my other 8740w .........


The second one is the very rare backlit keyboard as I got it .....


And after the repair I'm certain you can't tell from factory new (Hey it will do until I finally find a backlit T)


And finally the desktop .....

 

Will the K5100M unfailingly run on an 8740W?

 

I'd like to know that one myself, if it will that would be my card of choice for my 8740w hackintosh

[Edit] according to this thread they are fine......

 

Can you point me to that confirmation? The list at the beginning of the thread seems to suggest all k1xxxms are iffy.

 

It was TriTurbo (A member who's opinion I respect) about 2/3 of the way down .....

 

Some progress on the twin fan setup. I started with the pipes but messed a few of them and while waiting for the new ones, got the electrical and blowing part done. Here's the album. You can see there are a few revisions, all come with benefits and drawbacks.

All versions:

+ Automatic temperature control (using the CPU temp)
+ Secondary fan manual On/Off (for heavy/light tasks)
+ Main PWM manual On/Off (for one switch on-board control/full blast)
+ Controller manual On/Off (energy saving?)

ZBook 17 fans version:

+ Easier to make
+ Simpler control
0 Controller PWM manual On/Off
- Won't work fully with the other set of fans
- No manual 2nd fan PWM off (full-speed secondary fan)

8770w fans version:

+ Easier to make
+ Simpler control
+ Secondary fan PWM manual On/Off (secondary fan full blast / secondary fan off requires its PWM off as well)
- Won't work fully with the other set of fans

ZBook 17 and 8770w fans version:

+ Full control with either set of fans
- Harder to make

Optional:

You can add Normally Open (NO) temperature sensor (if you are airhead like me), so the second fan would engage no matter what at a given temperature, say 70ºC. The unoccupied 2 pin connector that points towards the battery bump is for this.


If someone's wondering "Why bother?" - most GPU upgrades require manual fan control. While I was at the adding of the external automatic controller I decided to make it so I can do whatever I want - automatic via the controller or manual via HWInfo and the switches.