How uniform are Quanta's motherboards?

Sorry to just bop in here without much posting history, but my usual forum hasn't responded to this question, so I thought I'd try a more Notebook specific forum. I think it's an interesting query, and I'm surprised it didn't solicit more interest.

How uniform are Quanta's motherboards?

I'm curious from an upgrade perspective. When I bought my HP/Compaq I knew at the time i would be stuck with it's limitations and accepted that fact because it was a great buy at $500. But as a budding desktop homebuilder, I've started wondering about the feasibility of upgrading internal components since at least half of them are made by Quanta for different companies (Dell, Sony, Lonovo, HP/Compaq).

I know I can always upgrade the processor, but my big question is the graphics chipset. Since laptops use integrated gpu's, the graphics are limited to the particular MoBo.

I don't think it would be much of a problem if I stuck to the same generation of case. For Example, I have:

Compaq Presario V6305NR w/ AMD Turion 64 X2 TL50 1.6Ghz w/ Nvidia GeForce Go 6150

and the top line V6000 series seems to be:

Presario V6700TX w/ Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2.00 GHz w/ Intel X3100 Graphics
(although there seems to be a V6850 somewhere but I can't find documentation)

Now the Core 2 is obviously faster, about 30%, than the AMD 64 X2 TL50, BUT the Intel X3100 is only incrementally faster than the GeForce go 6150. So, as graphics go there's really no point.

But on the HP side, they offer the dv6700t with a VERY similar but not quite identical case that offers:
Intel Core 2 Duo 9300 2.5Ghz and Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS

That's at least a 60% faster CPU and a much faster (though still limited) GPU.

So in theory it should be VERY feasible to upgrade for the same case. But would it be possible to go even higher performance with other quanta components, or do you think case limitations from company to company, model line to model line would make it prohibitive if not impossible. AND would you think the performance limitations set by the company should be observed in the interest of cooling and heat buildup in such a small case?

I also know that changing the internals violates my "agreement" with HP and will probably render my OS useless, but I'm really talking hypothetical at this point (and I hate Vista anyway). Like I said, it's hypothetical right now, but if it seems possible I'd like to start working on the concept before the current generation disappears while documentation is still available.

What do you think? Those with experience opening various brands have a take? Think this would be better suited to the upgrades forum?

Thanks!

 

I read your post twice and I still can't figure out what exact parts you're trying to upgrade.

The CPU is upgradeable, the GPU is not. Not sure why you would ever want to upgrade a chassis or a laptop mobo.

 

The reason for swapping the motherboard is precisely because the GPU is not upgradeable. The potential for a massive increase in processor over the AMD 64 X2 max clock is nice motive too.

It may not be feasible from a cost perspective, but that's part of the question.

 

it's very rare for a gpu to be upgradeable. and usually if it is, there's only one maybe two options. and it's very expensive. most of the time you're better off getting new laptop. look up mxm. mxm is a standard that's supposed to allow upgradeablility but many odm's haven't taken advantage of it. somebody correct me if i'm wrong, but if you fry your gpu with an mxm/mxm proprietary card, you can switch out with same mxm/mxm proprietary card?

 

I've yet to see anyone swap a mobo/chassis, but with two so similar, it might be possible. However, it's not by any means cost effective. You're better off buying the new laptop rather than trying to find a spare mobo, and adding the new processor.

 

If the V6000 series contained models with dedicated graphics (on the prebuilt units), then a motherboard swap is possible. Unfortunately, a new system board will be very expensive (and rare as well).........

I agree with Lithus on this.

 

I did manage to find out that my board was used in multiple models across various HP and compaq product lines, so I think it's very doable.

Price wise it certainly makes no sense to buy a $500 computer and spend $800 to upgrade it when I can buy the whole package for $1200, but I think it would be an interesting option down the road, or if something (God forbid) happens with my current system and I wind up with a paperweight. Plus as product lines are dropped, it might be possible to get parts more cheaply.

This was really intended to be an exercise in food for thought rather than a genuine option, but it's nice to know it would be an interesting project IF the price were right.

 

The answer is mostly no. Screw locations vary. Connector genders vary. Etc. And this is done as an identifier for those who assemble these things.

I've done this before only to find out just those very things. I noticed that an Inspiron 8100 was very similiar to an Inspiron 8200. As well as a Latitude. Only to find out that certain connectors were of a different gender and screw holes were in different areas. Has to buy additional parts.

I succeeded in the end but wouldn't do it again. It was fun though. And I learned a lot.

 

Also, the dv series with better graphics probably have a totally different heatsink layout because of the hotter GPU. I also think that screw locations will be different, like mentioned before.

Just remember that the 8400M GS is a very limited GPU, I dunno what you're expecting from this one. The GPU will be a huge bottlenck, no matter which Core 2 Duo CPU you use it with.

Just sell your current laptop and buy a new one for $987 (after $50 rebate). Yeah you may want to replace CPU later on . .