Noob with HEL80i questions

I've had my HEL81 about a year now. It has a T2300 processor 2GB of RAM and the GeForce Go 7600. I just updated the bios for the first time this morning.
I love the laptop and performance is not bad but I would like to upgrade / update it. How fast of a processor will these support? I've found some posts regarding the HEL80 that say they support the T7600 but I don't know how close the two models are.

Also is it possible to upgrade the 7600 to an 8xxx series gpu?

One final question. If I open the panel that gives access to the wireless card there is a liteon card this is partially obstructed by the chasis. Anyone know what that is?

Thanks

 

You can go up to the T7600 yes, just make sure you get the latest BIOS.

As far as the gpu is concerned, it is very very unlikely that you can. Maybe to another 7xxx series, but definitely not the 8.

 

If you have the 512mb Nvidia Go 7600 then you have the Compal HEL80. The Compal Hel81 has an integrated GPU, the Intel GMA 950.

The C2D T7600 should work but you wont see any noticeable improvements.Instead, I suggest that you upgrade to a faster HDD or add more memory(you should be able to get up the ~3GB).


You can not upgrade the GPU( see this thread for reason why).

The liteon card could be a bluetooth module(though, I believe the the bluetooh module is accessible through the HDD cover so...IDK)

 

Well it seems as though I gave you some bad information.. While my notebook looks identical to the HEL81 it's actually the HEL80i. I installed bios 121b this morning but I pulled it from the HEL81 list so I hope I didnt screw myself.

It's a 256Mb GeForce Go 7600. Would it be possible to upgrade to a 512mb 7xxx series?

There anything special about the HEL80i ? Any recommendations for BIOS version etc?

Sorry for the confusion.

 

We both gave some "bad" info. The Comapl Hel80(i) comes with the NV GO 7600 w/ 256mb of deticated memory and NOT 512mb( I was thinking of the Compal IFL90 w/ 512mb 8600m GT).

Even if you could upgrade to a 512mb version, it would not be worth it since the 7600 is not powerful enough to use the extra 256mb and other more powerful 7-series GPUs(ie 7900GS) will not work/fit and if it did, it would "melt" the Hel-80

Instead, you could try overclocking the GPU(see the sticky labeled "Compal HEL80 Geforce Go 7600 OC Results " for more info).


The Hel80i aka EL80 is a VBI(verfied by intel) notebook so it has less features.

 

Since my inital post was incorrect I just want to make sure that what I have (HEL80i) will still support the T7600 Processor.

For arguments sake, if I came across a 7600 with 512MB could it go in?
Or is there a 7800 GS GT or GTX that would go in ?

I've done some GPU overclocking with my desktop and will try it with the laptop I'm just curious and like to upgrade / learn.

Is there a web site where you can shop for parts for these? The place I got mine from doesn't offer parts for sale unless it's broke and they fix it.

Thanks again for all the help / advice

 

The T7600 should work since both the Hel80/hel80i/hel81 use the same socket(socket M)but again, you probably wont notice any noticeably performace gain.

If you could find a Go 7600 w/512mb with the same form factor(diff manufactureres use different GPUs that are usually soldered/non removable and desktop cards will not work) that they use the Compal Hel80(i) then it could work(that a big IF since all it mean is that it will fit...)

The Go 7800 GTX, 7900 GS, etc will not work/fit becuase they werent made for Compal Hel80 and if it could fit, you will have a really hard time cooling the laptop(7800/7900 are meant for 17in laptops with beefy cooling systems) and energy consumption will be a problem.

Unless the laptop is advertised/confirmed as MXM(which hel80(i) isnt) or the Manufacturer offers an upgrade option(none avaiable for compal), you are out of luck and besides upgrading the GPU will be expensive and it will still be "dated" gaming wise.


If you mean a store for the laptop GPU, then there aren't any that I know of becuase a vast majority of manufactures dont offer laptops upgradable GPUs. You might find a reseller of compal that has some other part(tv tuner, bluetooth, keyboard etc) and are selling it.

 

Any recomendations on the resellers?

 

Well since the Hel80i is a older model, I would just do a search of the part number of the item or just do a generic search (ie Hel80 bluetooth or keyboard) and see what you come up with.

There are resellers mentioned in the Compal FAQ/Guide, so you could try contacting them for a specific part(hel80 parts should work for hel80i).

Also since Sager rebrands the Compal HEl80(sager calls the laptop the Sager NP2080, you can try contacting a Sager reseller(again look in the Sager/Clevo FAQ) and see if those parts could work

What part are you looking for?

 

Its not possible to upgrade the gpu. A few months back I had done a lot of work looking into it only to find its not possible. Unless compel comes out with an upgrade. The gpu for the hel80 will only fit in the hel80. Its shape is unique.