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    [quick decision time] Adding CF-31 Mk 5 into my assets?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by SJLPHI, Jan 9, 2022.

  1. SJLPHI

    SJLPHI Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello,
    I found a dealer who sells very good condition CF31 Mk5, 5th gen CPU with caddy, PSU and battery for starting at 480 CAD. It seems like a good deal. He sells hundreds of these machines every day it seems, I've been to their warehouse and I trust whatever I am getting from him is a good deal. I got a handful of CF-19 parts form him.

    I have CF-19 Mk6 with 3320M which is quite well decked out but has not much use because of its overheating (not "really" overheating but CPU regularly at 90~100C) and tiny keyboard size.

    I want to keep a CF-31 Mk5 and undervolt its CPU and use it as my ultimate backup laptop.

    I've been wanting for a CF-31 for several years now and it seems that right now I have the cash and the opportunity... My flight leaves about 50 hours and I need to decide whether to take the deal or not...

    My current computers:
    Entertainment: ASUS ROG GL702VSK with GTX1070 , 1 SSD + 1 HDD, 32GB DDR4, i7-7700HQ
    Work primary: Lenovo W530 with NVS K2000m + 2 SSDs + 1 HDD, 32GB DDR3L, i7-3820QM (the GPU has recently shown signs of failures)
    Fully swappable backup: Lenovo T430 with NVS 5400m, no drives until primary fails (designed so that I can swap-and-go from W530, 32GB DDR3, i7-3810QM
    Bedtime: MS Surface Pro 3, 4th gen i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD.
    Outdoors: CF-19 Mk6 with custom BIOS (cannot unlock UEFI), 1TB SSD + 16GB DDR3L.

    So, I don't "NEED" the 31, because my work is almost always in the office/labs now but I want a 31....
     
  2. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    I don’t think you will need to undervolt/ underclock the i5. The 31 has a fan, even with gaming on mine i5/air 7750 I haven’t had a problem. But if I know I will be doing some extended gaming I remove the cd drive and battery while leaving the doors open.
     
  3. Stewboy

    Stewboy Notebook Consultant

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    Get it. I bought a 31 mk4 with 3400 hours a couple of years back b/c I needed a better cpu to Zoom (due to covid). Love it. I maxed out the memory, added a 1 tb ssd, and it's just a dream. Very fast.
     
  4. SJLPHI

    SJLPHI Notebook Evangelist

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    Basically if my CF-19 Mk6 had unlocked BIOS that allows UEFI and 4th gen or later CPU I would not have wanted the CF31. I have some more hours to think but I am leaning towards no but I am flip-flopping. I always wanted a CF-31 but I keep asking, where the heck am I going to use it now?