CF28 600MHz (Mk1) vs 800MHz (Mk2)

does anyone know the exact differences between between these 2 models?
CF-28MBFGADM (Mk1)
CF-28PTJAZDM (Mk2)
i have both of these units, the only thing is that the mk1 has the gps(mobile internet), wifi installed, the lock(w/key), both rj-11 and rj-45 ports, microphone, camera(i think). and other stuff... but its the slower 600mhz

the mk2 has none of that. but its the faster 800mhz
should i tear both units apart and put all the good stuff into the mk2?
try to swap MoBos? or just leave them both as is and use the mk1?

can i upgrade the mk1 from 600mhz to 800mhz?
can i swap the mk2 MoBo with the mk1 mobo?
are the mk1s (black handled units) the only ones with physical locks?

 

Welcome to the forum!

You can't swap mobos but you can swap over the GPS... Though it is a crappy system. You will probably be lucky to get 3 birds when you start it up.

The CF-28 is one of the easiest Toughbooks to work on... Experiment! Ask questions here! A lot of us here have plenty of parts to send you if needed.

The wifi... If stock, scrap it. You can put in a PCI type Atheros based wifi card and get MUCH better results.

BTW... You have no camera or microphone on the CF-28... Unless someone did some heavy mods before you got them!

 

sounds great... i def want to upgrade the wireless to the best possible. and yea i took apart the mk2 3 times in a row it was extremely easy. much easier than any other laptop iv dismantled...
you said the gps (mobile internet)was crappy? can i upgrade that at all?

also look at the 2nd image... its a closeup of the screen theres a little hole on one of the hinges and i think thats the mic and @ the top of the screen theres a little hole by the latch is that not a camera? i havnt seen a monitor like this on any other cf28...

also does the antenna actually work?

 

By "mobile internet" perhaps you mean GPRS. It is an older system, slower than a old PC telephone modem and not worth paying for even if you could find a service provider. The small hole in the display hinge should indeed be a microphone. But the green glassy hole in the display bezel is a only a light sensor not a camera. It turns off the backlight in the "transflective" display in bright sunlight, when the display works in it's reflective mode.

 

o ok wow i did not know that thank you. very helpful

 

whats the best quality wifi card i can put into this thing?

 

Okay... you're asking a lot of questions, but the truth is, they've been answered, in many times with pictures, in the threads and FAQs stickied to the top of the Forum.

If you go into the Ultimate Toughbook Resource thread, you'll find links to all our most popular materials; in your case, I recommend The CF-28 FAQ, The Cf-29 FAQ (Some of it is backwards-compatible) Adding Aftermarket GPS to the Cf-28, and Built-in Wireless Advanced Mods.

I believe you'll find the answers to all your questions explained in great detail; however, I'll give you a quick rundown:

The Mk1 (600mhz) is its own product family; the lower chassis and MB are unique and not compatible with later Mk2 & Mk3 models. Only the Mk1 came with the key; it only locks the power switch and the battery door, it does NOT lock the lid and it can easily be defeated with a common butter knife. Don't worry about whether it works. No, the place for the mechanism doesn't exist in the later MKs; you cannot transfer the keylock to them.

The model in the pic is a 12.1" transflective model; I believe from looking at it that it is non-touch.

KB, doors, batteries, AC adapters, optical drives, LCD WHOLE are exchangeable between all MKs. Battery doors are different on the Mk1 as is the HDD caddy; Mk1 is considered "universal donor" and will fit all Mks as it is 2mm shorter, but MK2/Mk3 caddies need to be bent or trimmed to fit Mk1.

Mk1 is limited to 384MB RAM; as such, it is not a good candidate for anything newer than Win2K. We've tried Nlited versions of XP, but they simply won't do anything more useful than Win2K will without bogging down.

Mk2-800mhz/Mk3-1000mhz are the same product family and will accept up to 768MB RAM (some ultra-rare models have 512MB "Onboard"; they will accept 1GB), and any PATA HDD you can buy, so they are very good candidates for XP. This model, especially if yours has the 13.3" display and touchscreen, would be where I would concentrate my efforts. I used the Mk3 shown in my Sig regularly for 5 years until it was stolen just before Christmas; it never failed me.

Respond with your full model numbers and we can tell you more details about your units and be better able to help you.

Once you read those materials you'll be a lot more knowledgeable about your machines, and you'll have even MORE questions to ask us!

Welcome to the madness,

mnem
*Carves another notch in his ToughBook handle*

 

Another difrence between the Mk1 and Mk2/Mk3 is the videochip.

the MK1 has only a 4 mB 2D videocard. (Lynx EM+) while the MK2/MK3 versions have a simple 3D card.

 

Model Number: CF-28MBFGADM (Mk1)
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $4,980
Description: Intel® Pentium PIII 600MHz, 12.1" SVGA Transflective Touch Screen, 128MB RAM, 20GB HDD, Floppy Disk Drive, POTS Modem, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, CDPD Sierra Wireless WLAN, Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, "TF"

Model Number: CF-28PTJAZDM (Mk2)
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $3,970
Description: Intel® Pentium PIII 800MHz, 256MB RAM, 30GB HDD, 13.3" XGA Touch Screen, Floppy Disk Drive, 3-Prong Power Adapter, LCD Protective Film, Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional

CDPD: useless; no longer supported by any US carrier.

Does not show in Configuration above.

RJ-11 is for POTS modem; RJ-45 is for wired Ethernet LAN.

Yes.

No.

Some parts will transfer over; but not all (including the motherboard).

No.

See above.