I think it's time for a CF-52...

My CF-51 with W7 and a 2gig processor is still running fine but it's definitely getting old. The battery is on its way out and it's just starting to feel slow. Looking on Ebay it looks like the CF-52s are very reasonable now.

I know the CF-51 went through quite a few generations so I wanted to ask here to see if there is anything specific I should be looking for on the CF-52. My general thoughts on needs are that I still want a native serial port and it would be nice to have internal BT. BluRay drive would be nice but not super critical. Internal GPS not really necessary and the overall specs don't have to be insane, but I'd like to get as much power as I can to extend the life as long as possible. Also what graphics car should I be looking for? I know on my CF-51 it's a big difference between the on board Intel and the one I'm currently use with the ATI card.

Thanks for any input!

 

I'm new to the 52's, but know many on this site as well as ToughBookTalk forums have and LIKE them. I just bought one recently:
Model Number: CF-52GCMBEAM Status:
DISCONTINUED MSRP: $1,999
Description: WinXP (Vista COA), Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz, 15.4" WXGA, 160GB, 1GB, WinXP, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, Multi-drive, Bluetooth
This one came without an operating system. I know that you can slap in a SSD and put Win7 on these...I just loaded Mint1(64bit) and she's a screaming machine.
I'm moving so if this meets your needs (no touchscreen)...

 

Thanks for the offer. I think I'm probably a bit early in the hunt to jump this quickly. But PM what you want for it and we'll see what works out.

 

I built a CF-52 for my Mom with an SSD and 4GB of RAM... Because, you know... at 80 years old... Time is precious.

The thing screams with a tweaked install of W7 on it. I almost kept it but it didn't have an illuminated keyboard... something I can't live without.

 

I've had a bunch of problems with SSD drives in some AV servers we were selling. Not sure I want one in the laptop or not. I mean I want one, but I'm afraid of them. Is illuminated keyboard an option with the CF-52? I know there was no way to do it in the CF-51.

Anyone know which docking stations work with it? I see VEB521 and VEB522 out there. I want to go ahead and grab one if I see one go for a good price as I know CF-52 is in my future.

 

Get a Kingston HyperX or a Samsung EVO SSD... The only drives I buy now. I think you have to go to the CF-53 to get the illuminated keyboard option.

Either dock should work...

No need to be afraid of SSD drives these days.

 

Using SSD's in a server is much different than using them in a laptop. I have been running Intel SSD's for 4-5 yrs now and have had no problems. One 160GB drive has been shuffled through about a half dozen units and is still going strong. As for the docks, Rick is correct, either model will work. If you have a CF-52 with a dedicated video card get the VEB522 as it has a Display port and VGA. The VEB521 has only VGA and is for models with Intel onboard graphics.

 

The back of the hand to back-lit keyboards. The CF-52GUNBRAM/GUNBR2M have red led's reflecting off of the KB and I NEED them. Solar Power don't-cha-know. IOW...one light on in the house at a time. BLKB's just don't get it here.
mklym can tell you if a 52GUN works in a dock.....what say you mate? Disadvantage is the 13.3 screen size...advantage of THAT is a CF-30 LCD drops in.....then there is the work ohlip is doing putting leds in the CF-30LCD.....I'm anxiously awaiting one of those....(CF-52LEDGUN) film when it gets here.
Ummm do I like them? YBYSB (you bet yer sweet bippy)
If I'm playing or switching between Mint 16 and W7 when writing I use my CF-SSD53. For serious office work (and watching Netflix) I use the 52GUN. Granted some would prefer better graphics...me...I don't know the difference and don't claim to.

nuff said,

Jeff...not a gamer...:hi2:

 

Yes, a 52GUN will work fine in a desk dock. I have one sitting in a VEB521 that is hooked up to a 24" LCD monitor, that was hooked up to a 27" LED monitor until today, my new 52G and dock showed up and is running the 27".

 

That really depends on the generation.

The early ones with T7100 and similar Merom-era Core 2 Duos are getting to be dirt cheap. The latest ones with Core i5 CPUs are a *lot* more expensive, but that's what I chose for myself since I wanted a machine that would be as future-proof as possible, while sporting the mostly extinct WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution along with everything else that a Panasonic notebook usually stands for.

Speaking of which, only you can decide if you're OK with WXGA (1280x800) on a 15.4" or need to go higher than that.

All of CF-52s will run W7 just fine, but the latest ones can swallow 16GB of RAM which is double from what the Core 2 Duo models can handle.

You know your needs as well as your budget better than anyone else - so happy shopping to you.

As for SSDs, I have a Crucial C300 in mine and am very happy with it. Obviously, YMMV.

I have yet to see anyone who was disappointed with CF-52 from any era.

Good luck.

 

I am also thinking about buying a faster toughbook. I am still pondering between a CF-52 (with the T7100) or a CF-30. Cf-52s are cheaper on Ebay, but they are semi-rugged. The CF-30 is fully rugged.

Some sellers in GErmany sell CF-30s for 410-450 euros. (CF-30KTP48NL = 410 euros and CF-30FTB48NL goes for 450 euros).
Prices for CF-52s are low as 223-300 euros for mark1 / mark2 machines.

 

I need to get on the toughbook site and do a little more research on the generations. From what I can see the early ones are truly dirt cheap and the later ones are still very reasonable. I know nothing about the new processor though to know how much benefit it provides. I need the bigger 15.4 monitor for while I"m on the road and would definitely prefer the dedicated video. When docked I'm using an old Acer 24" that is 1920x1200. At least for now.

As I said the CF-51 is still doing the job. But it is not really cost effective to upgrade anymore. Also, while I think I have W7 running as well as anyone does, it's not truly supported and I do have problems with docking. I also really needed XP the other day for some ancient remote I needed to update and according the Microsoft the CF-51 does not support virtual machine. Maybe there is a way, but I think setting up a dual boot with XP & W7 is probably the way to go for me. I"m not going to take the time to do that on this 51.

Sounds like a later CF-52 with the i-core & dedicated video is the target. But we'll just have to see what the market turns up.

What about BT? Is it hard to add?
Is there a thread here like for the 51 that shows all the upgrades like faster processor, wifi cards ect that can be done?

 

For BT I would buy one of the cheap Chinese AKE BT/USB cards.... They burn up eventually but should work for what you are looking for... The short term.

 

I bought a new CF-52 MK4 i5 (15.4) last year then a month later the CF-53 MK1 ( 14"). The 53 screen is so much better than my 52. I now only use my CF-53 . I have been thinking about even selling my CF-52 and 30 MK2. The 53 does have a smaller LCD but is so much brighter and the colors are like ....wow . That's my 2 cents....

 

CF-53 is definitely a "sexier" machine - for a lack of better word - in my book. However, everything boils down to one's personal preferences.

To me, the lack of high-resolution screen option on a 53 was what killed the idea of getting one in the first place.

For many other people its benefits will outweigh this particular shortcoming.

My $0.02 only...

 

Blair... Do Teo's LCD mod! I am still waiting for the slow boat from China for mine. I plan on modding the first LCD that blinks twice! LOL

 

I got a CF-53SS dirt cheap from an estate sale and I must admit the screen was awesome, I am almost completely night blind so the brighter, the better.

That's why a 52 with the WUXGA screen doesn't work for me. I use a banged up, beater 52G all the time.
The 52A, B have WUXGA. 2.0. Cpu
52C. WXGA 1.8. Cpu
52G. so far all the ones I have had have been WXGA, we are talking dozens.
52K. WUXGA. 2.4 c2d.
Thus ends my hands on knowledge.

 

Well another year has gone by and I'm digging around again for an upgrade. I"m confused by a few things. I've looked at a ton of machines online now and haven't found a single one that has a dedicated video card. Now maybe the listing itself is wrong but every one I've looked at says Intel onboard vid. Am I missing something?

I also read up on the processors and it really seems there's not a whole lot of difference between the core2, i3 and i5 processors. I suspect I'll end up with an i3 just to have the later chipsets and platform but at the moment I'm not finding a major reason to do so.

I have found a couple that list a backlit keyboard on the 52. Does anyone know if that can be retrofitted to any 52? That would be a nice feature for me.

Beyond that it certainly seems like it's time to jump. Good machines in the $300 range and great machines in the $600. Of course I can walk into Staples and buy a new machine with much better specs for that money, but why would I do that ?

 

On the 52's Mk1 and Mk2 you can look into the bios screen and if it says 512mb video memory it has a ATI card. The Mk1 with intel graphics has 1.8 ghz core 2 duo the Mk1 with ATI HD2300 has a 2.0 core 2 duo. On the Mk3 CF-51 you have, it has the ATI x1300. On the Mk2 the intel version has 2.26 core 2 duo the ATI version has a 2.4 core 2 duo with ATI 3650m.

On the i3/i5 versions you can not look into the bios to see if it has a video card. You will have to decode it with the configuration. With my research so far I have never seen a ATI graphics in a i3. They are on the i5 models. They have three ATI cards you can get depending on the MK. Mk3 5650m, Mk4 6750m, Mk5 7750.

 

I have 3 CF-52NLBDZ2M model with the dedicated graphics and wuxga screen,the i3 models I have had seem to have a problem with the DVD drive. There are some threads out there where it won't see the drive.

I have one here with that same problem.

 

Thanks.....I think!! Definitely helpful, but that means a lot of digging. Are you saying that ALL the CF-52 with a 2.0 core 2 duo are ATI?

There is only one thing I run that's video intensive and that's my iRacing simulator. That's actually running on this MK1 with decent frame rate but all details and shading has to be turned off. Having said that, I"m sure any of these CF-52s will push it just fine.

For daily use it really seems to be Chrome with a bunch of windows open that can bring this machine to a crawl. Only 2GB of memory just isn't cutting it.

 

I have a CF52A with the dedicated video card......I am willing to sell it. Price will depend upon what you want in it. Hard drive , ram, etc..I am very flexible with it.

I also have a CF52G without the dedicated video, But it has a faster CPU....

PM me (start a conversation) We can discuss it further.. I promise to give you a good deal.

 

Well Shawn's your man....he did this mod last year.

 

Well that's helpful! I PMd him. Looking forward to seeing what we can work out.

 

Shawn knows his stuff and he will treat you fair. I think everyone here will agree.

 

PM sent

 

The HD2300 is ok card but stuff I can play on it on low to medium I can play on high with a 3650. The other newer cards have newer versions of direct x that can be used, etc.

Yes on the Mk1/2 go by that list that CPU goes with the graphics no exceptions. I don't have that good of a list for the Mk3 up, I am slowly working on that though. I haven't seen many Mk4 with ATI but ran across one the other day with 2.6 cpu, I am not sure on those if all of them have that cpu or not like the Mk1/2.

 

Well it looks like I'm going to end up buying two CF-52 in same day. Shawn took good care of me on a MKI with ATI and I just found a stripped MKII with ATI on Ebay for $105. I'll need a HD caddy, WiFi and battery for the MKII. But it means the wife and kids will also get an upgrade from their CF-51.

Any suggestions on which WiFi card for it?

I see HD cases listed with and without the data cable. What's that about?? Need to make sure I get the right thing.

 

It will need the 5100 card,nothing else will work. Stick with the yellow tab battery,the blue tabs are disappointing to say the least. I assume you found a 52F with the 2.4 CPU?

 

52FKN10AM.

I don't really need BT but is that a combo card or something I should be thinking about?

The only other thing would be to do the keyboard. I'll have to wait for Shawn to chime in to see how he likes having the back light and maybe a part# that I can use to search with.

 

The 5100 is the standard card for the 52mk2,the bios will only work with a Panasonic card.I have had a bunch of that model that I have sold and have tried all kinds of cards to no avail.

Shawn will take a CF-30 backlit board and modify the 52 to accept it and it needs to have a power source to light the board. He knows how to do all that.

 

There is no part #. It's not something you can buy and install and it lights up. The best way to put it is... Shawn made it himself. If you don't know your way around the inside of a Toughbook then forget it.

 

Well that could suck. I certainly will need Wifi and would rather not use a USB card.

 

Please rephrase - said like this it sounds like a challenge - and I'm not good at walking away from those

Seriously, if it's that in depth I won't bother. Given that I'm seeing a few 52s have it from the factory I assumed it was reasonably plug and play once you got it apart.

Edit -

Found this http://www.bobjohnson.com/panasonic-toughbook-cf-52-intel-wifi-5100/

Not cheap but still reasonable.

 

PM sent...
Keyboard is just time consuming and you must pay attention as you will be taking your CF52 almost entirely apart and re assembling it after you solder two wires. I just bought 4 connectors for the keyboard mod..Today's cost is $1.08 each plus shipping....

The backlight keyboard is great....It was NEVER offered from the factory..

 

If you seen them from the factory please show us the link to them because some one is full of crap because as Shawn said " This was not offered from Panasonic"

 

Indeed. I am not finding any now. I know when I searched a couple weeks ago I did see a couple that listed backlit keyboard. Obviously that was not correct.

 

Some dude stole my mod and was trying to sell his modded CF52's mk2 and mk3's for $800.00 and up on the fleabay....
.

 

Nice. I have a friend that had a unique toy he made and sold at craft shows. One year someone shows up with a copy of the same toy right down to the custom displays he had made to show the toy in operation. This friend is what we would call, not shy. He walked over, picked up all the guys stuff and threw it back into the truck he was taking it out of, along with a few exchanged pleasantries. That was the end of that!

 

He relisted them today,just saw it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PANASONIC-C...341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae69b644d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PANASONIC-C...203?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae69b63c3

 

saaaaayyy ... in that second link ...
is it just my poor old eyes and imagination or does it look like the keyboard is not seated as it should be ?
(might be my POS-1 32" monitor too)

 

You Sir are correct...
He did not Dremel the bottom slots wide enough to accept the new keyboard

 

yeppers ,
why does the I95 song come to mind ?

 

He is indeed an "interesting" individual....

 

I see he has dropped the price on them a lot. If I am right they were priced at over $1000.00 at one time.

 

Yes they were,the way he did them looks like crap to me.I don't like that at all. I have a 190 hour CF-52P for less money then that.

 

as the great showman said ; "there is one born every minute" .
"Vaseline not included"

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L3Z15Z0?psc=1

Any creative monitor options out there? I'm asssuming the CF-52 won't support something like that native. I'm perfectly happy with my 24" monitor connected to the docking station, but it would be nice to have a second one next to it!

 

Best bet is to download a manual..
http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/computer-support-download-manuals.asp

 

There's a half dozen smart ass responses for this, but I think I'll just humbly go download the manual instead......