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    Updating CF-29 MK1 with newer motherboard ???

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by murphy2000, Nov 12, 2010.

  1. murphy2000

    murphy2000 Newbie

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    Hello !
    I own an CF-29CTK (MK1) and last week the mainboard died .
    Does anybody knows if it is possible to upgrade with an newer and faster mainbord ?

    greatings from germany

    murphy
     
    murphy2000, Nov 12, 2010
    #1
  2. TBtech29

    TBtech29 Notebook Evangelist

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    simple answer no.

    Long answer the mark 2 board will fit, as will all others but with the 3-5 the rear usb port is blocked due to the ps2 port, and the 4-5 wont be able to access the sd slot
     
    TBtech29, Nov 12, 2010
    #2
  3. Alex

    Alex Super Moderator

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    Best option

    Buy a used bare cf-29 mk-4 or mk-5 and use your optical ,hard drive caddy
    They sell for under $150 or so

    When you finish the swap chances are that the touchscreen is faulty so you can swap your old lid/screen to it
     
    Alex, Nov 12, 2010
    #3
  4. chingon

    chingon Notebook Guru

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    so to recap....buy the bottom base unit/w main board and swap screen and drives/battery/keyboard?

    I wonder which toughbook is best to make a frankenstein notebook w/a netbook motherboard...cf-27 maybe?
     
    chingon, Nov 12, 2010
    #4
  5. murphy2000

    murphy2000 Newbie

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    Hello and thanks for your answers !

    i could not get an used cf-29 MK4/MK5 for less than 300EUR here in germany, so i bougt a used mainboard MK3 in the U.S.
    It was not difficult to modify the base case at the rear side, i had only to enlarge the hole for the second USB instead the PS2-connector. Now my frankenstein-toughbook works fine.
    regards
    murphy
     
    murphy2000, Nov 30, 2010
    #5
  6. Rob

    Rob Toughbook Aficionado

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    I personally own a CF-29 mark 1 now and I LOVE IT... I like the GREEN backlit rubber keyboard + I like the fact that it won't be plagued with the dreaded bad touch panel in the future...
     
    Rob, Nov 30, 2010
    #6
  7. Alex

    Alex Super Moderator

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    I had a mk-1 just as you describe c/w rubber keyboard as my main Toughbook for 2 1/2 years
    Replaced with my cf-19 tablet
    Paid $3500 new c/w old sb555 wwan lol

    BTW the new owner still has not had issues with the touchscreen
     
    Alex, Nov 30, 2010
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  8. ohlip

    ohlip Toughbook Modder

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    It was already been done before from MK1 buttom case that was installed by an MK5 mbo. Yup! you need a bit of modification from the backside and into the PCMCIA to give an slot for sd reader. The thread is somewhere here. Remember also if you gonna place the MK4 or MK5 mbo. on that case. You also need to interchange the heat pipe and heatsink on the buttom cover.

    ohlip
     
    ohlip, Nov 30, 2010
    #8