The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    CLEVO P157HM - hardware mod

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by tdididit, Aug 20, 2012.

  1. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I want to anounce that today we succesfull modify P170HM board to work in P150HM barebone.

    We choose this method as first because was easier to do. Needs only P170HM mobo, power switch and four connectors (KB, LEDS, BATTERY)

    Clyde starts his testing of P157HM, so soon another pictures come :)

    My job is done. I start preparing to replace HM65 chip on P150HM board - 2nd method to get XTU feature ;)

    HM65 users keep your fingers crossed :D

    BOARDS PICTURE (green is HM65 board removed from P150HM)
     
    tdididit, Aug 20, 2012
    #1
  2. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

    Reputations:
    2,135
    Messages:
    4,862
    Likes Received:
    1,031
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Wow that is insane!

    If this works well, then the P150HM mod users have some awesome things to look forward too!! :D

    +1 gj dude
     
    jaug1337, Aug 20, 2012
    #2
  3. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It works :) Board is in barebone now.
     
    tdididit, Aug 20, 2012
    #3
  4. bonnie.clyde

    bonnie.clyde Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    258
    Messages:
    278
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Some pictures at the beginning. :D


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    bonnie.clyde, Aug 20, 2012
    #4
  5. tommytomatoe

    tommytomatoe Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    59
    Messages:
    579
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Oh man this is exciting news!!!

    Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
     
    tommytomatoe, Aug 21, 2012
    #5
  6. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Thank you tdididit for the PM, this is great to see.

    I only don't understand why you need the power switch and four connectors (KB, LEDS, BATTERY), can you please explain that further?
     
    moral hazard, Aug 21, 2012
    #6
  7. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    We took P170HM board and those connectors were needed to plug board into P150HM barebone ( battery plug in p170hm is different, there is no power button on board, keyboard and info leds plugs soldered on P150HM PCB places. )

    p157hm-addons.jpg

    Now i have spare P150HM board so I will replace HM65 to HM67 to proof to all unbelivers that Clevo P series boards are same :)
     
    tdididit, Aug 21, 2012
    #7
  8. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ok I can see that now.

    I'm really curious to see what would happen if the p170hm bios is flashed without changing the HM65 to HM67. I may try that one day when I can be sure that I can recover the bios.

    I don't have the tools to change the chip.

    But I will keep an eye on ebay just in case someone is selling the p170hm for a cheap price.
     
    moral hazard, Aug 21, 2012
    #8
  9. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    This kind of flash will brick your board. But if it happend you can always flash board using SPI programmer eg. Bus Pirate & flashrom app :)
     
    tdididit, Aug 21, 2012
    #9
  10. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Sorry about asking so many questions, but can I ask why it would brick the board?

    I know HM65 doesn't support overclocking, but is there a reason why it would not POST at all?
     
    moral hazard, Aug 21, 2012
    #10
  11. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    HM67 will work with HM65 BIOS because HM67 contains HM65 features.

    I am not 100% sure but packages for XTU features can break BIOS bootblock execution when doesn't find or get response from XTU gate registers.
     
    tdididit, Aug 21, 2012
    #11
  12. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

    Reputations:
    2,135
    Messages:
    4,862
    Likes Received:
    1,031
    Trophy Points:
    231
    It is possible yes, I never understood why myself, but apparently some gate registers do are weird :(

    Man have I got a lot to learn :eek:
     
    jaug1337, Aug 21, 2012
    #12
  13. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Weird, why ?

    registers works same on every platform:
    - Read/Write
    - Read only
    - Write only

    some bits can be locked by fuse on board - like PLL in HM series :)
     
    tdididit, Aug 21, 2012
    #13
  14. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

    Reputations:
    2,135
    Messages:
    4,862
    Likes Received:
    1,031
    Trophy Points:
    231
    I have no idea!! Some things are just beyond me... maybe you'll find out? :D :D I mean look what you and bonnie have done! FANTASTIC
     
    jaug1337, Aug 21, 2012
    #14
  15. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    What Bonnie did ? Probably you talking about Clyde :p

    Second is we didn't do much.

    Crossed flash?? Clevo did it with two P series platforms :)

    Solder few connectors on their PCB footprints?? My mum after 5 hour SMD solder practice will do this at home using solder station that costs around 100 EUR

    BGA chipset replace. I can do it in 6 different places in my city and i didn't spend more than 100 EUR for brand new HM67 chip and BGA replace, with 6 month warranty option.

    Hardest is proof we have right :) Even with flashing EM series.

    XTU is like a gun owner licence. XTU user can burn PSU/first power bus same like gun owner can shoot himself in a foot. Rest was calculated by MoBo designers. In extemly happy issues your overloaded system will lock.
     
    tdididit, Aug 21, 2012
    #15
  16. Prema

    Prema Your Freedom, Your Choice

    Reputations:
    9,368
    Messages:
    6,297
    Likes Received:
    16,485
    Trophy Points:
    681
    +1 REP: I LOVE IT THAT PEOPLE GO BACK TO THE ROOTS. When I bought my first Clevo 7 Years ago this Forum was full of guys like you.

    Thanks for sharing the fun with the community! :)
     
    Prema, Aug 22, 2012
    #16
  17. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    I have to ask, because the boards are the same, there must be another sata port somewhere in my p150HM.

    I don't use a battery, does this mean I can use the space to put a HDD there?
     
    moral hazard, Aug 23, 2012
    #17
  18. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    You have right :) There is another SATA port, hidden and locked in P150xM.

    You can use space taken by battery. If you don't use 3G mini PCI-e card you can have another two port SATA3 Controller but power bus probably doesn't handle it.

    We work on new feature board, if you not in hurry - wait you will not regret ... but this will be another hardware mod thread :D
     
    tdididit, Aug 23, 2012
    #18
  19. tdididit

    tdididit Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    UPDATE:

    We also need to resolder CMOS battery plug and replace it with CR2032 socket with battery on P170HM board. Other way will be needed to cut a little inside plastic cover.

    We have also a brainstorm about why not to populate new EM series board when we need to replace whole MoBo ? Results will surprise all P150HM users ... Want to know more ?? PM me :D
     
    tdididit, Aug 27, 2012
    #19
  20. bonnie.clyde

    bonnie.clyde Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    258
    Messages:
    278
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Here are some 3dmark11 tests for P157HM with GTX680M + 2630QM vs [email protected].

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor,CLEVO P170HMx score: P5679 3DMarks
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P170HMx score: P5920 3DMarks
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor,CLEVO P170HMx score: P7740 3DMarks
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor,CLEVO P170HMx score: P8150 3DMarks
    Temperatures with Fn + 1
    [​IMG]
     
    bonnie.clyde, Sep 4, 2012
    #20
  21. troid

    troid Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Great work guys. Are you using a 230W or the default 180W adapter?
     
    troid, Sep 5, 2012
    #21
  22. bonnie.clyde

    bonnie.clyde Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    258
    Messages:
    278
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thx,
    We use 300W PS for testing. :)
     
    bonnie.clyde, Sep 5, 2012
    #22
  23. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Can I ask if you guys have any updated info on the bclk PLL overclock?
     
    moral hazard, Sep 5, 2012
    #23
  24. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

    Reputations:
    2,135
    Messages:
    4,862
    Likes Received:
    1,031
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Being on the safe side ;) +1
     
    jaug1337, Sep 5, 2012
    #24
  25. bonnie.clyde

    bonnie.clyde Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    258
    Messages:
    278
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31

    We have only one board from the P150HM. First we want solder the HM67 chip, and then try with PLL.
     
    bonnie.clyde, Sep 5, 2012
    #25
  26. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Ahh, ok :)
     
    moral hazard, Sep 5, 2012
    #26
  27. Bryanu

    Bryanu Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    98
    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Not to bump an semi old thread but just noticed something to share to help also answer others questions about them being the same. :)

    In original pics with both boards showing... Anyone else notice that just to the left of the CMOS battery, BOTH boards say P150HMMB-0D?

    Makes me think original board started as the P150 and the minor changes got made for the 170. Would have thought they started other way around.

    That said from what I can tell the boards are about 90% identical... We know the chipset is minor difference but looks like LAN chip is different and also the actual real P150 seems to have a few more caps vs the 170 one having the spot but missing them as well as a few other minor random chips... Odd. Would have figured the better one with raid etc. would have more chips not less lol

    The number just to right the circle cut out "6-71-X5....." also matches both which further confirms the very very similarness of these.

    Anyway just wanted to point that out.

    We know the boards are very similar and they can even cross flash the bios but more vs just the power plug and chipset seem to be different though it's minor... Some of the caps may be just to address the extra power the big boy can use but dunno why various random minor chips would be different and missing also.

    Oh well. I love to see this kind of stuff done.

    Wish I had the money to do :)
     
    Bryanu, Dec 5, 2012
    #27