NP915S3G hardware and software upgrades

Hey all,

I got a 915s3g (samsung ativ book 9 lite) because it was the best AMD "ultrabook"-style laptop I could find, and I need something secure, cool and fanless far more than I need a faster backdoored intel CPU. Call me stubborn, but I'd much rather use an AMD than an Intel with better specs, for kind of the same reason vegans would rather eat canned spinach than bacon.

Anyway, I have used nothing but linux or other unixes ever since windows vista came out, and IDK how to use this newfangled hooligan windows 8. I've been installing updates for two days now, and it's still updating as I speak (it's 6am day 3). I need to keep windows though, for software compatibility. So, I have a few questions here:

First, should I be updating windows 8 and then switch to 10, or should I switch to 10 first and then update? I need to slim down windows as much as possible, so I will be doing a ton of registry editing. Here's what I'm planning to do:

1: Finish installing drivers through Samsung SW Updater (done)
2: Finish updating win 8
3: Upgrade to Win 10
4: Install CCleaner, Avast free edition, google chrome
5: Backup
6: Partition to run unix

Is this a good plan? Are there any other free/floss programs to speed up windows, or samsung oem windows specifically? Are there any guides to slim down windows 10 as much as possible?

Second, I would like to get a broken samsung ativ book 9 plus (NP940X3G) and switch the mobos. Since the 915s3g and 940x3g have almost the same dimensions (324.0 x 224.0 x 16.9mm, 1.44 kg vs. 319.0 x 224.0 x 16.9mm, 1.44 kg), would I be able to put the AMD mobo in a better (aluminum, 55wh battery, 3200x1800 disp.) samsung laptop with the same dimensions? And, since the displays are different resolutions, would I still be able to connect the 3200x1600 display to the 915s3g (1366x768) mobo? I know it'll be even slower, but I don't even plan on using x11 on the unix side, and on windows I just need to use a few IDEs. I really don't need any speed, I was going to get a 650mhz sparcbook before I decided on this one.

If any of this has been brought up before, please give me the link. Do you know any relevant threads?

THANKS!

 

Update: Upgraded to win 8.1, still modifying things after getting UAC above-admin elevation, deleting tons of services, etc...

My biggest question right now isn't the windows thing anymore though, I've got it under control. My biggest question is the hardware one...

Is it possible to swap those motherboards? Do the displays, keyboards, etc... use the same connectors? Thanks!

 

The internals of the Book 9 Lite and the NP940X3G are as alike as chalk and cheese. You can see internal photos here and here. Plus there are other likely obstacles to doing a board swap such as Samsung coding the display resolution into the BIOS.

I not saying that such a swap can't be done, but it's not something I would contemplate trying to do.

John