Motherboards on Laptops

duncan cowan

Geek Trainee
Hi

I want to get a new motherboard, cpu, video card, etc for my laptop and i was just wondering if i have to get any special parts that can fit in laptops or do all parts fit in desktops and laptops?
 
Unfortunately, laptops aren't easily upgradeable like desktops are. Typically, you're able to upgrade the amount of RAM and the hard drive. You might be able to upgrade the CPU and the video card, but that's not guaranteed. Graphics chips are typically integrated onto the motherboard itself and aren't upgraded. Some high-end laptops built for gaming have an MXM or mini-PCIe slot for graphics upgrade modules, but most do not.

Motherboard replacements are probably not going to happen simply because they vary from company to company, and the only ones available would be replacement ones...and those generally aren't sold to the public.

If you want a faster laptop, buy a new one.
 
I've been reading about DIY laptops in CustomPC Magazine, there's very few base units to choose from and not that many motherboards either. Because of this you can be limited to what you use.
 
I guess that's not surprising. While Dell and HP have their own designs, smaller companies usually take an OEM-only laptop and slap their logo on it from what I hear.
 
I'll have a look through the mag and find you some links...

Cutsom PC - Latest Issue Link
Custom PC: Latest Issue

In the article they do mention that while they found distributors with barebones laptops ('carcasses') not many were willing to supply them with one (and this is a magazine writing an article, I don't think the 'average Joe' would have much luck...)

Article in Custom PC said:
Perform a search on Google for 'bare bones laptop', and you'd be forgiven for thinking that building your own laptop is an activity that everybody's partaking in these days. Dig a little deeper, however, and you'll find that a lot of these links are to distributors that don't sell to the general public, or resellers tjat are reluctant to cough up the goods when you express an interest. We contacted quite a few of them, only to be given the cold shoulder, or ignored completely

IT247
Browse InTo
Apparently barebones laptop systems are available there. They were looking for the AOpen 1556GL.


Media Atlantic
MediaAtlantic,UK Online PC & AV Retailer,Buy Online Computer Components,pc tv tuner,tv box,lcd bracket,tft bracket,
On there they were looking for the AOpen 1559AS but couldn't find it, it's more expensive too.

Redstore
Redstore.com
ECS makes them too, they were looking for the A980.

Gemma
The Best S.F.F. Distributors in United Kingdom
Barebones systems are available here on that site.

Littlebush
Littlebush Systems - Suppliers of quality systems, computer components, office supplies, cables and notebook accessories

Savastore
Cheap Desktops @ Savastore.com
They have barebones units available.

Hope it helps a little bit...
 
No as Pentium M CPU's use different sockets to Pentium 4 CPU's - also Pentium $'s use more power and produce more heat, the Pentium M's perform very well for their relatively low clock speeds.
 
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