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70 Comments
- TylerDuhrdan, on 04/05/2009, -0/+372 pages to tell you about changing hard drives and ram? lame.
- nurbsenvi, on 04/05/2009, -0/+34How to upgrade your laptop:
1. Unscrew the screws
2. Change the components
3. Screw back the screws - akchrs, on 04/05/2009, -7/+30Customer: I'm running Windows Vista.
Tech: Yes.
Customer: My computer isnt working now.
Tech: Yes, you said that.... - willrs, on 04/05/2009, -1/+23um, very misleading article name...
most of us know how to change the ram and drives...... - t0ny, on 04/05/2009, -0/+21I bought a Dell Insprion a few years back because it had a upgradable video card. The only problem is they never released any newer video cards.
- t0ny, on 04/05/2009, -0/+19Some times when you do a really good job you even get extra screws when your done! :)
- Onion575, on 04/05/2009, -1/+15RAM, hard drive, and battery are easily upgradable for most models.
- benroy, on 04/05/2009, -0/+13Laptops are like old console TVs. The only use for the old one is to act as a stand for the new one.
But seriously, older laptops can last a long time with a RAM upgrade and a fresh OS install. The majority of the time, it's not the hardware that's slowing things down, it's old/cluttered software. There's a limit to how many search/tool bars that you should have installed, which is usually none. Bottom line; if it can help you acquire porn, it still works. - hawksfan03, on 04/05/2009, -0/+11i flew in an airplane once
- nurbsenvi, on 04/05/2009, -0/+11It's a little more tricky but can be done.
- ChrisTek, on 04/05/2009, -1/+10I've upgraded several Dell and HP notebooks, and aside from the unique/non-standard casing, I fail to see how its any different than the process for a regular desktop PC.
- fallingdamage, on 04/05/2009, -0/+9something they didnt cover there ~ upgrading your display.
A lot of the 15.4" displays in cheap laptops run at 1280x800 resolution. You can usually find higher resolution replacement screens (WSXGA or WSXGA+ 1680x1050) on ebay or the like that will fit your laptop. Often the video chip in the laptop will support the resolution, it was just cheaper for the manufacturer not to use it.
ive even seen some laptops with 15.4" WUXGA screens (1920x1200) - chompapotamus, on 04/05/2009, -1/+10what about miscellaneous computer components that are welded to the motherboard?
i rebuilt my first desktop when i was about 13...i still don't think i'd be comfortable if someone asked me to do major work on their laptop innards. the connection between the monitor and video card alone is shaky enough for me to say no thx - StreetPreacher, on 04/05/2009, -0/+8I just wish manufacturers would make the video cards in most laptops (or at least the gaming worthy ones) as easily upgradeable as the RAM and HD.
- Ajajadude, on 04/05/2009, -0/+8Yeah, there's a difference. For example, the WiFi card in my latop is soldered into place whereas the Wifi card in my desktop can be pulled out with nothing other than my own two hands.
- inactive, on 04/05/2009, -0/+8"in some cases we've had to resort to a powered screwdriver to loosen tightly fitted screws." This guys on glue using a power screw driver to loosen screws... This will make you lazy and then you might get ideas to use it to replace the screws. Which Is not a good thing some screws stop short of the motherboard not but much
- Sparuuto, on 04/05/2009, -0/+7No pressure, man.
- proliance, on 04/05/2009, -0/+6Maybe you've never replaced a CPU on an HP laptop. For the easy ones you have to remove the battery, hard drive, optical drive, keyboard, keyboard bezel, fan and heatsink, and possibly separate the top half of the case from the bottom half.
The more difficult ones have the CPU soldered to the bottom of the system board, which means remove the above items, but also removing the LCD screen (which has the antenna for your wireless card embedded in it), disconnecting the wires from you wireless card, removing the wireless card, modem, bluetooth module, speakers, microphone, and memory. Since you're replacing the system board to upgrade your CPU, don't forget to update your bios to the newest version, and reset the serial number. Routing the wires for your wireless card (is that an oxymoron?) speakers and mic are some of the most important things to check for, you can't afford to pinch them and have to start all over.
Yeah, replacing the memory is usually easy. Other things aren't. - bigd063, on 04/05/2009, -0/+6Wrong
- MacEnvy, on 04/05/2009, -3/+8It's not. The article basically said, "buy a good screwdriver, take off the appropriate cover plate, and insert your new component."
Beyond useless. - rnawky, on 04/05/2009, -0/+5This is quite true.
- kd1s, on 04/05/2009, -0/+4I have a Dell XPS M140. I've had the entire system opened up no problems at all. Thus far I have:
1) Replaced the palm rest assembly
2) Replace the keyboard
3) Upgraded the RAM
4) Upgraded the hard drive
5) Changed out the Wireless card
6) Added the bluetooth module
It isn't difficult, just keep track of all the screws. That is the most critical part. - Ajajadude, on 04/05/2009, -1/+5If I don't understand you, english or no english, I'm burying you.
Why does it have to be racist? - mojomasta, on 04/05/2009, -2/+6but HEY HE ALSO MENTIONS READYBOOST!!
THAT'LL GIT R UPGRADED! - mrkmrk, on 04/05/2009, -0/+4I have one of those (came stock in a ThinkPad T61p), and am enjoying the process of my eyes being melted as we speak.
- fallingdamage, on 04/05/2009, -0/+4you apparently dont know much about laptop CPUs
- JudgeDredd, on 04/05/2009, -0/+4The primary reason I never owned a laptop was lack of upgrade options. However, this never panned out for me. When one of my computers gets obsolete I debate upgrading. That involves the mobo, CPU, RAM, graphics card, and HDD. At that point I have always decided the best course of action is to just buy another computer because I am basically replacing everything. However instead of buying a "new" computer and having to put it together I have a new computer someone else put together.
Yes, this seems wasteful, but I always make good use of my old computers. Some good things to do with old computers:
1) File server
2) Test platform for Linux OSs
3) Stripped for spare parts
4) Wiped HDD with Xubuntu installed to be donated for poor children
Yes, none of this has to do with laptops really. My point is that since I never seem to seriously upgrade my computers I might as well buy a laptop so that I can work from the can. - LordBalderdash, on 04/05/2009, -0/+3the way some laptops are put together is annoying as hell.
i had to take mine apart to replaces the freaking cmos battery. - computershack, on 04/05/2009, -0/+3It's a Dell....you can upgrade the graphics cards in them. They come up on Ebay from time to time.
- phenom2k7, on 04/05/2009, -0/+3http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/
That site is excellent for Macs. Has saved my ass many a time! - duggdowncatisad, on 04/05/2009, -1/+4How do I upgrade the battery on my macbook air?
- bradleyland, on 04/05/2009, -1/+4You got a #2 phillips built in to your pinky Inspector Gadget style?
- xxxkrogoth, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2It should all be upgradable. Ram and hard drives are now, video cards, processors and motherboards as well. You should be able to swap a main board to stop the landfill mountains being built. It's a shame because models like the XPS still have decent processors, but very poor graphics by today's standards. The laptops move a bit slower in power, but soon you will buy something and in 4 months it will be obsolete the way we are going. Its not modular in design because that does not make money. Another thing that really burns me is the fact that the new models come out so quickly that even support at the driver and bios level stops very quick after the unit is usually not even 6 months old yet. Dell is notorious for this. They simply sell it and stop developing for it at the bios and driver level for certain parts.
- isheee, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2Digg's in English. It's more a matter of courtesy to write something which the rest of the people here can understand. I mean, I've seen people get dugg down for writing something incomprehensible--even if it's in English.
- Foofoofoofoobar, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2Laptop innards vary from model to model, so you'll need to google for your specific model.
- offrdbandit, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2If you can keep track of the little bastards.
- NegativeDigg, on 04/05/2009, -1/+3I always use some tape to keep track of my screws. The annoying part is to find where that longer or shorter screw went.
- mrkmrk, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2No, I'm running 1920x1200 on a 15.4" screen.
- inactive, on 04/05/2009, -1/+3I was joking dude, I buried him myself.
- waydee, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2I open up my laptops once a year to give them a clean out, never had one that has been difficult but it sometimes takes a bit of time to work out how to get it completely open. I put the screws on a piece of paper in their actual positions since there's often a few different lengths used for different things and you really risk damaging a component with the wrong screw. Other than that it's just a case of being gentle with delicate bits like ribbon cables and the tiny connectors.
- maaaaxxx, on 04/05/2009, -3/+5I upgraded the processor in my Qosmio G35. All I needed was a tiny Philips head and a lot of patience... Got a brand spankin' new T7400 off some dude in China for $180.
But yeah, RAM and CD drives are probably the easiest to upgrade in most laptops. Dont't mess with hard drives unless you know how to back up and copy em... - liuite, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2depends on the brand. even 5 year old Dell laptops have a tiny access panel for the cmos battery.
- danjal, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2I hoping being a tech website, they would tell me a little bit more about upgrading bar a few simple slack ram/cdrom drive..
- straxxus, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2I thought the video in the built in chipset on the motheboard controlled the video without anything to do with the replacement screen?
Is it the screen or is it the chipset that comes with the laptop that limits you to 1280x800. I was just stating on Thinkpad forums that the Lenovo T61 came with a max resolution of 1280x800 and all responses stated that it is strictly the chipset. - Biscuitz, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2Pictures would have been handy in this article.
I've built tons of desktop PC's but I've never opened a laptop. Plus, I am more of a visual person, so .. yeah, pictures. - mrBitch, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2I am talking about an upgrade. Upgrade from a battery that has been worn out from reaching it's maximum number of charge cycles to a brand new battery that is at the beginning of it's charge life-cycle.
- ChrisTek, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2I've only replaced a CPU on Dell laptops, and it's a similar process. That's mostly just because everything is crammed together inside the casing, but with a service repair manual and a couple hours you should be good to go.
I was commenting on the points brought up in the article, for memory and such. If anything, most laptops make it easier. - Biscuitz, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2Ah, thanks guys!
- antdude, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2How about building your own laptop?
- mrBitch, on 04/05/2009, -0/+2Agreed, my 2 year old MacBook Pro now has a 320 GB hard drive, and that's just over a 100 GB more of drive space that allows me to carry a lot more data around before I have to burn it to DVD backup media.
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