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$332 WOW! That has to be a new low for a decent low/mid-range 15.4" laptop.

My Compaq C500 is going on 2 years, best laptop I've ever owned. I thought I had a good deal for $449 back then. Would love ATI Radeon/Nvidia though, intel integrated video is the worst for even basic gaming.

damn, this thing is crazy cheap...

It's a Sempron CPU, has a $100 rebate, and is through Tiger Direct/Comp USA. Better throw in $10 for a large bottle of Aspirin.

Single core cpu.

Specifications

Screen Size: 15.4"
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Size: 1GB
Memory Speed: DDR2 800
Memory Slots (Total): 2
Memory Slots (Filled): 1
Memory Slots (Available): 1
Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB

Capacity: 160GB
Hard Drives Included: 1x 160GB
Drive Types: Hard Drive
Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM

Processor Brand: AMD
Processor Class: Sempron
Processor Speed: 2.0GHz
Processor Number: SI-40
Processor Cache: 512KB L2 Cache

Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics
GPU/VPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200
Video Memory: up to 2GB Shared SDRAM
Video Interface: VGA

802.11a/b/g/n Wireless Networking
10/100 Ethernet LAN

UPGRADE PATH

The processor can be upgraded with one of the following chip models:

AMD Turionâ„¢ X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processors ZM-82 / ZM-84 (up to 2.3 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache) or AMD Turionâ„¢ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processors RM-70 / RM-72 (up to 2.1 GHz, 1 MB L2 cache) or AMD Athlonâ„¢ X2 Dual-Core Processor QL-62 (up to 2.0 GHz, 1 MB L2 cache) or AMD Sempron Processor SI-42 (up to 2.1 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache)

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-64295-89315-89315-3687621.html

I upgraded my last sempron laptop to a turion 64 dual core for around $25..

#6 How did you upgrade your processor on your laptop? I have an HP Pavilion Laptop and was told when I first bought it that you cannot upgrade the processor on your laptop.

What's the screen resolution? Seems to be a much better value for the money than a netbook, if you can deal with the larger dimension. Can it be turned into a hackintosh?

#7 as long as you know where everything goes on ur laptop, u should be able to upgrade ur processor. although it won't be a easy task if u have never done so.
Disassembling and reassembling would be the key here i think..

in for one... i was debating of getting a mini computer, but it can only run winxp... i want something that runs Vista... this seems like a cheap computer that can run vista and upgradable.

The Sempron is a distinct negative.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+Sempron+SI-40

Slower at the same clockspeed than a Pentium M...

Radeon 3200 IGP is about as good as IGP gets, OTOH.

Good to see a price like this for this many positive features, anyway.

Nice system for basic office web email etc. #7, to upgrade the CPU here is the basic procedure:

1) Flash latest bios first.
2) Get service manual from HP website.
3) Read disassembly instructions.
4) Get a small Phillips screwdriver with a pristine tip(because screws can be stubborn to get out the first time due to having locktite on them), preferably a magnetic tip because some screws may be inset a bit.
5) If CPU is accessible behind a panel on the back, great, you lucked out.
6) If CPU not accessible, take out screws for panel above keyboard, keyboard, top and bottom shell. Unplug from AC adapter and take battery out before doing any of this.
Oops, before taking shell screws out, lift keyboard and detach the ribbon cables. Same with any other part, lift gently to see if cables need unplugged before fully lifting a part out.

7) Follow service manual, or briefly keep taking screws out till you can use a credit card along the edges of the shell to pop it open. Note the length of each screw, put them in bowls, and put a piece of masking tape near each screw hole to keep track of which length it was (writing on the tape what length or which bowl it's in putting all of same length in same bowl), if the service manual doesn't list it, or often I have found the manual lists more lengths of screws and the wrong length for each hole compared to what the factory used.

<img src="http://bensbargains.net/forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /> Once it's open, take out motherboard mounting screws if necessary to flip the board over. Probably wifi cable needs disconnected too, and display cable, etc. May need HDD, optical drive, other things like card slots disconnected, power or USB unplugged, etc. Harder to think of all things to list than to do it when you see what's connected. I usually take optical and HDD out first thing, right after unplug... [Truncated]

9) Take out heatsink screws, use a small regular screwdriver to turn the cam on the CPU socket, lift CPU out. Don't damage or lose the thermal pads on the bottom of the heatsink, there may be one over the northbridge too if same heatsink cools both.

10) Reverse procedure, reassemble. Make sure thermal pad is centered over CPU, and over chipset, making good contact with them and heatsink. Remember to plug fan back in if you unplugged it. When you were disassembling, you were careful to note exactly how the cables were routed so you can put them in the exact same placement, sometimes if you don't the parts won't fit back together right but you won't realize it until almost finished and snapping the shell back on or trying to slide the optical drive back in, etc.

Above all, make sure you don't lose any screws or mar the sides of the shell when popping it open after the screws are out, because if it later fails and needs warranty replacement (I mean fails due to their fault not due to damage from disassembling it), you won't want them to make an excuse that somebody opened it and that voids the warranty, even though often it won't void the warranty all by itself but you never know what a mean spirited person will do on a bad day.

Generally the lowest end Turion dual cores go for about $30 and rise in price very steeply, if you want more than the slowest dual core CPU I recommend passing on this deal and getting the laptop with the CPU you want instead.

....

I forgot to add, sometimes it's necessary to clear CMOS. If there is a button hidden on the board after disassembly, press it, and disconnect battery for a few minutes. Procedures can vary, it could have two solder bumps that need shorted together for clearing but never try doing that with the main battery or CMOS battery installed unless you are sure it's ok to do so and you have the right solder bumps. Better advice is read the manual and ask in an HP forum for exact procedure instead of listening to someone like me who does not own this exact model.

Doesn't changing the CPU invalidate installed OEM Vista? If so, where's the savings if you need to buy another Vista license? Don't tell me to run Linux. Linux is good, but it still is a poor substitute for what I use my laptop for.

don't be cheap, just spend about $100 and get core 2 duo w/ more memory

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