compaq presario 2800 laptop 1.6p4 cdrw/dvd 20gig $1383

[busmaster11]

I find it hard to believe that all 64 megs are soldered, but apparently thats how it looks. In any case, we'll know soon enough. I asked Lakshmi for a part number for the upgrade. I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out.

 

[blueghost75]

cool, i'll keep my fingers crossed

it would be cool if they used a standard ddr chip. unfortuntaly, i don't think that is technically possible. If they do have this user upgradeable, they would have to make something proprietary, and would have no trouble charging an arm and a leg for it.

 

[emonkey]

i better email them and get that response just for my records. I think it may be wrong info from the techs because i dont see how you can upgrade the memory. So if in a year i decide to upgrade and IF they say I cant then it'll be good to have proof. (but in a year compaq will be completely HP and theyll probably nix anything said by compaq reps...)

Edit:
How come the response you got came from CompaqConsumer@cs.brigade.com?

 

[mra]

The video ram is *NOT* upgradeable unless you have some extremely l33t soldering skills. Also, I doubt Compaq is going to sell you individual memory chips and you'd have to find out what to change (it isn't exactly going to have jumpers) in order to get the core to recognize/use the extra RAM.

 

[blueghost75]

The video ram is *NOT* upgradeable unless you have some extremely l33t soldering skills. Also, I doubt Compaq is going to sell you individual memory chips and you'd have to find out what to change (it isn't exactly going to have jumpers) in order to get the core to recognize/use the extra RAM.


Do you have any sort of proof in any form that it is not upgradeable? I'm not saying it is, but it is a possibility. You know, way back in the day, video cards had upgradeable RAM.

Also, most likely, in the 32 mb version, there are just some empty spaces where the ram would go, and you would have to solder it in. If you were to come up with the ram chips, and go to the trouble to solder them in, it would probably just work without having to change a jumper or something. I had an old PCI video card that had some removeable ram, and you pull it out and it works, reading that it has less ram. Its just like the ram is on the colmputer, you put more in, and you don't have to change anything.

 

[mra]

Originally posted by: blueghost75
Also, most likely, in the 32 mb version, there are just some empty spaces where the ram would go, and you would have to solder it in. If you were to come up with the ram chips, and go to the trouble to solder them in, it would probably just work without having to change a jumper or something. I had an old PCI video card that had some removeable ram, and you pull it out and it works, reading that it has less ram. Its just like the ram is on the colmputer, you put more in, and you don't have to change anything.

OK on the 64MB version there are two chips on the top and two on the bottom sides of the motherboard. Therefore, yes there will be some spots for RAM on the 32MB version, but you'll have to solder them on and probably change a resistor or something to tell the core that there is more RAM there. If you look at the Anandtech pictures, the memory is soldered right onto the mobo.

Good luck upgrading that ... and voiding your warranty.

 

[Bink]

Speaking of upgrades, is there a non-Compaq solution for an internal DVD/CD-RW drive? $170 extra seems steep (and it is more than the $70 they WERE charging initially).

Any HP/Compaq "friends" know of upcoming promotions?

Thanks

 

[blueghost75]

mra - I didn't say I was going to try to upgrade it. It would be a waist of my time, and I certainly don't ahve the soldering skills.

 

[luvya]

I dunno why are people jump on this deal so much. This is not exactly a hot deal.........My bro got a lappy 6 months ago with more or less the same specification (ok, I will give u the cpu and video card)..and he paid less than $1300......just a note.

 

[DDDay]

I was under the impression that the Dell 8200 and this lappy used the same motherboard. I have read on Dell's site that you can remove the entire video card and replace it with a new one. It did not say you could upgrade the memory on the video. I also believe the 8100 from Dell has a removable video card that is upgradable. In other words you can order them with the the lowest powered video card and buy a laptop GeForce 4 mobile and install it yourself. Here is how to remove the video card from a Dell 8200

 

[hans007]

its not the same motherboard. anandtech's reviews shows it. not to mention this has usb 2 and the dell has firewire, among other differences. and to the guy who said he got a laptop like this for $1300 months, ago, i say he proove it. this is a great laptop, my friend has it, and its just kicks ass. the new 1500t though, looks interesting also, even if it does use a desktop chip. hell the 1500t is faster than my desktop

 

[mra]

Originally posted by: DDDay
I was under the impression that the Dell 8200 and this lappy used the same motherboard. I have read on Dell's site that you can remove the entire video card and replace it with a new one. It did not say you could upgrade the memory on the video. I also believe the 8100 from Dell has a removable video card that is upgradable. In other words you can order them with the the lowest powered video card and buy a laptop GeForce 4 mobile and install it yourself. Here is how to remove the video card from a Dell 8200

Yeah right the same mobo ... the day pigs fly is when laptops start having some sort of motherboard design standard

The 8200 does use a daughtercard with the video components, but the Compaq 2800 has all the stuff on one board.

 

[blueghost75]

they do use the same chipset

 

[emonkey]

Originally posted by: Bink
Speaking of upgrades, is there a non-Compaq solution for an internal DVD/CD-RW drive? $170 extra seems steep (and it is more than the $70 they WERE charging initially).

Any HP/Compaq "friends" know of upcoming promotions?

1) It is steep and I hate that they jacked the price up $100. I was looking for an alternative but it looks like internal is the best option so just go for it.

2) Yes. Theres the $150 rebate and a 6% discount through a promotional. Cant post the link and code here so do a search on fatwallet.com

 

[hans007]

ebay is a good alternative... you can get the dvd drive ther for $75. which is $5 more than the upgrade to the dvd. , but well at least you get a 24x cdrom and DVD that way.

 

[busmaster11]

Well, this is the response I got. It's not very helpful, but I guess one of you could call up the number if you wanna know more...

Dear Steve,

Thank you for contacting Compaq E-Support, a part of the new HP.

From your inquiry, I infer that you wish to upgrade the video memory to
64 MB from 32 MB. there is no link available and the part number is not
available. So to order the video memory, you have to contact the
Presario Support Technicians. To order the video memory for the
Presario, contact our Compaq Presario Support Technicians at
1-888-202-4711. They will be able to provide you with the necessary
solutions.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Regards,
Govindaraj P

For additional or future service assistance you can post your question
to the Customer Communities at http://www.compaq.com/communities


<!-- *KBU-CCS_0251_1.00-KBU* -->


Original Message Follows:
-------------------------

Lakshmi,
Can you give me a link to the user upgradeable 32 meg upgrade module for
people who have purchased the 32 meg Radeon 7500 video for the 2800T?
Thanks!

 

[Bink]

Compaq has added the 1.9 & 2.0GHz P4M processors to this model.

The *HOT* part is that they are offering a free Multibay battery (normally priced at $149) with selection of the 2.0GHz processor, in addition to the $150 instant coupon posted on the site (www.athome.compaq.com)

 

[mra]

Originally posted by: Bink
Compaq has added the 1.9 & 2.0GHz P4M processors to this model.

The *HOT* part is that they are offering a free Multibay battery (normally priced at $149) with selection of the 2.0GHz processor, in addition to the $150 instant coupon posted on the site (www.athome.compaq.com)

bastards, a couple days AFTER I ORDER MINE they do that, hehe. Oh well, I don't think the extra $240 for 2GHz and battery is really worth it to me. AFAIK, all P4-Ms clock down to the same thing when in battery mode.

 

[blueghost75]

yea, an extra $515 for the 2ghz instead of the 1.4ghz is not worth it to me.....

 

[cutty]

I bought a 2805 for my brother from Compaq, P4-1.4G, 20GB, 256MB RAM, 14.1"TFT, CD-RW/DVD, he likes it.
He formated and partitioned the HD, then installed both XP and Red Hat on it, both work very good.
Yes, the only complain is the harddisk is slow, so he is looking for buy more RAM, any one knows if there is any deal for the RAM?

 

[vec]

Does anyone know if the cpus are upgradeable in these laptops? It would be nice to buy a lower end cpu now and then upgrade to a 2.0ghz processor later. I would assume it is - anyone know for sure?

Thanks,

 

[blueghost75]

Does anyone know if the cpus are upgradeable in these laptops? It would be nice to buy a lower end cpu now and then upgrade to a 2.0ghz processor later. I would assume it is - anyone know for sure?


It most certainly is. Check out anand's review of it. You can remove the processor, and put a different one in if oyu so choose. I acutally did the exact same thing, I got the 1.4ghz, and will be able to upgrade down the road if i want.

- David

 

[vec]

Cool, that's good to hear. When the 2ghz cpus come down in price in 6 months I may upgrade then.

Thanks for the info!

 

[mra]

Originally posted by: blueghost75
It most certainly is. Check out anand's review of it. You can remove the processor, and put a different one in if oyu so choose. I acutally did the exact same thing, I got the 1.4ghz, and will be able to upgrade down the road if i want.

- David

Remember that you will void your warranty, and if you got the 3 year warranty that would not be a good idea.

 

[blueghost75]

Remember that you will void your warranty, and if you got the 3 year warranty that would not be a good idea.


well, as long as you keep your old processor, if the computer breaks, then just put the old one back in. Thats what I would do at least.

But I don't have the 3year warantee, and I am not planning on upgrading the processor within a year.