Need direction/help to build a laptop

[Enbee]

I have a small computer business (building, repairing, upgrading home and very small business), and I've been building desktops for a few years now .... but would like to learn to build/repair, etc laptops.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a few questions:

- Is building a laptop more financially advantageous than purchasing one? As much as I want one, I just can't afford to spend $1500-2500 for what I want. And, would it be cost effective to try to sell them, or do most people just go with name brands?

- Is there anywhere that I can purchase a kit so that I can teach myself?

- Anything special that I need to know....that is different froma desktop?

- Any good websites where I can read up on this?

- I see some hardware for laptops sold at many places .... but where can you buy laptop cases/mb's,
etc?


I think that's it for now .....<U>any</U> help is<U>greatly</U> appreciated. I'm anxious to get started on this project as soon as possible .....

Thanks in advance,
Enbee

 

[Abhi]

Hi Enbee....

Welcome to AT

You can buy a barebones kit but its not recommended...

Its best to buy a pre made machine.

P.S. You can search on this... this question has been asked numerous times before on these forums.

 

[Abhi]

Your question discussed in detail here...

 

[Enbee]

Thanks for your welcome and for your advice..

I think I'll stick towhat I alreadyknow,
and save my $$ so I can "buy" my laptop fully assembled.

 

[Abhi]

Good call.

 

[Naruto]

I built my own. It was a barebone ECS G551 which supports centrino. I ran into trouble and here's what what I think should be guidelines so you don't run into the same trouble I did.


1. never flash the bios

2. recommend getting retail CPU (i bought a Dell pull of ebay and it is locked at low speed mode in my laptop, but it should work fine in other laptops)

3. be careful trying to turn it off, always turn it off the right way, don't pull the power or ac adapter when you think its stuck and won't turn off

4. buy from a reliable place where manufacturer has warranty on it

Personally, I rather build one that buy a pre assembled one. Many barebone kits are nicer and better build quality than say, Dells. I really like the one I have, just wish I didn't do some of the above things I listed. My total for this should be less than $1100 with the following:

ECS g551 barebone kit (i855pm, ati mobility 9000 64mb, 15" sxga+)
1.7ghz pentium M (and reselling my 1.3ghz pentium M)
2x 256mb pc2700 sodimm
30gb Hitachi 4200rpm
belkin 802.11b pcmcia

If you know how to build a desktop, building a notebook with a barebone kit is extremely easy. It only takes 30 minutes to pop everything in and go. If you would like to get a barebone, I suggest looking at the models from Asus, ECS, Aopen, and Gigabyte. Many pre-assembled notebooks from small stores are basically reselling barebones fully equipped to run. So why should you pay a higher price for that if you already know how to do it? I wish Clevo would release some barebone kits as their notebooks look nice and powerful.

 

[Abhi]

Also... you gotta have a whole lotta patience like naruto has...

A LOT of it.

 

[Naruto]

Originally posted by: Abhi
Also... you gotta have a whole lotta patience like naruto has...

A LOT of it.

Just follow those guidelines and you won't have my trouble

 

[Abhi]

...............

 

[ShellGuy]

Well let me start with a welcome to AT. I would say that if you want to build one then you should just go to a website and config one to your liking. The easyest way to learn to pull apart lappys is if you go to manuf. webpages and look for the exploded manuals of the laptop it self it will shot you where each thing goes and all. For the most part they are alot like desktop systems in the fact of how you can improve performance. Just not in the area of Video Cards. As there are no replaceable / Upgradable cards with exception of *ell XPS laptops. Hope some of what i have said is of help to you.

Will


PS good luck with ur company

 

[kuljc]

Why couldn't you go to www.ewiz.com and get the notebook barebone, along with all the parts. They have everything at ewiz... and many people have had good luck with them.

 

[ShellGuy]

My first prob with them would be no AMD stuff..

Will

 

[Naruto]

Originally posted by: ShellGuy
My first prob with them would be no AMD stuff..



Will

People say that they would take a athlon xp barton mobile over any celeron or pentium 4 - M. However, with my research I have not seen one decent athlon xp mobile barebone laptop.