Unofficial HP Pavillion ZE2308WM Support Thread

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DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
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This thread is intended to be the start of support for the (soon to be) famous Wal Mart Black Friday 2005 laptop, the HP Pavillion ZE2308WM. An excellent basic laptop on the cheap ($378 for those who got them on BF 2005), this little guy can be upgraded to get some damn decent performance for your buck. Listed below are the actual specs and a list of items to upgrade the system with for better performance. I'm also including a link to the Service Manual.

Thanks go to Zerocoolok for finding the recommended upgrades. As he pointed out in his original post, the hard drive is this machine's biggest bottleneck, followed by the memory. Upgrades are listed here in order of importance.

Update: Last night (11/29/05) I removed the ONE screw holding the optical drive in place and slid it out of the chassis. To my surprise and joy I found that it's a *standard* slim drive! What this means is that we can easily upgrade the unit to a DVD burner!! I found a good deal on an NEC slim DVD burner at Newegg for $79.99 and added the link below. Enjoy!

SOFTWARE AND MANUALS:

HP page for all ZE2308WM Software Downloads

Service Manual for Upgrades and Repairs (lists correct ways to upgrade and part #s)

Broadcom Advanced Utility for the wireless card. Thanks NeoPTLD!

UPGRADEABLE EQUIPMENT:

1. Hitachi Travelstar 60gb 7200rpm HD

2. PQI 512mb pc3200 200pin Memory (order 2 of these)

3. AMD Turion 64 Mobile MT40 800MHz FSB Socket 754 Processor - OEM

4. NEC DVD Burner

FACTORY SPECS:

US Product Number EC205UA#ABA
Microprocessor 1.6 Ghz Mobile AMD Sempron? processor 2800+ with AMD PowerNow!? Technology
Microprocessor Cache 256KB L2 Cache
Memory 256MB 333MHz DDR System Memory (1 Dimm)
Memory Max 1024MB (According to HP. The chipset OFFICIALLY supports 2GB, but we need confirmation that this lappy can actually *take* 2GB)
Video Graphics ATI RADEON® XPRESS 200M IGP
Video Memory 32MB DDR (shared), user configurable up to 128MB
Hard Drive 40GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive
Diskette Drive Not Included
Multimedia Drive 24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
Display 15.0" XGA TFT Display (1024 x 768)
Fax/Modem High speed 56k modem
Network Card Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless Connectivity 54g? 802.11b/g WLAN with 125HSM/SpeedBooster support
Speakers Altec Lansing Stereo speakers (good sound!)
Keyboard 101-key compatible
Pointing Device Touch Pad with dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad

PC Card Slots

* 1 Type I/II 32-bit card bus (also support 16-bit)

External Ports

* 2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
* 1 headphone-out
* 1 microphone-in
* 1 VGA (15-pin)
* 1 TV-Out (S-video)
* 1 RJ-11 (modem)
* 1 RJ -45 (LAN)

Dimensions 13.15"(W) x 10.80"(L) x 1.29"(min)/1.63"(max)(H)

Weight6.51lbs

Security

* Kensington® MicroSaver lock slot
* Power-on password
* Accepts 3rd party security lock devices

Power

* 65W AC adapter
* 6-Cell Lithium-Ion (43Whr)

I'll update this thread as I learn more. Please feel free to PM me or post here with updates!

Jason
 
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gerrynjr

Junior Member
Aug 15, 2005
17
0
0
I picked up some 512 meg kingston ram for 45 bucks at best buy yesterday... worked fin w/ the existing ram as well...

May want to add a note that the battery lasts about 2.5 hours, with the 12 cell lasting just about twice that.

Another note: the wireless card is socketed in a mini-pci slot, as a result can be swapped out for a card of another model if desired.
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
I ordered the gigaram from Newegg. That should work fine as well. The machine only runs at PC2700 speeds, so PC3200 isn't needed.

Does anyone know what kind of performance increase a processor upgrade would give?
 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
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Originally posted by: joshsquall
I ordered the gigaram from Newegg. That should work fine as well. The machine only runs at PC2700 speeds, so PC3200 isn't needed.

Does anyone know what kind of performance increase a processor upgrade would give?
Click to expand...

Hopefully that's another question that will be answered in time! :)

Now, according to the official spec, the RS480 chipset will support DDR400, as I recall. Is the laptop locked out from running at that speed that you're aware of, or is it a limitation of the Sempron or...? Can't wait to hear.

Are you adding one gig in a single chip or a pair of 512's?

Jason
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: joshsquall
I ordered the gigaram from Newegg. That should work fine as well. The machine only runs at PC2700 speeds, so PC3200 isn't needed.

Does anyone know what kind of performance increase a processor upgrade would give?
Click to expand...

Hopefully that's another question that will be answered in time! :)

Now, according to the official spec, the RS480 chipset will support DDR400, as I recall. Is the laptop locked out from running at that speed that you're aware of, or is it a limitation of the Sempron or...? Can't wait to hear.

Are you adding one gig in a single chip or a pair of 512's?

Jason
Click to expand...

I don't see anywhere in the BIOS to change the FSB speed, so I'm guessing it's locked at 166 (333 DDR) without some soldering/extreme modification to the motherboard.

I'm getting a pair of 512's. I'll only ever need a gig on this laptop, and I didn't feel like wasting my time, just in case gig sticks don't work in the HP.
 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
0
0
Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: joshsquall
I ordered the gigaram from Newegg. That should work fine as well. The machine only runs at PC2700 speeds, so PC3200 isn't needed.

Does anyone know what kind of performance increase a processor upgrade would give?
Click to expand...

Hopefully that's another question that will be answered in time! :)

Now, according to the official spec, the RS480 chipset will support DDR400, as I recall. Is the laptop locked out from running at that speed that you're aware of, or is it a limitation of the Sempron or...? Can't wait to hear.

Are you adding one gig in a single chip or a pair of 512's?

Jason
Click to expand...

I don't see anywhere in the BIOS to change the FSB speed, so I'm guessing it's locked at 166 (333 DDR) without some soldering/extreme modification to the motherboard.

I'm getting a pair of 512's. I'll only ever need a gig on this laptop, and I didn't feel like wasting my time, just in case gig sticks don't work in the HP.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. You know, it *might* also be the case that the board auto-adjusts to the SPD of the memory chips. We'll have to wait until someone tries PC3200 in it and reports back to us, I guess. I wonder if the local PC Club would let me bring it in and try out different RAM in it. Hmmm...

Jason
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
I just looked in the service manual, and it stated that the computer uses DDR2 RAM. Is that right? I could have sworn Crucial told me DDR.
 
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DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
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Originally posted by: joshsquall
I just looked in the service manual, and it stated that the computer uses DDR2 RAM. Is that right? I could have sworn Crucial told me DDR.
Click to expand...

It's definitely DDR, specifically PC2700. I opened mine up first thing Friday (well, after a good, long nap to recover from the all-nighter standing in line :) and I can confirm that it ships with PC2700, DDR-1.

Jason
 
C

cherrypik

Member
Jun 30, 2005
61
0
0
Great thread Dragon. I might hold off on the second stick of 512 and harddrive update until later. For the record, I got mine at Fry's and they sold the same one as Walmart.

Anyone know a good place to pick up notebook batteries?

 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
0
0
Originally posted by: cherrypik
Great thread Dragon. I might hold off on the second stick of 512 and harddrive update until later. For the record, I got mine at Fry's and they sold the same one as Walmart.

Anyone know a good place to pick up notebook batteries?
Click to expand...

Did they price match for you? Pretty cool deal, if so! In any case, if you find out where to get a replacement battery, let me know and I will add it to the thread!

Jason
 
C

cherrypik

Member
Jun 30, 2005
61
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0
Originally posted by: DragonMasterAlex
Originally posted by: cherrypik
Great thread Dragon. I might hold off on the second stick of 512 and harddrive update until later. For the record, I got mine at Fry's and they sold the same one as Walmart.

Anyone know a good place to pick up notebook batteries?
Click to expand...

Did they price match for you? Pretty cool deal, if so! In any case, if you find out where to get a replacement battery, let me know and I will add it to the thread!

Jason
Click to expand...


It was listed in there Downers Grove, IL ad-http://www.tapchivitinh.com/modules/new...lus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=270&forum=1

Also, I think BB has a 5400 60GB Seagate HD for 69.99AR. Can't find the link though.
 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
0
0
Last night (11/29/05) I removed the ONE screw holding the optical drive in place and slid it out of the chassis. To my surprise and joy I found that it's a *standard* slim drive! What this means is that we can easily upgrade the unit to a DVD burner!! I found a good deal on an NEC slim DVD burner at Newegg for $79.99 and added the link below. Enjoy!

Jason
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Great thread!

I just have to make the comment though, that with all the extra money you spent on this you probly could've gotten a better notebook with equal or better specs :p Not trying to be a killjoy, really!

Enjoy your budget lappies!! :)
 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
0
0
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Great thread!

I just have to make the comment though, that with all the extra money you spent on this you probly could've gotten a better notebook with equal or better specs :p Not trying to be a killjoy, really!

Enjoy your budget lappies!! :)
Click to expand...

If you went and did all the upgrades, that's probably true :) I'm just planning memory and hard drives, but mostly because the two I got are gifts :)

Jason
 
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Issares

Junior Member
Nov 30, 2005
2
0
0
The day after the sale I added 1 stick of memory. It was 1 GB of pny pc3200 part# n1gbd320pt with the rebate it was under a hundred. Then I moved the 256 Meg to the second slot. The video memory automatically went to 128 Meg and the system worked like a dream. Sacred runs smooth as silk I love the way system running. The memory alone real makes a BIG difference in the system performance. I think it will take 2 GB but do you need it? Talked to a couple of hp techs the cpu upgrade is doable but if you want extreme sticker shock CPU part #394347-001 hp wants $875.00 Will try CPU upgrade over Christmas but not with an hp part!
 
D

DragonMasterAlex

Banned
Feb 3, 2001
5,156
0
0
Originally posted by: Issares
The day after the sale I added 1 stick of memory. It was 1 GB of pny pc3200 part# n1gbd320pt with the rebate it was under a hundred. Then I moved the 256 Meg to the second slot. The video memory automatically went to 128 Meg and the system worked like a dream. Sacred runs smooth as silk I love the way system running. The memory alone real makes a BIG difference in the system performance. I think it will take 2 GB but do you need it? Talked to a couple of hp techs the cpu upgrade is doable but if you want extreme sticker shock CPU part #394347-001 hp wants $875.00 Will try CPU upgrade over Christmas but not with an hp part!
Click to expand...

Yeah, HP's price is a bit on the "absurdly high" side of things. The Turion linked above is $289, a lot cheaper than the HP part, but still overly pricy IMHO. With the memory and hard drive upgrades I expect that this laptop will be very adequate for awhile, and maybe in 6-12 months the upgrade CPU will get to a more reasonable level (I'm thinking $100 or less, LOL) :)

If you do the CPU upgrade, do you think you could document it with photos and post it up for us? If you need hosting space, let me know, I can always give you FTP access to a directory on the Ugly Baby Studios server ;)

Jason
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
I just installed my gig of RAM. The laptop is a lot faster. I'm running 3d mark 2005 on it in a few minutes, with the video RAM turned up to 128 megs. I'll let you know how it does.
 
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Issares

Junior Member
Nov 30, 2005
2
0
0
Thanks Jason

I will take pictures and document what happens with the CPU upgrade.
Does any one have an opinion on which processor has the ?best bang for the buck?. Is it the ml-37 or the ml-34? Which one do you think is the best upgrade choice? Thanks in advance.
Scott

:thumbsup:
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
Did anyone ever try installing just PC3200 RAM in it? I'd like to know if it runs at a faster speed.
 
N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,544
2
81
What kind of battery life are you guys getting from this thing? I'm getting about two hours while using WiFi with power management set to "Max Battery".

I hear Centrino based laptops gets way better battery life.
 
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