An Introduction to Laptop Hardware

**TheMatt** · 07-02-2007, 07:02 PM

I am putting together this article to help introduce people to laptop hardware and some of the differences between it and desktop hardware. This guide will have pictures in it.

I am currently putting it together, and will only have digital camera access for the next week or so, so if there are any pictures of items that you think should be in, let me know. BTW, the pictures will be smaller in the actual article.

**TheMatt** · 07-02-2007, 07:03 PM

More photos.

**TheMatt** · 07-02-2007, 08:24 PM

More...

**TheMatt** · 07-02-2007, 08:28 PM

And more...

chauffeur2 · 07-02-2007, 09:47 PM

Hi Matt,

I look forward eagerly to this article, going by the screenshots that you've already posted, as I know nothing about the internal workings of a lappy.

Kind Regards,

JohnthePilot · 07-03-2007, 06:45 AM

Hi Matt. I could have done with this last week when I decided to try and take a friend's laptop apart. OMG. I got most of the bits out and they were so different to a desktop I just put them all back in again and crossed my fingers.

**TheMatt** · 07-22-2007, 12:05 AM

I. Laptop Overview

1. A Tour of the Modern Laptop
2. Common Differences Between Laptops & Desktops
Motherboard

Processor (CPU)

Memory (RAM)

Hard drive

Video card

Expansion

II. CPU Types

1. Processor Models
Intel Pentium III Mobile (P6)

Intel Pentium 4 Mobile (P7)

Intel Celeron Mobile (P6)(P7)

Intel Pentium M (P7)

Intel Celeron M (P7)(P8)

Intel Core Solo (P7)

Intel Core Duo (P7)

Intel Core 2 Duo (P8)

AMD Athlon XP Mobile (K7)

AMD Athlon 64 Mobile (K8)

AMD Sempron Mobile (K8)

AMD Sempron 64 Mobile (K8)

AMD Turion 64 Mobile (K8)

AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile (K8)

2. Processor Packages
Socket 478

Socket 479

Socket 478 (Socket M)

Socket 478 (Socket P)

Socket 563

Socket 462 (Socket A)

Socket 754

Socket 638 (Socket S1)

III. Chipset Types

1. Chipset Models
Intel 810M

Intel 815M

Intel 845M

Intel 855M

Intel 865M

Intel 910M

Intel 915M

Intel 945M

Intel 965M

ATI Radeon Xpress 200M

ATI Radeon Xpress 1100

ATI Radeon Xpress 1150

ATI Radeon Xpress 1250

nVidia nForce Go 430M

nvidia nForce Go 610M

nVidia nForce Go 630M

VIA VX700

VIA VN800

VIA VN896

SiS M649

SiS M650

SiS M656

SiS M661

SiS M671

SiS M672

SiS M741

SiS M760

SiS M771

2. Chipset Architecture

Intel Hub Architecture

AMD HyperTransport Architecture

IV. Memory Types

1. Memory Modules

SDR SD-RAM DIMMs

DDR SD-RAM DIMMs

DDR2 SD-RAM DIMMs

2. Memory Sockets
144-Pin SDR DIMMs

200-Pin DDR DIMMs

200-Pin DDR2 DIMMs

172-Pin DDR Micro-DIMMs

214-Pin DDR2 Micro-DIMMs

V. Hard Disk Types

1. Hard Disk Speeds
2. Hard Disk Interfaces

VI: Video Card Types

1. Video Card Models

nVidia GeForce2 Go (NV11M)

nVidia GeForce4 Go (NV17M)

nVidia Geforce4 Go 4200 (NV28M)

nVidia GeForce Go FX5100/5200 (NV34M)

nVidia GeForce Go FX5600/5650 (NV31M)

nVidia GeForce Go FX5700 (NV36M)

nVidia GeForce Go 6100/6150 (?)

nVidia GeForce Go 6200/6400 (NV44)

nVidia GeForce Go 6600/6600 Ultra (NV43)

nVidia GeForce Go 6800 (NV41M)

nVidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra (NV42)

nVidia GeForce Go 7200 (?)

nVidia GeForce Go 7300/7400 (G72M)

nVidia GeForce Go 7600/7600GT (G73M)

nVidia GeForce Go 7700 (G73M-B1)

nVidia GeForce Go 7800/7800GTX (G70M)

nVidia GeForce Go 7900GS/7900GTX/7950GTX (G71M)

nVidia GeForce Go 8400G/8400GS/8400GT (G86M)

nVidia GeForce Go 8600GS/8600GT/8700GT (G84M)

Mobility Radeon 7000 (?)

Mobility Radeon 7500 (M7)

Mobility Radeon 9000 (?)

Mobility Radeon 9100 (?)

Mobility Radeon 9600/9600 Pro (M10)

Mobility Radeon 9700 (M11)

Mobility Radeon 9800 (M18)

2. Video Card Interfaces
MXM

AXIOM

VII: Peripheral Types

1. Laptop Expandibility
2. Peripheral Interfaces

IIX: Laptop Upgradibility

1. Processor
2. RAM/Memory
3. Hard Disk
4. Video Card
5. Wireless Card
6. Peripherals

IX: Laptop FAQ

**TheMatt** · 07-22-2007, 12:07 AM

That will be the basic layout. I will slowly be filling in each individual section. Most of the delay will be in getting information. I am getting a book that will help a lot soon.

Feel free to post comments on content as soon as its added.

chauffeur2 · 08-14-2007, 12:54 AM

Hi Matt,

How is 'The Final version' of this article progressing?

Regards,

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 08:56 AM

Its going slowly, but its going. This isn't like my other articles where I typed them up in Word and then transfered the entire completed articles over. This one I am slowly adding onto it.

chauffeur2 · 08-14-2007, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the update Matt.

That's not a problem..."masterpieces take time"

Kind Regards,

JohnthePilot · 01-20-2008, 01:05 PM

Hi Matt. What's happening with this one?

**TheMatt** · 01-21-2008, 11:19 AM

Waiting on a laptop book at the library.

JohnthePilot · 01-21-2008, 12:50 PM

You mean it's not in your head?

**TheMatt** · 01-21-2008, 04:50 PM

Nope.

**ashumann12** · 04-05-2008, 10:52 PM

How it this going Matt? (Just wondering and anxious to read more!

)

JohnthePilot · 04-06-2008, 01:09 AM

Thanks for prompting him Adam.

**TheMatt** · 04-06-2008, 06:07 PM

This article is kind of stalled right now, mainly due to time constraints. I am still working on the other article though. If you have any specific questions I can answer them for you.

**ashumann12** · 04-06-2008, 06:50 PM

No, no big deal. My laptop is having some problems due to excessive vibration. The power (i think the battery connect ins, possibly on mobo) and my DVD drive keep disappearing from my system. I'm going to limp through til this summer and buy a new one, but just as a project, would like to try to fix this one myself. I know the basics of PC hardware but am a total novice at the inner workings of a laptop. Thus I have only explored my laptop to a very small extent. I only paid about $500 for this 5100 new and don't want to pay someone several hundred to fix it. I just thought it would be a fun project for my son and I later on. I came across the beginnings of this article and it just really peaked my interest. Regardless of whether or not I will be able to do anything myself, I feel learning more that just how to operate my equipment would be beneficial in the future. Looking foreword to reading more when you can get it out! Thanks in advance!

**kodi** · 04-06-2008, 10:38 PM

These may be a help to both of you, there is plenty more where they came from

07-02-2007, 09:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Hi Matt, I look forward eagerly to this article, going by the screenshots that you've already posted, as I know nothing about the internal workings of a lappy. Kind Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

07-03-2007, 06:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,874 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Hi Matt. I could have done with this last week when I decided to try and take a friend's laptop apart. OMG. I got most of the bits out and they were so different to a desktop I just put them all back in again and crossed my fingers. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

07-22-2007, 12:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware I. Laptop Overview 1. A Tour of the Modern Laptop 2. Common Differences Between Laptops & Desktops Motherboard Processor (CPU) Memory (RAM) Hard drive Video card Expansion II. CPU Types 1. Processor Models Intel Pentium III Mobile (P6) Intel Pentium 4 Mobile (P7) Intel Celeron Mobile (P6)(P7) Intel Pentium M (P7) Intel Celeron M (P7)(P8) Intel Core Solo (P7) Intel Core Duo (P7) Intel Core 2 Duo (P8) AMD Athlon XP Mobile (K7) AMD Athlon 64 Mobile (K8) AMD Sempron Mobile (K8) AMD Sempron 64 Mobile (K8) AMD Turion 64 Mobile (K8) AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile (K8) 2. Processor Packages Socket 478 Socket 479 Socket 478 (Socket M) Socket 478 (Socket P) Socket 563 Socket 462 (Socket A) Socket 754 Socket 638 (Socket S1) III. Chipset Types 1. Chipset Models Intel 810M Intel 815M Intel 845M Intel 855M Intel 865M Intel 910M Intel 915M Intel 945M Intel 965M ATI Radeon Xpress 200M ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 nVidia nForce Go 430M nvidia nForce Go 610M nVidia nForce Go 630M VIA VX700 VIA VN800 VIA VN896 SiS M649 SiS M650 SiS M656 SiS M661 SiS M671 SiS M672 SiS M741 SiS M760 SiS M771 2. Chipset Architecture Intel Hub Architecture AMD HyperTransport Architecture IV. Memory Types 1. Memory Modules SDR SD-RAM DIMMs DDR SD-RAM DIMMs DDR2 SD-RAM DIMMs 2. Memory Sockets 144-Pin SDR DIMMs 200-Pin DDR DIMMs 200-Pin DDR2 DIMMs 172-Pin DDR Micro-DIMMs 214-Pin DDR2 Micro-DIMMs V. Hard Disk Types 1. Hard Disk Speeds 2. Hard Disk Interfaces VI: Video Card Types 1. Video Card Models nVidia GeForce2 Go (NV11M) nVidia GeForce4 Go (NV17M) nVidia Geforce4 Go 4200 (NV28M) nVidia GeForce Go FX5100/5200 (NV34M) nVidia GeForce Go FX5600/5650 (NV31M) nVidia GeForce Go FX5700 (NV36M) nVidia GeForce Go 6100/6150 (?) nVidia GeForce Go 6200/6400 (NV44) nVidia GeForce Go 6600/6600 Ultra (NV43) nVidia GeForce Go 6800 (NV41M) nVidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra (NV42) nVidia GeForce Go 7200 (?) nVidia GeForce Go 7300/7400 (G72M) nVidia GeForce Go 7600/7600GT (G73M) nVidia GeForce Go 7700 (G73M-B1) nVidia GeForce Go 7800/7800GTX (G70M) nVidia GeForce Go 7900GS/7900GTX/7950GTX (G71M) nVidia GeForce Go 8400G/8400GS/8400GT (G86M) nVidia GeForce Go 8600GS/8600GT/8700GT (G84M) Mobility Radeon 7000 (?) Mobility Radeon 7500 (M7) Mobility Radeon 9000 (?) Mobility Radeon 9100 (?) Mobility Radeon 9600/9600 Pro (M10) Mobility Radeon 9700 (M11) Mobility Radeon 9800 (M18) 2. Video Card Interfaces MXM AXIOM VII: Peripheral Types 1. Laptop Expandibility 2. Peripheral Interfaces IIX: Laptop Upgradibility 1. Processor 2. RAM/Memory 3. Hard Disk 4. Video Card 5. Wireless Card 6. Peripherals IX: Laptop FAQ __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides Last edited by TheMatt; 09-02-2007 at 12:51 PM.

07-22-2007, 12:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware That will be the basic layout. I will slowly be filling in each individual section. Most of the delay will be in getting information. I am getting a book that will help a lot soon. Feel free to post comments on content as soon as its added. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 12:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Hi Matt, How is 'The Final version' of this article progressing? Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

08-14-2007, 08:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Its going slowly, but its going. This isn't like my other articles where I typed them up in Word and then transfered the entire completed articles over. This one I am slowly adding onto it. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 09:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Thanks for the update Matt. That's not a problem..."masterpieces take time" Kind Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

01-20-2008, 01:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,874 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Hi Matt. What's happening with this one? __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-21-2008, 11:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Waiting on a laptop book at the library. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

01-21-2008, 12:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,874 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware You mean it's not in your head? __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-21-2008, 04:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Nope. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

04-05-2008, 10:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
ashumann12 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alabama-usa Posts: 3,945 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 (64bit) My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware How it this going Matt? (Just wondering and anxious to read more!) __________________ Adam Sr.

04-06-2008, 01:09 AM	#17 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,874 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware Thanks for prompting him Adam. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

04-06-2008, 06:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware This article is kind of stalled right now, mainly due to time constraints. I am still working on the other article though. If you have any specific questions I can answer them for you. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

04-06-2008, 06:50 PM	#19 (permalink)
ashumann12 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alabama-usa Posts: 3,945 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 (64bit) My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: An Introduction to Laptop Hardware No, no big deal. My laptop is having some problems due to excessive vibration. The power (i think the battery connect ins, possibly on mobo) and my DVD drive keep disappearing from my system. I'm going to limp through til this summer and buy a new one, but just as a project, would like to try to fix this one myself. I know the basics of PC hardware but am a total novice at the inner workings of a laptop. Thus I have only explored my laptop to a very small extent. I only paid about $500 for this 5100 new and don't want to pay someone several hundred to fix it. I just thought it would be a fun project for my son and I later on. I came across the beginnings of this article and it just really peaked my interest. Regardless of whether or not I will be able to do anything myself, I feel learning more that just how to operate my equipment would be beneficial in the future. Looking foreword to reading more when you can get it out! Thanks in advance! __________________ Adam Sr.