Modding the Tx1000 part 1 (changing the thermal compound)

[JuanC]

I have got a tx1000 as well. First my WIFI failed, and then the GPU (black screen on boot). Since it's out of warranty, I left it to a technician. He told me he would charge $350 to fix it, including a new motherboard. Since I know that all motherboards are faulty, I turned down the offer. Probably he cleaned it from dust and dirt, because the computer works again - except for the wifi-card. Would you recommend me to heat the GPU with a hot air gun or a hairdryer, or only to apply the thermal paste and scrap off the black paint from the air outlets? Would this bring the Wifi back to life?

[arthursantossp]

It´ll not bring your wifi to life... but maybe will save your tablet...
If you use the hair dryer the wifi will work again, but there is always a risk...

[Nihility]

Hi folks, check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=musu759LsT4

This is a great guide!
Is your laptop still working ok now?

[easotokr]

Hi, can tell me someone if the TX wasn't turning on at time of the repair. That happened to me and I didn't see if someone else had same problem and solved with this mod.

[arthursantossp]

@easotokr:
The tablet not turning on problem can be solved with the hair dryer + modding...

[buu]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I'm waiting on some parts to ship and I'm going into this laptop of mine for the first time. I've always modded my PCs and recently my girlfriend bought the TX2 which made me jealous, so I decided to show her up by modding my precious--but outdated--TX1308nr.

When I bought this machine I only had price, mobility and wifi in mind. Now that I see her similar deal came with all around upgrades, I decided it is time for me to unleash the beast within. I'm one of those unfortunate ones who had issues with hardware/software months before warranty expired but HP was good at delay tactics until my warranty expired. They sent me software after software to cover up issues. I know now that was all fake since I've done my last sys restoration and noticed all the old, same underlying problems they tried to mask reemerged. I basically had to purge my HDD and used one of my old system recovery CDs from my PCs and the problem desisted. I don't know, I guess it was entirely software issues? It is confusing, I don't know what they were doing, or what I was doing to fix the problem, but it worked somehow once I turned my back on them and worked on the issues myself instead of listening to their technicians who apparently know less about their own computers than I do. I was correcting their technicians too many times.

Right now I'm waiting on a new keyboard and bluetooth. The keyboard is Spanish from Latin America and came from a TX2 (i like having more buttons and features available at my fingertips). The 2.0 bluetooth is stock from another TX, but considering my package deal excluded this I am adding it back in. Considering I'm going into my baby for the first time to swap and insert these pieces... this temperature mod of yours is a definite whilst I'm in there! I eventually plan on going for the 7200rpm 500gb HDD, and a (2x4gb, PS2-6400) memory upgrade; but those come later once I know my other additions work right as well as accompanied with a new 64-bit OS.

Right now I'm sitting on an ugly stock 24gb HDD and 2x512mb memory! both features of which were no concern to me when purchasing this item considering I already knew these were replacable and would one day update when needed.

I was disapointed to find out I cannot do a monitor swap with the TX2, that dual touch swap concept was really sweet. The only optional feature my TX1000 will be missing now is the fingerprint reader, which would of course require a monitor swap. I, however, do not feel this is prudent. Locks are just meant to keep honest people honest, anyone can break a lock.

I found a lot of those thermal pads on eBay for sale, should I consider these as well or just stick to the minimum? Or would that liquid metal stuff work better? Thermal regulation is new to me in mods, I'm used to just cleaning out the chasis from dust..

I cannot wait to see what other mods you're going to post. I'm interested in warranty-breaking mods considering not everyone has to worry about warranty anymore; and some of us frankly could care less.

If anyone knows of any non-warranty-breaking mods, that'd be great to help out on my girlfriend's TX2, I don't like leaving her out and hers is brand new still under warranty.

[arthursantossp]

@buu: forget about the ebay thermal pads... the best option is to change the pad with a cooper sheet (only the thermal pad that is above the GPU, in your case the nvidia chip)....

Clean the CPU, GPU and heatsink with isopropilic alcohol, apply some thermal paste over them (you can use artic silver 5, mx-2, or other options, just be sure to use a GOOD one!)... Put the cooper sheet in place, remount the heatsink and you are good to go...

If you want you can remove the heatsink black paint too...

[Tiezep]

just because I have read in this thread about mother board revival, I have bought a used (working (according to the ad)) motherboard for an old laptop and the thing won't boot. How long/hot should the oven be, and should the mother board have the cpu in it or not?

the laptop in question is an MPC TranSport T2000.

ok, upon further investigation I think a heat gun is necessary. I think the problem is the gpu as it seems to run the cd and the fans but shows no picture. should I use the heat gun on the graphics chip (from the top) or should I try the bottom of the motherboard (under the chip)

thanks,
-Tyler

[spawn1980]

I have the same problem wifi died now it don't boot my plan was to buy a used working mobo + wifi replacement card ($240.00) then do the mod trick clean the cpu gpu heatsink plus remove the the black paint. then put a thin layer of artic silver 5 over the cpu & gpu, then place a thin cooper sheet over the gpu with another thin layer of artic silver 5 over the sheet then put the heatsink back on and reassemble the laptop. did I get that right?

Also I wanted to upgrade to the cpu to a AMD Turion 64X2 TL-64 2.2 GHz with windows 7 is this a good idea will this increase the heat issue

[arthursantossp]

@Tiezep: check the youtube video somewhere in this topic, with details of how to do the motherboard revival...

@spaw1980: you get it all correct... but you cant try the mobo heat revival, before buying a new one...