Upgrade options working on XU015UT (i7-quad,1TB,1080p,eGPU)

[timohour]

This thread is dedicated on bringing together all the available upgrades for the XU015UT#ABA model (i3-2310M, 4GB 1333MHz, 320GB 7200rpm, Intel HD3000).

You can post any other upgrade you did on this laptop and I will update the first post from time to time for other user reference.

Internal Upgrades

External Upgrades

• USB caddy for my ODD[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• eGPU PE4L v 1.5 + 5850 Extreme @ x1 1.0 (through express card)[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• eSATA pci-e x1 card based on SiI3132[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]

Future Upgrades

• 9-cell or 12-cell Battery[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• 2nd 1TB hdd for software RAID 0.[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• x1 2.0 compliant gear[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• pnp memory 1600 or 1866MHz (not working so far due to bios restriction)[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• expresscard: NEC USB 3.0, CF card, eSATA [/*:m:1z1rw5c3]

Dream upgrades

• 2 x 512GB SATA III SSD (software RAID 0 ~ 1Gb/s read/write speeds)[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• 1080p IPS monitor with USB capacitive touchscreen[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• 27" 2560x1440 external screen[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• replace two right USB 2.0 with NEC USB 3.0[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]
• 7970 external graphics with support for OSX[/*:m:1z1rw5c3]

• CPU
  
  Regarding the replacement of the CPU you have to take apart your laptop completely. I attach a text guide for everybody interested. CPU replace instruction.rtf If you want to have your i7-2630QM fully utilized you have to add the SSDT file attached to your Extra folder. Cinebench score 11.5 for i7-2630QM is 4.78 while without the SSDT file max 3.90.
  
  Moreover, this upgrade was good for intel HD which from ~8 fps (cinebench R11.5 Open GL test) went to ~10fps.
  
  MEMORY
  
  As all other users here I added another 4GB module and yet have graphical glitches.
  So far i can't overcome the problem and according to some users it won't be fixed on 10.7.3 either. I flashed my new Kingston module with the Micron that I had inside to achieve dual channel. I used Thaiphoon Burner to flash my memory. If you want to do the same follow that guide
  
  2x4GB RAM showed a significant difference on Geekbench 64bit.
  
  
  
  
  
  UPGRADE BAY HDD
  
  I replaced my DVD with an ODD caddy i purchased off ebay. Total cost (I bought USB-DVD caddy and ODD caddy together to reduce shipping costs) was 15.90$.
  
  I also got an WD10TPVT 1TB and put in there. I get the image of my previous hdd to the 1TB using CCC and but when I tried to boot I had a boot 0 error (4K drive).I restarted from my old disk and run the dd command (it is on another thread of this forum) AFTER I unmounted the 1TB. After that I could boot from my 1TB drive. Not the fastest drive in the market but cheap enough (99$) and 1TB!
  
  Upgrade Bay isn't enabled to boot from by default when you have an hdd in it, so I followed that guide.
  
  SCREEN 1080p
  
  Although I will add a small text guide, there is a whole dedicated thread on how to upgrade your screen on this forum. You should better ask any question on the dedicated thread.Sreen replacement instructions.rtf
  
  eGPU
  
  Using an external Graphics card to boost your graphics works also on OSX. A 5850 extreme using chimera 1.6.0 and GE=yes would boot without other tweaks, almost doubling my Graphics performance.
  Cinebench R11.5 Open GL test went from ~ 8.75 to 21.72 on external screen attached to a 5850 extreme (These tests where done using an i3-2310M. I will refresh the results when I rerun the tests with my i7)

All these upgrades cost me so far less than 900€ (including shipping)

 

[uscgmatthew]

I have done the following upgrades:

2630qm
16gb memory
1080p screen
1tb hd in second bay
everything is perfect!!!!

thanks for the help with the i7 part!

 

[Songokussm]

I have done the following upgrades:

Intel i7-2630qm
Kingston HyperX plug n play 1600mhz 8GB ddr3
patriot wildfire 120gb ssd
320gb hd in second bay
DIY epu 1.2 gtx460

Tried to do a 320gb raid, but what was unable to find the option to create the array.

 

[timohour]

Yeah. There is no option for hardware raid. Only software raid0. You need to create the array from an existing osx partition and then make it bootable. It takes some time but it worth it!

 

[nicknitro]

I have done the following upgrades:

2630qm
16gb memory
1080p screen
1tb hd in second bay
everything is perfect!!!!

thanks for the help with the i7 part!

Hi, uscgmatthew

I have recieved my new 4530s (XU015UT) that came with 4Gb Core i3-2310m, 320gb HDD 7200rpm and unfortunately the WIFI + Bluetooth Realtek that is not compatible with Lion.

So the upgrades i want to do are:

16Gb Ram (2 x 8Gb) (what model do you used for your laptop?)
Atheros Combo Cards Wifi+Bluetooth (what´s the most recomended?)
Full HD Glossy Panel 1920x1080 (from Laptopscreen.com)
Patriot Pyro 120Gb SSD (which i already have)
Second HDD Caddy (which i already have)

THanks for any advice.

Daniel

 

[solarex]

I have done the following upgrades:
16gb memory

Is it just a plug and play affair, or you have to tweak the bios for the 16gb ram ?

--------
My mod so far: 750gb hd. 1080P screen soon.

 

[dealstack]

love this thread. thanks in advance. my question is .. how likely will these options work on an A7k06UT?

I am looking to upgrade to i7 2630 qm or similar and a 1080p screen (probably the AUO v4).

I just don't want to get stuck with an i7 and 1080p screen that i cant use and havent found many threads that get this specific.

awesome eGPU upgrade by the way!

 

[rsuzano]

Hi,


I've bought a i7 2630qm processor, and, when I install it on my probook 4530s XU015UT, I got a black screen end caps lock led blinks three times, after 2 blinking cicle the fan goes full speed, and do not show anything...


I've just upgraded BIOS to F.40 my original version was F.09, but the problem not solved.


Anyone can help me?


Best regards
Regis

 

[suzxee1234]

Has anyone upgraded to i7 2670QM on this model successfully?