In Need of Customizing101- Cases/Motherboards

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   I have a question regarding Cannibalizing a laptop and upgrading the remaining parts. 

Last year I purchased my first laptop ever- an ASUS G71GX-RX05.  Great video card (GTX 260M.)  Upgraded Hard Drive and RAM.   My biggest problem is that it has horrible cooling... which is a widely known problem.  ASUS even underclocked the video card in their STOCK settings to reduce heat.  

So I want to buy another laptop (Minus HDD, RAM and Video Card) and use my current ones in the new system.   RAM and Hard Drive I know, but are laptop video cards standardized?  

If so, does anyone know of a particular case that would have more efficient cooling in order to handle a GTX 260M?  I know as far as Desktops go, a careful consideration is always the power supply, especially when gaming.  Are there certain manufacturers/models that should be avoided?  

Or, even better, does anyone have a good resource for individual component information with regards to laptops?  (IE: Case/Mobo on their own, sans everything else?)   Something similar to a Tomshardware would be perfect.

Thanks  

Edit: As far as modifying the firmware of the video card and whatnot, I have already done that.  However, if I even so much as return the video card to stock speeds, I need a NZXT Cryo LX running at all times with copper RAMsinks on the video card or else it overheats.

Edit2: I was also considering purchasing a laptop with a low-end video card that I will be able to give the low-end card to my ASUS and the 260M to the new one.  THen the ASUS could be used as a backup for web browsing or whatnot.  I know this is an easy swap for PC's, but with laptops is it doable?

Edited by Dyskresiac - 04 Mar 2011 at 9:39am

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Dyskresiac Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AVADirect Noob Joined: 03 Mar 2011 Posts: 1	Quote Reply Topic: In Need of Customizing101- Cases/Motherboards Posted: 04 Mar 2011 at 9:28am
	I have a question regarding Cannibalizing a laptop and upgrading the remaining parts. Last year I purchased my first laptop ever- an ASUS G71GX-RX05. Great video card (GTX 260M.) Upgraded Hard Drive and RAM. My biggest problem is that it has horrible cooling... which is a widely known problem. ASUS even underclocked the video card in their STOCK settings to reduce heat. So I want to buy another laptop (Minus HDD, RAM and Video Card) and use my current ones in the new system. RAM and Hard Drive I know, but are laptop video cards standardized? If so, does anyone know of a particular case that would have more efficient cooling in order to handle a GTX 260M? I know as far as Desktops go, a careful consideration is always the power supply, especially when gaming. Are there certain manufacturers/models that should be avoided? Or, even better, does anyone have a good resource for individual component information with regards to laptops? (IE: Case/Mobo on their own, sans everything else?) Something similar to a Tomshardware would be perfect. Thanks Edit: As far as modifying the firmware of the video card and whatnot, I have already done that. However, if I even so much as return the video card to stock speeds, I need a NZXT Cryo LX running at all times with copper RAMsinks on the video card or else it overheats. Edit2: I was also considering purchasing a laptop with a low-end video card that I will be able to give the low-end card to my ASUS and the 260M to the new one. THen the ASUS could be used as a backup for web browsing or whatnot. I know this is an easy swap for PC's, but with laptops is it doable? Edited by Dyskresiac - 04 Mar 2011 at 9:39am

Jmundy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List AVADirect Staff AVADirect Sales Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Location: AVADirect HQ Posts: 1337	Quote Reply Posted: 04 Mar 2011 at 12:50pm
	Hello Dyskresiac, Notebook manufacturers tend to keep details about mobile graphics cards in the dark. Replacing mobile graphics cards are actually pretty simple, if you know what you're doing. However, matching the correct MXM module (the mobile graphics card interface) properly is a whole other can of works. It's not simple, and can cause major issues if you are not installing mobile graphics cards with the correct MXM module. Your best bet is to do research on both the notebook you are removing parts from, and the model you want to upgrade with. Find out what MXM modules they have (2.0, 3.0, 3.3, etc...) and base that off of your decision. There's a reason why most resellers do not sell mobile graphics cards separately, so keep that into consideration as well. Kind Regards,
	Joseph Mundy Assistant Sales Manager 1-216-503-6361 joseph.mundy@avadirect.com