Old laptop (Not a directly GB-PVR specific thread)

[KevoEFC]

Not really a GB-PVR specific post but I'll give it a shot anyway. But will be used for GB-PVR if I get far enough!

I've been using GB-PVR for quite a few years now. But only as a front end for my Hauppauge MediaMVP.

I've got an old Laptop that gets used rarely, mainly because the battery died so will only run off the mains. Its got XP home on it, a Pentium 4 3ghz, and 512mb of ram. It runs everything I can expect it to just fine. It plays typical xvid files, mp3s and displays pictures no problem.

The only thing stopping me sticking it under the telly as it is and using the S-video output (I'm happy enough with S-video output quality) is the fact that its incredibly loud, as you might expect having a full blown pentium 4 in it and not a lean and mean mobile cpu.

My query is, what are the chances of me stripping the laptop apart and sticking it in a media center case with better airflow, maybe get a quieter fan to attach to the cpu, and everything going smoothly?

I've built and upgraded PCs in the past, but always straight fits never custom jobbies.

Will it be impossible to mount the laptop mobo in a desktop media pc case?

Will the laptop refuse to boot without the LCD screen attached?

Cheers.

[martint123]

I've used a laptop in the garage for quite a time. It has no screen and no keyboard. (which is why I was given it). I use a wireless keyboard and mouse to run it with and it works fine. It is also a P4 variant and the fan, when it kicks in is extremely loud.

Judging by the two or three laptops I've had in bits, the chances of fitting a different cooler/fan are slim - things are so cramped that there is no space at all round the CPU.
Yours may be different of course - I'd try to fit it in an old DVD or VCR rather than a computer case though!

[KevoEFC]

I've used a laptop in the garage for quite a time. It has no screen and no keyboard. (which is why I was given it). I use a wireless keyboard and mouse to run it with and it works fine. It is also a P4 variant and the fan, when it kicks in is extremely loud.

Judging by the two or three laptops I've had in bits, the chances of fitting a different cooler/fan are slim - things are so cramped that there is no space at all round the CPU.
Yours may be different of course - I'd try to fit it in an old DVD or VCR rather than a computer case though!

Brilliant idea! Cheers!

[stustunz]

if you remove the keyboard you might have to change something on the bios boot without ......
as for no screen it should boot up fine (i have one set up with original screen removed and only a external screen but if i turn the screen off it still boots fine)
to make it quiet you can just add a bigger fan to blow onto the heat sink that is already there but before you do that remove heat sink and apply new thermal grease makes a huge difference in the fan ramping up and down