2GB RAM for N800V Presario 1500 EVO N1000 N1020V

[JohnB_100]

I have several of these older Compaq laptops and although they didn't come with a large hard drive, I've upgraded each with 250GB and 320GB hard drives, partitioning drive C <128GB and Drive E with the rest -- there is a post on this board about why this is an absolute requirement.

I also am trying to max out the memory of these older laptops.

The good news is the N800V accepts two sticks of DDR 1GB ram, and it doesn't seem to care whether they are PC2100, PC2700, or PC3200. I don't have two exactly matched sticks, but they all work together in this laptop. The BIOS and XP both report 2.0GB Ram. Great!

The odd news: the Presario 1500, Evo N1000C, and EVO N1020V machines let me install one 1GB stick (any speed) plus one 512MB stick (any speed). The BIOS and XP both report 1.50 GB of RAM, and the machines operate reliably. However, if I put in two 1GB sticks to one of these machines, they won't turn on.

Does anyone know why the 1500, n1000, n1020 series laptops only work with one 1GB stick and one 0.5 GB stick of RAM but not two 1GB sticks? Is there a current sensing circuit?

 

[ssameer007]

yes i have the similar issue with N800c laptop certain models.
few options.

1. upgrade bios make sure to check compatibility first to see the obgrade is safe to do
2. are you using 16 chip low density sticks? give it a try.
PC2100 is your best bet.

let me know

 

[searcher101]

Hi JohnB,

I was interested if you got 2GB to work in your EVO n1020v and what version of BIOS you used. I just purchased an n1020v and want to upgrade from the stock 256MB stick and was happy to find your post regarding installing 1.5GB. Did you notice what speed your ram is actually running at? Do you have the model/part # of the DDR400 you used?

Not all manufacturers publsih the speeds(aka SPDs) that a stick of ram will run at...
I will probably go ahead and purchase a 1GB stick based on your post.

Also have you done any CPU upgrades? Mine is a 2.4ghz P4 and I was wondering if a 2.66GHZ P4 with HT/533FSB(that I have) would be worth swapping in...

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[JohnB_100]

I never was successful getting the N1020V to accept 2GB. My final attempt was to purchase two identical PC2100 low-density 1GB modules (eBay, new). The N1020V didn't turn on when both were installed. It works fine with any 1GB stick I tried, regardless of speed or density, and it is happy with 1GB plus 512MB -- only not with two 1GB sticks (won't even turn on). I am resigned to operating the N1020V (and 1500 and N1000C) with only 1.5GB.

The N800 works great with 2GB and is a bit faster than the N1020V. FYI: on my N800, I took alcohol and a plastic scraper and removed the scratched-up black tar-paint to reveal the nicer looking gray paint underneath.

I haven't done a CPU Upgrade beyond 2.4GHz P4 for these laptops. You can try swapping to the faster CPU you mentioned, but you may get into trouble if the front-side bus isn't 400MHz. Note: the N1020V uses a different heatsink module for a normal P4 CPU and for a mobile P4 CPU.

 

[searcher101]

Thanks again for the info JohnB,

The 2.66 P4 I have is a SL724, I was expecting more performance from the increased FSB speed and hyperthreading than the faster clock, which is 533. I have not read in the specifications that the mobo in the n1020v supports 533mhz though... thanks for the heads up. I have some 845 desktop chipset mobos that will run @ 533FSB and so I was hoping the n1020v would also.

Everything I have read on the socket 478 is that the mobile and desktop both use the same socket... I wonder why they have different heatsinks... hmmm.

I've been trying to decide what to do with the SL724... Oh well, maybe I will stick the SL724 in a shuttle ab60n mobo. I read a post on TH where another 533mhz cpu was easily overclocked simply by increasing the FSB( it was a socket 775 Pentium D 805 though) all the way to 4.1ghz.

 

[mbicha]

I never was successful getting the N1020V to accept 2GB. My final attempt was to purchase two identical PC2100 low-density 1GB modules (eBay, new). The N1020V didn't turn on when both were installed. It works fine with any 1GB stick I tried, regardless of speed or density, and it is happy with 1GB plus 512MB -- only not with two 1GB sticks (won't even turn on). I am resigned to operating the N1020V (and 1500 and N1000C) with only 1.5GB.

The N800 works great with 2GB and is a bit faster than the N1020V. FYI: on my N800, I took alcohol and a plastic scraper and removed the scratched-up black tar-paint to reveal the nicer looking gray paint underneath.

I haven't done a CPU Upgrade beyond 2.4GHz P4 for these laptops. You can try swapping to the faster CPU you mentioned, but you may get into trouble if the front-side bus isn't 400MHz. Note: the N1020V uses a different heatsink module for a normal P4 CPU and for a mobile P4 CPU.

How did you manage to get the N1020V to show 1.5GB ?
I have Bios F0B, one Low density 1G module and it always shows only 512MB or RAM ?

 

[JohnB_100]

You need to update to the latest BIOS, dated 05/09/2003 F.0D.

How did you manage to get the N1020V to show 1.5GB ?
I have Bios F0B, one Low density 1G module and it always shows only 512MB or RAM ?

 

[JohnB_100]

The 2.66 P4 I have is a SL724, I was expecting more performance from the increased FSB speed and hyperthreading than the faster clock, which is 533. I have not read in the specifications that the mobo in the n1020v supports 533mhz though... thanks for the heads up. I have some 845 desktop chipset mobos that will run @ 533FSB and so I was hoping the n1020v would also.

Everything I have read on the socket 478 is that the mobile and desktop both use the same socket... I wonder why they have different heatsinks... hmmm.

I've been trying to decide what to do with the SL724... Oh well, maybe I will stick the SL724 in a shuttle ab60n mobo. I read a post on TH where another 533mhz cpu was easily overclocked simply by increasing the FSB( it was a socket 775 Pentium D 805 though) all the way to 4.1ghz.

Have you been successful with your experiments using a faster non-mobile CPU in these laptops?

 

[mbicha]

You need to update to the latest BIOS, dated 05/09/2003 F.0D.

Where can I find that ?
On the internet I can only dig up the version I already have.

Thanks

 

[JohnB_100]

Do a google search on ROMPaq for Presario 15xxxx and Evo N1020v. If that doesn't take you right to it, try a search on HP Bios Evo N1020V, and you can follow the links on the HP support site to get to the BIOS download.

 

[mbicha]

Do a google search on ROMPaq for Presario 15xxxx and Evo N1020v. If that doesn't take you right to it, try a search on HP Bios Evo N1020V, and you can follow the links on the HP support site to get to the BIOS download.

Thanks JohbB, but doing that I always end up in the file
sp34610.exe which is F.0B (24 Jan 2007) and thats the one I have.

maybe you can send me a direct link ?
what memory did you buy on e-bay, do you have an item number ?

Thanks

 

[JohnB_100]

I am pretty sure that is what I used, but I am traveling for a few weeks without my N1020V so I cannot check. I usually purchase RAM from eBay seller SmileNTango (odd name) and for this laptop get PC-2100 low density dram modules (266MHz). I don't use high density modules, since I hear they are not as universal. You cannot use ddr2 or ddr3 modules on this laptop. Hope that helps.

 

[mbicha]

Funny, thats exactly where I bought the modules (SmileNTango) and both (2 different types) did not work. Both low density PC-2100.
Both types show only 512MB when installed. One type works as 512 MB, one type show errors in memory tests.
Maybe you can check when you are back from your travel, I would really appreciate that.
Thanks

 

[JohnB_100]

Funny, thats exactly where I bought the modules (SmileNTango) and both (2 different types) did not work. Both low density PC-2100.
Both types show only 512MB when installed. One type works as 512 MB, one type show errors in memory tests.
Maybe you can check when you are back from your travel, I would really appreciate that.
Thanks

Try your memory test again with the "bad" memory in each memory slot and repeat the test with the "good" memory in each slot. It may be you have good memory but a bad memory slot.

 

[mbicha]

I swapped around memory all ways in all slots on two different N1020V Laptops.
All results the same. both types show 512 MB, not 1 GB and one type
gives errors on memory test, one type does not.
I was hoping the bios version was the key to success....

 

[JohnB_100]

I swapped around memory all ways in all slots on two different N1020V Laptops.
All results the same. both types show 512 MB, not 1 GB and one type
gives errors on memory test, one type does not.
I was hoping the bios version was the key to success....

It sounds like one of the types you purchased is not compatible or may be bad. What is different between them?

 

[mbicha]

The first one is a type I selected from information I found on the internet.
Its the one showing 512 mb and no errors
"1GB PC2100 DDR 266MHz 1 GB SODIMM LAPTOP NOTEBOOK MEM"

The second one was a proposal from SmileNTango and that one is showing
512mb + memory errors
On the module it says:
Super*Talent D266SB1G/H
1GB DDR-266 PC2100 SO-DIMM HYNIX 64Mx8

concerning SmileNTango I must say that they really took care and tried to help me, but they were not successful (till now) which is on the other hand not surprising if the problem relies on the bios version.

 

[spacedust]

I got two EVO's N1020V's and sucessfully replaced processors inside them from Desktop Pentium IV 2.4 GHz to a Mobile Pentium IV 2.2 GHz (you have to change the dip switch on the motherboard to support mobile chips) and a Desktop Pentium IV 2.8 GHz (FSB 400).

These notebooks doesn't support FSB 533 so processors faster than Pentium IV 2.8 won't work or will be working on FSB 400 !

 

[stimpyaw]

I got two EVO's N1020V's and sucessfully replaced processors inside them from Desktop Pentium IV 2.4 GHz to a Mobile Pentium IV 2.2 GHz (you have to change the dip switch on the motherboard to support mobile chips) and a Desktop Pentium IV 2.8 GHz (FSB 400).

These notebooks doesn't support FSB 533 so processors faster than Pentium IV 2.8 won't work or will be working on FSB 400 !

Do you have any links or info or a pdf on how to replace an EVO's CPU? I have "Compaq Evo Notebook N1000c" and it has a Intel P4 1.8GHz (Socket 478 mPGA) CPU. I would love to upgrade that to a 2.0 or 2.2GHz CPU.

On the RAM issue of the original post, I too have found that using 1GB and 512MB RAM sticks work great on my machine. The RAM modules I have are: (from CPU-Z app, SPD tab)

Slot #1: 512 MB, PC2700 (166MHz); Manufacturer: MOSEL; PART#: V826764B24SBIW-C0; Timings (automatically set): CAS#: 2.5, RAS# to CAS#: 3, RAS# Pre: 3, tRAS: 7, Voltage: 2.50v

Slot #2: 1024MB, PC2700 (166MHz); Manufacturer: Kingston; PART#: KVR333SO/1GR; Timings (automatically set): CAS#: 2.5, RAS# to CAS#: 3, RAS# Pre: 3, tRAS: 7, Voltage: 2.50v

 

[spacedust]

Do you have any links or info or a pdf on how to replace an EVO's CPU? I have "Compaq Evo Notebook N1000c" and it has a Intel P4 1.8GHz (Socket 478 mPGA) CPU. I would love to upgrade that to a 2.0 or 2.2GHz CPU.

On the RAM issue of the original post, I too have found that using 1GB and 512MB RAM sticks work great on my machine. The RAM modules I have are: (from CPU-Z app, SPD tab)

Slot #1: 512 MB, PC2700 (166MHz); Manufacturer: MOSEL; PART#: V826764B24SBIW-C0; Timings (automatically set): CAS#: 2.5, RAS# to CAS#: 3, RAS# Pre: 3, tRAS: 7, Voltage: 2.50v

Slot #2: 1024MB, PC2700 (166MHz); Manufacturer: Kingston; PART#: KVR333SO/1GR; Timings (automatically set): CAS#: 2.5, RAS# to CAS#: 3, RAS# Pre: 3, tRAS: 7, Voltage: 2.50v

I've sold these machines because the screen outside cracked and replaced them with NC8000 which uses the same battery and power supply but it's much faster and cooler ! Now I can have 2 GB and it's even DDR333

To upgrade CPU just lift the plastic bar where all buttons (power etc.) - careful it can be glued. Start from the middle towards the edges.

Then you will see that keyboard is moving freely. Just lift towards yourself but do not remove it. Then you will see copper heatsink with a fan. Just remove four torx screws and remove the heatsink.

There will be just normal ordinary CPU socket with the CPU inside. Lift the latch and remove it.

If you install Mobile version CPU you need to switch the DIP switch on the motherboard. You will find a description directly on the motherboard.

The fastest Mobile CPU is 2.4 GHz: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/Intel-Mobile%20Pentium%204-M%202.4%20GHz%20-%20RH80532GC056512%20%28BXM80532GC2400D%29.html

The faster Desktop CPU is 2.8 GHz: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/Intel-Pentium%204%202.8%20GHz%20-%20RK80532PC072512.html

Make sure it's Northwood and the FSB is 400 MHz not 533 MHz.

 

[stimpyaw]

I've sold these machines because the screen outside cracked and replaced them with NC8000 which uses the same battery and power supply but it's much faster and cooler ! Now I can have 2 GB and it's even DDR333

To upgrade CPU just lift the plastic bar where all buttons (power etc.) - careful it can be glued. Start from the middle towards the edges.

Then you will see that keyboard is moving freely. Just lift towards yourself but do not remove it. Then you will see copper heatsink with a fan. Just remove four torx screws and remove the heatsink.

There will be just normal ordinary CPU socket with the CPU inside. Lift the latch and remove it.

If you install Mobile version CPU you need to switch the DIP switch on the motherboard. You will find a description directly on the motherboard.

The fastest Mobile CPU is 2.4 GHz: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/Intel-Mobile%20Pentium%204-M%202.4%20GHz%20-%20RH80532GC056512%20%28BXM80532GC2400D%29.html

The faster Desktop CPU is 2.8 GHz: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_4/Intel-Pentium%204%202.8%20GHz%20-%20RK80532PC072512.html

Make sure it's Northwood and the FSB is 400 MHz not 533 MHz.

Thank you for the information that will come in very handing!!

 

[JohnB_100]

Do a search for "HP EVO N1000C service manual" and look for link to a pdf from an HP website. I found this one today (may not last long).

HP 1000C service manual

The service manual gives detailed instruction on how to take the laptop apart safely. Make sure you are well-grounded so you don't build up electro-static charge which can zap a sensitive component. Also, be sure to handle the CPU and other boards only by the edges, avoiding contact with metal traces or pins.

When you replace your CPU, you have the option to re-use the thermal pad, a thinly coated metal strip, which is easiest. If that pad is damaged or missing, remove any part of it which remains, clean the heatsink and cpu with alcohol, and use Arctic Silver heatsink compound (only a small drop, spread thinly over the top of the CPU) to provide heat transfer between the cpu and heatsink module.

I think this laptop uses a different heatsink module for mobile and non-mobile cpu. The mobile CPU operates at a lower frequency and therefore generates less heat and fan noise when CPU usage is low. Units with the non-mobile P4 cpu (socket 486) have their fan running continuously, which can be annoying.

 

[stimpyaw]

Thank JohnB for the additional information. I have had this laptop for a while now and had downloaded that manual awhile go. Its good to see that you can still find it from HP. This project has now just jumped up to my top 5, I'll post back on the outcome.

 

[stimpyaw]

I just did a more detailed digging around HP's website and found this too:

Compaq Evo n1000c Notebook PC - Removing and Replacing the Processor <<click on link<<

This page give detailed steps, links and a list of the CPU's that will work in the EVO n1000c.