Guide on how to replace or upgrade the graphics card in the Asus C90s
Kris Verbeeck
The Asus C90s is a bit of a strange bird. Touted as the perfect marriage between desktop components and laptop portability, it sports a desktop Core 2 Duo. While this can be considered a debatable choice, their "ACE" effort should be met with applause. Accessible, Convenient 
and Effortless? Sign me up! Asus' leaflets promise easy access and low effort assembly for pretty much all core components, including graphics. Where other manufacturers shy away from actually calling it by the name, Asus had no issue advertising this notebook as "Powered by a standard MXM graphics module" and even "Empowering upgradeable future graphics". Again, applause! Unfortunately, Asus seems to have lost interest in the concept. No more C9x notebooks were seen, no more ACE technology and C90 owners eagerly awaiting their advertised upgradeable MXM modules are, well, waiting. The C90 is no longer in the Asus portfolio and there is no successor. As far as we can see, Asus is currently not offering MXM notebooks even though they are using modular graphics that is often clearly loosely based on MXM technology.
Right now, we are only offering replacement 8600GT cards. While it is a nice upgrade for C90s owners with a 8600GS, it must be a bitter pill for C90 owners that went for the 8600GT and assumed an upgrade would be available by now. One of our costumers already performed the swap and has promised a small tutorial. In eager anticipation, we already offer a Buy Now link. As the C90 cards feature a detachable mounting bracket, the card is delivered 'bare'. Your package will also include two heatpads, one for trials and one for a final install. We don't even know if you'll need it but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?
You can find appropriate drivers at laptopvideo2go.com.
One of our costumers, William, was very interested in enrolling in our Beta program. Contrary to a lot of other costumers, William was kind enough to live up to his promise. His story, unabridged and uncencored, below.
While playing a game with a guest... My laptop video DIED. I Bought the C90-s because it was supposed to be an “Upgradeable Laptop”. The follow thru that ASUS needed to do to make this TRULY the case never happened. THANKFULLY... People like Kris Veerbeck HAVE followed thru with the idea.. at least for the video cards.
After shopping around to find the best price.. I realized the challenge was going to be a matter of JUST finding a card in MXM format till I found MXM-Upgrade. For the same price (approx) that a local service pro was going to charge me (JUST FOR THE PART then + labor) I had a video card ordered from Kris at MXM-Upgrade. The ONLY problem I had at all was the conversion to Euros and Paypal did all the hard part of that.
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3 days later (FAST) the happy day arrived..and so did the shipping box. |
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Thoroughly wrapped and safely packed were the... |
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...box contents: Video card and two different Thermal Materials. After making social introductions... |
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..., I got my tools out and readied... |
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... myself and the laptop for “Surgery”. |
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Showing the “Area of Concern” for this operation. After removing the 3 screws... |
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... that held down the “Heat Pipe Outer Plate”. I was able to slide... |
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...the entire “Heat Pipe/Radiator” assembly...** |
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... out of the “Heatsink/Fan” receiver slot. That then exposed the “Inner top Heatspreader Plate”... |
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...which holds the the screws securing the “ItHP” to the video card proper. It is also now possible to see the 2 screws that secure the video card itself down to the Mobo. In retrospect it “Probably” doesn't matter the order of disassembly.... BUT This being the First time I had EVER opened my laptop (ANY Laptop) for work I was being as cautious as possible. So.. I took off the top plate first... |
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...*{Note the Thermal material on the inside of the “ItHP” for later} in order to get a visual confirmation of the physical compatibility... |
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...of the new card. You can see the signs of over heating in the old card by the separation of the plastic sealing film. One of the first (and few) differences was now visible (circled in red): The new card (Green) has holes in its “Board” just big enough for the screws themselves... the old card (Blue) has holes in its ”Board” big enough for the nuts attached to the “Bottom Heatspreader Frame” to protrude thru it. These “nuts” are what the screws, holding the “ItHP” to the card itself, thread into. Therefore an important part of the overall assembly design... BUT we get to that later. After removing the 2 screws that secure the Card down the spring retainer, in the MXM type 2 slot, will hold the card up at an angle (See#28 {I got in a hurry and didnt get a pic}) simply slide the card away from the MXM slot, in plane with the angle the card is at, and the card comes free. With the Video Card removed... |
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...you can see both attachment nuts (circled in red) for the Video Card “Securing Screws”, the bottom heat pipe, and the “Mobo Y (shaped) Heatspeader Plate. I again did a visual comparison between the 2 card from the bottom... |
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You can see the outline on the new card for the “Bottom Heatspreader Frame”. By gently prying from the back and pushing on the exposed nuts from the front you can remove the “BHSF” without any warping or undue force. As seen by the condition of the Old card |
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Make sure not to scratch or tear the liner (Very Important for later). Working out the Conundrum that having to use the “BHSF” presented me took a little time and thought. Being a very Visual minded person these pix helped me think it thru: |
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(The heads of the nuts are circled in red) |
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This picture shows both “BHSF” and Liner after mod preparatory to assembly(The red circle details the Still threaded screw hole). |
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This picture shows the inside of the “ItHP”. Note the Grey Thermal material (Left in place from “ItHp” removal){Highlighted with green} for the VRAM chips... THIS IS Very Important. Using the Original GPU thermal Material as a guide I placed the NEW White Thermal Material in place(highlighted in red for new/ grey for approx area of contact). Note: this way too Much material.. Especially in thickness. The following is MY OWN workaround and you may have better solutions. Placing the “ItHP” on Firm Solid background.. I lined up the “Securing Screws” holes of the card and the “ItHP”... |
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... and Gently but Firmly pushed down in the center of the card (Directly over the GPU). This gave me the outline of the GPU's contact with the Thermal Material. I cut away all the rest of the Thermal Material and rolled the remaining amount out to an appropriate thickness. |
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This was to avoid undue pressure on the GPU that might crack it or otherwise damage the GPU. Note from MXM-Upgrade: this is why we supply our high grade heatpads. William's approach is valid but we nonetheless suggest our pads. Once this was done... I applied the liner... |
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...following the lines as a guide (It only goes on ONE WAY correctly). Note: you MUST use the liner as the new card has “Wire Pass Thru” and solder lumps that ARE NOT made flat and smooth in this area as on the old card. The liner helps guarantee insulation from shorting these points together thru the “BHSF” Then the “BHSF” is applied (Connection side “down”). |
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At this point it gets to be a little Physically tricky... Pick up the entire pile of “Inside top Heat Plate”, Video Card, Liner, and “Bottom Heatspeader Plate” … Keeping the “Securing Screw” holes lined up and start the first screw (Top Left) a couple of threads only, then the second screw (Bottom Right)a couple of threads, the third screw (Top Right) a couple of threads, and then the 4th and final “Securing Screw” a couple of threads. A light squeezing action in line with the GPU in between each screw tightening will help set the thermal material evenly and slowly with out (Hopefully) undue pressure building up on the GPU. Go back and forth in a non repeating pattern from screw to screw a half turn at a time till all 4 screws are firmly set. At this time I took the other New Thermal Material (Light Grey) and sectioned and layered (2 Layers) it to fit as shown... |
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...so it would contact the Bottom heat pipe and Y heat spreader (Again: My own conceptual solution that might have a better alternative). At this point I had a complete Video Card Module (including Heatsink attachments) that I slid into the MXM slot at the original angle... |
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{Green circles show the heat solution “Securing Screws”. Red Highlights are the Vid card “Securing Screw” locations}. Dang if it didn't fit JUST LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR IT.!! But I didn't want to celebrate just yet. I then inserted the 2 Vid Card “Securing Screws” |
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{Shown circled in green. The red highlighted holes are the open spots for the “Outer Top Plate Heat Pipe” assembly}. Next I Slid into place and screwed down the “Outer Top Plate Heat Pipe”. |
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After re securing the access plate and inserting the battery... I said a small prayer, crossed my fingers and hit the power button. |
WooHoo
It was at this time that I did a little happy dance in appreciation of the 8600GT 512Mb Video Goodness that was mine once again.
Now I am actually considering trying to up grade to the ATI 3000 series HD solution Kris has... As soon as the money is available. This was a great experience for me: Kris's Wonderful Product and customer service; MY trusty laptop being “Trusty” again; and the growth of self that makes me comfortable working on that (Until Now) “Most Mysterious” of computers... The Laptop.
Note from MXM-Upgrade: we will be offering 4650 card begin 2010 and will probably work together with William again to test it.
Thanx Kris
Shipping is also included. The 8600GT is shipped through regular registered postal services inside the EU and through DHL for US, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey and Switzerland. If you need a specific quote for your country, please contact us.
The below link may only be used for the Asus C90s notebook. If it is used for any other platform, we reserve the right to refuse returns or warranty. |
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Asus C90s 8600GT MXM card - 180€ |
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Tube of AS5 - 8€ |