HP Elitebook 8570W - is it still good ? Hardware modifications

[SuperMG3]

On 5/4/2025 at 10:43 PM, SuperMG3 said:

Hello. Will you ever test RTX 4060/4070 MXM 3.0A on your laptop? They are from X-Vsion and cost below 450€ They don't require 4G decoding as @panda_zzzgot the 4060 work on Alienware M17X R4 with optimus. No one else tested the GPU on eDP without optimus

 

The seller said 4060 won't work with eDP but the listing says it is. He did confirm that RTX 4050 and 4070 have eDP, they are both MXM A cards, the better one being at 115W max.

[Will]

@GuitarG Hey, I recently got an EliteBook 8560w for cheap. Sorry to bother you, but would you mind answering a few questions please?

1 - Do you know if it's possible to run a quad-core processor on a dual-core motherboard (P/N 684318-001)? Would it work normally?

2 - Do you know if it's possible to swap the 8560w motherboard with the one from the 8570w? I previously swapped the motherboard of a 8760w with the one from a 8770w and everything worked fine, so I’m guessing it might be possible with the 8560w too.

3 - Is it true that the display will not have a back light until the driver is installed with maxwell cards? Im planning to maybe get a M2200.

[frelu]

1. Yes, got exact same setup in my wife's 8560w. Mobo from i5 and replaced i5 to i7.

 

2. Probably yes, gotta compare optically.

[GuitarG]

On 5/4/2025 at 10:43 PM, SuperMG3 said:

Hello. Will you ever test RTX 4060/4070 MXM 3.0A on your laptop? They are from X-Vsion and cost below 450€ They don't require 4G decoding as @panda_zzzgot the 4060 work on Alienware M17X R4 with optimus. No one else tested the GPU on eDP without optimus

 

I don't think it is worth with such old CPU. It compiled shaders for Monster Hunter Wilds for 6 hours (first start). Right now I have faulty RAM sticks to troubleshoot and I'm getting tired.

8 hours ago, Will said:

@GuitarG Hey, I recently got an EliteBook 8560w for cheap. Sorry to bother you, but would you mind answering a few questions please?

1 - Do you know if it's possible to run a quad-core processor on a dual-core motherboard (P/N 684318-001)? Would it work normally?

2 - Do you know if it's possible to swap the 8560w motherboard with the one from the 8570w? I previously swapped the motherboard of a 8760w with the one from a 8770w and everything worked fine, so I’m guessing it might be possible with the 8560w too.

3 - Is it true that the display will not have a back light until the driver is installed with maxwell cards? Im planning to maybe get a M2200.

1. Yes
2. Yes, I planted DC screen from 8560W to mine 8570W.
3.Never used Mxx cards, but in that case I would use external monitor untill installing drivers.

[Will]

Thank you guys, appreciate it

[SuperMG3]

6 hours ago, GuitarG said:

I don't think it is worth with such old CPU. It compiled shaders for Monster Hunter Wilds for 6 hours (first start). Right now I have faulty RAM sticks to troubleshoot and I'm getting tired.

1. Yes
2. Yes, I planted DC screen from 8560W to mine 8570W.
3.Never used Mxx cards, but in that case I would use external monitor untill installing drivers.

Hello. What screen do you use in your laptop? I mean you managed to get an RTX 5000 Turing to display on your internal screen. Is it pure-eDP or half LVDS and half eDP?

[GuitarG]

On 5/12/2025 at 8:40 PM, SuperMG3 said:

Hello. What screen do you use in your laptop? I mean you managed to get an RTX 5000 Turing to display on your internal screen. Is it pure-eDP or half LVDS and half eDP?

I use DC screen, meaning it's LVDS driven by EDP-to-LVDS board. That board is connected by EDP from mobo.
On mobo there is 50 pin connector, housing both LVDS and EDP signals. Which one are used is determined by GPU used.

About project I think that CPU is defective, every RAM I tested threw error in memtest, meaning RAM controller in CPU is shot. And I don't see any good CPU for sale, even on marketplace....

[SuperMG3]

3 hours ago, GuitarG said:

I use DC screen, meaning it's LVDS driven by EDP-to-LVDS board. That board is connected by EDP from mobo.
On mobo there is 50 pin connector, housing both LVDS and EDP signals. Which one are used is determined by GPU used.

About project I think that CPU is defective, every RAM I tested threw error in memtest, meaning RAM controller in CPU is shot. And I don't see any good CPU for sale, even on marketplace....

Hello. My screen is an LG LP173WF2-TPA1.

It says online it's an eDP 50pins screen. For your screen, online it just says LVDS.

 

For the CPUs, you can get one on AliExpress. I bought many CPUs there and no problems found.

[Vladka76]

Hello!
I'm an owner of 8770w with non-DC screen and new Quadro M3000M.
Do you have any experience with slice Battery repacking (elements replacing)?
On the 4pda.to you wrote:
"8770w battery don't have *smarts*, only need to remember to disconnect from biggest +V to lowest (battery voltage drops in increments and BQ don't destroy itself), solder new ones and charge-discharge 2 times."
Thanks to your firm confidence in these words - I did repack successfully my primary original (yea!) VH08XL - but this is not enough to me.
I have an idea to buy a DEAD slice battery - BB09 (QK640AA) with 9 elements (3s-3p) - and do the same. 😉
What do you say about this?
How likely is it that the words in the lot description, 'does not hold a charge', mean 'already locked BQ'?
 

Thank you for attention.

[GuitarG]

7 hours ago, Vladka76 said:

Hello!
I'm an owner of 8770w with non-DC screen and new Quadro M3000M.
Do you have any experience with slice Battery repacking (elements replacing)?
On the 4pda.to you wrote:
"8770w battery don't have *smarts*, only need to remember to disconnect from biggest +V to lowest (battery voltage drops in increments and BQ don't destroy itself), solder new ones and charge-discharge 2 times."
Thanks to your firm confidence in these words - I did repack successfully my primary original (yea!) VH08XL - but this is not enough to me.
I have an idea to buy a DEAD slice battery - BB09 (QK640AA) with 9 elements (3s-3p) - and do the same. 😉
What do you say about this?
How likely is it that the words in the lot description, 'does not hold a charge', mean 'already locked BQ'?
 

Thank you for attention.

Hi, in fact I did same, bought BB09 not holding charge. I had to wake it up using original HP charger (you have AC input on battery, so you don't need to connect to laptop to charge it). It held charge for almost hour, but near 10% backlight started flickering - meaning battery needs new blood li-ion cells. I discarded guts of that slice battery and made it laptop stand so I can use it laying on carpet or bed.

I think yours need longer time on HP charger

[Vladka76]

Thanks for the answer - I've already ordered the battery. 😉  Let's see what comes...

[GuitarG]

 

Well, this custom coreboot need more polish, but seems it works !

[AstroMan]

Really impressive work GuitarG. So impressive in fact that I had to make an account just to say thanks for all your work.

I have been following your work across forums, really really neat stuff, especially the MXM 3.1.

I do wonder whether all these upgrades also apply to 8560w, its older brother with QM67.

As far as I can tell, they are almost identical outside of the motherboard.

[Vladka76]

I completely agree with the above.
You, Mashcar, are truly a guru of HP graphics stations. I admit that I also follow your posts on other technical forums.
I wish you could enable integrated Intel graphics and Optimus technology. After all, this will allow (if I'm not mistaken) all owners of non-DC, non-FHD screens and LVDS cables to install video cards newer than Maxwell 2.0... 😉
Good luck in perfecting your custom coreboot!
---
P.S. I would be extremely grateful if you could explain how DDR3 works at 2133 MHz on your 8570. Another mystery for me. 🙂

[panda_zzz]

6 hours ago, Vladka76 said:

P.S. I would be extremely grateful if you could explain how DDR3 works at 2133 MHz on your 8570. Another mystery for me. 🙂

I'm not the OP, but it's easy enough to explain how 2133 memory works - HyperX HX321LS11IB2/8 modules are used which can run at that frequency, and the third generation Intel allows it quite easily

[Vladka76]

9 hours ago, panda_zzz said:

I'm not the OP, but it's easy enough to explain how 2133 memory works - HyperX HX321LS11IB2/8 modules are used which can run at that frequency, and the third generation Intel allows it quite easily

You are right, but the difficulty is how to force the CPU's memory controller to use higher memory frequencies. In mobo's for desktop, there is a BIOS memory settings for this.
In this case, I assume that the respected TC used 2133 MHz modules, but with reprogrammed SPD's flash IC.

[panda_zzz]

6 hours ago, Vladka76 said:

In this case, I assume that the respected TC used 2133 MHz modules, but with reprogrammed SPD's flash IC.

Usually the memory controller tries to use the highest available frequency and if something goes wrong it lowers it.
I don't know if HP has put some kind of limitation on the memory frequency, but if not, everything works automatically.

[GuitarG]

On 6/15/2025 at 7:03 AM, Vladka76 said:

I wish you could enable integrated Intel graphics and Optimus technology. After all, this will allow (if I'm not mistaken) all owners of non-DC, non-FHD screens and LVDS cables to install video cards newer than Maxwell 2.0... 😉
Good luck in perfecting your custom coreboot!
---
P.S. I would be extremely grateful if you could explain how DDR3 works at 2133 MHz on your 8570. Another mystery for me. 🙂

Heh, thanks ppl =] that's really nice to hear.

Unlocking iGPU is a no-no, mxm gpu is directly connected to internal display and external outputs. Schematics says intel gpu is not connected anywhere. And iGPU is turned off in chipset configuration, too. But ! having such setups makes it more compatible and not lose about 10-20% of power (like in optimus scenarios). So best way is to modify original LVDS cable and make it eDP.

If I manage to save some money for another (haha) spare 8570w and manage hands health related problems, I will make tutorial of it and present it =}

And DDR3 just works with such SPDs, because those are HyperX Impact 2133mhz ones. They are more rare than 100$ laying on ground, though. You can use cheaper 1866 mhz, those are easier to find. They work out of box. Factory bios is locked in this regard, coreboot allows to overclock RAM (some people use that option in thinkpad ivy bridge gen).

By the way, I have succeeded with compiling coreboot with ReBAR and Above 4G options, it just worked. Unfortunately I don't have Ampere card or Intel Arc to test it.. but I think it would just work.
At least I hadn't encountered any problem or bug people said when they used DXE rebar driver.

[panda_zzz]

16 minutes ago, GuitarG said:

By the way, I have succeeded with compiling coreboot with ReBAR and Above 4G options, it just worked.

If it is not difficult to show a screenshot from gpu-z with information where it shows that the option above 4g decoding is active

[Vladka76]

On 6/16/2025 at 2:22 AM, panda_zzz said:

I don't know if HP has put some kind of limitation on the memory frequency, but if not, everything works automatically.

Thank you for good news for me!
I have little experience in installing overclocker memory in laptops.

[Vladka76]

10 hours ago, GuitarG said:

So best way is to modify original LVDS cable and make it eDP.

Thank you for this idea, it sounds great and relatively simple! But... does the mobo's connector for the cable to the int. screen have all the necessary pins - including eDP? And modding in this case will consist of rearranging the stock cable contacts, right?
(I have 8770w and a motherboard with two memory slots)
 

10 hours ago, GuitarG said:

...another (haha) spare 8570w. I will make tutorial of it and present it

🙂 Better buy (again) 8770w. 😉
Yes, your future tutorial would be very useful, same as a pinout of modded ex-LVDS cable.

 

10 hours ago, GuitarG said:

You can use cheaper 1866 mhz, those are easier to find. They work out of box.

Thank you! I'll be looking for it from time to time now.
Improve your health and good luck with your improvements!

[panda_zzz]

2 hours ago, Vladka76 said:

But... does the mobo's connector for the cable to the int. screen have all the necessary pins - including eDP? And modding in this case will consist of rearranging the stock cable contacts, right?

Again, I will give my view (just a long time does not give rest to this laptop, but has not yet bought it)
Perhaps there may be problems with EDID display, but electrically all the necessary contacts are present on the 50pin connector

 

Spoiler

 

[Vladka76]

5 hours ago, panda_zzz said:

all the necessary contacts are present on the 50pin connector

Thank you very much!