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Gateway MT3705 Laptop CMOS reset, OS & CPU “Upgrade”

Mobile/Laptops & Netbooks by SidneyWong @ 2007-12-03

We will go through CMOS reset from a mistake made in BIOS setting. Replacing Vista with Windows XP and how about upgrading the CPU while it is so inexpensive at eBay. Let´s call this a double “upgrade” and fixing a fatal BIOS mistake made.

Dissection

Dissection:

A single jewelry Phillips head screw driver would do the job. Sharpie marker, small magnet pen and a flash light would make the job easier. Make sure you account for all the screws removed. Luckily, there are only three different sizes in total. We will go through this step by step. Kitchen table with good lighting will do, if your better half does not mind.

Since resetting the CMOS battery and replacing the CPU take the same approach. I will do this in a single pass. One or two of the screws might not want to come out of the hole, a small magnet pen will do the job; making sure you retrieve the screw or it will simply disappear.

Turn the laptop up-side-down, remove the battery.

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The memory module could stay put, don't bother with them. Remove the two screws holding the hard drive and slide it out.

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Unscrew and remove the wireless PCIe compartment cover.

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Carefully disconnect the SMP main and aux cable; they snap out and remove the card.

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Next is to unscrew all the remaining screws you could find with the laptop still up-side-down... look carefully they might be out of sight.

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The two short screws from the above photos hold the hinge-plate on topside.

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The two plastic taps are holding the top plate; use a screw drive to push the top plate so that it has enough room to pry it loose from top side.

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There are two screws on each side holding the LCD panels; remove but leave one of them for now.

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Unplug the VGA connector.

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There are two SMP wires (Black & White) connecting to the wireless PCIe card that were disconnected previously from the card. Get them out of the wire-guide and slowly pull them out of the way. Now, remove the last screw holding the LCD panel, remove the panel from the chassis.

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Removing the keyboard becomes easy; don't forget to unplug the flex ribbon cable gently (they break easily).

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From here on it gets easier. There are two more screws hidden at the top two corners. Lifting the "top" cover should not present any problem. Slide the DVD drive out. Don't forget the locations and number of screws you remove; I used a Sharpie marker to mark the location.

Comment from thorgal @ 2007/12/03

Love the review Sidney, keep it up

Comment from Sidney @ 2007/12/03

Glad you do. ty

Comment from geoffrey @ 2007/12/03

Do you think you could pin mod the CPU strapped at 133MHz?

Comment from Sidney @ 2007/12/03

Should have ask earlier before I put the darn pieces back

Or, I should have thought of it.

Next time when I could get another cheapo T7200 or T2400, although I am sure if the pin mod would work on 479 pin. It is at 166FSB now.

Comment from Massman @ 2007/12/03

I'ts fun reading this review, Sidney, although it ain't motivating me to open my laptop to try the same

Comment from Sidney @ 2007/12/04

Another reader wrote to me on the SD card reader, the TI driver works for him. Gateway now has posted TI 2.0.0.6 driver http://support.gateway.com/support/d...&param=1008547

However, MX3702 and MT3705 (the one I am using) are using Realtek. Gateway is using at least two vendors in both wireless PCI and USB card readers. Media card reader = Texas Intrument or Realtek; Wireless PCI = Broadcom or Realtek. Realtek support sucks insofar I know.

It still does not work here.

Quote:

I'ts fun reading this review, Sidney, although it ain't motivating me to open my laptop to try the same

I wouldn't have if not the BIOS issue.

Comment from whytewolfe @ 2008/06/06

there are two settings in the bios that would help if you turned them on or up; first make sure your ram is running at the right speed, and second, change the hard drive 32bit bus on. that and powerstrip can oc the xpress 200m

Comment from Sidney @ 2008/06/07

Quote:

Originally Posted by whytewolfe

Those were part of BIOS settings done at the getgo; like all overclocking checklist.

Comment from whytewolfe @ 2008/06/07

just asking because the only difference between what you got and what i get for 3d03 is only different by 18 marks(i have an ml3109, cel m520, 1gb ram 667mhz); about the only other thing that could account for the difference is the omega 7.12 drivers

ps.that 3d03 for the original cpu you had in the laptop

Comment from jmke @ 2008/06/07

18 marks is 0% difference

Comment from whytewolfe @ 2008/06/07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmke

18 marks is 0% difference

actually it's a 1% difference going from 1245(mine) to 1257(sidney and 4.5% from 1245 to 1301(mine; 200m o/c'ed)

Comment from jmke @ 2008/06/07

not really, run the benchmark a few times, you'll see that the score fluctuates by more than 18 marks

Comment from Sidney @ 2008/06/07

It doesn't matter much; the onboard ATI graphic is good for DVD movie and all sorts of office apps except for professional graphic, PC games. It was never built for highend apps for the money they ask.

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