*Compaq CQ41 Owners Lounge*

Welcome to the CQ41 Owner's Lounge! A place to liase with other owners and share useful tips/tricks/mods to get the most satisfying user experience. Examples below:

OS, drivers and disassembly

• Win7 OEM sources: the additional HP/Compaq installation contents added to a Win7 CD.
• HP/Compaq Software & Driver Downloads: Drivers, software and disassembly manuals from HP.
• [Drivers] HP dv4-1XXX / dv4-21XX, Compaq CQ40 / CQ41 / CQ45 (INTEL): Find the latest drivers posted by our forum members.
• Popular HP Notebook Software Collection : the latest versions of some popular HP software.
• HP/Compaq Desktop Wallpapers: A compilation of stock wallpapers from the HP and Compaq notebook range.
• Installing XP by slipstreaming AHCI SATA drivers: See 3: Difficult Models.

BIOS/DMI modifications

• BIOS emergency recovery process: in case you have a flash gone bad.
• modded F.0C bios: 750/900 HD4350/HD4550 gpu overclock, fastboot enabled, decreased IGP from 256MB to 128MB (works on CQ41 and DV4).

Tools

• HP DMIFIT 2C10 Utility: change the red Compaq bios bootup logo to the stylish HP logo by deleting Presario in the model string, ie: Compaq Presario CQ41 Notebook PC. Use 'hpbc280 /wz' to unlock the Advanced menu where can do many DMI changes, eg: enable SLIC2.1 by changing OS from non-Vista to Win7.
• ezh2o 2.1.0.13: change hidden Insyde bios parameters like fan speed/trip points.
• PhoenixTool: modify bios internals. eg: swap the 450Mhz HD4350 vbios with the 550Mhz HD4550 vbios.

Overclocking

• +GPU using Rivatuner: can get a stable 750/900 HD4350 overclock giving 3dmark06 > 4100.
• ?CPU: the supplied 32-pin RTM875N-632 or ICS9LRS3197AKLFT PLL. Try the N61JQ overclocking method, shown on youtube. Or via setfsb using the G73JH PLL. Though it looks like would need to be replaced the PLL with a pin compatible ICS VS3197BL to get software overclocking ability.

Improve battery life: the 2hr battery life is due to the CCFL-backlit LCD, HD4350 and 7200rpm HDD and low-capacity 48Whr 6-cell battery.

• disable LAN and modem in Device Manager. Use power saver profile with HDD spundown after 1min. Turn down LCD brightness to lowest+3 notches.
• KS526AA 12-cell 96Whr will double battery life. Aftermarket 112Whr unit extending that further.
• SSD+HDD: swap the optical drive with a US$20 Fenvi 12.7mm sata caddy to host a SSD or additional HDD.
• LED backlit LCD: improves battery life and increases brightness. Would require a DV3 LCD cable, LED inverter and LED-backlit LCD. LED-backlit LCDs tend to be thinner so would need padding to provide a gapless bezel fit.

Other hardware mods/upgrades

• bluetooth: just attach an ebay CQ45/DV4 BT module to the connector labelled BT.
• DIY ViDock: x2 1.0 GTX470/HD5750 equipped CQ41 via mPCIe slots for much faster gaming graphics.
• backlit keyboard: mod a DV3 backlit keyboard to fit by moving screw posts OR fit the top part of the DV3 keyboard onto a CQ41 keyboard base. Solder connector to KB BKLT pads and connect backlight ribbon cable.

Switchable graphics? - cannot be enabled via a bios mod, as the multiplexer chip has not been added to the board.

CQ41 i3/i5+HD4350 systemboard details Physical inspection finding the other connectors below are missing, with just solderable pads to add them on the CQ41 590329-001 systemboard. Appears the connectors are on the DV4-2000 590349-001 systemboard. keyboard backlight (pads only) SIM card slot (pads only) second mPCIe slot (pads only) power on/off (pads only) expresscard slot (pads only) docking connector (pads only) multibay sata port(pads only)

CQ41 uses a Compal LA-4107P systemboard. OPP@=CQ41, PA@=DV4. Schematic supplied by laptopdesktopschematic.

Mix and match: using CQ45 and/or DV4 parts



Appearance: glam up a CQ41 with a DV4 blue or white LCD rear cover and DV4 glossy bezel.



Expresscard functionality: If prepared to solder an expresscard cage onto the empty pads then the CQ45 base could provide the chassis cutout needed to access it. Or could use a coping saw or boxcutter to make a warranty-voiding small cutout.



CQ45 volume/power touchpanel: physically it would fit, just need to check if the CQ41 and CQ45 share the same pinouts. The CQ41 would need another socket soldered on for the the power on/off if it was possible.



Using DV4-2000 systemboard: note docking connector require bottom chassis cutouts to accomodate them OR those parts could be soldered off to fit into a CQ41 bottom chassis. If swapping out for the Intel HD graphics (UMA) model then a different heatsink assembly, pn 591957-001, is required. Also need a multibay adapter for the optical drive. Expresscard cage looks like would fit within the chassis, though couldn't use any devices cabled externally without creating a cutout for access.



Systemboards pics: dv4-2000 (HD4550: 590349-001), CQ41-100 (UMA: 590330-001)



Related schematics



CQ41-200 or DV4-2000 (Discrete), CQ40, DV4-1000 (UMA), DV4-1000 (Discrete), CQ45 (Discrete).

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