Do you save money by buying striped down laptops?

[Essej Sniggoc]

Can you find laptops with missing hard drives, RAM, or DVD drives? If you did find one, could you save money by getting your own hard drive, RAM, or DVD drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Can you find them? Depends on where you are, but sure.
Government departments routinely sell off old equipment. You might have to buy a pallet full, though.

 

[Essej Sniggoc]

I'm not really looking for older laptops. And I really don't mind buying a lot of them either. I live in Georgia. Any idea where I could start looking? Lol

 

[jaguarskx]

Technically, you can save money since system builders do charge extra money beyond the cost of the components so that they have money to pay for normal business expenses (re-instating slave labor can help lower cost though) and also to re-invest in the company.

MSI does sell "whitebooks" which are stripped down laptops which generally does not have a CPU, RAM and hard drive. In some laptops (generally speaking) the CPU and RAM is already embedded on the motherboard (like some ultrabook / sleekbooks [AMD]). The graphics chip (if there is one) is also typically embedded on the motherboard.

In higher end gaming whitebooks, there is no embedded graphics chip. Instead there is an available MXM slot that is used to install an actual MXM form factor laptop graphics card. These MXM cards are difficult to find since they are generally not sold directly to consumers, and they are also expensive.

Below is a link to MSI's whitebooks, however, you need to find a place that will sell one to you. I don't think you will be able to buy directly from MSI unless you do a mass order.

http/www.msiwhitebook.com/


Here is an example of a MSI whitebook that allows you to install your own CPU, RAM, HDD or SSD, and graphics card (GTX 770m or 780m).

http/www.msiwhitebook.com/product_spec.asp?model=MS-1763

 

[Essej Sniggoc]

Technically, you can save money since system builders do charge extra money beyond the cost of the components so that they have money to pay for normal business expenses (re-instating slave labor can help lower cost though) and also to re-invest in the company.

MSI does sell "whitebooks" which are stripped down laptops which generally does not have a CPU, RAM and hard drive. In some laptops (generally speaking) the CPU and RAM is already embedded on the motherboard (like some ultrabook / sleekbooks [AMD]). The graphics chip (if there is one) is also typically embedded on the motherboard.

In higher end gaming whitebooks, there is no embedded graphics chip. Instead there is an available MXM slot that is used to install an actual MXM form factor laptop graphics card. These MXM cards are difficult to find since they are generally not sold directly to consumers, and they are also expensive.

Below is a link to MSI's whitebooks, however, you need to find a place that will sell one to you. I don't think you will be able to buy directly from MSI unless you do a mass order.

http/www.msiwhitebook.com/


Here is an example of a MSI whitebook that allows you to install your own CPU, RAM, HDD or SSD, and graphics card (GTX 770m or 780m).

http/www.msiwhitebook.com/product_spec.asp?model=MS-1763

When you purchase one of these whitebooks, how does the CPU installation work? I know that you need to buy the compatible mobile CPU, but does the CPU connect into a socket on the mobo? Or do you have to solder the CPU onto the mobo? Lol I'm guessing that RAM, HDD/SSD, and DVD drive installation is like on a normal laptop.

 

[Essej Sniggoc]

Also MSI has posted this about their whitebooks on their website,

"Alert: The BIOS of MSI-branded Notebook PC is NOT compatible with the Whitebook Barebone. MSI is not responsible for any damages resulted from improper use or lack of technical expertise."

What does that really mean?

 

[jaguarskx]

Yes, the CPU will go into the socket.

The alert basically means you cannot apply any BIOS updates to the laptop even a MSI laptop using the same chassis sold under their own brand name. So basically, the BIOS it comes with is the BIOS you will forever be stuck with.

 

[Essej Sniggoc]

I'm guessing that is a pretty bad con.