is it possible to rebuild an old laptop with new parts

[tiyoo]

So I was digging through my stuff because I am moving soon and ran across an old IBM 380 laptop. I am wondering what kind of knowledge it would take to gut it abd put new parts in it...is this even possible? Im just wondering if it means there is more room which could mean better and bigger parts.

this all may sound kind of noobish but im not a hardware person. this would just be a side project...

 

[i7Baby]

Hard to buy parts eg screen, motherboard that would fit and work. You'd have to measure up and hunt down same size and mounting parts.

 

[hang-the-9]

The only thing you can really upgrade is RAM and hard-drive. You won't be able to do anything else as the motherboard and connectors to the ports are designed for specific laptop models and are not interchangeable for the most part.

If that laptop is in working condition, there are actually people that look for old systems for different reasons, take a look on craigslist. I have seen several posts with someone looking for old computer hardware.

 

[tiyoo]

Well, I would rather not sell it because I think its pretty rare to have these laptops. I feel you guys when you talk about the hardware not fitting. This is the kind of thing I am looking for. Since the case is HUGE would I not be able to put smaller parts in and mount them myself?

I see stuff like WandBoard, Raspberry Pi...single board systems...now obviously I would want something a little larger and more substantial but the laptop case is HUGE compared to the laptops nowadays. Let me know what you think. Again...this is just a side project and I just think it would be cool to have a baller laptop disguised as a craptastic classic.

 

[tiyoo]

Here are the specs for the two laptops:

1) NEC Versa LX
2) IBM 380ED

 

[hang-the-9]

If you just want to gut the thing and use it as a case, take it apart and see what will fit. You'll have to create your own mounting points and will need to cut out holes for the ports and the screen will be tough to connect if impossible. If you want to modify the case to use it, it should hold something. You're not going to get a clean laptop out of the thing but you may get a regular computer in a laptop case.

 

[tiyoo]

Has no one tried this before? I think this would be really cool. I hear what you guys are saying about the case. Are there adapters that I can use (kind of like small extensions) to make sure all the holes are plugged up? I am going to take it apart this weekend at some point and see what there is to see inside of it. I will post pics and update everyone. Maybe I will start a build thread or something.

Do you think I would just be better off 3D Printing a computer case or something? I just think it would be so cool to have an ancient laptop with new parts. If I cant get the screen to work maybe I can just turn it into a media center or something.

 

[hang-the-9]

Has no one tried this before? I think this would be really cool. I hear what you guys are saying about the case. Are there adapters that I can use (kind of like small extensions) to make sure all the holes are plugged up? I am going to take it apart this weekend at some point and see what there is to see inside of it. I will post pics and update everyone. Maybe I will start a build thread or something.

Do you think I would just be better off 3D Printing a computer case or something? I just think it would be so cool to have an ancient laptop with new parts. If I cant get the screen to work maybe I can just turn it into a media center or something.

There are lots of people that modify old cases and stick newer parts in them, but it requires quite a bit of cutting and modifying. You can't just get adapters to make a new motherboard fit into an old case, you have to measure and cut/fit/create the things yourself.