Want to add a Broadcom CrystalHD Video accelerator or another module that comes on a mini PCIe card to your netbook? While a handful of netbooks have unused PCIe slots hanging out on the motherboards, many use the only available space for the wireless card. And then there’s the Samsung NC10.
SammyNetbook forum member graemem was trying to figure out how to install the Broadcom HD decoder on his NC10, and he noticed that the netbook’s motherboard actually has a second PCIe option printed on it. There’s just no socket. The solution? Pick up a cheap socket and solder it to the motherboard. And that’s exactly what he did.
Of course, your results may vary, and there’s clearly plenty of room for things to go wrong with this type of hack, so please be careful. But you can find graemem’s step by step instructions and a handful of photos at SammyNetbook.
via Netbooked
Still a question of whether it is a full Mini PCIe or just a 3G, the difference being 3G only has USB pins connected and the Broadcom Crystal HD requires the PCI pins to work. . .
not for anyone with shaky hands, that’s for sure 😉