I had a couple of follow up questions regarding the Broadcom Adapter, so I thought I’d write a quick post on what I can remember from installing the card in my HP2133.
Taking the machine apart to install the card : This is a little tricky as you have to get to the motherboard which is beneath the keyboard. A couple of useful reference are:
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/remove-keyboard-replace-memory-access-hard-drive-hp-2133-mini-note-pc/
and the official HP maintenance manual
http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01658655/c01658655.pdf
Be very careful with the keyboard connector! I broke mine the first time and had to get a defunct motherboard to replace it. I have successfully disassembled the machine many times since without breaking it but just be extra cautious.
What did I give up to use the card?: I think you have to take out the wireless card. I had problems with mine because HP didn’t attach the antenna to the card so it appeared that my wireless card was unable to find networks. Once I opened the machine to install the Broadcom adapter, I found the manufacturing issue but had already purchased a USB Wifi adapter!
Battery Life/Performance: Running the Broadcom adapter did drain the battery faster. It also made the machine run with the fan on at constant high speed when video was being decoded.
Software: I had the hardest time getting the software I downloaded to install so that the accelerator would work correctly. I think I got it working with Microsoft Media Player and Arcsoft Totalmedia Theater. It looks like the drivers are now on the Broadcom website so it might be easier than when I tried it.
Final thoughts: I didn’t keep the accelerator in the machine for very long after installation, I think the heat and the noise from the fan were the deal breakers for me.
I hope this post is helpful and answers some of the questions raised recently.
