Does HP put laptop motherboards in their desktop PCs?

KenY7744

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Had an interesting experience the other day while shopping for a new PC for my wife. The salesman (?) told us not to buy an HP desktop because HP is now putting inferior laptop motherboards in their desktops. I thought that this was a pretty wild claim, because:
1. the connections for USB, VGA, Ethernet, etc. have to come out on the back to match up with the holes on the back of the case
2. Similarly, the expansion slot(s) also need to line up with the back of the case

Anyone know of any basis for this claim?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
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    Intel Core5 3330 3GHz
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    8Gb
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You should have slapped the salesman for being an ignorant.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell E6410
    CPU
    Core i7 M560
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia NVS3100
    Hard Drives
    120 GB SSD
Hi,

I have serviced HP machines but haven't seen a laptop mobo inside a desktop yet, maybe that salesman did :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
My instincts LOUDLY told me that this was complete BS, but instead of blasting him, I just said "Wow, really?" (in my most sarcastic tone) and went on my way. Kinda reinforces my belief that the uneducated computer buyer should not go to Staples, BestBuy or the like without a knowledgeable companion in tow.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    CPU
    Intel Core5 3330 3GHz
    Memory
    8Gb
    Browser
    IE11; Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
I can picture a desktop card slot soldered to a laptop board. :roflmao:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I've seen some Dell "All in one's" and the motherboard in these are basically a laptop with a desktop type screen. They even use an external power supply like the charger for a laptop. I suspect the HP "All in One's" are the same.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
I've seen some Dell "All in one's" and the motherboard in these are basically a laptop with a desktop type screen. They even use an external power supply like the charger for a laptop. I suspect the HP "All in One's" are the same.

well yeah, that could be possible that he's pertaining to the all-in-one models not the usual home/business/everyday computing models.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
I've seen some Dell "All in one's" and the motherboard in these are basically a laptop with a desktop type screen. They even use an external power supply like the charger for a laptop. I suspect the HP "All in One's" are the same.

well yeah, that could be possible that he's pertaining to the all-in-one models not the usual home/business/everyday computing models.

Yea, that's a different scenario. The all in ones are basically a laptop to begin with.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I've seen some Dell "All in one's" and the motherboard in these are basically a laptop with a desktop type screen. They even use an external power supply like the charger for a laptop. I suspect the HP "All in One's" are the same.
well yeah, that could be possible that he's pertaining to the all-in-one models not the usual home/business/everyday computing models.
Yea, that's a different scenario. The all in ones are basically a laptop to begin with.

Unless it happens to be this all-in-one: HP Z1 G2 All-In-One Workstations | HP® Official Site :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z820
    CPU
    2 x E5-2630
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 780
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2711; Wacom Cintiq 24 HD
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 500GB SSD; lots of HDDs
    Mouse
    Mionix NAOS 8200
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
No, we were shopping for the traditional desktop towers, like the Pavilion, with an Intel i3 processor, not an all-in-one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 660
    CPU
    Intel Core5 3330 3GHz
    Memory
    8Gb
    Browser
    IE11; Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
Then, as others have said the guy had no idea.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
Newegg.com - Acer AXC-603-UR10 Desktop PC Intel Pentium J2900 Processor 2.41GHz 4GB DDR3 1TB HDD Capacity Windows 8.1

HP 110 Desktop PC (AMD E1 2500 / 1TB HDD / 4GB RAM / Windows 8.1) - English : Everyday Computing - Best Buy Canada

Two examples of a desktop PC made with laptop components. The CPU's in both is a laptop CPU, and the motherboards have been modified to fit in a micro ITX case. In fact if you look at the pictures of the Acer you can clearly see the typical laptop motherboard memory slot on it. They also have about as much upgradeability as a laptop.

So no the salesman wasn't shooting you a line (don't believe I'm defending a BB salesman, but there are some honest ones). Basically comes down to having to do a little bit more research if you're looking for an off the shelf PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Me
    CPU
    FX 8350 @ 4.6
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A97 Evo
    Memory
    2 x 2 GB Kingston HyperX 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9 270X Dual-X
    Sound Card
    Xonar DGX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer S232HL
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex 3 120 GB
    Seagate 500 GB
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 650W
    Case
    Antec Three Hundred
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech G500s
    Internet Speed
    35000/3000
Newegg.com - Acer AXC-603-UR10 Desktop PC Intel Pentium J2900 Processor 2.41GHz 4GB DDR3 1TB HDD Capacity Windows 8.1

HP 110 Desktop PC (AMD E1 2500 / 1TB HDD / 4GB RAM / Windows 8.1) - English : Everyday Computing - Best Buy Canada

Two examples of a desktop PC made with laptop components. The CPU's in both is a laptop CPU, and the motherboards have been modified to fit in a micro ITX case. In fact if you look at the pictures of the Acer you can clearly see the typical laptop motherboard memory slot on it. They also have about as much upgradeability as a laptop.

So no the salesman wasn't shooting you a line (don't believe I'm defending a BB salesman, but there are some honest ones). Basically comes down to having to do a little bit more research if you're looking for an off the shelf PC.

I think its just a misunderstanding, there's a difference between putting a laptop's motherboard (meaning that motherboard is not intended for a desktop fitting) and a motherboard with identical parts that a laptop motherboard has that is fitted into a micro ITX desktop case (which means that the manufacturer did not intentionally design the motherboard for a laptop). IMO
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
Regardless of the shape of the motherboard, it doesn't change the fact that it is a laptop in a desktop case.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Me
    CPU
    FX 8350 @ 4.6
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A97 Evo
    Memory
    2 x 2 GB Kingston HyperX 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9 270X Dual-X
    Sound Card
    Xonar DGX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer S232HL
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex 3 120 GB
    Seagate 500 GB
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 650W
    Case
    Antec Three Hundred
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech G500s
    Internet Speed
    35000/3000
I repair computers for a living and just this past week I have seen 3 HP desktops with laptop components inside. I noticed this when I picked one up and it weighed about 1/4 of a normal desktop tower. The PC even had a laptop power adapter. There were no expansion slots and it sure looked like a laptop motherboard inside.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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