G73 Self Upgrading vs ASUS Authorized Service Dealer

[Saizo]

I have some parts on hand that I purchased to upgrade my G73, which include 4 sticks of RAM and a new Network card with 3rd antenna.

From the research I've done on this forum, there appears to be a great deal of dis-assembly that needs to be done to install these components.

Asus G73 Series Disassembly Guide

As well as the youtube video showing dis-assembly:
BTOtech.com | G73Jh & G73Jw & G73Sw Disassembly Take Apart G73 g73jw service manual - YouTube

It looks very difficult, and I don't trust myself being able to do this without screwing up and voiding my warranty. The main difficulty I see is installing the 3rd antenna and routing it through the screen and installing the 3rd and 4th ram modules behind the MOBO.

There's an ASUS authorized service dealer near me, but they charge $109 to install upgrades for me! ALSO, the service man I spoke to didn't seem to be familiar with this model of Laptop (G73-SW). I'm worried that it will be his first time doing this, and he's probably reading the same manual as in the link posted above! I was also told that it'd take 2-3 days. I thought it would be like, 30 minutes! I know it's an authorized repair facility, but from I feel uncomfortable.

So, do you guys think this is worth the $109 (which doesn't include tax) to have this guy who has probably never seen this model before mess with the insides? Or should I attempt it myself?

I'm preparing for Diablo 3 so I'd like to have my laptop by then ><

[Srikar]

It's not difficult. I had my redneck friend do it who doesn't know crap about computers while I recorded him on my phone. The most difficult part is the glue holding the keyboard down.

It'll take about an hour for most people to do that upgrade, and most of that time is taking it apart. A day at $109 is just not worth it. I first took apart my JH because Best Buy wanted to RMA it off to ASUS (despite being a certified ASUS tech place...) and it would take over a week to get back, all to just repaste the GPU.

[pato]

The WIFI card is really easy, you can right access it on the bottom. The ram is a tad trickier, if you really want to replace/use all modules.
Be careful with removing the keyboard, it uses very small and short cables which tend to break when removing them with a little to much force.

[Saizo]

It's not difficult. I had my redneck friend do it who doesn't know crap about computers while I recorded him on my phone. The most difficult part is the glue holding the keyboard down.

It'll take about an hour for most people to do that upgrade, and most of that time is taking it apart. A day at $109 is just not worth it. I first took apart my JH because Best Buy wanted to RMA it off to ASUS (despite being a certified ASUS tech place...) and it would take over a week to get back, all to just repaste the GPU.

I figure I'd try a GPU and CPU repaste along with the upgrades I have, but it like I said earlier the steps look REALLY hard to get there. I even saw Chastity's dis-assembly mess up thread. And if Chastity had problems getting it to work after putting it together...I'm probably going to explode my computer!

The WIFI card is really easy, you can right access it on the bottom. The ram is a tad trickier, if you really want to replace/use all modules.
Be careful with removing the keyboard, it uses very small and short cables which tend to break when removing them with a little to much force.

Well, it's not just the wifi card - I have a 3rd antenna to run through the laptop and that involves quite a bit of disassembly as well.

The main problem I have right now, is that I don't know how far I have to go in the disassembly process to do what I need to do. I can't tell based on the disassembly threads and videos where to stop.

If I screw up, my warranty will be voided right? Seems like a huge risk for a laptop that I haven't even owned a year lol

[pato]

The point with the third antenna is this, it actually depends on how it is exactly wired to give the best performance. If you don't know how exactly (and I'm pretty sure you don't have a developer card which shows you exact wifi details) to do this, it doesn't really matter how the antenna is in the case, as long as it doesn't come into a fan or an extremely hot part
I hope you didn't buy an Intel card which is an engineering sample? Those often only have 1-2 antennas enabled, even if they would support 3 Also once bought one of those and realized afterwards.

Yes, borking up the device = warranty void!
So I clearly advise against doing it if you're not used to do this kind of stuff.

Regarding the top memory slots (if we ignore the repaste), I beleive you need to go until you remove the keyboard and the metal piece below it to access it.

[Saizo]

The point with the third antenna is this, it actually depends on how it is exactly wired to give the best performance. If you don't know how exactly (and I'm pretty sure you don't have a developer card which shows you exact wifi details) to do this, it doesn't really matter how the antenna is in the case, as long as it doesn't come into a fan or an extremely hot part
I hope you didn't buy an Intel card which is an engineering sample? Those often only have 1-2 antennas enabled, even if they would support 3 Also once bought one of those and realized afterwards.

Yes, borking up the device = warranty void!
So I clearly advise against doing it if you're not used to do this kind of stuff.

Regarding the top memory slots (if we ignore the repaste), I beleive you need to go until you remove the keyboard and the metal piece below it to access it.

The card I bought is the 6300N (which I bought after reading on these forums). I also bought this for the 3rd antenna:

Amazon.com: Tyco Wifi & Bluetooth Antenna: Everything Else

I'm not sure how this attaches, and I couldn't find any pictures online on how it works.
I was planning on having the antenna routed the same way as the other 2. Based on the pictures I can see it's through the screen and the motherboard...but I'm not sure how it works with what I bought.

[Srikar]

I figure I'd try a GPU and CPU repaste along with the upgrades I have, but it like I said earlier the steps look REALLY hard to get there. I even saw Chastity's dis-assembly mess up thread. And if Chastity had problems getting it to work after putting it together...I'm probably going to explode my computer!

It really isn't that bad, lol. Audio cable and glue on keyboard diaper are the worst parts. I've taken apart my JH about 5 times now, still no problems, and I was as hesitant as you at first as well.

[pato]

The card I bought is the 6300N (which I bought after reading on these forums). I also bought this for the 3rd antenna:

Amazon.com: Tyco Wifi & Bluetooth Antenna: Everything Else

I'm not sure how this attaches, and I couldn't find any pictures online on how it works.
I was planning on having the antenna routed the same way as the other 2. Based on the pictures I can see it's through the screen and the motherboard...but I'm not sure how it works with what I bought.

Ok this looks good. But in your case I'd actually leave the two original antennas and plug them into port 1 and 2 and add the third one which you best have at the complete front of the laptop. With some luck MIMO is working good and you will actually have a better reciption. In the end is the 3. antenna not anymore so important as the other two though.

[Saizo]

Ok this looks good. But in your case I'd actually leave the two original antennas and plug them into port 1 and 2 and add the third one which you best have at the complete front of the laptop. With some luck MIMO is working good and you will actually have a better reciption. In the end is the 3. antenna not anymore so important as the other two though.

What do you mean by "complete front of the laptop"? Where is the actual location once I have the laptop opened up?

Thanks

[pato]

Just read my text again and you're right, the english is fairly bad :S
I mean the part where your hand would be, or the right side might also work. It shouldn't be covered by to much metal, plastic is ok.