Gateway Parts

Where do Companies like Dell, Alien ware and Gateway get their laptop motherboards? ?

I would build my own laptop if I could get the parts. But they sell some parts like RAM and hard drives but not motherboards or screens.

Public Comments

1. They make them using silicon! If you looked into the anatomy of a motherboard, then you would know how to make them and what parts you would need to buy to make them. Screens just need a flat electron gun and pixel gateways, as well as special layers of the screen and image stabilizer.
2. Because there is no standard for the size and shape of the case for a laptop, there is no standard for the system board. Each company designed their own board to fit their own case, and then has them custom build. This was also the case with desktop systems when they first began. Eventual a standard, based on the size, shape and layout of the original IBM AT computer emerged. That is why a standard system board is called an "AT" board. Now that the sale of laptops have reached (or possibly surpassed) the sales of dekstop, do not be surprised if more companies decide to get into the laptop "clone" business. To do that, they will need to develope a generic laptop board and case layout. I would not be surprised if we see that in the next three to five years. But at this time, no standard laptop case or system board exist. (If you want to get rich - develop one.....)
3. Hon Hai Precision Industry makes motherboards for most of the big name PC makers but they would not sell you anything used by any of them. Each manufacturer designs their own board and Hon Hai builds them. Try searching for bare bones laptop and you should find partially built laptops which can be customised alternatively you could start with a micro format motherboard and build your own case.
4. They custom order their own in qty of 10000 or more from Taiwan, and they are shipped to the US "mostly assembled". --- Kasey C, PC guru since Apple II days When there's a will, I want to be in it.