NEC

Versa LXi Prototype Laptop

This listing is for a RARE PROTOTYPE NEC Versa LXi laptop. This a preproduction version of the LXi (which did come to market). I'm not sure of it's origins, but I've owned it for almost 15 years and did everything I could to completely "max" it out with every option and feature I could. The laptop itself is in beautiful shape but NEEDS REPAIR. This is a HUGE, ONE OF A KIND BUNDLE in fantastic condition that once worked in wonderful synergy with the laptop and is well worth the price of admission.

I performed the following to the laptop:

• I received the laptop with a SAMPLE/QS 500MHz Pentium III MMC-2 module which I upgraded to the absolute top of the line 850MHz Pentium III MMC-2 module (which features SpeedStep). The original sample 500MHz MMC-2 module is included as pictured.
• I received the laptop with no RAM. I installed the maximum amount of 2*256=512MB RAM with what I had determined to be the highest quality RAM available (Kingston KTM-TP390X/256)
• I received the laptop with no hard drive. I installed a Western Digital WD2500BEVE 250GB 2.5" IDE drive, the largest high-performing/non-eco 2.5" IDE hard drive to market. It was partitioned to support the old BIOS partition size restrictions. The original retail box for the drive is included.
• I installed Windows 7 x32 Ultimate on the hard drive. Make no mistake, this is a laptop made for Windows 98/NT 4.0. Windows 7 ran...OK, but for a while in 2012-2013 (4 months or so), I used this laptop as my only laptop so I needed it to run modern applications. On the hard drive are useful applications, some compatible 2D/3D games, along with compatible drivers including some video drivers I modified to try to work better with Windows 7.
• The laptop came with no cooling fan for the GPU (which appeared to be an option in certain markets). I sourced the appropriate model fan and installed it.
• The keyboard that I received with the laptop had an issue so it was replaced with an official Japanese keyboard.
• The laptop had no CD drive so I sourced the high-end NEC DVD drive. It's unusually high quality being an early generation DVD drive (brass spindle & has a foam cushion when closing)

The laptop itself has the following features:

• Large 15" 1024x768 LCD Panel
• USB, serial, parallel, VersaDock port, Ethernet, & 56K modem ports, along with an IR port
• VGA, composite, & S-Video outputs
• Built-in microphone & stereo speakers with microphone input, headphone & line outputs, and optical digital output
• 8MB S3 Savage/MX 3D Accelerator
• 3.5" floppy drive
• A port for the VersaDock which features full size PCI expansion slots, internal harddrive/CD drive support, MIDI/Joystick ports, etc (dock NOT included)

You will also receive the following additional items:

• A PCMCIA USB 2.0 card since the laptop only has USB 1.0 ports. Includes USB to barrel plug cable for extra power if needed.
• Ultrathin SuperTalent 8GB flash drive (which was used for Windows 7 ReadyBoost)
• A rare PCMCIA Ubiquiti SR71-C High-Power Wireless 802.11n card with two original antennas (Missing LCD panel clips)
• Two official NEC batteries. Both are likely no good. One has been cut open as I intended to swap out the cells and never did.
• Microsoft IntelliMouse 1.2A PS/2 Wired Ball Mouse
• Official NEC power supply
• Sony CRX10U Portable USB CD-RW Drive w/ battery, USB cable, and power supply (Works well, but battery door snap is broken and battery is probably no good)
• The previously mentioned SAMPLE/QS 500MHz Pentium III MMC-2 CPU that originally came with the laptop
• Heavy Duty black HP carry case (Not pictured, but it is very nice/chunky)

Now for the issues with the laptop:

• I turned on the laptop for the first time in 9 years to make this listing and found that the display shows many lines and graphical glitches (pictured). It is definitely not the LCD panel since when Windows attempts to boot, there are absolutely no graphical issues (pictured). The graphical issues do seem to change randomly at times with more or less lines appearing. Since the laptop was stored in a climate controlled bedroom all these years and was never abused, I can only assume that the laptop is suffering from bad capacitors and needs a recap. I have not opened the laptop up since testing.
• Windows will no longer start as it gets a BSoD when trying to load the video driver (The driver enters an infinite loop apparently). Safe Mode works fine (pictured). I'm guessing this is related to the above issue.
• CMOS battery is dead.
• Both batteries are dead and one has been cut open.
• Fans are VERY loud. They've always been this way and it's not bearing noise. They're just loud fans. The GPU fan I added is particularly annoying and the future owner may wish to remove it. Fans run almost all the time in 850MHz mode, less in the slower speed.
• The left LCD hinge has a fine/hairline crack but doesn't affect function.
• Windows 7 doesn't support SpeedStep so the speed needs to be changed in the BIOS. Windows 7 also doesn't have native support for the S3 Savage/MX GPU and periodically has glitches or issues with certain effects.
• No badges or stickers besides the proto sticker on the bottom
• Some small stains on the screen and small surface scratches/dust on the plastic body, but it almost looks new otherwise

Will be securely shipped to your location in the HP carry case inside a box that will be insured with signature upon delivery.