Computers with Thunderbolt ports are capable of connecting to up to seven devices by daisy-chaining devices together. The system can even support connecting up to two high-resolution displays using the port. The ports will eventually support up to a 100 Gbit/s transfer rate, though their current iteration is limited to around 20 Gbit/s.

Apple’s implementation of Thunderbolt came as somewhat of a surprise. Many were expecting an all-new port and cable design, but instead, Thunderbolt is designed around Apple’s existing Mini DisplayPort, which was previously used as a connection only for external monitors. The design makes sense, however, as Thunderbolt can support monitors and other devices at once, with only a single port required. This makes it especially appealing to computer manufacturers, as it could mean fewer ports in the future, and therefore lower manufacturing costs and fewer design limitations.

Many have criticized Apple for not supporting the USB 3.0 standard in its newer models, but Thunderbolt has the potential to be much faster and more robust, especially as USB is a host-driven technology, meaning its speed can be limited by the speed of the host. In theory, Thunderbolt could provide around four times the throughput of USB 3.0, and its ability to connect multiple devices to a single port gives it a significant advantage over USB as well. Apple has certainly made a strong choice in choosing Thunderbolt over USB 3.0, and only time will tell if this choice will pay off for both Apple and Intel in the coming years.

Once all screws have been removed, the laptop’s hard drive should be able to slide out. The hard drive bay is marked with an engraved symbol, and is attached to the HP laptop motherboard. The next step to replacing Toshiba laptop motherboards, is to turn the computer back over, and open the screen’s lid. With a flat-head screwdriver, pry underneath the large plastic section, located above the keyboard. It is the housing for the indicator lights and power button. After removing the plastic housing, disconnect the cable connecting it to the HP laptop motherboard. Also remove the keyboard from the case, and disconnect the ribbon cable. Unscrew the screen hinges from the case, pull them out, and set them aside.

Locate the network card, and disconnect it from the port on the Toshiba laptop motherboard. Remove the screws holding the graphics card. Disconnect the card from the motherboard and set it aside. Then, remove the screws for the fan and heat sink unit on the laptop’s processor. Remove the unit and processor from the HP laptop motherboard, and with a screwdriver, take out the screws along its edges. Finally, lift the damaged motherboard out of the casing, and place it aside. Insert the one of the compatible motherboards for HP laptops into the casing, and reassemble the internal parts that were previously removed. It is highly recommended to take a photograph of the Toshiba laptop motherboard’s unit throughout the repair procedure, to utilize during the rebuilding process.