Reading through this thread I can see a valid point in everyones input that was given to you here squishy.
If you are like me and you love a challenge, I think you should go ahead and build a working system into this box, just for the experience and the bragging rights that you accomplished this.
mb9023 I am not disagreeing with your recommendation not to attempt it, but then again, that is your decision not to meet the challenge.
I use the word challenge loosely, as there are Geeks out there that build laptops for a living and find them to be quite enjoyable to assemble.
It seems to me like this was quite a decent laptop, if you click this link below you will see what this laptop originally had as part of its hardware.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01860416&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4041434You can compare that list above to what the laptop still has installed in it.
Now on to that list on page 77 of the pdf document.
I have copied and pasted that list right below this line and I have separated each by double spacing for clarity and I will add numbers to each so I can reliably offer suggestions based on the numbers.

UMA system board, GM45 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, HDMI port,
and replacement thermal material)
485218-001
The board above would work and has the most features 
UMA system board, GM45 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, and
replacement thermal material)
494281-001
The board above would work but has no on-board HDMI 
UMA system board, GL40 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, and
replacement thermal material)
494282-001
Board above would work but has no HDMI 
UMA system board, GL40 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, HDMI port, and
replacement thermal material)
485219-001
The board above will work and has HDMI port 
UMA system board, GL40 (for Presario CQ60 only; includes built-in modem, and
replacement thermal material)
501266-001
This board above would NOT work because its for the Presario CQ60 
Discrete system board, PM45 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, HDMI port,
and replacement thermal material)
488338-001
This board above would work and has HDMI 
Discrete system board, PM45 (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, and
replacement thermal material)
494283-001
This board would work but has no HDMI port 
UMA system board, NVIDIA (includes built-in modem, Digital Media Slot, HDMI port,
and replacement thermal material)
498460-001
This board will work, it has NVIDIA architecture built into it 
UMA system board, NVIDIA (for Presario only; includes built-in modem, Digital Media
Slot, and replacement thermal material)
498462-001
The board above is NOT meant for this laptop 
UMA system board, NVIDIA (for Presario only; includes built-in modem, Digital Media
Slot, and replacement thermal material)
498463-001
The board above is NOT meant for this laptop 11 UMA system board, NVIDIA (for Presario only; includes built-in modem, and
replacement thermal material)
498464-001
The board above is NOT meant for this laptop12 Optical extension board (not illustrated) 506951-001
This is just an extra add-on board, it is NOT a system boardHopefully my editing above looks Okay once I send this post to the server.
I provided the above information to help you in locating another system board if you decide to rebuild this laptop.
If you need any further advice please feel free to ask.
Bruce.
Edited by MrBruce1959, 20 February 2011 - 08:23 PM.