The original post: /r/homelab by /u/SocietyTomorrow on 2024-12-28 00:47:19.

I’m not sure whether I am likely posting this a few other places in hopes someone else has had the insane idea I just did. In short: do you think HP handicaps lower model boards in the same series by just not attaching headers and sockets, while having identical board internals?

I recently ordered a new HP mobo for my failed 40L-GT21-0000x but replaced it with one from a 45L GT22 series. Same size, almost identical part placement, with a couple small differences, mostly in lacking onboard part headers. I don’t want to put this into an X-ray rig (have access to an electronics fabricator) to see if all the traces go completely through the board, but what do you think the odds are I could get away with tossing this thing on the hot air rework station to insert headers for the couple missing things that would be nice to haves. Not mission critical, because it’s just the RGB 2-pin header (using as a workstation for CAD and LLM work, so RGB is meh), and front USB 2.0 headers (only have the 2 USB3.1 ports right now)

I am almost curious if I could get away with adding in the missing PCI-e x4 socket, because all the vias are there just nothing attached, and the silkscreen layer visibly appears as though the traces are all intact.

What say ye, internet?