Upgrading to Merom (Core 2 Duo) in S96j experience

When I built my S96j back in May I figured I would eventually upgrade to Merom. This is one of the main reasons I bought the S96j instead of the MSI 1039. This is also one of the main reasons I "only" bought a 1.83 Ghz Duo. I have been waiting for them to become available in US (instead of ebay from Korea). Finally in last couple of weeks they have become available. I purchased a T7200 (2 GHz 4mb cache) for $325.

Changing the CPU took about 10 minutes. Booted up and went right into Windows. Did not even get a bios message (running 1101 beta bios).

System does seem a bit snappier. I work with some large databases in Foxpro and noticed a difference. Where I notice the biggest difference is in encoding media. There is a very noticable difference (as reviews have said). The CPU is running a few degrees warmer but the AC5 has not been broken in. Vista (RC2) seems to run better though I do not know why that would be. There does not seem to be any difference in gaming performance but I will do more testing.

Is the upgrade worth it? Probably not, unless you do a lot of encoding. Am I glad I upgraded? Yup.

 

Interesting......thanks for giving a honest answer, considering that, I think I will wait a bit longer for 64 bit software and OS to come through before I upgrade....although I wont be holding my breath! at least by then the merom processor will be a lot cheaper.

But great to know it works!

 

Flip.. which programs do you use for encoding media? Any guess on >% w/ a Core 2 CPU?

I would like to use Adobe Premiere Pro 7 (suite = 2.0?) or a decent Linux equivalent, if not may need to shift to MAC OS X 10.4.#

I thought vista was written specifically to take advantage of 2 Intel cores (but not so good on AMDx2?) and get people to buy more new $$$ hardware, for just a slight performance boost. Must keep growing GDP while we fill the landfills w/ older functioning equipment !
I concur w/ NZ...

 

I agree it will be cheaper, probably not a lot cheaper though. Consider that the Core duo T2500 (2.0 ghz) is now a little under $300 and the Pentium M 760 (2.0 GHz) is still about $295. I do imagine that the T7400 2.13GHz (2.16 GHz) will get significantly cheaper.

 

digital8doug,

I use FairUse Wizard for XviD and DivX video. Quicktime 7.1 for H.264. I also use VideoStudio 10 Plus for my home movies. I see the biggest improvement on H.264.

For mp3s I use mainly CDex and EAC (LAME 3.97). I mainly do VBR files (preset standard).

 

pretty cool i planing on gettin a merom soon, ofcourse i need to buy a laptop as well........but thats life

 

I agree on Vista not being that great, I've been using it in its various incarnations up to the RTM beta now and I'm not especially impressed. But if you have old functioning equipment donate it! There are so so many ppl who don't have any sort of computer, including in the developing world. I know it's not perfect and many ppl need food etc..., but if you have something that works and may have years of service left for ppl who don't care that a 1 GHz isn't the latest thing go for it. I always recycle my old systems through my family and friends, my father is perfectly happy with his 600 Mhz Dell (got from a friend), my sister with her 750 MHz Athlon, my mother with my old G732. If you don't need it anymore, don't think that there aren't other ppl who will want it. There are ppl out there who would be happy with a good Win 3.1 386 if it can access the net to keep in touch with friends and family. And if it's unfunctioning then take it to an Environment Day or whatever sort of Recycling services there are in your area...don't just throw it out, especially with the quantities of lead and other dangerous chemicals in some of these things.

Just my two cents on that...

Cat

 

How's the Super Pi on that compared to the Core Duo you reviewed?

 

i'm gonna get myself the T7600 eventually....when it gets a tad cheaper i guess...but fixing it on the w3j might be a bit tricky...isn't it?

 

Why do you think that fixing a T7600 on W3J might be a bit tricky?

 

maybe i just lack the experience....

 

Hey, same here... however, from what I read in this forum (and another forum like this), removing W3J's processor will not be too tricky:
1. Open the RAM/HDD compartment by unscrewing all screws.
2. Release the RAM and HDD (maybe not needed but I think it's safer).
3. Unscrew 3 screws in the VGA module and release the VGA module.
4. Disconnect the fan cable from its connector.
5. Unscrew the screws in the heatsink and release the heatsink. Now we can see the processor.
6. Turn the screw tightening the processor and release the processor.
I've done the removing process, but I'm still unsure what to do with the thermal grease/thermal pads.

 

Well when I installed the RAM on my W3J it looked quite simple to replace, just remove a few heat sinks.......its all quite accessable, the only problem I see is that it viods your warantee, but once my warantee runs out, its going to be a nice wee upgrade.

 

For 2M I get 1m 1sec with the new T7200 compared to 1m 20sec that I got with the T2400 (1.83 GHz Duo 1).

Edit: I also have upgraded to 2gb of ram from 1gb since the doing Super Pi for review. I was not sure if that would impact this but thought I would mention.

 

I am sure the thermal pads/paste connect the top of the processor to the heat sink/pipes to ensure heat is readily transferred away from the processor to the heat sink/pipes/fan and keep the processor cool. (well thats what I have seen on other laptops I have pulled apart)

Here is another shot showing more, as you can see everything is easily accessible, you do not need to remove the HDD but it just sits in there so if you need to its not even screwed in.

 

1:01 is prety dam quick! nice one.

I get 1:16 with a 160GB Seagate 5400.3 Perpendicular drive.

(I have 1.83 Core Duo, W3J)

 

The more I do work on the notebook now that is has the Merom, the more I'm impressed. Tonight I was doing stuff side by side with my desktop and my notebook is faster than my desktop. This is the first time my notebook has surpassed my desktop in performance. My desktop is an Athlon 64 X2 at 2.2 GHz.

I'm now considering upgrading desktop to a Conroe (E6600)...

 

the T7200 model that fits in the W3J is the BX80537T7200 correct? also, is this processor 64 bit?

 

That is the correct SKU. Yes this processor is 64 bit.

 

Hi Ramzie are you planning to upgrade your processor with a T7200?

 

I am strongly considering it. It bascially comes down to weather or not I want to invest in upgrading my W3J or just build a Desktop. There really isnt much of a reason to pop a merom into the W3J as the CPU is not the limitation in gaming, and otherwise, I can spare time for coding/decoding etc. So... basically id swap maybe in the future when the low voltage ones come out for better battery, better core 2 architecture, 64 bit processor, and only if i can keep it at the 2.0ghz of my current core duo.

But yes im thinking about it =) i need to sell my T2500 first lol

 

Could you put a t7200 in a w3v? The W3v comes with a pentium M proc, would this cause problems you think?

 

The only reason people can upgrade the W3J is that it uses the same chipset, basically the chipset is the interface on the motherboard between processor RAM wifi and other devices.

Normally a change in processor involves a change in chipset

W3V uses Intel 915PM & ICH6-M and the
W3J uses Intel 945PM chipset

So I would say no, you can not upgrade cross platform, the only reason we can upgrade our W3J's is that the new W3J's will be using the same Intel 945PM chipset, so essentially the new laptops are exactly the same the only difference is that it has the new processor and a bios update.

and if you have flashed your W3J bois to remove the grainyness, I am quite certain that support the new merom processor was included in that bios!