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    Is cpu user replaceable friendly for XPS?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by 4thehorde4, Feb 13, 2011.

  1. 4thehorde4

    4thehorde4 Notebook Consultant

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    As title suggests, has anyone managed to upgrade their cpu by themselves? I know you can't jump from i5 to i7, but later down the road when the prices of the i5 parts drop, I would be interested in upgrading my current i5 460m to something like i5 580m on my L501x.
     
    4thehorde4, Feb 13, 2011
    #1
  2. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

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    1. Unscrew backplate
    2. Unscrew heatsink/fan assembly
    3. Clean old thermal paste off heatsink/fan, CPU, and GPU
    4. Remove old CPU
    5. Insert new CPU
    6. Apply new thermal paste to CPU and GPU
    7. Screw on heatsink/fan
    8. Screw on backplate

    Should take you like 10 minutes to do, maybe 20 if you've never done it before. Fairly easy.
     
    seeker_moc, Feb 13, 2011
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  3. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

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    The 460M is already pretty good. Are you sure it's worth throwing money and time for a 133mhz increase in most situations ?
     
    Botsu, Feb 13, 2011
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  4. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    That question all depends if the user is comfortable with disassembling half the laptop. Looking at the Service Manual, it doesn't look too difficult.

    I would advise against that upgrade, more "speed" won't make a difference really unless you are rendering or running synthetic benchmarks. Might as well go for the Arrandale i7 (dual core). Same TDP but faster, probably a few dollars more.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Feb 13, 2011
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  5. invictustb

    invictustb Notebook Enthusiast

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    I only wish it was that easy. Have you seen the service manual for the l501x?

    Remove the battery

    Remove the module cover

    Remove the memory module

    Remove the palm-rest assembly

    Remove the keyboard

    Remove the display assembly

    Remove the 17 screws that secure the top-cover assembly to the base cover

    Turn unit over

    Disconnect the fan cable and subwoofer cable from the connectors on the system board

    Remove the nine screws that secure the top-cover assembly to the base cover

    Turn the unit back over and use your fingertips to gently ease the top-cover assembly off the base cover

    Lift the top-cover assembly off the base cover

    Only after all this do you get full access to the heatsink assembly.
     
    invictustb, Feb 13, 2011
    #5
  6. 4thehorde4

    4thehorde4 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah I guess you're right, the 460m should last me a couple years since I mostly do moderate gaming, web surfing, and watching HD videos.
     
    4thehorde4, Feb 13, 2011
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  7. 4thehorde4

    4thehorde4 Notebook Consultant

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    One can go from i5 to i7(dual core)? I thought there were motherboard limitations that prevented that.
     
    4thehorde4, Feb 13, 2011
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  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    AFAIK you can, it still has IGP so it can still do the Optimus and it is an upgrade available through Dell.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Feb 13, 2011
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  9. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

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    Seriously?? That sucks. Why make it so complicated, there's no reason for it.
     
    seeker_moc, Feb 13, 2011
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  10. seeker_moc

    seeker_moc Notebook Virtuoso

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    I agree. With the XPS 16's, the 1645 is quad i7, and the 1647 is dual i5 and dual i7. It should work.
     
    seeker_moc, Feb 13, 2011
    #10