Upgrading the i5 and graphic card difficulty

Ive just recived my new xps L502x

Main config is: i5-2410M processor

15.6" FHD B+RGLED True-Life (1920x1080)

1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M Graphics card

From what Ive been reading on this site Ive sold myself short spec wise by getting the lower lvl processor and graphic card.
I'm not worried about the ram as this is easy to change but I was wondering how difficult it is to change the processor and card?

 

CPU - not too difficult if you know how to apply thermal paste, though authentic mobile CPUs are hard to find

GPU - not possible unless you buy a whole new upgraded motherboard from Dell.

Honestly, if you're not satisfied w/ the specs, you'd be better off returning yours while you can and ordering a new one.

 

As seeker_moc has stated, CPU upgrade should be a breeze. Nothing wrong with ES/QS chips though QS are preferred as ES are usually missing the temperature sensor.

The 525M is soldered onto the motherboard and to upgrade to the 2 GB 540M you have to order the 540M motherboard.

 

your better refun. now, same price you can buy asus I7-2630QM + 540/550 Display card(depend you country).
dell xps model is 'out day' for now.

 

for the XPS L502x, i believe the 540m is the fastest card you can get.

now compare the two cards:

NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M - Notebookcheck.net Tech
NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M - Notebookcheck.net Tech

There's not much of a difference. The core speed of the 540m is 72mhz faster. the 525m can easily be over clocked to that value.

The other difference is that the 540m has 2gb video ram which is more than it can use efficiently especially since the memory speed isnt as fast as modern cards which use 1-2gb of video ram.

 

The 540M is only 12% better, not worth the hassle to try and upgrade, and IMO not even worth the $100 on the config page.

The i5-2410M is also a more-than-capable processor.

 

Depends on the ASUS model, but most are stuck at 1368x768 screen (terrible) while XPS 15 offers FHD and B+RGLED screen.

For the price of a fully loaded XPS 15, you can get an ASUS G53 and in terms of gaming performance would utterly destroy the XPS 15.

 

Yes I know somebody who was planning on getting the XPS 15, but he decided he's going to get the Sager NP8130 instead for $100 more (he has an OS to install), because he can get the same screen, same CPU, and a much better GPU. The only things he will be sacrificing are the backlit keyboard, weight, speakers, and battery life.