Questions: Upgrading the Inspiron 1720 - CPU & Memory

Hello there folks. I have intentions of upgrading my 1720 in the nearest future, but I'm complete newbie in the terms of hardware. I know it can be upgraded up to 6GB (read it in one of the threads on those forums [wonderful job btw.]) but for me and my needs 2 sticks per 2GB are gonna be enough. I also know my lappy takes DDR2 SDRAM @ 667 MHz, but are 800MHz sticks also an option ?

As for the CPU upgrade, it's kinda hard to get something right for my lappy in my country. I have possibility to get either t8300 or t9300 where the latter costs twice as much as first one (50$ or 100$). I know from intel website that the main difference is 0.1GHz per core and 3MB cache compared to 6MB on t9300 (can't find t7700 anywhere which has 4MB cache though). What would you choose ? Also at the shop I've bought the laptop from, guy told me I would need to replace my "heatsink" (not sure if I translated that one right ?) if I would want to upgrade my CPU. Are there any more purchases required for CPU change aside from the new CPU itself and a tube of thermal paste ?

I would wish to find all about those things before I flush any money down the drain (as I did when bought 1TB drive for it [could return it to the shop, though at 10% loss of the money I've paid]).

Thanks in advance for any answers, cheers.

 

800MHz sticks work, but they'll run at 667MHz. T8300 is definitely a better value than T9300 here (though what processor do you currently have?). You DON'T need to change the heatsink, but you should change the paste.

 

Currently I have T5550 @ 1.83GHz.

As for what the guy at the shop said, he may have meant something else but it's been some time and I've might mixed up a thing or two, but the bottom line is - he said I need something more than just CPU replaced if I change it (aside from the paste). Not that I believe him, I just want to be on a safe side.

EDIT: Just one more thing (I don't think a new thread is worth it). I've popped the hood some time ago (to treat my fan with some compressed air from the other side), and in the meantime I've found myself battling with touchpad socket for about half an hour before I've managed to pull the damned thing out. There's really not much space for my fingers to grab it from the smaller sides, and the wider side of the socket doesn't have any distinct edge to hold onto. I was too afraid to grab it by the wires (they looked like they could be easily yanked out by accident). I had to nudge one side, then the other (and so on) for some time (while cursing Dell for not adding some tape there like with display socket) before I pulled it out. Are there easier (and safe) ways to do it ?

 

As stated, I would just go for the T8300, the best value you are going to find without breaking an arm or leg.

Use at least 99% anhydrous alcohol to clean off the CPU and heatsink, and while you are there, clean out the fan and heatfins.

The touchpad connector is a bit tricky to get out, if you pull by the connector (NEVER pull by the cable), and kinda pull upwards and rock it side to side or use a flathead screwdriver and gently pop it out. I've upgraded and opened up my Vostro 1500 (similar design to the Inspiron 1520 and 1720) too many times and I've never had a problem with the touchpad connector.

 

If you're running a really old BIOS, you might need to update that, but there should be no other hardware you need in swapping the CPU.

 

I have A09, came with the lappy. Dell site says I can't get better than that.

 

Hello there. Please forgive me for bumping such an old thread, but I have just last one question before I commit any more money to my lappy.

I've found nice and good looking T8300, but it comes without it's own heatsink (it's OEM variant from what I've been told). Will default heatsink/radiator from T5550 be able to handle the extra heat from a more powerfull CPU unit ?

 

The default laptop's heatsink is the only one that will work with the laptop. Don't forget thermal paste.

 

They're both rated for the same TDP. There shouldn't be a problem.

 

Thanks for such fast answers. As for the paste, a friend recommended Zalman's STG2 paste.

 

I used IC Diamond but you should clean the heatsink with Anhydrous Alcohol (99%).

 

Hello there. I'm writing to you from friends computer. I've put new T8300 into my lappy, but now it fails to boot. It starts up, Optical drive and fans initiate, but then shuts down and battery icon flashes. I have newest BIOS, and I'm certain that everything covered in service manual was done correctly.

What could I have forgotten/haven't done yet ?

 

Is it possible that you forgot to unscrew the processor into the lock switch? Your processor wouldn't post if that was the case. Also, try to put the old processor back in and see if it works to make sure it is just your processor and not something else.

 

Writing from my lappy now... with my old CPU onboard. Attempted to boot the system with T8300 a couple times each, testing various things to no effect (with couple "take-it-apart" sessions in the so called meantime). Nada!

Strangely enough, it managed to boot once, got past the DELL Bios logo, then it detected that the date was reset (took away CMOS battery in hope the BIOS was fussing over the new CPU [yes I've got the newest possible BIOS]), then it hang and never booted up like that again. Gonna try to get the CPU returned.

Upsides: New paste on CPU, heatsinks are squeaky clean, I've gotten better at taking my lappy apart.

Downsides: Stressed like hell, may end up with expensive paper weight.

PS. Is it possible my Dell to be somehow blocked to prevent CPU change ?

 

I'm not sure, I know for a definitive fact that it can take the T9xxx-series processors as my uncle is using one with a T9300 and I updated my 1520 to a T9300. However, if your BIOS is up to date, then it should be able to take the T8300 without a problem as it's one of the green-lit processors.

Other than, that I think it maybe the purchased CPU itself, I would recommend sending it back and getting a full refund. You can put the money for an manufacture refurbished T9300 for under $75 shipping included (on eBay), so I would just go for that, as I can attest to it works just fine.

You could also try to get an unused T8300 for like $45.00, which is also another option. I don't know if you what you bought was new or previously used but I'd recommend staying away from anything used, manufacture refurb is okay, as long as they give you enough time to try it out.

 

Hello there.
Just got back from a laptop shop, where they have agreed to test the CPU. Turns out the CPU itself is fine, tech installed it and then booted up the laptop - the problem was that it wasn't in my laptop at the time, since it would cost me a bit and I'm not in the mood to spend anymore money on it's upgrades. The tech suggested that the chipset I have (Intel's 965 series if I'm not mistaken) is an older variant that is not compatible with the 800MHz CPU's (only with 667MHz instead).

How can I check the exact model\variant of the Chipset I have ? Can it be done without taking the laptop apart ? (I'm kinda angry right know and I know from the experience that anger and delicate electronic devices don't mix too well).

Sorry If I seem to be venting a bit of my feelings here right now, but after previous screw ups (like ordering 1TB HDD that does not fit into 1720), I though I made sure to account for everything this time around before committing money into upgrading hardware, only to fail again. Once again, sorry.

 

Dell Inspiron 1720 here, with A09 Bios, and Intel 965 Chipset. I did a T7500 processor upgrade, from 1.86 to 2.4Ghz, and it worked out of the box.
Other than replacing the GPU Heat Pad, and new Arctic Silver Paste on CPU, nothing unusual encountered. Afterward I did the 6Gb Ram upgrade, and that went smooth too...

 

I asked the wife when we purchased the Dell (QVC), and we can't remember, but it was very early in Vista 32 timeframe, before Vista SP1......... and until we loaded W7-64 on it, this laptop was a real dog..... Wife reminded me that we had many Dell driver and Bios Updates the first year of ownership. This laptop may have been an early serial number of the second version, as One of the benifits that I remember QVC saying was it had the "Newer/Faster" 1.86Ghz processor....