Acer Aspire 6920g, CPU upgrade issue

The long and the short of this is that I have the Acer Aspire 6920g:
( Acer Aspire 6920G Gemstone Blue Laptop LX.APT0X.040 - Acer Direct)

I bought this in 2008 and it's been a fantastic machine thus far. However I recently bought Starcraft 2 (who the hell didn't?!) and found to my great annoyance that this thing can just manage high settings (so in the interest of online rampage, I'm stuck on Low / Medium). Now, when I bought this, I instantly crammed in another GB of RAM, the Radeon graphics card can't be tampered with (or rather, I don't feel confident enough to replace it) and so my last resort is swapping out the CPU for a T9300 (2.5GHz Dual Core) by Intel.
I've been under the hood of this laptop several times to fix overheating problems with the heatsink (My house has alot of dust which clogged it up before causing it to crash during either Dead Space or Bioshock). However access to the CPU is restricted by a copper coloured pipe leading from the heatsink to directly over the CPU, it is also secured down by a couple of screws to a metal plate that covers it completely. Once these are undone though the plate can be moved... but not out of the way entirely allowing me to tamper with the CPU.
In short, anyone who has this laptop, do they know how I can move the pipe out of the way enough for me to replace the CPU?
The picture shown below high-lights my problem the copper coloured pipe:


Finally, this is the CPU I'm intending to purchase: Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor T9300 (6M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SLAPV, SLAQG, SLAYY, SLAZB
Does anyone know where I could find it cheaper?


Regards
Renzakuken

 

I think you have to take the fan off, first. Then you will be able to pull the heatsink out.

T9300 $189.99: Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5G SLAYY OEM Socket P CPU - eBay (item 370422163846 end time Sep-18-10 13:05:38 PDT)

 

Thankyou for your response and price comparison!

Removing the fan is something i've done before, simply to scrape off the dust from between the metal of the actual heat sink. Is this actually screwed down? or can it come out with just a few tugs?

 

I think once you unscrew the heatsink from the cpu socket and take the fan off, the heatsink should just pop off.

If you replace the cpu make sure you clean off the old thermal paste and put new stuff on.

 

ok i'll give it a go before i spend the isk on a new CPU, i'm no expert here though so may i ask what the alchohol cleansing solution is for?

 

You'll need to remove the screws of the fan 1st (I have a similar layout and on mine there are 3) After that remove the fan, then heat sink + copper pipe by removing screws on top of the CPU (looks like there are 2 but if not it should be 4 max) once they are out you should have access to the CPU which is fairly simple to replace. Let me know if you have any questions

Edit: Sorry the joker beat me to it while i was typing

 

I'll give it a go in about 30min, playing EVE currently ^^ Keep eyes on this thread

Renz

 

Alrighty. As note to what tHE_Joker said about cleaning off the old thermal paste - It might be a pain to get off. I opened my 3 yr old laptop a couple of months ago to replace the paste and it had practically dried like glue. Even alcohol didn't get all of it off.

 

using latex gloves are a must yes?

 

I never have. Have you ever done the balloon experiment with latex balloons? You don't wan't that with you're gloves do you?

 

Can't say i have but last night i did as you instructed and removed both sets of screws and was able to move the heatsink enough to access the CPU, i unscrewed the latch and removed it without problems, now i just need the replacement. Thankyou all for the help

Renz

 

just a question... buying the t9500 processor will give a nice chunky boost to my output right? its not gonna be a waste of $199?

 

What do you mean output?

 

power, e.g. will i be able to play starcraft 2 on high or crysis on ultra i mean

 

Starcraft will see a decent boost, Crysis not much since you're limited by your GPU.

 

so if you were in my shoes, would you buy it?

 

I wouldn't b/c the benefits aren't great as it won't give a significant boost in the gaming experience. I'd rather save that $200 and put it towards a new system in the future.

 

i'd save the money too... really this laptop is so old that a CPU upgrade isn't enough.. u need a GPU one too but the cost half the price of a new laptop.

 

alright, sounds like a plan, maybe i'll start saving for a new laptop: specifically aimed at Gaming, any suggestions?

 

Budget? I suggest just creating a new thread and filling out the WTB FAQ.

 

For gaming on the cheap, an Asus G51Vx is nice, like this one, used for $500: asus g51Vx-RX05 Works Great! Windows 7 Professional! - eBay (item 110576037841 end time Aug-25-10 09:09:31 PDT)

Also like others have said, fill out the WTB form and you'll get a lot of good choices.

 

i really wouldn't do cheap.. cheap usually equates a lot of problems.. i'd save up and get a proper one..u could easily get $500-600 selling ur laptop so do that and using exsisting cash , get something for $1000-1200.. like MSI GX640 or Asus G51JX..