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    Any idea if this laptop's cpu is soldered?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jonny2410, Sep 7, 2010.

  1. jonny2410

    jonny2410 Notebook Geek

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    Hey,

    I know the chances of laptop cpu's being soldered have decreased in recent years but i wanted to get the general opinion on the following Toshiba laptop -

    Toshiba Satellite Pro L650165 Core i3 330M 213 GHz 156 TFT

    Its a Core i3 330m laptop.

    The reason i ask this question is because i am a big fan of getting the lowest priced laptop possible (within reason) and then upgrading its components. This is the cheapest with an ati 5650.

    I know the i5 model of this laptop, the L650-116, can have the cpu removed. Hopefully this model (L650-165) is the same :confused: . I have an i5 540m lying about and i would want to put that in the laptop instead of the 330m. However if i buy the laptop and it ends up being soldered then i am left with a useless 540m and a weak 330m in the laptop.

    Thanks if anyone can help!
     
    jonny2410, Sep 7, 2010
    #1
  2. KolosoK

    KolosoK Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not 100% on this, but the i3 and the i5 have the same socket, which means that the CPU is probably not soldered onto the board. I don't know if any i3s are.
     
    KolosoK, Sep 7, 2010
    #2
  3. jonny2410

    jonny2410 Notebook Geek

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    Yeah they are the same socket (PGA 988 i think).

    Thanks for help. Would make sense for me getting this lower i3 model than some i5 when i already have a 540m sitting here.
     
    jonny2410, Sep 7, 2010
    #3
  4. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    If it says PGA or LGA, it's removable. If it says BGA, it's not.
     
    Trottel, Sep 7, 2010
    #4
  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    unless you are willing to buy other peoples junk and cast offs (with all of the unknowns that implies), it will be a challenge to find 'upgrade' components at a lower price than if you bought them built in to a new machines.
     
    newsposter, Sep 7, 2010
    #5
  6. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

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    Can't you buy, check if yes, and return it if not?
     
    Kevin, Sep 7, 2010
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  7. jonny2410

    jonny2410 Notebook Geek

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    I guess thats probably the best idea to be honest. They won't know i have opened it up. Thanks.
     
    jonny2410, Sep 7, 2010
    #7