Best CPU for a Fujitsu La1703?

Notebook specs here:

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo La1703 - Notebookcheck.net External Reviews

I'm looking at upgrading the CPU of this computer. I've already got a 500GB Scorpio Black in it to try and max the HDD speed. It's got the fastest DDR 2 in it possible and lastly I'd like to replace the processor.

Currently it has a:



If possible I'd really like to put a dual core in it or something. The current processor gets insanely hot (The Sempron class processors were always heat monsters). So a dual core for a bit of multi tasking would be nice. I know I should buy a new laptop but that isn't the focus of my work at current.

Thanks a ton for any help!

 

I replaced one Sempron with TL-52 if I remember correctly. Basically it was the first CPU I got my hands on that would fit so it went in I believe safe bets would be Turions from TL-50 to TL-60 at least, maybe even faster ones.

General feel was a little bit snappier but the most important reason was considerably lowered temperatures, especially since the new CPU obeyes RMCLock and undervolts like crazy.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm a bit sketchy as to what CPU's are allowed especially because I am still not sure what socket type this motherboard is :/

I'd really like a dual core, even if the clock speed wasn't higher. The most important thing would be the ability to multi-task and for the laptop to not freeze every-so-often when swapping between programs.

A dual core would allow me some peace-of-mind when it comes to running programs that are a bit intensive.

As you can see the CPU I am running now is the 3600+ 'Keene' codename processor.

Do you think I could fit a 'ATM Turion 64 X2 TL-66 2.3GHz' in it?

I'm really interested to see what I could get into this computer. I especially would love something lower voltage and cooler seeing as this Sempron gets soooooo hot.

 

Looking at the list of CPUs in Wikipedia looks like the TL-66 is of newer generation and it's minimum operating voltage is higher than older counterparts. Newer chips also have higher TDP. Socket-wise it will fit but I don't know if there is need for bios update (that obviously doesn't exist). That's why the older generation chips are safer bet to work immediately.

Cooling system in the La1703 isn't quite robust either. With TL-66 you'll get much more processing power but perhaps even hotter system. Impossible to predict, it has to be tested.

 

I was just about to come back and ask that question.

The TL-66 is 10W more than the 'Keene' in terms of TDP...

On top of that you're right, I have a really good cooler running under the laptop and the fan works fine that the laptop shipped with. All in all this laptop is running really well but I don't want to melt my laptop inside out and pay for the privilege of doing so..

As for BIOS updates I'm pretty sure I'm running the most updated BIOS and I don't think the BIOS would have ever had an update to support the Turion chips..

What do you think? Too risky?

I've read about another person who had his Fujitsu La1703 shipped with a TL-52.
But will that be much better than the 'Keene' I'm running?

 

The TL-52 is dualcore, roughly same speed x2, but it can be undervolted and it will downclock when idle. Double the cache won't hurt either.

The switch was a simple drop-in replacement when I did it. I'm pretty sure it was TL-52 because I remember it downclocking to 800MHz. Since the old and new CPU are "same generation" it just simply worked.

 

Well like I said I saw someone else talking about his La1703 with a TL-52 but I'd like to go for a TL-66 if the TDP isn't going to be a problem and if it BIOS support isn't an issue.

Like I said I have a cooler and the latest BIOS update but that was made over 2 years ago mind you.. lol. The only place it seems I can get a TL-66 from is USA which means I'd probably have to pay Import tax shipping it to Europe. Though they only cost about 32€ ($39).

So the tax shouldn't be too high if I do have to pay any.

TL-52's are very cheap online and there are a few people in the UK selling so no worries about Import tax but I don't know if I'd feel happy putting one of those in the laptop and going to the trouble unless the performance increase was significant. I also don't know if it would bother me that I should have just tried a TL-66 as well because it could have been much better.

 

Weren't some S socket CPUs backwards compatible? like S2 in an S1? it wasn't that long ago i reading up on the S socket series i think it was on CPU World.

 

But wouldn't all those CPU's not work because of BIOS issues and not to mention their TDPs would be too high?

At the moment I'm just aiming to find out if the TL-66 would be compatible and would be worth the 50€ or so to get it.

 

Passmark Processor Benchmark:

Sempron 3600+: 505
Turion TL-52: 788
Turion TL-58: 883
Turion Tl-62 1110
Turion TL-66: 1166

 

So the TL-66 is more than twice as good as the 3600 Sempron.

Thanks a lot for the passmark post! Looks like I could even go for the TL-62 if there isn't much of a difference there!

Now I'm starting to wonder if the extra 10W TDP will allow the laptop to 'post' correctly. Though lots say that TDP is more or less a 'last resort' figure and that only major differences of TDP, such as going from 25W to 45W would make a big difference in heat and/or not being able to post the laptop at all.

Prices for the TL-62 on Ebay are less than half that of the prices for the TL-66.

Hmm it says here that there's even a TL-68 but I think it would be too hot and perhaps too power hungry for my laptop.

 

It should post just fine. Problems would begin when you run the CPU at full load for some time since the cooling system isn't made to deal with that.

 

Well I might grab myself a TL-62 then. I'll grab some Arctic thermal paste as well and such.

Will the BIOS be a problem?

 

Both are K8 chips, I think it'll work.

 

Well it's a cheap gamble so I'll go for it and post back later when I am able to replace the CPU how everything went

I'm going to go for the TL-62 because it'll be a bit cooler due to slightly lower clock speed (I hope) and because it's less than half the price of the TL-66 and 3 times less than the TL-68 (which I am not sure would work).

Fingers crossed!

Thanks a lot for the help!

 

remember to use quality thermal paste and never spread it use a rice grain sized dot.

 

Really just that little? I thought you could use a bit more than that.

 

The best way to see how much is required is to apply a very, very small amount - assemble the cpu/gpu/heatsink and then disassemble and check that the TIM is fully covering the surface without any gaps or edges being left 'dry'. Once that optimum amount of TIM (specific for that cpu/gpu/heatsink and specific compound used) is determined and reached, anything more will simply make a mess as the extra is simply squeezed off to the sides.

If it is a thicker TIM, then it will actually give worse performance than a thinner and more optimum application would offer.

 

Air is a very poor heat conductor, never spread it! It's fine if some. not a gob of TIM goes over the edges on GPUs and laptop CPUs they have no metal lid.

How Thermal Compound Spreads - YouTube

 

I use Antec Formula 5, but any brand name paste will work.