Best bang for the buck CPU upgrade path

Hi all,

I am wondering what is the best bang for the buck upgrade path for my Compaq A909US. It is currently running a T2330 @ 533Mhz FSB. I already have 3GB of RAM installed. The MB uses the GL960 chipset.
I don't do any gaming but would like to speed up the unit a bit.

My choices are either a T7100, T7300 or T7500 CPU.
OR should I try to go for a T8100, T8300 CPU?

 

No, because the T8 series use 1066MHz FSB's, which unless Compaq releases a BIOS that ups the 800MHz limit to 1066, it will not work. If your laptop was manufactured at the later part of 2008, it will use digital thermal sensors, and it will accept a T9300 or T9500 no problem, but if it is manufactured in late 2007/early 2008, it will use an analog thermal sensor, in which a T9300 or T9500 will still work fine, it will just display a "ACPI thermal error" or something whenever you boot up, which you need to press "Esc" to continue booting. Either way a T9300 would be the best upgrade IMO, sicne the T9500 is just a 100MHz overclock basically, and yet it costed about 100$ more when it came out.

 

The T8100 and T8300 are 800MHz FSB processors.

That being said, GL960 compatibility is always somewhat of a crapshot, and it may be that none of these processors work. I think the T7100 is probably your safest bet, and it's generally pretty good bang for the buck as well.

EDIT: I second the below post.

 

The best bang for your buck's a SSD.

 

hmm.. never considered a SSD

 

Depending on tasks u do , a processor upgrade might help... if u game or do video conversion, a new processor will help... An SSD will make ur computer load stuff faster but in real life tasks like gaming , it will be completely useless except for loading the game faster.... for GL960 chipset , from what i've seen T7100 seems to work...

 

sean473... Thanks for reminding me that I do in fact utilize my laptop to do video conversions.

I think a CPU upgrade would buy me more of a noticeable boost?

 

I have to ask, didn't you state recently that you didn't really notice any major performance difference between a 7200RPM HDD and a SSD?

 

That's part of the story. As I said earlier there are situations where the SSD is indeed faster, but for me it was not a big deal. A CPU upgrade offers little increase for general usage tasks. Comparatively the SSD is more likely to make the system seem faster.

 

I agree a SSD is more likely to make the system faster. Video editing will also benefit from it.

 

it would not be much compared to getting a new laptop with a quad... that will be a super boost...