CPU Swap on Lenovo Ideapad Y series

I've been searching for a while for users who have done this.
They are really far and wide...the last person I found I messaged about 2 months ago, no reply.

A lot of the times they're on forums, usually relating to the same subject I am writing about now, and then they say they found out how - did it, and never returned to the forum.

I currently own a Y510 (Retail Edge) laptop with a T5750 Micro/FPGA Socket P processor.

I want to upgrade it to the T9300, 2.5GHz with 6MB L2 Cache.
I figure it's the last leap I can take in getting my laptop to live for as long as possible. The integrated graphics (Intel X3100) really bog its potential...at least the X4500 has HDMI support.

That is irrelevant, I hope with the upgrade it will take some of the load off the GPU and RAM and peak my performance when compared to the 2.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache T5750.


I assume the other models, Y410, Y430, Y530, Y710, Y730 to all have the same structural assembly. So if you upgraded any of these models I'm sure the methods used are applicable to the Y510.

Photos are a plus, and if you have the Hardware Maintenance Manual I will love you forever.

Like almost ALL thinkpad models HMM are available to the public, the Ideapads...not so much. They are safely guarded by the technicians who work on machines.

/shrug

Help a fella out!

 

Unless you've got a specific need to run CPU intensive apps 24/7, I doubt you'd notice much of a difference between a T5750 and a T9300. I upgraded my machine from a T2300 to a T7400. Honestly, I can't tell a difference. I only did it because cause I got a great deal on the CPU. Spending all that money for a marginal performance increase hardly seems like money well spent. A faster hard drive or SSD is much more likely to yield a noticeable performance increase. It also won't void your warranty like upgrading the CPU.

 

while you have the notebook open, take a photo of the clock generator (PLL).

Also write down the number on it.
So that you can use setfsb to overclock if you want.

Taking the notebook apart shouldn't be too hard.

I didn't use a guide when I first took myne apart. If went well but I forgot to put back one part so I ended up taking it apart again.

Find some good thermal paste and clean out the dust while you've got it open.

 

Warranty is up, it was gone in September.

I want the T9300 because it's 500Mhz (which is not marginal) faster, 3x's as much Cache, and supports Virtualization - which is something I would use with Windows 7 Ultimate.

The T5750 has less than half the features that the T9300 has.
I'm looking for information about taking apart the laptop because don't want to risk damaging a component because of some retarded design lock to prevent people from taking apart the case.

As for the HDD / SSD it will only hinder performance since larger capacity SSD are expensive, and the faster RPM HDD will kill battery.

 

If you're just doing office and internet they only need about 500MHz to run properly. Anything else above that is gravy. The extra MHz and cache won't mean much performance wise. Now if you plan to run Handbrake or crunch Access databases all day then perhaps the upgrade is warranted.

I'd make sure your machine supports virtualization. I know some ThinkPads like mine have virtualization disabled in the BIOS. It wouldn't surprise me if Lenovo did the same on the Ideapads.

I've been using 7200RPM drives since the 7k40. It's been my experience the battery life difference is very small if any. I don't see how larger SSDs being expensive hinders performance.

 

Because It would be pointless to shell out $600 for a SSD of 250GB Capacity. In which case I could only afford a 64GB SSD (approximately) causing me to store all my files on portable HDD...which is USB, 480M/Bits per second to upload my iTunes is a lot slower than 3.0G/Bits per second.

Therefore, cost prompts purchase of lower capacity drives, which forces large amounts of storage onto a slower interface, which in turn hinders performance.

Even if the BIOs were locked, it is unlockable for sure.

 

A CPU swap should be great... SSD's are a rip off although they give great performace.. still cheaper for ordinary ppl like us to use mechanical hard drives untill SSD's become cheaper..

 

^
That's what I'm saying.

 

Still, a laptop sees more performance improvement from an SSD than a slightly faster CPU.

 

That's what I'm saying. If you've got $200 to spend, buying a SSD is much more likely to give a noticeable performance increase than the CPU. Granted if you want/need more storage that's a problem.

 

WHICH is why I want a $150 processor...as opposed to the $600 SSD i'd need.

 

The CPU will make little difference performance wise. If you don't want to spend $600 to get an appropriately specced SSD, which is a completely valid conclusion given the price, though $600 seems a bit of a stretch, I'd suggest saving your money to put towards your next notebook. It's, in my considered opinion, a better use of your money, but do as you must. I also wouldn't count on the Lenovo BIOS being unlockable for VT support.

 

I agree with ZaZ. The CPU might throw some "UP" in performance, but it wont be even noticeable. If you dont want to spend, I suggest to save, until 1) SSDs drop prices,, 2) you can get a good laptop with SSD included for a good price, or 3) wait for next architecture of CPUs that might be a major difference.

But as said, a faster same-architecture CPU, is very unnoticeable on normal tasks (to the point off negligible) and when stressed the dif wont be that jaw-dropping (considering what you paid for it...). This is my honest opinion.

 

No no no.
I'm saying that to get an equivalently sized SSD to my current HDD (for what I use, and I DO use it) it would cost $600.

$150, or 1/4th the cost for a processor seems a bit more fiscally responsible.

Then again, I could always spend $500 on a new notebook :\
But that is another story.

 

I think their point is that $150 for an unnoticeable increase in performance would be even less fiscally responsible.

I don't know what you use your computer for, or how you use it, but would it be practical to buy a smaller 80-100 gigabyte SSD ($200-$300) for the OS and programs, and use your existing drive in an external enclosure for storage? That generally seems to be the most recommended format for speed and storage.

 

The PassMark test for the 9300 rating is about 60% faster than the T5750.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html
The above website puts the T5750 at 61 in terms of Intel processors for Mobile platforms and the 9300 at 20.

 

Oh, there's no argument that the T9300 is a faster processor than the T5750. The question is whether or not you'll notice that it's faster, and that depends entirely on what you do with your computer. If your CPU load never goes over 30-40%, then you're unlikely to notice much difference with a faster processor. It'd be like putting a Formula One racing engine in my Ford Focus, when all I ever do is drive local roads with a speed limit of 35-45 mph. If, on the other hand, you spend a lot of time with your CPU under heavy loads, then yes, it might be a much more worthwhile investment.

 

Just get a T9300 and a 7200rpm hard drive... that will be the best money to power combo.. SSD's for large sizes are a rip off..

 

You could do this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4936086

Then stick a small SSD in the HDD bay, and put your HDD in the optical bay.

 

80% is the average.
I do A LOT of video conversions, and Photo editing / compression.
It takes a LOAD of time to make RAW files to JPEG

 

Aha, well, in that case, yes, it will probably help considerably. Please note that everyone who was asking if it was worth it before were asking if you were doing anything CPU-intensive, or just office/internet, and this is the first time we actually got an answer.

 

Thanks for clariying that.

if you stress the cpu constantly, then the faster cpu will show benefits

 

That's great...now if I could only get some kind of disassembly photos from someone who has done it before (as my first post requested) we can get the ball rolling!

 

Does this help?
http://consumerdl.lenovo.com.cn/UserFiles/UserGuide/en/User's%20guides%20and%20manuals/Y510/Y510%20User's%20Guide.pdf

if the link does work, go here: http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/en/UserGuide/Guide_show_1227184199084.html

 

Not to sound rude, but did you even read what I wrote?
Or for that matter, read what you sent a link to?
User Guides, unlike Hardware Maintenance Guides/Manuals only show a user how to turn on their Laptop, where the buttons are, and basically everything grandma or a toddler would need to know to get started.


HMMs are what technicians use to disassemble any Lenovo laptop - they show complete instructions regarding screen replacement, motherboard removal, or simply installing an optical drive. It ALSO includes the locations of all hidden tabs or locks on the chassis that were put there to stop consumerists from tampering with their hardware/taking apart the laptop...because trying to force these things open without being aware of certain tabs will always result in breaking parts.

I appreciate the initiative, but this isn't what I need.

 

Oh, sorry, I just assumed it was like HP's that show you how to do it all.

 

Lenovo widely distributes their HMM for their THINKPAD line, but nothing of that sort for the IDEAPADS.

It's absolutely infuriating
Talking to their customer support is like talking to T.S.

 

agreed hp's customer support is useless.. the guy is so dumb for example he said that i could only upgrade from vista 32 bit to windows 7 32 bit but i had upgraded to windows 7 64 bit... technical support from these companies is of a disgustingly low standard.. luckily we got notebookreview.com

 

Oh geez, don't even get me started on asking for help.
They seriously have NO clue about whats going on.

I get it, CUSTOMER support is hired to get the customer to where they need to be...but Jesus X, they need SOME background in troubleshooting.

A simple question such as memory type can lead to 20 minute waits being transfered from the CSR to Sales to Tech Support and then Back to CSR cause you're warranty is out and tech cant talk to you.

Seriously!

(Of course I know how to find this out...but the average joe doesnt.)