Can I upgrade my XPS M1330's processor from Core Duo to Core Duo 2?

As it says in the title. I bought my XPS last year (June, 07') just before the rollover to Core Duo 2 and I have already seen the performance increase the Core Duo 2 has as my friend ordered virtually the same laptop only a couple months later.

I currently have an XPS M1330 Core Duo (original) 2.0ghz L2 (4MB I think) and 2 Gigs of RAM, but have been unable to locate any information about the motherboard or what my model can and cannot accept.

I have seen the M1330 line carrying Core Duo 2s now on Dell's website, but I felt it would be safer to ask first before voiding my warranty or potentially damaging my computer; and I have seen what happens when you put the wrong processor into an unsupported Motherboard (that happened to have the same Socket).

*EDIT: Typos

 

What is the current CPU ? (Run CPU-Z)

 

Sounds like it might be the T7200.

 

AFAIK, the M1330 is based on the Santa Rosa platform, and Core Duo (Yonah) is not compatible. And T7200 is also Socket M.

Sounds like the T7300 ?

 

The XPS 1330 was only offered with the Socket P processors. I believe the slowest processor Dell sold the system with was the T5670.

I know the XPS 1330 supports up to the T9300/T9500 processors.
You can simply upgrade the Bios on the system, and that will allow support for the faster T9xxx processors with a 800MHz FSB.

K-TRON

 

Heh. I can't believe this. I already have a Core 2 Duo processor.

At least, that's what Vista is telling me in Device Manager under Processors.
The type is T7300.

Well, even so, I would like to know how much higher I can go. I took the best GPU I could get at the time.

Thanks for the quick replies though.

 

For normal work (word processing, internet, music, movies n stuff) that CPU is more than enough. If you experience slow performance (compared to your friend’s computer) then it is not your CPU, most likely due to background applications or lack of RAM (however 2GB is enough for Vista). You will not notice any significant speed increase by upgrading from a T7300, unless you do a lot of high CPU intensive tasks like Video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulations, image processing etc..

 

I just intend to get it ready to run Fallout 3 for my immediate needs, and a data crunching job this December.

 

Fallout 3 is going to be GPU limited, and any Core 2 is more than enough for data crunching.

 

Recommended graphics requirements for Fallout 3 lists a Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA 8800 series, ATI 3800 series), however the 8400M GS of M1330 falls way short of that. Therefore a CPU upgrade won’t help you much, because gaming performance mostly rely on the power of the GPU (graphics processing unit). [EDIT : Lithus already beat me to this fact]

You may notice a difference in your data crunching job (depending on how CPU intensive/bound) the task is.. But still it may not turn out to be a wise upgrade , considering the price, hassle and potential warranty issues; not to mention heating problems that might arise by putting in a faster CPU in to an already crammed chassis.

To answer your original question, you should be able to upgrade to a Penryn processor with 800MHz FSB like T9500 (2.6Ghz/800Mhz/6MB cache)

 

Well, that sucks. The thing is barely a year old and it can't run jack.
The 8400GS is the best video card I can put in it too IIRC.

Oh well, lightweight laptops are hardly gaming material anyway.
Thanks for the help.

 

i have an xps 1330 with a T5800 CPU

and would like to upgrade it to a T8100 or T8300

but how should i do this? like, can dell do it for me or can i do it by myself?

 

Usually yeah.

But the LG P310 has 9600GT with 512MB DDR3 and is lighter than your 1330.

 

You might be better served into purchasing a gaming desktop. It is easier to upgrade to newer hardware when a new game (like Fallout) runs too slow. Not many notebooks come with a standardized graphics expansion card.

 

The XPS1330 was sold with up tp the T9500 processor, so yes you can upgrade to the T8300 if you desire.

K-TRON