Core 2 Duo Compatibility

Im really sorry if this has already been asked, and if it has been, please re-direct me. Im going to be buying a Dell XPS M1710 in a few days. I know Core 2 Duo for laptops wont be released untill august, but I start college in august so I need my notebook before Core 2 comes out for them. I've been planning to get the lowest Core 1 duo they offered to save money, and then later upgrade to a Core 2 duo when they come out. I know the first batch of core 2's will use the same socket type as core 1, but ive found conflecting information on the web. What I want to know is will Core 2 Duo processors be compatable with an XPS M1710? I really want to know before I spen $4000 on this, and then find out I wont be able to upgrade to a far better processor.

 

are you sure they will use the same socket???? they usualy won't, IF it is the same socket i don't think it will be compatibel\worth upgrading because the board is disign for a 1 cor duo.

 

They use the same socket. But according to the news that was reported on our main page a few days ago a bios upgrade will be required.

The chipset used will be the same ... so the "board" is identical. There won't be a chipset upgrade until well into 2007


Edit: Link to news article

 

Core Duo 2 will utilize the same socket as the Core Duo out right now, so the compatability of the new CPU relies on a BIOS upgrade, which must be issued for the "upgraded version" of the notebook. If the notebook line you are looking into buying is discontinued or has a design change, your notebook won't be able to upgrade to Merom (Core Duo 2), as the new BIOS for the re-designed machine probably will not work with your notebook.

EDIT: Ah, Qwester beat me to it!

 

It says in the article qwester linked my to "Intel will also launch a 2.33GHz Duo on June 25th." Does this mean that the laptop versions are now going to be released this month instead of august, and that I should wait a month to get it with a core 2 and save my self the trouble?

Just to clerify I want to get the first wave as said in that article, that uses the same chipset as core 1. Im not planning on replacing my laptop chipset.

 

no...the 2.33 ghz is just another core duo, it is not the core2duo. basically, you will be able to put the core 2 duo in your laptop, but there is no guarantee that it will function, unless dell decides to release a bios update for merom (core 2 duo).

 

the 2.33GHz is a core duo 1 (yonah). The first Morem core duo 2 won't appear before August.

by the way chipset upgrade is not an option, those are soldered into a specially designed motherboard and cannot be removed or exchanged

 

Also, you might want to see if your ODM or Dell or whoever will issue a BIOS update for Merom. They may not in order to force potential upgraders to buy a whole new system.

~ Brett