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    Dell Latitude D420 - CPU upgrade possible?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Boissez, Jan 11, 2008.

  1. Boissez

    Boissez Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi folks,

    I'm about to buy a used Dell D420 but I'm considering upgrading it from the get-go with a better CPU and I think I may have figured out how:

    The Core duo T2050 has the same stepping/revision and FSB and should be compatible with a bit of luck. It would of course generate too much heat so undervolting is required - but apart from the thermal issue, it should work right?

    Has anyone tried doing this mod? Or is the D420 already so thermally challenged that I should just forget about it? (This is my first post so please bear with me ;) )

    Best regards
     
    Boissez, Jan 11, 2008
    #1
  2. skywalker

    skywalker Business Notebook FTW!!

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    Hi Boissez, welcome to this forum.
    Do you know the specs, I mean the old processor and the chipset used on that D420, so we may know whether it can be upgraded or not.
    I bet, it came with Intel Core Solo U ULV series.
     
    skywalker, Jan 11, 2008
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  3. Boissez

    Boissez Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah... forgot to mention that - sorry!

    The D420 can be had with either the core solo or core duo ULV processors and the chipset is Intel i945GMS.

    Now I know that there are going to be some thermal issues but the question is how much. Is the D420 well cooled to start with or does it get fantasticly hot even with the ULV's?
     
    Boissez, Jan 11, 2008
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  4. thejinx0r

    thejinx0r Notebook Guru

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    yes the d420 does get hot with a ULV.

    And I'm quite sure it's not upgradable. I think I read somewhere that the D4x series has a soldered on cpu.
     
    thejinx0r, Jan 11, 2008
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  5. Boissez

    Boissez Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Jinx0r... I've just checked Dells service manual for the D420 and it seems the CPU is not upgradeable. So I guess my attempts to tweak this machine ends here.

    Anyways tahnks for the help.

    Best regards.
     
    Boissez, Jan 12, 2008
    #5
  6. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Sorry, but yes it isn't upgradeable. No LV or ULV chip is either that I know of, just so you know.
     
    Greg, Jan 12, 2008
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  7. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    As far as I know Intel only supplies the ULV and LV CPUs as BGA which means they are soldered. Their assumption is probably that low power CPUs go into thin notebooks which don't want the extra thickness of the CPU socket.

    The good feature of those ULV CPUs, combined with the Intel 945GMS chipset, is the impressive battery time. You would lose this with a normal CPU.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jan 13, 2008
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  8. moon angel

    moon angel Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    John is correct, LV and ULV cpus are usually soldered on to save the space of a socket and to stop upgrades the cooling can't handle. It's likely even if it were socketed that the motherboard couldn't take the higher voltages anyway.

    Sorry!

    For more upgrading ideas you could try more ram and/or a faster hard disk?
     
    moon angel, Jan 13, 2008
    #8