The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Guys... What is really needed in terms of information to upgrade a processor?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by GreenGoblin82, Jul 30, 2010.

  1. GreenGoblin82

    GreenGoblin82 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Guys:
    I have a Dell Vostro 1500 Notebook and I am looking to upgrade the stock 1.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo T5270 processor that it came with.

    The only thing is that I don't know what information I need to make sure whatever new processor I buy for it will work.

    My processor is Socket P and has a Voltage of 35W. I has 2MB cache and 800 MT/s FSB.

    I want to significantly upgrade the speed on it and since I need to shop for processors now I need to know what it is that I am supposed to be looking for.. but I am clueless. I am in finance and need the computer for business.

    I hope you guys can help me out!
    Thanks!
     
    GreenGoblin82, Jul 30, 2010
    #1
  2. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    With notebooks, the new processor has to have the same FSB and socket, USUALLY. I believe the highest class Mobile Intel you can install would be a T9300. But any of the T5xxx, T6xxx, T7xxx, or T8xxx would work.

    EDIT... wait.. what chipset do you have? GM965, GL40, or GM/PM45?
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Jul 30, 2010
    #2
  3. nikeseven

    nikeseven Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    259
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You need to match socket. The TDP just needs to be reasonably close to make sure the cooling adequate. You'd also need to make sure your bios supports the new processor.
     
    nikeseven, Jul 30, 2010
    #3
  4. huai

    huai Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You have the old 65nm montevina platform chipset, the highest CPU's you chipset (965) can take are T9300 and t9500. 9300 is 0.1 ghz slower but about $100 cheaper - that's your max.
     
    huai, Jul 30, 2010
    #4
  5. ramgen

    ramgen -- Morgan Stanley --

    Reputations:
    513
    Messages:
    1,322
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    It is not always the case.

    For example T9300 (800 MHz FSB) and T9900 (1066 MHz FSB) use the same socket (Socket P) but you cannot upgrade a T9300 to a T9900 if your chipset is a 965 (which basically supports upto 800 MHz FSB).


    --
     
    ramgen, Jul 30, 2010
    #5
  6. lucas755

    lucas755 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    89
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I always thought the processor was soldered to the mobo?

    Maybe I'm thinking of GPUs.
     
    lucas755, Jul 30, 2010
    #6
  7. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    641
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Nope, only the low power(below 25 watt) are soldered in.
     
    Nick, Jul 30, 2010
    #7
  8. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    801
    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Things to understand about cpu swaps/upgrades

    a) do the sockets line up?
    b) will the chipset support it?
    c) are the voltages similar?
    d) are the tdp's close (so that the existing heatsinks will work well)?

    and the hardest to find out:

    e) does the machine bios support the chip?

    You need to find the answers to all five questions. A no to any of the five kills your project.
     
    newsposter, Jul 30, 2010
    #8
  9. SomeFormOFhuman

    SomeFormOFhuman has the dumbest username.

    Reputations:
    1,037
    Messages:
    1,012
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The Vostro 1500 has a GM965 chipset, with your configuration coupled with an 8400M GS and an 8600M GT configurations. The earlier configurations of the Vostro 1500 included the Pentium and Merom T7xx series.

    It will also support up to the first generation 800Mhz Penryn processors; T8100, T8300, T9300, T9500 and the X9000. There users are with the X9000 and it managed to run well and cool in the Vostro 1500 and achieving a mild overclock to 3.2GHz using ThrottleStop in the 1500 under 65*C; known for its excellent cooling system.

    I recommend the 35W 2.5GHz 800Mhz FSB 6mb L2 Cache T9300 processor overall - it's already a good upgrade from your current, doesn't cost as much thus provides a good price : performance ratio. You can check those on eBay.
     
    SomeFormOFhuman, Jul 30, 2010
    #9