Intel Core 7 940XM Upgrade

Hi,

I am hoping for some advice on a cpu upgrade. I have an HP DV7-3180US with a Core 7 820QM processor. Checking online, it seems I could safely upgrade it to a 940XM processor. However, 940XM is kind of old and hard to come by now. I want to find out given the same chipset (PGA988 chipset, G1 socket), what is the newest, most "powerful" intel cpu can I upgrade the laptop to? Preferably it should still be at least a quad core, 8MB cache processor.

Thank you for your input!

 

See:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=853&cmp[]=865

With a ~25% increase in raw compute performance but a ~22% increase in TDP, I don't think this is an 'upgrade' in any sense of the word.

I suggest a newer/current platform instead which can hit those passmark 'scores' at less than 25W TDP and even at 15W TDP instead.

Sell, give or donate the current system as you see fit to finance a new platform. Upgrading it though is just a way to show you it's age sooner (not to mention the cost in time & $$$ of those upgrades).

Even if the M/B, power supply, BIOS and all other necessary bits are there to support the 940XM or higher CPU, the minimal 25% increase in raw performance (not necessarily visible in real life workflows) is a sideways and/or backwards move, not an upgrade.

A current QC i7 Skylake platform will offer easily 200% to 400% of the performance that real world workflows will benefit from. All while being quieter, cooler, longer battery life and better in almost every other aspect too (including having a warranty...).

Upgrading a proprietary system such as a notebook is a way to drain your account without much to show for it.

 

The processor is not worth the price compared to a 920XM, it's 98% the same performance. You can't go higher than a 920XM/940XM.

As for your HP, it's most likely possible. But controlling thermal is way another matter. See heatsink.







Take into consideration that even with a dedicated and bigger heatsink, the M15x has a hard time keeping it under 75c when load (stock 2GHz). This is under best conditions where the laptop is greatly elevated from the surface to allow breathing.