Notebook CPU Upgrade Possibilities?

Hey guys,

I have a Fujitsu T4220 with an Intel T7250 processor (Ccre 2 Duo - 2.0ghz) and I want to replace that with something faster. However, it seems like everyone just wants me to buy a new computer. Unfortunately, the computer I want does not exist. So here I am.

Anyway, I think you guys will probably tell me the truth abut how "difficult" and "impossible" it really is.

I was looking at Intel's page and any of these would be cool:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ProcFam=2559&sSpec=&OrdCode

Unfortunately I have no idea if any of them will work?

Curiously,
Tom

P.S. I really want to upgrade to 64 bit Vista as well if that makes any difference... I hear Photoshop is a lot faster on there.

 

These my not work... but anyway, let's stat from the bginning.

a) get CPU-Z and find out which socket you have, your socket is important (the most important thing) when changing the CPU

b) figure out what BIOS you have, some processors aren't supported on some BIOSes - this is the more difficult part.

Next, ifyou have the soket, look at the CPUs for this socket and chose one you like or the ones you like I hope this helps a bit.

 

Photoshop is faster on a 64 bit system, but only if your system has been built as a 64 bit system from the ground up. You can't just upgrade a 32 bit system to Vista 64 and expect it to give you the same performance. The biggest performance increaser for any of the new CS4 programs is a RAM upgrade. You can get up to 200% increase if you can upgrade to 16gb. My own 64 bit HDX has 8gb, and it definitely makes a difference.

My point is, don't upgrade for the wrong reason. You might be better off just saving your $$ and getting a full 64 bit system to begin with.

 

Tom, the processor on your laptop is upgradeable. You can upgrade quite a ways too. You can upgrade your current processor to a T9500 running at 2.6Ghz if you so desire.
You can upgrade to any of these processors:
T7300, T7500, T7700, T7800, T8100, T8300, T9300, T9500, Possibly X9000 depending on BIOS support.

before doing anything, you should visit Toshiba's website and see if there is a newer BIOS revision for your laptop. New BIOS updates should have additional processor support for higher end models. The BIOS is simple to install, and you should find directions on Toshiba's website. Before doing this, you shouls check to see what revision BIOS you have, so you can see your BIOS upgrade options. The BIOS information should appear at startup. Simply press F2 or the Delete key to enter the BIOS.

If you have never taken a laptop apart this will be a challenging task. If you have taken a laptop apart before you have already broken down a barrier and show that you are brave and willing to take mistakes. If that is the case the upgrade will not be much an ordeal.

However most people have not taken their laptops apart, so here are some tips:

1) power the laptop down, remove the battery and the power adaptor
2) place the laptop on a foam pad on a large clean desk. This is so you do not scratch your laptop
3) obtain the proper flat head and phillips head screwdrivers.
4) Make sure you are grounded, You can buy a wristband and attach it to a metal object like the leg of a table or something. If you do not have a wristband, make sure you are not taking your laptop apart when standing on a fuzzy/staticy surface like a carpet. Make sure you are wearing rubber based shoes. Also make sure not to wear any fleece type jackets as they create static which can destroy your system. If you don't have a wrist band, hold your hand to a metal object every so often to discharge any static buildup in your body.
5) bring a digital camera to the scene, and take pictures along the way so you can have points of reference.
6) flip the laptop over and proceed to disassembly.
7) If it is hard to take something apart, or something is not coming apart, do no use force. Take a deep breath and look around for any screws you may be missing.
8) when you finally get to the processor, remove the heatsink.
9) while the processor is installed in the motherboard, use rubbing alcohol and a few q-tips to clean off the thermal compound which is on your processor and heatsink. (It is a good idea to do this in the socket, so you do not break any of the pins)
10) Once cleaned the processor die will shine. (This is the small rectangle in the center of the processor)
11) use a small flat head screwdriver and turn the screw on the cpu socket 180 degrees. This will unlock the processor and allow you to remove it.
12) Install the new processor. Line up the pins and it falls into place
13) Lock the processor in place by turning the screw on the socket 180 degrees into the lock position.
14) Apply thermal compound to the processor. You can use Arctic Silver 5, Arctic Cooling MX-2, Tuniq TX-2, it depends on preference. Put a small glob of paste the size of a grain of rice on the center die of the processor
15) Install the heatsink. Before screwing it in, rotate the heatsink back and forth within tolerance on the processor. This will evenly distribute the paste on the processor die.
16) screw the heatsink back on, and continue reassembly
17) while the system is open, you should take the time to clean the processor fan and heatsink vents. You can use some q-tips and rubbing alcohol to clean the fan blades. You should also blow any dust out of the heatsink vents
18) Continue with reassembly
19) If any screws are left over, do not turn your laptop on. Take the system back apart and make sure that you install everything correctly.
20) Only power up when all of the screws are in their proper place
21) Plug ac power and battery in, and enjoy the faster processor

I hope this helps,

K-TRON

 

a) make sure that your laptop has the fastest memory and fastest hard drive possible. Not a lot of machines are really CPU bound, they are hard drive I/O bound and memory bound. Memory and disks are cheaper than CPUs. Easier to install too.
b) make sure that your current CPU isn't soldered in (end of project, FAIL).
c) match cpu sockets (probably a socket P for Intel).
d) match FSB clock rates.
e) verify chipset support (Penryn, etc).
f) match bios support (does the laptop maker use the needed CPU in other, closely related products or was your laptop ever orderable/configureable with the needed CPU).
g) find the needed CPU at a good price, make sure that it's not cheaper/easier to just buy a new laptop.
h) UPDATE your laptop BIOS NOW to the most recent available. If you don't do this NOW the machine may not boot with the new CPU.
i) figure out how to tear down your laptop. Take pictures as you go for use as a reassembly guide. Get something to keep all the little screws in.
j) install the new processor, use appropo care and heat sink goop.
k) reassemble the laptop.
l) power up and hope all the smoke stays in the can.

 

follow this guide:
Disassembly of the Fuijtsu LifeBook T4200 Series Tablet PC

 

The Fujitsu notebook is upgradeable, you just need to make sure that you buy a processor with the same proper socket that you currently have.