Possible Upgrades for Inspiron 1525?

After I broke my screen on my Dell Inspiron 1525 I'm soon getting a higher res 1680x1050 display, and that got me thinking how can I improve my laptops performance? I most likely won't have the money for an Envy 15 until I get a job so I'm wondering besides RAM upgrade to 4gb would replacing the processor help my laptop? I'm currently running a c2d T5450 processor with 1.66ghz speed, and I'm not sure if that can be overclocked.

 

What kind of programs are you going to be using that you think could run faster with upgrades?

 

mostly just internet n online videos, current hardware keeps me limited to what I can use.

 

I think 1.66GHz should be enough for online videos in general. I have the same speed on my older Inspiron 6400 with T2300 CPU.

Of course if you see a cheap 2GHz+ Socket P CPU on eBay, then by all means.

 

Is it this processor/ is this the max for the Inspiron? www.cedarpc.com - Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz - T5800

 

I think you could also get a T7500 or T7300 or T8100, or T6600/T6670. Whatever is Socket P and has an 800MHz FSB and cheapest. You won't really notice the difference though.

 

You might want to consider checking out this thread here @ NBR Forum, which has some relevance to your laptop.

Dell Inspiron 1520: Viable After Market Upgrades

My own tuppence worth would be to consider upgrading the CPU but also look at replacing the existing HDD with an SSD - you can re-use the HDD via an external enclosure or alternatively buy a third party caddy, which could be used to replace your optical drive.

EDIT: Here's another handy reference thread here @ NBR Forum.

Intel Mobile Processor Compatibility Guide

EDIT 2: Another handy reference thread for you!

Upgrade of my Inspiron 1525's CPU (please help!)

 

+1 - Bear in mind that each CPU series will have different cache sizes as well (i.e. 2MB, 3MB, 4MB, 6MB, etc) and will run slightly cooler as well.

Dependent upon your budget and availability then you might want to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo T8100, T8300, T9300 and T9500 CPUs - note that the T8100 is generally cheapest and the T9500 is the most expensive or at least it is here in the UK!

EDIT: I personally wouldn't go for any of Intel Core 2 Duo T7xxx CPUs as I've found them to run a lot hotter.

 

Get something cheap but good like a T6600. Also max out the memory in the laptop, so 4GB. That should keep you set for a while, especially with the better screen.

 

I have a 1525 dell as well and I upgraded my celeron CPU to a T8100 but didn't buy the T8300 because 2.1 to 2.4 isn't enough to justify the price hike to a T8300 but I also did a T9300 CPU test and it will take that as well and most likely a T9500 CPU. So where are you getting your higher resolution and do you know that part number cause I am interested in maybe in the future getting a higher resolution as well as I have the 1280x800 and it works well. Don't go for a CPU less then T8100. And definitely a T8100 will help keep your system cool and fan running less and it does help that the T8100 is a Duo 2 core not just a Dual core which isn't a real 2 core processor.

 

My new screen comes tomorrow, I'm growing so impatient >.<.

For the screen, I just searched WSXGA screen for the Dell Inspiron 1525. I looked on the specs sheet for the Inspiron and found it as having the 1680x1050 resolution.

Documentation

Under: Display.

I was going to Get a new laptop but more than likely I won't get the money for it so I'm thinking about fully repairing my laptop to last for another year. I'd have to replace the entire chassis and the charging port and possibly add in a bluetooth card but the parts shouldn't be too expensive.

 

Thanks, I will look into that. And I did order a Bluetooth module from ebay and installed it and now have Bluetooth and I did also upgrade my WIFI to N series to get the faster wifi and it works wonders having a faster connection. But if anything a N series Wifi and Bluetooth and 4Gigs and T8100 should improve your laptop and keep it going for long time to come. But make sure to dust it out and clean the CPU thermal paste and redo the thermal paste to let it cool better if you haven't done so. I did also upgrade my dvd drive so it could burn DL media to DVD-ROM from the original and it came without a Webcam but I did get one on ebay. I got my old screen from my Dell D830 and might look into using that and see if I can change it with that one.

 

The T5450 can't be overclocked, even with ThrottleStop. You might be able to pick up a faster CPU fairly low-cost on the Internet, but make sure you're actually using up your CPU power in Task Manager first. If you aren't, you won't really get any benefit from a CPU upgrade, and might as well save the money. My laptop's CPU isn't that much more powerful, and I have plenty of headroom when just surfing the Interwebs and watching videos. But it will depend on what type of video, too. Some Pentium II's can handle YouTube and DVDs, but if you're watching high-def Netflix or something... perhaps it would come close to a T5450's capacity.

 

Well on this laptop (same processor/memory) Im using 100% cpu and 88% memory so yeah I need it.

 

I would say if you upgrade the CPU stay away from dual pent core or dual core CPU those aren't true 2 core CPU true dual core is aka Core 2 Duo. You either looking getting a T7500 or T8100-T8300 or spend a bit more and get either a T9300 or T9500 all of which are Core 2 Duo Intel CPU. But my money would if you have enough to spend get a T9300 which is few Ghz less then a T9500 but that cost quite a bit more for it. Otherwise go for T8100 which is a few Ghz less then T8300 but you get the same CPU basically. And do expand to 4Gigs of Ram when you do that ok.

 

pentium dual cores are mainly core 2 duo's with less cache.

Desktop pentium d's were 2 pentium 4 stuck together in one chip. pentium dual cores are proper dual cores just less cache then c2d and less power saving features I believe like stepping and no real downclocking.

 

Hmm would seem to fit the story but I would still go for something beyond pentium dual core and get a T8100 or lower T7500 for lower power consumption and but not a Pent dual core the price you pay for used would better benefit going for a T8100 or T8300 or Possible T9300 CPU.

 

Forgot to ask take a camera shot of just the desktop with the original LCD and then the new one so I can see how much you for screen display size if you can. I know of one Dell E1505 that had a wxga screen and it only allowed icon just so far to the right and not all the way and I am thinking this has to do with the resolution or the graphics not permitting me to go the extend of the screen. If you see that happen tell me?

 

I already got the screen on Monday and so far there's nothing wrong with the screen, albeit putting it all together was a huge PITA but everything is fine.

 

Were you able to place all your icon right at the edge of the screen for left right and top and bottom without any problems???? I know on one E1505 with WGAX screen that won't allow you to place any icon to the right of the screen as though separated by a invisible don't place barrier....??

 

There is a VERY small barrier less than 1/2 cm on the right side blocking the icons, however I leave all my stuff on the left side and I have very few icons so its not much of a problem.

 

I thought that might be the case...as well from a E1505 with wxga screen. I think it has something to do with the resolution limits. That 1/2 cm to me drives my eyes crazy just looking at there is a space there and won't go away.