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    Question about upgrading Arrandale processors

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Jayayess1190, May 10, 2010.

  1. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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    Say I had an Lenovo X201 with a Core i3-330M or a Core i5-520M. Would I be able to swap it for a Core i7-620LM?
     
    Jayayess1190, May 10, 2010
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    have you cross-checked the processor specs at ark.intel.com?

    Very easy to select several cpus and compare.
     
    newsposter, May 10, 2010
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  3. laststop311

    laststop311 Notebook Deity

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    the core i7 runs 10 watts hotter so as long as the cooling is sufficient then yes the processors share the same socket and motherboard requirements.
     
    laststop311, May 10, 2010
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  4. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Judging by the exact 10 watt figure, you're going by TDPs, but if that's the case you've got it backwards, the i7-620LM is rated at 10 watts lower than the i3-330M and i5-520M.
     
    lackofcheese, May 10, 2010
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  5. laststop311

    laststop311 Notebook Deity

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    oh i didnt notice he meant the non standard voltage one well if the low voltage chips use the same socket then yeah you could do it.
     
    laststop311, May 10, 2010
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  6. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Even were that the case, the non-LV i7-620M officially still has the same 35W TDP, though the fact is that it's more power-hungry than the Core i3/i5 Arrandales. It's the quad cores that have a greater TDP of 45W rather than 35W.
     
    lackofcheese, May 10, 2010
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  7. laststop311

    laststop311 Notebook Deity

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    hmmm i was on some notebook manufacturers site that listed it as a 45 watt but you're right intel says 35 watt. Guess it was a typo on the site i was lookin at.
     
    laststop311, May 10, 2010
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  8. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    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 upgrade project.
     
    newsposter, May 10, 2010
    #8
  9. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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    Well, Lenovo sells the X201 with standard voltage 35nm Core i3/i5/i7's and the X201s with Core i7-620/640LM's. In the past with Core 2 Duo's swapping processors was easy, but I just don't know whether it is still able to be done with the new Arrandale's. Good to know you can do it. I know that when Sandy Bridge comes out next year, you should be able to swap it out for a 22nm Ivy Bridge cpu. If I were to get an Arrandale notebook, I'd be stuck with an Arrandale processor and no ability to upgrade further.
     
    Jayayess1190, May 10, 2010
    #9
  10. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Typically the LV and ULV CPUs are BGA and hence are soldered, so most likely it wouldn't be possible to put one into a socketed PGA.
     
    sgogeta4, May 10, 2010
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  11. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    that is what i think too.. but u might weirdly find a BGA processor on ebay with PGA pins.. i've seen an example of a SU series processor once..
     
    sean473, May 10, 2010
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  12. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Maybe they're ES or QS CPUs? At least for the C2D's, all the LV and ULV were BGA.
     
    sgogeta4, May 11, 2010
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  13. Jayayess1190

    Jayayess1190 Waiting on Intel Cannonlake

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    Jayayess1190, May 11, 2010
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  14. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well if the seller is legit, looks like it should fit fine physically. Whether or not it will work electrically and is supported by the BIOS is a different story.
     
    sgogeta4, May 11, 2010
    #14