Some upgrade questions about G580 model 2689 / best 120GB SSD

I would like to know if I can upgrade the Ram (From 4GB to 6/8 GB), The CPU (From i3 to i5/i7) and change the current HDD to SSD, and which SSD do you recommend (need 120GB, fast as possible)


By the way, is there a chance to use an external gpu(desktop model)?

 

CPU, Yes. it is socketed and Ivy Bridge? With this design, I'd do no more than an i5. SSD likely easily doable, and the RAM can be upgraded to your liking. eGPU likely difficult and they are still mainly buggy things.

 

Thank you for the fast reply!
I have no idea if it is a socketed / ivy bridge... Any idea which CPU i5 model might suit well?
So as the RAM, which one do you suggest?
Which SSD should I get?


Well, right now I have i3 2328m, Sandy Bridge.

 

The best processor you can put in without any potential cooling concerns is the Intel Core i7-2640M.

For memory, you currently have one 4GB RAM module, so you just need one more to max out the system. Your system takes 1600 Mhz DDR3 SODIMM memory. Any brand with a lifetime warranty will do for that.

For the SSD, I'd recommend something with higher capacity than 120GB unless you can't afford anything more. SSDs with higher capacities are almost always faster than SSDs with lower capacities. Many current SSDs don't have maximum performance unless they're 480GB or higher capacity. Some of the fastest SSDs out there right now that would be appropriate for your system are (depending on budget, use & preference) Samsung 850 Pro or 850 Evo, SanDisk Extreme Pro, & Crucial BX100.

 

First of all, thank you for the answers!
Secondly, I was looking for the CPU socket support, which shows my current cpu (i3) supports FCPGA988, and the CPU you offered, supports FCBGA1023, PPGA988. More than that, I have only 1 slot of RAM, so I guess I'll have to buy 8GB one.
I was looking for the supported socket on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...TRC0.H0.XFCPGA988.TRS0&_nkw=FCPGA988&_sacat=0

What do you think?

 

@WaffleBoy you should be able to use i7-3630QM. Something like i7-3612QM or i7-3632QM will work as well, but they're slower.

 

Your CPU supports either FCPGA988 or PPGA988, and the one I told you about also supports PPGA988, which is likely the socket used in your system.

A quad-core processor, although it would fit in the socket, could potentially have cooling problems depending on the notebook's cooling efficiency.

 

With an upgrade of the CPU you may be able to get 2x8GB RAM working on your system. (Highly recommended if it works).

Unless you have workflows that peg the CPU to 100% for hours at a time; I would also recommend the latest version of the i7 QC that fits. At idle/light use; it will be almost as efficient as your i3, but with the power to rev up to workstation class levels when needed (again; recommended only if you have mostly bursty workloads).

A 120GB SSD will effectively negate your other upgrades in short time - even if you only use it for the O/S (i.e. less than 25GB capacity used). And especially if you can't OP by ~33% or more.

With 2016 knocking on the door... a 480/500/512GB SSD or larger is highly recommended (and if you want the promise of the SSD's performance to come close to what the manufacturer indicates in their marketing; OP by 33% of the actual capacity of your specific SSD (yeah; they all vary a little).

So with an SanDisk Extreme Pro 480GB SSD:
480GB (nominal) x 1000,000,000 = 480,000,000,000 bytes
480,000,000,000 / 1024 / 1024 / 1024 = 447GB actual
447GB x .67 (1 - 0.33 OP required) = 299.5GB Actual Capacity for O/S, Programs and DATA.

The above I would split into two partitions with C:\Drive being 150GB and the remaining being D:\DATA.

Move the Users folders to a folder on the D:\DATA drive right after the O/S is installed.

After all your programs, O/S updates and Data is installed; you can shrink the C:\Drive so that it has at least 25GB free space (or more if your workflows require) and then expand the D:\DATA drive by the same amount to keep the overall OP'ing percentage the same.

Having a C:\Drive with 150GB of actual capacity is highly recommended though (for future software, O/S updates, etc.).

As for the external/desktop gpu? Buy yourself a full desktop instead and save a truckload of time, money and headaches.


Good luck.

 

Thank you! I'll looking for QM CPU, prefer that.

 

@WaffleBoy , no need to OP the SSD so much! Personally, the Sandisk is already OPed... I've never Oped my SSD's and they are as good today as they were before...