Upgrading Laptop CPU/GPU

Hello there.

I currently have a Packard Bell Easynote TS11HR with an Intel core i3-2310M processor, Intel HD graphics 3000, 4GB DDR3 Memory. Unsure if it'll help, but the BIOS i'm running is InsydeH20 Version V1.10.

I am looking to upgrade my processor, which has integrated graphics. I was wondering if I was able to upgrade to an i5 or something within the £100-£200 budget.

Please try not to confuse me with in depth detail of what I can or can't do, just try as best you can to say what I should look for and where to go from here

Cheers

 

What is the basic reason why you would like to upgrade the CPU? What or when does it feel like the computer is too slow?

 

Core i3 is more than enough for most of the work, what type of work you do with your laptop? There is not much difference between them, I doubt you'll notice any significant change for your investment( roughly £150), on the other hand, if you spend that money on a SSD, you'll notice a massive improvement in boot time, accessing programs and faster surfing.
As i5 has the same Intel HD 3000 graphics, no joy on that front as well except a tiny 0.2GHz increase. HTH.
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I was wanting to upgrade just for basic gaming uses, such as possibly playing Guild Wars 2 as my current laptop currently struggles to run it. On other forums, people were saying that there is a possibility of replacing it with a sandybridge or Ivybridge.... Would this make much difference?

 

Your system doesn't have an expresscard slot. If it has an accessible mPCIe slot, as is used for wifi, then you could attach a PE4L-PM3N 2.1b, GTX460 desktop video card and a power supply to your system to get x1.2Opt performance. That would give you a massive improvement in 3D gaming performance over your current Intel HD3000 graphics.

Could be done for ~US$200 if you source your parts at very low cost. See http://forum.notebookreview.com/e-gpu-external-graphics-discussion/418851-diy-egpu-experiences.html and specifically the Sony Z2 example that has done exactly this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/619904-sony-vpc-z2-svz-convenient-egpu-setup.html .

 

Your thing is already using a Sandy Bridge based CPU. Have you already tried updating the GPU drivers from intel.com?

 

Is there anyway to check if there is a mPCIe slot without opening up the laptop, as I cannot find if it has a free slot after browsing, which probably means it does not.

 

You definitely have a mPCIe slot for the wifi card. Only question is where is it? A lot of systems have it accessible via the back covers of the notebook. In some cases the wifi slot is under the keyboard. Only way to know for sure is to look.

 

I would say getting eGPU usually isn't worth it, best to buy a laptop with a decent graphics card already in it, or selecting a laptop with an MXM slot.

 

Slapping in a faster CPU and faster memory would help, just not a huge amount.

 

If that laptop can support an Ivy Bridge then I would go for that, as Ivy Bridge has the HD4000 graphics which is a good bit faster than the HD3000. Go for a mid range i5, and it should be a pretty good improvement, plus you get turbo boost, so overall you will end up with quite a bit more cpu power + graphics power.

 

I don't think you can upgrade a SB with IVY.

 

Depends on the BIOS. Ivy is supported by 6 series chipset.

 

Name me one notebook manufacturer that updated their 6 series chipset with bios support.

 

Desktops yes, notebooks no

 

If you wanna play games with a laptop you need an MXM slot or AMD Fusion APU.

 

No you do not. You can game on a laptop that does not have its GPU in an MXM slot as well.

 

Hence why I mention the AMD APU which have a GPU built in to the CPU and often have a chipset based gfx card crossfired with it. Straight up soldered on chipset gfx cards can work but, in my experience are low end GPUs most of the time and when they are mid range or better and are soldered on, they usually have over heating problems because the manufacturer tried to save money by soldering it on the mobo. There may be laptop with good onboard GPU and no over heating issues but, I have yet to see one.

 

Then you haven't been looking hard enough. There are plenty of laptops with capable, non-overheating soldered GPUs. HP, Dell, MSI, Asus, Acer, etc. and all the big manufacturers make these laptops. If a laptop with a soldered GPU overheats, it's because of the poor design or maintenance of the laptop itself, not because the GPU is soldered.

 

What he said. Soldering does not increase heat output.

 

Plenty of decent GT650M and GTX660M soldered designs, the only issue is these become dead ends.