What processor to upgrade to

Hello,
I have been looking for some time to get a better processor. I am currently running on an i5 3210m (check other system info in my sig). Now have i been looking at this chip for a bit:
New Intel i7 3720QM QBC1 2 6GHz Turbo 3 6GHz ES Unlocked Multipler Free UPS DHL | eBay
It seems pretty cheap. It also got an unlocked multipler But it is ofcourse an ES and has less good stepping. It is also a 55W TDP. My temps in my laptop are now as we speak 45-50C. Under full load never higher than 75C and that is without the turbo cooling on. Could my laptop handle this 55W chip?

Intel i7 3630QM Mobile CPU QS 2 4GHz Turbo 3 4GHz not i7 3610QM Free UPS DHL | eBay
Or would it be better gettin an QCF5 (final ES version and preformance the same of the OEM)? Its only 45W. What would the preformance jump be between the two?

How hard would it be on my computer gettin a higher TDP chip. Can i brick my MoBo for instance or something like that?
thanks!

 

By stepping - do you mean SpeedStep? Or the stepping field value?

As long as your power supply will handle the TDP, it will not brick your motherboard. You can expect your temps to jump higher, of course, so make sure you have good cooling and use good thermal paste on the replacement! The socket on your board will support either i7 you listed though. As long as it's Ivy Bridge, your socket will support it.

 

As improvements are made at the chip devolpment chips get better. THis is an engeniering example so it has a less good stepping. I read that on the site with the link The ES chips are less good than normal Production line chips. How much of a difference would that make? That was what i was wondering. The ES costs 100$ less than the normal chip and has a bigger cache and unlocked multiplyer

 

Ah, so field stepping, then! I'd wager you won't notice a difference between the two chips in real world applications - especially casual ones. For gaming, you might see a [negligible] difference - perhaps 1 - 3 FPS (just a wild number, as I don't have any benchmark comparisons).

I'd like to know where you found the ES chip, as - if we're talking about the same thing - it is an "engineering sample" chip, and therefore not for sale nor resale, but strictly for pre-production evaluation.

 

ebay, ain't it great.

 

As the poster above said eBay check out the links in my first post. That seller got dozens of ES chips. I dont know how they got them but they are very well priced Seriously thinking of getting one.

How about TDP? Would my laptop be able to handle a 55W chip, what do you think? I think it should be possible (dunno if it is a wise thing)..

 

Do I think your notebook will be able to handle? I doubt. But "to boldly go where no man has gone before" or "One step for man, one step for mankind" I say try it, you know give it a shot. What do I have to lose?

All that funny stuff aside I would be very concerned with a 20w TDP increase. I think at best you might have it sitting at your desk with window fans on it. Not really a notebook I might say. Desk jockeys do it all the time but with much more performance. They can cool beyond a notebooks belief.

 

Anymore opinions? I actualy think it should be fine. Or has someone tried something simulair? As my temps are very good on the i5 i am running on now. Or i would just always have to run on turbo cooling

 

Intel OEM Engineers Caught Selling Sample Chips on eBay | Maximum PC

A 20w increase is substantial, but as long as your power supply can handle it, then you should be able to install it; just keep an eye on those temps!

 

o.0 That seems quite serious. Nevermind they are such a big seller on ebay they would have already have been caught if theire buisness was illegal. And i guess a modded bios and OC is something company´s arent too happy with me doing that :thumbsup: