processor upgrade Vaio fj270

Hello fellows, just stopping by to ask a few questions abot upgrading my laptop to a better processor. I have a Vaio FJ270 with a Pentium M 750
1.86GHz processor 533MHz FSB and 2MB L2 cache. I was wondering if I can swap this to a better processor, possibly a core duo or something. Also, what sort of chipset am I running for reference? Also, what sort of memory should I run with this or a newer Processor? I have 1gb of ddr2 as of now, should I just match it to the 533mhz speed?

Secondly, I have a Gateway MT6451 with an AMD dual core Turion 64 1.596MHz speed and 2GB of Ram. Is it possible to go larger/faster on this laptop as well? As of now, the Gateway is the quicker/better laptop, but margianlly, and I prefer the Vaio's look, screen size, and better keyboard/touchpad. I would like to get a decent performing laptop out one of them. Another thing, the AMD produces copious amounts of heat from my Gateway, the Vaio runs smooth and cool, would a bigger cpu make more heat, or would it be ok since its a similar chipset and the stock fans can take care of it. I know this may be a difficult comparison and is left up to a lot of opinion but the helps is greatly appreciated, thanks to all who help. I guess I'm somewhat competent, but I'm just too new to laptops and no where near 'in the loop' with whats availiable now. Thanks again.

 

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=pentium+780+m

Is this about the best processor my 915 chipset will take, or are there better options? Research is fun

 

Just as you have researched, your Vaio will only take a Pentium M CPU.
IMO, it's probably not worth upgrading as those Pentium M 780s are quite expensive.... if you are bored, you could buy a Pentium M 735(1.7GHz, 400MHz FSB) and do a pin mod(2.26GHz, 533MHz FSB).

 

I have seen laptops which have an i915GM with Core Duos and Core 2 Duos(T5200) in them....They were sony laptops and I linked those laptops to someone who had a similar query such as yours..!! The socket is the same, your mobo should support the 533MHz FSB..!! So you could just keep trying out the cheap Core Duos and Solos (T1350) and the cheap Core 2 Duos such as the T5200..!! (Upgrade the BIOS to the latest version first). I don't know if that guy ever tried those CPUs but the chances of them working are slim to none....(though the T1350 should work)....and the Pentium M 780 and 770 would literally cost you a fortune and you would be better of buying a new notebook with a Socket P Core 2 Duo for just double the cost of the Pentium M 780..
I will see if I can find those links in the forums..!!

 

http://www.uscompras.com/sova1inco2du.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/Gateway-S-7225-...0GB-COMBO_W0QQitemZ200232891896QQcmdZViewItem
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Bigcitydirect/items/item.aspx?itemid=1946691

 

Where did you get this info from?
Ok both Pentium M and Core Duo have the same number of pins but their layout is different. So no upgrade from a Pentium M to a Core Duo is possible.

MSMNick your cheapest option is to follow brainstew advice for th sony. the pinmod is easy to do. I did it on a Celeron M 360 to increase the speed from 1.4 to 1.86 Ghz, and did it on a Pentium M 715 to increase the speed from 1.5 to 2ghz.
Not sure what you're using your laptop for, and what kind of application you're running on it?
What would help is:
1- format the harddrive and install a fresh copy of win XP
2- buy a faster harddrive. If you have a 4200rpm hardrive, you will notice a large improvement in the speed if you upgrade to a 5400 or 7200rpm HDD.
the 5400rpm are the best value for money.
3- If you use demanding applications, or a lot of applications at once, your laptop will propably do with a memory upgrade.

For the Gateway, you could use RMClock to cool it down. You can also use RMclock to increase the battery life in the sony. Link to a tutorial below.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2637648

 

Well, I definitely didn't advertise them..

 

So, the 7x5 series can have a pin mod done, basically making it go from a 4x 100mhz to 4 x 133mhz? That's the idea? Is the 735 the highest model to do this pinmod to, or could you use the 745, 755, 765? Maybe its the price issue your talking about, or the motherboard limit? Thanks for the Help w/ the intel. I'll look into the cooling for the AMD. Is there a way to upgrade the AMD by chance?

 

According to a few reviews, My Vaio FJ270 is running a 5400RPM HDD. So I guess I'm alright there. Secondly, I'm about to put in 4GB of memory I picked up at fry's on Sale, brand is Crucial. I think I want to go with a 735 or 745 with the pinmod, I see the price gap is huge from 745 to 755. Would a 7200RPM HDD give that much of an improvment over the 5400RPM? Or would it be better to get better graphics support instead? On second thought, its not possible to upgrade from integrated graphics, is it?
Brings me to the second laptop, what sort of options do I have with the AMD based computer? Thanks for the help thus far, I've learned tons already!

 

So I guess I'm still wondering what I can do to the amd laptop, and then what difference the faster HD will do for me. I am getting the memory tomo. Shall see what that does for me. Hope it helps some.

 

I dont think the i915 supports core based cpu's, so you are stuck with the pentium M series. You can upgrade to the Pentium M 780 which runs at 2.26Ghz, or you can do what Angad mentioned, and pin mod a PM 735. Both will give you a nice increase in performance.
You should be able to upgrade your gateway to a TL60 or even up to the TL-68. However you will need to install the latest Bios revision before upgrading your cpu in order to ensure that it is supported by the system.

I think you could very easily and cheaply add another 1gb memory card to your sony to have 2gb of memory.
I am not sure what harddrive interface your systems use, but if any of them use IDE/PATA/ATA, than get a Samsung HM160HC as it is currently the fastest harddrive for that interface.
If your system has Sata, you can get pretty much any sata notebook drive 160gb or larger to give you a nice performance boost. (as long as the 160gb uses one platter, like the Samsung HM160HI - this is the only 160gb 5400rpm sata drive which has one platter) You can alternatively upgrade to a 250gb or 320gb 5400rpm drive or a 160gb or larger 7200rpm drive for an upgrade.

K-TRON

 

The FJ270 will not support above 2GB of memory, as far as I remember. Also, the FJ270 is PATA, so I'd go for the Samsung that K-Tron suggested.

I don't know, I was relatively happy with the stock specs of the FJ270 when I bought mine, it had a pretty solid spec sheet at the time. I never bothered upgrading anything in it, it won't really make a significant difference and isn't worth the price you will pay - especially for that M780 processor that you are looking at. RAM is probably the most logical upgrade and the only one I would actually do - bump it to 1.5GB or 2GB and leave it at that. Hard drive - meh, getting an external is a better idea, methinks.

 

So, I did yet more digging, and have found that the Sony has a 5200RPM SATA HDD, the Gateway Is on an ATA 4200RPM HDD, the Sony's Mobo/CPU will cap it at 533mhz ram/fsb speed, where the GW can go as high as 800Mhz fsb, I believe. Mainly, as far as upgrading goes the Vaio would cap with an M 735 or 45 OC'd to 2.26Ghz or better, and the GW would be able to move to a TL 64x2 90nm, or possibly a Tl68x2 65nm, and possibly, but slim chance, an Ultra ZM-82. These are all S1 processors, and if my bios can be updated, the 65nm should work, right? I do a mild amount of gaming, mostly audio video, datalogging for car related things, and mild stuff. It seems the Gateway has, and if both were upgraded, would still hold the advantage, but how would the Pentium M with a 7200rpm HDD at 533Mhz compare to the AMD TL-64x2 w/ a 5400Rpm HDD w/800MHZ Ram compare? Most people seem to say the M is a strong processor, and the AMD's don't preform as good as the specs otherwise would show, Any more direction/Help? Btw, I have checked pricing, obviously cpu wise the vaio is 150 or more cheaper to upgrade the CPU.

 

Pretty sure I am right about the HDD btw. I don't know what each looks like because I've never seen them while being called by name, but the Gateways interface is much larger and looks like the IDE on my old desktop. The Sony has less pins and is much smaller, maybe 1/2 the size overall.

 

I dont think you will have any problems upgrading to the TL-68 in your gateway.
Going to a turion ultra is pushing it, and I highly doubt it will be recognized.
For the sony, your best bet is pinmodding a PM 735 to the speed ot a 780.
The turion x2 is a more powerful processor than the pentium M. The turion is a dual core processor while the PM is only a single core.
However a TL-68 is going to be an expensive upgrade, whereas getting a PM 735 should be a very cheap upgrade.
The rpm of the harddrive really doesnt matter, cause many 5400rpm drives are faster than 7200rpm drives.
If you choose to stick with the Sony, I would gt the PM 735 and pin mod it, and get a speedy 320gb 5400rpm drive or a 200gb 7200rpm drive. (both harddrives can be found from $100-120)

If you upgrade the Gateway, get the Samsung HM160HC, it is the fastest ATA harddrive which you can buy. It has a single 160gb platter which revolve s at 5400rpm, and it is much faster than any of the 7200rpm ata drives.
I own this drive and made a review, which you can read here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=264209

It is a fantastic drive, which is near identical in speed to a 200gb 7200rpm drive or a 320gb 5400rpm drive.

Good luck with the upgrades, let us know what you plan on doing.

K-TRON

 

Thanks K-Tron. Looks like I'm upgrading both, and then will be giving one to a relative! I want to keep the Sony still, but if the GW can cool down some (just putting arctic silver 5 on it right now) and kicks enough butt with a 64 or 68, I may keep it. The idea is to go 800mhz mem w/a 64/68 w/the Samsung HD on windows xp 64. The sony will be a 745 Pm'ded w/533mhz ram, and probably a 7200rpm HD. Shall see how they stack up to each other.

 

Looking for a few more answers. This is probably going to require looking up or something, But I have both of these laptops at 2GB 667mhz ram. Was wondering if either could use a 2GB stick, and/or go higher than 667Mhhz. I thought the Vaio's FSB would limit the ram to 533mhz but CPUZ is saying 667. What could I potentially do, go to 3gb 667 or 800mhz? Or will my Mobo's not support it, even with overclocking/tweaking?
Just wanted to say thanks so far to everyone who's helped. My vaio is screamin now, compared to before for less than $80 in, with the 2.4ghz 745 and its ram.