T420/T420S/X220 with Quad-core? (DIY?)

Tabook lists these laptops as only being available with the dual-core processors. How feasible is it to order with the cheapest i3, and DIY upgrade to a quad i7?

Getting the W520 is unfortunately not an option. The HP 8460p can be customised with the quad, but I'd rather not go with that either.

What about future Ivy Bridge compatibility? Seems there's some confusion about whether the chipset will be compatible or not.


Cheers

 

Ivy Bridge should work, just need to see whether the cpu's are soldiered and if Lenovo releases bios updates.

 

I doubt x220 will ever feature a removable CPU. They have been BGA soldering them for awhile now.

I thought Lenovo was pretty strict with their BIOS options vs other manufacturers.

 

What do you need a quad for?

 

I doubt it, since the X-series has historically used BGA CPUs. The X220 is even slimmer than many of the past X-series, so that in itself suggests the continued use of BGA soldered processors. You won't be able to upgrade the CPU.

 

Digital audio stuff, lots of VSTs etc at low latency.
I might not need it - hard to say what the dual core SB chips are good for without personally trying them. My desktop is running an Intel X3440 (quad core + hyperthreading) and is definitely powerful enough. My current laptop is an early 2009 Macbook with Core2Duo and it definitely isn't powerful enough.

What about the T series?

 

You might be able to upgrade the processor in the T series, but you have to remember that the heatsinks, wents, etc were not designed to cool a Quad core CPU. So you might have some overheating issues.

Another problem might be power consumption. The Quad Cores need more power. I am not very expert in this thing, so I cannot tell if you will or will not have any problems with the power hungry quad core in the T series. But you might need a bigger power supply (like the one with the W series).

If you want to try it any way, I would suggest going with the T520, since that is similar in size and build to the W520, which can house a quad core.

 

Get a second hand W510 would be good option for you.

 

Well if quad core is a requirement, but the W510 is out because of size, then that probably leaves the 14" HP EliteBook quad core portable workstation.

I am not aware of a thin and light quad core notebook. The new MacBook Pro is relatively thin but it isn't exactly light.

 

Quad-core is bad for the environment, it uses more energy.

Go for Intel i3!

 

If you can wait til next year apparently there will be quad cores in ULV or LV variants and should be offered in x series. Not 100% sure though.

 

Looking for thin rather than light. So W series are probably out. Macbook Pro 15" would be great except for the problems with running Windows on them - not least of which is terrible battery life.

Dell E6420 could be an option, but it's pushing the thickness.

 

E6420 is a bit thick and pricing is ridiculous over the E6410. Getting a quad core E6420 with Quadro graphics will set you back 1500 dollars.

T series isn't exactly thin either. You aren't going to find a thin notebook with a quad core, they just can't cool it properly. T420/E6420 are probably your best bet.

 

Chances of upgrading to Ivy Bridge are looking somewhat better (still early I know):

Intel outs backwards compatibility for Ivy Bridge | thinq_




Come on X220, be socketed!

 

X series going socketed would mean the laptop would be thicker.

I think the T520 would have a Quad Core model.

 

The Dell E6420 has 2720QM option.

 

x series has always been/will always be BGA soldered.

Looked through tabook and didn't see any T520 models with quad core i7s.

 

T400s and T410s were also soldered rather than socketed.

 

I am interested in a T420 (or T420s) with quad core as well. Is the PSREF sheet final? Is there any chance this might happen in the distant future?

 

So the T420 has removable CPU? The thermals aside, would inserting a quad-core even be supported by the BIOS/EFI at all?

 

Unless Lenovo offers the CPU, there is no way to really know if a newer CPU will work unless you try it out. As stated above, for quad core models, you aren't going to find it in any of the thin models (T4xxs and X2xx) since they'll be soldered in.

 

Anyone try dropping a quad core processor in the T420 yet?

 

I think it's not an unreasonable idea - user reports indicate they're running fairly cool and quiet with the dual-cores. I'd be curious to see someone scientifically evaluate the effect of an extra 10W of TDP, including the real-usage-scenario as opposed to max theoretical dissipation.

Personally I'd be happy with a quad-core that cranked up the fan when maxing all cores doing transcoding etc, so long as it stayed quiet for most use.

 

A larger issue is whether Lenovo will support it in the BIOS. Seeing as a user recently just tried putting a quad-core offered in the W510 in a T510 (which physically is near-identical) and failed to POST, I highly doubt you'd have any chance of booting with a quad-core in the T420 (which does not and probably never will support quad-core processors).

 

:cry: :cry:

 

Some good news on the horizon...

A user on this forum (shleepy) modded his T420 with an i7-2720QM and things are looking good so far. More details here.

 

If anyone wants to send me a 2720m i'll gladly test it in my T420.

I will say that the T420 cpu is definitely removable.