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    W500 CPU upgrade - possible now or in the future.

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Mainframe_Snob, Dec 31, 2009.

  1. Mainframe_Snob

    Mainframe_Snob Newbie

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    Hello all,





    I am currently running a W500 with a T9800 CPU and 8GB memory. As I do a lot of Mainframe research I would like to know if Intel and / or lenovo are planning a quad processor for the W500 as my work necessitates using more than 2 cores.



    I have read threads with people installing an Intel QX9300 on the W500, for obvious reasons, things were running somewhat "hot".



    I am not a dozer, I use Linux exclusively.



    Any ideas??



    Regards,



    Horace

    PS - QX9300 install on a W500, it ran hot, so I presume he backed out his change.



    The thread is in German, let me know if you have problems with this.



    http://www.thinkpad-forum.de/thinkpad-hardware/w-serie/69365-qx9300-im-w500/
     
    Mainframe_Snob, Dec 31, 2009
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I doubt there's a chip coming.
     
    ZaZ, Dec 31, 2009
    #2
  3. Mainframe_Snob

    Mainframe_Snob Newbie

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    On attend.

    Perhaps we might hear some enlightening things from these captains of industry at the end of the month (January).


    Bonne soiree

    Orace
     
    Mainframe_Snob, Dec 31, 2009
    #3
  4. Paul386

    Paul386 Notebook Evangelist

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    I would expect that your best option is to go with the W700 or W510. I don't see a W710 in the rumors so it may not come out for a while.
     
    Paul386, Dec 31, 2009
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  5. Mainframe_Snob

    Mainframe_Snob Newbie

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    Would prefer to stay with the 39,116 cm screen. I want to have my cake and eat it as it were...

    I do not want to put a CPU in with a gain of a few hundred Herz. Would prefer to wait for something more powerful AND with a low TDP footprint.


    Regards,


    Horace
     
    Mainframe_Snob, Dec 31, 2009
    #5
  6. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    bump

    10char
     
    IMaPC, Apr 8, 2010
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  7. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    You can definitely land a QX9300 there. It should run slightly hotter, but with a proper thermal paste (use ICD-7/-24, but even MX-3/AS-5 should work fine) and unless you game like crazy you will be fine. If the heatsink proves to be too small for it, you could always add some copper to improve it.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 8, 2010
    #7
  8. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    I don't think the W500 supports quad cores, as Lenovo never sold them configured as such. The most powerful processor that the W500 supports is the T9900. Don't expect any new Core 2 Quads that run at a lower TDP - the powerful high-end CPUs are part of the Core i_ generation, which are not supported by the W500.
     
    MidnightSun, Apr 8, 2010
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  9. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    Artic Silver is the best thermal paste.
    Renee
     
    Renee, Apr 8, 2010
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  10. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Even if they are not added to the BIOS, the system will most likely work normally, but the OS reading (like frequency and temps) may be wrong.

    Based on what? In what cases? How many products have you tried? ;)

    What about the Mx-3, OCZ-Freeze, ICD-24? :)
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
    #10
  11. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    Has anyone tried a quad core in a T500/W500? Please share your story.
     
    IMaPC, Apr 9, 2010
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  12. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    I just got my W500 today and the qx9300 installed and it doesnt work... Im very sad, I bought the qx9300 used but I dont think there is a issue with it, because Im not gettin any tone form the but it just starts and stops after a few seconds...

    May someone help ? .-)
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  13. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    what sSpec number is your proc?
     
    IMaPC, Apr 9, 2010
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  14. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    on the cpu it goes:

    5831B663 SLB5J

    80581QX9300
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  15. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Don't even dare flashing your system with a different BIOS as you will most likely brick it.

    Try unplugging the BIOS battery for half a minute and see if it helps.
    Also, do the system lights turn ON at all? Do you see anything on the screen?
    Maybe while replacing the CPU you didn't connect all the cables back properly.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
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  16. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    are you able to get into bios?

    if not you can try flashing your cmos with different bios versions.
     
    IMaPC, Apr 9, 2010
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  17. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    No never I would flash it with a different bios!
    Ive checked all cables and everthing and I also try 3 times replacing the cpu, with the old one T9550 everthing works fine...

    When the qx9300 is placed in, the system starts, fan starts and the led of the thinkpad shows grees but after a few seconds (3-4) it breaks up and only the batterie and the green led with a flsh in a circle is shining...

    during this few seconds the lcd is dark... Im not able to get into the bios when the quad core is installed.

    I did the last bios update and it doesnt helped anything. Maybe an old bios would help, but I dont think really...
    i think the guy from the german board isnt serious...
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  18. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Did you try unplugging the BIOS battery? It might solve the problem.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
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  19. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    hm I didtn, but would it really help? Now its installing windows, afterwords Ill try it. Last time I upgraded my Thinkpad from T7700 to X7900 I just replaced the cpu and it worked fine.

    If the Cpu is gone I would here a signal or not?
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
    #19
  20. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    It might help, helped me a few times in the past. Won't hurt to try anyway.

    Can you check your quad in a different notebook natively supporting quads?
    It's unlikely however that the CPU is gone.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
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  21. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    Ok Ill give it a try with unpluging the battary. Im not able to check if the cpu is damaged. What I need to do, just unplging the bat for a few min?
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  22. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    perhaps the default multiplier is too high? t9550 uses x10, qx9300 uses x9.5

    or your temps get too hot. got a infrared thermometer?
    cool it down with an external fan?
     
    IMaPC, Apr 9, 2010
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  23. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    I dont think the temp is a problem, the multiper could be but with speed step you get either under 10x...
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  24. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Yep, just unplug it for half a minute.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
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  25. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    nothing changed :-( any other idea?

    I also tried it with the old bios, but no change.

    It only can be that the Cpu ist backlisted, not working or damaged...
     
    rionale, Apr 9, 2010
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  26. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Probably the first, but to fix it you need to do a lot of work.
    There's a guy on this forum zfactor who is very experienced in messing with BIOS, shoot him a PM and maybe he can help. ;)
     
    Aikimox, Apr 9, 2010
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  27. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    I droped him a few lines, maybe he can find out if the cpu is backlisted or not, if not I think its damaged...
     
    rionale, Apr 10, 2010
    #27
  28. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    i've read somewhere that you may need to use a larger power adapter. the ones we got are 90W while the W700 uses 170W.

    have you tried booting up without the battery?
    or boot up without the HDD?
    or boot up without either?

    Edit: remove the dvd drive too.

    edit: and lastly try to boot it up with the battery and everything else removed.
     
    IMaPC, Apr 10, 2010
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  29. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    IMaPC, Apr 11, 2010
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  30. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I think that says it all. It's probably not supported in the BIOS, therefore won't work.
     
    ZaZ, Apr 11, 2010
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  31. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    That's why you need to add it to the BIOS, or in other words to remove the blacklist ;)
    It's too early to give up.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 11, 2010
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  32. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    QX9300 CPU is 45 watt TDP and with the added FireGL GPU, this amount of heat would put lot of pressure on the heatsink and fan... i don't think Lenovo is going to want another lapwarmer portable, which shorten its product lifespan for some benefits in CPU speed.

    W16 engine in a Merc E class body... one could dare to dream..
     
    lead_org, Apr 11, 2010
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  33. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    in my old T61p I got a Quadro with a x7900 (45Watt) and there were never an issue with the temp. therefor is this not a argument for it.
     
    rionale, Apr 11, 2010
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  34. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    IMaPC, Apr 11, 2010
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  35. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    SO what temperature does your CPU and GPU get to if you run games and some complex 3D models for say 2 hours?
     
    lead_org, Apr 11, 2010
    #35
  36. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    In my old T61p with the x7900, 8GB Ram and the Quadro 570m I rendered sometime a weekend for more then 40hours an the temp where never above 70°C...
    The Fan was at highest level controlled by me with the fancontrol software.

    In normal use it was like the replaced T7700 around 50°C...

    In the other topic with upgrading the m1737 someone told that he could only get the qx9300 to run into a msi with a bios update which include support for the qx9300. for this reson I think the cpu is backlistet n my bios.
     
    rionale, Apr 11, 2010
    #36
  37. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Yes, C2Ds and C2Qa run very cool and there's a lot of headroom for OC'ing and upgrading.
    Can't say the same about the i7s though, as the 920XM would often break 60W and heat up like hell. Still, Lenovo let's it into W510 with Quadro FX880M and 4 slots of DDR3. So the GPU=35W, extreme CPU=55-60W and there's about 30W remaining for the rest, not a huge buffer I'd say.
    With the said above - whack 'em hard Rionale! I think you can make it work.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 11, 2010
    #37
  38. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    what if you don't control the fan?
     
    lead_org, Apr 11, 2010
    #38
  39. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    As told in normal use its like the T7700 there where no signification diffrance.
    When I was rendering I always put the fan to high level I think if I would leave the bios the control of the fan it had been the same.
     
    rionale, Apr 12, 2010
    #39
  40. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Rionale,
    What's your PSU output?
     
    Aikimox, Apr 12, 2010
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  41. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    on the w500 90watt.
    ive the same on the t61p with the x7900(tdp 44)...
    even the t61p could run only with battary for this reason i dont think the w500 have a problem with qx9300 and tdp 45.
     
    rionale, Apr 12, 2010
    #41
  42. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    45+30(GPU) leaving only 15W for the rest and might be too tight. Could you get a bigger one (like the 135W that W510 uses)?
     
    Aikimox, Apr 12, 2010
    #42
  43. schizrade

    schizrade Notebook Enthusiast

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    I really want to drop a quad in my w700... hmmm.
     
    schizrade, Apr 12, 2010
    #43
  44. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    No, I dont know anyone with it. But what tpd has the quadro card?
    Would it help in bios to disable the firegl card, so it only would run with the intel? or does the system on starts even enables both cards without a regard what is set i bios? my thinkig is does the disabled card gets any power or is it really disabled?
    You can do it the W700 supports it out of the box because its sold with it...
     
    rionale, Apr 12, 2010
    #44
  45. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    The card should be in the 30-35W range.
    If you have that option try booting with the GPU disabled. You have to disassemble the system twice but you will definitely know if there's a TDP problem. Give it a try.
     
    Aikimox, Apr 12, 2010
    #45
  46. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    I dont think its really a point of not having enough power because of my expiriance with the x7900 in the t61p. Ill wait a few days maybe anyone can find out if the cpu is backlisted, I wrote my problem to zander he is known for modding bios and I think he can give the answer if the cpu is backlisted...
    Today Im not having the time to open agian the thinkpad, ill wait for more options for getting it running and Ill try it the next weekend.
     
    rionale, Apr 12, 2010
    #46
  47. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Sounds good. Definitely, keep us posted! :)
     
    Aikimox, Apr 12, 2010
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  48. IMaPC

    IMaPC Notebook Enthusiast

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    IMaPC, Apr 13, 2010
    #48
  49. rionale

    rionale Notebook Geek

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    for sure ill
    if i understood it right tdp discribs only the maximum of heat that cames out of the cpu if this is right everyone who tells the qx9300 is running too hot in the w500 may even not try it, because the x7900 runs fine in the t61p without any heat issue.
     
    rionale, Apr 13, 2010
    #49
  50. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    TDP output of the CPU is reached, when you run the laptop at 100% load for a few minutes. Try without using the TPFancontrol on your T61p with the X7900, then run the Intel BurnTest test for 30 minutes, see what temperature your laptop get to.
     
    lead_org, Apr 13, 2010
    #50
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