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    X60 - CPU socketed or soldered?

    Discussion in 'Samsung' started by notabenem, Apr 19, 2006.

  1. notabenem

    notabenem Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Hi,

    I am about to buy a new Intel Centrino DUO notebook. In terms of investment savings, I would like to purchase a laptop where the CPU is exchangeable so I could later replace the Yonah model to MEROM (as it has been proven to work with a Mac MINI)
    My potential candidates are
    • Samsung X60
    • Asus A6J
    • ACER 5560 / 5670

    Except for the weight I think their specs is fairly comparable. Obviously the price is different ;-) At the end i guess the decision will be made in favour of the one where the CPU is socketed.

    Is there anyone dare enough to open his/ her laptop to see how is the CPU attached to the motherboard? I would be very grateful for this information.
     
    notabenem, Apr 19, 2006
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  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    I have not yet opened up my X60, but CPU-Z reports the package as mPGA-479M. (PGA = socket, BGA = soldered). Plus I had read something recently about Intel's forthcoming Core changes which introduced a new version of the T2300 (there was a letter after the number). Upon further research I ascertained that this new version was a BGA version.

    Hence I am 95% probable that the X60 has a socketed CPU. Regarding future upgrade to Merom, I had read elsewhere that this will also need a BIOS update, so you have to hope that the notebook manufacturer will introduce a Merom version of your computer.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Apr 20, 2006
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  3. notabenem

    notabenem Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Good news! Thank you very much. Now if you excuse me, I've got to order the studentbook :)
     
    notabenem, Apr 20, 2006
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  4. notabenem

    notabenem Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Have just found several articles about the Merom power consumption.

    http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3840
    is controversial to
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1536349&postcount=8

    => not really worth the money. Merom might be faster, might finish tasks sooner and enter lower power states sooner, hence have the same or a bit better battery life under load, but as stated in the second link, real-life scenario is different, with the processor mostly idling. And in that case, Yohan is the better. Long live my X60 :)
     
    notabenem, Aug 22, 2006
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