What is the fastest CPU this sony laptop will support? Saving my friend from misery..

My friend's laptop runs excruciating slow on windows XP and I am upgrading the RAM and CPU.

I want to upgrade my friend's Sony VAIO FXA53 laptop and wonder what is the fastest CPU it can support? I was doing research and found it has the VIA KT133A Chipset. Can I get a 35W Thoroughbred XP 2200 for the laptop with 266 FSB?

The current laptop has a TB XP-M 1500+ with 200MHz FSB..

http://www.myplc.com/sony/

 

The maximum FSB of the KT133A chipset is 133 (266 Effective). On that point, it is physically possible to upgrade the processor, with it being functional with the motherboard. However, other items such as RAM may also have to be changed, and upped to PC133.

The replacement model Athlon XP-M Thoroughbred 2200 has a TDp of 35 Watts. The processor you have at the moment is rated at 25 Watts TDP. On that basis, it will be difficult to replace without the notebook being very hot. It is possible, but it may be too hot, that the system would crash all the time. Hope this helps.

Edit: Done some research, found that there are two 1500 models, with different voltages, and different TDP. Please can you tell me the Voltage of your processor.

 

My friend's laptop actually uses a Thoroughbred 25W XP1400+ running on 200MHz FSB

I purchased a 27W XP2200+ (AXMT2200GWS4C) CPU for the upgrade. But it has a 266FSB. Does that mean i'll have to unlock the CPU's multiplier?

 

No, not at all. I think tThe KT133A can support a 266 Mhz fsb, or 133 Mhz, before the double. But remember, that the memory must also be 133 Mhz, otherwise the computer will perform very slowly.

Also, make sure that your cooling system can take the extrea strain. I see that you have bought a 27 Watt XP-M 2200. 2 watts difference in TDp won't make a difference. On that basis, the processor should work, but you must make sure that the RAM you are using is 133 MHz.