Notebook AM2 Cpu Upgrade (2650e to ??)

[Arkaign]

I recently picked up an Emachines E620 notebook in trade, had never been used, and have upgraded it a little, but would like to get an opinion on if it is possible or even a good idea to upgrade the CPU.

It was :

2650e Single-Core Athlon64 1.6Ghz CPU
x1200 ATI Integrated Video (690V?)
2GB DDR2-533 (single SO-DIMM)
160GB 4200RPM Sata Drive
Vista Basic

It is now :

2650e
x1200
4GB DDR2-533 (matching SO-DIMMS, think it's in DC mode now)
250GB 5400RPM Sata Drive
Win7 Home Premium

Anyhow, the 2650e is apparently a 65nm 15W processor, which I guess presents a challenge, along with the mystery of the E620's BIOS compatibility for other processors.

Does anyone know if there's any other low-heat processors I could get that would offer even marginally better performance? The laptop is really nice in many ways (for the value segment), but it's just a shade too slow to play back 720p MKVs, and kinda bogs down if more than 1 or 2 things are running, even with 4GB memory.

Thanks AT!

 

[ther00kie16]

A little google should help you. I believe those 2650e based machines were very popular last June/July at $200 (Acer I believe) because many people still had the BE-2400 45W chip lying around from the $20 deal from newegg.

So $220 for a basic dual core laptop that had real muscle since it was powered by a desktop CPU. Undervolted a bit, and the 45W envelope would be come something more like a 35W envelope, not that much more than mainstream laptop dual core CPUs.

Basically, you want a 45W CPU and undervolt it with RMClock. Here's the cheapest one left online: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=ADH...81bf6ae84abbc9
Or you can try to snag one on ebay (4050e, 4450e, 4850e, 5050e, be-2300, be-2350, be-2400)

 

[ther00kie16]

Sorry can't find any confirmations on the e620 but I assume it will support other processors since emachines is owned by Acer and it was the Acer AS5515 (refurb for $200) that everyone was raving about since it supported AM2 desktop processors.

 

[RU482]

I've got an emachines D620. I sold the 2650e and installed a BE2400 and it works great (almost a year now, usually with my kids sitting it right on the couch cushions. No undervolting or anything required. I think you'd be safe with any 45W AM2 CPU

 

[ther00kie16]

Undervolting isn't required but it probably runs fairly warm. I've undervolted a few laptops and it usually lowers the load temp from ~70C to ~60C. It also lowers power draw for better battery life, which is important if you are going to put a desktop processor in a laptop.

 

[Decembermouse]

OP was talking about a laptop... I REALLY don't recommend putting a 45W processor in a laptop! Just on principle I guess. If it works well, and if the required voltage is the same... up to you, I guess. I know with those you could get a 2650e (had one), 2850e, or dual-core 1.5GHz 3250e.