Upgrading Processors in laptops?

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

Just wondering is upgrading the processor in laptops as easy as changing the processors in desktops?

Im planning to buy a laptop, but know how technology gets better every couple of months, eventually a brand new desktop or laptop will eventually be obsolete.

But would it be possible to upgrade the processor after a couple years when new technology is out and the current technology will become very cheap.

Does it depend on the laptop? or all almost all laptops the same? Im considering getting either the P4 Mobile laptops somewhere around 2.4Ghz-3.2Ghz. Or laptops with the Centrino Technology. 1.3Ghz-1.7Ghz.

So say I buy the P4 laptop at 2.4GHz will I eventually be able to buy a 3.2Ghz processor and upgrade it.

Or same goes for the Centrino one, if I get the 1.3Ghz now and after a few years I get the 1.7Ghz. So is that possible?

I have never opened or seen a open notebook so i dont know if the processors just get placed in and are locked in like the desktops. or could they be soddered on.

dnuggett · Nov 13, 2003

It depends on the laptop, but it almost all of them upgrading is not an option. There are some exceptions, but in general no.

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

So I guess when buying a laptop i should opt for the top of the line model that my budget can afford.

Bateluer · Nov 13, 2003

Actually dnugget, most notebooks can take a CPU upgrade. You've just got to closely watch the temps and power draw. With some notebook makers, you can send the notebook back to them for the upgrade as well. Mobile chips are extremely expensive, last I checked, a 2.53/2.6Ghz P4m was going for over 500 bucks on Ebay.

Frightcrawler · Nov 13, 2003

actually, yes he can. lets say he bought a 2.4ghz p 4-m and the maximum for the motherboard is 2.8. he could buy the 2.8 and put it into the laptop.
same goes with centrino, if he bought 1.3ghz banias, he could drop a 1.7 in if he wanted to, BUT not dothan processors.

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

Originally posted by: Frightcrawler
actually, yes he can. lets say he bought a 2.4ghz p 4-m and the maximum for the motherboard is 2.8. he could buy the 2.8 and put it into the laptop.
same goes with centrino, if he bought 1.3ghz banias, he could drop a 1.7 in if he wanted to, BUT not dothan processors.

Ah thats the answer i was looking for. Since some laptops im looking at suppor up to 3.2Ghz P4 but cost ALOT more than the same comp with a 2.4 or 2.6Ghz P4.

same with the centrino laptops 1.7Ghz is i think $400+ more than the 1.3Ghz processor. But i know eventually prices will drop when intel comes up with some new technology that will blow these processors out of the water and make these old technology processors dirt cheap.

dnuggett · Nov 13, 2003

My understanding was that a lot (I use this term loosely cause I don't have the actual stats) have the CPU soldered onto the motherboard. Am I off on this?

In any event be very careful when you are attempting this, becasue one incorrect move and you have an expensive paperweight.

Frightcrawler · Nov 13, 2003

be careful though, if mobile pentium 4-m is NOT the same as mobile pentium 4.
mobile pentium 4 is the one with 3.2ghz, mobile pentium 4-m i think goes up to 2.6 ghz.

http://www.intel.com/products/notebook/index.htm?iid=Corporate+Header_prod_notebook

check em out for yourself.

edit: no, i dont believe they are soldered because i heard some people that own dell i1100s manually bought a p 4-m and took out the celeron.

dnuggett · Nov 13, 2003

edit: no, i dont believe they are soldered because i heard some people that own dell i1100s manually bought a p 4-m and took out the celeron

Ok so that is the 1100. Any others that we know of?

kayatai · Nov 13, 2003

the user manuals for most dell laptops (available online through their support forums) show how to replace the CPU among other parts. I know the 600m is also has a replaceable CPU (centrino).

someone mentioned that you can't upgrade from banias to dothan? I thought that early articles indicated that you could in fact upgrade from banias to dothan, but I haven't read up on it lately... do you have any links to back that up?

area123 · Nov 13, 2003

On the zd7000 series, it will only cost you $100 to go from a 2.66p4m to a 3.06ghz, but another $200 on top to go to 3.2ghz. So the 3.06 is a great value, at least on the zd7000.

On the other hand, upgrading the 8500 dell to a 2.6 from a 2.2 will cost you $300, go figure.

the zd7000 is by far the best value for a desktop replacement. I'm still investigating the zd though, I can't figure out why it's so much cheaper than dell or any others I've checked out.

manko · Nov 13, 2003

There are details and photos of how to upgrade the CPU of an X1000 on the X1000 Forums and at least one post from someone who upgraded his Pentium-M 1.3 to 1.7. He claims it was $300 on ebay. How to upgrade your processor w/ pics (You need to register to see this link, I think.)

Originally posted by: kayatai
someone mentioned that you can't upgrade from banias to dothan? I thought that early articles indicated that you could in fact upgrade from banias to dothan, but I haven't read up on it lately... do you have any links to back that up?

The old Digitimes story previewing the Gigabyte N601 (now Gateway M505) says it will take a Dothan 1.8 in addition to the Pentium M 1.4/1.5/1.6/1.7GHz. The same article give specs for a few Arima and Mitac models which support "Pentium M 1.3-1.7GHz; Dothan 2.0GHz; Celeron 1.2/1.3GHz" and "Pentium M Banias/Dothan 1.4-2.2 GHz or above" on the Intel 855 chipset.

This article: Intel Dothan-based Notebooks Ready Early 2004? (from Digitimes)has the following quote:

While a few companies expect to show off brand-new notebook designs using Dothan in early 2004, most makers will have their initial Dothan notebooks based on the current Centrino models.

I've been wondering if this means the current BIOS on some of these machines already does or will be flash upgradeable to support Dothan.

Q4 2003 Roadmap

Intel Dothan 1.8Ghz mobile CPU is the 0.09 micron successor to Banias. Dothan is expected to feature a 400Mhz FSB speed and 2Mb cache. Like Banias, Dothan will use Intel's Odem and Montara chipsets.

Intel i855GME chipsets, formally known as Montara GME, for the Dothan processor is expected to be released in Q4. The i855GME is an enhanced version of the i855GM chipset.

Intel i852GME chipset for Dothan is expected to be released in Q4.

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

oh just great they already have somehting to replace the Centrino.

Argh, this makes buying stuff so hard. Do I wait for the new stuff or do i get the old stuff.

Does Gateway still do that thing where after every 2years you get a new upgraded computer?

I know i seen comercials aobut that quite a couple years ago.

Frightcrawler · Nov 13, 2003

waiting is always better than getting stuff now, especially at a time so close to dothan.
at least for me it is.
im probably going to wait until april or august to buy a dothan notebook though. i'd be a fool to buy it in the first month because of both price and the new chipsets are being released in the second half of 2004.
hey, im not made of money, you know.

preslove · Nov 13, 2003

Yeah, I'm waiting for the dothan to come out and then try to get an ibm x31 with the newly old technology.

stingbandel · Nov 13, 2003

yes, I can confirm that almost all the P4 laptops can be upgraded.

I just upgraded my IBM A31p from 1.7 to 2.5. It's easy to do it. Took me less than 15 minutes to do it.

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

Guess i could wait too.

REOspeedealer · Nov 13, 2003

Dell 500M, 600M, D600, D500, 8600, D800, M60 (pentium-M) 8500 (pentium 4-M) and 1100, 5100 (mobile Pentium 4) all have processors that can be replaced. X300, 300M and D400 are soldered to the motherboard.

firtol88 · Nov 13, 2003

If you need it now buy it now if you don't need it don't buy it...

Bbc84 · Nov 13, 2003

Well I guess i wont need it until sometime in January-Febuary when I start taking Computer Science courses.

jschuk · Nov 13, 2003

Most of the non-ultralights since the PIII are socketed, but fast mobile CPU's are expensive. I am sure if you do a search on eBay for a mobile 850/900/1000 MHz PIII w/256K cache, you will find they are relatively expensive. As mentioned above, just buy what you need/can afford right now

IncredibleHutch · Nov 14, 2003

Originally posted by: dnuggett

edit: no, i dont believe they are soldered because i heard some people that own dell i1100s manually bought a p 4-m and took out the celeron

Click to expand...

Ok so that is the 1100. Any others that we know of?

Sager
Alienware

Most all the systems with a P4 desktop chip are upgradeable... Heck even GPUs are upgradeable now... the 9600Mobility for instance.

Frightcrawler · Nov 14, 2003

kind of off topic now, but:

wow, today i found out costco has a WEBSITE!
theres been alot of talk about how good purchases from CC are.
i always thought they just had warehouse stores, like the ones in my city.

Upgrading Processors in laptops?

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