Upgrading Laptop Processor

ZenixNet · 21 Feb 2011

I've got a Core 2 Duo T6400 2.00 GHz and I want to upgrade. What Processors can I upgrade too? What do you all recommend? It it as easy as I've been reading were you pop out the old processor and snap in the new one?

More detailed laptop specs (Dell Studio 1537):
Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 @ 2.00 Ghz
Penryn 45nm Technology
Motherboard: Dell Inc. 0P173H (U2E1)

I think I already know the answer to this but, it's not possible to upgrade a Laptops graphics right? I have Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset card and it's not that good.

bobkn · 21 Feb 2011

Dell offers fairly good online support. For your laptop, see:

Documentation

Your CPU is replaceable. With what, I'm not sure. You need Socket P. The FSB of your T6400 is 800 MHz; newer chips, 1066 MHz. The BIOS must also recognize the newer chip.

Some laptops have discrete graphics cards. It appears that yours (like most) does not.

Looking at the prices of laptop CPUs at www.newegg.com, I'd have a hard time recommending a CPU swap, even if I was absolutly sure that it would work, and there was zero risk of damaging the laptop. (Laptops are much more fragile internally than desktops, and require more skill to work on.)

If you want to do it as a hobby, by all means try it. If you're looking for a faster laptop, it's probably not a practical solution, unless you can somehow come up with a known compatible CPU chip, cheaper than retail.

Tepid · 21 Feb 2011

Generally speaking,, it will depend on the motherboard as to what CPU can be used in it.
Generally, laptops can not be upgraded to anything other than what was offered at the time they were sold.

Graphics is the same, and even then, it depends on the hardware installed.
This comes in the form of power requirements and form factor. If the form factors are not the same, then no.

If the board has integrated graphics, then no

If they offer ATI and Nvidia, it will then depend on form factor and power requirements
If you have Nvidia and want to switch to ATI, (or vice versa),,,,,
If one requires a bit more power than the other and the system you got was desinged for the lower powered graphics card, chances are the new card will not work, even if the form factor is the same.

However, if they use the same power requirements, then it might work.

There is no easy answer

But then it depends on what would be gained as well, and would it be worth it really.

this has been a long standing draw back to Notebooks (Laptops). They are generally not upgradeable on Video and CPU.

You might be able to put this CPU in,,,

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