dell precision 4600 - 3rd gen intel cpu and gaming gpu?

I'm considering buying a dell precision m4600 but the cpu is a second gen i7. since the the chipset is qm67 does the bios recognize 3rd gen CPUs?
is it worth it to upgrade?

Also, it features a quadro 1000m videocard. can I change it one day to a gaming videocard? what models are available for its mxm 3?

 

You definitely can't use third-gen Core CPUs.

I don't know if you can only use Dell GPUs or if the MXM slot is fully MXM complaint.

 

can I ask why are you so sure? I read on cpu-upgrade.com that for that chipset it's possible but it depends if the bios has the numeric values of the newer cpus.

 

The answer to that is simple. Absolutely none of the laptop manufacturers have released a bios that allowed for 2nd and 3rd gen core i on the same laptop. It has not happened and by now it will never happen. Desktops are another matter, but not gonna happen on laptops. You are SOL as far as putting an ivy bridge CPU in a M4600 is concerned.

 

oh that's too bad.. not that it's really necessary, an intel i7 quadcore of second generation can handle what I have to do as much as a 3rd gen one. and I guess the power drain is not that significant since the m4600 is a workstation that's not meant for long session on battery anyway.

Since we are on the matter, do you know if the m4600 uses optimus? if it's possible to work with the cpu graphic chip in case the quadro videocard breaks down?

Ps: what does SOL stands for?

 

It does use Optimus. You can run the unit fine without having any GPU installed.

 

S___ Out of Luck. Another way of saying it would be, "You're up a certain foul-smelling creek without means of propulsion."