Actual hardware difference in 1645 vs 1647?

Looked around here but could not find the answer. Are there actual hardware differences between the 1645 and 1647 xps studio 16? Just curious if the 1645 can handle the next gen procs (i5, i7 Arrandale cores).
Also can the bios for a 1647 be used on the 1645?

I got forced a 1645 in a system replacment and they would not do a 1647 even after they said they would and I pushed HARD on my end. I now wonder really what the hardware differneces are if any?? Also want to know if this thing will allow future upgrades as to the cpu past the Clarksfield cores it runs now?

Also mine did not come with the SB x-fi software. Is this worth asking for or obtaining?

Thanks,
saridnour

 

The difference is that 1645 has the i7 quadcore cpus (720qm and 820qm), and the 1647 has the i3/i5/i7 dualcore cpus (330m, 430m, 520m, 540m, 620m)

And no creative sound blaster xfi is not worth it at all, in fact alot of people remove it because its poop

 

Yeah I know the 1647 ship with different procs, but still would think the model and bios differences would indicate a different hardware rev. The 1647 ship with Arrandale cores and the 1645 Clarksfield and what sparked the question: Can a 1645 run an Arrandale core and/or use the updated bios?
Also thanks for the feedback on the x-fi

-saridnour

 

I believe the answer is no; The CPU is soldered on the MOBO and being that the two models have diff. processors, I do not believe the motherboard would be the same.

Could be wrong though.......?

 

CPU is in a socket. I have had mine apart and the cpu out. They are field replaceable. CPU sockets are the same from what I understand from the 1645 to the 1647, both being PGA988 sockets. So the new proc would fit but the bios would have to support them as well as a possible hardware rev on the board and this is what I am probing for here. Don't want to buy and try and doubt anyones going to send me an Arrandale core to test

-saridnour

-Andy

 

Interesting, when I replaced my compound I could have swore it was built into the mobo.

 

cbaty08 you may have been looking at your GPU or bridge chipsets as these are soldered. But as to CPU, you can upgrade these things!! Question is to what extent??

-saridnour

 

I feel sorry for mac users, Steve Jobs is anal about upgrading and making sure people have to pay extortionate amounts of money to him for CPU upgrades so they have the CPU soldered to the mobo iirc.

 

Anyone? I know the Dell tech's have same sevice manual/info for them.

 

Both laptops have the PM55 chipset, so either cpu can fit. Not sure if BIOS supports it.

 

Ok guys here is what I got to say here. I have a Dell Studio XPS 1647 system (Bios updated to A07) and so far I bought 2 CPUs from Ebay. One of them was 820qm ES (Engineering Sample) and that did not work. Than I bought the 720qm OEM CPU which also did not work either. I contacted Dell and they said i7 640M will work for sure. Well here is what I guess. The core i7 640M uses 35 watts and 3mb cache just like the core i5 430m. The 820QM uses 45 watts and 8mb cache, 720QM use 6mb cache and 45watts. I seriously believe that the BIOS is limiting the ability for the core i7 CPU's to work. I wrote this bc people asked whether core i7 might work on 1647 systems but I can tell you what both of the core i7 CPUs failed on my system so even though 1645 and 1647 have the same socket 998 and chipset, I think 1647 does not allow anything that has core i7, more than 3mb cache, and 35 watts. My CPU-Z shows my motherboard as PM55 which I know that it should support core i7s but I am almost sure that the BIOS is having trouble recognizing the core i7s. I install the core i7 and power it on and I get no image and blinking Media key. (Decrease volume icon). I have no idea what is wrong but I spent too much time to install this CPU, diagnostics, and very very tired of trying. If anybody know about this problem or solution please let me know. If it works, I will be sooo happy.

Note: My original post about this problem is here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ore-i7-820qm-upgrade-problem-please-read.html