i7-620m soldered, embedded or upgradable..

Hello.

I've been reading the post "The Official Studio XPS 1647 Intel Core i5/i7 "Owners' Lounge" and several users comment this without finally reaching a conclusion if the i7-620M is soldered or not.

Curiously reading this news http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/13/congatec-bm57-fits-mobile-core-i7-onto-tiny-mobo/ the image show a processor in socket.

I have a M6400 (in the precision forum there is less info) and dell warraty support offers me change to M6500, with base arrandale and i7-620M. The arrandale base I suppose, will be with the chipset HM55, but I have doubts if I can update with i7-820QM if this is soldered.

If anyone can help me? Thanks

 

It's embedded as per Intel.
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43560

And Dell uses PM55, so no use of the intergrated graphics, at least on the 1647.

 

But, by example, the i7-860 is also embedded capable, as show intel specs http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=41316&processor=i7-860&spec-codes=SLBJJ, and you can buy it and install without need to solder...

Arrandale and Clarksfield processors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehalem_(microarchitecture) use the same socket mPGA-989/rPGA-989/988, is very strange that dell has to make a motherboard for a single processor purposely i7 620M or not?

In other hand, http://www.intel.com/products/processor/corei7/mobile/techdocs.htm in Support components all i7-6xxM ..etc uses the same Intel-enabled rPGA988A socket.

if anyone has disassembling their laptop, we will leave doubts.

 

That's not what embedded means. An embedded class CPU is simply a CPU that's suitable for an embedded system, either due to low power consumption and costs, or because it handles multiple functions and thus saves the embedded system makers from using multiple chips. Auto ECU's, GPS systems, digital heating systems etc. would all use embedded CPU's - although all of the above wouldn't require a CPU as powerful as the i7-620M.

The i7-620M comes in both pin grid array (PGA) and ball grid array (BGA) forms. PGA CPU's are fitted to the socket by an array of pins, BGA CPU's are fitted to the socket by an array of soldered balls.

Now I don't know about the SXPS 16, but it's very easy to find out which socket they're using, and you don't need to open your laptop. Run CPU-Z and reference the "Package" section at the top of the CPU tab. I'd imagine it's PGA as all the mobile quad i7's (720QM/820QM) use only PGA (i.e. it wouldn't be very logical to run two different types of CPU socket, when you're able to just use one).

Hope this helps.

 

@rpg-xps
That is awesome information, thanks. I love that fact that you can come here and learn something new every day.
+1 for you.

And thanks again for the insight.

 

No problem at all. The term embedded is a little misleading in this case as you could assume that it means the CPU is secured firmly in place surrounded by melted solder, when it is in fact referring to it's suitability for embedded systems.