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    Buying intel CPU for my laptop in CANADA

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by MonPireSire, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. MonPireSire

    MonPireSire Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    I want to replace my i5-450 (in my MSI GX640). Where can I find laptop processors in Canada? I bought my laptop from ncix but I can't tell if some of the proposed CPU are for laptops.

    Thanks.
     
  2. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

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    I dont know how easy it is to purchase a notebook CPU in Canada, but i heard Shirley's CPU is pretty good.

    I would go for something like this CPU here if i had the cash, but the Sandy Bridge based one is too expensive unless i take the ES version . D:

    Intel Core i7-920XM Processor 2.0GHz
    Might as well take the best part.
     
  3. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    You can buy them on eBay, what CPU are you looking for?
     
  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Yep, you can buy them in eBay, that's where i got my 920xm from. As Joker asked, what CPU are you looking for?
     
  5. MonPireSire

    MonPireSire Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not looking for a specific CPU. I just want to improve mine with something that can easily fit in the GX640.
     
  6. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Any higher end i5 will do, the i7s have higher TDP, but they shouldn't produce too much heat either.
     
  7. JunkStory

    JunkStory Notebook Consultant

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    Cool, I never knew CPU upgrade could be just a simple swap.

    Don't the chipset/motherboard and BIOS need to be compatible? Can I upgrade my laptop Sandy Bridge to an Ivy Bridge in the future :p?
     
  8. Simplified

    Simplified The Most Awesome

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    You cant upgrade to Sandy Bridge/Ivy bridge. The sockets are different.

    You can install any cpu that is compatible with the socket. If you install a XM cpu, the bios needs to be compatible if you want to overclock it.
     
  9. MonPireSire

    MonPireSire Notebook Consultant

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    Is there a big difference between the i7 620m (which has 2 clocks rather than four I beleive) and the i5 450m? The 920XM is damn expensive -_-
     
  10. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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  11. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

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    Upgrading the Arrendale dual core to the high end i7 wont actully give you a great boost.
    Just more clock speed.
    You could try and see if you can get a cheap i7 720QM or 820QM too, but they wont overclock as good as the 920XM.
     
  12. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Passmark:

    720QM: 3275

    740QM: 3565

    820QM: 3551

    840QM: 3853

    920XM: 4428

    940XM: 4642
     
  13. MonPireSire

    MonPireSire Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks! I'll wait and see. I've just overclocked my i5.
     
  14. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    You spent 190+ posts on NBR forum and still did not know that it is so easy to change processors? :)

    I7 has 10Watt higher TDP but I think (for each laptop changes may vary) it won't make big difference. However extreme versions really may be too hot.

    About performance. Nowadays 4-core processors rule. I have read abot 1 guy who disabled Hyperthreading on quadcore I-7 1-st gen and he said all became noticeable low-response. However I do agree that answer on the question "Is it worse?" depends on what are you using your computer for? Even if you have noticeable boost still it may be not worse extra 200-400$.

    On the other hand... having low-end I5 sucks. IMO