Sony Vaio SR CPU,RAM UPGRADE OPTIONS

Hi All,

I am looking to upgrade my Vaio SR-420 D/H. Here are the specs:

Processor: 2.1 Ghz T6500 800FSB
RAM: 4GB
Graphics Card: ATI Mobile Radeon 4570
Hard Drive: 320
BIOS: R3220Y1

I am considering a CPU upgrade but wanted everyones opinion as to (1) is it practical (2) is it possible with my motherboard. One of the biggest problems is that I can't identify the motherboard and don't know the requirements for a new CPU.

I use it for video editting, alittle gaming and CAD work so I think improvements would be noticable. Anyways, please let me know your opinions.

Cheers,
ScKaSx

 

Run CPU-Z it will give you the Socket Number you have.
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

But anyway... it is a Socket P. So you should be good with any Socket P CPU providing your BIOS accepts it... which it should.

Id recommend something like a T9300 or P8700.

 

ahl395, thanks for the advice. Just afew questions for you and everyone else listening. What are the important characteristics to match (i.e. FSB, Wattage, etc). Just wondering because I noticed the P8700 has 1066 Mhz FSB whereas my T6500 has 800 Mhz FSB. Can my motherboard take 1066 Mhz? Anyways, thanks for your advice.

Cheers, ScKaSx

 

It looks like you've got a 45-Series chipset in there... if such is the case, you can use processors with any FSB up to 1066MHz. The only really important thing to make sure is that you're buying a Socket P processor, and that you're not getting something more exotic like a Q9000. Those exotic processors might work, but it's generally a crapshot.

 

Wow, Commander Wolf awesome! I have been trying to figure out my chipset all day with little luck. When my bios loads it doesn't give me the motherboard ID. Its good to hear that I can go up to 1066 mhz. How about TDP, since I'm using a 35 W processor is it okay to use a smaller one like 25 W. I imagine its like a light bulb, I can go down but not up. Anyways, thanks again for that info.

Also if I am considering upgrading RAM do you know if it is possible to replace my DDR2 with DDR3 RAM? I heard the sockets are different but that some motherboards will take both.

Cheers, ScKaSx

Oh and do I need to "match" the CPU and RAM speeds?

 

You can use processor with a lower TDP than what you currently have.

You may also be able to use processors with higher TDPs (hence those "exotic" processors I mentioned), but as I said, it's risky and not guaranteed to work.

You cannot use DDR3 memory if your notebook shipped with DDR2.

Period.

You don't have to match memory and CPU/FSB speeds, though.

 

Commander Wolf, thxs!

I am leaning towards the P8800 (found one for $200), thoughts? Since the TDP is 25W do you think I will get better battery life (probably too hopeful)? I currently have 4GB RAM, do you recommend a RAM upgrade as well?

I got this laptop for $800, planned upgrades would push this to $1100. What are your thoughts on reselling and getting the newer iCore CPUs w/ DDR3 RAM (e.g. Vaio S11 w/i5)? Again thanks for your (and everyone elses) advice. It is greatly appreciated.

Cheers, ScKaSx

 

What about the P9700? Overkill?

 

I mean, ultimately the choice the processor comes down to the amount of processor-intensive stuff you're doing, and the amount of money you're willing to spend. Video encoding is one of those things that should scale fairly well with CPU power, so if you're doing a lot of that, you might just want to consider moving to an i5/i7 machine.

Else the P9700 probably isn't "overkill", but probably isn't the best value for your money either. I'd vote for P9500 or T9600 or something further from the top of the price charts.

 

If ur willing to pay a lot for a P9700 , u might as well get the T9900... same TDP as T6500 and about same price as P9700... u can find a T9900 easily and cheapily on hp spare parts store... don't worry, it will still work in ur sony laptop... also for RAM , i recommend that u get a 8GB kit since u need more RAM... for improving graphics card , not possible but if u use ur laptop on a desk most of the time , u can get the DIY Vidock external graphics solution... read up in the thread below i'm giving and see if u want to give it a shot..

link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=418851

 

Hi guys, thanks again you're awesome.

sean473, do you have any good sources for 8GB kits. The prices seemed to be steep, I was thinking instead of going with the RAM swapping my 320GB hard drive for a SSD. Thoughts?

Cheers,ScKaSx

 

u can find 8GB kits online quite cheaply... look at newmegg tigerdirect and ebay.. look on the Notebookreview.com Marketplace too... there are some great offers... u have to look... well if u want to get an SSD , it really not going to help in increasing performance.... it will speed load up times but won't improve gaming or CAD performance which really requires more RAM... if u want to upgrade RAM and hard drive , i would get a Hitachi 500GB 7K500 drive which is fastest mobile drive... about a $100 but u should see an improvement over ur old drive for sure... If ur going to decide, decide quickly... 7K500 is on offer on Tigerdirect.com for $70-75...