MSI GT683R Upgrade - CPU, Fan and thermal Compound

Hi, I have a MSI GT683R and I´d like to upgrade the CPU and the Fan if possible!


Mi notebook details are:

Code:

CPU: Intel Core i7-2670QM
    Manufacturing Process:    0.032 micron
    Socket Type:    Socket G2
    Thermal Design Power:    45 Watt
Motherboard: MSI MegaBook GT680/GT683/GT685/GX660/GX680 Series (MS-16F2)
Motherboard Chipset: Intel Cougar Point HM67, Intel Sandy Bridge
DMI BIOS Version: E16F2IMS V3.0S (Release Date: 08/17/2011)
Upgrade    Socket: rPGA988B ("G2" or FCPGA988)
Fan: T&T - B9733L12B-028 - 0,36A 12VDC - E330800182MC200B30058436

1.- Replacing the CPU
The goal is to replace the CPU without changing anything else, so starting from
this web page:
- http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket G2 (rPGA988B).html

I have to nice options:
- i7-2860QM
- i7-2920XM

Here are the three processors characteristics:
Technology (micron) Cores Threads Frequency (MHz) Turbo freq. (MHz) L2 cache (KB) L3 cache (KB) TDP (Watt)
i7-2670QM 0.032 4 8 2200 3100 1024 6144 45
i7-2860QM 0.032 4 8 2500 3600 1024 8192 45
i7-2920XM 0.032 4 8 2500 3500 1024 8192 55

Based on benchmarks ( https://www.cpubenchmark.net/), the 2920XM and the 2860QM
have very similar results...so I think that the 2860QM should be the selected one
as the 2920XM uses 10 more Watts...it should generate more heat too, isn´t it?

And so, the question is:

- Replacing the i7-2670QM with a i7-2860QM should work without changing anything else?
Should the BIOS work with this CPU (Frequency and Turbo freq. are higher)?

2.- Thermal Compound
I´m going to "update" the thermal compound from my CPU and GPU.
I´ve found that the Thermal Compound HY-880 is a nice replacement:
http://forums.pureoverclock.com/reviews-articles/26113-hy810-hy880-compound-review.html

- Have any one tried it? Is it worth it?

3.- CPU and GPU Fan
My notebook fan is working nicely but I´d like to replace it with a new one that
generates more airflow.

The actual one is this:
Fan: T&T - B9733L12B-028 - 0,36A 12VDC - E330800182MC200B30058436

And I´m able to find a similar replacement but not a "better" one.

- Anyone knows of a better fan that could improve to cold down the system?

Thank you in advance!!!!

 

2920XM since it can overclock
ICDiamond as thermal compound
There is a modded fan on ebay, some russian guy is selling those.

 

Thanks Danishblunt!

I´ve found the ICDiamond compound. I will try it!

I´ve been searching in ebay for this modded fan with no luck...any clue? any name? any link?

 

try this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-Fan-CP...h=item2a9d3a4ba4:g:L6EAAOSwXetZOwi8:rk:1:pf:0

 

Thanks Danishblunt!!
I´ll try it!

 

About GPU upgrading...A NVIDIA GTX675M from DELL like this ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Alienware-M17X-R4-M18X-NVIDIA-Geforce-GTX675M-2GB-Video-Card-HXD3N-74W4GT/161884140859) will "be plug´n play" in a GT683R with a GTX560m? Will it need anything more than new thermal paste?

 

Don't ever purchase a Dell card.

Also you should rather look for something like a GTX 970M instead.

 

You can even install the 0.65A fan. It's twice as fast as the standard one. Was the one on latest haswell high end version (with 880m gtx and 970/980m). Will try to find a link for you.
Go for 970m or 980m gtx. 970m if you go for unlocked 2920xm because of the 180w psu limit...

edit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CPU-Co...=item2f2808ca00:g:QIUAAOSwC85cJuW5:rk:15:pf:0
That's the one...

 

Thank you Danishblunt and Johnbb for your help and advice!

Ok, I´ll look for the 970m or 980m.

Another question: a GPU like the 970m or 980m would require around 100Watts...around 25Watts more than the actual 560m card needs. With the stock 150W power supply unit I´m afraid it won´t be enough, isn´t it?

And about brands...shoud I stick with Clevo or Alienware...no DELL. Why no DELL?

 

Finally I did it.
New i7-2860QM since I did not pretend to overclock the system and also the i7-2920XM cosumes 10W more and so it would need a new PSU unit...maybe.
CPU + Thermal Paste + new Fan installed without any problem, replacing the pieces was very easy.
PassMark benchmark gives the new system a global 2.973 while the original was 2.274 (+30% difference)
The "new" system feels better and responsiveness and games like FSX SE that depends on CPU show an increment of 10fps.

Thank you everyone for the help! I´ll keep looking for a GPU replacement.

 

No problem mate. 2860qm is indeed a wise choise, and a cheap one also.
980m gtx is the best card for your laptop but it is stll expensive and in my opinion quite "sensitive" and prone to failure (it only has 3 power MOSFET) due to high power draw and usually high temperature.
AMD cards are also worth a shot (7970m = 8970m = r9 m290x) and can be found for ~100USD.
Or high end kepler cards that can be found for a few bucks (770m / 780m / 870m).

 

I suppose the 970m would be a good compromise, woudn't it? Runs cooler than 980m, and can match/surpass 780m.

At least I think so. I didn't know the 980m was prone to failure though.

 

Yes 970m is less prone to failure, but just as the 980m, it has underspecced MOSFET rail (2 only). They did not do the same mistake with the 10x0 range as the MSI 1070 has a rail of 10 (yes 10!) MOSFET... The MSI 1060 has 6 MOSFET, and draws 120W maximum, so less than a 980m GTX which only has 3 MOSFET...
Other brand 1060/1070 mxm cards are ok as well although 1st gen gecube 1070 is reported to have many blown MOSFET due to high TDP on vbios (supposed to be less than 100W as max-q).