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    Upgrading the CPU?

    Discussion in 'Samsung' started by jacob_s, May 25, 2011.

  1. jacob_s

    jacob_s Notebook Consultant

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    Hello everyone! I didn't see anything on Google last time I checked, so here it goes:

    The Samsung Series 9 looks like it might be the laptop for me, and I'm particularly pleased that it's available at Costco (which means easy returns if I don't like it). Unfortunately, I was rather hoping for something a little beefier in the CPU department. I've done laptop CPU upgrades before, but I haven't really kept up with all the details that are involved, especially with the new i series processors.

    What I would like to do would be to replace the i5 in it with an i7... either the really high-end dual-core, or, if possible, the 2820/2920QM (probably the 2820 though, given the price).

    Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-2820QM Sandy Bridge 2.3GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache Socket G2 45W Quad-Core Mobile Processor Model BX80627i72820QM

    Would this be possible, or has Samsung locked down the BIOS and everything so that this would be impossible? I seem to recall they were using the ULV version of the i5?
     
    jacob_s, May 25, 2011
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  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Even if you could swap the CPU, having a 45W CPU served by a cooling system designed for a 17W CPU is likely to result in problems such as near-permanent throttling because of over-heating.

    However, I wouldn't even try to do the swap. The thin notebooks all use soldered CPUs to avoid the extra thickness caused by the CPU socket.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, May 25, 2011
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  3. jacob_s

    jacob_s Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the heads up. I know in my old 13" vaio it had a socket, though since I already had about as good of a Core2Duo as there was, I never considered the upgrade. I didn't know they were starting to solder the CPUs down... I thought that was usually just for GPUs. Good point on the cooling though - I figured that they were using a really low wattage version of the i5. So, I guess the Samsung 9 isn't for me :)
     
    jacob_s, May 25, 2011
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