CPU & Motherboard upgrade

[Nargis28]

I have VGN-FW139E Sony Vaio, is there a much faster/better version of either CPU/Motherboard I can install for my laptop. Please let me know, thank you!

 

[viewtyjoe]

Laptop CPUs are on the scale of "Will absolutely void any warranty you have and nine times out of ten destroy your computer until you're an expert on the work involved" to replace, generally. For the price, you'd likely be better served buying a new laptop.

 

[cklaubur]

You may be able to upgrade the CPU in your laptop, since most of them are socketed. However, motherboards are heavily customized to the laptop they are installed in. As a result, you are likely stuck with that motherboard, which limits what CPU you can install. A rule of thumb is that any CPU from the same series and generation should work. To be safe though, try to find out what CPUs your laptop had available, and pick one from there.

Casey

 

[Eximo]

Core 2 Duo is a little old to be trying an upgrade. You would be better served with a new laptop.

It is generally not possible to change the motherboard on a laptop unless there are multiple revisions of the same chassis with different hardware. This might only last one or two generations of hardware.

non-BGA CPUs are fairly easy to change out if you have the patience. BGA CPUs are soldered to their boards.

Some laptops require a complete teardown to get at the CPU. Others are behind a single panel and the heatsink (A lot of the nicer Dell's are like this) To replace just the 2.5" drive in my Lenovo Y410p I had to remove the entire bottom of the laptop (12 screws and a lot of snaps or something)
That same Dell to replace the touchpad required a complete teardown.

 

[Nargis28]

Thank you...so what if I just upgrade the CPU only? I like my current laptop.

I would need to know which others are compatible with what I have currently.
Type: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400
Speed: 2.26GHz
Front Side Bus Speed: 1066MHz
L2 Cache: 3MB

This site has a list of other types of cpu which can work with the same socket. Is there a difference between BGA and Socket P CPU?

http/www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Core_2_Duo_Mobile/P8400_(BGA).html
http/www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Core_2_Duo_Mobile/P8400_(Socket_P).html

 

[cklaubur]

BGA (Ball Grid Array) is soldered onto the motherboard, and is not replaceable. Internally, they are the same chip.

Casey

 

[Eximo]

Only the P8700 and P8800 are any faster. If you can find one of those you could swap it out. Only gain you 333Mhz/400Mhz over what you already have.