Solved! Upgrade a i7 processor (720) to another i7 (820, 920, 965, etc)

[TheComposer]

Hello, just wanted to know, i´ll be having a new i7 laptop in a few days, so i was wondering if later i could upgrade the chip processor to a faster one, how hard it is?

What are the requirements i have to consider to do it? thanks

 

[rockyjohn]

Hmm. i7-720 lists on newegg for $329 compared to i7-920 at $289 and i7-860 at $280. Don't know about the 820. Are you sure you want to call those upgrades?

I think part of the issue is that the i7-720 is a mobile chip while the others are not. Do you really want to consider a more watt hungry desktop chip for your laptop? The i7-920 has a thermal design power of 130w compared to only 45w for your laptop chip. Think of the impact on battery life.

Also, the i7-720, i7-920, and i7-860 all use different sockets - a major change issue right there.

Laptops are a lot more difficult to upgrade then desktops - both physically and practically. Much more of the builds are customized - interchangeable parts are much harder to find - and you usually dependent on the manufacturer for BIOS changes and compatible drivers for special components. Sorry, but I would never buy a laptop with the intent to make a major upgrade.

 

[lostandwandering]

Hmm. i7-720 lists on newegg for $329 compared to i7-920 at $289 and i7-860 at $280. Don't know about the 820. Are you sure you want to call those upgrades?

I think part of the issue is that the i7-720 is a mobile chip while the others are not. Do you really want to consider a more watt hungry desktop chip for your laptop? The i7-920 has a thermal design power of 130w compared to only 45w for your laptop chip. Think of the impact on battery life.

Also, the i7-720, i7-920, and i7-860 all use different sockets - a major change issue right there.

Yup some of those can't even be done. The laptop i7s consist of the 720, 820 and 920XM. Any other i7 CPU is NOT for laptops and will absolutely not work.

As far as actually upgrading and how easy it's going to be, that's going to depend on the manufacturer. Some won't allow you to do it and others will.

 

[rodney_ws]

You're made your bed. Now lie in it.