Solved! Upgrade CPU or Memory to make laptop run faster?

[MDC2957]

I have a TOSHIBA Laptop Satellite C675-S7200 that needs to run Windows 7 and software like stamps.com and chrome web browser. It runs but it's pretty slow, even after wiping it clean and starting fresh. Can I upgrade the memory or CPU in this laptop to make it run faster? If so, what should I purchase? Thanks!

 

[kanewolf]

The CPU can not be replaced in that laptop. You might be able to find a motherboard with a different CPU but not just a CPU swap. The RAM can be upgraded to 8GB according to this link -- https/cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/satellite_C675-S7200.pdf
The other thing that can speed up a slow laptop is replacing the HDD with an SSD. That 5400 RPM disk is really slow.

 

[MDC2957]

The CPU can not be replaced in that laptop. You might be able to find a motherboard with a different CPU but not just a CPU swap. The RAM can be upgraded to 8GB according to this link -- https/cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/satellite_C675-S7200.pdf
The other thing that can speed up a slow laptop is replacing the HDD with an SSD. That 5400 RPM disk is really slow.

Thanks for the reply! Is there an easy way to tell exactly what kind of RAM I need to buy for this laptop? I used to be up on all this stuff years ago, but not anymore. Also, same question about the SSD drive - anything specific I should look for?

 

[kanewolf]

You can just put "C675-S7200 ram" into google. You will see some RAM on Amazon and some on E-Bay ...

The SSD looks like a standard laptop drive. An MX500 2.5 inch should work.

 

[fagetti]

He should be able to replace CPU because Pentium B940 is G2 socket. However sometimes quad cores can be bios locked on toshiba boards

 

[fagetti]

Just open task manager and performance, if you see processor cores constantly very high during load or whatever your doing when it lags then its procesor whats holding you down. And also kanewolf suggestion aabout ssd is really good.

Look for 35w TDP max, i5 would be safe bet since some i7 might be locked just search online ive succesfully installed i7 on few older toshiba laptops but there might be expections : http/www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Pentium_Dual-Core_Mobile/B940.html

 

[kanewolf]

He should be able to replace CPU because Pentium B940 is G2 socket. However sometimes quad cores can be bios locked on toshiba boards

I see disassembly videos that look soldered. I see motherboards that claim to be for this model that are socketed. I don't have one, so you may be right. I don't know.

 

[MDC2957]

For the SSD, it says Serial ATA, should that be SATA I, II, or III?

Sounds like the CPU might be more trouble than it's worth, so I should just stick to upgrading the memory and the hard drive to solid state.

 

[kanewolf]

All SSDs are SATA III. And are backward compatible with SATA II.

 

[fagetti]

if its b940 then its socket, google cpu-z and download it, then open program and tell what you see at name and package. It should state its G2 socket.

If this is the case follow kanewolf suggestion about ssd its nice boost but still get something like i7-2640M or i7-2620M. Thing is i had B940 on few older laptops i repaired and there was problems even on 1080p youtube if i remember correctly its for sure your bottleneck with that intel HD integrated graphics.

With those i7 models you get Intel HD 4000 which is better than your b940 integrated HD graphics so you get better "gpu" aswell.

Look for 2 core 4 thread cpu:s with M in the end like i7-2620m. There is no point going for 4c 8thread cpu has higher tdp and requires alot better cooling also too expensive for old laptop. If you can disassembly or you have a friend who is tech savvy then go for it id say if you find cheap deal on ebay for used or new.. Something like 50 euros isnt that much.

 

[MDC2957]

if its b940 then its socket, google cpu-z and download it, then open program and tell what you see at name and package. It should state its G2 socket.

If this is the case follow kanewolf suggestion about ssd its nice boost but still get something like i7-2640M or i7-2620M. Thing is i had B940 on few older laptops i repaired and there was problems even on 1080p youtube if i remember correctly its for sure your bottleneck with that intel HD integrated graphics.

With those i7 models you get Intel HD 4000 which is better than your b940 integrated HD graphics so you get better "gpu" aswell.

Look for 2 core 4 thread cpu:s with M in the end like i7-2620m. There is no point going for 4c 8thread cpu has higher tdp and requires alot better cooling also too expensive for old laptop. If you can disassembly or you have a friend who is tech savvy then go for it id say if you find cheap deal on ebay for used or new.. Something like 50 euros isnt that much.

Thank you for the information - So just to be clear, I should run that program and if it says G2 socket, then I should upgrade the CPU to either the i7-2620m or the i7-2640m - is that correct? That along with the SSD drive, and I can also double the RAM too.

 

[MDC2957]

I didn't see anything about G2 for socket, just Socket 988B rPGA (0x4), pasted the report below:

CPU-Z TXT Report
Processors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of sockets		1
Number of threads		2

APICs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 0	
	-- Core 0 (ID 0)	
		-- Thread 0	0
	-- Core 1 (ID 2)	
		-- Thread 1	2

Timers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

	ACPI timer		3.580 MHz
	Perf timer		1.949 MHz
	Sys timer		1.000 KHz


Processors Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 1			ID = 0
	Number of cores		2 (max 2)
	Number of threads	2 (max 2)
	Name			Intel Pentium B940
	Codename		Sandy Bridge
	Specification		Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU B940 @ 2.00GHz
	Package (platform ID)	Socket 988B rPGA (0x4)
	CPUID			6.A.7
	Extended CPUID		6.2A
	Core Stepping		D2
	Technology		32 nm
	TDP Limit		35.0 Watts
	Tjmax			85.0 °C
	Core Speed		1995.2 MHz
	Multiplier x Bus Speed	20.0 x 99.8 MHz
	Base frequency (cores)	99.8 MHz
	Base frequency (ext.)	99.8 MHz
	Stock frequency		2000 MHz
	Instructions sets	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T
	Microcode Revision	0x1A
	L1 Data cache		2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
	L1 Instruction cache	2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
	L2 cache		2 x 256 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
	L3 cache		2 MBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
	Max CPUID level		0000000Dh
	Max CPUID ext. level	80000008h
	Cache descriptor	Level 1, D, 32 KB, 2 thread(s)
	Cache descriptor	Level 1, I, 32 KB, 2 thread(s)
	Cache descriptor	Level 2, U, 256 KB, 2 thread(s)
	Cache descriptor	Level 3, U, 2 MB, 16 thread(s)
	FID/VID Control		yes


	IBRS			not supported
	IBPB			not supported
	STIBP			not supported
	RDCL_NO			no
	IBRS_ALL		not supported
	Turbo Mode		not supported
	Max non-turbo ratio	20x
	Max turbo ratio		20x
	Max efficiency ratio	8x
	Max Power		44 Watts
	Min Power		28 Watts
	O/C bins		none
	Ratio 1 core		20x
	Ratio 2 cores		20x
	Ratio 3 cores		20x
	Ratio 4 cores		20x

	Temperature 0		41 degC (105 degF) (Package)
	Temperature 1		41 degC (105 degF) (Core #0)
	Temperature 2		41 degC (105 degF) (Core #1)
	Voltage 0		1.16 Volts (VID)
	Power 00		4.96 W (Package)
	Power 01		2.09 W (IA Cores)
	Power 02		0.02 W (GT)
	Power 03		2.85 W (Uncore)
	Clock Speed 0		1995.24 MHz (Core #0)
	Clock Speed 1		1995.24 MHz (Core #1)
	Core 0 max ratio	20.0 (effective 20.0)
	Core 1 max ratio	20.0 (effective 20.0)

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge			Intel Sandy Bridge rev. 09
Southbridge			Intel HM65 rev. 05
Memory Type			DDR3
Memory Size			4 GBytes
Channels			Dual
Memory Frequency		665.1 MHz (1:5)
CAS# latency (CL)		9.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD)	9
RAS# Precharge (tRP)		9
Cycle Time (tRAS)		24
Command Rate (CR)		1T
Host Bridge			0x0104


Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM #				1
	SMBus address		0x50
	Memory type		DDR3
	Module format		SO-DIMM
	Manufacturer (ID)	Micron Technology (2C00000000000000000000)
	Size			2048 MBytes
	Max bandwidth		PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
	Part number		8JSF25664HZ-1G4D1 
	Serial number		3A5C4FF2
	Manufacturing date	Week 09/Year 11
	Number of banks		8
	Nominal Voltage		1.50 Volts
	EPP			no
	XMP			no
	AMP			no
JEDEC timings table		CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
	JEDEC #1		5.0-5-5-14-19 @ 380 MHz
	JEDEC #2		6.0-6-6-17-23 @ 457 MHz
	JEDEC #3		7.0-7-7-20-27 @ 533 MHz
	JEDEC #4		8.0-8-8-22-30 @ 609 MHz
	JEDEC #5		9.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz
	JEDEC #6		10.0-9-9-24-33 @ 666 MHz

DIMM #				2
	SMBus address		0x52
	Memory type		DDR3
	Module format		SO-DIMM
	Manufacturer (ID)	Micron Technology (2C00000000000000000000)
	Size			2048 MBytes
	Max bandwidth		PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
	Part number		8JSF25664HZ-1G4D1 
	Serial number		3A5C4FF1
	Manufacturing date	Week 09/Year 11
	Number of banks		8
	Nominal Voltage		1.50 Volts
	EPP			no
	XMP			no
	AMP			no

 

[MDC2957]

Just came across this thread, sounds like the CPU upgrade is probably a no go

http/www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2237424/cpus-compatible-toshiba-satellite-c675-7200-replace-current-processor.html

 

[fagetti]

Ignore what is said on that thread about cpu being soldered it is not in this model. Only problem is bios support and are you able to change it yourself. Like i said before if you have a friend who can disassembly it to pieces and get it back together working condition then you might go for it.

Your chipset supports all these models : http/www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/HM65_Express.html
Its older laptop so i wouldnt spend too much on ram and cpu, ssd is another thing because its future proof you can just swap it to new laptop when your done with this one.
If you can get good deal on ddr3 ram and cpu go for it, used is even cheaper. Look for PC3-10600 ddr3 so-dimm ram 4gb x 2 set.

 

[MDC2957]

I just won an ebay auction for RAM, only $25. I'm not sure about upgrading the CPU by myself. I've changed a couple in desktop machines in the past, but never a laptop, so I probably shouldn't attempt it. I think with the RAM and the SSD drive, it should perform good enough to do the job I need.

 

[fagetti]

Yep ddr3 ram is really cheap for laptops and desktops right now. Thats a good deal. After you change ram and ssd if you still get problems with processor usage going 99% then reply here again and we figure it out.
With desktop changing cpu is like 15minute job but with laptops it can take few hours, even more if its your first time. If you find disassembly video of your model on youtube then its much easier just be careful.

 

[MDC2957]

Well I'm officially an idiot. The RAM arrived today, installed without a hitch. So it's now 8GB. HOWEVER, the o/s in this machine is Win 7 Basic, which is 32 bit, so it doesn't have access to all 8GB of memory! The laptop originally had Win 7 Home Premium in it (has the product key on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop) So the question is - Is there a way to "upgrade" windows in this machine without having to wipe it clean and start from scratch?

 

[J_E_D_70]

Nope. Going from 32 to 64 bits is a wipe n load.

 

[MDC2957]

Nope. Going from 32 to 64 bits is a wipe n load.

Ok, I guess it's not the end of the world. Guess that would be a good time to get the SSD upgrade going too.

 

[J_E_D_70]

Yep!