Changing CPU on 10 year old laptop

[pcmaster]

So yeah my laptop has Celeron T3100 1,90Ghz dual-core CPU 35W TDP 800Mhz FSB(check it on CPUbenchmark.com) and today I saw something that blew my mind. I saw this Core2  chip - 

Intel Core2 Extreme Processor P8800 3M Cache 2.660 GHz 1066 MHz FSB Socket 478 CPU on aliexpress for 6$ !!!

I looked up tests on benchmark site and saw that this chip shares same socked BGA479 and P478 but is about 70% faster and its TDP is only 25W so 10W lower than my Celeron CPU. 0
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/Celeron-Dual-Core-T3100-vs-Intel-Core2-Duo-P8800/513vs976

Right now my CPU is the bottleneck of the system since it often goes above 90% usage and I now have 4GB of RAM and new SSD. Pretty sure by changing CPU to so much more faster one, it would feel a lot better, like almost a new system.

Both CPU's have same voltage - VID Voltage Range1.00V-1.25V

https://ark.intel.com/compare/37258,40380

Question - is it possible to swap these CPU's? And if yes would laptop won't hold back new CPU, as it will work as fast as it should? Is it difficult to do at home and how much that kind of job would cost at local hardware service(independent from HP) assuming new CPU is provided by the customer.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You first have to determine what chipset your notebook has.

Most of the notebooks with the Celeron processors only have the Mobile Intel GL40 chipset.

The GL-40 chipset cannot run any processor with a 1066 MHz FSB such as the P8800.

Your notebook will need to have the Mobile Intel GM45 chipset

I have zipped up and attached a free utility below that will let you know what chipset your notebook has.

Below is the link to the service manual for your notebook's model series.

The supported processors can be found in chapter 1 on pp 1-2.

If your notebook has the GL40 chipset, you can only install one of the supported processors with a max FSB of 800 MHz.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01713747

[pcmaster]

Thanks for speedy reply, Paul !
You sure have a lot of posts !
Indeed my notebook have GM45 chipset. So I checked that supported CPU list and looks like highest supported CPU is P8700 2.53-GHz processor (3-MB L2 cache, 1066-MHz front-side bus (FSB))

You sure helped a lot. But I can't relax thinking that maybe MB would support P8800 since its only 0,13Ghz faster and is Extreme core 2 Duo. I mean it could be pretty obvious why it's not on the supported list since who would put Extreme version in the work computer that uses Celeron? Only crazy person would do that 😄 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Since the P8800 is not on the list, you would be risking it not working.

I mean for that matter, you could try the P9600 as well.  It has the same wattage and is in the same Penryn family.

The advantage of the P9600 is it has twice the L2 cache as the P8800 has.

https://ark.intel.com/compare/37266,37258,40380

The problem is that neither of us know what processor microcodes are in the BIOS your notebook has.

If the CPU microcode isn't in the BIOS, the processor isn't going to work.

According to the manual, the best you can do, and it being guaranteed to work is the P8700.

Anything else is a complete gamble.

I checked the release notes for both of the BIOS updates for your model, and neither of them add support for additional processors.

[pcmaster]

Now after deeper looking I really think that P8800 should be supported as well since its much never CPU than P8700 and at the time of writing maintenance and service guide you shared it might not even be released yet since the guide is made in about same time CPU came out.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

For $6 bucks, if you are willing to go through all of the work to change out the processor, go for it!

[pcmaster]

I see you. Thinking that P8700 would be the safest bet as well. Just before saw your new response looked into T9600 too and its quite a beast but with 35W TDP. It cost 9,7 $ while P8700 is 5$ and P8800 is 6$. So obviously best bang for the buck here is P8700. Also nice to see lower 25W TDP since laptop can never run too cool and getting it a little cooler would be great. Just read that someone did put a T9600 into laptop HP pavilion dv6 1229er - if that helps.
Its always tempting to buy higher numbers but in reality that P8700 would be a good 40% boost so that should be really noticeable already. Also T9600 is same age as my T3100 so really doubt it wouldn't be on the supported list if it worked on  CQ71 laptop. Despite that on aliexpress those sellers have noted that T9600 is for GM45 and PM45 chipset.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I agree with you.

Going from the Celeron to the P8700, will be a good boost in performance, and it is guaranteed to work according to the manual.

If you are going to go through all that trouble taking the notebook apart, having to really thermal compound, etc, you may as well feel confident that it is going to work.

I have the P8700 in my HP 6930p Elitebook business class notebook.  It is pretty darn good.

Mine would also take the P9600 according to its service manual.

It's all about the microcodes in the BIOS.  The chipset is important of course, but so is the BIOS.

[pcmaster]

It looks like my laptop changed the mind about chipset. When I first looked, I saw GM45 but now looked at CPU-Z and at your app and both shows GL40 chipset.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That's what I was afraid of with your notebook having the Celeron processor.

Well...then go for the T6600.  It is still better than what you have now...

https://ark.intel.com/compare/37258,37255