What processors can I use to upgrade my HP G72-262nr laptop?

[jqg72]

I am trying to upgrade my G72-262nr laptop. I already plan to upgrade the ram from 4gb to 8gb using a (2 x 4gb) kit DDR3 unbuffered 1.35V, which is correct according to Crucial.

But I also want to upgrade the processor. It currently has a i3 M 350 2.27ghz. What processors will be compatible with this model? Which would be the most economical or best processor to upgrade to? Will I encounter any problems with power requirements, cooling, or socket compatibility? Any help would be appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Below is the link to the service manual for your notebook.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02641840

The supported processors can be found in chapter 1.

If you max it out to the i7-620M you should not have any issues.

It does not require a larger power supply or better cooling solution.

Here is a side by side comparison of your notebook's current processor and the i7-620M:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/compare.html?productIds=43560,43529

Also:  I would suggest you go with this memory...

https://www.newegg.com/patriot-4gb-204-pin-ddr3-so-dimm/p/N82E16820220476

or this one...

https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-8gb-204-pin-ddr3-so-dimm/p/N82E16820231342

[jqg72]

Thank you! But after comparing the two processors, there doesn't seem to be very much difference in performance. That is what I gathered after reading the various comparisons of the two processors online. Am I mistaken?

What else can I do to max out that HP g72 laptop? Should I upgrade to SSD drive? Or is it too old to bother upgrading?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I kind of agree with you...the only major differences are the larger cache, 400 MHz faster and the graphics performance is slightly better.

The i7 does have that turbo frequency which enhances performance.

Upgrading the processor would not be high on my list of priorities.

If you have a way to reinstall W7, a SSD would be your best option.

I used this model on my notebook and it works great.  In yours, it would be a little slower because of the SATA II drive controller your notebook has.

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-NAND-500GB-Internal/dp/B072R78B6Q/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=78408965477...

You can read this discussion as to why I recommended the memory I did.  I can almost guarantee you the Crucial memory you want to buy won't work.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Memory-upgrade-6550b/m-p/53405...

[jqg72]

Interesting. So do you have a recommendation for an SSD drive for my G72 model? Also, I don't have a way to reinstall Windows 7 (64 bit) since Microsoft no longer allows you to download the ISO files. I'm pretty comfortable with Ubuntu though.

What if I upgrade the RAM with the link you provided, spring for a SSD, and use Ubuntu? Any thoughts on that plan?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Sounds like a good plan...

I'd recommend the drive I posted above, or you can use the crucial site and select one of their offerings, since they guarantee compatibility.

If you can still read all 25 characters of the W7 Home Premium product key on your notebook's case, you can download a plain W7 Home Premium 64 bit ISO file from this site--toward the bottom of the page, use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable, and install W7 that way.

https://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/windows-7-home-premium-free-download-iso-32-bit-64...

After W7 installs, you can install the drivers and available software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-g72-200-notebook-pc-series/4150030/model/4234392

Or you can try ubuntu on your model. It should work.