dv8 Compatibility with Intel i7 940xm

[HaggisCat]

The processor shows up in the BIOS, but the fan is running full bore all the time, and when I try install any OS, even Windows 7 that the machine came with, it just shuts down and restarts into this loop.

I switched the RAM out and tried a known good hard drive and it still shuts down.

Question: is the processor faulty, or is the BIOS on the dv8 not compatible with the 940xm ?

 It's one of those processors from China sold on eBay and Ali Express. 

I installed a 720qm and all is well.

Here's a screen shot of the BIOS (and yes, the serial number is there, but it's so old, it doesn't matter)

I've also updated the BIOS to F.25, but I don't think that's going to make a difference.

It's a lot of bother to switch out the processor again just to find out.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Chapter 1 of the service manual shows that the Intel® Core™ i7-820QM and the Intel Core i7-720QM were the only processors HP offered in the model series.

HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment PC Maintenance and Service Guide 

This user benchmarking site shows that some owners of the dv8 have successfully installed the Intel Core i7-940XM processor.

UserBenchmark: HP Pavilion dv8 Notebook PC Compatible Components

[HaggisCat]

Thanks for that, may be my processor is faulty.

Thanks.

If I have any updates I'll post them here. 🙂

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[HaggisCat · Accepted solution]

It turns out that there was a pet hair caught in the memory slots where the RAM plugs into that was keeping it from making contact properly.

 The computer continued to randomly crash and boot up even when changing out the processor and switching the RAM sticks out.

It's only after that on very close inspection that I found the hair.

I was looking for damaged contacts...

Thanks to Paul for the link confirming the 940xm does actually work. 

Here's that link from Paul

https://www.userbenchmark.com/System/HP-Pavilion-dv8-Notebook-PC/2515