zbook processor upgrade

[U-B-Chaudhry]

Hello Everyone! I have an HP Zbook 14 mobile workstation with the following processor specs:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4300U CPU @ 1.90GHz . 

Can I upgrade it's processor only to one of the following:

Intel® Core™ i7-4600U with Intel HD Graphics 4400 (2.1 GHz, 4 MB cache, 4 cores)

OR

Intel® Core™ i7-4600U with Intel HD Graphics 4400 (2.1 GHz, 4 MB cache, 2 cores)

Detailed specs are as follow:

Socket Designation: U3E1
Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
Type: Central Processor
Family: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 processor
CPU ID Values: EAX: 00040651 -- EDX: BFEBFBFF
CPU ID Family/Model: 0x06/0x45
Version: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4300U CPU @ 1.90GHz
Voltage: 0.7 v
External Clock: 100 MHz
Current Speed: 1900 MHz
Socket Status: CPU Socket Populated
Core Count: 2
Cores Enabled: 2
Thread Count: 4
 
Name: HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3, i5, i7)
Plug-and-Play ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0A16&SUBSYS_198F103C&REV_0B\3&21436425&0&10
Device Registry Key: System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{0B8BA916-C225-406F-8BAE-0ED1C2BD6533}\0000
Registry Adapter String: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4400
Registry Firmware Version: Intel Video BIOS
Registry Chip Type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
Registry DAC Type: Internal
Memory Size: 1 GB
Video Mode: 1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors
Driver File Version: 8.14.01.6463
Familiar Driver Version: 8.14.01.6463
Graphics API Capable: False
 
Computer Name: UBCHAUDHRY
Model: HP ZBook 14
Computer Type: Mobile
Manufactured by: Hewlett-Packard
Baseboard ID: 198F
BIOS version: 1.07
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4300U CPU @ 1.90GHz
Enabled Processor Count: 4
Total Memory: 12 GB
Local Storage: 698.64 GB (1 drives)
Graphics Card & Driver: HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3, i5, i7) -- 8.14.01.6463
Slots in use: None
Operating System: Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
 
System Board: 198F KBC Version 15.52 
Video & Graphics: 
AMD Firepro M4100 FireGL V 
15.201.1301.0 (8/19/2015) 
Intel(R) HD Graphics Family 
1920 x 1080 
10.18.14.4432 (4/8/2016)

[banhien]

Hi,

The whole series supports

 Choice of 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7 and i5 processors
 Intel Core i7 with vPro and Core i5 with vPro technology (optional)

Source:    http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04111366.pdf

Therefore you can use i7 Gen 4 processor. For example:  

Intel® Core™ i7-4600U with Intel HD Graphics 4400 (2.1 GHz, 4 MB cache, 4 cores)

Regards.

[U-B-Chaudhry]

Thank you for the reply.

So what I understand is that I can upgrade the processor of my existing machine to a QUAD CORE i7 but it can only be of generation 4?

If I do? Do I loose any other features from my ultrabook? Like the dedicated Friepro ?

[Huffer]

Whoa there hold your horses! Here is the Service manual:

Manual

See p. 22-29. 7 pages of system boards (motherboards) listed. Why so many you ask? Simple. Every motherboard also has a soldered on processor so technically yes you can have a Quad Core i7 but it is not just a matter of buying a processor and popping it in the socket. You have to replace the motherboard. 

Just out of curiosity I looked up one of the discrete video motherboards with the i7 processor

● Intel Core i7-4600U processor for use with the Windows 8 Professional operating system (Gold) 802518-601

Its almost $1500 but is on backorder. HP charges way stupid prices for the Mobile Workstation replacement parts. You might be able to find the motherboard a little cheaper on ebay but there are not a lot of these parts in the pipeline and they command a premium. 

https://parts.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Results.aspx?mscssid=DBFFA3D949FD43C1B0B83D22FF94C9BE&SearchIn=P...

So before you go out and buy a processor let's really figure out what is going on.

if this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[U-B-Chaudhry]

---

@Huffer wrote:

Whoa there hold your horses! Here is the Service manual:

Manual

See p. 22-29. 7 pages of system boards (motherboards) listed. Why so many you ask? Simple. Every motherboard also has a soldered on processor so technically yes you can have a Quad Core i7 but it is not just a matter of buying a processor and popping it in the socket. You have to replace the motherboard. 

Just out of curiosity I looked up one of the discrete video motherboards with the i7 processor

● Intel Core i7-4600U processor for use with the Windows 8 Professional operating system (Gold) 802518-601

Its almost $1500 but is on backorder. HP charges way stupid prices for the Mobile Workstation replacement parts. You might be able to find the motherboard a little cheaper on ebay but there are not a lot of these parts in the pipeline and they command a premium. 

https://parts.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Results.aspx?mscssid=DBFFA3D949FD43C1B0B83D22FF94C9BE&SearchIn=P...

So before you go out and buy a processor let's really figure out what is going on.

if this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

---

With what you're saying, replacing the board and the processor, wouldnt it just be better to replace the laptop? Dear God what you've mentioned is expensive.

[Huffer]

A replacement current 14 inch Mobile Workstation with an i7 Quad and a dedicated video card is going to cost like $3000, not $1500. We can perhaps find you a motherboard for more like $400-500 from a source other than HP but that is still expensive. Your laptop is still new enough to be useful but I might focus on maxxing out the RAM and installing an SSD rather than mess with processor/motherboard upgrades. 

[U-B-Chaudhry]

@Huffer wrote:

A replacement current 14 inch Mobile Workstation with an i7 Quad and a dedicated video card is going to cost like $3000, not $1500. We can perhaps find you a motherboard for more like $400-500 from a source other than HP but that is still expensive. Your laptop is still new enough to be useful but I might focus on maxxing out the RAM and installing an SSD rather than mess with processor/motherboard upgrades. 

---

Yes! Thank you for the idea. I wonder why I didnt think of that. That is a much better choice. If I do that, i'm sure I can work with the low frequency core i5 that I have right now for a few more years. I just work with alot of virtual machines at the same time. It was working ok with 8 at a timee but recently I tried 10 and It appeared if my zbook was feeling pain. Thanks again!