Faster CPU's

[skinrock]

I emailed HP and they said my notebook was only tested up to a 2.53 GHz processor. However, I was thinking of installing either a 3.06 or a 3.2. What's the worst that could happen if I use a CPU that is too fast for the motherboard (and by too fast, I can't say how fast that is, because I have to take my mb apart to find out what one I have, and I don't feel like doing that again right now)?

[Kruzin]

The worst that can happen?
You pay out for a processor, then fry it, and your motherboard.
If HP says they have tested it up to a certain proc, then I wouldn't try anything beyond that.

General rule of thumb: Laptops are not upgrade friendly. Aside from hard drives and RAM, never count on a laptop for upgradability. What you buy is what you get.

[Chrono_Wanderer]

Kruzin: WYBIWUG that's a new one

[Wombat]

Re: Faster CPU's

Originally posted by skinrock
I emailed HP and they said my notebook was only tested up to a 2.53 GHz processor. However, I was thinking of installing either a 3.06 or a 3.2. What's the worst that could happen if I use a CPU that is too fast for the motherboard (and by too fast, I can't say how fast that is, because I have to take my mb apart to find out what one I have, and I don't feel like doing that again right now)?

Why the hell are you trying to do all this to a laptop?

[Belwarrior]

Re: Re: Faster CPU's

Originally posted by Wombat
Why the hell are you trying to do all this to a laptop?

[Technoid]

Re: Re: Faster CPU's

Originally posted by Wombat
Why the hell are you trying to do all this to a laptop?

Machokistic tendencies perhaps

[Kurt]

Re: Faster CPU's

Originally posted by skinrock
I emailed HP and they said my notebook was only tested up to a 2.53 GHz processor. However, I was thinking of installing either a 3.06 or a 3.2. What's the worst that could happen if I use a CPU that is too fast for the motherboard (and by too fast, I can't say how fast that is, because I have to take my mb apart to find out what one I have, and I don't feel like doing that again right now)?

What series is that? If it's a Compal bareboine, there's a good chance you could put a 3.06 in it - better a mobile version but it depends on the model. Forget 3.2. You can go to www.marasst.com to check what they notebooks look like and see if there's one like yours.

Anyway, putting a 3.06 will not make it much faster. It's at best 20% faster - which is to say you won't even see the difference.

The better solution would be to invest in an Hitachi 60GB 7200rpm w. 8MB cache hard drive. there you'll see a much faster PC. Put some RAM too - 512MB is the minimum for good performance with XP.

[Jammrock]

Reading thorough all your threads it would almost be cheaper, and safer, for you to buy a new laptop. Preferably a gamer laptop from Alienware or VoodooPC. Those leave a lot more room for upgrades than regular laptops do ... if you get a higher-end model.

Though if you are set on upgrading, get a 7200 RPM HDD, more RAM and a 2.53 GHz processor (never go over the limit on laptops! heat, power, and clock issue will only bring your laptop to an early grave or the new CPU will not work at all, or at the right speed). That would defiantely help.

I've posted a reply in your video card thread as well.

Jammrock

[skinrock]

Update

The reason I'm doing this, is because I like the laptop, and I have the money for upgrades, just not a new one. However, I did upgrade the ram, to 1 gig, that helped a lot. I'm gonna look for a 7200 rpm drive if you say that will help. And if the 2.53 p4 isn't too much, I'll look into that. But, I probably will just stick with the ram upgrade for now, and get an alienware in the future, and btw, I'm planning on building a custom pc, so that's what i've decided for now. I didn't get an alienware in the first place cuz my credit card was for compusa, and i was kinda limited to a notebook cuz that was the whole point. Thanks.

[Wombat]

Re: Update

Originally posted by skinrock
The reason I'm doing this, is because I like the laptop, and I have the money for upgrades, just not a new one.

Which is kind of an odd statement for laptops. Two or three upgrades, and you've paid for a new laptop.

[Kurt]

Re: Update

Originally posted by skinrock
The reason I'm doing this, is because I like the laptop, and I have the money for upgrades, just not a new one. However, I did upgrade the ram, to 1 gig, that helped a lot. I'm gonna look for a 7200 rpm drive if you say that will help. And if the 2.53 p4 isn't too much, I'll look into that. But, I probably will just stick with the ram upgrade for now, and get an alienware in the future, and btw, I'm planning on building a custom pc, so that's what i've decided for now. I didn't get an alienware in the first place cuz my credit card was for compusa, and i was kinda limited to a notebook cuz that was the whole point. Thanks.

Not any 7200 rpm though. Take the Hitachi Travelstar 60B 7200/8MB. It's the fastest and consumes about as much power as your current 4200 rpm. It's only downside really is price (when compared to 60GB 4200rpm drives).

[Gurm]

Yeah, Hitachi seems to have taken the best technology available from IBM, and integrated into their own drives.

Now, let's hope that their laptop drives don't have that "rattle rattle crash crash" thing that IBM laptop drives have. Have you ever taken an IBM laptop drive out? It rattles around, even when it's 100% perfectly functional. Yikes!

- Gurm

[Jammrock]

Originally posted by Gurm
Yeah, Hitachi seems to have taken the best technology available from IBM, and integrated into their own drives.

Now, let's hope that their laptop drives don't have that "rattle rattle crash crash" thing that IBM laptop drives have. Have you ever taken an IBM laptop drive out? It rattles around, even when it's 100% perfectly functional. Yikes!

- Gurm

The Hitachi laptop HDD's do as well. I've gotten some laptops w. them. There is a big sticker on it that says "it is normal for the hdd to make noise when moved" or something like that.

Alas... one of the batches of the Hitachi drive we got was bad as well

Jammrock

[spadnos]

Toshibas rattle as well. It's due to the ramp head load system - the head parking method. (I'm not sure exactly what they mean, but that's what Toshiba says about it).

- Steve

[az]

The heads are parked on a ramp when not in use. This gives the drives better shock protection.

AZ