CPU Upgrade for a Sony Vaio VGN-FW51ZF/H?

[moonnie]

I have a VGN-FW51ZF laptop. I want to find out if it's possible to upgrade its CPU which currently runs at intel Core 2 Duo T9600 L2 Cache....here's what it's currently running in...What I got from CPUID:

CPU name: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9600 @ 2.80GHz
CPU speed: 2792MHz
Memory: 4095MB (this can go up to 8GB)

motherboard - chipset: intel PM45 - Rev: 07
- southbridge - 82801IM (ICH9-M) - Rev: 03

not sure if any of that makes sense...anyhow, is it possible to upgrade this laptop's CPU? I'm happy with everything else about it except the CPU which was the sacrifice for me when I decided to go for this laptop....

more info:

It's only 1 year and about 3-4 months old (since I bought it). Here's the link to the full specs:

Sony Vaio VGN-FW51ZF/H

================================================== ========
System Summary:
================================================== ========

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Version 6.1.7600 Build 7600
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Sony Corporation
System Model VGN-FW51ZF_H
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9600 @ 2.80GHz, 2801 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. R4070Y0, 04/09/2009
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7600.16385"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 7.97 GB
Available Physical Memory 5.72 GB
Total Virtual Memory 15.9 GB
Available Virtual Memory 13.2 GB
Page File Space 7.97 GB

================================================== ========

[stroyal]

With the limited amount of info @ the Sony sight, as usual, I can only find one.
The T9900 BGA 479 is the same family and specs, except it is 3064 MHZ.

If there is a BIOS update that allows, some other I cant find it on the Sony sight.

Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile CPU chart

The specs say it tales a BGA479 or a PGA 478 What's that about.

The T9600 here is BGA479

The next trick is to find one. New Eggs fastest is the one you already have.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,CPUs / Processors,Processors - Mobile,Core 2 Duo

[moonnie]

With the limited amount of info @ the Sony sight, as usual, I can only find one.
The T9900 BGA 479 is the same family and specs, except it is 3064 MHZ.

If there is a BIOS update that allows, some other I cant find it on the Sony sight.

Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile CPU chart

The specs say it tales a BGA479 or a PGA 478 What's that about.

The T9600 here is BGA479

The next trick is to find one. New Eggs fastest is the one you already have.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,CPUs / Processors,Processors - Mobile,Core 2 Duo

So is an upgrade possible? And if so, then I guess I'd have to stay with intel since AMDs are completely different right...and if possible would I be able to go all the way up to i7? I'm so confused as well. I can't find infos anywhere....if I can't upgrade to the i series then maybe I could upgrade it to T9900 and Hopefully get a cloking of 3.2 or more if possible...do laptops even go as high as 3.4 GHz? They do don't they? If I could only find the answers or if my laptop could somehow tell me if it's upgradeable and how high it can go up to...

[-FMA]

They need to be the same socket otherwise the new CPU won't even physically fit in place. There's also the issue of your motherboard supporting the CPU.

Intel and AMD don't share sockets, so you wouldn't be able to use AMD if it's an intel system.

[moonnie]

Damn, so I have to wait for until this one is completely dead and just get a whole new laptop huh?...next time I won't buy before doing a full research on when and if there's gonna be new processors....the new i series processors only came out after I got this one...it's beautiful but it has a bad back stabbing attitude lol oh well, I'll just have to not be greedy and love it the way it is T_T'

[stroyal]

In general laptops don't have clock speeds as high as desktops, and only rarely can you upgrade to a different type of Intel Processor.
It has to be the same family, and the laptop manufacturer, has to provide a BIOS upgrade.

I-7, is defiantly out of the Question, as I-5, and I-3 are also, no go.

I doubt that even a Core 2 quad core is even possible. (which is the closes)

It would help, if Sony took customer support, more seriously, and at least gave out a full set of specs, including a list processors supported by the laptop.


They have no BIOS update on their sight.

[moonnie]

In general laptops don't have clock speeds as high as desktops, and only rarely can you upgrade to a different type of Intel Processor.
It has to be the same family, and the laptop manufacturer, has to provide a BIOS upgrade.

I-7, is defiantly out of the Question, as I-5, and I-3 are also, no go.

I doubt that even a Core 2 quad core is even possible.

It would help, if Sony took customer support, more seriously, and at least gave out a full set of specs, including a list processors supported by the laptop.

Yeah, for a big company they sure don't seem to take some of the most important things about customer service very seriously :/

Thanks for you help anyway

[stroyal]

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 Penryn 2.0GHz Socket P 45W Quad-Core Mobile Processor Model BX80581Q9000

This is the same socket, and is also a Penryn, with the same FSB as yours.


BUT it probably needed a BIOS update to work, if it is at all possible.
It is 10 more watts, so your cooling might not make it.
The voltage is a little different.


BUT it is only 2.0 gig, so it would be slower, in single and dual core operations.


Maybe one of our members, that knows this stuff off the top of his head will comment.
You know who I'm talking about SG, KK, or, JP as well as others.

[RicheemxX]

Perhaps you could explain why you aren't happy with that CPU. It should handle just about anything you throw at it so I don't see that it would be that slow that you'd think you need to upgrade.

[stroyal]

I was thinking the same thing.
I live in the days of the P4, and Barton, and can only dream of such speeds.

[RicheemxX]

Well I mean the T9600 was one of the top laptop chips out there until the new i5, i7 ect came along. It still benchmarks higher than a few of the low end i5s and i3s so its hard to see that you'd be throwing anything at it other than maybe gaming, and that would be more of a gpu issue, that it couldn't handle nicely.

The 8GBs of RAM is total overkill, gotta love OEMs for boosting ram totals to appear to boost specs

[moonnie]

Perhaps you could explain why you aren't happy with that CPU. It should handle just about anything you throw at it so I don't see that it would be that slow that you'd think you need to upgrade.

I was thinking the same thing.
I live in the days of the P4, and Barton, and can only dream of such speeds.

LOL it's because I'm greedy. Plus I do an animation course, so I want to own the fastest or at least a reasonably FAST laptop to reduce rendering time.

[RicheemxX]

I want to own the fastest or at least a reasonably FAST laptop to reduce rendering time.

Guess you should've thought about that before buying this one

No in all seriousness depending on the software you are using you'd be talking about a small difference in rendering time at best and the upgrade would likely be an expensive one. IMO not really worth the price but it would be your money.

The Vaio uses the Intel PM45 Express Chipset and these are the chips it supports
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset

There is no guarantee that they'd all work since its an OEM machine but they should. Looking at the prices listed for any upgrade that would make sense, which would be the Intel Core2 Quad Q9100, you'd be better off buying an entirely new laptop. The chip alone cost $800-900.

[JPMiller]

Yes, you do not buy a LAPTOP with respect to what it can be upgraded to...
You buy the best you can afford for the purpose it will serve and when it no longer serves that purpose, you sell it and put that toward something that will...
Is it being a laptop imperative to its use?
You can get much more bang for the buck in a tower and you CAN upgrade a tower

[moonnie]

Guess you should've thought about that before buying this one

The Vaio uses the Intel PM45 Express Chipset and these are the chips it supports
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset

lol yes. I actually did, but I got reeled in by the memo -.-' it was the highest out there for a laptop. I had to make a sacrifice and I decided the Processor would have to be the sacrifice. I also figured since it ran at 2.80 it would be ok. Which is. But when it takes hours to render a 1.05 min animation with sound and effects like fumefx with a few camera works etc. and about 2 hours to render rain made with reactors....3DS Max. Though, it renders other things fast. It's definitely faster at rendering than the machines at my uni

p.s the speed on that chipset looks low . I'll wait until I absolutely have to buy one then.

[moonnie]

Yes, you do not buy a LAPTOP with respect to what it can be upgraded to...
You buy the best you can afford for the purpose it will serve and when it no longer serves that purpose, you sell it and put that toward something that will...
Is it being a laptop imperative to its use?
You can get much more bang for the buck in a tower and you CAN upgrade a tower

I bought it in respect of what it could do with an upgrade of the processor in mind. Buying a new laptop now with the same materials as this one but with a better processor is hard to find and it would be at around 3 thousand as I went to the vaio site and tried to configure a new laptop with the same specs but better processors. :/

this one was within my price range. I could go up to 2 grand, but I don't think I can go up to 3 grand cos there's always an improvement....unless I have the option to upgrade. So next time I buy a laptop, I'll make sure that it is upgradable in every part or at least in the CPU, GPU and Memo. Though my memo is perfect and doesn't need changing.

[moonnie]

Well I mean the T9600 was one of the top laptop chips out there until the new i5, i7 ect came along. It still benchmarks higher than a few of the low end i5s and i3s so its hard to see that you'd be throwing anything at it other than maybe gaming, and that would be more of a gpu issue, that it couldn't handle nicely.

The 8GBs of RAM is total overkill, gotta love OEMs for boosting ram totals to appear to boost specs

this makes me feel better about my processor

[RicheemxX]

If you bought it for that price you got screwed!! You can get a brand new Vaio from Sony UK with a core i7 a much better nvidia based gpu and all the works for that price...and well below the 3k you are talking about??

Hell topping off the ram, adding in blu-ray and a 500gb hdd it still came in under that price

Sony UK F series Vaio

Not that I'd buy a Sony Vaio because IMO they are overpriced but still

Should mention 3dsMax utilized Cuda so some fo the rendering would be offloaded to the nvidia card which would help speed render times.

edit: Saw Stroyal's post below and wanted to add - you def don't buy laptops for upgrade-ability. Especially major hardware updates like CPUs and GPUs. You buy the best you can at your price point, use it for its full effectiveness and upgrade the entire setup down the line. Unlike desktops parts are expensive, hard to replace (if at all) and even harder to come by.

[stroyal]

And don't look for a laptop, with a GPU upgrade in mind.
They are very rare, and would probably be the most expensive.