Processor ugprade

4

4W4K3

VIP Member
I recently discovered that I can upgrade the processor in my Compaq laptop. Well, I knew it was possible I just didn't know anything was compatible up until now.

It currently has an AMD Sempron 3300+ Albany chip in it, running at 2.0GHz.

I can drop in an AMD Turion 64 MT37 Lancaster chip, which is also 2.0GHz.

The main difference between the two is the L2 cache. The Sempron is only 128Kb L2 cache, the Turion is 1MB L2 cache.
Also, the Turion runs at 1.25v compared to the Sempron's 1.35v.
I'd be going from 800MHz hyper transport to 1600MHz.


What kind of performance gain would you expect from an upgrade like this? It's going to cost me $70-80 for the chip.
I'm not sure how this will effect my RAM, if at all. Right now it runs single channel but if I can get it I'd like dual channel. I'd probably need matching sticks though, right now I only have a 1GB and a 256MB paired together.
 
You'll get some performance gain but not alot with just more L2 at the same GHZ. It will probable run cooler with less voltage. But the HT is the same, they both are 800/1600. Some just list it as 800 some say 1600, its double pumped.
 
Oh ok, I wasn't sure if the HT would make a difference anyways.

Maybe I'll wait a little and see if I can find one for less than $70. If it's not going to be a decent performance upgrade I don't want to spend that much money on it.

And just FYI, I took my laptop apart last night to clean the heatsink and fan, etc. It is a PAIN! Hardest laptop I've ever disassembled. Probably about 30-35 screws, and you have to remove just about everything aside from the motherboard to get to the CPU. ACK!
 
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