PGA989 CPU socket design
PGA989 CPU socket design
Most Arrandale laptops can accommodate these processors: Core i3-3xxM, Core i5-4xxM, and Core i7-6xxM. The Note 1*** models fit in the socket but lack an integrated graphics unit and won’t function without dedicated hardware, BIOS compatibility for quad cores, and sufficient power delivery (45/55/65W). These machines are quite rare. Note 2*** Arrandale has two official versions: C2 (20652h) and K0 (20655h). The Core i3-330M is available in both versions. If your laptop uses the older C2 stepping, it’s best to stick with it unless you’ve updated the BIOS and a K0 CPU is listed. Top C2 choice: Core i7-620M SLBPD (also available as K0 SLBTQ). Best K0 option: Core i7-640M SLBTN. Edit: Further research suggests your system supports K0 starting with BIOS 1.12 (June 2010). Upgrading to that version or later ensures full compatibility. Note 3*** Arrandale supports only 8GB DDR3 RAM at a rate of 1067 MT/s. Attempts with 16GB have failed to boot. Note 4*** In CAD applications, the graphics card is the main constraint. I’ve tested SolidWorks, CATIA, and F360 on a Pentium P6200 with a Core i7-640M; performance only marginally improved. A newer Ivy Bridge model showed a noticeable jump, though still slow for CAD tasks. Note 5*** These processors lack an integrated graphics unit. If you replace the chip, evenly spread thermal paste across both dies for optimal cooling. Note 6*** PGA989 refers to a socket type shared by Clarkfield, Arrandale, Sandy Bridge, and Ivy Bridge. Available versions are PGA988A (Clarkfield/Arrandale), PGA988B (Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge). Your unit uses PGA988A. Sandy and Ivy sockets are incompatible. Sources: Personal experience with CAD workloads. Upgraded a Toshiba laptop from a Pentium P6200 to Core i7-640M. Edited July 14, 2020 by svmlegacy
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