Upgrade your laptop from I3 to I7 for better performance.
Upgrade your laptop from I3 to I7 for better performance.
Hello everyone, I'm considering upgrading the processor on my 2014 laptop. The details below are listed: Motherboard model W65_67SJ, BIOS version/date from American Megatrends Inc. (1.03.05, 01/04/2014). The old CPU is an i3-4100M @2.50GHz with a 37W TDP, and the new one is an i7-4810MQ @2.8GHz with a 47W TDP. The GPU will be NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M @45W TDP, and the RAM will change from 1x 4GB DDR3 @1333MHz to 2x 8GB DDR3L @1600MHz CL11 (Crucial). The PSU is an A12-120P1A with 120W capacity. Windows 10 x64 will be installed. I have two questions: 1. Does the higher TDP of the i7 cause any issues? 2. Should I need to flash my BIOS? My board isn't showing up on CPU-Upgrade.com, but I want to confirm compatibility. Any advice or info you can share would be appreciated. Thanks! DaYn
It seems like this laptop isn't worth much effort to upgrade. The GPU is really old and won't handle modern games well. If you can afford it, consider a newer setup. You could still use it for streaming or retro gaming if you have the budget.
Thank you for your reply. I’m limited by current resources and won’t be able to upgrade much further. This device is mostly for university work. I’m unsure if AutoDesk will work with it, but since my PC is powerful enough, that shouldn’t be an issue. I just need a mobile computer I can carry to campus that runs smoothly. The i3 and 4GB RAM aren’t enough. The total cost for the parts is about 120€, which is significantly less than buying a new machine. I don’t intend to play heavy games on it.
These modern laptops often fail to start when the power consumption exceeds the limits. A 37 W processor would be a better choice.
I agree, upgrading to a minimum of 8GB RAM would provide a solid school or note-taking laptop experience. It seems there aren’t many suitable CPUs from that time offering significant performance improvements worth the investment.
After further research, I discovered the laptop model came with 47W chips. The review article confirmed the i7-4810MQ was included. For this generation, i7 models with 37W TDP are more expensive than the 4810MQ, though they offer greater performance. I5 options are cheaper by about 20€, which I’m willing to invest in for better speed. I’d be interested in trying the i7. In the worst scenario, I might return it due to overheating concerns from its power consumption.
RAM will certainly get a boost. I chose the 16GB version since the price difference wasn’t huge. The i7 model with double cores and threads costs 65€, while an i5 from that era is about 35-40€, providing a noticeable performance increase. Shouldn’t the improvements justify the cost? Edited April 7, 2022 by DaYn95
I don't perceive any harm as long as the CPU can be reimbursed. It seems unlikely to cause any issues. In the worst case, it might get stuck in an endless startup cycle or fail to boot completely. Remember, however, that core count is less relevant with a very old CPU, so I wouldn't expect too much from it.
That is a promising start, but you must make sure that the motherboards are identical between the two, which isn't always the case. No chance of messing up the chip or the laptop. Typically it will either do nothing, power up with black screen, or power up for a second then power off, if the BIOS rejects the CPU.
Thanks! Your feedback was really useful. I've placed the order for the i7 and will keep you updated.