Thinkpads Forum

I am toying with the idea to upgrade the CPU in my old A31p (from 1.7 to 2.2 Ghz or more). Obviously the new CPU would be a used one. What are good programs/tests to see whether the new (used) CPU has any defects or other shortcomings? Thx.

I would say that any CPU benchmarking program would be good enough to determine if there's any problems. Barring that, then get a copy of PC Doctor for DOS and run the CPU/Coprocessor tests. You can force the tests to repeat for a number of times by pressing the F2 key at the "CPU/Coprocessor Test Category" menu. Change the "Set Pass Count" value from 1 to any number up to 9999. This will tell the diagnostic program to continuously loop through the tests that many times. Press the ESC key to exit the Test Options menu and then press CTRL-ENTER to run all of the tests displayed.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41920 (diskettes)
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-56222 (bootable CD image)

I think CPU Burn-In would be good for your purposes. It´s meant for overclockers mainly, but it can be considered as a general cpu stability test

Cheers

Marin

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll check out those programs.

Nothing to do with testing the CPU, but..

If you're upgrading your A31p, make sure that you also change the cooling sponges on the GPU, they are still available from IBM, I've just had it done on mine when the backlight was replaced. GPU doesn't get enough cooling as it is on A31p, and stronger CPU will only make matters worse. Also, chances are that the silicone is already dried if your machine still has the original ones, and that will be money well spent IMHO.

Best of luck with your noble upgrade.

ajkula66 wrote:Nothing to do with testing the CPU, but..

If you're upgrading your A31p, make sure that you also change the cooling sponges on the GPU, they are still available from IBM, I've just had it done on mine when the backlight was replaced. GPU doesn't get enough cooling as it is on A31p, and stronger CPU will only make matters worse. Also, chances are that the silicone is already dried if your machine still has the original ones, and that will be money well spent IMHO.

Best of luck with your noble upgrade.

Thanks for the tip. Could you please elaborate on what you mean by the "cooling sponges"? The other day I opened the A31p and did not see anything on top of the GPU other than the fan itself.
Also, I noticed that there was/is thermal paste between the CPU and the fan (cooling body of the fan) but none between the GPU and the fan. Is that to be expected?;i.e., there wouldn't be any benefit to applying thermal paste there?
Thanks.

There isn't supposed to be any AS on GPU...

Sponges are around the GPU, if I'm not mistaken, ring-shaped. I wasn't the one who changed them on my machine.

I can PM you the FRU when I get home on Monday, so you can take a look yourself, and see what shape they're in. If they're still there to begin with.

Until later...

^^^
i pulled the excerpt below out of the hmm:
System board miscellaneous parts for A31, A31p: FRU 46L6362
- CDC studs
- Insulator for LCD cable
- Separator for fan
- Blank label, docking guide pin
- Insulator for fan opening
- EMI shield for modem/Ethernet cable
- Insulation tape
- Thermal rubber for video
- Thermal rubber for chipset
- Ferrite tyle for video
- Gasket for audio

is the bold item the same as the sponge you refer to?

ajkula66 wrote:There isn't supposed to be any AS on GPU...

Sponges are around the GPU, if I'm not mistaken, ring-shaped. I wasn't the one who changed them on my machine.

I can PM you the FRU when I get home on Monday, so you can take a look yourself, and see what shape they're in. If they're still there to begin with.

Until later...

Thanks. I'll have to take another look.

@sarbin:

Exactly.

ajkula66 wrote:@sarbin:

Exactly.

great.
now i gotta think about whether i need to change mine out. i never did anything except arctic silver when i swapped in the 2.4 for the 1.8.

oh well. it's probably time to open up the a31p if for no other reason than to clean out the dust bunnies.

IIRC, the sponges are actually on the bottom of the systemboard, visible through the fan grill on the back of the machine.

scratch the replacement then.