Can I upgrade the t42 cpu to the new Sonoma CPU?

[Sirnice]

Topic question.

[dash7540]

What kind of CPU do you have in your T42?

I don't think the hassle is worth it and the performance upgrade would not be that significant.

Also, T42 Banias and Dothan FSBs run at a 400MHz (100MHz quad pumped) while the new Sonomas run at 533MHz (133MHz quad pumped) so that itself would limit the CPU performance (if you put in a Sonoma CPU then the FSB would be forced to run at 400MHz.)

Well at least I think that is what would happen (correct me if I'm wrong.)

[daeojkim]

Going from low end Banias to high end Dothan may be worth it but sonoma at this point is not worth the trouble even if the sockets accepts Sonoma.

It all depends on what you do with your TP

[Sirnice]

I have the 1.7ghz Dothan 400fsb. Why don't you recomend upgrading to the Sonoma. Isn't the Sonoma the newer and faster cpu?

[K. Eng]

First, Sonoma isn't a CPU. Sonoma is a plaform consisting of the Pentium M processor, Intel 915xM series chipset, and Intel 2200BG or 2915ABG wireless card.

The newest Pentium M is a 533 MHz FSB part with EDB (NX) bit support.

dash7540 makes a very good point. Your T42's 855 series chipset only supports a 400 MHz FSB. If you put a 533 FSB chip inside, that chip will run at 400 MHz FSB and its top clock will be reduced to 75% of what it should be. If you want a Sonoma platform machine, you might want to trade up to a T43.

What daeojkim suggests also is very true. Whether you should upgrade depends on what kinds of applications you run. If you are just running office applications, you will see no benefit to upgrading. If you are running applications that need a lot of computing power (like compiling or CAD) then a faster system might help.

Hope that clarifies things.

I have the 1.7ghz Dothan 400fsb. Why don't you recomend upgrading to the Sonoma. Isn't the Sonoma the newer and faster cpu?

[IR0NMAN]

I'm not sure you could do that, but it won't increase your laptop performance by much, maybe 20% maximum if you get the faster chip. It's not worth the hassle/money.