Thinkpads Forum

This should be a easy one for someone that knowns,

My T400 current has the T9900 CPU and runs cool most of the time (current temp is 34c) and if I use something that heats it up I make sure it is on a desk.

BUT ... Can I fit a Q9000, Q9100 or even better the Q9300, will the chip even fit in the board and will the BIOS boot?

The CPU TDP is 10 watts more and could cause trouble, but I'll take that one on the chin if it get to hot, and work it out ...

Thanks

Quick answer: no.

Your T400's motherboard does not support any of these.

T9900 is as good as it gets for these machines - enjoy yours.

Do you know if it is a BIOS limit, or the chip will not fit the board or just that it has never been tried?

It's not a BIOS limit. Usually it's a socket and/or chipset limit.

It must be a chipset limitation, as they all use the same socket PGA478. I wouldn't try it because the heatsink would likely not contact the right spots well enough. Plus, with the extra 10W TDP of heat to remove, the processor would be speedstepping itself down anyway.

I don't think the Q9300 processor comes in that package, so that one is not an option. I doubt the quad-core CPU would be recognized by the BIOS, but I would guess it would turn on. (no guarantee) The power circuitry just isn't made for a 45w TDP processor. When these machines were recently released, I wanted to make a frankenpad out of a T500 with a low-end P8400. I got a better screen and put in an E8135 CPU. The E8135 is VERY similar to a T9600, except it is 45w vs 35w. The T500 is bigger, so there is more room for heat to escape. The fan ran a lot, but the temperatures were not bad. Performance was idetical to a T9600 CPU, so it was a big improvement, but after about 6 weeks, the power circuitry just died.

richk wrote:I don't think the Q9300 processor comes in that package, so that one is not an option. I doubt the quad-core CPU would be recognized by the BIOS, but I would guess it would turn on. (no guarantee) The power circuitry just isn't made for a 45w TDP processor. When these machines were recently released, I wanted to make a frankenpad out of a T500 with a low-end P8400. I got a better screen and put in an E8135 CPU. The E8135 is VERY similar to a T9600, except it is 45w vs 35w. The T500 is bigger, so there is more room for heat to escape. The fan ran a lot, but the temperatures were not bad. Performance was idetical to a T9600 CPU, so it was a big improvement, but after about 6 weeks, the power circuitry just died.

Just being curios – did you try some downvolting?

EStz

No.