Thinkpads Forum

I own W700, in almost max config, but it has C2D T9300 cpu. I'm thinking about quad core upgrade, so q9000/qx9300. Had anyone done any performance tests between those cpu (per thread would be the best for me)? I'm often using VMs, so more cores will be better for me at least in this case, but I don't want to loose much money on CPU without any visible performance change in normal applications.

Also, I know that chipset in W700 can handle 8GB ram max, but did anyone actually tried to fit 10/12/16GB in his w700? There were some cases when chipset supposed to support 8GB was able to take 10-12GB of ram without problem.

kitor wrote:I own W700, in almost max config, but it has C2D T9300 cpu.

Are you certain it's T9300 and not T9400? The former is a generation older and I'm not really sure whether it would work on your board to begin with...

I'm thinking about quad core upgrade, so q9000/qx9300.

You should if you can...

Also, I know that chipset in W700 can handle 8GB ram max, but did anyone actually tried to fit 10/12/16GB in his w700? There were some cases when chipset supposed to support 8GB was able to take 10-12GB of ram without problem.

With a C2D you won't be able to go over 8GB, ever. Not sure about the QC.

It's even better, T9600, I somehow mistaken models (motherboard failed before Christmas, I had x9100 before that, but seller replaced whole notebook, not just board).

T9600 (2.80GHz, 6M cache) is a 'regular' Core 2 Duo, only T9800 (2.93GHz) is marginally faster. Both are TDP 35W.
Q9000 (2.00GHz, 6M) is a Core 2 Quad with TDP 45W. Don't do it! http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core ... 827.0.html
QX9300 (2.52GHz, 12M) is a Core 2 Extreme Quad with TDP 45W.

Curious: This Asus laptop claims its Q9000 runs at 2.90GHz and has 16GB RAM http://www.brotechstore.com/ASUS-VX5-A2 ... -2751.html

ajkula66 wrote:Are you certain it's T9300 and not T9400? The former is a generation older and I'm not really sure whether it would work on your board to begin with...

Any 800Mhz FSB Penryn will always work on a platform that supports 1066Mhz Penryns. And theoretically that platform will always support 667Mhz and 800Mhz Meroms as well.

ajkula66 wrote:With a C2D you won't be able to go over 8GB, ever. Not sure about the QC.

It has nothing to do with it being a dual or quad core, and everything to do with the chipset and number of RAM slots. If the computer uses an Intel chipset, which the W700 does, it cannot have more than 4GB of RAM in each slot. The W700 also only has 2 RAM slots so it is limited to 8GB no matter what you do. Intel's mobile chipsets only supported 2 RAM slots, but their desktop ones supported 4. Intel only completely rectified this issue two generations later with Sandy Bridge.

A Core 2 platform that uses an ATI or Nvidia chipset may use 8GB DDR3 SODIMM. I can't say for sure that they all do, but I had one that used an Nvidia chipset with integrated graphics and it worked. These chipsets are quite rare though. This is the way that any platform following DDR3 specifications should be, but for some unknown reason Intel didn't do it.

RealBlackStuff wrote: Curious: This Asus laptop claims its Q9000 runs at 2.90GHz and has 16GB RAM http://www.brotechstore.com/ASUS-VX5-A2 ... -2751.html

Bad fairy tale
Specs for that ASUS:
1 or 2
Both states that Q9000 is 2GHz only. And both states that it use PM45 Express. It is memory controller and it is cap for memory things (not CPU).
Other thing both of that pages states that max memory is 4G, but PM45 Express can handle 8GB.
and they indorse this
I haven't tested 8GB on W700, but on W500 it is working well.

Interesting thing. Once upon a time... i have find 2x 8Gb PC3-8500 modules. W500 don't startup at all with it. X201 startup and bios have showen 16GB but any 64bit OS becomes dead after couple of seconds after startup (this commonly commented on this forum for X201, T410, T510). W701 can handle 16GB but it have 4 memory sockets for this. So for what processor / chipset was originally designed my modules? Newer Core i 2nd gen processors use faster memory. Quad cores from W701 use 1333 memory but can eat 1066 to. I'll try this modules on W700 at near feature and write results here, but i don't believe in success ;(

kitor wrote:I had x9100

Bad things - it was the fastest dual core of that era.

Other thing - any C2Q have no SLFM. This processors are designed for high perfomance and have less energy saving features. I believe that you don't feed your behemoth with batteries often Otherwise C2Q will eat battery faster.

Other thing - any C2Q have no SLFM. This processors are designed for high perfomance and have less energy saving features. I believe that you don't feed your behemoth with batteries often Otherwise C2Q will eat battery faster.

Well, W stands for Workstation, right? But can anyone with c2q on w700 provide how long it runs on battery, and how much capacity his battery still hold? I have a new one, works in this config for more than 2 hours, and another one waiting for cells replacement (has about 25wh).

About RAM, I would check myself, but I still have some of sellers warranty left (and have seal on ram cover ), and I want to keep it for now

FryPpy wrote:I'll try this modules on W700 at near feature and write results here, but i don't believe in success ;(

I have done this... and no luck. Black screen and beeps. I have tested 2 8GB modules, one module in each slot and mixture of 8GB + 2GB modules - only black screen and beeps

Since my non-OEM battery likes to turn off intermittently, I rarely use it when just on battery mode, I keep it docked.
But from the very few times I used it, it seems like its 45 minutes to an 1 hour 45 minutes depending on load.

Full charge it has 66Wh from the design capacity of 71Wh. Sanyo cells with only 2 cycle counts, but maybe there's something I am missing that shuts it down...
This machine is equipped with a QX9300, 8GB RAM, digitizer, 1 SSD, 1 HDD, and DVD/CD drive.

I think the highest spec'd i7 X230 has a little bit lower performance than this machine, but I am going off of CPU benchmarks.
So I am not sure if its 'worth' it, I do want to upgrade from this for video rendering and higher res/FPS gaming.

FryPpy wrote:I'll try this modules on W700 at near feature and write results here, but i don't believe in success ;(

Interesting thing. Before now i thought that Quad core i7 in W701 have differences from dual core i7 in X201 (T410) that it have 4 channels instead of 2. And so may get 4 * 4GB = 16Gb RAM.... But i have noticed this lot and it have 32GB. So it can eat 8Gb modules in all 4 slots

BTW - Lenovo states that 16 GB is MAX and it recommeds 1066 modules but intel states that these CPUs can 1333 mode.

FYI guys,
although X201 can't start windows, cuttondog@51nb tested OSx on X201 with 16GB RAM and it all worked fine.
which is pretty annoying
And you should get QX9300 if you can, kitor.