A31p upgrade limits: Mobile P4-M compared with Mobile P4?

[peterscott]

From what I've read, it seems that upgrading from 2.0 GHz up to 2.6 GHz in the A31p is quite achievable, but raises heat issues. I've also read that Vista's requirements call for 3.0 GHz +

It seems a shame that the mobile P4-M family (400 MHz FSB) didn't carry on a little longer and achieve faster clock speeds and lower power requirements...

Has anyone been wondering (like I have been), about the possibility of "adapting" the 533 MHz FSB mobile P4 chips? These are clocked at up to 3.33 GHz (like the SL7X5) or possibly higher - look them up under "Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processors" on this page:
http://processorfinder.intel.com/script ... ?CHRID=826

By 'adapting', I mean, is it possible to force the FSB speed to 400 MHz to make the CPU compatible with the A31p motherboard?
SL7X5 is a 478 pin package, like the 2.6 GHz SL6WZ (which is under "Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor - M") with core voltage in the range 1.25V-1.400V (c.f. 1.30V for SL6WZ)...
But apparently the SL7X5 needs to be kept cooler, and produces much more heat (88W c.f. 35W) even though it's a 90nm die rather than 130nm (which would suggest it should be *more* efficient).

What's up with these faster mobile P4 chips (Mobile P4 that is, not Mobile P4 - M)? Are they really only suitable for "desknote" machines? Do they really have such limiting power and heat dissipation requirements? And how compatible are they with mobile P4 - M chips? I'm sure someone on this forum knows about these things!

Even if the 3.33 GHz CPU had to run as a whole at 75% of its rated speed in order to get 533 MHz down to 400, 75% of 3.33 GHz is still 2.5 GHz and the SL7X5 has twice as much L2 cache (1 MB) so performance could be at least as good as the SL6WZ.

Also, I think I've seen mobile P4 chips that run at 3.6 Ghz in some notebooks... but 3.33GHz is the fastest one listed on the Intel site - or are these all like the G41 CPU, P/N 93P4289 i.e. desktop CPUs? Or is the information on the Intel site only for superceded chips? Or are some manufactuers overclocking their machines at the factory!?

My main question is really, is 2.6 GHz in the A31p the absolute limit?

[JHEM]

From what I've read, it seems that upgrading from 2.0 GHz up to 2.6 GHz in the A31p is quite achievable, but raises heat issues.

Easily addressed by using the fan assembly that came in the 2GHz A31p machines.

I've also read that Vista's requirements call for 3.0 GHz +

Don't know where you read that, but it's incorrect.

A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:

A modern processor (at least 800MHz1).
512 MB of system memory.
A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
1 GB of system memory.
A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero2.
128 MB of graphics memory.
40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
DVD-ROM Drive3.
Audio output capability.
Internet access capability.

It seems a shame that the mobile P4-M family (400 MHz FSB) didn't carry on a little longer and achieve faster clock speeds and lower power requirements...

They did, they just call them PentiumMs!

Seriously, why would you expect them to continue developing a product that had been supplanted by newer, better technology?

Has anyone been wondering (like I have been), about the possibility of "adapting" the 533 MHz FSB mobile P4 chips? These are clocked at up to 3.33 GHz (like the SL7X5) or possibly higher - look them up under "Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processors" on this page:
http://processorfinder.intel.com/script ... ?CHRID=826

Those are simply desktop processors in new clothes!

By 'adapting', I mean, is it possible to force the FSB speed to 400 MHz to make the CPU compatible with the A31p motherboard?

No.

SL7X5 is a 478 pin package, like the 2.6 GHz SL6WZ (which is under "Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor - M") with core voltage in the range 1.25V-1.400V (c.f. 1.30V for SL6WZ)...
But apparently the SL7X5 needs to be kept cooler, and produces much more heat (88W c.f. 35W) even though it's a 90nm die rather than 130nm (which would suggest it should be *more* efficient).

It's still a desktop processor in sheep's clothing.

What's up with these faster mobile P4 chips (Mobile P4 that is, not Mobile P4 - M)? Are they really only suitable for "desknote" machines? Do they really have such limiting power and heat dissipation requirements? And how compatible are they with mobile P4 - M chips? I'm sure someone on this forum knows about these things!

They're not at all compatible with machines made for the P4-M CPU.

Also, I think I've seen mobile P4 chips that run at 3.6 Ghz in some notebooks... but 3.33GHz is the fastest one listed on the Intel site - or are these all like the G41 CPU, P/N 93P4289 i.e. desktop CPUs?

Yes.

My main question is really, is 2.6 GHz in the A31p the absolute limit?

Yes.

Regards,

James

[peterscott]

No further questions, your honour. Thank you JHEM you are a fabulous expert witness (a witness to my optimism anyway).

[JHEM]

No further questions, your honour. Thank you JHEM you are a fabulous expert witness (a witness to my optimism anyway).

Thank you Counselor. This is my first time at the QB!

I usually only testify in Admiralty cases.

My secretary will bill your office.

Regards,

James

[vital-analitix]

The original 1.8 ghz CPU has a 30 W thermal rating, the 2.2 and 2.6 have a 35 W rating.

The bigger fan from the A31P takes easily care of the extra heat.

The Mobile Pentium 4 M are rated to withstand 100 C, some of the newer ones cannot handle that much heat.

Have only cursory looked at the performance differences between the 'mobile pentium 4 M' and the 'pentium m' and decided yesterday to spend some money and upgrade my second machine to a 2.6 Ghz. (did the other one a little while ago to 2.2 Ghz) I need that grunt and the A31 is the only machine AFAIK that will take three HD (or two HD and a DVD/CD) because it has two UltraBays.

Marinus

[makaveli559m]

So that means that Vista is going to use up 15 gigs? that is too much, it better be worth it. I mean if it uses up that much resources it should be able to read almost are your hardware and printers and other things without you installing the software that came with it.

[vital-analitix]

So that means that Vista is going to use up 15 gigs? that is too much, it better be worth it. I mean if it uses up that much resources it should be able to read almost are your hardware and printers and other things without you installing the software that came with it.

I would today still be on Win2000 if it was not for one thing: the extended desktop (using two monitors) (default built into most laptops is an internal video out to the LCD and an external video out). Now I am not going back due to software license activations plus Win2000 to to be no longer supported by MSN.

On another note: I have recently upgraded from a 2.2 (SL6J5) to a 2.6 ghz (SL6WZ) in my laptop and am very happy with it. Although my machine has the bigger fan from the A31P it is only barely able to cope with it, it is much like the standard A31 fan is coping with a 2 Ghz. This is noticeable by monitoring how fast the temperature drops when the fan kicks in: one notices it struggling.

Although the thermal rating is 30 W for the 1.8 and 35 W for the 2+ GHz the actual heat produced when running 100% is higher: the 1.8 is 50W, the 2 is 53 W 2.2 & 2.4 are 55 W and the 2.6 is 63W. So if one has an application that is running the CPU 100% for extended times (hours and hours) then be aware that the A31P fan is marginal for the 2.6 Ghz.

Marinus