Thinkpads Forum

Can you replace the 650mhz CPU, on the MMC-2 module, with this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=007

The CPU in your link isn't MMC2. You need something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0193368910

If you're referring to replacing the actual CPU on the MMC2 board... I'm pretty sure its not removable (easily).

If you're referring to replacing the actual CPU on the MMC2 board... I'm pretty sure its not removable (easily).

Yep, that's the question, I want to relpace the CPU.

I downloaded many Intel datasheets and documentation about µPGA2 CPUs with speeds up to 1 Ghz and about PIII MMC2 modules some time ago because I wanted to buy a 750Mhz MMC2 Prozessor, remove the processor and fit a µPGA2 socket from a broken T20 system board onto the module. After carefully studing the datasheets I found out that if you have the requiered equipment it is theoretically possible to remove the (soldered) processor and replace it with a µPGA2 socket. This would give you the ability to use a 1Ghz PIII (and any other µPGA2 processor) with this modded module (but only if you use a module with 750Mhz, 800Mhz or 850Mhz because the have bigger capacitors which are required for 1Ghz).

The µPGA2 processors are the same as used on the MMC2 (and they have the same pinout). µPGA2 parts are BGA2 processors (with soldering balls) mounted on an interposer with pins, so that you can insert them into a socket. On the MMC2 module, the BGA2 processors are directly soldered onto the PCB. But I already removed a PII Processor from a MMC2 module (for testing) and it was not that difficult.

But it is a risky thing, no one has tried this yet (maybe I will try to do it some time in the future) and it is not worth the money it would cost ( defective T20 board, equipment, MMC2 module and µPGA2 processor). It is just an experiment which may be successful or not.

Normally you swap the whole module and not the processor on the module!

If you (or someone else) want to try it, I recommend you to fit a socket instead of a processor because a processor could get too hot while soldering. Before removing the old processor, cut it into pieces, this will make it more easy because you have smaller parts which are easier to lift. And the PCB of the module may not get damaged.

(sorry for my english if there are faults in this post)

greetings from el-sahef

Hello
My thinkpad 570 doesn't have room for extra socket, and for now it is 500MHz/320MB. And I have a spare motherboard.

Could you give me a few tips, how to replace BGA2 processor.
I mean what tool, should I keep balls on chip or motherboard,...

I don't have many thousand $$ equipment for bga soldering.

I only have some experience with small bga's from telephones and so on.

And does anyone have any experience with ram stacking
for expanding memory onboard (with adding chip on another)
how to make computer to recognise larger memory?

how to replace BGA2 processor

Sorry, this will not work without expensive BGA soldering equipment.
What will work even without equipment is to remove the processor with a Dremel to cut it into pieces and a heat gun (as shown in the GPU-fix tutorial for the t4x series here in this forum) to lift them up. After that you would need to remove remaining soldering Balls.
Then you would have to solder a NEW BGA2 processor with the tool I mentioned before and I think this will absolutely NOT work because of the heat (the processor will get damaged). So the only thing that could possibly work is to use a socket from a broken Motherboard because the socket (unlike the processor) can resist the high temperatures while soldering. An unsoldered BGA2 processor from a different motherboard does NOT work because the soldering balls will get damaged while removing the processor. And normally it is not possible to buy them as new. And if you destroy a MMC2-module you can buy a new one but replacing a whole system board can get even more expensive (I do not recommend to risk your spare one just for an experiment like this).
So it is absolutely NONSENSE to try this, YOU WILL REGRET IT!
(sorry for being so loud but i want to prevent you from making a big mistake)

If you would have the space for a socket and you could use MMC2-modules, I would say OK, give it a try but in your situation NO WAY !!!

For the ram, it might even be possible but I do not recommend that either.

Thanks.
I was looking for overclock too, but Cypress W137H doesn't have overclocking choices. Except for those with TP240 or TP570, there is easy way to OC like from 366 to 450MHz or from 366 to 550MHz (if cpu can handle 100MHz).
Maby with some other PLL...

http://monkung.hp.infoseek.co.jp/tp240/cup/cpu_450.htm