Upgrade CPU on T500

[nedenom]

Hello!

I have a T500 with an Intel Core Duo P8600 CPU (2.4 GHz). I called Lenovo support in my country and they told me it is "impossible" to upgrade the CPU alone. But judging from a couple of threads here, it looks like it can be done anyway?

The T9900 (3.06 GHz) seems to be the highest compatible one, although most T500 product pages only list up to T9800 (2.93 GHz), I don't know why. My T500 is of type 2089 - 2SG.

So, is it true that it is possible to get hold of a T9900 and replace it on my current mainboard?

Will I be able to replace the CPU myself? (I have some experience in replacing computer parts, but never a CPU on a laptop before).

Thank you for any help.

[emeraldgirl08]

Yes the CPU is upgradable. You will need to download the hardware maintenance manual (HMM) for the T500 from Lenovo Support. It is a PDF file which documents how to disassemble your T500. It also has a list of part numbers and FRU (field replaceable unit) alphanumbers for parts identification. Here is the link for the HMM

T500 Hardware Maintenance Manual

This would be a good time to clean out the dust bunnies as well from the fan exhaust and fan itself. Make sure you do not let the fan spin if you are using compressed air. If the fan exceeds its designed RPMs it will wear out the bearings thus causing premature fan failure. You will also need to reapply thermal compound to the CPU. I use a rice-sized drop followed by the spreading of the thermal compound with a razor blade into a thin and even layer. You do not want to apply a thick layer as heat transfer will not occur and you will end up with CPU temperatures that are very high!

The CPU I replaced on my T500 was a T9400 (35-watt TDP) to a P9500 (25-watt TDP). It started out with a curiosity and when I found a great price on the P9500 I decided to give it a try. It took me ~30 mins to do my CPU swap. Just make sure you have a system for keeping track of the screws you remove. I use printer paper and a drawing of the T500 to keep track of the screws. I push the screws through the paper and use tape to keep them affixed to the paper. This way I do not end up guessing when reassembling the T500.

For more research you might also want to use the 'Search' link on the top of the forum page and enter in key words (such as 'T500 cpu upgrade') and see what threads appear. I am pretty sure your question has been asked and answered before.

Rule of thumb: remember that some of the Lenovo reps are still very 'green behind the ears'

Good luck

[nedenom]

Thank you, very helpful tips. I feel confident that I could perform this upgrade now.

A follow-up question regarding the TDP: my current P8600 is 25 W, the T9900 is 35 W. Will this pose any problems with cooling or power supply to go up in TDP?

Anything else I need to check before I go ahead and find a T9900, or is it safe to assume this CPU will work on all T500 models?

Edit: I found there are two versions of the T9900: SLGKH and SLGEE. I read in another forum that the SLGKH is a BGA (Ball Grid Array) package and the SLGEE is a PGA (Pin Grid Array) package. One eBay seller states the SLGEE is "better". Is it SLGEE I need?

[richk]

BGA processors are soldered to the board. You need the socketed one (PGA). You might also consider a T9600. They are cheaper and run cooler. The difference in performance is not that great. CPU upgrades are less cost-effective than things like "more memory" or "faster disk".

[nedenom]

BGA processors are soldered to the board. You need the socketed one (PGA). You might also consider a T9600. They are cheaper and run cooler. The difference in performance is not that great. CPU upgrades are less cost-effective than things like "more memory" or "faster disk".

Thanks, I'm learning a lot from this. You are right in that the T9600 is only about half the price. But if I go for a 2.8 GHz, would the P9700 be a better choice, since it has the same specs but TDP of 28 W instead of 35 W? I'm thinking it will save some battery life. Then again, looks like the P9700 is more expensive atm.

I've already maxed the RAM at 8 GB and installed an SSD, so CPU is the only thing left, and I'd do almost anything to keep my 16:10 screen

[Compgeke]

The battery life will be slightly increased with the 28W CPU, but if the 35W is cheaper I would just go with that, the difference won't be significant.

I also would warn against going with a T9800 and T9900 - they're more expensive than they're worth.