Thinkpad T410 upgrade to Core i7-640M

[akripo]

Hello to all

I own a Thinkpad T410 (2522G32) with Core i5 520M + 8GB ram + 256G SSD and I am looking for upgrading the CPU with the fastest available ( CPU-Z reports that I have a CPU socket 989 rPGA).
I found from the T410 hardware maintenance manual (seventh edition - 2012) that the 2522 model supports the Core i7 640M, so I would like to use this cpu since it seems to be the fastest available.
Looking on eBay for this processor I got various results with various models SLBZU, Q4C9, SLBTN etc with several socket definitions BGA1288, PGA988A, PGA988, G1 etc..
I would like to ask you if you have any suggestion on what are the i7 640M specs that I should look for in order to pick a processor that will work on my Thinkpad.

Thank you for your time

[nikki605]

Maybe this will help. I bought my T410 (2516-CTO) new (07/21/2010) with a factory installed i7-640Mi7-620M.

The CPU Part Number shown on the original Lenovo order was - 45M4819

I ran CPU-Z and this is the information on the CPU:

Processors Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 8)
Number of threads 4 (max 16)
Name Intel Core i7 620M
Codename Arrandale
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU M 620 @ 2.67GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 989 rPGA (0x4)
CPUID 6.5.2
Extended CPUID 6.25
Core Stepping C2
Technology 32 nm
Core Speed 1197.1 MHz
Multiplier x Bus Speed 9.0 x 133.0 MHz
Rated Bus speed 2394.3 MHz
Stock frequency 2666 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T, VT-x, AES
L1 Data cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 2 x 256 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L3 cache 4 MBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes


Turbo Mode supported, enabled
Max turbo frequency 3333 MHz
Max non-turbo ratio 20x
Max turbo ratio 25x
Max efficiency ratio 9x
Max bus number 255
Attached device PCI device at bus 255, device 2, function 1

********************************************************************************

I also have Piriform Speccy and it produced this report:

CPU
Intel Core i7 620M
Cores 2
Threads 4
Name Intel Core i7 620M
Code Name Arrandale
Package Socket 989 rPGA
Technology 32nm
Specification Intel Core i7 CPU M 620 @ 2.67GHz
Family 6
Extended Family 6
Model 5
Extended Model 25
Stepping 2
Revision C2
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, Intel 64, NX, VMX, AES
Virtualization Supported, Enabled
Hyperthreading Supported, Enabled
Bus Speed 133.0 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 2394.3 MHz
Stock Core Speed 2666 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 133 MHz
Average Temperature 45 °C
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L1 Instructions Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L2 Unified Cache Size 2 x 256 KBytes
L3 Unified Cache Size 4096 KBytes
Cores
Core 0
Core Speed 1330.2 MHz
Multiplier x 10.0
Bus Speed 133.0 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 2394.3 MHz
Temperature 44 °C
Threads APIC ID: 0, 1
Core 1
Core Speed 1197.1 MHz
Multiplier x 9.0
Bus Speed 133.0 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 2394.3 MHz
Temperature 45 °C
Threads APIC ID: 4, 5

[akripo]

Thank you for your report. Unfortunately you seem to have the i7 620M processor, not the i7 640M.
The i7 640M according to the manual has FRU 04W0307, but I cannot find the model type of this FRU if it is SLBZU, Q4C9 or SLBTN.
By the way, the most popular model type is the SLBTN on the eBay.

I could have order one SLBTN, but I am not sure if it is compatible with T410. Do you know if the model type it is important?

[nikki605]

Sorry . I misread the CPU model number. I've corrected it in the opening sentence of my post.

[ajkula66]

The i7 640M according to the manual has FRU 04W0307, but I cannot find the model type of this FRU if it is SLBZU, Q4C9 or SLBTN.

It's definitely not the Q4C9 which would be an ES version, see here:

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i7/I ... 152AE.html

By the way, the most popular model type is the SLBTN on the eBay.

I could have order one SLBTN, but I am not sure if it is compatible with T410. Do you know if the model type it is important?

I'd say that from what I've gathered SLBTN seems to be the correct choice for your ThinkPad.

Happy upgrading.

[akripo]

Thank you

[akripo]

Hello to all

FYI I have ordered and installed a Intel Core i7 640m (SLBTN) on my thinkpad t410 with success!

Thank you

[anthony]

Do you have a noticeable performance improvement?

[akripo]

Compared to core i5 520m, I saw in general a bit more responsiveness on the desktop operations and clearly a faster feel, but not something extraordinary.
I believe it worth upgrading from i5 520m, but not if you have faster than this - like i5 540m or better.