CPU upgrade is possible - though ONLY to the same generation of CPU (i.e., second) you now have. So - absolutely no to your proposed i9, which is in any event a desktop CPU - it won't work in your notebook.
Just about all Intel mobile CPUs starting with the fourth generation must be soldered to the mainboard. Even the third-generation (Ivy Bridge),though socketed are unlikely to work in your system.
Your integrated GPU (intel 3000) is common to all second-generation CPUs so there's no upgrade there.
Correct -- and 35W or lower total design power. There are 45W CPUs - don't even think of trying one of those; the system will not cool itself adequately.
Unlikely. There's no guarantee the system will even boot with a 45W CPU - and it's not just heat, but the fact that the system board's voltage regulators aren't designed to work with a CPU that uses upward of 30% more power than the ones they're designed for. And even if the system does power up, you have aged VRMs - the added power demands will push them over the edge to oblivion in short order.
ejn63
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30.7K Posts
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April 24th, 2020 07:00
CPU upgrade is possible - though ONLY to the same generation of CPU (i.e., second) you now have. So - absolutely no to your proposed i9, which is in any event a desktop CPU - it won't work in your notebook.
Just about all Intel mobile CPUs starting with the fourth generation must be soldered to the mainboard. Even the third-generation (Ivy Bridge),though socketed are unlikely to work in your system.
Your integrated GPU (intel 3000) is common to all second-generation CPUs so there's no upgrade there.
MattMac99
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April 24th, 2020 08:00
@ejn63 thanks for your response. So I couldn’t go any better than an Intel i7 2___, is that correct?
ejn63
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April 24th, 2020 09:00
Correct -- and 35W or lower total design power. There are 45W CPUs - don't even think of trying one of those; the system will not cool itself adequately.
MattMac99
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April 25th, 2020 03:00
@ejn63 Thanks again for the response. Would using a cooling pad or upgrading the CPU fan enable me to use a 45W CPU as opposed to a 35W?
ejn63
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April 25th, 2020 03:00
Unlikely. There's no guarantee the system will even boot with a 45W CPU - and it's not just heat, but the fact that the system board's voltage regulators aren't designed to work with a CPU that uses upward of 30% more power than the ones they're designed for. And even if the system does power up, you have aged VRMs - the added power demands will push them over the edge to oblivion in short order.
U2CAMEB4ME
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April 25th, 2020 07:00
Welcome to the Dell Community @MattMac99
I have been upgrading and selling E6420XFR's for over 5 years.
The CPU's I use are the Core i7-2640M and the Core i7-2720QM (QuadCore 45W TDP)
With the (45W TDP) CPU the fan does run a little more often when usual and the battery does not last as long due to the extra (10W TDP).
But I have never had a return or question due to overheating.
Best regards,
U2
NOTE:
There are 2 Extreme CPU's (55W TDP) that are compatible but I have never tried/tested them.
http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Core_i7_Mobile_Extreme_Edition/i7-2920XM.html