Is this CPU upgrade impossible?

boomvausstat

Estimable
Oct 25, 2015
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4,510
Alright so I have an Asus Q500a-bhi5n01 with an i5-3210m cpu. I recently scavanged a i7-3610QM from a recycled laptop and noted it uses the same socket. The only issue I have is that the current processor I'm using is a 35W CPU whereas the i7 is a 45W CPU. I'm not sure if my laptop will be able to support the extra 10 watts or not, I mean as far as drawing too much power from the motherboard (didnt see voltages in the spec sheet on Intel ark )or if the heatsink can support the extra heat output. Hoping I can get away with the upgrade though :S.
 


I doubt you can upgrade the motherboard.

While the 3610QM will most likely work, the 10 extra Watts is too risky. It could knock out your power brick. I'd aim for the 35W i7 quad core CPUs.
 

xray686166233

Honorable
Mar 28, 2012
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10,570


Should work they use the same CPU socket and voltage and are both Ivy Bridge CPU's .
OTOH your PC only has a 65W power brick it may be a little on the small side maybe pick up an
85-90W brick or 19V 4 or 5 amp brick on E bay .

OEMs tend to use the same MB with several CPU of the same gen. It's not inconcievable that the i7-3610QM was an option on your board w/or without a later BIOS revision .

Note : both CPU are Ivy Bridge and only one month apart in thier intoduction date Q1 2012 vs Q2 2012 so likley the same MB will work they use the same socket ,voltage and chipset so it's likley up to the BIOS or a revised BIOS .

FWIW the i7 CPU will only be using 45W at fully demanding uses most of the time it will be much less than the max rating anyway . FWIW on ready made desktop PC's and Boxed Intel CPU's w/ i3,i5,i7 CPU the heatsonk & fan are *usually the same outside of the $$$ extreme i7 sku's with stock air both maximum operating temperature = 105°C on your two CPU's
the i5 heatsink is probably sufficiant or same

FWIW adding 10 Watts @ 19.0V = 0.526 amps or ~ .5 amp .

Your PC has a 65W brick or 19V @ 3.42 amps you might want to score a 4 ,4.5 or or 5 amp 19V brick .

e.g. an 80w brick is 4.47 amps or 19-19.6v @ 4.5 amps that would more than cover it just fine .
90W @ 19V = 4.73 amps is more than you need also but wont hurt it if thats all you can find .


You could probably try the i7 on the 65 Watt brick just just dont run prime 95 on it or stress it with benchmarks just try to see if your Bios recognizes the i7 CPU then for long term use maybe get a bigger 4 or 5 amp ( 80-90w ) 19v or 19.6v power brick look and see what you have Asus says 19V but 19.6 V shoukld work also .

On the short term worst that could happen is your BIOS wont run it in which case an updated BIOS from ASUS might work they *may have your BOIS tatooed at 35W for the CPU but if the i7 was optional on the same board it should work or an updated BIOS specifically for your PC might work . Lotta times OEM's use the same board & BIOS on several models with differnt configurations .

I swapped out a 65w AMD 2 core CPU for a 95 w 4 core CPU on an OEM HP PC and the BIOS ran it fine. OTOH it wouldent run a 125W same type CPU the MB BIOS was limited to the 95W CPU .

I had a similar thing with an i3 2100 65w to i7 2600s 65w CPU upgrade on my other HP PC whereas the i7 2600 and 2600K 95w same gen CPU's had to much wattage for the tatooed OEM M.B. BIOS to allow them to run at all .

Worst case you may have to find a lower wattage i7 Ivy bridge CPU but 20w isn't a big deal so it might work.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i7/Intel-Core%20i7-3610QM%20Mobile%20processor.html

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i7-3610QM-vs-Intel-Core-i5-3210M


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