I recently received a W510 motherboard with a i7-720QM CPU. Using this thing is great, I like the freedom 4 dimm slots and 24 GB of ram gives, but I'd like a more powerful CPU.
From what I've gathered, the only difference between the i7-720 and the i7-920 is the clock multiplier (12 for 720 and 15 for 920) and a small amount of l3 cache. I already have a 720, not to mention that the 720 is so much cheaper to buy than a 920. Is it possible to change this setting with a bios mod, or even a program running in the OS? I've looked around pretty thoroughly and I haven't been able to find a lead on a modded W510 bios anywhere, but I might be missing something.
To make a long story short, I want to overclock my I7-720 to make it perform more like a i7-920.
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Modded bios, overclocking W510 with i7-720QM
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Sunshine701c
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 6:57 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Modded bios, overclocking W510 with i7-720QM
I don't know any BIOSes to overclock W510. Even i don't have W510, but i have W701. The top notch CPU for this workstations is 940xm but it only 133MHz more (then 920xm).Sunshine701c wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:35 amTo make a long story short, I want to overclock my I7-720 to make it perform more like a i7-920.
The key difference between 720qm and 920xm (and 940xm) is unlocked clock multiplier - so 15 is not top multiplier you can get. If i remember right ThrottleStop - the Windows app that can push multiplier further (on unlocked CPUs).
Both XM CPUs are hotter (+10W to TDP at normal frequences) and overclocking can be capped by perfofmance of cooling system.
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IrishMASMS
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2024 10:49 pm
- Location: Santa Clara, CA
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Re: Modded bios, overclocking W510 with i7-720QM
Hello @Sunshine701c - where did you end up with your W510 and CPU replacement/overclocking?
IrishMASMS
Current ThinkPads:
P70 running Windows 10
P1 running Windows 11
T430s running Windows 11 LTSP
On the workbench:
T43p
X220
X230
W510 for OpenMediaVault (OMV)
Current ThinkPads:
P70 running Windows 10
P1 running Windows 11
T430s running Windows 11 LTSP
On the workbench:
T43p
X220
X230
W510 for OpenMediaVault (OMV)
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