What is the fastest CPU upgrade for W520 without modding

[James1138]

I have decided to get parts and build me a custom Thinkpad W520 to replace my Linux Thinkpad T500 the beginning of 2024. Would anyone know what is the fastest CPU without modding the motherboard - just pulling old CPU and swap?

I also intend to update BIOS as well as put in multi-terabyte SSD and max our RAM to 32 gig. I downloaded the repair guide as well as user manuals but neither are clear on how fast the CPU that I could swap.

Thanks in advance.

James
Indiana, USA

[TPFanatic]

i7 2960XM

Read all about it:

The Intel Core i7-2960XM is the fastest quad-core processor for laptops in Q3-2011 and successor to the Core i7-2920XM. Due to the Extreme Edition branding, the CPU should be easy to overclock (unlocked multiplicator).

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Cor ... 933.0.html

More info: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... tions.html

I upgraded my father from T42 to T500 in 2015, and earlier this year got him a W530. I did a half-measured 2560x1440 hack on it, it sacrifices refresh rate for the superior resolution and IPS. He likes the W a lot. We find Ivy Bridge 4c8t brute forces through the bloated and poorly optimized world wide web, and IMO poor browsing practices, much much better than poor old PM45 2c2t. He could have stayed on T500 a lot longer be it not for wanting to use Zuck's site and the Alphabet browser. Meanwhile I was using T420 with i5 2520m for the last few years and did a ton of browsing on that machine, including multiple Firefox windows with multiple tabs each. So I think you will be very happy with W520.

[Mps]

Tell me, who can modify the BIOS of a thinkpad w520 to install cpu i7-3632qm?

[755cdxd]

Tell me, who can modify the BIOS of a thinkpad w520 to install cpu i7-3632qm?

I don't think its possible, these processors use different sockets.
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... 0-ghz.html
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... z-bga.html

[TPFanatic]

I think if you do coreboot mod on W520 then you can install an ivy bridge processor.

The sandy bridges arent slow though and the W520 has the cooling overhead to run them at high power sustained load. If you want a more efficient machine that’s more powerful try to get something newer like a P16s.

[axur-delmeria]

I don't think its possible, these processors use different sockets.
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... 0-ghz.html
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... z-bga.html

You're comparing a socketed processor (FCPGA988) (Pin Grid Array) and a soldered processor (FCBGA1224) (Ball Grid Array).
The i7 3632QM has a socketed version: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... -rpga.html

It's a known upgrade for the T430.