I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to me before on any system, but
I guess there is a first time for everything. Either way, I need something
faster.
I am not in the market for a new laptop.
The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to replace the
CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one would look at
replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
In news:nKiml.7680$xK6.1019@newsfe12.iad,
Geico Caveman typed on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:01:39 -0700:
> Hello,
>
> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it
> to be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some
> calculations with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs
> (with different compilers), that hint at strange register errors
> (checked the memory). Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to
> me before on any system, but I guess there is a first time for
> everything. Either way, I need something faster.
>
> I am not in the market for a new laptop.
>
> The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to
> replace the CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one
> would look at replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
>
> Thanks.
I don't know about the errors and I doubt that you can put in a dual
core processor into it. Plus that will not help your 1GB max memory
problem anyway. If you are not interested in buying another laptop,
maybe another Acer Travelmate 2420 might be the way to go. There is one
on eBay for $167.99 + $25 shipping, if nobody else grabs it. The left
touchpad click button doesn't work though.
--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu
Geico Caveman wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
> be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
> with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
> compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
> Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to me before on any system, but
> I guess there is a first time for everything. Either way, I need something
> faster.
>
> I am not in the market for a new laptop.
>
> The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to replace the
> CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one would look at
> replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
>
> Thanks.
Your not getting a dualcore in there. You'll be lucky to find a
compatible Pentium 4 to upgrade beyond 1.6 Ghz.
Considering the age of the laptop, you may be experiencing the errors
due to heat issues. Consider reapplying thermal paste to the processor,
and making sure all your contacts in the ram slots are clean.
I once had a laptop do some freaky things all because there was a big
greasy fingerprint on the RAM contacts.
> Geico Caveman wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
>> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
>> be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
>> with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
>> compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
>
> Spyware, Adware & Viruses living inside your machine?
> On access virus scanner broken?
Don't run windows. Inapplicable.
> Heat issues as someone else said?
None.
>
> I know you said checked the memory but I'd be checking if the memory you
> upgraded is really the correct sort and installed correctly in the
> socket. Run something like Memtest86+ continous overnight. Likewise
> check with prime95 (but don't do that overnight lest you wake up without
> a house remaining...)
I have (btw. it is 2 GB, not 1 GB).
>
> Also try checking the hard disc, could be faulty errors on that?
Swapped out hard disks. Same issues.
>
> Install the free version of HDTune <http://www.hdtune.com/> and check
> out the drive. If it has spent sometime running a large software load on
> a system without much memory (before you upgraded) then possibly it's a
> bit thrashed.
>
> Actually if it's old, you might find upgrading the hard drive will make
> an appreciable difference to the machine. I've recently replaced the 4GB
> PIDE drive in an old Pentium-II based toshiba with a Seagate Momentus
> 5400.3 120GB. What a diffence! - and cheap to do.
>
> But you machine is quite a bit newer than that (2007?). Compare
> specs/reviews between your current 40/80GB 4200rpm drive and a modern
> drive and see if you'd gain anything there.
Its more like 2005.
>
> Or just bite the bullet on a new machine ...
>
> Geico Caveman wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
>> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
>> be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
>> with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
>> compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
>> Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to me before on any system,
>> but I guess there is a first time for everything. Either way, I need
>> something faster.
>>
>> I am not in the market for a new laptop.
>>
>> The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to replace
>> the CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one would look
>> at replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Your not getting a dualcore in there. You'll be lucky to find a
> compatible Pentium 4 to upgrade beyond 1.6 Ghz.
>
> Considering the age of the laptop, you may be experiencing the errors
> due to heat issues. Consider reapplying thermal paste to the processor,
> and making sure all your contacts in the ram slots are clean.
>
> I once had a laptop do some freaky things all because there was a big
> greasy fingerprint on the RAM contacts.
Just checked - no such issues.
Your response raises another question - is it possible to replace the
motherboard with a newer one, or is one geometrically constrained ?
There is no single answer to this question (how easy is it to replace a
laptop CPU). On some laptops it's impossible, on some it's easy. In
some cases where it should be easy, the BIOS is coded to not allow the
laptop to work with any CPU other than the one supplied.
Even if you can do it, your chances of going from a Celeron to a dual
core CPU are near zero. The typical case is that if you can do it, the
replacement CPU has to be from the same CPU family (and I mean "CPU
family" as defined by Intel's "S-spec" numbers, not just "Celeron" or
"Pentium-M" or anything even close to that broad. When I've done it
(both successfully and unsuccessfully) it has taken hours of
investigation to find a list of likely compatible replacements.
Geico Caveman wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
> be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
> with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
> compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
> Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to me before on any system, but
> I guess there is a first time for everything. Either way, I need something
> faster.
>
> I am not in the market for a new laptop.
>
> The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to replace the
> CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one would look at
> replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
>
> Thanks.
> There is no single answer to this question (how easy is it to replace a
> laptop CPU). On some laptops it's impossible, on some it's easy. In
> some cases where it should be easy, the BIOS is coded to not allow the
> laptop to work with any CPU other than the one supplied.
>
> Even if you can do it, your chances of going from a Celeron to a dual
> core CPU are near zero. The typical case is that if you can do it, the
> replacement CPU has to be from the same CPU family (and I mean "CPU
> family" as defined by Intel's "S-spec" numbers, not just "Celeron" or
> "Pentium-M" or anything even close to that broad. When I've done it
> (both successfully and unsuccessfully) it has taken hours of
> investigation to find a list of likely compatible replacements.
I understand. How easy/difficult is it to replace the motherboard (with the
CPU, etc.) ?
Geico Caveman wrote:
> G.G. Willikers wrote:
>
>> Geico Caveman wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I have an old Acer Travelmate 2420. I have maxed out the memory (1GB)
>>> already. The system is still a little slow compared to what I want it to
>>> be. More recently, I have seen a few errors crop up in some calculations
>>> with Matlab as well as personally compiled programs (with different
>>> compilers), that hint at strange register errors (checked the memory).
>>> Maybe the CPU is dying. Never had it happen to me before on any system,
>>> but I guess there is a first time for everything. Either way, I need
>>> something faster.
>>>
>>> I am not in the market for a new laptop.
>>>
>>> The processor is an Intel Celeron M 1.6 GHz. How practical is to replace
>>> the CPU with a newer dual core on a laptop. On a desktop, one would look
>>> at replacing the motherboard. How about here ?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>> Your not getting a dualcore in there. You'll be lucky to find a
>> compatible Pentium 4 to upgrade beyond 1.6 Ghz.
>>
>> Considering the age of the laptop, you may be experiencing the errors
>> due to heat issues. Consider reapplying thermal paste to the processor,
>> and making sure all your contacts in the ram slots are clean.
>>
>> I once had a laptop do some freaky things all because there was a big
>> greasy fingerprint on the RAM contacts.
>
> Just checked - no such issues.
>
> Your response raises another question - is it possible to replace the
> motherboard with a newer one, or is one geometrically constrained ?
Not likely, unless your model had was in production for awhile, it may
have gotten an upgraded MB for increased CPU, but most manufacturers
would go with a whole new series or model number. They also tend to move
components around (Ports and such). Basically forcing you to buy the
next generation.
Geico Caveman wrote:
> Barry Watzman wrote:
>
>> There is no single answer to this question (how easy is it to replace a
>> laptop CPU). On some laptops it's impossible, on some it's easy. In
>> some cases where it should be easy, the BIOS is coded to not allow the
>> laptop to work with any CPU other than the one supplied.
>>
>> Even if you can do it, your chances of going from a Celeron to a dual
>> core CPU are near zero. The typical case is that if you can do it, the
>> replacement CPU has to be from the same CPU family (and I mean "CPU
>> family" as defined by Intel's "S-spec" numbers, not just "Celeron" or
>> "Pentium-M" or anything even close to that broad. When I've done it
>> (both successfully and unsuccessfully) it has taken hours of
>> investigation to find a list of likely compatible replacements.
>
> I understand. How easy/difficult is it to replace the motherboard (with the
> CPU, etc.) ?
Any laptop can only have its motherboard replaced by a duplicate from
the OEM,
so would do you no good as far as upgrading it. Also every laptop I've
ever seen requires
almost total disassembly to remove the motherboard. Not a task for the
inexperienced.
Also the cost of a new motherboard/cpu is usually about as much as a new
machine.
That (replacing the motherboard) also varies in difficulty, but it's
typically a pretty major job.
Geico Caveman wrote:
> Barry Watzman wrote:
>
>> There is no single answer to this question (how easy is it to replace a
>> laptop CPU). On some laptops it's impossible, on some it's easy. In
>> some cases where it should be easy, the BIOS is coded to not allow the
>> laptop to work with any CPU other than the one supplied.
>>
>> Even if you can do it, your chances of going from a Celeron to a dual
>> core CPU are near zero. The typical case is that if you can do it, the
>> replacement CPU has to be from the same CPU family (and I mean "CPU
>> family" as defined by Intel's "S-spec" numbers, not just "Celeron" or
>> "Pentium-M" or anything even close to that broad. When I've done it
>> (both successfully and unsuccessfully) it has taken hours of
>> investigation to find a list of likely compatible replacements.
>
> I understand. How easy/difficult is it to replace the motherboard (with the
> CPU, etc.) ?
How easy is it to replace a laptop's CPU ? 
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