MMC-2 Laptop Upgrade Question.

[Spuppy21]

I am trying to upgrade my Dell Inspiron 3700 500Mhz. I know just enough information to get myself introuble. I know that the 3700 Motherboard line was MMC-2 and did support SpeedStep even though the 500Mhz Processor installed doesnt. I wanted to boost the 500mhz to about 750 if possible. I found the following information on the 500Mhz I have installed

(Intel PIII)
CPUID String 0681
Processor 500Mhz MMC-2
Bus Speed 100Mhz
Core Voltage 1.70V/1.35V
Thermal Design 15.0W
Core Stepping MA2
L2 Cache Size 256k
Die Size .18micron
L2 Cache Speed 500Mhz
ECC
Bus/Core Ratio 5.0

Now I found the information on the 750Mhz and I wanted to know if anyone knew if I put the following processor into my system would it work. I know this may sound simple but I am really lost.

(Intel PIII)
CPUID String 0683
Processor 750\600 Mhz(speedstep) MMC-2
Bus Speed 100Mhz
Core Voltage 1.60V/1.35V
Thermal Design 20.0W/13.9W
Core Stepping NBO
L2 Cache Size 256k
Die Size .18micron
L2 Cache Speed 750Mhz
ECC
Bus/Core Ratio 7.5

I see a different CPUID, Thermal Design, Core Stepping, and Bus/Core Ratio. I do not know how to tell if these newer figures are compatable with my system. Any help will be greatly appericated. Do things like the CPUID have to be exactly the same? And do things like the Core Stepping have to be the same inorder to upgrade one CPU with another?

Thanks,
Dan

[David]

The only problem I could forsee is the increased heat output (20W vs 15W).

I would give a shot, but run it open for a while.

David

[Spuppy21]

Thank you Dave. I was also looking at the heat outputs. I have for quite some time used a BIOS hack for the Inspiron Series laptops that shows me the Temp of the HD and CPU and I have direct fan control with it. So I think I can handle the higher temps. This hack also has an "Auto" mode that I can set up say the fans to come on at 65C and turn off at 50C which is according to Dell an acceptable fan range.

I just want to clear something up though.

The last digit of the CUPID:
500Mhz (0681)
750Mhz (0683)
The final digit according to what I understand is the Processors "Stepping" That term I dont know exactly what that means but would the difference in the "Steppings" cause Issues?

Another Point:
CoreStepping:
500Mhz (MA2)
750Mhz (NBO)
What do the abbervations MA2 and NBO mean? Is that the difference between the last digit of the CUPID? And would the difference between them cause issues?

[David]

Originally posted by Spuppy21
Thank you Dave. I was also looking at the heat outputs. I have for quite some time used a BIOS hack for the Inspiron Series laptops that shows me the Temp of the HD and CPU and I have direct fan control with it. So I think I can handle the higher temps. This hack also has an "Auto" mode that I can set up say the fans to come on at 65C and turn off at 50C which is according to Dell an acceptable fan range.

I just want to clear something up though.

The last digit of the CUPID:
500Mhz (0681)
750Mhz (0683)
The final digit according to what I understand is the Processors "Stepping" That term I dont know exactly what that means but would the difference in the "Steppings" cause Issues?

Another Point:
CoreStepping:
500Mhz (MA2)
750Mhz (NBO)
What do the abbervations MA2 and NBO mean? Is that the difference between the last digit of the CUPID? And would the difference between them cause issues?

The stepping of a CPU is basically what batch it came from. Each batch of CPUs is given its own code. Its only really relevant if you plan to overclock.

David

[Spuppy21]

David, thanks for all your help. However, I have stumbled on the following information about Intel's Moble P3s and would once again ask your advice. This has to do with the voltage CURRENT of the 500 and 750 Mhz processors.

500 Mhz
MAX Performace:
Max Voltage 1.6V
Max Current for Core 9.5A(amps)
MAX Battery:
N/A Non-Speedstep



750 Mhz
MAX Performace:
Max Voltage 1.6V
Max Current for Core 15.6A(amps)

MAX Battery:
Optimized (Speedstep) 600 Mhz
Max Voltage 1.35V
Max Current for Core 11.2A(amps)

The Max ampre for the speedstep 750 is much higher than the 500Mhz installed. Does this mean
(A.) the motherboard must support that many amps(15.9) without cooking itself?

Or does this mean
(B.) that the processor can only handle a motherboard that puts out 15.6 amps? And my motherboard that puts out 9.5 amps for the 500Mhz would be within the safe range of the processor?

Again thanks for you help and information. All info is greatly apperciated!
Dan

[David]

This will detail the max current that can safely go through the core. Too much and you fry the CPU, too little and the PC will be unstable. I would imagine the Motherboard will alter the current and voltage supplied, depending on what the CPU used.

David

[Kendan]

I would say it is the maximum and as long as the motherboard supports the chip you should be OK but I do not know about the battery so a call to dell would be recomended just to make sure you have the right battery and that the motherboard will take the chip

[Tbird man]

i would say all in all you should be ok swapping chips. the current is a ratio of Voltage/Resistance. if the voltage is constant and the current changes that menas the resistance changed. all that means is a little more heat (hence the 20w thermal design) fron the cpu and perhaps the power system. all in all i would look at it this way. companies like dell have to spend r/d money to make/change a mobo design. so it would benifit them to make the mobo support all the processors it could so it can use the same mobo for many different computer confugurations. i would bet if you opened up a 750 mhz dell laptop it would use the sme mobo.