How to Upgrade Laptop Processors
Laptops have become very common in the computing world today, but like all other consumer electronics products, better laptops are released every week. In general, a laptop's shelf life is around the 3 year mark, and in some cases it is even lower if the laptop has been used extensively. This is usually the primary reason for which someone would wish to buy a new laptop to replace their existing one, but there are some people for whom simply owning the latest laptop is a necessity.
Newer laptop models come equipped with faster processors, larger amounts of RAM, better graphical processing units, more storage space, better screens and many other features. Unlike desktops, laptops cannot be upgraded on a regular basis to keep up with the changing times so many people often discard their machine and opt for a new one. But if you feel that your laptop has become slow and needs a revamp, then you should carefully analyze your options before you decide to just get rid of it.
Can you Upgrade Laptop Processors?
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the most integral part of any computer, and the speed of the machine will heavily depend on the type of processor and its clock rate. While other components (like the RAM, the optical drive, etc.) can be easily upgraded in a laptop, upgrading the processor is slightly more tricky. The first thing to remember in this scenario is that not all laptop processors can be upgraded. In some laptops, the processor is soldered on to the main board inside, so they cannot be replaced. You must first find out if it is even possible to upgrade the processor on your laptop. For this purpose, you will need to consult the user manual that came along with the machine. If you do not possess this manual, you can check out the website of the laptop manufacturer, locate your exact model number and then find the necessary information presented there.
If you have found that the processor on your laptop can be replaced, then you need to learn how to upgrade the processor successfully. This will be explained below, but you also need to purchase a processor that will not only be compatible with your machine, but also improve the performance significantly. Replacing the processor can cause other consequences inside the laptop, especially if it is carried out by a novice, so you should consider the collective benefit of doing so. Do not bother replacing the processor for an insignificant improvement. Carry out a detailed comparison and pick the one that is a worthy replacement over your existing processor.
Upgrading Your Laptop Processors
Considering that you have decided to carry out the replacement, and found a worthy replacement processor as well, here are some simple instructions that you need to follow. Please remember that only someone who has worked with computer parts before, and has some prior experience in replacing them, should carry out this procedure.
- The very first thing that you should do is backup all the contents of your hard drive somewhere. The chances of losing the data on the hard drive are very low, but this does happen sometimes.
- Carefully make a note of all the parts that you remove and how they are placed. Refer to online tutorials for your particular model for this purpose, and also consult an assembly guide of your laptop, if your manufacturer has provided you with one.
- Now remove all components from the hard drive that you can. This includes the battery, the optical drive, the RAM chips, the hard disk and other external peripherals that are attached.
- Next, you will need to carefully remove the keyboard as well. This is something that needs visual instructions to accomplish, so find a reliable source for this purpose.
- Now locate the original processor and make a note of how it has been attached. Carefully remove it and then insert the new processor in the same manner.
- Reinsert all the other parts that you removed one by one, and make sure that everything is in place exactly the way it was before.
- Now switch on the machine, go to the BIOS on the startup screen and check if everything is functioning properly. Check the configuration to see if the new processor has been recognized.
