Lenovo G500 laptop - CPU upgrade - Intel Core i5-3230M @ 2.60GHz PGA988

[Guest]

I have a Lenovo G500 laptop with Intel Core i5-3230M, and I want to upgrade my CPU because it's kinda slow already, but I have never done any CPU upgrade, so I want to get some suggestion from experts here. I did my homework already, correct me if I am wrong.The i5-3230M has a PGA988 mount or G2 socket, and HM76 Chipset, So most if not all CPUs that have these two things will fit my laptop?

So far, I have my eye on one CPU, Intel Core i7-3632QM, and I am bidding on it on ebay now. Will it work? and I also has won an Intel Celeron SR102 1000M for $5 and it's being shipping to me now. It may sound silly, but I bought it for practicing. Will it work for my laptop too? My only concern for it is if it will burn my motherboard.

 

[Rogue Leader]

You should use http://ark.intel.com to confirm the socket of the CPU you're using. Assuming the socket is correct you won't burn anything but it may not work due to the Laptop's BIOS. Your best bet is to look up the Lenovo G500 and see what CPUs were offered on that model and purchase the fastest one. Thats the only upgrade thats prettymuch guaranteed to work.

 

[Guest]

You should use http://ark.intel.com to confirm the socket of the CPU you're using. Assuming the socket is correct you won't burn anything but it may not work due to the Laptop's BIOS. Your best bet is to look up the Lenovo G500 and see what CPUs were offered on that model and purchase the fastest one. Thats the only upgrade thats prettymuch guaranteed to work.

I found ark.intel.com to be very confusing. According to http://ark.intel.com/products/72056/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-BGA, the Intel Core i5-3230M has a 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023) socket. But according to CPU-Z, Intel Core i5-3230M has a 988B rPGA package. Are these the same thing?

 

[Rogue Leader]

You should use http://ark.intel.com to confirm the socket of the CPU you're using. Assuming the socket is correct you won't burn anything but it may not work due to the Laptop's BIOS. Your best bet is to look up the Lenovo G500 and see what CPUs were offered on that model and purchase the fastest one. Thats the only upgrade thats prettymuch guaranteed to work.

I found ark.intel.com to be very confusing. According to http://ark.intel.com/products/72056/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-BGA, the Intel Core i5-3230M has a 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023) socket. But according to CPU-Z, Intel Core i5-3230M has a 988B rPGA package. Are these the same thing?

BGA is soldiered to the motherboard, so thats not what you want. if CPU-Z is showing you rPGA 988B its a Socket G2 processor. Its likely there are 2 versions of the same processor, which happens often with laptop processors, with the soldiered ones being for extra thin form factor laptops. You may want to confirm visually that yours is replaceable, but it is most likely based on CPU-Z.

Heres the correct link

http://ark.intel.com/products/72164/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-rPGA

If you put the processor into search there will be 2 listings shown, always pick the rPGA. Like i said though your best bet is to find the best CPU available in that laptop, because even if you buy one that fits, it may not work.

 

[Guest]

You should use http://ark.intel.com to confirm the socket of the CPU you're using. Assuming the socket is correct you won't burn anything but it may not work due to the Laptop's BIOS. Your best bet is to look up the Lenovo G500 and see what CPUs were offered on that model and purchase the fastest one. Thats the only upgrade thats prettymuch guaranteed to work.

I found ark.intel.com to be very confusing. According to http://ark.intel.com/products/72056/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-BGA, the Intel Core i5-3230M has a 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023) socket. But according to CPU-Z, Intel Core i5-3230M has a 988B rPGA package. Are these the same thing?

BGA is soldiered to the motherboard, so thats not what you want. if CPU-Z is showing you rPGA 988B its a Socket G2 processor. Its likely there are 2 versions of the same processor, which happens often with laptop processors, with the soldiered ones being for extra thin form factor laptops. You may want to confirm visually that yours is replaceable, but it is most likely based on CPU-Z.

Heres the correct link

http://ark.intel.com/products/72164/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-rPGA

If you put the processor into search there will be 2 listings shown, always pick the rPGA. Like i said though your best bet is to find the best CPU available in that laptop, because even if you buy one that fits, it may not work.

Seems to me. These are all the listed CPU by Lenovo. Is there any chance that other CPU may work with the motherboard? How important is the bios? I think logically, small group of CPU should have the same connection/firmware.

8 Intel I7-3632QM 2.2G E1 6M 4cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel I7-3612QM 2.1G E1 6M 4cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel I7-3520M 2.9G L1 4M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)

8 Intel I5-3230M 2.6G 3M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)

8 Intel I3-3130M 2.6G 3M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel 2030M 2.5G 2M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel 2020M 2.4G L1 2M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel 1000M 1.8G 2M P0 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel I3-3120M 2.5G L1 3M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel I3-2348M 2.3G J1 3M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel B980 2.4G Q0 2M 2cPGA processor (G400/G500)
8 Intel B960 2.20G 2M 35W SNB PGA processor (G400/G500)

 

[Rogue Leader]

Seems to me. These are all the listed CPU by Lenovo. Is there any chance that other CPU may work with the motherboard? How important is the bios? I think logically, small group of CPU should have the same connection/firmware.

The BIOS is extremely important, and that logic is unfortunately incorrect. Could something else work? Sure. Would I bet money on it? Absolutely not. laptop CPUs come in may wattages and configurations, put the wrong one in and it straight up won't work or it will, briefly before it fails when it is under powered. Stick to what came in it.