[SOLVED] What is a good upgrade from an i7 cpu with 2.30 GHz and 1GB video card ram?

[mdifonzo1301]

I’ll apologize if I’m asking this in the wrong place. I’m asking for a friend who’s upgrading their laptop. They’d like to be able to run dark souls 3 at least decently on a laptop and wanted to upgrade. I’m familiar with swapping out storages and memory, but not the rest of the components. If he wanted to upgrade from a i7 core processor 2.30ghz and Intel UHD Graphics with 1GB of video memory, where would be a good start from there? It’s also got 8gb of ram but I know how to swap it for a 16gb easy. Any suggestions of what would be a better upgrade to?

 

[siaan312]

You can't really upgrade the cpu and gpu on a laptop (on most laptops.)

You will prboably need a new laptop.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I’m asking for a friend who’s upgrading their laptop.

If you want be able to change cpu and gpu, then get a desktop.
On laptops this usually is not possible (with some very rare exceptions).
Soldered in cpus are normally replaceable.
Built in graphics cards are not replaceable.
And even, if it was possible to change cpu on this specific laptop, you have to consider cooling system of the laptop. If cpu is replced with higher TDP model, then cooling system is not able to handle it anymore and cpu overheats.

TLDR - forget about upgrading cpu and gpu on a laptop.

 

[mdifonzo1301]

You can't really upgrade the cpu and gpu on a laptop (on most laptops.)

You will prboably need a new laptop.

If it’s not integrated though, can it be replaced?

 

[mdifonzo1301]

If you want be able to change cpu and gpu, then get a desktop.
On laptops this usually is not possible (with some very rare exceptions).
Soldered in cpus are normally replaceable.
Built in graphics cards are not replaceable.
And even, if it was possible to change cpu on this specific laptop, you have to consider cooling system of the laptop. If cpu is replced with higher TDP model, then cooling system is not able to handle it anymore and cpu overheats.

TLDR - forget about upgrading cpu and gpu on a laptop.

They have a desktop at home, but not with them at uni. Would there be anything other than the memory and the cpu to replace in order to have it run slightly better?

 

[SkyNetRising]

If it’s not integrated though, can it be replaced?

If graphics card is on a separate mxm module, then it can be changed (theoretically).
But again - you have to consider cooling system.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Would there be anything other than the memory and the cpu to replace in order to have it run slightly better?

Upgrade HDD to SSD - probably.

 

[DSzymborski]

If it’s not integrated though, can it be replaced?

It is though.

Probably.

I say probably because you gave us scant details. You gave us an i7 and then just told us the clock speed. Intel has released more than a dozen i7 mobile processors with a 2.3 GHz base. UHD helps, but UHD what? That limits us to only a couple very recent Intel i7 2.3 GHz CPUs, but given the lack of information, I can't be positive that this information is even accurate.

So, until you can describe what hardware we're actually talking about, call this a speculative no. I don't believe Intel has released any mainstream mobile CPUs that weren't BGA since the Haswell era and if the information you gave us is accurate, it's a newer CPU than Haswell. And if you were equipped to deal with a BGA soldering job -- few are -- you wouldn't even need to ask us anything!

 

[siaan312]

It is though.

Probably.

I say probably because you gave us scant details. You gave us an i7 and then just told us the clock speed. Intel has released more than a dozen i7 mobile processors with a 2.3 GHz base. UHD helps, but UHD what? That limits us to only a couple very recent Intel i7 2.3 GHz CPUs, but given the lack of information, I can't be positive that this information is even accurate.

So, until you can describe what hardware we're actually talking about, call this a speculative no. I don't believe Intel has released any mainstream mobile CPUs that weren't BGA since the Haswell era and if the information you gave us is accurate, it's a newer CPU than Haswell. And if you were equipped to deal with a BGA soldering job -- few are -- you wouldn't even need to ask us anything!

Even if it's "possible" is there any merit to upgrade such a laptop with such an expensive and difficult upgrade?

 

[siaan312]

Upgrade HDD to SSD - probably.

That would be a huge upgrade.

 

[siaan312]

If graphics card is on a separate mxm module, then it can be changed (theoretically).
But again - you have to consider cooling system.

MXM is dead, and no laptop using integrated graphics will have it.

 

[siaan312]

If it’s not integrated though, can it be replaced?

No, integrated means it's part of the cpu. dedicated means it is a different chip, elsewhere on the board, usually from Nvidia or AMD.