CPU upgrade for Thinkpad Edge e520 1143

[bradyboyy88]

I have a lenovo thinkpad e520 with an i3 2310 processor. I want to buy the i7 2720qm and put it in myself but I have noticed that the lenova website only seems to offer an upgrade of their own up to the i7 2620. I am curious as to whether or not this laptop will support the i7 2720 and whether it will be able to withstand the heat produced from it and its power consumption. I know the motherboard is a sandy bridge so it will most likely accept the cpu but what else could go wrong with installing it ( not including damaging during installation). The i7 2720 has a tdp of 45w while the 2620 has a 35w tdp. Is this a problem? Also the i7 2620 and lesser are dual cores while the 2720 is a quad. Will this cause any problems considering the surface area of the heat sink only support dual cores ? Also, will there be any issues with the battery and charger relative to the 2720's power usage as stated before? I called lenova and their tech supports dont seem to have much knowledge on it. I figured the possibility that lenova uses this e series as a less power consuming option so to include the i7 2720 might take awaay from their advertising yet it might still work if done outside of their upgrades.I guess thats about it lol and thanks! 

If you also could tell me if the 2820 will work that wil be greatly appreciated as well.

[paralityk]

TLDR

Quads are using sligthly different socket, max you can fit instead of i3-2310m is i7-2640m (it's new max dual core after sandy bridge refresh, previously it was i7-2620M mentioned by you)

Side note: IMHO Ex20 would survive quads with equal or slightly higher TDP easily.

[ColonelONeill]

I think they should be the same socket. Someone tried a i7-2720QM with the T420, which only ships with a dual-core, and it worked fine. Ran very hot though.

[paralityk]

Wow, it really appears so...

I studied this topic hard, from theoretical pov and everything indicated that processor package is slightly different (plus it looks like there are 2 diff quad core pckgs and 2 diff dual core pckgs, and only one of each other is similar to the other one)

Turns out someone blindly tried this in practice, wow

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/624256-t420-upgrade-i7-2720qm-es-q154-successful.html

[Veco359]

Hello,

I haves SAME upgrade question for E520 http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-Edge/Replacing-i3-CPU-in-E520-with-i7-2630QM-or-2820QM-are-this...

I expand your study (search in Lenovo system parts of T420 & E520 & L520 for FRU Numbers of CPUs which is approved for use in both notebooks and it is SAME! :

example:

i3-2450M FRU 04W1892

i5-2430M FRU 04W1893

i7-2620M FRU 04W0494

page T420/T420i

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product-and-parts/detail.page?DocID=PD008442

page E520/E525

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product-and-parts/detail.page?&LegacyDocID=MIGR-77246

page L420/L520

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product-and-parts/detail.page?DocID=PD011513

So I think that 2630QM/2820QM will work on E520 and I will order 2820QM (on eBay) and try!

Ahoy

[lenssd9]

Will there be any problems with bios after upgrading cpu?

[Veco359]

I didn't have any problems with 2820QM

Link to picture

Everything work OK. Only I have high temperature of CPU during stress test 86-90C during idle 42-46C

I may room during day is very hot, today I read 34 on thermometer so this also can be reason for higher temperature.

I will buy cooling pad.

Moderator note; picture(s) totalling >50K converted to link(s) Forum Rules

[Veco359]

Link to picture

Everything work OK. Only I have high temperature of CPU during stress test 86-90C during idle 42-46C

I may room during day is very hot, today I read 34 on thermometer so this also can be reason for higher temperature.

I will buy cooling pad.

Moderator note; picture(s) totalling >50K converted to link(s) Forum Rules

[paralityk]

Try tpfancontrol for E520 (it's just named that way, works with E420 too, and should with E320) it should increase your fan's speed even more, you can configure profiles etc.

90*C is so high I'd say you do have problems, it's probably throtling past that temp. and sitting far away from turbo boost :/

[Veco359]

Thanks for hints Mate I disable Turbo Boost after few stress test with Think PC Doctor and it is ok now BUT I order CoolerMaster cooling pad.

I will try increase fan speed with tpfancontrol and I will inform you & community about results.

here is shot from one of test

Link to picture

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