Upgrading Questions - Help Needed

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:45 pm

Hi guys,

Got a couple (4) of upgrading questions that would really appreciate some help with.

Looking into the cost of upgrading the CPU and RAM on a Dell Inspiron 5160, and possibly the harddrive.

1. At the moment it has a:

Mobile Intel Pentium 4 CPU of 2.8 Ghz

in a 478 socket.

I saw mentioned online that a 478 could be upgraded to a 3.46 GHz processor but was not sure whether that meant for just a desktop, or in what situations it would be worth doing it.

2. The RAM is at its maximum of two 1 Gb Kingston PC2700 (166 MHz)

On a site called memory stock they mention you could put the following type of RAM into it:

Two 1Gb 1024MB DDR SODIMM 333MHz PC2700 200pin 2.5v

Would the difference in MHz make a lot of difference? Or has it to do with only being a dual processor, as opposed to a quad. When doing something like converting an avi to m4v/mp4 with Handbrake the machine runs at 100% and the heat can climb to 73C.

From what I have read on wiki, one cannot upgrade in type of RAM, ie DDR to DDR2/3. Didn’t realize there was so much difference in the grade / memory clock of RAM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM

Cleaned out all the dust bunnies the other day from around the heat sink so the CPU on average is running a lot cooler. When idle its around 50C with the harddrive at 45C. And the fan isn’t coming on so often, so hard.

When playing a DVD sometimes the fan was so loud you couldn’t hear what was being said.

3. Has anyone replaced their regular drive in a laptop with an SSD (Solid State Drive). A while ago I saw mentioned online (thought I had bookmarked it) that the Inspiron 5160 could have a SSD put into it.

Is there much of a significant improvement in ones machine by doing any of the above (re heat / power consumption)? I realize it depends on the type of programs one is running and how many one is running at any one time.

4. I have noticed that with the video card / graphics chip I have:

XGI Volari-XP5 v2.116.DELL_C

That if I am watching an .avi file, as well as downloading a movie / television program, that the picture distorts a little. So I just stop the download while I am watching it. Or just copy the file onto a USB stick and watch in on the television.

Anyone upgraded their graphics card on their laptop before? Get the feeling there wasn’t any customizing laptops at the time this machine was bought.

Thanks in advance for your time and help.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:16 pm

you want to be carefull upping the CPU in a laptop casing, theres already heat problems that they have to engineer the hell out of. the motherboard and chipset needs to be addresed, as a chip may fit on socket, and run but will the mobo take advantage of that and give you a gain in performance.
Dell Inspiron 5160- has what mobo and chipset?
what forum or blog did you see the upgrade on? gotta link?

i found this about the dell:
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-inspiron-5160/1707-3121_7-31213296.html
dont mean to piss in yer oats, but laptops are almost always obsolete when you buy them, they dont really upgrade well they sorta get hardware tweaks instead, and the review says these dells run hot already.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:26 pm

That laptop is not worth upgrading Crying or Very sad

you could get something miles above that for around $100 used, go that route

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:36 pm

Lord Garth

Just did a Google search. This may have been where I read it:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f108/upgrading-dell-inspiron-laptop-85841.html

Comment by "crazijoe:

Quick note:
The Dell Inspiron 5160 uses the Intel 852GME Chipset. This chipset will support up to 3.46GHz Mobile Pentium 4 Processor operating at 533MHz FSB. This Chipset will not support the standard desktop CPU or 800MHz FSB CPU. The Chipset will also support up to DDR333 memory. While it is possible to use DDR400 memory, it will be downgraded to DDR333 speed."

These are the Inspiron's Motherboard details using CPU-Z:

Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
Model: OT5326 (not sure whether that's meant to be a zero or the letter O)
Chipset: Intel i855 GM/GME Rev. A2
Southbridge: Intel 82801DB (ICH4-M) Rev. 01
LPCIO: PC87591

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:07 pm

Keep in mind DDR2 ram came out in 2003, so even if you get the best ram that thing can take, it will still be almost 10 years out of date. That laptop would go for around $20-40 used, dont throw good money after bad. All the upgrades you need havnt even been produced for well over 5 years. If you can afford it, you can also get a new laptop for around $300-400 that would have around 10x the power

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:10 pm

That thread you linked to is from 2006. Listen to cbill buy a new laptop, and dont buy Dell imo

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:13 pm

trollster wrote:

That thread you linked to is from 2006.

you beat me to it, noticed that as well Surprised

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:27 pm

what they said^^

ive just bought a new laptop a few months back....got an acer aspire 5750 with 1tb hdd, 8gb ddr3 ram and core i5 sandy bridge processor for £450

if you dont want to spend as much you can get one with 500gb hdd, core i3 and 4gb ddr3 for around £350 too...

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:28 pm

I like this option

http://www.directindustry.com/prod/zero-manufacturing/briefcases-15688-412240.html

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:33 pm

^^looks like some kind of nuke-launch control pad Laughing

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:31 pm

I used to be a hardware technician a few years back, and I completely agree with the other posts. It's not worth spending money on, to my understanding the laptop would be around 8 years old. It's at the point where any day it could fail. It may live another 8 years but chances are it doesn't have that much life left.
Changing a laptop cpu is a long and messy procedure, and generally in my opinion, not worth the hassle even when the laptop is relatively new. You will be able to purchase a second hand laptop for less than the labour and parts would cost you.
If by chance you already have the ram that's another story anyone can change ram in a laptop. Check out youtube for clips showing you how. Just be careful and gentle, folow the directions and you'll have no problems, just remove a scre or two and you've got access. If you have to buy it on the other hand, don't. Save your money for a new/used laptop.
Another option to speed an older system up is a format reload, if you or someone you know who is kind enough to help know how to reload windows this should speed it back up. Get it running like it was when it was brand new anyway.
That's my advice anyway, good luck with it. Smile

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:20 pm

Thanks for all the feedback - Appreciated.

Will leave it alone.

I think a total rebuild would help. It's never been done. My parents machine though, and they freak out quite easily when I suggest things like that
Smile

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:38 pm

ah yes, i know how the older generation can be; until they get used to better, what they have now seems fine Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:14 am

Be aware that 'some' laptops (aka my Toshiba 110-120) say socket 478, but the cpu is soldered through the board making it totally unreplaceable. Good job the ram could be upgraded to 8Gb (x64) unlike my early acer which has 256 onboard and no way of upgrading.
Laptops can be a real pain to strip and rebuild, and the cost for a 'workshop upgrade' could run more than a great spec secondhander.
I bought a dual core 2Ghz/4Gb/320Gb DDR2 Acer 2920 for £75 Gbp, the cost of new upgrade parts would run equal to that cost, or more depending on where you live (eg. rip off britain)
PawnBrokers in the next town had mint condition i3 & i5 laptops, sadly Dell, for £175, so it's worth looking around, a secondhand private sale would cost you more than say a PB purchase.