I have a lenovo z61e laptop, and wish to upgrade the CPU and/or graphics card. Is this possible?

Question

Current computer specs:

15.4" widescreen 1280x800 screen.
1.66Ghz Intel Centrino Duo Processor
Intel GMA 955 224mb shared memory graphics card
1GB of RAM
OS: Windows XP
Model number: 0672-2YG

Answer 1

No it is not possible.

You have an Old Yonah CPU. It can be replaced if the CPU socket and CPU leads aren't soldered into the motherboard. (It doesn't say in the Lenovo manual you have to open it up). The yonah can probably only go up to 1.83 Ghz so its not worth the investment antway.

The Intel GMA950 is integrated into the motherboard and can't be upgraded. Most laptops have integrate GPUs, but some use mini pci-e cards for video. Even if your laptop has mini pci-e (yours does not), it does not mean you can throw any vga card in there because higher performance 3D cards like the 8800m GTS/GTX requires at least a 130W PSU (usually only on a 17" desktop replacement). A 15.4" mid range laptop with mini pci-e expansion will typcially only have a 90W PSU and will not support higher end 3D gaming cards.

You need to buy a new laptop.

Answer 2

The processor is in a socket so, in theory, you can upgrade it. Provided you use one of the CPU types that is offered on the Z61e family of systems I believe that the system will automatically detect it.


The graphics chip is soldered onto the board. You are stuck with that one.


Seeing as the CPU is speed stepped according to the load on it an the power settings I do not know if you would get a significant speed improvement from a CPU upgrade.

I would check your memory usage. If you have several programs running at once, or a couple of memory hog programs then adding more memory and avoiding paging memory to the hard file will gain you a bigger performance increase than a new CPU.

Answer 3

Anything is possible if you're willing to spend extra money. So yes, you can.

Answer 4

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-64409