Different bus/core ratio for replacement CPU

[cdever]

Hello, Looking to put a faster CPU in my Dell notebook. Current chip is an Intel T2300, 1.66Ghz clock speed. System bus is 667 and bus/core ratio is 10. Would replace with a T2600 with a 2.16Ghz clock speed. The T2600 also uses 667 system bus but has a bus/core ratio of 13. Compared them on the Intel site and all other parameters (voltage range, socket etc.) are the same for both chips. QUESTION: Will this difference be critical to allowing this replacement CPU to run? And, will using a CPU with a different bus/core ratio require a change to BIOS settings?

 

[Herr_Koos]

The question is whether your motherboard will support the T2300. If it does, the numbers are a moot point. I suggest you find a CPU support list for your board and check your options. This should also show whether you need a BIOS update for any newer CPU's to work.

 

[MU_Engineer]

Hello, Looking to put a faster CPU in my Dell notebook. Current chip is an Intel T2300, 1.66Ghz clock speed. System bus is 667 and bus/core ratio is 10. Would replace with a T2600 with a 2.16Ghz clock speed. The T2600 also uses 667 system bus but has a bus/core ratio of 13. Compared them on the Intel site and all other parameters (voltage range, socket etc.) are the same for both chips. QUESTION: Will this difference be critical to allowing this replacement CPU to run? And, will using a CPU with a different bus/core ratio require a change to BIOS settings?

The bus-to-core ratio is called the multiplier. CPU makers produce similar CPUs with different clock speeds by adjusting the multiplier value. An otherwise-identical CPU with a different multiplier value and thus a different clock speed will absolutely be compatible in your unit. What you have to do is ensure that the faster CPU is in fact identical for everything except for multiplier/clock speed. You told us what the two CPUs are and they appear to be otherwise identical, so you should absolutely be able to put the T2600 in place of your T2300. The T2600 will simply run faster than your T2300 did, and the BIOS will automatically make sure that the new CPU runs at the correct speed.

You may also want to investigate and see if you might not be able to put one of the first Core 2 Duo CPUs in your computer as they are both higher-clocked and faster on a clock-for-clock basis compared to the Core Duo in your machine. The first Core 2 Duos are Socket M with a 667 MHz FSB like the Core Duos and use the same 945-series chipsets, so they are drop-in replacements for Core Duos in some machines. Your computer would need BIOS support for the Core 2 Duos, so you would need to check with Dell to see if they are supported.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Best answer selected by mousemonkey.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey