Upgrading a T901, Results!

[mimarsinan]

the 2630/2670 lack some features that even the stock CPUs have, and I wouldn't risk it.

Right, I noticed they don't have Intel Virtualization for Directed I/O, for example. And some Trusted Computing stuff, right? For me, virtualization is critically important, so I Google'd whether the vt-d is a must for VMware, and turns out, its not. I honestly don't know whether I'll later realize I actually needed any of the other technologies...

[bikerbob1016]

3dmark06: 5340
3dmark11: P652
3dmark Vantage: P2670

[mimarsinan]

Nice results! Scores very similar with mine, so I suppose Vantage would also be very similar. Do you mind if I use it in my review?

[bikerbob1016]

Nice results! Scores very similar with mine, so I suppose Vantage would also be very similar. Do you mind if I use it in my review?

No, be my guest. And if you'd like any other benchmarks or other things from me, let me know!

[Selofain]

Hey, any chance you'll still post those teardown pictures? I want to repaste my CPU to try to get cooler temps, and it sounds like the process is complicated than I originally thought it'd be. Which is a shame, since I heard that in previous models, the CPU was only a couple screws away.

If you don't have time for pictures, a general step-by-step would also be super helpful- what cables/screws to watch out for and whatnot. I've never disassembled anything without a service manual/guide, so the lack of references makes me nervous.

For the BD drive- you transplanted the drive frame onto the new one. Was that needed for the release latch to work properly? I ask because third party HDD caddies didn't work with the release latch, for no reason that I could tell, and I'd like to avoid this. It's an upgrade that's been in the back of my head for a while.

[bikerbob1016]

Hey, any chance you'll still post those teardown pictures?

I could post pictures of all the easy stuff (RAM, HDD, large panel covering the cooling fan etc), but I didn't take any pictures of the teardown relevant to the CPU; the self-tapping case screws were a pain so I gave up and had a computer shop do the CPU upgrade for me. If you are at all skiddish about upgrading the CPU, I recommend doing it the way I did it. Took a huge load of responsibility off my shoulders because I had no information to go on. And I'd never worked with laptops before, only desktops, so this was already a bit outside my comfort zone.

For the BD drive- you transplanted the drive frame onto the new one. Was that needed for the release latch to work properly?

I don't know if it was necessary, but it was convenient because the BD drive I ordered had no frame at all, and I wasn't going to be using the DVD drive I was removing. The faceplate was a necessary transplant because of the latch, however.

[Selofain]

I could post pictures of all the easy stuff (RAM, HDD, large panel covering the cooling fan etc), but I didn't take any pictures of the teardown relevant to the CPU

Thanks, but I've already accessed the easy stuff long ago. :P I suppose I'll just take my time to experiment until I get it right. *curses Fujitsu for their lack of publicly available service manuals* Well, I did manage to find one for the T730; maybe it'll be similar enough to get the general steps in the right direction.

[mimarsinan]

Thanks, but I've already accessed the easy stuff long ago. :P I suppose I'll just take my time to experiment until I get it right. *curses Fujitsu for their lack of publicly available service manuals* Well, I did manage to find one for the T730; maybe it'll be similar enough to get the general steps in the right direction.

Could you post that manual here? I'll check if it will be helpful with my next tear-down.

Yes, I will be doing one, and possibly two more tear-downs: I have ordered alternate 8 core CPUs in an effort to see if they will prevent the under-clocking issue: 2720QM and 2630QM.

And this time, I WILL take pictures for all interested in witnessing the horror

[Tams]

Could you post that manual here? I'll check if it will be helpful with my next tear-down.

Here's the thread with the T730's. Here's the actual manual. Basically the smaller version. It has a socketed CPU, but some of the internals may be different as the TxxO didn't have a GPU and the T731 doesn't either.

It'll be near impossible to get the T901's unless you know a Fujitsu Partner who is willing to leak it.

[bikerbob1016]

Yes, I will be doing one, and possibly two more tear-downs: I have ordered alternate 8 core CPUs in an effort to see if they will prevent the under-clocking issue: 2720QM and 2630QM.

And this time, I WILL take pictures for all interested in witnessing the horror

Oh, man. The performance/throttling sweet spot hunt! You're doing it! I am really looking forward to that!

It'll be near impossible to get the T901's unless you know a Fujitsu Partner who is willing to leak it.

Ha ha, when I called/emailed tech support just to find out whether the CPU was unsoldered, I got one very short email (Entire email: "It is socketed") from level one support. I called to make sure (A three word response left me kind of uneasy) and got sent to tech level two, who literally acted like I was inquiring about Area 51.
"It might be and it might not be."
"But, this email I got, I just needed confirmatio--"
"We can't confirm that."

I imagine Fujitsu has the T901 manual kept in a mission impossible-style vault hidden deep within a secret bunker at their headquarters. I hope the guy that managed to get a 3 word message to me didn't get fired... or killed.