HP Compaq 6720s CPU upgrade
My 6720s originally shiped with a T7250 (2 Ghz, merom 65nm). The main problem to me was the heat and the fan noise. As soon as the CPU would hit the 2 Ghz (just by playing some youtube videos for example) the temperature would go easily to 75° and the fan would spin at full speed. I tried some walkarounds like limiting the CPU to 1800 Mhz (via DSDT table mod) and undervolt it as much as I could. I even made a sort of external heatsink that I would plug into the internal heatsink trough the vent on the side of the computer. This, without being stetic at all, it would at least allow me to work without being anoyed by the fan noise. I wanted to do a CPU upgrade for some time now but I was waiting to find for a good deal in e-bay to purchase a T8300 or a T9300. Finally a couple of weeks ago I found a T8300 (2.4 Ghz, Penryn 45nm) on sale for a reasonable price.
So, finally the CPU arrived and I found some time to make the upgrade. I had the 'HP Service Manual' on a PDF file to follow the dissasembly procedure. A note on this: The power cover and the keyboard need to be removed at the same time (not as shown in the manual!). Also, the plastic panels are hold in place by 'plastic locks', so once you removed the screws, you need to pull them out (and pray you dont crack it).
Once you get to the motherboard, its very easy to replace the chip. I took the oportunity to clean the heatsink, and the fan and to 'upgrade' the thermal compound. HP uses a sort of thermal clay; I used some Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste. So once the new CPU was in place I just reverse the dissasemble procedure; all fine!
Im pretty happy about the upgrade. I get about 20° less than with the old T7250 and the machine is super-quiet now. Also there is a little bit of extra processing power and the GUI is a bit snappier.
Its incredible that the machine does not have a removable cover to access the CPU from the bottom without having to dissasembly the whole of it, not very smart design; the construction material is very bad quality too. But well, this computer is really cheap and runs retail OSX smoothly.
Its incredible that the machine does not have a removable cover to access the CPU from the bottom without having to dissasembly the whole of it, not very smart design; the construction material is very bad quality too. But well, this computer is really cheap and runs retail OSX smoothly.