Laptops come in handy, especially when their owners are always on the move. Professionals, students, artists, or simply just about anyone who uses a laptop will also know what it’s like to struggle the lack of processing power here and there.
Now, don’t get us wrong. Laptop processors are just as powerful as desktop processors nowadays, especially with most modern laptops being called as gaming laptops.
What if you have an older laptop? One that needs a processor upgrade, for sure. You’re probably thinking upgrading processor in laptop is the best thing to do since you can’t purchase a new one just yet.
But can you really upgrade your laptop processor? We’ll answer that question and more in this article.
Is It Possible To Upgrade A Laptop Processor?
A straightforward answer would be: NO. But sometimes, it depends.
Confusing? We’ll get to that in a bit.
Desktop processors can be upgraded by removing the old CPU and replacing it with a new one. This is under the assumption that the new one is compatible in terms of pins and sockets.
So why couldn’t laptops do the same thing?
This is because older laptops usually have soldered CPUs onto their motherboard.
Slightly older laptops may not have CPUs soldered into their motherboard, but the CPU is installed into the socket. Similar to what you’d see on desktop computers. But note that the socket and CPU type are designed for laptops, so you can’t plug in a desktop processor on a laptop.
The majority of the older and modern laptops usually solder their CPUs onto the motherboard. so there’s just no way to upgrade them.
But there are exceptions, especially to some of the slightly older laptops. Their CPUs are not soldered onto the motherboard. Rather, they are installed in a socket, similar to what we see on a desktop motherboard. Of course, the socket and the CPU are designed for laptops.
You’ll need to research for compatible CPUs for your laptop, or you can get in touch with laptop manufacturers and ask for a list.
But generally speaking, a CPU upgrade on a laptop is highly unlikely. A laptop’s CPU is often soldered, making it difficult to uninstall and remove. The best-case scenario for laptop users here is if they want to upgrade their laptop’s processor, they’ll need to buy a new laptop. It’s a lot like replacing your laptop’s GPU, which also requires you to buy a new laptop.
Can You Upgrade Your Laptop Processor From an Intel Core i5 to an Intel Core i7?
Again, it’s technically possible to upgrade your laptop CPU, but this depends on whether or not the CPU is soldered into the motherboard.
If you have an Intel Core i5 CPU that’s soldered into the laptop’s motherboard, then there’s no way to upgrade to an Intel Core i7. If you want your laptop’s processor to be an i7, then you’re better off just buying a new laptop.
Upgrading the laptop processor means that you have to understand how the CPU surface mounting is on a laptop compared to a desktop. Desktop processors can be detached while a laptop’s processor is soldered. Note that this isn’t always the case as some laptops will have detachable processors.
Making Sense of CPU Surface Mounting Methods
There are three different types of surface mounting:
- Land Grid Array or LGA – This is a detachable CPU with flat contacts. Intel desktop CPUs usually have this type of surface mounting.
- Pin Grid Array or PGA – A mounting type with visible pins on the CPU. AMD CPUs have this type of mounting surface. Like the land grid array, this is also detachable.
- Ball Grid Array or BGA – Mounting type commonly used by a laptop processor. CPU contacts are soldered and is not detachable. Most laptops, if not all of them, have a BGA.
If your laptop has a BGA mounting type, you can’t replace your laptop processor. But if it has a PGA or LGA mounting type, you could upgrade your laptop processor so as long as they share the same socket type.
The Wrap Up!
Upgrading your laptop with a new processor is sadly not doable, but it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Newer laptops may not be able to get you this upgrade, but the laptop’s performance is already at part with new desktops. On the other hand, if you have an older laptop and your current processor is slowing down your computer’s performance, you could check if you have a LGA surface mounting or PGA surface mounting. If it has either, you have a chance of upgrading.
But then again, you’re probably still better off with purchasing a new laptop with a more powerful processor.
