Can you upgrade the CPU and GPU in your ROG Notebook? That's a good question and one that will be answered below. You will also find which models can be upgraded and what their max supported upgrade will be for both CPU/GPU. Please note that options for the GPU "Experimental" upgrades have been proven to work using certain models only. It's highly recommended that you have access to another PC and have an SPI programmer on hand in the event you brick your system when attempting to perform this kind of GPU upgrade. First, let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions throughout the ROG forum regarding notebook CPU/GPU upgrades.
I'd like more performance but I want to keep my current notebook. What's the best available upgrade for my CPU and GPU? This completely depends on the model of your notebook and its supported HW like a CPU socket (if available) and MXM slot (if available).
What do I need to know prior to upgrading the CPU/GPU? That it requires proper tools and a full notebook disassembly in order to replace either one. This means removing many screws, flex cables and various connectors to get access to the motherboard to do so; It would also be best to apply new thermal compound as the disassembly is rather time consuming with ROG Notebooks in comparison to other manufacturer notebooks.
Is the CPU/GPU upgrade just a drop-in replacement or does it involve modifications?
This is where a lot of the confusion comes from as the options available depend if your model of notebook has a user upgradeable CPU/GPU. You can easily upgrade the CPU/GPU within the same series so as long as they are upgradeable models. In the event where you have the highest model already but want to try the "Experimental" option for upgrading the GPU, then it will involve system BIOS/VBIOS modification, chassis modification and heatsink assembly modification to make it work. However, there is no guarantee that it will always work either, and some models this kind of upgrade is diving into unknown territory too. Using notebook models that do not have a user upgradeable CPU/GPU, may be able to benefit from using an eGPU setup instead. This is what everything is based on unfortunately, cost! Do you attempt upgrading CPU/GPU (if available), replacing stock with stock again (if existing HW is faulty), or do you upgrade to a newer model of notebook altogether? These are the kinds of questions you'll need to answer yourself.
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Clarksfield - G73SW, G73JW, G73JH, G53JW [CPU] rPGA 988A (Socket G1) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: i7-940XM
[!] SUPPORTED: i7-920XM, i7-840QM, i7-820QM, i7-740QM, i7-720QM
[GPU] Proprietary MXM PCB - MAX GPU UPGRADE:
Experimental as it requires chassis/heatsink assembly and BIOS/VBIOS modifications (SPI programmer recommended).
[+] 5870M to 770M GPU UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL:
HERE[!] NOT SUPPORTED: G-SYNC Maxwell or Pascal MXM GPUs.
Sandy Bridge - G74SX[CPU] rPGA 988B (Socket G2) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: i7-2960XM
[!] SUPPORTED: i7-2920XM, i7-2860QM, i7-2820QM, i7-2760QM, i7-2720QM, i7-2710QE, i7-2670QM, i7-2630QM
[!] XM CPU MODELS: Runs at base clock speed instead of Turbo Boost speed.
[GPU] BGA Package (Soldered) - MAX GPU UPGRADE: NONE AVAILABLE
[+] eGPU SETUP SUCCESSFUL:
HERESandy Bridge - G53SX, G53SW[CPU] rPGA 988B (Socket G2) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: i7-2960XM
[!] SUPPORTED: i7-2920XM, i7-2860QM, i7-2820QM, i7-2760QM, i7-2720QM, i7-2710QE, i7-2670QM, i7-2630QM
[!] XM CPU MODELS: Runs at base clock speed instead of Turbo Boost speed.
[GPU] Proprietary MXM PCB - MAX GPU UPGRADE:
Experimental as it requires chassis/heatsink assembly and BIOS/VBIOS modifications (SPI programmer recommended).
[+] 460M to 560M GPU UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL:
HERE[!] NOT SUPPORTED: G-SYNC Maxwell or Pascal MXM GPUs.
Ivy Bridge - G55VW, G46VW[CPU] rPGA 988B (Socket G2) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: i7-3940XM
[!] SUPPORTED: i7-3920XM, i7-3840XM, i7-3820XM, i7-3740QM, i7-3720QM, I7-3630QM, i7-3610QM
[GPU] BGA Package (Soldered) - MAX GPU UPGRADE: NONE AVAILABLE
[!] eGPU SETUP POSSIBLE
Ivy Bridge - G75VX, G75VW[CPU] rPGA 988B (Socket G2) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: i7-3940XM
[!] SUPPORTED: i7-3920XM, i7-3840XM, i7-3820XM, i7-3740QM, i7-3720QM, I7-3630QM, i7-3610QM
[GPU] Proprietary MXM PCB - MAX GPU UPGRADE:
Experimental as it requires chassis/heatsink assembly and BIOS/VBIOS modifications (SPI programmer recommended).
[+] eGPU SETUP SUCCESSFUL:
HERE[+] 660M to 780M GPU UPGRADE SEMI-SUCCESSFUL:
HERE[+] 660M/670M to 670MX GPU UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL:
HERE[!] NOT SUPPORTED: G-SYNC Maxwell or Pascal MXM GPUs.
Haswell - G750JZ, G750JH, G750JS, G750JX, G750JM, G750JW[CPU] BGA Package (Soldered) - MAX CPU UPGRADE: NONE AVAILABLE
[GPU] Proprietary MXM PCB - MAX GPU UPGRADE:
Experimental as it requires chassis/heatsink assembly and BIOS/VBIOS modifications (SPI programmer recommended).
[!] NOT SUPPORTED: G-SYNC Maxwell or Pascal MXM GPUs.
[!] OPTIMUS MODELS: Can only upgrade to other Optimus model GPUs as a system BIOS flash of the supported model is required as well.
[!] eGPU SETUP POSSIBLE
Haswell - G751JY, G751JT, G751JL, GL771JW, G551JW, G501JW[CPU/GPU] BGA Package (Soldered) - MAX CPU/GPU UPGRADE: NONE AVAILABLE
[!] eGPU SETUP POSSIBLE
Skylake - G701VI, G752VS, GL702VT, GL702VM, GL502VM, G752VY, G752VT, G752VL, GL752VW, GL552VW, GL552JX, G501VW[CPU/GPU] BGA Package (Soldered) - MAX CPU/GPU UPGRADE: NONE AVAILABLE
[!] eGPU SETUP POSSIBLE
