Acer Notebook (5002 LMi)

[Michael Orlich]

New member post: I own an Acer Aspire 5002 LMi. Good unit and overall I am very happy with it as my first laptop purchase. I have a question for any other owners with this unit.

This model came with an Amd Turion 30 ML. Will the Lugano M motherboard on this model support a processor upgrade in the future to a Turion 37 ML or 40 ML using the same heat sink and fan? Would there be any bios issues? It's still under warranty so any upgrade would be in the future after the warranty expires. From what I've learned so far, Acer apparently put a lockout on the bios to prevent upgrades using any Turion MT model processors.

[adinu]

I dont think there should be any bios or the like problems, and Im pretty sure that the MTs will work too. But all u gotta do is get an ML and undervolt it and it will run cooler than any MT.

I opened up my 5000 to check the cpu, and it looks like its hard to get to the last screw that holds the heatsink together. Two screws are out in the open, but the third is underneath a part of the chassis, so the only way to get to it with a screwdriver is to drill a hole in the plastic thats over the screw. I dont know if thats done on purpose to prevent pple from takin the heatsink off and thus replacing the cpu.

But as far as compatability, the higher cpus will work just fine.

[Michael Orlich]

Thanks for the reply. I had read about the third screw issue at another web site and it appears it is deliberate on the part of Acer to discourage upgrading on your own. My primary concern was whether or not the original heat sink and fan would handle a faster processor in the ML series. From what I've gathered, Acer is like most manufacturers. They would rather sell you a new system then provide upgrade support. Additionally, I've run into threads discussing the bios block on a couple of other sites. Ram and harddrive upgrades on the 5002 LMi are simple (already installed a 7200 rpm Hitachi and max'd my ram). Simply trying to make sure I can get the longest practical service life out of an expensive device.

Question: How will under-volting affect performance?

[adinu]

It wont, undervolting is simply changing the voltage to the cpu, it has nothin to do with speed and performance. Acer tends to over volt their cpus, as my ml-30 came at 1.45, and now im running 1.175 with no problems for a year. But it runs about 15 degrees cooler at max load.

[Filippo]

I dont think there should be any bios or the like problems, and Im pretty sure that the MTs will work too. But all u gotta do is get an ML and undervolt it and it will run cooler than any MT.

I'm pretty sure that the MT chips do NOT work

[adinu]

I'm pretty sure that the MT chips do NOT work

You tried it in a 5002?

[Michael Orlich]

Thank you both for your relies. I don't see being limited to the ML series as a particular draw-back. Since dual core will the the next wave, the ML series gives me a pretty good picture of the optimized potential performance for my 5002 LMi. I'll just need to wait until I can pick up an ML 40 at the right price and then make sure I carefully install with detailed attention to the heat sink and cooling medium such as Arctic Silver.

Does my unit use a heat pad between the sink and the CPU?
Mike in Olathe.

[adinu]

Like I said before, if u undervolt, heat should not be a problem even with a faster cpu. My cpu as it came out of the box maxed out at 68 degrees celcius. Undervolted it stays at 55 max, so an undervolted ml-40 should not exceed 64-65 which is still cooler than a OEM ml-30.

I dont know baout the heating pad, as I never took off my hs.

[Michael Orlich]

Has anyone out there made a processor upgrade to their Acer Aspire 5002 LMi?

[Filippo]

You tried it in a 5002?
No but I read about it.

[adinu]

No but I read about it.

Well I read about it too, and the info revealed MTs working.

[Michael Orlich]

Thanks guys. Can you send me the link for the post or thread you read about the successful processor upgrade for an Acer Aspire 5002 LMi?