VAIO UX gets hot-rodded with Core 2 Duo mod

Sony's VAIO UX UMPC is definitely one of the sexier handheld PCs out there, but it's never been accused of being a rocket -- even the latest models only offer a lonely single-core 1.2GHz Core 2 Solo for your $2500, and since the chip is soldered onto the board, swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo isn't exactly easy, requiring an infrared soldering station and plenty of experience swapping chips. Nevertheless, it can be done, and Anh Nguyen from the Micro PC Talk forums pulled it off, upgrading his unit to a 1.2GHz U7600 Core 2 Duo with no ill effects or excess heat -- just some better benchmarks and hardcore modder bragging rights. Check out benchmarks after the break, and hit the read link for more.

[Thanks, Logan]

[Krush @ Aug 29th 2008 7:08PM]

Someone set up us he bomb!!

[Hotrod @ Aug 29th 2008 9:36PM]

Yes, I totally understand.

[Mile @ Aug 29th 2008 7:12PM]

>>
swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo exactly easy
>>

Kewl! I was afraid it would be hard or impossible!

[GatgetMan @ Aug 29th 2008 8:03PM]

Note how putting another core in there has "No ill effects or excess heat" on the Sony, but to get the Macbook Air to run cool enough to keep it from throttling, I had to install a copper plate!

http://www.listed1st.com/Copper_Air.php

[crispy @ Aug 29th 2008 7:12PM]

"and since the chip is soldered onto the board, swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo exactly easy,"

This is missing an "isn't" is it not? Also, I'm not familar with what chips will fit in that Sony umpc I wonder if that's the beefest one he could have fit in there.

[tumnasgt @ Aug 29th 2008 7:13PM]

"swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo exactly easy" I think is supposed to say "isn't exactly easy"

[Marc @ Aug 29th 2008 7:14PM]

'swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo "Isn't" exactly easy'

Please forgive this anal retentive reader but I believe there is a missing word in the above segment. I guessed the word and added it with quotation marks. Feel free to delete this post.

[Byzil Mystwing @ Aug 29th 2008 7:14PM]

those are some sexy beckmarks~

[Pumping_Iron @ Aug 29th 2008 7:22PM]

kinky
nerd.
:P

[Danny @ Aug 29th 2008 7:14PM]

http://www.shortfinal.org/photo/benchmark.jpg

is the original Benchmark with stock CPU before the Mod

[Lee @ Aug 29th 2008 7:16PM]

Yep, those are some "hardocre" "beckmarks".

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 29th 2008 7:22PM]

Hahaha, I feel stupid. I have know idea what any of the things means but all I know it would be faster. I need to up my computer literacy. . . . I know tons just there are huge wide holes that need to be patched.

[phanbouy @ Aug 29th 2008 7:32PM]

you can safely remove the word "computer" from that statement.

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 29th 2008 10:26PM]

Well I kinda do but I need to still patch the holes. . . .

[dark star @ Aug 29th 2008 7:33PM]

far from sexy! that sony handheld is an abomination.
the oqo 02 is so much sleeker. congrats to Anh Nguyen though!

[Muhammed @ Aug 29th 2008 7:40PM]

so what?
he forgot a word, big deal.
so what do you think of the article instead of bitchin about a missing word?

[wootman @ Aug 30th 2008 1:21AM]

Erm, what do you?

[Muhammed @ Aug 30th 2008 1:56PM]

I think that sony should have this mod producable, as long as there are no heat effects, though it seems your question is just sarcastic.

[Reece @ Aug 29th 2008 8:04PM]

That playa's got some mad skills, yo.

[Logan @ Aug 29th 2008 11:26PM]

Pretty chill! Thanks for the credits EnG!

[AR @ Aug 30th 2008 7:43AM]

Now someone rip apart the OQO2 and put a Nano in there and I think I will have an orgasm.

[Games GOblin @ Aug 30th 2008 11:32AM]

Hats off to the Modder, but couldn't he have at least wiped down the thing before taking the all important picture?

[Jeff Parker @ Oct 17th 2008 2:27PM]

Anh modded my UX490N for me. I have a bit more information in a post over at MicroPCTalk.com here is the link http://micropctalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4754

Here is the unmodified UX490N benchmark
http://computercowboy.com/images/UX490N_Unmodified_XP_Pro.JPG

[Jeff Parker @ Oct 17th 2008 2:28PM]

Here is the benchmark Anh took after modding my unit
http://computercowboy.com/images/UX490N_Modded_U7600_XP_Pro.JPG

and here is my benchmark after making some tweaks to XP
http://computercowboy.com/images/UX490N_Modded_U7600_XP_Pro_clean.JPG

and here is my benchmark with Windows Server 2008 installed
http://computercowboy.com/images/490N_Windows_2008_Benchmark.jpg