I'm looking into buying an Asus G53JW laptop. When I was customizing it I noticed that it INCLUDED an Intel® Core™ i7-940XM Extreme processor. While this is still a high-end processor that I think I could live with I would rather have an i7-990x instead. The reason being, the extra 2 cores. While it looks like the two should be interchangeable and I will post the specs for each below, I would like to know if it is actually possible and a smart decision before I go ahead and purchase it.

Intel® Core™ i7-940XM Processor Extreme Edition
(8M Cache, 2.13 GHz)

SPECIFICATIONS
Essentials
STATUS Launched
Launch Date Q3'10
Processor Number i7-940XM
# of Cores 4
# of Threads 8
Clock Speed 2.13 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.33 GHz
Intel® Smart Cache 8 MB
Bus/Core Ratio 16
DMI 2.5 GT/s
Instruction Set 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.2
Embedded Options Available No
Lithography 45 nm
Max TDP 55 W
Tray 1ku BUDGETARY Price $1096.00

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type) 8 GB
Memory Types DDR3-1066/1333
# of Memory Channels 2
Max Memory Bandwidth 21 GB/s
PHYSICAL Address Extensions 36-bit
ECC Memory Supported No

Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics No

Expansion Options
PCI Express Revision 2
PCI Express Configurations 1x16, 2x8
# of PCI Express Ports 1

Package Specifications
Max CPU Configuration 1
TJUNCTION 100°C
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Processing Die Size 296 mm2
# of Processing Die Transistors 774 million
Sockets Supported PGA988
Halogen Free Options Available Yes

Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology Yes
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) Yes
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology Yes
AES New Instructions No
Intel® 64 Yes
Idle States Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology Yes
Intel® Demand Based Switching No
Thermal Monitoring Technologies Yes
Execute Disable Bit Yes

Intel® Core™ i7-990X Processor Extreme Edition
(12M Cache, 3.46 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI)

Essentials
Processor Number i7-990X 
Launch Date Q1'11
# of Cores 6
# of Threads 12
Clock Speed 3.46 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.73 GHz
Cache 12.0 MB
Instruction Set 64-bit
Lithography 32 nm 
Bus Type QPI

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type) 24 GB
Memory Types DDR3-1066
# of Memory Channels 3
Max Memory Bandwidth 25.6

Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics No

Advanced Technologies
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology 
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

Finally, the laptop will have a 1.5g graphics CARD installed in it regardless.

Thanks,Laptop (mobile) & desktop processors are not interchangeable. Quote from: Computer_Commando on April 09, 2011, 04:57:06 PM

Laptop (mobile) & desktop processors are not interchangeable.