VGN-AW Quad Core Mod
Normally, the Sony VAIO VGN-AW does not support quad core CPUs, and installing one will result in the laptop not booting; however with 2 simple modifications, you can get a quad core CPU working in your VGN-AW. This will greatly improve performance and make it even more usable on modern operating systems such as Windows 10 or 11. It's almost like Sony wanted to make a quad core AW, as the heatsink will fit the 2 dies perfectly.
You have an option of 3 CPUs for this mod, which are:
- Core 2 Quad Q9000 - 2GHz, 6MB cache, 45W TDP (least expensive, can be found for less than $15 on AliExpress)
- Core 2 Quad Q9100 - 2.26GHz, 12MB cache, 45W TDP
- Core 2 Quad QX9300 - 2.53GHz, 12MB cache, 45W TDP (most expensive, but the fastest Socket P CPU ever made, also overclockable using ThrottleStop)
Items needed
- VGN-AW (any model, even a grey one!)
- Soldering iron
- CPU, this must be one you are willing to sacrifice as you need to break off various pins, if you are not confident practice on a low end CPU before doing this.
Procedure
- Disassemble your AW and remove the motherboard, this will require you to remove the bottom case as well as the keyboard.
- Remove the heatsink and take off the bracket underneath the CPU socket, this is held on with adhesive so may require some heat, this is because the point TP17 is underneath this bracket.
- Clean off the adhesive on point TP17 (circled in red) so that the solder can stick to it.
- Solder a wire from point TP17 (This is the pin D22 which is GTLREF_2 for the quad core CPUs) to the left side of R44 (This provides the GTLREF voltage for dual core CPUs) (do NOT get the sides mixed up or else the AW won't boot, as one side is ground)
- Reinstall the bracket on the motherboard and install the motherboard, the motherboard modding is now done.
- Break off the CPU pins on the 3rd picture, you can use a small flathead or mechanical pencil to bend the pin until it breaks.
- Reassemble the AW, make sure to apply thermal paste on both dies.
- Switch on the AW and if it boots you are done!
Result
Once the mod is complete, your AW should now be running a Core 2 Quad CPU. Congrats! Now you can enjoy the ultimate VGN-AW Sony never made. One thing you will notice is that it does run hotter than the standard Core 2 Duo CPU, idling at around 55c and running at 82c max when stressed (tested with a Q9000), however the AW is still very quiet with no noticeable fan noise. With the QX9300, things definitely get much hotter, with the CPU reaching up to 98c max when being stressed, the AW still remains quiet during normal usage. Here are some tips on how to keep your new Core 2 Quad running as good as the day you got it:
- Make sure to apply a good quality thermal paste to the AW, PTM7950 is a very good option as it completely eliminates pump-out on laptops. It is also a cheap option if you order from sites such as AliExpress. You want a thermal paste that is very viscous to prevent pump out, such as Gelid GC-Extreme.
- Slightly bend the screw points on the heatsink up slightly, this puts more pressure on the chips enabling better contact.
- Clean the cooling system of the AW regularly, at least once a year so that it stays running cool.
- Consider undervolting the CPU with a tool such as ThrottleStop.