Going to max-out my T41...... opinions

[Jricks]

Hi

i want to upgrade my T41 so it can live an extra 3-4 years (maybe more) without the need to buy a modern computer (Core 2 Duo etc, etc). My line of work doesn't demand a powerful computer, so i thought it's best to upgrade rather than buy. I've searched around here and there to see how to go and what will work. But seeing as i`m weak in hardware and never upgraded anything (except ram), i need opinions and somehow confirmation from people who have upgraded before.

1- Processor: according to http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Pentium_M_(Dothan) any Dothan with a 400 mhz FSB will work on my machine. Seeing as i have a 1.6 ghz Banias, is it true that i will see a perfomance boost if i choose a Dothan with the same 1.6 ghz? I've read that the 2 ghz and 2.1 ghz Dothan produces alot of heat, how true is that and how can it be manageable? Will proper CPU stepping work to reduce heat and power consumption? I can go with a 1.8 ghz dothan, but as i`m already going to buy and upgrade, i keep telling my self just get the max processor. Any advice here will be helpful.

2- Ram : nothing much needed here as 2 gb is the maximum and it's pretty cheap where i am. 1 gb 2700 mhz stick costs $15.

3- Hard Drive: i currently own a hitachi 40 gb 5400 rpm (the one that came with the purchase) and really haven't used it's 40 gb. I'm thinking of getting a 7200 rpm model regardless of size, what brands are best? especially ones that don't produce the clicking-noise?

4- Fan: i have the short one, and all my heat problems (and noise) are coming from the internal mini-pci and GPU. So getting a long fan is a must. I've read here that the M10 has a bigger GPU covering thingy, and the M24 has a bigger pipe from the GPU thingy. What really is better?

5- Wireless: currently mine is Intel B (11mpbs), When at work don't use it as i use the lan cable, but at home i upgraded my connection to a speed that is way more than 11 mbps, so i need a new card that does more. As the Thinkpad is specific about firmware + the heat issue, i want to go with the PCMCIA wireless. I don't know really what to get as there is Type I, II, III? Also i want to remove the mini-pci wireless and disable it in Bios, what do i do with the (Main-AUX) cables? Do i need to cover them with something or they won't harm the motherboard ? Is turning off the device in the Bios sufficient?

6- Thermal compound: Artic Silver, Zalman etc.... will apply to the CPU. But the GPU, do i have to apply thermal compund to it or the pink-rubber thing on the long fan works better? The GPU is used alot as i run Compiz Fusion on my OS.

7- Bios & ECP: i have the latest version for my T41, but when i do the upgrades, do i need to do anything? Like when i get the fan that is for the T42p or the T43p do i need to have the Bios & ECP for those machines? or it's already compatible?

8- Did i leave out anything?

[Harryc]

There are a ton of threads on this very topic in the forum. Try a forum search. Some examples;

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=62798
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=61534
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71413
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=56288

The larger search -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clie ... tnG=Search

[underclocker]

8- Did i leave out anything?

Only one thing! If you sell your machine for $200 and take the $200 you are about to spend in upgrades, you can buy a nice used T60 with warranty remaining that will blow away any T4x machine. (U.S. / eBay prices used.)

[Jricks]

There are a ton of threads on this very topic in the forum. Try a forum search. Some examples;

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=62798
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=61534
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71413
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=56288

The larger search -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clie ... tnG=Search

With all respect harryc,

i have searched and found answers. But right now i`m in a state where i need direct answers to my questions from users who upgraded, seeing as i`m going to spend alot of money in upgrading.. Think of it like when you are in a shop, and found an expensive t-shirt you like, you tried it on and need the opinion of your friend to buy it or not, and say it's worth it or not. I hope i managed to describe to you my situation. If somehow i went against forum policy , then i`m sorry. Please understand i mean no kind of dis-respect whatsoever to you or the board members. cheers

[Jricks]

underclocker:

i have thought of that at first. But seeing as it is actually my first ever computer that i bought from my own money, it holds a special place in my heart and till now it runs and looks like when i bought it new three years ago. It is hard just to let it go.

[Harryc]

Jricks, it's not about forum rules, it's about courtesy for members here who read the forums daily, some for years. We see the same information posted over and over again and it takes up personal time to go through those threads with duplicate information. Do you understand now why it may be a good idea to get as many answers on your own before requesting duplicate information?. If I have to go through posts for you and pull the answer to each of your questions to prove my point I will. The answers exist on the forum. Believe me.

[Jricks]

Harryc, i get it know. I have no right to argue further. Do as you wish with the thread, i won't complain.
I sincerely apologize
all the best

[findrivr]

I go along with the opinion of saving your upgrade $$, sell your system [regardless of your sentimentality, but I understand its like a very well used baseball glove or surfboard] and use the total to buy an updated system, whether T60 or otherwise.
I suggest sticking w/XP o/s; I bought an SL4000 for my wife for xmas and I don't like Vista o/s structure- it's not as 'usable' as XP. For example, changing Windows Appearance is WIndows>Control Panel>Display>Appearance in XP, but in Vista, its not ALL accessible via one folder. Also, if you're a keyboard command user [vs. mouser] many of the keystrke combos for MENU pulldowns are either not active or accessed different than from XP...too much user adjustment.
Well, I didn't intend to derail the topic to Vista issues, but stick with XP Pro, if you've grown to like it.

Also, if you go for a new system, Lenovo [ and some secondary resellers] always have pre-configured units that were deliverd and returned, but never used, for whatever reason and you buy this at almost 25% discount, of course they're pre-configured. If you buy one of these and it comes with Vista, be aware thats its a PITA to downgrade to XP, unless its Vista Businees with the XP downgrade media included [its a Microsoft thing, not Lenovo].
That's it though.
One other reason to go new is the WXGA displays- they're nice. Even look at the matte finishes, if the glossy finish annoys you.
That's all I know. Good luck.

[Beaver]

Win sucks Just 1.8 GHz Dothan + 2GB RAM and long fan and you are done. For the HDD you can buy the new 5400rpm as well as used 7200 Hitachi, probably it will have about the same performance but with the brand new drive you will have also warranty.

About the WiFi - if you want to take out the internal one, you should maybe put same isolation tape on the ends of the cables, or use the heat-shrinking tube (used to isolate the soldered wires etc.). PCMCIA card will be probably the type II (type I is old and type III is the double size - taking two slots) I think you can't buy anything else today But the wrong thing is the fact that it will be sticking out of the PCMCIA slot.

[dr_st]

I have to agree with underclocker here. Maxing out all the components will cost you more than a new machine, and will only take you so far. Of course you can win back some of the costs by selling your old parts on eBay, but you are still unlikely to get your money's worth for them.

Needless to mention, that I would feel uncomfortable dumping cash on maxing out a machine that's likely to die from the GPU failure within the span of those 3-4 years you hope to keep it.

However, I like few others understand the emotional attachment one can have for a laptop. Therefore, if you absolutely don't want to sell, I would advise, that you just stay with it for a while without upgrading, save some money, then buy the used T60/Z61/T61/whatever you can afford at the time.

Whatever the 2.1GHz Dothan would do, the 1.6GHz Banias would do just as well, only a tad slower. If you can live with the first, you can live with the second. Same goes about the 5400RPM vs. 7200RPM drive. RAM - yes, you should get the full 2GB if you can get it cheap, and you'll be all set. Other than that, it's really not a good use of money to upgrade such an old machine.

My two cents.

[Jricks]

Seeing as the majority here goes against the upgrade... I spent the entire evening yesterday hitting computer stores to see cost vs it's and old T41 and if it's worth it. In the "brand new" stuff , 2 gb ram samsung + belkin 'N or G forgot' wireless will cost around $50 that i`m going to get . the hard disk i will forget about (until mine dies) as they are like $50 for 5400rpm and $80 for 7200rpm and don't need the space they offer. As for the processor, i couldn't find new or used here specific for my machine. I found 533 Dothans and up and they cost like $40 for a 2 ghz!!!! no one here buys used and the sellers are begging for someone to buy! I've decided to forget about the cpu until by chance i find one that's under $50. As for the fan couldn't find here, and getting the fan is a must. Maybe i forgot to mention i live in Saudi Arabia where there is no IBM/Lenovo spare parts. Just dealers who sell new and tell you i don't care what happens next! and the sad thing is this applies only to Thinkpads! anyway .... i`ve decided to keep my T41 and spend around $50 for ram and wireless + around $30-$50 for a long fan. I came to a conclusion that if i sell my T41 for let's say maximum $200 'based on ebay-craigslist-here' and take the $100 in upgrades that will total $300, all that i could find for $300 are T40-T42 machines and most are like mine with almost base specs and their usage are uncertain. So i decided to keep my machine and put around $100 max. following the saying of "A bird in a hand or a monkey on a tree thing" it may sound stupid but this is the way i can go with to have a machine that fits my needs without sacrificing my own hand-usage from new T41 and not feeling guilt spending more than $200 on maximum upgrades on an old machine that will die from GPU according to 'dr_st' .

I would like to thank everyone for their opinion that i really respect and appreciate. I especially thank "Beaver" for the isolation tape tip.

PS. the Fan will get from US/Canada through friends of mine in Canada when we meet together so no costly Int. shipping! any knowledge in where to get other than IBM vendors because when i e-mailed them they told me it costs $70!! that will be helpful.

To dr_st: seeing as your from Israel, and Banias and Dothan are made in Intel-Israel, any idea if they have cpus laying around? before you ask, I`m from a town called Abu Gosh near Yurshalim 'mind the spelling' and hold the Dark Blue pass & a tizahot. just in general knowledge so i can get my hopes up in the summer ! or not

[Beaver]

Regarding my T40p - I am planning to buy 1.8 Ghz Dothan CPU "someday" as this seems to be best option when considering power/heat/cost. Also for now I am happy with 1GB RAM, but probably I will upgrade to 2 GB (2x1GB) if there will be some PC2100 RAM for good price available... And 40 GB HDD is for me enough

[NorrisCell]

... 1.8 Ghz Dothan CPU "someday" as this seems to be best option when considering power/heat/cost...

I agree with that completely. I've run every 400 FSB Dothan minus the 2.1 and the 1.8 is the best overall balance between cost, heat, and performance.

[Aroc]

Understood RE: the sentiment thing. My T43 was the first computer I paid cash for (not counting my first computer I received in 1986), didn't buy on credit, or financed through school. I also built my own from a CTO open bay, so I bought my own parts and O/S.

1. I'd get the long fan that everyone talks about (assuming it'll work in a T41). I don't have any specifics.

2. Get the 1.8 (best value) or 2.1 Ghz dothan (best performance). If the machine is only going to be used for web+office+email. The 1.8 is probably fine and will consume less power and generate heat on the go. If you plan to run other apps (most kids do these days) or otherwise bloat it down, get the 2.1+.

3. Get a new, genuine Lenovo 9-cell battery.

4. Get a new hard disk. Even a current model 5400 rpm (the new PATA ones are pretty quick, and come in huge sizes).

5. Get a new keyboard. And yes, the Thai NMB is worth it.

6. Get some microfiber cloths and some proper screen cleaning gel (the gel cleans both the screen and the rubberized coating the lid very well). I use the Alsop stuff, but any maker should be fine. I get the $10 bag of microfiber towels from Sam's Club.

7. Get both the DVD+RW writer as well as the travel spacer (helps to reduce weight if you don't need to cart the drive with you, especially if you get the 9-cell battery).

8. Either a recent Atheros 802.11ABG or the Intel 2915ABG would be a good upgrade. I have the Atheros in my T43, but have Intel cards in the other machines.

Even if I were to buy a used machine, I'd probably replace the keyboard and the hard disk anyway (I also replace the toilet seat when I buy a new house, same reason) since I'm just weird. A used machine might also need a new battery so factor that in as well. The only caveat to all of this - and this was already brought up - is the possibility of a GPU solder issue. I only switched from my T43 for two reasons. I wanted x64 support as well as >2GiB RAM support both of which the T61p does. Otherwise my T43 is plenty fast for most uses.

[Beaver]

Agreed + I replaced toilet seat as well