Should I go with a T41, T42, T43 or R52?

[ParatoOptimal]

I have a T41 that I've yet to finish getting parts to put it together.
I have an opportunity to maybe buy a T42, T43 or R52 at auction if they don't sky rocket in price. All of them need parts.
I believe some would say I should go with a T61 but I haven't seen any or any at the auction prices of the models listed above. What would you suggest?

Thank you for you input and wisdom.

[underclocker]

A T43 with Intel integrated graphics (vs. ATI discrete graphics) would be my $100 or so machine top pick.

$200 and up, any T60, Z61t or Z61m would be very nice or even an Intel graphics R61 would be a good pick.

In the $300 neighborhood, you could find an Intel graphics T61 in 14", 14" WS or 15.4" WS. This permit use of over 3GB of RAM and they are generally fast machines.

[billp117]

I would favor the T43 if you can get it at a good price. But your T41 parts all interchange with a T42...possible savings of $$.

If you can find a nice T43p that is a swell ThinkPad and supports Windows 7 perfectly.

[w0qj]

Just avoid any machines with a discrete GPU, these kinds of machines are probably being sold precisely of this problem.
I know, my T42 is sitting unused, I LOVE the 4:3 LCD high resolution screen, but this discrete GPU coming loose means it cannot be safely used anymore (I've even had my HDD corrupted because of this, needed to reformat HDD).

The T43 you need a recent a after-market user-designed custom BIOS in order to accomodate new (larger) non-OEM PATA hard drives.
Some swear that this works, but at the end of the day, this user-designed BIOS is designed neither IBM nor Lenovo.

If you really wish to use T4x series, suggest you look for a T42/T41/T40 with *no* discrete GPU.


As a user of T42 with discrete GPU, I wish I knew of this issue before I bought it!
If I had the chance to start all over again back in time, I would have bought a T42 with *no* discrete GPU.
Yes, I like my T42 this much!

[T400plus]

dont buy a 400Mhz fsb.Old parts will murder you with their price.
533 Mhz scrap(working of course) is cheaper.
before deciding check for part availibity at resonable price.

[RealBlackStuff]

Check the R52 machines on my website "The Board Room" http://www.theboardroom.info/stock.htm
They don't come much better/cheaper than that.

[ParatoOptimal]

This is what I have to choose from ...

R52 - Type 1847
R52 - Type 1849
R52 - Type 1860
T42 - Type 2378
T43 - Type 2668

They're either 1.7, 1.86 or 2.0GHz Pentium-M.
If memory serves, the T42's are 1.7, the R52's are 1.86 and the T43's are 2.0.

[MnR]

Hi,

I have both a T43 (2668) and a R52 (1860). I like the R series now better then the T series. 1.8ghz Processor would be the sweet spot as it runs cool. If it has Intel graphics great.

I would take RBS up on his offer as his products are excellent.

MnR

[ParatoOptimal]

I have no further info on the models as to what the GPUs are.
Do I stand to gain with any of these models over the T41 I've been working on?
I got a sweet 9-cell bat from ebay on a tip from a forum member.
The right edge of my T41 looks like someone ran steel over the edge and gouged it a bit.
The cover is worn and there's a cut in one corner of the cover.
I got it from the same auctions some time ago.
The auction TPs are rated fair or good. I can return a "fair" rated one if it's not up to my expectations.
The worn T41 I got was rated as GOOD. It has the original 40-GB HDD with hidden partition with XP.
Installing XP from the partition fails. The HDD tests good with Hitachi's software. I'm going to run memtest to see if the RAM is causing the failed OS install. I'd prefer to put W7 on it but would like to hold on to the hidden partition (back it up) if it works.

[T400plus]

oh you already have a 400 fsb T41.Then just soup it up .
memory----(a little expensive...)
HD --replace the current IBM quality (I guess) with a single platter 160 GB HDtoavoid
overheating if environment is not comfortably cool.
Get a dothan 1.7 Dothan cpu (cheap).
The other 400 fsb dothan cpus (expensive are 1.8,2.0 and 2.1).the 533 Mhz fsb cpus are far cheaper.
I have done that with my old T41 and dont feellike touching my T400 with 4GB.--wxga+
If you like tiny letters then you may scout for a SXGA+ which mayl work with the same inverter.
--Good luck and have Fun..

[RealBlackStuff]

Forget about the T42, it's just like the T41.
Your choice should only be between T43 and R52.
Only the case material, dimensions (and Firewire on R5x only) are different between them.

There are 14.1" and 15" models, with discrete ATI or integrated Intel graphics, XGA, SXGA+ or UXGA LCD.
What is your selection here?

[phoenix34]

I have been using a T43 with the ATI X300 discrete GPU as my main computer for the last year (w/ 2GB ram), and I have loved it. For a 2005 era machine, it can handle nearly any 2011 task flawlessly with pep. I think it the most cost effective and future proof of your options.