The Other Holy Grail - Z61m Titanium loaded up...

[underclocker]

I finally got around to taking pictures of my beloved ThinkPad Z61m Titanium. It's the less common model with the titanium cover and integrated webcam, among the many firsts brought to the ThinkPad line by Lenovo with the Z series. I've also added a healthy dose of upgrades, including 4GB of RAM, just for the slight performance boost from dual channel memory mode, even though only 3GB are useable.



The two most glaring possibilities that are absent are 1) WUXGA LCD and 2) ATI V5200 GPU motherboard. I've tried the WUXGA LCD a couple of times, but I find the WSXGA+ more comfortable (actually perfect) for a 15.4" panel. Plus the installed LG version is quite bright with excellent contrast. I've also owned Z61p machines with the ATI V5200 GPU, however, after more than one attempt, I have found that only some ATI X1400 GPU motherboards support the webcam option. The webcam is more important to me than the upgraded video - and, as many of you know, the ATI X1400 GPU is just fine.



The full specifications and a link to larger pictures are below. Enjoy - this five year old ThinkPad is still a daily driver for me (of course, the SSD ensures it's as fast as newer ThinkPads)!



Link to larger version of pictures --> Z61m Titanium Pictures

Product: ThinkPad Z61m 9450-D6U
Original description:
Titanium cover
Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 1.66GHz (2mb cache) --> now Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 2.33GHz (4mb cache)
1GB RAM (1GB PC2-5300 x 1 stick) --> now 4GB RAM (2GB PC2-5300 x 2 sticks)
120GB 5400rpm HD --> now 80GB Intel G2 SSD
15.4in 1680x1050 LCD (by LG)
128MB ATI Radeon X1400 graphics chipset
CDRW/DVDRW optical drive
Intel 802.11abg wireless w/2 antennas--> now IBM/Atheros 802.11abgn wireless w/3 antennas
Bluetooth
Modem
1Gb Ethernet
UltraNav
Security Chip
IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
4-in-1 digital media reader
Fingerprint reader
Camera
6 cell Li-Ion battery --> now 9 cell Li-Ion battery
WinXP Pro COA
90w Lenovo AC adapter

[Harryc]

Very nice machine Ed. It's amazing how these (5) year old machines can easily keep up (or surpass) recent models as far as performance. That is just plain good engineering. Good luck with it, it's a beauty...from the owner of the Holy Grail .

[Tasurinchi]

That's a really nice one! Congrats!

I've also got a Z61m for the wife, unfortunately mines has the Ti lid in not such a good condition as yours, and my attempts to clean it make it actually worse. But it's still a beauty, very powerful (for the wife's needs), and great keyboard (the webcam is neat too), hopefully it will last long!

[dr_st]

A maxed out Z61m, very very nice!

I agree with you - for most practical purposes, (W)SXGA+ and X1400 is the sweet spot on these machines. They already suck so much juice.

The webcam, built-in card reader and higher resolutions are nice advantages when you compare the Z61m to the T60 (which fights back with a Flexview LCD). It's a pity these lovely Z-series machines are not very known. It would have been so much nicer if Lenovo continued this design trend in the T series.

So you changed the Intel ABG with Atheros ABGN, eh? I guess it means you no longer get the Centrino splash screen at POST. What does it say then - "Core 2 Duo inside"?

[underclocker]

@ Tasurinchi - While the titanium lids look great, there is a clear coat finish on them that wears off rather quickly. I'm also pretty sure that Windex does not help. The picture of mine doesn't tell the whole truth. I wiped it down for the picture, but the clear coat is somewhat worn. Fingerprints stand out quite a bit at this point. It'd be nice if there was some way to restore the clear coat.

@ dr_st - Yes, the POST splashscreen shows Intel Core 2 Duo inside. The same happens on T60's, etc. when you remove or replace the Intel wifi adapter. I also swapped in the third antenna for the N adapter. It's not really required, but I had it available. With these models, the protruding antenna on the right of the LCD cover was used for either N wifi or a WWAN adapter. Having both N wifi and WWAN wasn't an option. However, it is possible, you just need to be a little creative with antennas.

I also completely agree with you on design. Lenovo should have continued with the more sleek Z61t/Z61m designs for the T series.

[Tasurinchi]

I'm also pretty sure that Windex does not help. The picture of mine doesn't tell the whole truth

Well, mine needs heavy photoshop to make it look closer as yours...

Anyhow it's purely cosmetics, I know, but I hope some days I can fix the painting or get a new lid. I've read some threads here in this forum but if I remember correctly there is no easy way to fix it.

I have a WUXGA screen from a T61p lying around and thought of replacing the WSXGA+, but I was too lazy to disassemble the whole lid and my wife really doesn't care. Even more, she increased the icon size in Win7 so (to me) looks like it would have a WXGA resolution

[schen]

I ended up with one of Ed's previous Z61m machines....I guess you could call it, Holy Grail 0.5 (beta). I've have been scratching my head ever since on what to do with the titanium lid issue. Ideally, what I'd liked to have happen is to separate the metal shell from the underlying plastic. Unfortunately, it just doesn't look like those two pieces can be taken apart without breakage and/or bending.

Then I moved to "Plan B" looking for a way to anodize after I read that you can do that without removing the plastic. However, I really want it to be black and apparently black is VERY, VERY hard to do and finding somebody who'll do it is next to impossible.

Now, I'm on to "Plan C".....whatever that is. Still not finished with mine, but now Ed has given me something to shoot for!

[Tasurinchi]

Now, I'm on to "Plan C".....whatever that is. Still not finished with mine, but now Ed has given me something to shoot for!

Hopefully you can make plan "C" work soon, and please please please share it in this forum

[ajkula66]

Ed,

A stunning unit. I've never seen a Titanium Z6xm anywhere near that condition, and I've seen quite a few.

If you ever encounter a moment of insanity that would prompt you to part with it, please remember me...

[underclocker]

Thanks for the nice comments. You guys are too funny.

I'm thinking that the only way I'd swap out this unit is for another rare ThinkPad. W700ds or W701ds models are getting mighty attractive on the used market.

However, it might be a while, I'm really happy with the Z61m.

[ZaZ]

I loved the titanium lid on the Z61m, but the others are right, it scratched too easily. That thing was a tank too.

[underclocker]

That thing was a tank too.

C'mon, with the 9 cell battery, mine only weighs 7 lbs. 3.5 oz.! Which is why it's pictured in a dock!

[ZaZ]

Actually, I meant construction wise, not weight.

[underclocker]

Indeed. I can tell you that there absolutely no palmrest flex on this machine - or flex anywhere else. However, constructing like a tank definitely made it heavy. Even the titanium lid adds rigidity plus weight over the black plastic lid. Another ThinkTank.

[schen]

Indeed. I can tell you that there absolutely no palmrest flex on this machine - or flex anywhere else. However, constructing like a tank definitely made it heavy. Even the titanium lid adds rigidity plus weight over the black plastic lid. Another ThinkTank.

Just my opinion of course, but it seems to me that the only other ThinkPad that I've owned more solid was one of the 600 series.