Thread for bart3k - T61 Upgrades

[ScottyBoy]

Hi Bart3k, as per my PM I thought it best to post a thread here for you on the forum to get input from other members...that way you get more input from the vast pool of talented members here rather than limiting yourself to my POV!

Replacing the Keyboard
It would be fairly straightforward to switch over the keyboard from your faulty T61p (15.4" WS) with the replacement T61 (14.1" WS) to support your keyboard language requirements - if you want I can post in a link to the official Lenovo Hardware Maintenance Manual for you (your TP is a CTO based on Product ID 7661-YEF), so you have a guide to refer to but also there's the Lenovo Service Videos as well (I'll need to hunt out the link for that as well).

CPU Upgrade
My tuppence worth would be to upgrade the CPU to an Intel C2D T9300 but saying that it all depends completely upon what your going to be running on your TP - the working T61 comes with a T8100 CPU (I installed that previously), which is still decent CPU IMHO especially for day-to-day work but saying that you also have the T7700 CPU in the faulty T61p...both CPUs have pro's and con's. Again the Lenovo Hardware Maintenance Manual & Service Videos are ideal steps to follow on how to do the CPU replacement if you go for it...it looks difficult but it is actually a very straightforward process but if you take your time, document which screws go where, use a decent thermal paste cleaner and a decent thermal paste (Artic Silver 5 is the bee's knees!) you'll get there in end.

Bear in mind that if you do install an SSD into your T61 that will provide a good performance increase as well, as it will make the TP a lot more snappier in the OS - I see that with the T61, X61, R500 TPs that are my main machines that I work off of.

SSD Upgrade
The ones I personally stick to are the Crucial M4 SSD Series but I use the 256GB models - I have used Kingston SSDs in the past but I have had occasional problems were the onboard SATA Controller wouldn't pick-up the SSD during POST...of course this was older models, plus Kingston have released updated firmware which has improved performance; a mate of mine swears by them for his X60 and X61s TPs.

From the three you've listed (links below) I would suggest considering the Crucial M4 SSD...it's an older model BUT they are pretty reliable (that's just my tuppence worth! lol) and I've had decent support from Crucial, in terms of a replacement (only had the one die on me, knock on wood!) and firmware updates, also you get a few more gigabytes worth of storage - the SanDisk SSD is decent enough but I'm not to keen on OCZ SSDs, as I personally have had a few duds (a pain to get replacements) and also friends, family & previous co-workers have had the same as well...although saying that new firmware releases have addressed some issues.

Forgot to mention remember your TP has the Middleton BIOS installed, so you'll get native SATA-300 speeds for the SATA Controller.

SanDisk SDSSDX-120G-G25 120GB Extreme SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5in Internal Solid State Drive: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Crucial CT128M4SSD2 128GB M4 SSD: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

OCZ AGT3-25SAT3-120G Agility 3 120GB SATA III 2.5 inch SSD: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Bear in mind as well that you can easily purchase a cheap 2nd HDD Caddy as well, so you can re-use the HDD in the Ultrabay (Slim) to give you more internal disk storage or look at external storage solutions.

I hope that's of some help to you but also I'm sure other members will also post in their respective comments and input as well.

Cheers, SB

EDIT: Forgot to ask do you have a budget in mind for the upgrades?

[halfcard1]

post deleted

[bart3k]

Thanks Paul for all the info!

SSD upgrade
I was thinking of starting with SSD upgrade as it's less invasive. After some time spent on the forum I have added Intel Series 330 and Samsung 830 to my list of SSD to consider. I know that T61 can't use all of the features of this ssd's but as I am planning to buy one more laptop in the near future, I want to make this purchase future-proof My budget for the SSD upgrade would be max 100£. How Intel Series 520 compare to 330, is it something else than 5 year guarantee and is it worth spending more money on this one?

I have already ordered a 2nd hdd caddy on the ebay

CPU upgrade
Based on my experience of using T61p with T7700, current performance of T7100 seems like it could be improved The easy way would be to move my old T7700 to T61, but I remember from our meeting that this could produce too much heat and is not recommended. I found some T9300 on the ebay in the range of 40-80£, so maybe I would follow this route. The only thing is that I have never replaced CPU by myself and I am a bit worried that I can broke something during the operation and end with no cpu at all :] anyway I found some great documents during browsing this forum so maybe I will follow.

What's the difference between SLAQG and SLAYY T9300 and which one should I buy for the T61?


Thanks all for your response so far! Also I would like to say that I am _very_ happy with my T61 I got this Monday from ScottyBoy (Paul). The T61 is running perfectly well and I am able to use my old os setup as we put my old hdd into it.

Bartek

[ajkula66]

about ssd speed, i heard only boot up and shut down get faster, that the programs will not.

You heard wrong.

about cpu speeds, i saw this comparison:

Your point being exactly what?

[miro_gt]

check out a thread that I started long time ago about CPU upgrade, lots of good info there

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/ ... y-t61.html

[Radioguy]

Is there much, if any, point in going with any SATA III drive? You cite the Sandisk SATA III Extreme, but its speed will be capped to the same as the cheaper SATA II Ultra (which I have, and have lucked out with). Even if not Sandisk, I still wonder if there's any point in an SATA III drive for the same limitations, not to mention lower cost of SATA II drives.

[bart3k]

Radioguy
If by SATA II version you meant this one: SanDisk SDSSDH-120G-G25 120GB Ultra SATA 2.5in Internal SSD
then they both are in the same prices:

SanDisk SDSSDH-120G-G25 120GB Ultra SATA 2.5in Internal SSD
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... dition=new

SanDisk SDSSDX-120G-G25 120GB Extreme SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5in Internal Solid State Drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... dition=new

Also I might buy a new laptop in the future that I would like to use SSD in, so I would like to make it future proof

edit: I found also this one + it's a lot cheaper so maybe you were talking about this one:

SanDisk 128GB 2.5 inch Solid State Drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listin ... dition=new

miro_gt
Thanks! I will have a look at the thread you posted.

Bartek

[Radioguy]

Firstly, I apologize...I mean apologise for not seeing that you were in the UK.

As for your links: No, the last one is their original basic model which was discontinued some time ago. Also if you visit those links, you'll see the one I meant (the first you listed) is actually shown to be cheaper than the latter Extreme you listed. Likewise, you would find that here in the States that SATA II drives are also generally cheaper, if you can even find them now. Most seem to be on clearance from most retailers. In fact, the Ultra is officially discontinued from Sandisk, and was less than $80US on clearance at Staples a few months ago (probably less now). Intel ones were rather cheap lately too, although it was mostly due to rebates.

Future-proofing is a point, but keep in mind that it's probable that SATA IV or a comparable interface will be introduced by the time you want to swap it over, and it's likely that you would want a new OS install to that newer drive. Most likely you'll end up using this for storage at that point, and that's something the SATA II drive would also suffice for.

In the end, I'd take the money saved from choosing an SATA II drive and apply that to RAM or the CPU upgrade.

[bart3k]

Radioguy
That might seems funny but extreme version is 5£ cheaper than ultra taken amazon.co.uk as a supplier

The RAM is already 4GB (from which 3GB is visible) so it should be enough for now

CPU I am considering

Thanks for you reply!

[Cigarguy]

A SSD is definitely worth the upgrade. Once you try it you'll never go back to a spinner for OS and program load. As for SATA II vs SATA III drives, like you, where I live SATA III are virtually the same price or a few bucks more than SATA II. So it's a no brainer, SATA III for sure. If you're willing to look around a bit, SSD are always on sale somewhere.

As for CPU upgrade, i found a noticeable difference going from a T7100 to T9300. Difference between a T7500 to T9300 was negligible speed wise but the heat and power saving was better with a T9300. I've had two T61 whose upgrade path was T7100 to T7500 to T9300.

[TuuS]

I've build quite a few systems with the T7700, it's a very good chip and I never had any overheating problems with one. Millions of these chips are still in service to support this claim, it's actually one of the most cost effective upgrade options. My favorite chip is the T9300, you can't go wrong with it, but if you already own a T7700 it wouldn't be wise to buy a new chip, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

As for those benchmark tests, they don't represent real-world performance. In actual use the amount of cache will make more difference then the cpu speed, and chips like the T8100 can sometimes outperform much faster chips when conditions force the faster chip into thermal throttling. The T8100 is one of my favorite, they don't seem to know how to get hot, and they don't seem to know how to empty your wallet either so it's a win-win in your daily driver category, and budget performance would be the T9300, unless in this case you happen to have a T7700 on the shelf.

[Radioguy]

That might seems funny but extreme version is 5£ cheaper than ultra taken amazon.co.uk as a supplier

The Ultra was 10£ cheaper when I last viewed those links; at least between the 120GB capacities. Of course Amazon prices can fluctuate considerably within even one day.

As for SATA II vs SATA III drives, like you, where I live SATA III are virtually the same price or a few bucks more than SATA II. So it's a no brainer, SATA III for sure. If you're willing to look around a bit, SSD are always on sale somewhere.

I had assumed the decrease in prices between the US and Canada were the same, but you have me wondering now. Here in the US, SATA II drives are considerably cheaper due to being their being phased out. You'll find online stock of such drives can be pulled quickly in situations like that, while they can linger longer in retail stores, hence the -$80 Ultra. This is why online price comparisons are not always correct, short of restricting yourself to mail order. Now I know that's not a $20 SSD, but the OP cited the same drive (fluctuating) around £68. With exchange rates what they are, that puts it above $100 on average. $20+ is enough savings to be worth consideration, and especially when the drive in question is potentially $60-$70 now. Still, I don't know if they are dropping in price at the same rates in Europe as they are here in the US either.

To reiterate, I wouldn't consider these but for the fact you'll never see the benefits of SATA III on a T61. That fact alone is what has me weighing price versus benefit, and deciding as I have. If the OP, or anyone else considering such an upgrade, has enough funds that this isn't an issue, then (before committing to the upgrade) I would ask you reconsider whether there was enough to move up to a more recent ThinkPad model. I've seen some here do that via eBaying the one they have in the process. Of course, I love my T61, and would want to retain it whether I moved up or not, but it's a thought.

Yet, whatever you choose, I wish you luck.

[bart3k]

Thanks guys for your latest comments - really appreciated!
I feel more confident now and can make better choices based on your suggestions

Thanks!

[ScottyBoy]

I had assumed the decrease in prices between the US and Canada were the same, but you have me wondering now. Here in the US, SATA II drives are considerably cheaper due to being their being phased out. You'll find online stock of such drives can be pulled quickly in situations like that, while they can linger longer in retail stores, hence the -$80 Ultra. This is why online price comparisons are not always correct, short of restricting yourself to mail order. Now I know that's not a $20 SSD, but the OP cited the same drive (fluctuating) around £68. With exchange rates what they are, that puts it above $100 on average. $20+ is enough savings to be worth consideration, and especially when the drive in question is potentially $60-$70 now. Still, I don't know if they are dropping in price at the same rates in Europe as they are here in the US either.

The prices for SSDs are slowly dropping in the UK but generally the ones listed at cheap (UK) prices are older/end of life cycle models - a good example was a Kingston 128GB SSD (can't remember the exact model number) was listed at £49.99p (via eBay UK) a few weeks backs & that was considered cheap for an SSD of that size group.

EDIT: Here's the link to the deal I've mentioned, over at the Hot UK Deals Site, and it was the SV200S37A/128G SSD Model.

kingston 128gb ssd from ebuyer via ebay £49.99 - Hot UK Deals

[ScottyBoy]

Thanks guys for your latest comments - really appreciated!
I feel more confident now and can make better choices based on your suggestions

Thanks!

Good luck with whatever options you go for mate and fingers crossed everything works out for you at the end of the day - BTW that's me heading back to Scotland today (the joy of constant rain and dull gray cloudy skies!!!) so if you need a hand with anything it would be via the forum, text or phone. Cheers