First Thinkpad

[Digital X]

Aftter browsing certain websites, a lot of people seemed to recommend Thinkpads, specifically the T60. This will be my first ever, also first laptop since high school, and just wondered if and how easy upgrades are?

Specs:

Intel Core Duo 1.83Ghz
1GB DDR2 RAM
80GB HDD
Win XP Pro
14.1" Screen.

Nothing amazing I know, but I just wanted something cheap for on the go.

Would like to upgrade RAM, and if possible, larger hard and also is plugging in ANY usb external HDD like 1tb-2tb possible? Will it just pick up the extra drive? or do I need to get a specific model or type for external?

Cheers.

[FryPpy]

Hello, and welcom to this forum!

Yes you can upgrade ram (667 or 800 MHz DDR2 modules) - You can up to 3Gb (4's gb is unusable at i945 chipset in both x32 or x64 OS).
Yes you can use externl USB drive. I worked fine with 1Tb WD. You can use USB 3.0 expresscard adapter to gain high speed, but USB 2.0 can work with USB 3.0 HDD.

If you want:
You can upgrade intenal HDD with SSD. But T60 have SATA-I, that meens there is speed cap for SSD.
You can upgrade CPU (and change thermal interface / clean dust from heatsink) up to T7200, T7400, T7600.

[Saucey]

If you don't use the CD drive much, you can always get an HDD UltraBay if you get an SSD.

T60 is a very solid built machine, it won't stop a bullet but it'll do its best to do so.
Great machine to start off with!

Welcome to the forum!

[Medessec]

You can upgrade intenal HDD with SSD. But T60 have SATA-I, that meens there is speed cap for SSD.

I'd recommend waiting until you get a Thinkpad with SATA 2 before using SSD-newer HDDS are plenty fast for school work. However I don't recommend against it at all, if you drop your laptop a lot or carry it in a small backpack while biking to campus and back-you may want to consider the reliability and security of an SSD over a more fragile HDD. Just be cautioned that the only affordable SSDs are really choked on space, and that you should buy a good brand to avoid controller problems or faulty SSDs that stop working after awhile.

You can upgrade CPU (and change thermal interface / clean dust from heatsink) up to T7200, T7400, T7600.

I would HIGHLY recommend this. You do have to make sure your T60 has the latest BIOS, and if it's an all original or ex-corporate, chances are you'll need to update the BIOS. The T7200 Core 2 Duo is the most cost effective, and will give you an absolutely favorable power boost over your T2400(Core Duo 1.83 GHz). Even a T5600 will be much better.

is plugging in ANY usb external HDD like 1tb-2tb possible?

With Windows XP, Vista, or 7 installed properly, you should be able to plug in external USB Hard Drives with no problem at all. It should pick it up as a Hard Drive in "My Computer".

And indeed welcome! You'll definitely enjoy your T60. If you have any problems with it, be sure to ask us, these things come apart like legos and most common problems will usually have an easy fix. Have fun!

[hhmcsv]

.... and you may upgrade to Win8 and Win8.1, the latter only if you have an ATI wifi card (and not the infamous Intel 3945abg).

It will run like a dream on Win8, booting under 30 secs (under 20 with a modest SSD like mine)

[Johan]

@ Digital X:

First: Welcome to the forum!

Next: Your small story about investigating laptops and then finally getting a ThinkPad reminds me of a saying that we sometime see here... about folks who get a ThinkPad: Once you go black, you never go back!

To reply to your question; how easy upgrades are? Very easy! This is not the least because IBM has established a tradition for making it possible (and, fortunately also: Easy!) for custumers to upgrade and service their own laptops, not the least through putting at the end-users disposal outstanding documentation... such as first and foremost the Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T60, T60p 14.1" and 15" (with 4:3 format LCD's), secondly their online look-up System service parts - ThinkPad T60, T60p (standard screen), their movies (!!) at How to remove and install hardware - ThinkPad T60, T60p, their Lenovo T60/T60p Service Training Videos plus T60 @ Wiki + Youtube + (not the least!) this forum!

About upgrading RAM, a T60 can hold 4 GB (2 x 2 GB), but owing to hardware limitations, only 3 GB can be used, so there's really no significant reason to get more than 1 GB + 2 GB (the T60 has two slots for RAM). For my recommendations with respect to RAM, see the thread T60 upgrade question.

As explained above you can also upgrade the CPU (but check your motherboard-revision first!); see e.g the thread T60 CPU upgrade question. In my opinion there is however relatively little achieved, in terms of "daily-day improvements" in speed, by upgrading from e.g. a T2400 Core Duo to a T7200 Core 2 Duo. You will certainly experience a significant larger boost in speed and overall performance by upgrading your current (mechanical rotating and therefore relatively slow) HDD to a SSD... see e.g. the above-mentioned thread. Go grab a cheap e.g 80 GB or 120 GB SSD on eBay, or, much more recommended: Go to The Marketplace on this (fantastic!) forum!

You can use internal and external HDD's (and external USB-keys) up to 2 TB++ in size if you run NTFS (the latter which I would assume you do). If getting a new external USB-based device, keep in mind that USB 3.0 are significantly faster compared to USB 2.0 (so a USB 3.0 device will be more pleasant to use years ahead, with e.g. newer HW which will fully support USB 3.0). If getting a new HDD, it will need to be a 2.5" SATA drive (both 7 mm and 9.5 mm drives will work). Since T60's are "only" capable of supporting SATA-I speeds you won't achieve the full benefit of e.g. the latest-generation (and hence fastest!) SATA-III drives if putting it in a T60, but since e.g. SATA-III drives are backward compatible, they can be used just fine in a SATA-I T60 (and, again, you can re-use a fast SATA-III drive in a future machine).

About the Ultrabay-option mentioned above, see SSD Upgrade for T60p How-to? Need suggestions pointing to this post. You can get an Ultrabay HDD (Remenber: Get a SATA, not a PATA!!) caddy for T60's for around $10 on eBay.

Be aware that Microsoft will terminate their "Extended Life Support" on Windows XP (SP3) on April 8, 2014 (see Windows lifecycle fact sheet). This meas that if you go continue with XP, then you will be "unsafe" after that date... since security issues etc. are no longer being cured, on XP. Because of this I guess that many users are considering ugrading fro mXp to e.g. Windows 7 or 8 - depending on their need, wallet, and whether their more or less old hardware will actually support Win 7 or 8

Again: Congratulations with your T60, and good luck with it; I am sure you will enjoy it - especially if getting a SSD!

Johan