Thinkpads Forum

My T61 (7661-E17) project is moving along very nicely!

I've named the computer, as I do all my other computers, after a character from Lord of the Rings. This one is Boromir. My Ideapad is Gandalf (it's grey), there's Gimli my little Dell Lattitude E5500, and then there's Bilbo my Thinkpad R52.

All the parts have come in (except the new 1T hard drive I have yet to order for the Ultrabay) and are now installed.

I went with an Intel 520 120G SSD (used) which went in without a hitch.

4Gig's or RAM are now installed.

Got a new 9cell battery and charger (both are the inexpensive makes...couldn't afford OE parts at the moment) and they are humming right along as well.

Installed Windows 7 on the SSD with zero problems. Didn't even have to install any drivers for it (the SSD) and the wireless grabbed my network without a driver being installed either.

Next I installed the System Update Tool from Lenovo and that grabbed all the other drivers I was missing. thanks to you guys for recommending that!

All in all, I've had zero problems so far with my little project! Very very cool.

Now, I'm looking for the "what next" items.

I know I would like to install am SD card reader in one of the express ports. If someone could provide me a link to a good one I would appreciate that.

A few people here recommended I install a new N Intel 6200 wireless card. I'm not entirely sure if it needs to be done, but will do so if it will help any. Would someone like to sell me on the idea of replacing what's in there?

I know if I do get that card I will have to update to the Middleton BIOS. I'm not entirely crazy about the idea of doing that (I'm a novice and have read the horror stories of the bricked machines). If that card will make a notable difference and if the BIOS will make the SSD markedly quicker, then I will do it.

Lastly, what would you guys do next? I'm open to suggestions!

What other options are open to me?

It's a lot of fun!

Thanks everyone!

Oh!

Almost forgot. I'm OK with the screen.

I know there are options available to replace it, but it's OK as is.

dogbarber wrote:... I know I would like to install an SD card reader in one of the express ports. If someone could provide me a link to a good one I would appreciate that....

You should read this thread :
Flush-mount Laptop Adapters Part 3: SD/SDHC/SDXC *PICS* ... http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=111973

dogbarber wrote:If someone could provide me a link to a good one I would appreciate that.

A popular SDIO chip is (or was) JMicron JMB389, but it was discontinued. Hans-Jürgen Reggel demonstrated JMB389 to be capable of at least 74 Mo/s transfers. HP was a major customer: JMB389 was used in EliteBooks. It could be found in ExpressCard 34 sold as: SanDisk SDDR-300, Sonnet SDXC-UHSI-E34, Transcend TS-RDF1.

Today, perhaps the best retailer of such a card is B&H, who sell the Sonnet for $40. You might want to get one now, while you still can. Or else, regularly check the used market. I think I remember Amazon selling the Transcend for twenty or twenty-five dollars, last year.

dogbarber wrote:I've named the computer, as I do all my other computers, after a character from Lord of the Rings. This one is Boromir. My Ideapad is Gandalf (it's grey), there's Gimli my little Dell Lattitude E5500, and then there's Bilbo my Thinkpad R52.

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive/phd020812s.gif

ilakast wrote:

dogbarber wrote:I've named the computer, as I do all my other computers, after a character from Lord of the Rings. This one is Boromir. My Ideapad is Gandalf (it's grey), there's Gimli my little Dell Lattitude E5500, and then there's Bilbo my Thinkpad R52.

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive/phd020812s.gif

Ha! Adds heroic flair to your up heroic work. That's awesome!

Seriously though, I had no idea that other people did that!

I knew I couldn't be that clever.....