Low Power T60

[Medessec]

I recently picked up this Intel 14" T60 with a T5500 Core 2 Duo in it, and i'll be using it at class these next couple of days to see how it does... but I just used it and it lasted about a good 3 hours before it finally squealed at me to plug it in.

I recalled some discussion on the forum between the advantages of the Core Solo in terms of power-saving, and I'm wondering if anyone has a Core Solo T60, or would like to participate in the experiment I'm trying out here to see exactly how far you can go with a T60's battery life.

According to Lenovo Power Manager, the battery I'm using(an old 9-cell genuine) has about 73% of its original capacity. I used it from a full charge. I browsed the web and watched livestreams for the first hour, while doing homework in another browser window. Afterwards, I installed my copy of the game "Spore" on it, and played it on there to see how well it would run. I installed it from the CD, so the CD-ROM had to run that. I played it for about 30 minutes after installing it. Then I finished the time letting it copy some files to the Hard Drive. It went a little over three hours, the fan hardly came on at all and the machine ran pretty smooth. After turning all the effects off, Spore was playable as well. Even web content seemed to work ok.

That's my biggest concern with the Core Solo... even if the power savings are worthwhile, the big sacrifice in power will leave the machine pretty hopeless at modern tasks, such as high-power web content and HD media. Also-I'm using Windows 7.

[600X]

I have been looking into the such power saving measures for the T60 for quite some time. However, while compatible Core Duo's or Core 2 Duo's that fit into the T60 have a TDP of 35W, the Core Solo still has a whopping 27W. So in the end, the power savings would be minimal, but at the cost of sacrificing quite a lot of performance.

However, like I said I have been researching this area for quite some time and come up with following solutions:

1. Install "modern" hardware

If you install a T61 board you will have access to Penryn CPU (45nm) which should run cooler and slightly more power efficient, thus increasing battery life without sacrificing performance

2. Undervolting

An obvious solution, you can greatly decrease power usage by undervolting the CPU but still retain the ability to crank up the performance if necessary

3. ULV CPU's

Unlike with the introduction of Santa Rosa, Merom ULV CPU's are the same size as full voltage CPU's and are available with pins. In theory you can install a ULV CPU in a T60, but I'm not sure if the BIOS would recognize such a CPU. A good choice would be a U7600 with a TDP of 10W.

[Medessec]

I was looking at that ULV CPU option... it seems the U7600 you describe has a lower FSB, but I don't see why it shouldn't work. It's the same at the core isn't it? Other than being ULV?

As for the T61 option... I recently sold a T61 4:3 that would have been worthy to test, it had a T5270 in it which is a good Merom low-power option. But I sold it to a forum member. Unless he sees this post and still has it, I can't produce any results unfortunately. And the main reason I'm testing T60s is because a good 4:3 Intel T61 is a bit hard to come across... versus Intel T60s, which can be picked off a scrap pile for $10.

Undervolting would work too... but that's messing with a CPU's original settings. *cheating*

[SaskFellow]

I get 4.5 hours out of mine, sitting in class, some web, some HD Vimeo, and too much Office.

If I had the intel board, I'd probably get more.

[Cigarguy]

I'd spend the money on a good extra battery. Two 9 cell batteries will keep me running all day with a T60 14" SXGA+, ATI 1300 and SSD. A core solo CPU would be similar to my T42 which is not sufficiently fast enough for everyday computing for me. On my T60 with 2.27 BIOS there is a setting to disable "multicore". Go into BIOS, Config, CPU, and set Core Multi-Processing to "Diable" and see if the speed and battery savings is worth it for you.

If I need more run time from 1 laptop then it's my X201 with two 9 cell batteries.

Surface Pro and Xoom tablets are backup to either system above and both fits in same bag.

[Medessec]

I get 4.5 hours out of mine, sitting in class, some web, some HD Vimeo, and too much Office.

Seems you've got a good battery, and definitely a lower-power CPU in there. Hopefully yours doesn't struggle at all with what you do, although it doesn't sound like it does.

I'd spend the money on a good extra battery. Two 9 cell batteries will keep me running all day with a T60 14" SXGA+, ATI 1300 and SSD. A core solo CPU would be similar to my T42 which is not sufficiently fast enough for everyday computing for me. On my T60 with 2.27 BIOS there is a setting to disable "multicore". Go into BIOS, Config, CPU, and set Core Multi-Processing to "Diable" and see if the speed and battery savings is worth it for you.

I have a couple of T60s here, so I could try all the batteries and see how much juice each holds.

I'll have to look into installing the latest BIOS and trying that... running the Core 2 Duo Merom low-clocks on one core only has definitely got to save some power. Hopefully it doesn't choke up Windows 7 too bad...

[600X]

I don't like undervolting as well.

While the CPU is definitely the biggest power consumer, it might be worth dealing with other parts as well. (depending on your budget)

For example, you could install a new WIFI card (Intel 7260), mod your Display to LED backlight (there are special kits available), install a SSD (Intel X25-M G2 is perfect), disconnect modem, use only one RAM slot, replace the DVD with an extra battery or spacer and finally, disable everything you don't need in the BIOS. (like Bluetooth or as stated above: Core Multi Processing)

Setting everything to maximum power savings in Windows will help as well.

Back to the CPU issue: Penryn would definitely be easiest way to reduce power consumption (and heat) without sacrificing performance. However, since that option is not possible due to the lack of a T61 board, and undervolting isn't your cup of tea either, that only leaves us with installing a ULV CPU.

I actually want to encourage you to try it out. You can't break anything if it doesn't work, but I'd be really interested if it works. As I said before, I had been looking into installing ULV's for quite some time now but never got the chance. It might be interesting for other people as well.

The lower FSB of the U7600 is no problem at all. After looking at the list of available CPU I chose the U7600 because it has a significantly lower TDP (10W vs. 35W) and is available for a good price on ebay at the moment: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Du ... 35cdabfc28

As you can see, unlike newer ULV CPU's, the U7600 (Merom) has the full package size (35mmx35mm) as opposed to the typical 22mmx22mm. It's a normal socketed (is that even a word?) CPU with pins. So if you decide to give it a shot, let us know how it turns out.

[Medessec]

For example, you could install a new WIFI card (Intel 7260), mod your Display to LED backlight (there are special kits available), install a SSD (Intel X25-M G2 is perfect), disconnect modem, use only one RAM slot, replace the DVD with an extra battery or spacer and finally, disable everything you don't need in the BIOS. (like Bluetooth or as stated above: Core Multi Processing)

That was the idea on buying this guy... a T60 with Intel gfx and a T5500 would make all the other factors; screen brightness, USB devices, sound, Wi-Fi card, etc. I can probably get a hold of a spare SSD to try... and I've heeded the above and I'm running now with multi-core turned off, I'll have to see how it affects things. Getting an LED backlight may be a bit far for me, as is spending $30 on a CPU... but I guess we'll wait and see.

I do have my T60/61 Frankenpad, but that has NVIDIA graphics... I was kind of hoping to test an Intel graphics system.

I'll see what progress I make, if I do make any(I have my studies and homework) and get back to you guys on my experiences with pushing the envelope on this thing.

Also-I think all the T60 batteries I own are toast, including the one on my Frankenpad. So I might end up buying a nice genuine cell one at some point.

[automobus]

The lower FSB of the U7600 is no problem at all. After looking at the list of available CPU I chose the U7600 because it has a significantly lower TDP (10W vs. 35W) and is available for a good price on ebay at the moment: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083867176

As you can see, unlike newer ULV CPU's, the U7600 (Merom) has the full package size (35mmx35mm) as opposed to the typical 22mmx22mm. It's a normal socketed (is that even a word?) CPU with pins. So if you decide to give it a shot, let us know how it turns out.

Oh, how I wish! And if a socketed LV or ULV Pentium III could be had, then I years ago would have put that in T21 or T23.

Two problems: I believe Intel U7600 SLAUS is in fact BGA for Socket P. T60 uses Socket M. And unless that seller photographs the underside or makes the effort to describe the wares, I do not believe it is a pin package part (PGA).

[600X]

If that is indeed the case there still is yet another alternative: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-Duo- ... 3a737fe172

It seems to be a typical soldered ULV CPU but with some sort of adapter which allows it to be installed on systems with socketed CPU's. However, getting that 800 FSB CPU running in a T61 requires extensive modding of the board. And if you are to do that you might as well install a P8600 with 25W TDP.

[85101]

Would the L7400 with 667 MHz FSB work? There are some available (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core2-DUO ... 3cb32bb301)

[Medessec]

Two problems: I believe Intel U7600 SLAUS is in fact BGA for Socket P.

I think you might be right... there are some sellers that post pictures of the underside of the CPU, but I get the feeling they're actually pictures of the underside of a different CPU. And their information on whether or not it's actually BGA or PGA is very vague or not very clear, kind of like poorly translated english.

That SU9600 is a pretty wicked conversion... I'd do it just to have an awesome chinese mod in my laptop. But the reliability of those mods can only be questioned... looks like they've sold some already, and not taken any stick, so it seems it's legit.

The L7400 might work, but again I think that seller is just posting a picture of another PGA CPU, because he clearly states in his ad the package is "Micro-FCBGA". The L7400 would be far more likely to work than the U7600 if it was inserted, due to the matching FSB.

[600X]

That SU9600 is a pretty wicked conversion... I'd do it just to have an awesome chinese mod in my laptop. But the reliability of those mods can only be questioned... looks like they've sold some already, and not taken any stick, so it seems it's legit.

Actually it's 100% legit because such "converted" CPU's have been used by manufacturers in huge numbers. For example, some 15 inch Acer and ASUS laptops had these CPU's, so they definitely work and are definitely reliable. Sometimes these CPU's are stripped from the system and show up on ebay.

What's even better though is that the SU9600 has a FSB of 800 which means it is a drop in replacement CPU for the T61! Checked Intel ARK, so you don't need any modifications after all. Worst thing that can happen is the CPU is not listed in the BIOS Microcode (the CPU won't be recognized) Luckily, our friends over at nb51 already have a mod BIOS available. (though primarily for FSB 1066 CPU's) There are also other ways to add CPU compatibility, but don't ask me how it's done. If necessary one can always just mod the BIOS on their own.

[Pete B]

That SU9600 is a pretty wicked conversion... I'd do it just to have an awesome chinese mod in my laptop. But the reliability of those mods can only be questioned... looks like they've sold some already, and not taken any stick, so it seems it's legit.

Actually it's 100% legit because such "converted" CPU's have been used by manufacturers in huge numbers. For example, some 15 inch Acer and ASUS laptops had these CPU's, so they definitely work and are definitely reliable. Sometimes these CPU's are stripped from the system and show up on ebay.

What's even better though is that the SU9600 has a FSB of 800 which means it is a drop in replacement CPU for the T61! Checked Intel ARK, so you don't need any modifications after all. Worst thing that can happen is the CPU is not listed in the BIOS Microcode (the CPU won't be recognized) Luckily, our friends over at nb51 already have a mod BIOS available. (though primarily for FSB 1066 CPU's) There are also other ways to add CPU compatibility, but don't ask me how it's done. If necessary one can always just mod the BIOS on their own.

What do you call these SU9600s on the PGA adapter? how would you search for one on ebay?

[600X]

They don't have a specific name. I just searched for SU9600.

[MisterB]

Intel Graphics T60s use less power than those with ATI GPUs. Mine uses around 20 or less watts on average. It's 25 watts or more for ATI GPUs. The ATI GPUs are the ones that use the long fan and need to be heat sinked. Heat = Power.