Thinkpads Forum

I just read that I can put a T61 motherboard in a T60 body and max it out so I get more RAM and a better video card and screen and whatever. I'm really disappointed at widescreens these days and the 14.1" 4:3 screen is a perfect size all-around for my job.

Can someone point me to some info I can use on this? The other info I read was for a 15" screen but I have a 14.1" that I prefer so I'm wondering if anyone here has built one or knows more info on this.

14.1" 4:3 T61 models have already been factory produced...no need to Frankenpad to get those specs.

Indeed- there are the widescreen T61s, but they made the smaller 4:3 14" model and you can find them here and there. Unfortunately, almost all of them suffer from the NVIDIA chip issue, so you'll need to get an Intel-graphics model, or you'll have to take advice on caring for an NVIDIA chip that may fail. OR, you can also hunt down a warranty-repaired T61 with a late enough chip, or a NOS replacement board, but those options require some serious hunting, or you can wait patiently to see if anyone on this forum can help you out.

The T601 Frankenpad in question is when a T61 4:3 14" motherboard is combined with the chassis of a 4:3 15" T60. It's very nearly a straight swap besides some small modifications needed, and the loss of the modem module. But you basically get the newer features of the T61(faster processors, SATA 2 *which needs to be unlocked*, higher RAM capacity), with the T60's beautiful 15" UXGA Flexview display. It's really only needed if you appreciate the amazing quality display, need it for graphics art or photo purposes, or just need a 4:3 UXGA 15" display(which is, admittedly, a brilliant combo of pixel depth and overall screen space).

If you don't need a big, pretty display, and especially if you would rather have the more mobile 14" model, then there's no Frankenpadding needed. Just see if you can hunt down a 4:3 14" T61 original. You can post a WTB ad on the Marketplace of this forum as well- so you can see if anyone has one.

Thanks. Does the T61 suffer from the T60p RAM issue where you can't actually use all 4GB?

Also is there any meaningful difference between a T61 and a T61p?

Also is it better to use Vista or Windows 7 on the T61? I had Windows XP on the T60p then I installed Windows 7 but it doesn't appear to be very supported by Lenovo (at least not as much as they supported Vista on it).

dhinged wrote:Thanks. Does the T61 suffer from the T60p RAM issue where you can't actually use all 4GB?

You can use 8GB DDR2 in a T61/p.

Also is there any meaningful difference between a T61 and a T61p?

Graphics card.

"Vanilla" T61 came with either nVidia NVS140M or Intel X3100 integrated graphics. T61p was shipped with nVidia FX570M only.

Also is it better to use Vista or Windows 7 on the T61? I had Windows XP on the T60p then I installed Windows 7 but it doesn't appear to be very supported by Lenovo (at least not as much as they supported Vista on it).

I've been running W7 on plethora of T61/p units for years now without a single problem. Vista is well-supported as well.

Alright, thanks everybody. Awesome info.

So if I want to optimize a 14.1" T61, can someone recommend a specs list?

I'm fine with 4GB of RAM, but I need a good video card for Windows Vista Business or Windows 7 Professional, I'm OK with a decent screen (my T60p is fine but a little dim), and I want to avoid hardware issues or software incompatibility.

dhinged wrote: and I want to avoid hardware issues or software incompatibility.

Then you want a plain-Jane T61 with Intel graphics and a SXGA+ LCD. End of story.

An Intel card with run Vista or Windows 7 just fine as long as you're not pushing the GPU. Some nVidia cards in the T61/T61p have a manufacturing defect and as result, have higher failure rates, which will require replacing the board to fix it.

ZaZ wrote:An Intel card with run Vista or Windows 7 just fine as long as you're not pushing the GPU. Some nVidia cards in the T61/T61p have a manufacturing defect and as result, have higher failure rates, which will require replacing the board to fix it.

What exactly do you consider "pushing the GPU"? I simply want to run normal things on Vista or 7.

Then the Intel card will be more than sufficient.

If by normal use you mean: Word processing, web browsing, email, photo/video viewing and storage, HD web video viewing, online flash gaming or 2D gaming, you'll be perfectly fine with the Intel graphics. The Intel graphics will allow *some* 3D games and heavy tasks such as video editing, Animation and CAD, but it won't run optimally.

The NVIDIA graphics chip will give you more of that needed power if you do any of that gaming or other heavy stuff, but you have to worry about your laptop failing, again... unless you find a warranty-repaired unit or NOS motherboard, both exceedingly rare and potentially expensive solutions.

The reason we ask is because we'd really rather you have an Intel graphics board if you don't really need the extra graphics power, so you can enjoy the full security of the traditional Thinkpad's renowned reliability, and never have to worry about your board's video failing. With the NVIDIA chip T61s, you have to anticipate that your laptop may fail to that specific issue... to give you an idea: Most veteran NVIDIA T61 owners on this forum keep a spare working replacement motherboard handy, or a complete spare NVIDIA T61 just in case their current one fails.

The 4:3 14" T61 is a good laptop! We just don't want you tripped up by the NVIDIA issue.

Medessec wrote:If by normal use you mean: Word processing, web browsing, email, photo/video viewing and storage, HD web video viewing, online flash gaming or 2D gaming, you'll be perfectly fine with the Intel graphics. The Intel graphics will allow *some* 3D games and heavy tasks such as video editing, Animation and CAD, but it won't run optimally.

It will either be for web development or personal use, neither of which will be 3D gaming (maybe the occasional GoG or Steam game, but I'm a retro gamer so I prefer less-advanced graphics), and definitely not for video editing or 3-D design. Maybe I would run an older version of Photoshop or Fireworks or DreamWeaver or Adobe Acrobat that would work with 4GB of RAM.

Medessec wrote:The NVIDIA graphics chip will give you more of that needed power if you do any of that gaming or other heavy stuff, but you have to worry about your laptop failing, again... unless you find a warranty-repaired unit or NOS motherboard, both exceedingly rare and potentially expensive solutions.

My only concern with integrated graphics is that I had a laptop (newer than my T60p) with an i3 processor and integrated graphics with Windows 7 and it ran slow with Aero on; if I turned it off it ran fast but was kind of ugly. My current T60p runs Windows 7 and Aero fine most of the time, but definitely isn't as fast as newer laptops. I'm confused about why Aero didn't run well on the newer laptop but does on my T60p.

I think I'll probably be fine with the T61 14.1" 4:3. I actually do prefer Vista (more features front-and-center like XP and not as many hidden or restricted or removed like in Windows 7), so I think I will install the Business version on it unless you know of a reason to avoid it (besides Microsoft support ending in 2017, which can be fixed by upgrading to Windows 7, though I wonder if 8 will work with it).

Medessec wrote:The 4:3 14" T61 is a good laptop! We just don't want you tripped up by the NVIDIA issue.

Thanks for the advice!

Maybe I would run an older version of Photoshop or Fireworks or DreamWeaver or Adobe Acrobat that would work with 4GB of RAM.

I've ran CS5 Photoshop and Illustrator on GMA 950-chip laptops with no problems(in fact, I use it all the time on my X60 Tablet). Intel GMA 950 is the Integrated graphics chip for the T60, so the Intel Integrated X3100 in the T61 should be just fine. CS6 i'm pretty sure will work too.

The big problem I have sometimes is large-scale filtering and high pixel-diameter brush actions lagging it out-I think that's mostly dependent on the CPU. The T61 has a good selection of CPUs, and you can max it out without any worry of heat issues if you have Intel Graphics. T9500 I believe is the highest spec one. There's the X9000, but you don't have to go that crazy.

Also- the T61 can handle up to 8GB of RAM. 4GB will be just fine for Photoshopping and most multimedia stuff. Maxing it to 8GB will be difficult as single 4GB DDR2 laptop modules are not easy to come by.

My only concern with integrated graphics is that I had a laptop (newer than my T60p) with an i3 processor and integrated graphics with Windows 7 and it ran slow with Aero on; if I turned it off it ran fast but was kind of ugly.

Aero is always pretty harsh on old machines, dedicated GPU or not. But I've never had to turn Aero off in photoshopping on my X60 Tablet, so it's never gotten unbearably slow in my experience. Admittedly, shutting Aero off does speed things up quite a bit, even on my newer machines. The best you can do is keep background tasks and graphical applications(like iTunes, Flash games in a browser, Illustrator or Flash Pro) to a minimum.

I think I'll probably be fine with the T61 14.1" 4:3. I actually do prefer Vista...

Good choice. the 14" T61 is surprisingly mobile and handy to carry around, it's thin and it's big enough for proper PC tasking, even photo editing. And Vista is still a decent OS, no problem there. Although you may want to consider trying Windows 8(you'll have to ask around about drivers and support, but people have gotten Windows 8 on a T61 before), Windows 8 is incredibly fast in feel, and there's ways to modify it so Metro isn't a dominant feature, and the taskbar works like 7. I'm thinking of trying it...

Thanks for the advice!

Absolutely. This forum isn't just home of the bitter old apes who miss the days of PC cards and Dial-up.

I'll use Windows 8 when I can get Metro out of the way (it's meant for tablets and I don't care to have a touchscreen laptop), and if I can see that they haven't removed so many features that I feel like a caged ape.