Which T60 should I chose?

[T60wannabuy]

Greetings,

I would like to buy some good, old laptop, and after I've done my research I found out T60 with IPS screen would be the best for me.
But, as I'm looking through more and more offers of t60's I feel really dumb, cuz I dont know which one should I chose...
So! What I need :

IPS screen (I would like to watch some movies, so it would be the best choice as far as im correct)
Maybe not-integrated graphic card so I could replace it with better one (if its even possible) - or which should I chose? (Radeon/Intel ? )

And I still dont know, if t60 is better than t61, because if t61 is like MUCH better, I could think about it (IPS screen is only must have if I get t60 )

generally I'm not playing any games (or only the old ones, like Gothic/Tibia ), I just want my laptop to be durable, failure-free and run smooth

And I would like to put a SSD disc into it

( I'm not a computer-man, soo I'm not sure what i'm talking about :/ )

Help!

(btw. sorry for my english, im still learning)

[RealBlackStuff]

IPS on a T60 was only available on 15" 4:3 models.
T60 is limited to max. 3GB usable RAM, rather limited.
Graphics in the T60 are either integrated Intel or discrete ATI Radeon in 3 flavors (X1300/X1400/V5200).
For different graphics you need different motherboards, there is no "replaceable" graphics card.

T61 does not have IPS available and their 15.4" LCDs are widescreen 16:10.
Their integrated Intel GPU is better than the T60.
Their nVidia GPU is dangerous unless it was made in August 2008 or later.
T61 can take max. 8GB RAM, but that alone costs ca. $100

To watch movies, the 15" T60 is less suitable.
Depending on your budget, there are newer machines available.
Overall I would recommend to go at least for the next generation machine, such as a T500 or R500.
With a 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 it's much better to watch movies.
Their RAM is DDR3 and much cheaper than T60/T61 RAM.

Next step up would be a T520.
But I suggest to browse the ThinkPad T400/410/420 and T500/510/520 Series forum for more info.

All of the above can take SSD.

[T60wannabuy]

Thank You
After looking through 9999 of threads, I've decided T61 will be the best for me (or even T61p), because its the most solid (more than T400/T500 etc)

But... which one should I chose then?
There are lot of them and Idk which one will be the best ( I will replace the battery, hard disc and ram)
Should I buy only the 2008 + ?

[RealBlackStuff]

Get a T61 with Intel graphics (any model, any year) and 2x2GB RAM.
Apply Middleton's BIOS and stick in a ~250GB SSD.
My recommendation: 15.4" widescreen with 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 resolution.
More info: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T61

Once you made up your mind, put a WTB (Want To Buy) post in our Marketforum.

[ac12]

+1 on the T61.
You are not memory limited as the T60. So you can run Win7 with more memory. I have 6GB in my T61, running Win7. I found that with 4GB, I was using max RAM regularly, so the memory was probably swapping a lot. With 6GB I have more free memory, so it is likely not swapping much.

But going max 8GB will be expensive, as 4GB modules are NOT cheap.

And I agree with RBS, put a SSD into the T61. Performance is MUCH better when you start up the OS and launch programs. And I really noticed the speed on the Windows updates, which run much faster.

[ZaZ]

To watch movies, the 15" T60 is less suitable.

I would think the screen quality is more important than the aspect ratio when watching movies. A 15" T60 with SXGA+ or UXGA will offer better PQ.

I ran 1080p video on my R60e, which ran at about 30% CPU utilization, so I think a T60 would work well for that, but it's going to chug with anything CPU intensive like flash. I guess the OP will have to decide if that's OK.

[RealBlackStuff]

Well, if he insists on 15" T60 screens, then a 15" FrankenPad (T60 with T61 motherboard) should be seriously considered.

[Thinkpad4by3]

What about a 755CD. Great for watching vhs tapes and has a 4:3 lcd! Jk but really for playback of movies, I'd recommend 16:9. IN ANY OTHER SITUATION, GO FRANEKNPAD but for movies, widescreen os the winner. Youtube sucks on a x61. Just get a T520. 15" 4:3 with movies is just a 10" 16:9 because of the vertical wasted space.

Sent from my E6553 using Tapatalk

[wujstefan]

I second RBS, good old frankie should be the choice.

Not that expensive, fast enough, eats SATA-II SSD, works on nice Penryns and can be equipped with a budget SHARP UXGA, super-colorful SXGA+ IPS, UXGA IPS or expensive-yet-worth-every-penny AFFS LED UXGA.
Cheap and safe Intel X3100 or powerful but moody nvs140m (have in mind that TuuS still offers his fantastic boards here).

Honestly, I like those systems so much I got rid of my DC2 hp 8740w unit. Great AFFS, 4:3 ratio and keyboard took the decision. The quality you get from a T601 or (especially!) R61 is just astonishing. I own 7 frankies right now and I'm in love with them.

[RealBlackStuff]

OP is also from Poland, may I suggest you contact him?