New T60 in collection, upgrade suggestions

[TinkerMan]

Just got hold of a sweet little 14" 4:3 T60 in near PERFECT condition
it came with the most basic specs, it doesnt even have a C2D, it has just a CD, yonah T2300, 1.66GHz, with 667 FSB, 2 MB cache, 32bit only, 151 million transistors, 31W
but as I said, this unit is in such a pristine condition that I want to give it a second life
so far I figured I could install T7600 , same 667 FSB, 4 MB cache, about 670 MHz more than the T2300 at 2,33GHz, 64 bit, 291 million transistors and 34W power usage.

I will also swap the aging 60 GB HDD with a new SSD

my questions
1. can this model be equipped with an additional mSATA drive?
2. also, does it make sense to put in 2 modules of 2 gigs each of ram for a total of 4, or is that just a waste of RAM? should I go just 3 Gigs? currently the machine has just 2 gigs.
3. can anyone tell me if it exists for this model an ultrabay battery? and if so, whats the model name?

so far the only change I did was to give it a brand new 9 cell battery I had in storage. its own old 6 cell only hold 20Wh., now it has a 71 Wh battery.

thanks

[axur-delmeria]

1. can this model be equipped with an additional mSATA drive?

No. Among the mainline Thinkpad models, only the T420/430, T520/530, W520/530, and X220/230 support mSATA.

2. also, does it make sense to put in 2 modules of 2 gigs each of ram for a total of 4, or is that just a waste of RAM? should I go just 3 Gigs? currently the machine has just 2 gigs.

3GB is the maximum usable RAM on the T60 due to a combination of BIOS and chipset limitations. so having 4GB is a waste, unless you're planning ahead and use it in another machine in the future.

[dr_st]

In addition to what was already said:

so far I figured I could install T7600 , same 667 FSB, 4 MB cache, about 670 MHz more than the T2300 at 2,33GHz, 64 bit, 291 million transistors and 34W power usage.

In terms of price/performance/heat, a T7400 is probably the sweet spot on these systems.

1. can this model be equipped with an additional mSATA drive?

No, but there is an Ultrabay caddy that will take another SATA drive. You have to choose between it and the Ultrabay battery, though.

3. can anyone tell me if it exists for this model an ultrabay battery? and if so, whats the model name?

Thinkpad Battery 42 or 43 will work.

[TinkerMan]

thanks for the fast response guys, much appreciated

so far I figured I could install T7600 , same 667 FSB, 4 MB cache, about 670 MHz more than the T2300 at 2,33GHz, 64 bit, 291 million transistors and 34W power usage.

In terms of price/performance/heat, a T7400 is probably the sweet spot on these systems.

thats not a problem, I already have a T7600, it was a bargain at around 15 bucks. the cheap things that one can find on eBay, I once found an X9000 at half the price they usually go, just 27 bucks.
I am a bit miffed that it doesnt support mSata, such a missed opportunity.

I just checked eBay for the ultrabay batteries, still shocked by the high prices i found.

[ajkula66]

I am a bit miffed that it doesnt support mSata, such a missed opportunity.

When these babies rolled off the assembly line mSATA standard had yet to be invented. Let's not forget how old these systems are...

[TinkerMan]

Let's not forget how old these systems are...

Don't know about that dude, you sure there isnt a secret fab somewhere? Some of the units I got my hands on look so fresh as if they were brand new. Just joking.

The point is they look so good, so sturdy that one forgets how old they are, even my T43p looks like new, apart the legecy ports of course.

[dr_st]

The point is they look so good, so sturdy that one forgets how old they are, even my T43p looks like new, apart the legecy ports of course.

Well, to anyone following the laptop trends, the design of these systems clearly screams "previous decade".

[DartMan68]

The point is they look so good, so sturdy that one forgets how old they are, even my T43p looks like new, apart the legecy ports of course.

Well, to anyone following the laptop trends, the design of these systems clearly screams "previous decade".

True. True. They do. I don't much like any of the newer computers built after say 2012, though. My personals are the ThinkPads in my sig, as well as a Dell Latitude D830 and a Dell Inspiron 15R N5110. I like the designs and being able to rescue them from the recycle bin, repair, upgrade, and trade or resell them. Much more affordable that way, too.

[TinkerMan]

DISASTER STRUCK
I opened the machine, replaced the old T2300 cpu with a T7600 I had , replaced one of the two 1 GB ram stick with a 2 GB crucial, so to have 3 GB in total. put everything back, the cpu fan and the hdd spin , both, but the laptop wont post anything, ANYTHING, not even bips or something, and the screen stay dark.

help please

[TinkerMan]

UPDATE
I reopened the machine, put back the old cpu, VOILA it works, so there is a CPU problem, the question now is, is it because the cpu is simply dead or is it beacsue of an incompatibility? the T7600 is a 667 Mhz FSB, so the same as the old cpu, it should work, in principle.

am I missing something?

[Screamer]

A BIOS update would be my guess, but have you tried updating the BIOS to the latest version?

[TinkerMan]

UPDATE 2

since I had another T 60 in the house, one equipped with a working T7200, I took that CPU and put it in the troubled machine, also, will not work, so its not the CPU the problem,

I will try a BIOS update, and see if this resolves the issue.

[TinkerMan]

UPDATE 3
updated the bios to 2.27
installed the new CPU the T7600
purrs like a kitten

in the process also upgraded the ram to 3 gigs
cleaned the interior
the only thing missing is an SSD, but thats peanuts compared to what went on today.