Thinkpads Forum

Can I run a 64bit OS on the t60p, or any other laptop ?
I'm assuming that I will still be limited to memory of 4GB still.

The Core Duos are 32-bit, so no.

The Core 2 Duos are 64-bit, so yes.

It's also unclear what the memory limit is.

With a 32-bit OS, you are limited to 3GB of RAM as 1GB of the 4GB address space is used by devices.

With a 64-bit OS, nobody has given (or maybe I just haven't seen) a definitive word on whether 3GB or 4GB is actually usable on this machine. There could be a limitation in the CPU, chipset, memory controller, or BIOS. 4GB would be the upper limit, though.

whizkid wrote:It's also unclear what the memory limit is.

With a 32-bit OS, you are limited to 3GB of RAM as 1GB of the 4GB address space is used by devices.

With a 64-bit OS, nobody has given (or maybe I just haven't seen) a definitive word on whether 3GB or 4GB is actually usable on this machine. There could be a limitation in the CPU, chipset, memory controller, or BIOS. 4GB would be the upper limit, though.

This has been discussed before. But, to get more then 4GB of memory, you need the OS, CPU and chipset to all support more the 4GB. So, for the current T60 the list is:

OS (Assuming Linux x86_64 or WIndwos 64bit) - check.
CPU (Core2Duo Only) - check
945 chipset - NO. -- The 945 chipset will allow you to physically plug in 4GB, but the upper part of the address space is reserved for devices.

Even Lenovo's website will tell you only 3GB is useable if you select the option for 4GB. This is not a problem specific to Lenovo, it is for all Intel based laptops using the 945 chipset.

Now i want a refund..

They should have said support only 3 G of RAM and not 4 G of RAM.

Certain important applications such as Cicso VPN and 16 bit software don't work with 64-bit. In most cases, I don't think the extra 1 GB of RAM is worth the trouble.

madcow wrote:They should have said support only 3 G of RAM and not 4 G of RAM.

quoted from official lenovo documentation:

Maximum memory capacity may require the replacement of standard component with largest supported component available. On ThinkPad systems with an Intel 945GM, 945PM, GM965, or PM965 chipset, even though it is possible to physically install 4GB of memory, the actual amount of memory addressable by an operating system will be limited to 3GB. This limitation does not exist with the Intel GM965 and PM965 with the 64-bit operating systems Windows XP Professional 64-bit and Windows Vista 64-bit Editions.

---

whizkid wrote:It's also unclear what the memory limit is.

please see this sticky: T60/T61/p memory limitations -- the definitive answer

the T60/p absolutely cannot utilize more than 3GB due to chipset and BIOS limitations.

The T61p will definitely support 4 gb of ram with Vista Ultimate x64.

Oaklodge wrote:Can I run a 64bit OS on the t60p, or any other laptop ?
I'm assuming that I will still be limited to memory of 4GB still.

You might want to read this thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=52677

I, too, wanted to use 64-bit, but it appears to be premature...

And yes, you can use 64-bit on a T60p. You just need a Core 2 Duo. There are an abundance of T60p that come with Core 2 Duo CPU's.

Oaklodge wrote:Can I run a 64bit OS on the t60p, or any other laptop ?
I'm assuming that I will still be limited to memory of 4GB still.

Hi
I've just tried installed Vista Ultimate 64bit on my Thinkpad T60P (2007-8JU) and the laptop has 2 x 2GB in there, but OS only recognized 3GB and that is really S*CK
LD

The idea that the limitation is some sort of inherent design of the Intel 945 Mobile Express chipset family is not correct, sorry. Dell M1710 uses same chip and supports 4GB without reserve, and Intel's data sheets on 945 Mobile Express Chipset family claims the chipset supports 4GB. See here: http://download.intel.com/design/mobile ... 921905.pdf
Don't know why Lenovo couldn't do 4GB support in the T60 and T60P line. The limitation is somehow isolated to their implementation of the 945GM on the T60/P though, not Intel. It is annoying, but I bought my T60 with my eyes open (though with some level of disbelief).

bdmclacken wrote:The idea that the limitation is some sort of inherent design of the Intel 945 Mobile Express chipset family is not correct, sorry. Dell M1710 uses same chip and supports 4GB without reserve, and Intel's data sheets on 945 Mobile Express Chipset family claims the chipset supports 4GB. See here: http://download.intel.com/design/mobile ... 921905.pdf
Don't know why Lenovo couldn't do 4GB support in the T60 and T60P line. The limitation is somehow isolated to their implementation of the 945GM on the T60/P though, not Intel. It is annoying, but I bought my T60 with my eyes open (though with some level of disbelief).

and for this reason there is now a sticky at the top of this forum answering the question of T60 and T61 support for 4GB so that users don't run into the same wall.

fwiw, the macbook pros based off of the 945 chipsets can only support 3GB as well.   this is not a lenovo-only issue.

bdmclacken wrote:Don't know why Lenovo couldn't do 4GB support in the T60 and T60P line.

Quite probably for the same reasons that a number of contemporary laptops models based on the same Intel technology from various suppliers across the market, including some Dell models, dont either!

Cheers,

Bill B.

ludu35 wrote: and that is really S*CK
LD

What's that mean? Are you saying you installed and it's sick as in hot! LOL...I have decided to put Vista Ultimate 64-bit on my 2007-94U.

ludu35 wrote:Hi
I've just tried installed Vista Ultimate 64bit on my Thinkpad T60P (2007-8JU) and the laptop has 2 x 2GB in there, but OS only recognized 3GB and that is really S*CK
LD

Crunch wrote:What's that mean? Are you saying you installed and it's sick as in hot! LOL...I have decided to put Vista Ultimate 64-bit on my 2007-94U.

no, he said "SUCK" because in he installed 4GB and can only use 3GB of it due to the T60's memory limitation.

erik wrote:

ludu35 wrote:

Crunch wrote:

Ohhhhhhhh...gotya. Where is that person who transferred the 15" IPS screen to a T61p?

Come on Lenovo, let's see some IPS.

MOD EDIT: I'm requesing you second time, please; kindly, trim down your long quoting.

BUT some Dell notebooks with the SAME chipset do work with 4gb RAM!! Check out the comments there: http://blog.venthur.de/2007/05/14/4gb-ram-on-a-t60/

It is possible to use 4gb of RAM with this chipset!!! I have installed 4gb of RAM in my T60 and I see 4gb in the BIOS but not under Vista x64.

speeder84 wrote:BUT some Dell notebooks with the SAME chipset do work with 4gb RAM!!

No, they don't, they just "appear" to.

This has been done to death here already. Please see the sticky on "T60/T61/p memory limitations -- the definitive answer" for reliable information on memory accessibility.

Cheers

Bill B.

whizkid wrote:It's also unclear what the memory limit is.

With a 32-bit OS, you are limited to 3GB of RAM as 1GB of the 4GB address space is used by devices.

With a 64-bit OS, nobody has given (or maybe I just haven't seen) a definitive word on whether 3GB or 4GB is actually usable on this machine. There could be a limitation in the CPU, chipset, memory controller, or BIOS. 4GB would be the upper limit, though.

I run 64-bit Vista on the T60p w/ 4GB installed.

There is without a doubt a 3GB hard limit on the RAM that is imposed by the chipset.

dfumento wrote:Certain important applications such as Cicso VPN and 16 bit software don't work with 64-bit. In most cases, I don't think the extra 1 GB of RAM is worth the trouble.

There are 32 bit versions of the Cisco VPN. Plus, any 32-bit application you want to run that isn't compatible can be run from within a virtualized environment (think VMWare or VirtualPC).