Thinkpads Forum

Hi !

I'm new on this forum, and I hope that you will be able to aswer to my questions

I have a T60p (2007-WMJ Model, based on 2007-CTO). I bought it in 2006, and today I want to upgrade the processor but I don't know compatible model with it.

Next, can you confirme that this model can support only 3GB of RAM.


Thanks

(sorry for my english ).

JBaye wrote:I have a T60p (2007-WMJ Model, based on 2007-CTO). I bought it in 2006, and today I want to upgrade the processor but I don't know compatible model with it.

Hi and welcome/bienvenue!

There are several threads that discuss T60p upgrade options, e.g. T61p mobo in a T60p case? however my impression is that the cost and complexity is probably not worth doing it. (You can use the forum Search function to find more such threads.)

Next, can you confirme that this model can support only 3GB of RAM.

That is correct. You can install 4GB as 2x 2GB but the operating system will see only 3GB. In addition the CPU is not capable of running a 64-bit operating system which would be a requirement to use more than 3GB.

I just recently upgraded the CPU on my T60p.

http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 29&t=73911

Thanks for your answer

So, if I buy an Intel T7600, it will work with my model ? No problem of compatibility ?
I want to be sure before buy it

bmwman91 wrote:I just recently upgraded the CPU on my T60p.



http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 29&t=73911

I had read it, but I didn't know if all T60p was same.

hausman wrote:In addition the CPU is not capable of running a 64-bit operating system which would be a requirement to use more than 3GB.

I'm surprised I see this false information every now and then on the forum.

Any T60/p with any CPU (either Core Duo or Core 2 Duo) supports a maximum of 3GB or RAM. This is a chipset limitation and a 64bit CPU (Core 2 Duo) with a 64bit OS won't help.

That said, having two identical 2GB modules may be a good idea because of slight RAM performance gain due to symmetrical double channel mode. This configuration is also the max a T60/p will take and still boot, installing more than 4GB will stop the system from starting.

JBaye wrote:So, if I buy an Intel T7600, it will work with my model ? No problem of compatibility ?

If you know a T7600 is what you want then look out for just one thing. It must be in a micro FCPGA package, not FCBGA. You want the first one because it has pins on the bottom, the second one is meant for direct soldering on the board and as such only has pads for soldering balls.

Be warned as there are some FCBGA CPUs made into FCPGA by soldering pins to the pads. If this wasn't done correctly, your new superb CPU may fail quite early.

JBaye wrote:(...) I didn't know if all T60p was same.

All T60 and T60p notebooks use the same CPU sockets. There are Core Duo (32bit) and Core 2 Duo (64bit) CPUs that match this socket. Core Duo will work in any T60 or T60p. Core 2 Duo requires that the mainboard is of rev. 3 and that you have a recent BIOS. T7600 is a Core 2 Duo CPU, the most powerful you can put in a T60/p. As the BIOS can be upgraded if needed, the only thing you have to check before you buy the CPU is the board revision. Use CPU-Z program to do that. AFAIK, almost all boards were rev. 3. Only a small first batch was lower rev.

EDIT: Fixed the package acronyms.

I have check my mainboard revision, it's indeed the rev3

The socket is a 479 mPGA, the BIOS is the most recent, I haven't seen any update (79ETE3WW - 2.23).

I'm ready for an upgrade

EDIT: mPGA = FPGA ?

JBaye wrote:I have check my mainboard revision, it's indeed the rev3

The socket is a 479 mPGA, the BIOS is the most recent, I haven't seen any update (79ETE3WW - 2.23).

I'm ready for an upgrade

EDIT: mPGA = FPGA ?

Yes, you're ready.

Sorry about the acronyms. Of course FPGA is not what I meant, I had a micro FCPGA in mind which is also called mPGA. I've fixed my previous post. Thanks for the hint.

Ok.

Thanks for your advices.

I will try it soon .

yak wrote:I'm surprised I see this false information every now and then on the forum.

I'm not sure what you find false. The stock CPU in my T60p (T2600) lacks 64-bit support, so it won't support a 64-bit operating system. It also won't see more than 3GB.

If as you say, it's possible to put a Core 2 Duo CPU in a T60p motherboard then yes, that would be able to run 64-bit. Whether it's worth the cost of upgrading is another matter altogether.

That said, having two identical 2GB modules may be a good idea because of slight RAM performance gain due to symmetrical double channel mode.

"Slight" in this case is a single digit percentage improvement in memory speed. While you can measure this, in practice you won't be able to "feel" any difference in system performance. If the price difference between 3GB and 4GB is small, then why not. But if you already have 1GB in one DIMM socket, adding a 2GB DIMM beside it is usually a lot cheaper than adding 2, 2GB DIMMs.

hausman wrote:I'm not sure what you find false. The stock CPU in my T60p (T2600) lacks 64-bit support, so it won't support a 64-bit operating system. It also won't see more than 3GB.

You said "In addition the CPU is not capable of running a 64-bit operating system which would be a requirement to use more than 3GB." This implies that if he had a 64bit capable CPU and a 64bit operating system, he would be able to use more than 3GB of RAM. That is false for a T60/p system which is limited to 3GB by the chipset.

hausman wrote:"Slight" in this case is a single digit percentage improvement in memory speed. While you can measure this, in practice you won't be able to "feel" any difference in system performance. If the price difference between 3GB and 4GB is small, then why not. But if you already have 1GB in one DIMM socket, adding a 2GB DIMM beside it is usually a lot cheaper than adding 2, 2GB DIMMs.

Yes, that's what I meant by "slight", it's a 8% RAM performance improvement IIRC, usually not worth the effort as you pointed out. Perhaps "slight" was not a good word to describe this. Sorry, I'm not a native English speaker.

yak wrote:This implies that if he had a 64bit capable CPU and a 64bit operating system, he would be able to use more than 3GB of RAM. That is false for a T60/p system which is limited to 3GB by the chipset...

Thanks for the clarification. I was aware of that but didn't express myself clearly.

Sorry, I'm not a native English speaker.

Not at all. Since English is my native language I have far more reason to feel embarrassed and apologize

I have been thinking about a processor upgrade as well for my T2500. Other than ability to run 64 bit, I don't see much of a performance increase though. I am also considering just getting a T61 with discrete graphics as they have nearly the same overall performance on my T60p and the going price on eBay is less than the T60p is going for. I just missed a sweet one for $450.

hausman wrote:Not at all. Since English is my native language I have far more reason to feel embarrassed and apologize

No need to apologize but I do appreciate your politeness. In fact people's kindness is one of the reasons making a visit to this board a pleasure. Have a nice day.

yak wrote:No need to apologize but I do appreciate your politeness. In fact people's kindness is one of the reasons making a visit to this board a pleasure. Have a nice day.

I simply couldn't agree more with this statement. It is such a joy experiencing the worldwide unselfishness, friendliness and helpfulness of forum members. Of course, some people are obviously not raised to say "thank you", when having received (even both very valuable and time-consuming!) help, but yet... if only 1 out of 10 (or even of 50!) take the time and effort to say "Thanks!", this single person is just fueling this place to go on. This site is absolutely one of my favorite places to hang out on the internet. Thanks everyone!

Johan