What upgrades can I make to my T60 to not want a new laptop?

[amy55407]

I've been itching for a new laptop because my T60 is sluggish and I don't care for the screen (I'll probably call customer support today about the slight yellow cast but I didn't really like it before that. My warranty lasts 17 more days.). I often use multiple programs at one time. I was thinking of a T400, except they seem to be gone from the Lenovo website, or a T410. I've been browsing through this forum and clearly people like the quality of the T60 so I wanted to see if, for a reasonable cost I can improve it (I'm not sure how to define "reasonable" but at least less than 1/2 the cost of a new one).
I also wanted something a bit lighter in weight. I have the battery that sticks out in back and it needs to be replaced. I think it's a 9 cell. A new smaller battery would shave a few ounces off.

My current specs include:

Vista Home Premium 32 Bit
1.66 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo, T5500 apparently capable of a 64 bit OS
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
1280 x 800 (wxga?) screen resolution
320 gb Scorpio Blue, 5400 rpm drive. I had a smaller 7200 drive. The change hasn't seemed to slow it down.
3 gb RAM
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Advanced mini dock

What would be the best and cost-effective upgrades to make to improve performance? Can I put a different screen on it (and is this something someone who is reasonably comfortable opening up a computer can do?)?

Thanks for your recommendations.

[Harryc]

I would put a T7200 Core 2 Duo (2.0Ghz) in it and run Windows 7.

[amy55407]

It looks like these two things, if I picked them up on Ebay, would cost under $200. Is swapping the processor fairly straight forward? Does it matter what version of Windows 7? I think they all offer the option of 32 or 64 bit.

[Harryc]

The CPU swap is straight forward. Just follow the maintenance manual and get some good thermal paste, like Arctic Silver 5. I'd opt for 32bit Windows 7 for that machine with 3GB RAM.

[pianowizard]

clearly people like the quality of the T60

Actually, most of those praises have been for the T60 with 4:3 aspect ratio. The widescreen T60 models (e.g. yours) are far less popular here.

If you don't like your T60 very much, I think you should sell it before the warranty expires (so it's worth more) and upgrade to a more powerful laptop. Spending over $200 on upgrades is a bit too much IMO.

[Harryc]

Techically speaking, W7 is not a permanent upgrade given the fact that it's license is transportable to the next machine. Also, you can get a T7200 for $80 shipped on EBay. If you keep your old CPU you can reinstall it upon the sale of the T60, and resell the T7200.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Core-2-Duo-T7 ... 0496943149

[pianowizard]

W7 is not a permanent upgrade ... can get a T7200 for $80 shipped on EBay.

But the OP also wants to upgrade the LCD and get a new battery. After getting the latter, the machine may still be too heavy. Getting a new machine (probably a 14-incher) would be the easiest way to solve the problem, IMO.

[amy55407]

I would probably end up not trying to alter the lcd but it is one of the things I don't like. It was the battery running down to almost nothing that initially made me start thinking about new laptop because I wasn't even sure I wanted to spend the $100 or so for a battery.

[netzspannung]

Sell. The LCD is one thing you cannot upgrade for a reasonable cost, yet you will be staring at it all the time.

I am currently going the opposite route - bought a rather feeble T60 with an awesome SXGA+ flexview and upgraded it to top spec. It doesn't make sense from a money vs. performance standpoint, but at least I like the machine. And the NMB keyboard is sweet.

[amy55407]

Well, I decided. I bought a refurbished T400 on ebay. Although I was leaning towards a WXGA+ screen the one I bought has the high nit WXGA screen which I think will make me very happy. It also has a 128 gb SSD, T9400 processor, 3 gb RAM, 5300 AGN wireless card, 9 cell battery (would have preferred 6 actually), bluetooth, camera, integrated graphics, Windows XP (will probably go to 7), 3 years on site and accidental damage warranty. It came to just under $1000. It was the high nit screen that did it but the rest of the specs looked very good too and I can use it with my advanced mini dock. I don't know much about the SSD drives or what quality drive it is but that should be an interesting component. I wouldn't have sprung for one on a new laptop. So, I guess I'll be selling the T60 once I have the new one setup. The warranty only had about 2 weeks left on it so I don't know if that can really be considered a selling point.

[RealBlackStuff]

If the T60 still has warranty, you should renew it before expiration.
Great selling argument!