Advice on new small drive and RAM for crashed T60 type 1952

[backdoorman]

First post and new member due to newly aquired T60.

My stock harddrive is crashed and I need a new one. At the same time I figured I'd upgrade the RAM from the current 1GB. Processor is dual core 1.86.

I've read some of the reviews here but all of them about 320 or larger. I really don't need that much space so I figured I'd ask if there are any good 7200 rpm's in the 100-160 GB range?

My priorities are:
1. Noiselevel
2. Noiselevel
3. Stability
4. Performance

I do multitasking with several windows opened but never any heavy files or photoshop or similar...

From what I've read about the large ones the Fujitsu MHZ2320BJ-G2 may be interesting but still feel it's way to large for my needs...

My 2nd question is about RAM upgrade, is there something I should think about? What type and what brand? Any problems with an upgrade?

Help appreciated...

[ausmike]

BackDoorMan...Welcome 2 TP forum ..............maybe you should use the FROUNT DOOR , first <lol>

T60 .....

My BEST Choice for HD =
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822145361
(not sure you can get these from USA site - but am I there is a EU brank of the same company - and NO I dont work for them)
The best fit for you 'requirments' you mentioned. only pity is that this SAME DRIVE I got (7 off) from that supplier cames with 5 Yr Warranty!!

My BEST Choice for Memory =
Kingston HyperX (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
(I have used lots and lots of K.HyperX memories for TP over last few years - not one failed and they always work nicely and FAST and LOW HEAT- without any loss of BATTERY LIFE(span)
However these DDR2's are not in stock at my (above fav) reseller .... but than I usually order the Kingston HyperX - DIRECT from KINGSTON website - so that way I get a FACTORY MATCHING PAIRS of 4GB and 8GB chips. These are NOT CHEAP (because of their CL5 rate), but well worth the money!. But any of the DDR2 667 PC25300 will do for you.

Enjoy you TP,,,, am sure after these upgrades you be lots happier!
Cheers

[sjthinkpader]

If you are looking for a small drive, I would recommend the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 250GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148541
This is a single platter design that has very high areal density.

[underclocker]

I'm very happy with an Intel X-25 SSD. They come in capacitites starting at 40GB. They will outrank any platter drive based on your priorities.

[backdoorman]

Thanks for the tips but all those are still really large, I do not need 250 even. I have thought about the SSD drives but they're like 400$, aren't they?
That's about three times what I paid for the little thing and a little out of my budget for this machine. I want a nice budget workhorse, no advanced applications here.

Fujitsu has been recommended here before and they have two smaller siblings(or whatever) on 120 and 160GB:

Fujitsu MHZ2160BJ 16MB 160GB
Fujitsu MHZ2120BJ 16MB 120GB

These look more like something I would need, how are they doing in terms of noiselevel and stability? I really do not need more than 160(if that even).

b) with RAM should I go for two separate 1 gigs or one 2gig? Any difference in performance between different RAM solutions?

[ausmike]

HD:
since you do not really ned large (space) drive ,,,,, I would pick anything that suites your Budget vz Size.... lots of specials around. untill very recently - Hit*&Fuj* USED TO BE THE TWO MAJOR suppliers as OEM to IBM laptops. But then IBM sold its HD Division to HIT*..... and NOW Lenovo has the PC Division ,,,,,so take your pick > most all of the STATA II or SATA III 9.7mm drives would work and all are just as reliable! I would still pick the newer series from HITACHI Travelstar H2IKxxx... series if u can get them as these ones I got in 500GB batch of 8 ... seems lots lots quiter than even the already quite HD2xxx...series:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822145275
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822145361


RAM:
.... am NO TECKIE ,,, but flower the CL rating, HIGHER the MHTZ the better 'read' speeds you get from the Memory - thus making it generate LESS HEAT ....which in turn makes TP run cooler.

nowadays you can get even CL4 rated DDr2's .... some even at below $50US .... so take a pick at your brand and budget.....

for my personal use/view = I would NOT be spedning $'s in SSDs anytime soon ! But do have most all my WORK TPS (3tp x intel256GB-SSD raid0) my budget cannot afford that big shock!!

[sjthinkpader]

Thanks for the tips but all those are still really large, I do not need 250 even. I have thought about the SSD drives but they're like 400$, aren't they?
.......

Selecting HDD is primarily driven by performance at any size. That 250GB Seagate (and other single platter design) is the fastest drive and at $55 or so also one of the cheaper production drive. You will not find production drive at much below $50 because that is the current minimum selling price for any production drive.

You may be able to find smaller drive at $5-$10 less but performance will be much less. There are 32GB-40GB SSD going for <$100.

[backdoorman]

Selecting HDD is primarily driven by performance at any size. That 250GB Seagate (and other single platter design) is the fastest drive and at $55 or so also one of the cheaper production drive. You will not find production drive at much below $50 because that is the current minimum selling price for any production drive.

You may be able to find smaller drive at $5-$10 less but performance will be much less. There are 32GB-40GB SSD going for <$100.

OK, so if I understand you correctly there's nothing to gain neither in price nor in performance with a smaller drive?

Regarding the Seagates searching the forum gives a lot of results about vibrations/noise. Same with the Scorpio black so I want to avoid these.

No comments about the Fujitsu/Toshiba 320GB disc

[underclocker]

For a low priced eBay option, this seller often sells ThinkPad drive pulls that include IBM original drives with the caddies and screws. I purchased more than one from him.

Right now he has a 7200 rpm Hitachi TravelStar 160GB drive for $30.99 (del. in the U.S.), link below;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0680401724

[sjthinkpader]

OK, so if I understand you correctly there's nothing to gain neither in price nor in performance with a smaller drive?

Regarding the Seagates searching the forum gives a lot of results about vibrations/noise. Same with the Scorpio black so I want to avoid these.

No comments about the Fujitsu/Toshiba 320GB disc

Yes, latest drives with highest areal density yield highest performance. Smallest single platter drives will be cheapest, other than older drives on closeout.

I've been happy with my single platter Seagate 250GB so far, very quiet, very fast. Not every current generation 7200rpm 250GB is single platter design but this one is. There may be a larger single platter 5400rpm drive from WD. I have also bought 7200rpm, 500GB 2 platter Hitachi's. If you want a smaller drive, look for single platter design is usually the way to go.

I had very good luck with Fujitsu drives but they bowed out. Toshiba had been spotty for me including one that needed to go for data recovery. So I stopped buying Fujitsu after they moved over to Toshiba.

Had bought a few Samsungs but mostly in 1.8 inch size. They also have single platter drives.

[AIX]

[..]I've been happy with my single platter Seagate 250GB so far, very quiet, very fast. [..]

My Seagate 7200.4 250GB is quiet too, and no vibration; pretty fast.

[ashleys]

I got a WD Scorpio Black 250Gb for my (refurbished) T60.
Very pleased with it, no noise or vibration and very quick.