Thinkpads Forum

i wanna ask can xp and T61 use ssd,,,,,does it run and worth it than HDD,,,, i wanna try if it can use ssd

Yes, the T61 can use a SSD, but it will be limited to SATA I speeds without Middleton's BIOS hack. Something like the Seagate Momentus XT might be worth a look too.

FredGarvin wrote:Yes, the T61 can use a SSD, but it will be limited to SATA I speeds without Middleton's BIOS hack. Something like the Seagate Momentus XT might be worth a look too.

i had try to use midleton bios.... but before i try midleton bios i was install bios from lenovo the version is same but i will try to use ssd....thank fot the advice

Did Middleton ever resolve the problem of the ultrabay dropping down to slower PIO mode after using his latest version 2.29-1.08 hacked BIOS?

I'm considering putting IBM 320 SSD drives in the main HDD bays for my WinXP SP3 Operating Systems and move my 500GB Seagate SATA I/II FDE spindle HDDs to the ultrabays as extended logical drives for data files only (displacing the optical drives). I've gleened from internet searches that the ultrabays will still only operate at SATA I speeds even after the hack (assuming the PIO mode issue has been resolved), but at least the main HDD bays will be running at SATA II speeds for SSD drives.

Am I on target here, or is resolving the ultrabay PIO mode thing still a work in progress?

NOTE: I will do this after my both my ThinkPad factory warranties expire (still over a year away).

eecon wrote:Did Middleton ever resolve the problem of the ultrabay dropping down to slower PIO mode after using his latest version 2.29-1.08 hacked BIOS?
.

I don't think that was ever a prevalent problem. It was last discussed in the large Middleton thread at NBR in the link below, and a fix is also mentioned. One person fixed it by resetting the BIOS to defaults.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ion-9.html
http://winhlp.com/node/10

i hear about ssd for t61 with ssd

can use middleton bios....but i dont know about PIO.... but i just need fast computing maybe it would be great if i upgrade with ssd intel x-25 160 giga for run in xp because intel had some tool for clean garbage collection.........

The issue of slower PIO mode reported (and apparently resolved) by the Middleton BIOS only affects the bay that your CD/DVD sits in .... not your main hard drive bay where your new SSD drive will be placed.

I can hardly wait until my two ThinkPad T61p warranties expire in about one year.

Then I can finally move up to SSD SATA II (300) speeds for my main HDDs.

eecon wrote:The issue of slower PIO mode reported (and apparently resolved) by the Middleton BIOS only affects the bay that your CD/DVD sits in .... not your main hard drive bay where your new SSD drive will be placed.

I can hardly wait until my two ThinkPad T61p warranties expire in about one year.

Then I can finally move up to SSD SATA II (300) speeds for my main HDDs.

can i ask u something...before i flash with midleton bios i had flash with bios from lenovo with 2.29-1.08 and after that i try to flash with midleton bios i check the bios it's still 7FETC9WW (2.29) from lenovo....does that bios from lenovo was lock for midleton bios

Try asking your question here:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/forums/sear ... leton+bios

I have not yet tried the Middleton BIOS, so maybe someone else with more knowledge about this issue can chime in here to help answer jp9june's question.

gp9june wrote: can i ask u something...before i flash with midleton bios i had flash with bios from lenovo with 2.29-1.08 and after that i try to flash with midleton bios i check the bios it's still 7FETC9WW (2.29) from lenovo....does that bios from lenovo was lock for midleton bios

The version numbers will be the same, doesn't matter. If you flashed a Middleton BIOS and it was successful, then you are now running a Middleton BIOS.

FredGarvin wrote: Something like the Seagate Momentus XT might be worth a look too.

I just put one of these in my T61 that is running Middleton's BIOS. It really is a fast drive. I recommend it also.

how many times faster is it compared to a 7500rpm or 10,000rpm drive?

Don't know. Post a CrystalDiskMark test result from your 7200rpm drive and I'll do the same.
http://crystalmark.info/software/Crysta ... dex-e.html

Total noobish question but you get 1.8 and 2.5 inch ssds - which one to get for a T61?

2.5"

Another noobish question ..... after implementing the Middleton BIOS 2.29-1.08, I thought I read somewhere that 4965AGN wireless cards would not work?

Why shouldn't it? That's a fairytale.
The whole idea is to let EVERY wifi card work with that BIOS-mod!

Cheers RealBlackStuff,

price difference between a 1.8" and a 2.5" is €30, an adaptor costs €9. Is it worth to spend the extra €20 for a genuine 2.5" ssd? Anybody got any experience of this?

Suppose the OS can be moved using a live CD - hm, would either need another adaptor as the both use the same bay or an external hd.

Ta for the info

Count the number of memory chips on the SSDs, the more the better.
Since they don't have any moving parts, either 'should' work OK, but by cutting out the adapter, you have one less chance of errors.
I'd move the SSD into the main bay and the current hard disk into a 2nd HD SATA adapter in the Ultrabay

Good to hear the latest Middleton BIOS white-list solved a lot of issues or cleared up all the myths.

BTW ..... How much heat does an SSD give off compared to a typical traditional 7200 RPM spindle platter HDD in the T61/T61p series (just roughly .... i.e. much less, a bit less, more, etc)?

I see a significant system heat increase from all my Temp Monitoring Utilities when running two traditional 7200 RPM spindle platter HDDs in my docked T61p units.

I'm cosidering converting to an SSD in the primary HDD bay (while leaving my secondary 7200 RPM spindle platter drive as-is in the ultra-bay w/apdater).

I'm hoping that would help reduce heat to nearly the level found when running factory configuration (i.e. a traditional spindle platter 7200 RPM HDD in the primary HDD bay plus a CD/DVD burner in the ultra-bay).