Thinkpads Forum

I asked this as part of a prior topic but never got an answer, so I'll ask this specific question.


Can I swap a cpu from one t61 to another?

Donor system: T61 15.4widescreen with T9300 cpu (2.5ghz, 6mb cache)

New System: T61 15.4 widescreen with T8100 cpu (2.1ghz, 3mb cache)

I'd like to know for sure before I begin. Best answer I got so far is "I think so".


ps. I also have a 14" (non-widescreen) t61 with a T7300 cpu (2.0ghz 4mb cache). I'm thinking the larger cache makes this superior to the T8100 even though it's slightly slower, do you agree? and if not, should I put the leftover T8100 in it? will it fit? more trouble then it's worth? (secondary question, but non-urgent)

TuuS wrote:Can I swap a cpu from one t61 to another?

Donor system: T61 15.4widescreen with T9300 cpu (2.5ghz, 6mb cache)

New System: T61 15.4 widescreen with T8100 cpu (2.1ghz, 3mb cache)

Both systems have a Penryn CPU, so both will have a Penryn capable mainboard. Switching CPU's between both systems is therefore perfectly fine.

TuuS wrote:I also have a 14" (non-widescreen) t61 with a T7300 cpu (2.0ghz 4mb cache). I'm thinking the larger cache makes this superior to the T8100 even though it's slightly slower, do you agree? and if not, should I put the leftover T8100 in it? will it fit? more trouble then it's worth?

The T7300 is an older generation Merom CPU, while the T8100 is a newer generation Penryn CPU. While they physically fit, the Penryn CPU's require newer mainboards, and usually produce a thermal error on older mainboard generations, which can only be superficially circumvented with a non-official BIOS patch (google for "T61 BIOS Middleton"), but which does not really add true Penryn capability to an older mainboard. Nonetheless, older Merom CPU's run perfectly fine in newer generation mainboards, as these have the build in capability for both Penryn and the older Merom CPU's.

Thank you very much, it looks like I'll end up with a better computer since the replacement has a better screen. I was worried it might be hard to adjust to a slower cpu, since most new software is usually designed to run on todays computers, not 4 year old ones.

As for the other computer, I'm definitely not going to swap the cpu then, I'd only gain 0.1ghz and I'd lose 1mb cache.