X31 upgrade with non-IBM parts?

[edthink]

Hi,

New here, so my apologies if the Q's have been asked before (I did try to find a FAQ for the X series but could not. Is there one?)...

I have a WD 80GB 5400RM 2.5 drive, and a 1GB DDR2700 memory stick. The drive was a generic OEM 9.5mm. The memory stick was manufactured by Kingston for HP (KTH-ZD7000, DDR333, CL2.5).

Both were on my now deceased HP laptop; I am wondering if I could use them on an X31 (I am thinking about buying one off eBay).

Would they work? I would think so but want to make sure. Thanks!

Ed

[tomh009]

The drive should be fine (assuming it's traditional ATA (PATA), not SATA), but the X31 uses DDR1 memory, not DDR2. Your best bet would be to sell the DDR2 and buy a DDR1 stick.

[edthink]

Thanks tomh009.

The memory is actually DDR1 (I should have written PC2700, not DDR2700 -- sorry). I looked at Kingston and Crucial sites, for both my old HP and X31; the memory specs are identical (PC2700, DDR333, unbuffered, non-ECC, CL2.5), but the part numbers are different (so are the prices, albeit only slightly).

Is this just a marketing gimmick?

Ed

[tomh009]

There is a good chance that it'll work -- the DDR1 SO-DIMM modules are pretty standardized. Plug it in and see that (1) it physically fits into the slot, an (2) the X31 recognizes it on bootup. I bet it will!

[edthink]

Thanks again.

I have yet to buy the X31; I think I will go ahead.

Slightly off the topic --

Part of the motivation in choosing X31 (over other options, e.g. X4x or T4x) is these two pieces ("free" upgrades for me).

But performance wise, how much do I miss? I know that the CPU in X31 is the full voltage 1g M chip, which is slower and hotter. Also DDR1 is slower than DDR2. Would I feel the difference in , say, watching Divx video (probably th most CPU intensive app I can think of now that I'd run on it)? With 1GB+ ram I am expecting minimal difference, but again I am not sure.

Thanks,

Ed

[tomh009]

OK ... T4x can be a different beast, but the X31 runs very nicely. The Pentium M is the next best thing to a Core Duo (much preferable to a Pentium 4). X40/X41 is nice and light, but that 1.8" disk (only available at 4200 rpm) is excruciatingly slow.

With my X31 (1.6 GHz, 1.3 GB, 100 GB 7200 rpm and Winows XP) I run office apps, development tools, Illustrator and Photoshop. Have watched a DVD (only one -- but enough to know it works!). Yes, Photoshop actions would love a Core 2 Duo but photo editing works very well -- extra memory and fast disk are great there.

eBay seller "assetdisposition" is selling essentially new 1.6 GHz X31s, listing one or two units a day; you can pick one of these up somewhere in the $500s. Several people have bought these and they really are "new", or at least unused -- the only caveat is that the drives have been wiped so you will need either an OEM XP CD or a set of X31 recovery CDs (or a copy of Vista, should you so choose).

(In addition to my X31, my wife has one, my brother has one, and his business partner has an X32. Yes, I do love the X3 series!)

[tomh009]

I know that the CPU in X31 is the full voltage 1g M chip, which is slower and hotter.

P.S. The X31 can be easily undervolted using either NHC or RMClock for even lower heat and longer battery life. My X31 is currently running at 44C (on my lap!) and the fan only goes on maybe a few times a week when I do more intense Photoshop work.

[edthink]

Hi Tom,

Thanks a lot. It took me some two days to find this place and get my registration activated (post 911 security beeffup? ) but it is worth it (Hi there Bill ). I love this community already.

I own a 570 (actually 2 -- my wife had one as well) and loved it. It still works fine (except for the battery which only holds 30min), albeit a bit slow in today's standard. In the meanwhile a Dell, and an HP have passed away...

Yes I am following that guy's auction (I was actually outbid in a couple of them already ). The price has gone up a bit recently though. I think I should be able to snatch one soon.

Since it comes with COA, can I just order the recovery media from Lenovo cheaply? Or is it legal to just borrow a set from someone else? Actually I do have an OEM XP CD, but am wondering if I'll miss anything from the original (after downloading everything from Lenovo)...

Ed

[tomh009]

You can download the drivers from Lenovo -- that'll work fine. And some people actually prefer doing things that way, adding software they want rather than removing software they don't.

Alternately you could get a set of recovery disks. I'm across the border but I could probably burn a set for you (never tried that bit!) as I still have the recovery partition on my disk and send them to you for the cost of shipping. PM me if you decide you would like to do that.

[edthink]

Thanks for the offer Tom. Really appreciate it.

But I need to get that baby first I'll try the OEM XP CD, and bug you about it only if it does not work that way.

Ed.

[boon]

I bought a fujitsu hard drive and then install vista in x31, works perfectly, no complains

and for the memory, your kingston should be able to work, as I don't see why not, its a quality ram.