Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

This is actually not something I was planning, but was lucky enough to buy like-new X61s for a basket of apples.
This is a nice yet sluggish unit equipped with L7300, so just 1,4GHz. However, it reminded me a X32 I still own. This thing could easily supplement a hammer if needed, and the things like KB feel, sturdiness and 4:3 screen ratio is something I am looking for.

Still, it gave me some general idea of working out some X6x unit for my own. Thus, getting prepared, I'd like to ask a couple of questions to users that already have their units happily working

1. What's the best (reasonable) mobo options that you considered? L7700 is pretty hard to get, and L7500 w/1,6GHz does not seem astonishing. I was thinking of T9300 X61 unit + undervolting / undeclocking it with throttlestop / nhc to get 2,1-2,2GHz. Some reports say that a TDP 35W Penryns are running cooler than TDP 17W L-series since they are not at full usage in everyday tasks. Still, T9XXX unit seems hard to get.

2. As for the screen, I read a bit about Xiphmont's LED upgrade of the standard XGA screens, including T61t AFFS XGA - would this one fit to X61/s bezel? I guess it should be way thicker. Getting SXGA+ is nice, but there seem to be some mod issue with this one.

3. What is the reasonably best way to pump out the heat from this unit? Repasting, dusting, wireless card exchange - sure, but C2D processors from Merom and 800MHz FSB Penryn units tend to produce a great amount of heat.

Generally I would be grateful for your opinions. I'm actively seeking this forum for info while trying to avoid my wife's piercing gaze.

1. I do not recommend installing an X61 board in your X61s chassis, as the X61s heatsink cannot cope with a 35w TDP processor at full tilt. But if you really want to, get one with a T8300, then undervolt and limit its max clock rate to 2GHz, maybe less..Hopefully its power consumption gets low enough that it won't throttle down after a few minutes at full speed. A T9300 would have a higher consumption (and more heat) due to the larger L2 cache.
Don't skimp on the thermal paste, as you'll need every bit of thermal conductivity you can get.

2. The IPS mod (XGA and SXGA+) is quite difficult as it requires you to modify the flex cable, as well as cut off the LCD panel's mounting tabs. The reason for this is that you'll be using LCD panels like the ones in X60/61 Tablets, which have different mounting points (which need to be cut off), and while their I/O connectors are the same, the pinouts are different.

Worse, if you use an IPS panel from an actual X61T, you'll have to remove the protective glass panel, which is bonded with one of the most difficult-to-remove adhesives I've ever seen.

3. IIRC, FRU 42X3804 is probably the best of the three heatsnks available for the X61s. And as mentioned earlier, don't skimp on the thermal paste.

I have a few T8100 X61 motherboards kicking around, if you are interested...