Upgrading CPU of R60 - Any Thoughts?

[Thinkpad2Val]

Hi - I'm thinking of upgrading the CPU of my aging R60. Here are the current specs:

ThinkPad R60 (9456-63U)
T2400(1.83GHz), 3GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 15in 1400x1050 LCD, Intel 950, CDRW/DVDRW, 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, IEEE 1394, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

Would anyone have any recommendation for the appropriate replacement CPU? Also - as part of installing a new CPU, would it be possible (or even advisable) to install a separate GPU?

I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

[ZaZ]

I'd vote the T5500 or T5600 if you want to upgrade. They'll probably cost you $20 or less on eBay and you can probably sell your old one for not far off that price. Your other option would be a T7200, T7400 or T7600. If you go with one of those, I'd suggest the T7200, which is probably around $40 I'm guessing. The other two will be much more dear. They have a little more MHz and an extra 2MB of cache. They'll be a little faster, but I personally wouldn't spend the extra. Plus the T7x00 CPUs run a little hotter. I have the T5500 on my R60e and it does the basics just fine.

If you're looking for some more spring in your step, I'd suggest getting an SSD over a CPU upgrade as a better path to a more snappy machine. The problem with them is they're more expensive and offer limited capacity, though the modular caddy is an option with the R60. Run Linux too. It flies on a SSD.

You can upgrade the R60 GPU up to the X1400, but it would require replacing the board. The GPUs are soldered onto the board. The X1400 is too old to be relevant for much these days. Maybe if you want to play some older games. The Intel GPU, which I think you've got, will run cooler and offer more battery life.

[Thinkpad2Val]

I'd vote the T5500 or T5600 if you want to upgrade. They'll probably cost you $20 or less on eBay and you can probably sell your old one for not far off that price. Your other option would be a T7200, T7400 or T7600. If you go with one of those, I'd suggest the T7200, which is probably around $40 I'm guessing. The other two will be much more dear. They have a little more MHz and an extra 2MB of cache. They'll be a little faster, but I personally wouldn't spend the extra. Plus the T7x00 CPUs run a little hotter. I have the T5500 on my R60e and it does the basics just fine.

If you're looking for some more spring in your step, I'd suggest getting an SSD over a CPU upgrade as a better path to a more snappy machine. The problem with them is they're more expensive and offer limited capacity, though the modular caddy is an option with the R60. Run Linux too. It flies on a SSD.

You can upgrade the R60 GPU up to the X1400, but it would require replacing the board. The GPUs are soldered onto the board. The X1400 is too old to be relevant for much these days. Maybe if you want to play some older games. The Intel GPU, which I think you've got, will run cooler and offer more battery life.

Much appreciated ZaZ. Do you know if I can run Photoshop CS5 on the Intel GPU (I haven't tried it as the existing LCD quality sucks - although I am thinking of replacing it with the Hydis UXGA)? Other than editing big photos in Photoshop CS5, I wouldn't otherwise have any need for a separate GPU.

[ZaZ]

To some degree that will depend on you needs. If you're just touching up photos, I don't think you'll have any issues. Some higher end stuff can use the GPU.

[schen]

If used both of these processors in the last 6 months upgrading my wife's and now my own Z61m. Her's is an Intel GPU'd, daily driver which does web surfing and "office" type tasks, so it got a T5500 and runs very well on it. Mine is destined to be a digital photography mobile workstation with the ATI X1400 GPU, so bought a T7200 for it.

I expected to pay about $20 more for the T7200 thinking that it would run in the $40s after shipping, but it turned out that I got lucky and only gave $32 for it including shipping. So, if you're patient, you can get the higher-end for not much more than the $20 something I spent on the T5500.

In all honesty I'll have to say that I'm not certain that I can tell the difference although I certainly haven't benchmarked and direct comparisons. All I can say for certain is that we're happy with both.

[Rincewindwiz]

hhhmmm . . .
I tried replacing the CPU in my R60 (T5600 1.83GHz) with a T7600 (2.33 GHz) from an old Tosh laptop,
Bloody thing wouldnt even boot up after that and I had to swap the CPUs back again (at least it still worked after the swop back - phew!) Any idea why it didnt work (Lights came on; DVD whirred but no Thinkpad "press blue key to interrupt boot" screen; No access to BIOS screen). BIOS is 2.23 (28/9/2009)

Anyone actually made this work?

TFAI

[dr_st]

Hi - I'm thinking of upgrading the CPU of my aging R60.

What for?

[ZaZ]

hhhmmm . . .
I tried replacing the CPU in my R60 (T5600 1.83GHz) with a T7600 (2.33 GHz) from an old Tosh laptop,
Bloody thing wouldnt even boot up after that and I had to swap the CPUs back again (at least it still worked after the swop back - phew!) Any idea why it didnt work (Lights came on; DVD whirred but no Thinkpad "press blue key to interrupt boot" screen; No access to BIOS screen). BIOS is 2.23 (28/9/2009)

Anyone actually made this work?

Something is wrong with the CPU. A R60 that has the T5600 should take a T7600 without issue.

[Rincewindwiz]

Yes I had rather come to that conclusion. However it is a PC that was working (but died in a different department) and its quite hard to damage the CPU chip.
I suppose there is no easy way of testing it (other than replacement)?