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Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

R30/R40, A30/A31, G40/G50 and Z60/Z61 Series. NOT for AMD-Ryzen.
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BigCatAndy
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Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#1 Post by BigCatAndy » Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:02 pm

Hello,
recently I upgraded- just for fun - my Z61t by replacing its original T2300 with T2450. Everything ran smoothly, BIOS recognized the CPU immediately, I installed XUbuntu, everybody is happy.

Today I found T7200 for 2€ and thought about upgrading now T2450 to T7200. As far as I know, this should work. But! Occasionally I found this web-page / LENOVO forum, claiming that CPUs of T2x50 are not supported by the Z61t motherboard:
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T ... a-p/404017
The author of this post says:
"The Z61t motherboard DOES NOT support T2x50 series of Core Duo CPU, if you use such CPU it will cause unexplained shutdown and data loss."
Can anyone confirm it? I always thought, the BIOS would check, if installed CPU compatible, or not. In my case BIOS said nothing.

And another question: will an upgrade T2450 -> T7200 bring anything?

Thanks,
Andrey
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#2 Post by dr_st » Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:22 pm

BigCatAndy wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:02 pm
"The Z61t motherboard DOES NOT support T2x50 series of Core Duo CPU, if you use such CPU it will cause unexplained shutdown and data loss."
Normally, if it works, it works. It may recognize it as a different CPU, or run at a wrong clock speed, but if there were hard incompatibilities, you would hit them by now.
BigCatAndy wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:02 pm
And another question: will an upgrade T2450 -> T7200 bring anything?
Double the cache, faster FSB, 64-bit support. Slightly faster probably, but still hopelessly outdated by today's standards.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

RealBlackStuff
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#3 Post by RealBlackStuff » Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:32 pm

Why don't you search this forum for using a T7200 in a Z61t?
Someone did it already in 2008...

And if you would do your homework and e.g. Google for CPU comparisons, such as "T2450 vs T7200" or even "T2450 vs T2300" you would see why T2x50 and/or T7200 are a good or bad choice.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#4 Post by BigCatAndy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:56 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:32 pm
Why don't you search this forum for using a T7200 in a Z61t?
Someone did it already in 2008...

And if you would do your homework and e.g. Google for CPU comparisons, such as "T2450 vs T7200" or even "T2450 vs T2300" you would see why T2x50 and/or T7200 are a good or bad choice.
(1) I searched already this forum, and I knew, that someone did it in the past. Actually, I didn't ask if it would work. I know, it will. My question was - will the benefit be noticeable.
(2) I did already my homework and I searched for the different Options. This is how I found the post I mention above. And I know that T7200 is better (technically seen) than T2xxx. I wanted to clarify the notice with incompatibility (if anyone has a bad experience with it) and generally just to hear on opinion of others about such an upgrade.

Usually I try to find answers by myself, and also try to avoid questions which were already asked in the past.
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

BigCatAndy
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#5 Post by BigCatAndy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:59 am

dr_st wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:22 pm
Double the cache, faster FSB, 64-bit support. Slightly faster probably, but still hopelessly outdated by today's standards.
Thanks.

This Z61t ist just my "playground" / "internet-capable typing machine", that's why I'm still thinking about going to T7200... If the affort worth it... Actually, I ran it with T2300 last 6-7 months without any pain, so - objectively - there are no reasons to make an upgrade...
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

wujstefan
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#6 Post by wujstefan » Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:25 am

dr_st wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:22 pm
Double the cache, faster FSB, 64-bit support. Slightly faster probably, but still hopelessly outdated by today's standards.
Hotter :)
BigCatAndy wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:59 am
This Z61t ist just my "playground" / "internet-capable typing machine", that's why I'm still thinking about going to T7200... If the affort worth it... Actually, I ran it with T2300 last 6-7 months without any pain, so - objectively - there are no reasons to make an upgrade...
You won't see much of a difference really. I personally run T2600 in my Z61m for lower temps; 64-bit operations commanded by 3 gigs of ram do not change the world nowadays :) Still, one of my absolutely favourite machines.
Too many thinkpads not enough time!
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#7 Post by BigCatAndy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:59 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:32 pm
And if you would do your homework and e.g. Google for CPU comparisons, such as "T2450 vs T7200" or even "T2450 vs T2300" you would see why T2x50 and/or T7200 are a good or bad choice.
I compared T2500 and T2450. They have different bus frequency: 533 MGhz (T2450) vs. 667 MGhz (T2500). Actually, replacing T2300 in Z61t with T2450 I even "downgraded" the laptop. :? Not really clever...
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#8 Post by ajkula66 » Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:19 pm

Since you already have a T7200, there's no reason not to install it. Just make sure that the machine has a recent BIOS and all should be well.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#9 Post by BigCatAndy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:39 pm

ajkula66 wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:19 pm
Since you already have a T7200, there's no reason not to install it. Just make sure that the machine has a recent BIOS and all should be well.
Hello, I don't have it yet. And I decided to keep everything as it is. I just realistically estimated an effort and gain - in the last 7 months (using Z61t some hours / week) I was satisfied with T2300, and I suppose, I will be another couple of years.
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

ajkula66
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#10 Post by ajkula66 » Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:30 pm

BigCatAndy wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:39 pm
ajkula66 wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:19 pm
Since you already have a T7200, there's no reason not to install it. Just make sure that the machine has a recent BIOS and all should be well.
Hello, I don't have it yet. And I decided to keep everything as it is. I just realistically estimated an effort and gain - in the last 7 months (using Z61t some hours / week) I was satisfied with T2300, and I suppose, I will be another couple of years.
Apologies for misunderstanding your initial post.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

BigCatAndy
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Re: Z61t: supported and unsupported CPUs, T2x50 do not run?

#11 Post by BigCatAndy » Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:10 pm

ajkula66 wrote:
Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:30 pm
Apologies for misunderstanding your initial post.
No problems.
- in use -
(1) TP R61i Frankepad - 4 GB / C2D T9500 / 180 GB SSD / UXGA display
(2) Lenovo 3000 N200 - 2 GB / C2D T7300 / 160 GB
(3) TP T450s
- in museum -
IBM 600x, IBM TP T43p, Lenovo TP Z61t, Lenovo TP X60 Tablet

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