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#1 Post by **schen** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:38 pm

I'd do a Poll on this, but the answers would be so varied that I don't think it'd be very useful. I'm at the point where my everyday TPs (as well as the various family/friends TPs I take care of are in good shape), so I'm looking for something that I can make a project out of; kinda like the 310 that Toddyjoe "Frankenpadded". So I'm looking for suggestions as to what you guys think would be a good cheap candidate with an emphasis on (CHEAP), secondly, relatively easy to work on, and lastly with decent everyday useability with either W98 or W2K.

If possible, describe certain specific advantages such as the aforementioned 310's socket 7 that can take a variety of CPUs easily. I've taken apart i1400s, 560s and 760s, but that's all.

toddyjoe · #2 Post by **toddyjoe** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:17 pm

Although I am a little biased, the 310/315-series of Thinkpads has my vote so far for three big reasons:

(1) CHEAP: Can I underline and bold the term "CHEAP?" If you search Ebay (not regarded as the best source for real "deals"), you can frequently get one of these models with all the case candy and trimmings for under $50 and sometimes for $10 to $20. Nobody wants them unless they know the rest...

(2) CPU: The Socket 7 processor is socketed and easily swappable with adjustable DIP switches, not clumsy jumpers. You can go from a lowly 120 to 166 MHz Pentium up to 400 MHz, the best combination of the 66 MHz front side bus and the 2x-to-6x multiplier on AMD processors. If you use Windows, going from 350 MHz to 400 MHz with an AMD K6 requires downloading a free AMD K6 patch which is no problem to install. I suspect you can also get a nice big L2 cache if you go with the AMD K6-2+, K6-3 and K6-3+ line of processors for even better performance (an avenue I am still pursuing). Additional fan mods and expensive Artic-type grease are not needed if you stick with the lower-wattage, mobile processors. The only disadvantage is that you need a good battery or to upgrade the 45-watt power adapter to a higher-wattage 72-watt unit if you want to get above 200 MHz and all the way up to 400 MHz. Of course, the upgraded power adapter is the same universal adapter used on a lot of newer Thinkpads. A brand new, universal power adapter and an AMD K6-2 capable of 400 MHz cost me about $30 total off of Ebay. You can find the same stuff cheaper elsewhere if you know how to find deals.

(3) MEMORY: There are two slots for 144-pin EDO memory accessible through an underside door on the computer. Remove one screw and you have easy access to both without having to disassemble the laptop. The stock memory is 16MB but the computer runs two 64MB EDO sticks -- a total of 128MB -- without blinking an eye (I will be able to tell you next week if you can hit 192MB). You can upgrade to 128MB of brand new EDO memory for about $30 on Ebay or cheaper elsewhere if you know where to look.

There are other reaons I like the 310/315-series. 12.1" dual-scan color SVGA LCD monitors are standard (I think). The built-in trackpoint mouse is handy if you dislike the touchpad type. On the models with a CD, you get a CD drive which can be enabled as a bootable drive in BIOS... very useful with more modern operating systems and programs. Two PCMCIA slots (one Cardbus 32-bit), a PS/2 port, a parallel port and a serial port give you plenty of hardware options for old and new modems, printers, keyboards, mouse hardware, controllers, etc. No USB port, unfortunately, but workable USB 2.0 PCMCIA cards with dual or quad ports will cost you $10 at most. Most of the laptops start life with Windows 95 but installing Windows 98 SE was no effort at all. You might even be able to use Windows 2000 or Windows XP if you have enough hard drive and courage (I do not need it with my old-school MIDI hardware and software). The onboard Yamaha audio chipset is not half bad for a laptop. Swapping the lowly hard drives for something bigger is a matter of unscrewing one front-side screw, sliding off the cover panel and pulling out the drive caddy with a handle designed for the purpose.

In my opinion, the 310/315-series are not world's best, world's fastest or world's most upgradeable laptops by modern standards. But you can probably buy a nice one and upgrade to a 400 MHz/128MB RAM laptop for less than $100 even if you buy from Ebay.

#3 Post by **schen** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:48 am

Thanks Toddyjoe. Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Hopefully, I'll get some other well thought out opinions on some other models that I can compare.

Speaking of finding 310s. I'm not sure where else I would look other than ebay, but there's one on there right now at $10 with $15 shipping! Now if it will only stay at that price, I'll be in business!

bosco · #4 Post by **bosco** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:40 am

Are there any other TP's that use a socket 7 cpu? I've got a few K6-2's laying around.

#5 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:41 pm

I think the 310/315 laptops were one of a kind for the ThinkPad lineup. However, I think that some of the K6 laptops from other companies might have socket 7 cpu's in them but I'm not very sure about that so you'd have to do some research yourself on the issue.

toddyjoe · #6 Post by **toddyjoe** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:05 am

Just a follow-up to my post above, I was unable to get the 192MB of EDO RAM to work on my Thinkpad 310ED. After some research and experimentation, it appears the maximum modular RAM memory for the 310/315-series is 128MB EDO. I will be posting another 310ED update with more details very shortly but I wanted to leave a quick follow-up to my prior post here.

#7 Post by **schen** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:06 am

Well guys... thanks for your input (especially Toddyjoe for the awesome explaination on the 310/315), but in the end, $ and expediency won out! The 310 I was keeping track of got up over $50 on ebay so eliminated itself, while at the same time a derelict A22m dropped into my lap at $15.50!

So, considering the fact the I've got RAM to fit the machine as well as random other parts. It will become the resident guinea pig. It'll need a new MB and screen as well as some other parts, but it should serve it's purpose. I might even try my hand at the whole painting thing (I know it's anathema to some, but maybe I'll do a gloss black "piano" look). Wish me luck, it's got a busted 12.1" screen and a administrator password on the MB.

Website · #8 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:13 am

Wow, good price for it, even if it is completely dead. I just paid $70 for a dead T23 with no LCD and a dead systemboard. The only thing that is really good is this CPU and fan...and I am relatively happy with the price.

Then again, I have a systemboard that I think can be fixed that I wasn to put in it.

#9 Post by **schen** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:35 am

Yeah, even though the shipping was a little high (making the total about $40), I can live with it! The main thing is that I've got batteries, RAM, and drives for these things, not to mention, port replicators and docks too! The packrat in me might finally pay off!

Website · #10 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:47 am

Well, that makes me feel better, as the $70 including shipping.

I am the same way, I have all the spare parts that I need. (ie. ram, hd, batteries, etc.) I just needed something to be able to test the board in.

Maybe I should have offered you my dead i1400 that is in pieces, instead. I have had several offers for it, but I wanted to keep it for the sake of owning something from the i series, but it is collecting dust.

#11 Post by **schen** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:33 pm

I had one of those that was given to me. It's A/C socket developed a bad solder joint and I had to take it apart and do a resolder on the module. After additional RAM, clean up and a OS reload, that machine went to my wife's grandparents who travel a lot. They use it for email from where-ever their Airstream is ends up! Unfortunately, my solder job didn't hold so I'll have to go back and put in a small wire. Other than that though, I kinda like these Acer contracted machines.

Actually, I have no idea why I'm taking on another project. I'm about to be awash in Compaqs! One of my friends worked in the Houston Astros IT deptment and they let him have a stack of laptops they were about to throw out. He changed jobs and doesn't have time for them so he's giving them to me. I don't have any idea what they are or what kind of condition they are in(they've been sitting on the floor of his garage in Houston for more than a year), so it may be a long haul. Especially since I've never worked on Compaq! But I'd like to see if I can get a few of them working so I can put together in "mini-lab" in my classroom so my students can work on papers and look up things without having to go to the library. I was also given a HP Laserjet 4000 last year, so I'm partway there!

Website · #12 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:42 pm

Compaqs are interesting machines to work on, as well as expensive. Batteries and AC adapters were the worst, not to mention keyboards, LCDs, etc...expensive!!

Actually, I have a 13.3" display from an Armada 7400 that I was going to take apart to use the LCD, since the backlight was out. I spent over an hour trying to get the bezel to separate from the LCD. It looks like part of the bezel is made out of something a little thicker than paper, and once you take it off, you'd need to replace it with a new one. Imagine a border glued onto an 8x10 photo...now imagine removing the glued border...not pretty huh?

#13 Post by **schen** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:52 pm

Not so good to hear! I already have a not too good opinion of Compaqs anyway stemming from an Armada 15xx machine that had the imfamous screen hinge problem where the LCD won't come on unless you rock it back and forth. So, I'm kinda holding my breath now to see what these machines are going to need.

On the plus side, I have a nephew that works for Arima (one of Compaq's Taiwanese contractors) and he thinks he can at the very least get me the drivers disks and maybe other preload software.

I wish these machines could have been ThinkPads, but I'll try not to look this gift-horse in the mouth and just be grateful!

Website · #14 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:03 pm

Yeah, if they are giving you such a large stack, atleast you might have replacement parts from within.

If you need any help, or wanna unload any (

), let me know.

#15 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:32 pm

How big is the stack of Compaqs? If there are enough of them, maybe there will be good odds of you being lucky enough to simply be able to swap a fewbase units and LCDs or something within those lines and have one or two working machines.

Have you started to look through the stack yet and see if any computers work as is? What model Compaqs are these?

Website · #16 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:18 pm

AlphaKilo470 wrote:How big is the stack of Compaqs? If there are enough of them, maybe there will be good odds of you being lucky enough to simply be able to swap a fewbase units and LCDs or something within those lines and have one or two working machines.

Have you started to look through the stack yet and see if any computers work as is? What model Compaqs are these?

I don't believe that schen has rec'd them as of yet, based this comment:

schen wrote:I don't have any idea what they are or what kind of condition they are in(they've been sitting on the floor of his garage in Houston for more than a year), so it may be a long haul.

#17 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:23 pm

I must have missed that when skimming through.

#18 Post by **schen** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:06 pm

My nephew is suppose to pick them up this coming weekend. After he gets them, I'll know what models they are and their condition. But then I still have to wait for them to get moved up here to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. That will probably be some time in June or July when he comes to visit.

So it will be a little while. I'll let you guys know when it happens. I'm sure I'll have to put out an APB for Compaq expertise!

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