Thinkpads Forum

Does anyone know if the 380D uses a small flashable memory, an EEPROM, like newer Thiinkpads use?

Or perhaps is the function of this smaller EEPROM, as found on newer Thinkpds, incorporated in the 380D into the larger FLASHable ROM used to hold the CMOS data.

The following is my best understanding only, and MIGHT set a background for the above question:

Thinkpad CMOS sizes have grown over the years. I believe in the old days, the days of the 380D, Flash ROMS holding CMOS data might have been small enough to be word or byte addressable.

That was then and this is now. Today with larger CMOS sizes, the FLASH chips are by necessity block writeable only. This forces designers today to incorporate an additional, tiny, flash memory (EEPROM) in order to provide the byte addressability needed for some data items.

As I said, that's my best understanding, my guess. If anyone out there knows better and can put me right I certainly will appreciate the input.

And in particular I would appreciate knowing if there is a small, separate, byte addressable FLASH memory (EEPROM) in the 380D.

Thanks

Answering my own post here, so there will be a record for anyone else who might be seeking this information:

The 380D does not use an EEPROM. There is a flash memory which is the non-volatile vessel for the BIOS data, as you would expect.

But there is no EEPROM, there is no small, serial EEPROM as is found on many newer laptops, and on the newer Thinkpads.