Thinkpads Forum

Hi to all

I am refurbishing a vintage TP 310ED and doing that I try to slightly upgrade the original HW.

I opened the DIMM bay and I noticed that both slots are occuped by memory cards: the left one sports the label FRU 05K3143 while the other FRU 11J8602.
Looking through IBM parts catalogues I realised that 05K3143 refers to System Board, thus actually the label on the left memory card is not referred to RAM itself but to system specification. Probably the 16MB RAM on the left is the basic card factory fitted while the other RAM card (16MB too) is an optional added by previous owner.

Now my question: is it worth to substitute both RAMs to get the maximum allowed capacity of 64MB (presently the total RAM is 16MB+16MB)? And which items do I have to buy?
Two of these could be suitable in place of originally fitted RAMs?

http://www.impactcomputers.com/11j8637.html

These have part number 11J8637 while the TP 310ED Hardware Maintenance Manual reports 11J8603 for suitable 32MB optional RAM…

Once replaced do I have to reconfigure something or the system automatically recognises the two upgraded new RAMs?

Thank you very much for friendly support!

Guglielmo

Which operating system are you planning on running?

Hi leoblob,

the operating system is the Windows 95...

WIN95 runs OK with 32MB. I personally wouldn't spend $60 each for the DIMMs from Impact Computers. However, I probably would consider spending $12 ea for the DIMMs from here: http://www.kahlon.com/result.asp?modelid=3901

From what I see on this page, it looks like you could replace one or both of the DIMMs you have, with these. IBM part numbers are confusing to me since they sometimes use several different numbers to refer to the same part.

I believe your BIOS will automatically recognize the new RAM when you boot up. You might get some sort of message that the amount of RAM has changed (and that you need to click "OK," or some other simple response) but then you should be fine.

Check out this post from the Legacy archives here regarding my 310ED upgrades:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

Simply put, the 310ED is capable of more than 64MB of RAM. While the IBM manual says 64MB is the maximum, you can go up to 128MB of 144-pin EDO SO-DIMM RAM before you reach the maximum of the controlling motherboard chips. The two RAM modules do not have to be equal values (for example, you can use a 64MB stick and a 128MB stick) but you will still get a maximum of 128MB even if you try to go above that limit. I could not get any other types of memory to work such as PC66 or PC100 so stick to EDO if you want to save your money. Good luck!

Thank you leoblob , Thank you toddyjoe

The KAHLON website is very interesting mainly for the reasonable price of available RAMs for TP 310ED. Actually I agree that $120 for two 32MB DIMMs is quite high considering a notebook whose commercial value may be a fourth of that… but $24 in another story thus I would gladly upgrade the memory threshold to optimise and speedup general programs handling.

The toddyjoe upgrading is more than a simple upgrading! Now your 310 is “hot rodded” providing performances far beyond the project specifications. Many compliments for your skilling!
I admit that I’m not so expert and I rather prefer to stick on “normal” specs, thus 64MB could be enough for my goal.

May be that in future I’ll plan to increase the hard disk capacity (now is a ridiculous 1.6GB) and I would upgrade up to 6GB even if the Manual said that maximum is 3GB… By the way what about this toddyjoe? Is your 310ED also “modified” on this side?

Just a small question again: is it worth the Anti Static Wrist Strap - $5.00 to install the new RAMs?

Thank you very much for your expert support!

Guglielmo

Guglielmo wrote:is it worth the Anti Static Wrist Strap - $5.00 to install the new RAMs?

i would call it a waste. don't work on the carpet, keep yourself grounded by touching metal on the case before touching the memory, to discharge any static electricity.

you should be barefoot too -- no sneakers

Thanks for expert and... money saving suggestion!! I will safely operate in those conditions without annoying useless tools

As soon as I will upgrade the RAM (with 2 X 32MB Kahlon devices) I will inform you about "hopefully" improved performances of my old TP!

Guglielmo

Guglielmo wrote:May be that in future I’ll plan to increase the hard disk capacity (now is a ridiculous 1.6GB) and I would upgrade up to 6GB even if the Manual said that maximum is 3GB… By the way what about this toddyjoe? Is your 310ED also “modified” on this side?

I have not upgraded the 1.6GB hard drive in my 310ED, primarily because I really do not need storage capacity on this computer. I have a bigger, newer desktop computer at home and basically only use my 310ED as a portable MIDI sequencer and plug-in host for music applications. I am running a stripped-down version of Windows 98 SE and a small Linux distro called Puppy on the 310ED so there is less than 500MB of space being used by both operating systems. However, I have thought about upgrading the hard drive size if I ever start using more music samples, which take up a ton of hard drive space. From my past research, I think you can go larger than a 3GB hard drive with the 310ED, particularly if you upgrade to Windows 98 SE.

Thank you toddyjoe for help

Actually I would upgrade to Win 98 but I hesitate just considering the limited capacity of original Hard Disk!

Future useful upgrading may be this (from your suggested retailer)

http://www.kahlon.com/itemdetailpg.asp?itemid=252013

and then Win 98 could be affordable...

By the way: is it possible to add USB ports via PCMCIA card to 310ED? I know that Win 95 can't support USBs...

Thanks again!

Guglielmo

Guglielmo wrote:By the way: is it possible to add USB ports via PCMCIA card to 310ED? I know that Win 95 can't support USBs... Guglielmo

I use a $5.00 (U.S. money) single PCMCIA card with four USB ports with my 310ED. Of course, I upgraded to Windows 98 SE before I bought the card so I have no idea if it would have worked with Windows 95.

Thank you toddyjoe

Actually I would get useful USB interfaces but as far as I know these are not allowed by Win 95... The Windows 98 SE upgrading should be the solution but I am not sure if it runs correctly with "original" MMX processor

I guess that RAM upgrading could be mandatory to swap from 95 to 98 SE. And for this reason I am planning a full 64 MB RAM.

Your expert suggestions on this topic are very appreciated!

Guglielmo

Guglielmo wrote:The Windows 98 SE upgrading should be the solution but I am not sure if it runs correctly with "original" MMX processor

Win98SE should work on it. I currently have it running on a Thinkpad 701CS (486 DX 75MHz) with 24mb ram..

Thanks tfflivemb2 for solving my doubt.

Win 98 SE running on your machine is the clear answer that also this "more recent" OS may successfully installed on vintage processor like MMX or even 486...

Let me try such improvement soon

Guglielmo

I run WIN98SE on the 365X in my signature... P120 without MMX. It runs fine. When I went from 40MB of RAM to 72MB, I noticed almost no difference.

Also, depending on what you'll be using it for, I think a 1.6GB will be OK. I ran WIN98SE for a while on the original 810MB drive and it was tight, but it fit and was (barely) usable. With a 1.6GB, you might find that it's OK.

Thank you leoblob , your post is a further confirmation about Win 98 SE running possibility even on my 310 ED without RAM or HD upgrading...
Next improvement will be the OS indeed, mainly to get at last USB facilities.
The Notebook Manager must be updated as well or is it possible to use the existing one?

I appreciate your skilled help!

Guglielmo