Thinkpad 600e 2645-55u memory/hd upgrade

[fr0zenmon]

Hello,

I am looking to upgrade my laptop.
I want to buy more ram [the max], hd [max],

Can you tell me the cheapest way to buy them?
And which parts are compatible with this model?

[pianowizard]

You want two low-density PC100 256MB modules, and the part number is 33L3069 or 33L3070. The cheapest way is to ask if someone here has one for sale. The second cheapest is eBay. The third is 18004memory.com. You need to upgrade to the latest BIOS version for the machine to recognize them.

For hard drives, you can get at least 40GB.

[WarMachine]

The 600E will accept 120 GB HDDs.

Have a look here and there on the forum, you'll find the answers to your questions.



W.

[fr0zenmon]

I look around posts, but i just want to make certain i get something that fits.

I was reading over the product specs for the model and ibm says that its max is 256+32. So is buying 2x256 going to work?

Thanks does anyone have that memory component?
How much asking?

How do u sell on here?

[pianowizard]

I was reading over the product specs for the model and ibm says that its max is 256+32. So is buying 2x256 going to work?

Yes. Hundreds of us, including myself, have done it. Those product specs were announced back when the highest capacity modules available were 128MB.

[tfflivemb2]

The manual is dated prior to the release of the 256MB Low Density chips.

My only concern here is that you have a 55U model. This model was slightly more picky than the others. It even had a different BIOS than the regular 600Es. The one that I had, didn't like the two 256mb sticks that I put in, but later on, I found out that one of the sticks was actually faulty. So, maybe they will work.

[WarMachine]

I look around posts, but i just want to make certain i get something that fits.

I understand and I totally agree with you.

W.

[fr0zenmon]

I see high prices on ebay, are they inflated. I mean a 40gb hd for $78. doesnt seem right. Am I wrong?

Thanks for clearing up the memory confusion for me. They should edit there manuals.

what should i expect to pay for the memory and hd?

Should I try with one 256, and see if it reads the other 128mb stick?
for a total 256+128. I am going to need a walkthrough for this procedure including a bios update. I am unfamiliar with this, and i want to avoid pitfalls.

[pianowizard]

I see high prices on ebay, are they inflated. I mean a 40gb hd for $78. doesnt seem right. Am I wrong?

Always buy brand new notebook hard drives that come with at least 3 years of warranty. And the best place to get these drives for very competitive prices is Newegg.com. A 40GB notebook HDD should be only around $50 shipped.

Should I try with one 256, and see if it reads the other 128mb stick?

That's a good idea and was exactly what I did 1.5 years ago, when I learned that the 600E can actually take a low-density 256MB PC100 stick. Ironically, the prices of these sticks have not changed at all since then.

[fr0zenmon]

So as long as i use a laptop hard drive that is 120 gb and under it should work. Right?

Any hd models to avoid or consider? What would be the most bang for my buck on hd size vs. price?

Does anyone have the compatibility memory i am looking for a 256mb or 2 for a good price.

has to be low density, p100. Its for a 600e.

tfflivemb2 - did you ever add the memory? Can you help me with the bios stuff? Do I have to download the bios and burn it to cd to install. Or can I download it directly to the laptop.

Is there any significant weight difference in hd sizes? I would like to by the ram asap.

So i saw some cheap hd on ebay, has anyone ever bought one, any reputable sellers on there? what do you guys think?

I am thinking about installing debian this weekend. Has anyone ever did this, is it worth it? I am trying to play around with linux and dual boot with win98se.

Any optimised distros for this laptop. I checked out the linux for laptops but some info is dated.

[pianowizard]

What would be the most bang for my buck on hd size vs. price?

120GB drives give you the most bang for your buck.

So i saw some cheap hd on ebay, has anyone ever bought one, any reputable sellers on there? what do you guys think?

Like I said, get one from newegg.com. I just took a look at the prices on eBay. Newegg beats them all. Almost all of us here buy hard drives from Newegg.

[pianowizard]

My only concern here is that you have a 55U model. This model was slightly more picky than the others. It even had a different BIOS than the regular 600Es. The one that I had, didn't like the two 256mb sticks that I put in, but later on, I found out that one of the sticks was actually faulty. So, maybe they will work.

It doesn't look good for the 55U model. I looked up the "complete list of changes fixed by this BIOS update" on lenovo.com for 2645-4AU (another 600E model), and found this:

Symptoms corrected by version 1.06 - inet26ww
(New) Support has been added for the 256 MB memory dimm

But the list for 2645-55U doesn't show a similar fix. So, my guess is the OP's 600E can only use 128MB modules.

However, this company has the 256MB 33L3069 option for 2645-55U and guarantees that it will work:

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/memory/upgr ... ?cid=20252

[tfflivemb2]

tfflivemb2 - did you ever add the memory? Can you help me with the bios stuff? Do I have to download the bios and burn it to cd to install. Or can I download it directly to the laptop.

No, I didn't get to install the ram, because I sold the 600E. I have since shy'd away from the 55U models.

The standard BIOS upgrade is done via floppy. There are some threads on here that discuss the process with using CD drives, as there is more to it.

[phineasfreakears]

If you want to find your processor speed, go to easy set-up. When you turn your computer on, press the F1 key a few times before the OS start up screen appears. Here you will find your system information: bios version, processor info, and unit and board serial numbers. There are also some good tools here.

[pianowizard]

No, I didn't get to install the ram, because I sold the 600E.

That's a very common way to solve problems LOL! (And that's one of the reasons many of us have owned so many laptops.) In fact, I was going to suggest the OP to do just that, sell this 55U unit and get one that's guaranteed to take 256MB modules.

[WarMachine]

I didn't get to install the ram, because I sold the 600E.

Pretty funny indeed.

I would have said :

I didn't get to install the ram, so I sold the 600E.

W.

[tfflivemb2]

Actually, I didn't sell it because it didn't take the ram...I sold it because someone was looking for a 600E. The buyer had no intentions of performing upgrades like that, so no loss for them.

I didn't realize how comical that sounded.

[WarMachine]

Hope you will find a good other 600E or X next time.

I was very sad when my first 600 died...
It's a so wonderful laptop...



W.

[fr0zenmon]

Yeah this laptop is solid.

I am planning on installing debian should i update my bios first? i dont have a floppy drive and my usb port isnt working. So how can I update the bios?

I will probably add 256mb and a hard drive mid 40-100 gb sized hard drive. If anyone is selling i want to buy it quick.[/u]

[fr0zenmon]

how winxp performance on this laptop?

how many diffeent OS's can i install on this laptop?

[pianowizard]

I will probably add 256mb and a hard drive mid 40-100 gb sized hard drive. If anyone is selling i want to buy it quick.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33701

[fr0zenmon]

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-128MB-for-IBM-T ... dZViewItem

do you think this is a fair price? Am I going to have to worry about banking slot issues?

for hard drives does manufacturer, interface matter for picking a hd?
Any deals on hard drives?

[cmarti]

do you think this is a fair price? Am I going to have to worry about banking slot issues?

The price is good.

I can sell you two 256mb ram that are warranted to work with your machine. ( I have a few left )

The sames mentioned here:

For sale two 256MB PC-133 Kingmax rams

Just pm me.

[pianowizard]

I can sell you two 256mb ram that are warranted to work with your machine. ( I have a few left )

You have not been following the discussion. The OP's model most likely can't use 256MB modules.

[fr0zenmon]

I thought that was for adding the 256mb for 2 slots not 1. So i cant add it for one slot either? man.

[tfflivemb2]

I thought that was for adding the 256mb for 2 slots not 1. So i cant add it for one slot either? man.

You can add 256mb, 128mb in each slot, without a problem.

For the record, I am not saying that the 55U won't take 2 256mb sticks, I am just saying that in my experience it didn't work...