Thinkpads Forum

Hi
I recently aquired my first laptop for a reasonable price(free):D but it didn't come with a user manual and I have a couple of questions.

It is a Thinkpad 600e 2645-4au and I want to connect it to a cable modem and upgrade the ram.

For the internet connection I need some kind of PCMCIA card, right?
If that is correct what kind would I need?

As for the RAM I need PC100 144 pin DIMM low density sticks, right?

Thanks for the help
Rick

Correct on the RAM part ... although I'm not sure on low density vs. high density.

As for the cable modem, there are probably several options available for using on a laptop, depending on your provider. You might want to hook an ordinary cable modem up to a wireless hub and put a PCMCIA wireless card in your laptop -- that might be most convenient.

newguy36 wrote:For the internet connection I need some kind of PCMCIA card, right?

You could use either a PCMCIA (PC Card) or USB ethernet adapater. The PCMCIA solution is probably a little bit "cleaner" since you can get an adapter with what is called an "X-Jack" (if you are using wired network cable) or, if you have or are planning to get a wireless access point, you can use a wireless card. I would say you can get either type of card for less than $20 or so from most anywhere (on-line store, eBay, local computer store). The USB solution would involve hanging a cable/box off the single USB port.

newguy36 wrote:As for the RAM I need PC100 144 pin DIMM low density sticks, right?

Correct. Try to stay with the PC100 version if possible as some of the PC133 modules can give you some problems. The low density version of a 128MB module should have 8 memory ICs on the board. If it has an IBM FRU of 20L0265 then it should work. I use two Micron MT8LSDT1664HG-10EB1 modules in my 600E.

(edit: Sorry for duplicating some of trent9008's post... I was interrupted by a phone call during my post. And also:

Welcome to thinkpads.com!)

rkawakami wrote:The low density version of a 128MB module should have 8 memory ICs on the board. If it has an IBM FRU of 20L0265 then it should work.

Better yet, get one or two 256MB modules. Look for 33L3069 or 33L3070. More expensive than 128MB sticks, but you won't regret it.

Thanks rkawakami and trent9008
I think I'm going to go with a wired setup for now. The cost of a hub and 2 wireless cards (one for the PC) would leave me with less money for Xmas, my vacation/beer.

So a standard 10/100Mbps 32-bit PCMCIA card will work?

pianowizard
Is there a big difference in performance between 256 and 512? My CPU is only a 366 and adding RAM will only help performance to a point, in the PC world anyways.
Also I think I read a post about limitations on which size sticks will work together i.e. 128+256 will not work but 256+256 will.

One last question
I'm running Ubuntu Dapper 6.06 LTS and when I play a music CD it will initially skip but if I pause the music and start again it plays fine, do you guys think it is a problem of not enough memory or a software glitch?

Sorry for all the newbie question
Thanks again
Rick

According to twbook, the 600E can only be expanded to 288 MB (2x128 + 32MB onboard), so a 256 or 512 would be a waste of money.

trent9008 wrote:According to twbook, the 600E can only be expanded to 288 MB (2x128 + 32MB onboard), so a 256 or 512 would be a waste of money.

That info is outdated. BIOS version 1.06 for the 600E allowed it to use 256MB sticks.

newguy36 wrote:Is there a big difference in performance between 256 and 512? My CPU is only a 366 and adding RAM will only help performance to a point, in the PC world anyways.
Also I think I read a post about limitations on which size sticks will work together i.e. 128+256 will not work but 256+256 will.

When I increased the RAM on my T23 from 256MB to 640MB, I got a HUGE boost in performance.

I think my first 600E had a 128MB and a 256MB stick at one point and it was fine.

[quote="pianowizard]That info is outdated. BIOS version 1.06 for the 600E allowed it to use 256MB sticks.[/quote]

Just realized that and was going to correct myself.

trent9008 wrote:

pianowizard wrote:That info is outdated. BIOS version 1.06 for the 600E allowed it to use 256MB sticks.

Just realized that and was going to correct myself.

Hey, no need to feel ashamed. It's natural to trust the tabook and tawbook because they are accurate 99.99% of the time.