Thinkpads Forum

What's the difference between a 600/600E and a 600X base? Is it just that guide rail (that goes around the CD ROM) because it makes room for the TV card? If so, didn't some of the 600Es have this same one? If I found one, could I put a 600X board in a 600/600E case?

All 600 series machines can share Ultraslimbay accessories without a problem, regardless of whether or not there's a TV out card installed.

You'd need a shoehorn to put a 600X in a 600 or 600E case due to some differences in architecture, plus the 600X uses mini-PCI cards with their own access door on the bottom of the unit, something missing in earlier 600s.

Regards,

James

Just to clarify/confirn a Q I have:

You'd need a shoehorn to put a 600X in a 600 or 600E case due to some differences in architecture

To me this states that a 600X System Board (Motherboard, Main Board) will NOT fit in my 600E. And that Ebay auctions that state a 'Base" is compatible with 600/600E/600X, is incorrect (??).

One present auction I refer to is like: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 01753&rd=1

Please give me/us confirmation on this point.

Also if you have time:

I have 'read' certain 600X's are limited to one speed CPU while others can use a higher speed CPU (ie 800 (?) ).

Also what is a 600Z, and how does that work in all of this.

{Great Forum Sticky Answers (?)}
Thanks always,

JC

If I remember correctly, if you turn a TP600X over, there's an additional door that accesses the modem that's not on the 600 or 600E. This means the bottom is NOT the same, and certainly the MB is not the same. Seems to me the one offered on eBay is in error. The outer case is the same for all 600 and 600E models that I've handled. The LCD is another matter. Not all 600/600E's are the same as far as LCD connectors are concerned.

I have 'read' certain 600X's are limited to one speed CPU while others can use a higher speed CPU (ie 800 (?) ).

I'm not 100% sure, but I think you're right. Machines that shipped with the PIII 650MHz are speedstep enabled. Machines with PIII 500MHz orginally are not.

See IBM document MIGR-4FMNJC:
General Overview - ThinkPad 600X (2645-5Fx, 2645-8Px, 2645-9Fx only)

I have a 2645-9WU machine which is also a PIII 650MHz, so the list of model numbers in this document is incomplete.

The 600X uses an MMC-2 form factor CPU.

Intel PIII 500Mhz is the max Intel CPU for any non-speedstep machine that requires an MMC-2 mobile CPU. A speedstep CPU can be installed in such machines, but they will run at their lower speed, and they may require manual modification to the BIOS to remove an error on boot.

Celeron made a 600Mhz or 650Mhz CPU in theMMC-2 form factor also, I think, and that may also work in a non-speedstep enabled machine, though it may not be any faster than the Intel PIII 500 due to differences in memory caches.

Intel PIII 850MHz is the fastest Intel CPU for a speedstep enabled machine using the MMC-2 form factor, but these regularly sell for over $100 or $150USD at present.

Also what is a 600Z, and how does that work in all of this.

See an earlier post on this topic:
600Z

There is a 770Z and a 770X, and there is a 600X, but there is no such thing as a 600Z.

Phil.

Phil,

pkiff wrote:Intel PIII 850MHz is the fastest Intel CPU for a speedstep enabled machine using the MMC-2 form factor, but these regularly sell for over $100 or $150USD at present.

I keep a fairly close eye on the MMC-2s available on eBay. A PIII 700MHz goes for around $50 and a 750MHz for around $75. But an 800MHz goes for at least $150 and the 850MHz will cost you around $300 IF you can find one!

Regards,

James