Thinkpads Forum

Hey all,

600x 2645-4EU

I stuffed an 850mhz MMC-2 into it a year ago. Works perfectly, 847mhz plugged in, 697 on battery. Once in about 10 startups, it'll hang at BIOS handoff, I just hit Ctrl + F12. 288MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HD. Very fast . I'll keep this sweetie until Jesus comes back.

The only other thing I really want to do, no matter what is involved, is upgrade the video adaptor. MagiGraph256ZX driver works great for desktop stuff and internet, but has no Direct 3D or AGP Texture acceleration for games.

Has anybody had success upgrading video in any way? I can do board modding or whatever.

Thanks in advance!

There is no video upgrade path for Thinkpads. You'll have to put sweetie to bed and go out on the town to look for a new machine .

Nevaaahhh!

Actually, I do have other, newer PCs, laps and desktops. I just get bored with the status quo, and wondered if anybody figured out a way to do it since I was last into the modding scene a year or so ago.

Thanks anyway harryc

JoyPC wrote:Nevaaahhh!

That's the only and right answer

...we don't need another hero

I have also the 600x/850MHz... with some other modifications like internal USB 2.0 (via AAEON Mini-PCI-card - see link below), internal bluetooth (via USB 2.0) and internal LAN 10/100 (via USB) - I also need no other machine

Take a look here

PER-V05V ... but don't ask me, how to convert to the internal display

Another way for faster/HiRes video... look for SelectaBase + SelectaDock III - here are 3 PCI Slots in PC-Format - but a video-card is only to use with an external monitor.... a very cheep way for better video.

Btw. I'm looking for ideas to modify the FSB from 100MHz up to 133MHz...

Uwe.

u.mac wrote:I have also the 600x/850MHz... with some other modifications like internal USB 2.0 (via AAEON Mini-PCI-card - see link below), internal bluetooth (via USB 2.0) and internal LAN 10/100 (via USB)

Hey Uwe, that sounds great! I didn't know this had been done. Have you posted any info here or on another website somewhere so I can check it out? USB 2.0 and internal LAN both sound attractive to me...

Phil.

pkiff wrote:

u.mac wrote:I have also the 600x/850MHz... with some other modifications like internal USB 2.0 (via AAEON Mini-PCI-card - see link below), internal bluetooth (via USB 2.0) and internal LAN 10/100 (via USB)

Hey Uwe, that sounds great! I didn't know this had been done. Have you posted any info here or on another website somewhere so I can check it out? USB 2.0 and internal LAN both sound attractive to me...
Phil.

Your language is not my language I'll do my very best...

I bought this
MiniPCI-USB 2.0 card.... click.
USB 2.0 to LAN 10/100-Adapter like this... click
USB 2.0 micro bluetooth adapter like this... click
and an USB2.0 wireless stick like this... click

Remove the MiniPCI modem card, the cable and the connector.

For the wireless lan adapter I found no place in the 600x - this adapter is very hot after one hour - so I use my PCMCIA 3com x-jack wifi adapter for the next years.

From the MiniPCI-card you have to remove the 3 connectors - they are to tall and you have to remove the mainboard before plug in. It's a "full size card" an the flap is too small (~2mm).

Remove the cover from USB-to-LAN-Adapter, remove the RJ45-connector, remove the USB connector, cut this little board... I found a good place above the HDD connector.

Take an old mouse cable (or something else - shielded), solder the data-lines to the MiniPCI-card, also the other pair and shield to ground. On the other side solder the data-lines to the LAN10/100-adapter an the other pair to the build-in-USB1.1 connector. Cut the USB1.1 data-lines from mainboard - but be carefull with the 5V-lines.

Now you have build-in USB 2.0

The 5V for the LAN-adapter I've got from the HDD-connector. Remove the LED from LAN-adaptor. I got a micro-LED from an old CDROM-drive and put it near the new LAN-connector. The LAN-connector from USB-adapter maybe to great, so you have to dremel... or search a LAN-connector from dead board. The LAN-connector and the other things need hot glue or other glue.

Bluetooth... I've killed 2 adapters, because I want desolder the LED and put a little LED obove the IR-LEDs. So I've change my idea and drill a little hole in the bluetooth-adapter case and above the IR-LEDs and put in a glassfiber. It's a littlebit dark, but it's working for me. Now you need the other side from the old mouse cable... plug the connector to the bluetooth-adapter, solder the data-lines to the MiniPCI-card and take a look to the sound card... there you will find 5V. I've placed the bluetooth-adapter above the soundcard, there is plenty of place.


Edit: please note, that this modification needs some power... this modified 600x needs ~10W more than before. I found some tools to control the USB hardware - I'll post them later.

@Phil: pictures... you'll get mail - I don't know how to put pictures in this forum ...and the pictures are not sooo good

Uwe.

[oups]

Just got back to my post...

Uwe,

That PER-V05V is based on the Volari Z9 chipset, which has only 2D acceleration. Made by XGI:

http://www.xgitech.com/products/products_2.asp?P=23

What advantage do you think it would have over the stock MagicGraph 256ZX? I'm not a "gamer", and certainly don't expect cutting-edge graphics. I'm just after some added basic 3D acceleration to play simple 3D games.

Thanks,
Greg

Hey Uwe,

Your mods sound fantastic! Would you mind emailing me some pictures - I'd really appreciate it.

Sam

u.mac wrote:@Phil: pictures... you'll get mail - I don't know how to put pictures in this forum ...and the pictures are not sooo good

Uwe, I forgot all about these and so am only now getting around to posting them. The pictures you sent are available for others to view here:
http://thinkpads.kiff.ca/images/uwe/1bt1.jpg
http://thinkpads.kiff.ca/images/uwe/1kompl.jpg
http://thinkpads.kiff.ca/images/uwe/1lan.jpg
http://thinkpads.kiff.ca/images/uwe/1minpci.jpg

I plan to leave these pictures up permanently unless uwe requests that I take them down.

Phil.