600E Memory Upgrade

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Howie · #1 Post by **Howie** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 7:11 pm

I've read a lot of information on memory upgrades, and just want to make sure that I have the details down:

My 600E -IBM (2645-4AU) currently has 128m. I plan to put in 2 x 256m chips.

The two manufacturers that seem to be best compatible is Crucial and IBM.
There is little/no PC66, so I should get PC100 with 16 low-density chips.

I'll probably order the Crucial.

If anyone has any web sites that they recommend, let me know - otherwise I'll try to get a good deal on Ebay.

Also, I have not upgraded my BIOS since day 1. Will the thinkpad accept the chips without a bios upgrade?

Thanks

whizkid · #2 Post by **whizkid** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:26 am

You just missed a big sale. Bestbuy.com had PNY 256MB PC100 SO-DIMM that PNY says works in the 600E/X for $53 last week. Now it's $130.

You can try Viking IO258 for about $80 too.

AbsoluteRaleigh · #3 Post by **AbsoluteRaleigh** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 11:04 am

Howie wrote:I've read a lot of information on memory upgrades, and just want to make sure that I have the details down:

My 600E -IBM (2645-4AU) currently has 128m. I plan to put in 2 x 256m chips.

The two manufacturers that seem to be best compatible is Crucial and IBM.
There is little/no PC66, so I should get PC100 with 16 low-density chips.

I'll probably order the Crucial.

If anyone has any web sites that they recommend, let me know - otherwise I'll try to get a good deal on Ebay.

Also, I have not upgraded my BIOS since day 1. Will the thinkpad accept the chips without a bios upgrade?

Thanks

The 4AU should accept the PC100 fine. I would get FRU 20L0265 (128MB) from eBay. They should be around $25/pc.

MobileGuru · #4 Post by **MobileGuru** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:23 pm

Question .. why would you have never updated the bios?

f1hp · #5 Post by **f1hp** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:35 am

[quote="MobileGuru"]Question .. why would you have never updated the bios?[/quote]

Perhaps "someone" here -you?- can help me figure out why my i1200 [1161-93u series4, with PIII 750; 196mb RAM; 20gig HDD] refuses BIOS updates from both the disk and diskless sources -running XP Pro...] I've tried 3 times with no success; last time gave an error message after 34 minutes "this service utility is not supported by this system"... Have successfully updated a couple of 600E & a plain old 600, & don't wanna push my luck on this one...

Appreciate your consideration!

Howie · #6 Post by **Howie** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:21 am

Havn't seen a need to upgrade the BIOS. Any reason I should?

I've not had the chance to get the memory yet. I am watching two ebay auctions that say they are IBM 600e Compatable.

One is a Kingston KTM-TP390X. The other is KTM-IMSP7500. Both are 256m 16 chip modules. Of course, I'd purchase matching pairs. Will either/both of these work in my thinkpad?

f1hp · #7 Post by **f1hp** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:22 am

No need to upgrade BIOS for memory upgrade. Only needed if your machine has 'issues'...

JHEM · #8 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:15 pm

f1hp wrote:No need to upgrade BIOS for memory upgrade. Only needed if your machine has 'issues'...

If you hope to use 256MB memory sticks in the 600E you must upgrade the BIOS.

Regards,

James

Howie · #9 Post by **Howie** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:56 pm

Where can I get the BIOS?

JHEM · #10 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:01 pm

Howie wrote:Where can I get the BIOS?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... SHY-46HLKQ

Regards,

James

Howie · #11 Post by **Howie** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:07 pm

Thanks

Howie · #12 Post by **Howie** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:20 pm

The instructions state that I need a charged battery attached. Of course, my battery does not charge.
Is this going to be a problem?

JHEM · #13 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:49 pm

Howie wrote:The instructions state that I need a charged battery attached. Of course, my battery does not charge.
Is this going to be a problem?

Buy or borrow one, you can't upgrade the BIOS without a working battery.

Doesn't have to be a new one, just as long as it's internal circuitry reports that it's 100% charged, so even one that only works for a few mintues can often pass muster.

Regards,

James

f1hp · #14 Post by **f1hp** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:07 pm

[quote="JHEM"][quote="f1hp"]No need to upgrade BIOS for memory upgrade. Only needed if your machine has 'issues'...[/quote]
If you hope to use 256MB memory sticks in the 600E you [b]must[/b] upgrade the BIOS.

Regards,

James[/quote]

If you hope to use 256MB sticks you need to disable the onboard 32 meg, do you not? It's my understanding that the 600e supports 512mb 'out of the box'... so long as the onboard stuff is disabled. Is that correct?

Thanx!

JHEM · #15 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:20 pm

f1hp wrote:If you hope to use 256MB sticks you need to disable the onboard 32 meg, do you not? It's my understanding that the 600e supports 512mb 'out of the box'... so long as the onboard stuff is disabled. Is that correct?

No, there's no necessity to "do" anything to the onboard RAM.

With two 256MB sticks installed the 600E maxes out at 544MB RAM.

Regards,

James

Howie · #16 Post by **Howie** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:44 am

It looks like one of my 600E's has had the BIOS updated. I just checked the BIOS date and it's 11/20/99.

As for my other one I found a friend who will lend me his half-dead battery so I can update the bios.

Thanks to all for you help.

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