My T60/T61 lego affaire

[TinkerMan]

This will be my main thread where I will talk about my adventure with my T61s and T60s
I have recently bought 3 T61s and 4 T60s, going from 15 bucks all the way to 80 bucks., most were between 20 and 40 bucks, from ebay.
some are missing alot of components while others are complete, or just the AC adapter missing.
The objective is to make at least 1 T601F, maybe 2 if I get all the components right, but so far 1 is assured, while the rest of the systems not sacrificed on the altar of dream-Thinkpad, will be restored to functionality, and even improved with better CPUs, more RAM, better storage, repaste the cpu, maybe replace fans, etc.

the machines
number 1: T61 C2D T7500 , Merom CPU,14"wide, 2 gigs . NOT T601F capable
This one has seen a lot of rough days. the screen , albeit still functional, is a piece of crap with 2 fine white lines , among other artefacts and its missing the hdd, but it has the cover, I havent decided yet what to do with it, one option is to replace the screen, give it more ram, add an SSD , or at least recycle an HDD from another system.
Question: do the planars who got this cpu, the T7500, normally support the Penryn CPUs? or do I get to give a middleton treatment?

number 2: T60 C_D T2300, Yonah cpu, 14" 4:3, 2 gigs, XP professional restored, NOT T601F capable
This machine is an absolute darling, it was sooo clean when I received it, working out of the box, only AC adapter missing, but thats not a problem, since I already had an adapter compatible. It even had the original battery, which still has about 37% of the initial charge capacity. hell, it even had the original large sticker on the cover panel. The main problem this machine has is the really [censored] CPU, it doesnt even support 64 bits. So I was wandering if the planars which had this CPU installed also supported Meroms, because if it does, I would gladly transfer onto it the T7500 from Number 1.

So, these are my first questions regarding this ample projects I have with 7 T60/61s that I recently aquired.
thanks you for all the advice andhelp that you may decide to impart with me.
more questions will come once these 2 are settled.

[RealBlackStuff]

For a T601 you need a 15" 4:3 non-widescreen T60, and a 14.1" 4:3 non-widescreen T61 motherboard.
Every T61 should first get a Middleton BIOS using the 'old' CPU, regardless of your plans for them.
After that you can install a Penryn CPU: T8100/T8300/T9300/T9500 or even X9000.

T60 CPU does not work in a T61, and T61 CPU does not work in a T60, even though they physically fit.
The best CPU you can put in a T60 (after installing the 'latest' BIOS) is T7200/T7400/T7600, with which you can install a 64-bit OS.

[TinkerMan]

For a T601 you need a 15" 4:3 non-widescreen T60, and a 14.1" 4:3 non-widescreen T61 motherboard.

I know, I have 2 T61s with 14" 4:3 , and at least one T60 with 15" 4:3 , still waiting for one T60 4:3 to arrive to see if its 14" or 15"
thats why I said I have all the components for 1 T601F , and if lucky even 2.

Every T61 should first get a Middleton BIOS using the 'old' CPU, regardless of your plans for them.
After that you can install a Penryn CPU: T8100/T8300/T9300/T9500 or even X9000.

thanks for the tip, I will first middletone them and later get to play god with them.

T60 CPU does not work in a T61, and T61 CPU does not work in a T60, even though they physically fit.
The best CPU you can put in a T60 (after installing the 'latest' BIOS) is T7200/T7400/T7600, with which you can install a 64-bit OS.

I dont get it, The T7500 from the T61 is from the same family with the ones you mentioned above, the T7200/T7400/T7600, why wouldnt the T7500 be compatible with the T60?
EDIT: I think I understand why, its the FSB, the T60 compatible cpus are at 667, while the T61 ones are at 800

[RealBlackStuff]

Different FSB to begin with, many years of experience with those as well.
With a pinmod and a few other dirty tricks you may get them all to work, but too much hassle if you ask me.
Also read this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads ... es.158619/

[TinkerMan]

Different FSB to begin with, many years of experience with those as well.
With a pinmod and a few other dirty tricks you may get them all to work, but too much hassle if you ask me.
Also read this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads ... es.158619/

thank you for your kind explanations

[TinkerMan]

from this link
https://www.theboardroom.info/franken_pad.html

"""The T61 motherboards come in various flavors:

Intel X3100 integrated graphics
nVidia NVS 140M discrete graphics
nVidia FX 570M discrete graphics.

Each of the above boards takes Merom CPUs, some boards also take Penryn CPUs.
Suitable Merom CPUs include: T5270/T5470/T5670/T5800/T5870/T7100/T7250 with 2MB cache,
and T7300/T7500/T7700/T7800 with 4MB cache.
Suitable Penryn CPUs include: T8100/T8300 with 3MB cache, and T9300/T9500/X9000 with 6MB cache."""""""



by the sound of it, its not just a BIOS problem, but also a board problem, or did I get it wrong?

[RealBlackStuff]

Every T61 supports a Merom CPU.
After applying Middleton's BIOS, every T61 also supports a Penryn CPU.
And some T61 mobos (like what TuuS offers via my website TheBoardRoom) already support Penryn natively.
And it's NOT a problem by any means.

[TinkerMan]

And some T61 mobos (like what TuuS offers via my website TheBoardRoom) already support Penryn natively.
And it's NOT a problem by any means.

now it all makes sense, so what people were talking was about the lack of NATIVE support for penryn on some of the boards

thanks mate

[TinkerMan]

does the T61 support PC2-6400 DDR2-800 200pin SODIMM or do I need precisely PC2 5300 ?

[RealBlackStuff]

It supports both, the PC2-6400 is not only better (runs cooler), it is usually cheaper to find as well.

[TinkerMan]

It supports both, the PC2-6400 is not only better (runs cooler), it is usually cheaper to find as well.

this is great, I found a great deal on a pair of crucials 4 gigs each.

[Ken Edmonds]

It's true about the price of memory.

I recently picked up a reasonably priced - by UK standards - an early 4:3 T61 supposedly for spares or repair for £31 including carriage. The listing showed what turned out to be a Vista screen so I thought it couldn't be that broken. It's 11.1/2 years old so acceptably mildly battered but I actually can't find anything wrong with it although Vista wouldn't run any programmes. Vista was never going to be permanent anyway so that wasn't a problem.
I installed Middleton bios and then used a T420 Windows 7 rescue set which worked fine except it took forever! I hadn't realised it would be 64 bit or I wouldn't have used it with only 2GB of memory.

A single 4GB PC2 5300 memory stick costs as much or more than I paid for the laptop. I've bought a couple of 2GB sticks for 6 quid-odd the pair delivered to be going on with.
If 6400 works I'll look again. I did notice in passing it appeared to be cheaper.

Edit to add, the only other possible fault seems to be an occasional hint of magenta in the Thinkpad logo on initial startup which may also be visible when the screen darkens before shutting off after 10 minutes. It's the Intel GPU.

[Screamer]

I don't think that fault would be related to the GMA X3100, and that sounds more like a problem related to your display panel's CCFL backlight.

A magenta-tinted display, generally indicates that the display panel's CCFL backlight is close or is near to failure. I would suggest replacing the entire display panel, or replace the CCFL backlight (which is not recommended, since it is very hard to accomplish).

[TheForgottenKing]

It supports both, the PC2-6400 is not only better (runs cooler), it is usually cheaper to find as well.

this is great, I found a great deal on a pair of crucials 4 gigs each.

How much did you spend, and where from?

[TinkerMan]

How much did you spend, and where from?

On eBay, 50 euros for a 8 gigs set

[TheForgottenKing]

How much did you spend, and where from?

On eBay, 50 euros for a 8 gigs set

That's a pretty good deal

[TinkerMan]

project update

finally, all my legos are here

1x T61, 14" wide
1x T60, 15" wide
1x T60, 14" 4:3

2x T60, 15" 4:3
2x T61, 14" 4:3

the last 4 will morf into 2 T601Fs
the first on the list will be refurbished and given as a present to a good friend of mine
the other 2 T60s after being refurbished will enter my personal collection or maybe 1 of them will be given to someone in need.

[TinkerMan]

does anyone here know what video chip this is? is it Intel or nVidia, the pics are from a t61 in an advance state of disrepair I bought from ebay, it will not post, I think the fan is dead, but it might also be the video card
its a T61 , 14 inch 4/3 type
https://i.imgur.com/z5Gmk2G.jpg

[TinkerMan]

https://i.imgur.com/wPMVl4s.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5ULCWLL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9083b7Y.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/R7kaYD9.jpg

[axur-delmeria]

1. Please resize your pictures or convert them to links.

2. Since the chip reads GM965 it means that it's an Intel-only board, no nVIdia graphics.

3. If it doesn't POST, remove all the RAM. If it boots to a 1-3-3-1 error beep code, then there's still hope.

[TinkerMan]

1. Please resize your pictures or convert them to links.

2. Since the chip reads GM965 it means that it's an Intel-only board, no nVIdia graphics.

3. If it doesn't POST, remove all the RAM. If it boots to a 1-3-3-1 error beep code, then there's still hope.

should 1-3-3-1 appear on the screen?
it doesnt, but as I said, the fan is completely shot, wont even try to spin, I have several half working fans which make alot of noise and give error fan but which can still boot, this one is completely dead

[TinkerMan]

the other T61 I have, I managed to bring it to life today, and I checked when in windows and it sports an intel X3100 card, I was soooooo happy when I saw that, because thats exactly what i was looking for.

[axur-delmeria]

should 1-3-3-1 appear on the screen?
it doesnt, but as I said, the fan is completely shot, wont even try to spin, I have several half working fans which make alot of noise and give error fan but which can still boot, this one is completely dead

Error beep codes are not displayed, but heard. It's a series of beeps with a specific pattern.

1-3-3-1 means, 1 beep, pause, 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause, then 1 beep. It refers to a memory configuration error, which is expected for a laptop without any RAM installed. Some RAM issues cause the system to stall during boot, preventing the BIOS from sending out any error beep codes.

Since later Thinkpads use Phoenix BIOS, it uses Phoenix BIOS error beep codes. Those beep codes are very detailed, and can help narrow down the faulty component.

But in your case, the symptoms are severe, and there's a high likelihood that the board itself is toast. You can try a different fan, or even use a battery instead of a charger--the charging port may be damaged, if you have a dock, that works just as well. Also, since a dock has its own power switch, you can turn on laptops with a defective keyboard.

[TinkerMan]

regarding the cooling for a t601 F, which of the cooling system works best?
EDITED
I also heard some people use the cooling system from a T500, is that valid?

also, the heat-pipes and fan must both come from the same system or can the heat-pipes come from T61 and the fan from T60?

I am asking all this because I cant find a step by step guide on how to create a frankenpad, despite many people having one, it seems everybody likes to post about their creation but not explain in detail on how to do it, so I am picking up bits and pieces everywhere

[Ken Edmonds]

I can't speak for frankenpads but the consensus seems to be that a T61 heatsink and fan is worth fitting to an ordinary T60 so I assume even more use in a frankenpad.
The problem is getting the right one. I've ordered one from two different places, admittedly both in Hong Kong and neither has been the part it was supposed to be.
I've now bought one for a T500 which does actually appear to be the correct part but I've not tried fitting it yet.

[TinkerMan]

I can't speak for frankenpads but the consensus seems to be that a T61 heatsink and fan is worth fitting to an ordinary T60 so I assume even more use in a frankenpad.
The problem is getting the right one. I've ordered one from two different places, admittedly both in Hong Kong and neither has been the part it was supposed to be.
I've now bought one for a T500 which does actually appear to be the correct part but I've not tried fitting it yet.

darn, I am facing the same dilemma since I saw a lot of fans on ebay, all say they are for T61 , but they look different

anyway, when do you think you will try to install the T500 one? I am anxious to see if thats the one to go with.

[Ken Edmonds]

Sorry, for me there's no urgency compared to other things I've got going on so it could be a while yet.

There's a guide at the top of this forum that explains it which may help.

[TinkerMan]

I have ordered one too, we'll see if mine gets here before you install yours
see ya

[TinkerMan]

ok, so I finally disassembled completely my first T61, here are the pics of the mobo

question, I saw on a video on youtube that I need to detach a portion of it in order to attach a portion of the T60 mobo, the part towards he ultrabay
how da heck am I supposed to do that?\ without ruining the entire mobo?

here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m74otZqd2Y&t=150s

https://i.imgur.com/Ftw7egg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/TKAxZ0C.jpg

[TinkerMan]

ok , so after looking on the internet to a loooot of photos of T60 mobos I came upon this weirdo, by the looks is the thing that the guy in the video talks about
in his video he talks as if the T61 also would have one, but, mine did not have one, and I doubt the T60 will have one either, but I still didnt disassembled the T60 yet, so I cant tell for sure.

https://i.imgur.com/8DZPoV8.png