***BEST CPU*** for this T61

[hoax32]

Hi all!
I am going to upgrade the processor of my T61 very soon.
I currently have a T7300 2GHz 4MB in it.

Here some specs:
-----------------------------
CPU: T7300
GPU: NVS140m
RAM: 2GB Kingston DC
HDD: WD 320GB
MD#: 7665CTO/VBU
BIOS: latest 2011 Bios
***MANUFACTURING DATE: 08/08 [August 2008]***

What would be the best compatible CPU for this board?

INFO: I am not planing on buying a CPU that still works but was not ment for my board and I am currently not planing on modifying my bios!!

Thanks guys!!

[ThinkRob]

Honestly, I'd save your money. Unless you're positive that you'd really benefit from a newer CPU (i.e. you *know* that your workload is CPU-bound), I'd venture a guess that you might get better results putting the cash towards an upgrade to an SSD. Very few average user workloads are bound by CPU performance, but nearly every user notices a massive performance boost from the move to an SSD.

Just my 0.02 USD.

[hoax32]

Im running GTA4 with 17(lowest) frames per second and %100 cpu load - I hope that a better cpu will give me 2-3 fps more and my hdd is 7200rpm so it aint too slow!

[miro_gt]

t9500, but cant go wrong with t9300 either

[hoax32]

t9500, but cant go wrong with t9300 either

Does my board officially support it?
Will there be NO bios warning messages on boot up?

Thanks!

EDIT: Also - will it run cooler than my T7300? Thx!!

[miro_gt]

officially I've never said anything to anybody.

LOL

P.S.
what I may have said would have been your best bet.

[hoax32]

officially I've never said anything to anybody.

LOL

P.S.
what I may have said would have been your best bet.

lol wut?

[Radioguy]

He means you're being overcautious. The Middleton BIOS has no real drawback other than the risk associated with any BIOS upgrade. With it, you can try the T9300, as I did with great success.

[hoax32]

I see!
Well is there a way to find out, if my Lenovo Bios supports the Penryl Series by default?
Thanks!!!

[projanen]

Step 1:

Do a parts lookup...

http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/parts
or
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... ookup.page

...in order to find the part numbers for your system board.

The motherboard line item looks like:

Code: Select all

42X5034	42W7875	SYSTMBRD FRU PLANAR CAR

The second number, 42W7875 in this case, is your board's model #.


Step 2:

Here are the discrete versions of the 14.1"W motherboards:

Merom
41W1489

Penryn
44C3933
42W7867

[projanen]

I've been researching the same as you lately. Here's what I've gleaned.

You need to choose a FSB of 800.

The Merom options include...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In ... C_65_nm.29
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In ... 2865_nm.29

The Penryn options include...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In ... C_45_nm.29
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In ... 2845_nm.29

Restrict yourself to ones with 800 in the FSB column.

EDIT: The tip-top processor, X9000, is not cost-effective. But it'll work (and very well at that). The sweet spots for affordable performance are the T9500 and T9300. Use Ebay to get relative price comparisons.

Regarding temperature, Penryns are cooler than their Merom counterparts running at the same frequency. But higher frequencies will generate more heat in general.

[projanen]

If you upgrade the processor, consider upgrading the heatsink assembly at the same time. It'll help manage the heat (and associated noise) of a faster processor.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 13#p663213

TuuS was selling some of those T61p heatsink assemblies.

And if you're unsure about Penryns, read this...
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=100891