Z60t and Centrino

[jronald]

So Uunderboi asked what Centrino was, and after having a 30 minute conversation with him, explaining it to an 11 year old I started wondering.

All over the net Z60t Centrino's are listed, yet when I go into the HMM Im only seeing the part number 39T0499 for the wireless card. There are others but lets not split hairs. Anyway, its an Atheros based card, clearly its not going to work with Centrino and Intel.

What gives?
I know what Centrino does power usage wise. What is the underlying architecture? If I switch to an Intel card does it Automagically work?

Inquiring minds (or idle hands) want to know!
Ron

[Medessec]

Centrino's just Intel's embedded platform for laptops, it basically is a system that either combines or "wires together" the Wi-Fi card, embedded graphics, processor and chipset, to improve reliability and lower power consumption. The very first gen was on the Pentium Ms if I recall correctly... but they go all the way up to some of the last Core 2 Duos. It's been succeeded by Intel HD graphics.

I imagine if the Wi-Fi card is exchangeable, that if an Intel card is inserted, Centrino will pick it up and use it accordingly, yes. I'm not exactly sure what the circumstances are there though.

[dr_st]

"Centrino" is just a brand name, which purports, as Medessec mentioned, lower power consumption and improved reliability.

To receive the Centrino badge - a combination of Intel CPU, Intel chipset, and Intel Wifi is required. Funnily, Intel Ethernet is not required. Thus, T43 and Z6x series, which used Broadcom LAN, could still get the Centrino sticker, if and only if they used an Intel wireless card.

The Thinkpad BIOS detects the devices and changes the splash screen accordingly. The same machine will show a "Centrino" logo if equipped with Intel Wifi, and if a non-Intel Wifi is inserted, it will show "Pentium M" / "Core 2 Duo" / whatever is applicable, based on the CPU.

[jronald]

Anyone care to guess what Intel card will not trip the 1802 error?

Ron

[RealBlackStuff]

If you're stuck, I have a wifi-whitelist-removed BIOS for the Z60 (77ET64WW V1.24)
PM me if you want that.

[dr_st]

Apparently, stock Z60t units indeed only came with the Atheros card. Z60m also came with Intel 2915ABG, so that may be whitelisted for the Z60t. Or you can use RBS's BIOS. If Z60t had no Centrino option to begin with, it may not have the checks and logo embedded in the BIOS.

Why would you bother? Centrino doesnt "do" anything - it's just a brand name. Your Atheros Wifi card may use a little more power than the Intel variant, but may give a little more performance too.

[Medessec]

I like the Intel Wi-Fi cards generally, I've encountered numerous problems with Atheros cards in my experience, especially in my newer, non-Thinkpad laptops.

However-I would strongly prefer having the options chest open rather than Intel telling me what's best, so if you want to install a Wi-Fi card of your preference, you should be able to. And if I wanted to, but the 1802 error kept me from doing it, I'd ask about a BIOS that mods the whitelist such as that RBS mentioned above.

[jronald]

Curiosity I guess. Having something Im not supposed to have.
I have been so busy with life lately, that I have not built or tinkered with anything significant in a couple of months. if I go into this "t" Im also upping the CPU, they are dirt cheap in the 2.0 gig range.

Ron