T30 Upgrades: CPU, RAM, or HDD?

[brooklynboy]

I have a T30 2366-XXD, which is a reconditioned 2366-82U, with:

-1.8GHz P4-M
- 512MB RAM (both slots filled)
- 40GB HDD (42000RPM)

Most of my work is Microsoft Office 2003 (Outlook, Word, and Excel), the wonderful obsolete PIM named Ecco, MSIE browsing with multiple windows open, occasional Web development using FrontPage 2003, and occasional image editing using Photoshop Elements 3 (PSE3).

Commit charge is about 190MB at boot and 275MB with a typical set of programs running, with an absolute high-water mark of about 650MB with FrontPage, the PSE3 Organizer, and the PSE3 Editor open with a large image. Disk space is not currently a constraint, since the drive is only about half full.

The only things that are noticeably slow are initially populating a Windows (not Internet) Explorer window and, of course, initially loading the two PSE3 programs. However, I recently tried a friend’s new T42 and found performance considerably spiffier, so I’m considering possible upgrades. These look to cost approximately the following:

- RAM to 768MB -- $75
- RAM to 1280MB -- $175
- HDD to 60GB (7200RPM) -- $200
- CPU to [up to 2.6GHz] -- ???

I’m guessing that the HDD upgrade would give the biggest bang per buck, but I'm not sure. Is this the general sense of the group?

The Hitachi site shows that the 7K60 consumes 20-35% more power than my current 40GN (5.5W vs. 4.7 at startup, 2.6W vs. 2.3 during seeks, 2.5W vs. 2.1 during reads, 2.5W vs. 2.2 during writes, 2.0W vs 1.85 during performance idle, 1.3W vs. .95 during active idle, and 0.85W vs. 0.65 during low-power idle). Might this cause overheating? How would it affect battery life?

The IBM/Lenovo site no longer offers the 7K60 or any 7200RPM ThinkPad drive. Hitachi has just introduced the 7K10 series, with capacities of 60/80/100, available in both parallel and SATA versions. The specifications look about the same as the 7k60, except for 10-20% lower power consumption under most conditions. Would it be worth waiting for the newer drive?

Thanks in advance for any advice, whether I choose to upgrade right now or not.

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BTW, my T30 experienced the memory-socket failure several months AFTER its one-year refurb warranty had expired, but IBM installed the engineering change at no cost and with no hassle. I was without the T30 for only two or three days in total.

[FragrantHead]

I am using a 7K60 in my 2GHz T30 for the last 2 years without problems and without any significant heat from the palm rest. Very happy with it and the speed benefit is real. I reckon this is the upgrade to go for. With 512Mb already you shouldn't see much benefit from further memory with your applications (even with XP) and the CPU isn't as readily upgradeable.

[daeojkim]

Upgrade your HD. That will boost the performance more significantly than anything else. A 4200rpm is like a snail. When you put a 7200 rpm HD your computer will like it's on viagra.

You get them under $200 from newegg.