Which T6X best replacement for T42 ?

[parangles2]

Gone through three T42s , too much work to fix the rear AC connector on
the current one and want an inexpensive replacement.
Which of the T6X series is best ?
Also , are they SATA or IDE /PATA drive ?
Or should I buy another model ? I want to spend about $150 max

Thanks lots

[Cigarguy]

Anything newer than T4x is native SATA. T60 is SATA I only while T61 can be SATA II with Middleton's BIOS. For that price I'd look for an Intel GPU T61 or T400/500. The T60 with Flexview screens are nice but have less performance than the newer machines. Having said that the 4:3 screen format and Flexview screen makes the T60 probably my favourite Thinkpads.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you follow instructions on my website http://theboardroom.info/ibm_list.htm you'll find it easy enough to replace the DC-connector (not AC).
Click on link to see: How-to swap a T4x Mobo
Any T60 or T60p will be fine.
All have SATA drives.
They come in Standard 4:3 format 14.1" and 15", or in 16x10 format 15.4" widescreen.
Screen resolutions: XGA, SXGA+ and UXGA for Standard format, WXGA and WSXGA+ for 15.4" widescreen.
Or try a Standard 4:3 format 14.1" T61 with Intel graphics only and XGA or SXGA+ (rare).

[parangles2]

RBS - looked at your mobo removal - months ago I got a eBay connector
and disassembled down to about your Step 44 and still had a ways to go to get at the DC connector. Got frightened and put it back together before I forgot where I was.

Cigarguy- Thanks-will buy the T60 -

Whats the quickest way I can get the seller to see if its Intel graphics or the nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M chip ? Is that listed as 'display adaptor' in Device mgr ?

(I am in Jamaica and someone is going to buy it from the seller and bring
it down.)

Thanks again
Chris

[RealBlackStuff]

Taking a T4x completely apart takes all of ca. 10-15 minutes, reassembling it is the same...

Get the 7-character TYPE from the label on the T60-bottom. Looks like e.g. TYPE 1952-CTO or TYPE 2623-DDU
Any T60 TYPE starting with 1xxx-yyy has Intel graphics, the ones starting with 2xxx-yyy have ATI graphics.
All T60 machines have Intel or ATI graphics, either one is OK.

The T61 has Intel (which you want) or nVidia (which you don't want).
T61 have different TYPE numbers.

You'll also need to specify what size screen you want (14.1" or 15" or 15.4"), as well as the resolution (see my previous post).
And specify how much RAM, size HD, type of CD/DVD.

[FryPpy]

RBS - looked at your mobo removal - months ago I got a eBay connector
and disassembled down to about your Step 44 and still had a ways to go to get at the DC connector. Got frightened and put it back together before I forgot where I was.

Cigarguy- Thanks-will buy the T60 -

Whats the quickest way I can get the seller to see if its Intel graphics or the nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M chip ? Is that listed as 'display adaptor' in Device mgr ?

(I am in Jamaica and someone is going to buy it from the seller and bring
it down.)

Thanks again
Chris

If you decide to get T60 - you do not have to worry about Nvidia.
T60 have old plane ATI descrete graphics.

If you still hunting for T61 i can give you couple advices:
- Carefully study the pictures of Thinkpads (you may ask seller if this photos is for actual Thinkpad)
- Find MTM sticker on bottom case or BIOS screen, where MTM can be read.
- Search components of Thinkpad at lenovo warranty site http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... ault.page? - use "select product" button and type MTM in "Quick path line"
*** at this point you can find more info about Thinkpad - screen resolution, processor, memory, etc....
- If you can't find MTM - ask seller for that information.
- If it is CTO model - you can search for "Parts lookup" database if you know serial number http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... ookup.page And find FRU for mainboard.
- You can find mainboard's FRU on thinkpad photos - under battery, or under memory bay (if seller take that photos).
- Use T61 home http://t61.wikispaces.com/ to identify mainboard type by FRU.
If you very lucky you can find Thinkpad (T61) with bug-free nvidia mainboard - it have 44c.... or 43y.... FRU's of mainboard.

PS
I have used this algoritm when searched mobo for my frankenpad.

[ZaZ]

Don't forget about the R60. It's pretty much a T series, a bit thicker without the stiffer lid, but still a solid notebook.

[parangles2]

[quote="RealBlackStuff"]Taking a T4x completely apart takes all of ca. 10-15 minutes, reassembling it is the same...

Hah! Took me hours.

Unfortunately the seller just has a bunch of off lease TPs and is not interested in providing any details-'come and look at them' I am in Jamaica and my kid is passing through Florida next week and will look at them and bring a T60 ( the safest bet you all say)

Ten year old Dells are selling for $300 here. The joys of living in the third world !

Thanks to all

[91011]

You might want to look at a T400, right now they seem to be the sweet spot for off-lease Thinkpads - 277 on eBay and many in your price range.

Benefits are cheaper RAM, no GPU issues, usually a faster processor and some have LED backlights.

Here’s a nice looking 1440x900 for $118 shipped.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad ... 1e83ba3918

Original Description:
P8600(2.4GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1440x900 LCD, Intel 4500MHD, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn, WWAN upgradeable, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 6c Li Ion, WinVista Business 32

[parangles2]

Unfortunately ebay is out as I am not living in the USA now.
Last laptop came with busted screen and cost to return was more than it was worth.
My kid is in the US only for a few days so I will have to take what I can get off Craigslist.
Thanks for all the help.

[fefrie]

Gone through three T42s , too much work to fix the rear AC connector on
the current one and want an inexpensive replacement. Which of the T6X series is best ?
Also , are they SATA or IDE /PATA drive ? Or should I buy another model ? I want to spend about $150 max

There are a couple of very good t42 videos on youtube.

I stripped my t42 down to the MOBO and replaced the power jack quite easily.

Now that I've moved onto SATA SSD T60's I'm fine to leave the T42 into the past.

[parangles2]

A year later - back on the search for a T61 on Ebay.
Lots of them have NVIDIA cards- some given as Quadro NVS 140M

Not too concerned about the image quality - nvidia calls them 'entry level business'
but I'm very concerned about them being reliable. Was told to avoid ATI in the T61 and stick to Intel
but NVIDIA wasnt mentioned.

Thanks lots as always !!

PS- whats the story with the battery protruding in the rear on many?
Some protrude more than others.
Is that an optional extended capacity or original ?

[brchan]

Batteries that protrude on T60 models are all 9 cell extended batteries. 14.1 inch widescreen T61 models have standard 6 cell batteries that stick out (9 cell version even more), while the 15.4 inch widescreen and 14.1 inch standard versions have flush 6 cell batteries, but potruding 9 cell batteries.

Also, only T60 units had the option of ATI graphics cards, while the T61 units had the option of NVIDIA cards.

[parangles2]

" Also, only T60 units had the option of ATI graphics cards, while the T61 units had the option of NVIDIA cards."

So, did the optional NVIDIA card on the T61's turn out to be reliable ?

Thanks

[brchan]

All NVIDIA cards on T61 models are at risk of failing unless it is was made in 08/08 or after (NVIDIA rumored to have started shipping non-defective chips in February, but not certain). Some of these cards which were made before 08/08 are still working, but you can never be sure 100%.

[ajkula66]

So, did the optional NVIDIA card on the T61's turn out to be reliable ?

Well...you also have to remember that the youngest T61/p is about to turn six years old. That's a lot of time in computer years. Personally, I'd choose a format (14" standard, 14" widescreen or 15.4" widescreen) and resolution that I'm interested in, and take it from there. There's no use in losing sleep over a GPU on what is (on average) a $200 laptop nowadays...

If you want a properly tested machine with discrete GPU, buy it from a known, trustworthy source even if it means spending a few extra bucks.

[Bibin]

While the Nvidia boards have been known to have the failure that Nvidia admitted to, I have bought a few T61 boards on the cheap side because they had chips from just before 08/08, so nobody wants them. Hours of stress testing and they remained fine, so I'm starting to think that maybe a lot of the bad chips will have likely gone bad. If you are up for a little adventure and want to spend $40 on a chance, maybe try an Nvidia board and test it out for a bit before totally ruling it out just because it's not an 08/08 or later one.

[systemBuilder]

We are happy with a T60p with FireGL v5200. The one downside in moving up to a T6x is that the scratchpad is tiny, for no apparently good reason.

I put a new $70 screen (samsung) into it as I got the computer for $100 on EBay a few years back, with an intermittent backlight. It was not easy to replace I had to reflash the EDID and I did it for $0 with open source tools. I put a new $80 750 GB SATA drive (7200 rpm) into it. It was the only SATA drive I could find. We will never use more than 100 GB on that drive.

We use it with an external Dell U2410 IPS display, and an external keyboard and mouse, mostly.

It came with a T2500 CPU but I bought a $50 T7500 CPU - haven't put it in yet. It's only a minor (10-15%) speed improvement at most, and will top out the machine.

When I get done with my $300 machine, it will just barely run as fast as a $200 Acer c720 (2GB/16GB) chromebook. My sons have $270 refurbished 4GB/32GB c720p Chromebooks and they play league at legends at the same framerate as the T60p, on Chrubuntu. That is something to consider. A Celeron 2955U Chromebook will edge out most of the T6x thinkpads in almost every way in terms of performance. The thinkpad offers a better (bigger) screen and keyboard, that's it. The c720 chromebook is like a baby macbook and has a superior scratchpad and battery life, and is far more portable. Best of all, nothing really sucks on that particular chromebook, there is no really weak part, unlike 80-90% of the laptops for sale today. Most chromebooks won't run windows as they have a 1-button mouse and no driver support.

[ajkula66]

It came with a T2500 CPU but I bought a $50 T7500 CPU - haven't put it in yet. It's only a minor (10-15%) speed improvement at most, and will top out the machine.

You meant to say T7600, correct? T7500 belongs to the T61 era and a T60/p won't even boot with it.