T61 questions

[Hans Gruber]

65w for integrated graphics 90w for discrete graphics cards. The Penryn chips are 45nm vs 65nm, they use the same wattage or less than the Mermon stuff.

[ajkula66]

By the way, does anyone know if the 65W supply will be sufficient for a T61 (Intel graphics) using the T9300 or even X9000?

With X9000 I'd advise against it...as for T9300 you might be able to get away with it just fine.

[Hans Gruber]

Should I get 4GB's 2X2GB memory either 4GB Kit (2x 2GB) DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300 SO-DIMM or 4GB Kit (2x 2GB) DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400 SO-DIMM. I think my T61 only supports the 667mhz memory but the latter @ 800mhz could be good for future upgrades. Or is the PC2-6400 not a good option because of the 1066fsb of new Thinkpads.

I always like to plan ahead and look to the future. Years down the road the memory could be used on another laptop.

[ajkula66]

Should I get 4GB's 2X2GB memory either 4GB Kit (2x 2GB) DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-5300 SO-DIMM or 4GB Kit (2x 2GB) DDR2 SO-DIMM PC2-6400 SO-DIMM. I think my T61 only supports the 667mhz memory but the latter @ 800mhz could be good for future upgrades. Or is the PC2-6400 not a good option because of the 1066fsb of new Thinkpads.

The *61 generation was the last one to utilize DDR2. Get proper RAM from a trustworthy manufacturer, be it 667 or 800MHz. The latter might prove to be cheaper and somewhat cooler-running.

I always like to plan ahead and look to the future. Years down the road the memory could be used on another laptop.

Well, unless "another laptop" is something from the T61 era or older, that RAM won't get much use.

[Hans Gruber]

George, I went with the PC2-5300 memory. My next move is the t9300 processor. My Ebay strike price is $18. Right now the market is running a bit high in the low to mid 20's. This T61 has a 4 cell battery with only 40 cycles on it. I will probably get a 6 cell battery and call it good for this machine.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Hans Gruber]

Are the drive caddy's and rubber bumpers on a T61 the same as those on the T410 caddy and rubber bumpers? I have been using a spare T410 caddy and bumpers until my T61 caddy arrives in the mail.

[Eric Giles]

Are the drive caddy's and rubber bumpers on a T61 the same as those on the T410 caddy and rubber bumpers? I have been using a spare T410 caddy and bumpers until my T61 caddy arrives in the mail.

Yes, they are the same.

[Hans Gruber]

Thanks, Eric. My new T61 caddy should arrive today. I won't need to swap the caddy and rubber rails. I always like to have a least one backup caddy on hand.

[Dante of the Inferno]

George, I went with the PC2-5300 memory. My next move is the t9300 processor. My Ebay strike price is $18. Right now the market is running a bit high in the low to mid 20's. This T61 has a 4 cell battery with only 40 cycles on it. I will probably get a 6 cell battery and call it good for this machine.

Thanks for your feedback.

Good luck. I've been waiting months for the price to come down on the chip, but no such luck. I ended up buying one the other day for about $25 with shipping (and that was from California - I've tired of shipping from Asia). With the T9300 sitting in the mid-20's and the T9500 in the mid 40's, maybe one day I'll summon the budget to buy an X9000 (probably if I have to work with 4K content and H.265 codec has matured).

My 9-cell battery lasts about 3 or so hours on my widescreen 15.4" T61 with Intel graphics. A 6-cell may only net you 1.5 - 2 hours, but it'll be flush with the frame.

[Hans Gruber]

I just got my caddy and rails for my T61 today. The 4gb of ram comes next week. I am limping along with 3GB right now. I keep an eye on Ebay and figure when the T9300 hits $18-$19 with shipping. I will pick one up. I just got a new tube of arctic silver 5 so I am ready to re paste CPU's.

[Hans Gruber]

I ordered 4GB of DDR2 memory. I received 2 X 2GB of Hynix memory. When I opened the package it was nicely packaged in antistatic wrap sealed with a nice warning sticker about static electricity and electronics components sensitive to electrostatic materials.

The ram came bound in a rubber band 3 or 4x wrapped around the copper electrodes.

I edited my post. Total frustration, I don't like to request returns and like things to work right the first time.

[Hans Gruber]

I pulled the trigger on a T8300. The price was in the $11 price range with shipping. 3mb less of L2 cache and 100mhz short of the T9300 performance. The T9300 is trending at $25 on Ebay and I don't have time to wait for the price to come down. Dollar cost average is what decisions should be based upon.

A 3% difference in performance benchmarks between the T8300 & T9300
http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/In ... 444vsm1921

[Hans Gruber]

T8300 installed and CPU and Integrated Graphics GPU repasted with arctic silver 5. 4gb of ram, 120gb SSD, Middleton bios, this machine is done. Penryn runs much cooler with lower voltage. The fan doesn't even need to run. (20 seconds) for 1 Million calculations of Pi. I do really like this T61 machine. It only has a 4 cell battery but with only 45 cycles on it. It's a sturdy little machine.