T61 and non-brand memory

[Jaype]

Hi guys. Wonder what your thoughts are on this?

So. My first Thinkpad! The part # is a 7661-KW3, and it seems to be true to it's innards. It has the Merom T7300 Core2Duo processor with 2GB of ram. Not complaining as it only cost me $50 and appears to be in great shape.

I've taken it apart and cleaned everything and installed a 64bit version of Ubuntu just to see how it works (will probably try my luck with a Gentoo install) and all seems well. I would like to make it a bit more nippy though and the question is really - I don't wanna fork out for Crucial / Kingston ram. I mean, partly the reason I'm using this is because I can't afford to run out and buy a new machine.

I can live with the intel graphics. I will only be using it for programming on and browsing the web.

If I buy a $120 set of "DDR2 PC2-6400 DDR2-800 800MHz 200pin Sodimm Laptop Memory RAM" off the fleabay (from a trusted seller). Is that going to work? I'll be buying a new 9-cell (Dr.Battery) too as I'm going to need it to install Middleton 2.29 BIOS as the current battery is up the duff.

Anyway - your thoughts or recommendations would be handy before I fling the little spare change I have at some terrible crap I'm going to regret. Recommended upgrades / cards etc are also welcome suggestions.

Current plan is to buy an 8GB set of ram first, possibly get a T9300 at some point later on I have a spare 120GB SSD laying about doing nothing, so will probably put that in there if I can.

[dr_st]

Most likely it's going to work. Brand RAM is never a requirement. Some non-brand RAM is total crap and will not work, but the majority of it is just fine.

[Hans Gruber]

I would suggest sticking with 4GB of memory because a 2 X 2GB kit runs around $20 on Ebay vs. $100 or more for 8GB of DDR2 memory right now. Get Middleton on your T61. Use the .iso image to load it. You don't need an OS on to flash Middleton. Put in a SSD (Middleton gives you SATA II performance). If you have wireless N (most do here) get a Intel 4965AGN or similar on Ebay for $5 or less. My guess is your current card is the 4965AG, but some come with the 4965AGN already. I would suggest the T8300 CPU myself. I have machines with the T8300 and T9300. Right now the T8300 is 10-$12 vs. $20-$25 for the T9300.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the LCD panel on your T61. 1280x800 should be fine for a budget T61.

[RealBlackStuff]

You should search for individual 4GB modules (PC2-5300 or PC2-6400) instead of an 8GB set.
They are a lot cheaper!
But hurry, those always sell extremely fast!
Cheapest I can find right now is $36.99 + $2.99 shipping instead of the $60 per module, that you envisage!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hynix-4GB-DDR2- ... 1390414537

By the time you wake up, it'll probably be gone!

[Jaype]

Many thanks guys - I upgraded the hard drive with a Kingston extreme 120 SSD (SATA III, yay backwards compatability) that I had lying around. 9-cell battery is on it's way and yeah - that ram was definitely gone by the time I got around to looking. Will keep an eye out, it's running very nicely right now. I may be able to live with 4GB, but we'll see how she goes. Will for sure be upgrading the BIOS when I get a chance too. I may have to get another one of these at some point.

[sdi-p]

I changed from 2x1GB chips to 2x2GB chips on one of my T61s and the difference was dramatic.
now all three have 4GB, but all are 2x2GB
I have been told the T61 will accept 8GB. I have a couple 8GB chips from a defunct laptop.

Question: do ram chips need to be in pairs or can I use just one?
thanks

[brchan]

I have been told the T61 will accept 8GB. I have a couple 8GB chips from a defunct laptop.

Question: do ram chips need to be in pairs or can I use just one?
thanks

I don't ever recal seeing 8gb ddr2 dimms for laptops. Those 2 8gb sticks are almost certainly ddr3 modules. They will not work in a T61.

[sdi-p]

I have been told the T61 will accept 8GB. I have a couple 8GB chips from a defunct laptop.

Question: do ram chips need to be in pairs or can I use just one?
thanks

I don't ever recal seeing 8gb ddr2 dimms for laptops. Those 2 8gb sticks are almost certainly ddr3 modules. They will not work in a T61.

thanks, did not think of that

[twillis449]

I've used generic 2 x 4 GB DDR2 pc2 5300 ram on both Dell Latitude D830s and Thinkpad T61s without any problems whatsoever. Whether or not you need 8GB of ram depends on what you use your computer for. If you want to make your computer really run faster, the easiest thing to do is replace a mechanical hard drive with an SSD.